Nangong Yanran was initially taken aback, then hesitantly nodded.
"Yes, my family is indeed very close to the Gui Family."
"Then your relationship with Gui Xuanqing is quite good too, right? Like they say... childhood friends?" Pei Quan’an asked with a smile.
Upon hearing Pei Quan’an mention this, Nangong Yanran’s face instantly turned pale, and she hurriedly explained.
"Senior Brother, that was all in the past, I..."
Pei Quan’an impatiently waved his hand, interrupting Nangong Yanran’s explanation.
He was in no mood to bother with such trivial matters as childhood friendships.
Sure, Nangong Yanran was indeed quite beautiful, but after such a long time, no matter how beautiful, he had already grown tired of her.
If it weren’t for the fact that kicking her out directly would have negative repercussions, he would have sent this woman away long ago.
But now, Nangong Yanran could still be of use once more.
"No need to explain so much. How can your senior brother not trust you?" Pei Quan’an forced a smile, then spoke softly.
"I just remembered you mentioned before that the Gui Family’s control over Ink Sea City is exceedingly prosperous, that’s why I wanted to ask you."
Hearing Pei Quan’an say this, Nangong Yanran finally breathed a sigh of relief and then nodded, "That’s indeed the case."
"Given your understanding of the Gui Family, do you know if there are any formidable experts in Ink Sea City?"
Nangong Yanran pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
"If you mean ordinary experts, there certainly are, but I haven’t heard of any extremely powerful ones."
Upon hearing this, Pei Quan’an’s eyes lit up, and he impatiently asked, "Isn’t that strange then? Without sufficient strength, how does the Gui Family maintain such a large enterprise?"
Nangong Yanran shook her head, "I wouldn’t know about that."
Pei Quan’an fell into deep thought.
Nangong Yanran didn’t dare to speak up or ask questions, so she stood there obediently, waiting.
Not until a long time later did Pei Quan’an raise his head and say, "I remember your family once sent a message, saying your mother was gravely ill and wanted you to visit once more... ."
Before he could finish, Nangong Yanran fell to her knees, face full of panic, and said.
"Senior Brother, those are actions my family took on their own accord and have nothing to do with me. Please, don’t expel me from the sect; I’d have nowhere to go if you did."
"Ah Yanran, what are you doing? I never said I would expel you from the sect."
Pei Quan’an pretended to lift Nangong Yanran up and then sighed.
"I just think that, after all, it’s your mother. Now that she’s critically ill and wants to see her daughter, it’s only natural."
"I don’t want to see her; she’s not my mother," Nangong Yanran said anxiously.
"Don’t worry. What I mean is, since there are matters at home, I’ll go back with you. What do you think?"
Nangong Yanran wasn’t a fool.
After spending time with him for these days, she knew very well what kind of person Pei Quan’an was.
Of course, she understood that going home with her was just an excuse.
Combining this with his sudden inquiry about the Gui Family earlier, Nangong Yanran had a faint guess in her mind.
But these guesses, she dared not say out loud, so she nodded submissively, putting on a grateful expression.
"Senior Brother, you’re too kind to me!"
Looking at Nangong Yanran’s tear-streaked face, even more delicate and charming, Pei Quan’an suddenly felt a surge of wicked desire in his heart and took her waist in his arms.
Nangong Yanran let out a soft moan but dared not resist, meekly closing her eyes.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Pei Quan’an walked out of the room feeling refreshed, as if all previous confusion was swept away.
If earlier, Pei Quan’an, due to his master Shen Jiu’s death, felt like a homeless dog, restless and anxious daily.
Now Pei Quan’an had found his goal.
It was simple.
That is to target the Gui Family of Ink Sea City.
There are several reasons for doing so.
The first is, of course, money.
Because of its proximity to the Ink Sea, which is rich in aquatic products, Ink Sea City is extremely prosperous.
One can only imagine how wealthy the Gui Family, who governs Ink Sea City, must be.
This is a huge fortune.
So huge that even Pei Quan’an is green with envy.
The second reason is profit.
This profit is not money but real, tangible benefits.
Pei Quan’an is well aware that after his master’s death, enmity has been formed between Wanghai Tower and Azure Dragon Temple.
Jiang Shengwu’s words were not baseless. He truly wants to eliminate Azure Dragon Temple.
Under these circumstances, anyone associated with Azure Dragon Temple would become a target for Wanghai Tower.
It’s well known that Gui Xuanqing of the Gui Family, who shone in this battle with his elusive archery skills, is the legitimate heir of the Gui Family.
So, targeting Ink Sea City seems right and proper.
And if he can successfully handle this, his status in the tower will surely soar, and then who would dare to look down on him?
Thinking of this, Pei Quan’an felt even more that he was exceptionally astute.
But he was not blinded by the profit in front of him; rather, he was extremely clear-headed.
Logically speaking, in this world Beyond the World, where the weak are prey to the strong, the Gui Family, holding immense wealth but lacking equivalent protective strength, should have long become prey for others.
Yet they have remained safe and sound; this is worth pondering.
Therefore, he decided to accompany Nangong Yanran to the Nangong Family, to explore and gather intel.
Also, Pei Quan’an knew very well that such a massive benefit wasn’t something he could swallow by himself.
There’s only a word of difference between a sudden windfall and calamity.