Though Ziche Min's words were somewhat exaggerated, they were essentially the truth.
If the Yan family missed out on a young alchemy genius like this, it would be an absolute waste.
Giving Huang'er to the Xiahou family would only temporarily soothe the Xiahou family's anger — there was no guarantee they wouldn't cause trouble again in the future.
But betrothing Huang'er to this Shao Yuan would bring obvious benefits. When comparing the two, even a fool would choose the latter.
The problem was, choosing the latter would inevitably offend the former, which would invite the Xiahou family's retaliation.
The Xiahou family's furious wrath was something the current Yan family was utterly powerless to withstand.
At the thought of this, the Yan family patriarch stammered into silence, at a complete loss for how to respond.
Yan Wanjun saw that the patriarch lacked conviction at such a critical moment, and his heart sank with disappointment. He turned his head, his gaze carrying a trace of guilt, and looked at his own granddaughter, Yan Qinghuang.
Yan Wanjun's mouth was filled with bitterness. An unprecedented sense of guilt made it almost impossible for him to face the faintly desolate look in his granddaughter's eyes.
"Huang'er, this Sacred Land genius Shao Yuan thinks so highly of you — what are your own thoughts on the matter?" As Yan Wanjun spoke these words, his face reddened with shame. This was the first time he had thought to ask Huang'er for her opinion.
Huang'er smiled faintly, a sad and bitter expression on her face. "Grandfather, you've finally remembered to ask what I think. Do you know? In all my years, this is the very first time — the very first time I've heard the family's elders ask me what I think. Whenever you made decisions before, you never once asked whether I agreed. You never once asked whether my heart was in pain. You never once asked if I was willing!"
Yan Wanjun's aged face flushed crimson, and he fumbled helplessly.
In front of his own granddaughter, Yan Wanjun felt utterly ashamed.
The Yan family patriarch was equally speechless. He knew full well that Huang'er would certainly be unwilling regarding the Xiahou family matter. The Xiahou family had imprisoned her parents and intended to use her as a cultivation furnace — how could she possibly be willing?
Yet no one in the entire Yan family had ever consulted her opinion, nor had anyone bothered to ask. Because everyone knew Huang'er would certainly be unwilling.
Since she was unwilling, asking would be pointless. So they simply didn't bother asking and pretended not to notice.
Yan Wanjun's eyes reddened, his voice hoarse: "Then speak now — tell me what you truly think. Your grandfather has been spineless his entire life, but this time, I will dare to make a decision on your behalf. Perhaps fate has always been unfair to you, but this time, even if I have to trade this old life of mine, I will fight for one moment of fairness for you!"
Yan Wanjun had always carried deep guilt toward Yan Qinghuang. The reason he had never fought back was because of Yan Qingsang.
Yan Qingsang represented Yan Wanjun's bloodline — the only hope he could place his remaining years upon. So he had wanted to preserve what little life he had left to pave the way for Yan Qingsang's future.
Between grandson and granddaughter, he had chosen the grandson.
But now, Yan Qingsang's future was already ideal. He had become a genius of the Eternal Sacred Land. Even if Yan Wanjun were to close his eyes right now, with Shao Yuan around, Yan Qingsang would never be bullied at the Eternal Sacred Land.
So, Yan Wanjun could truly say he had no more worries.
With Yan Qingsang no longer a concern, his guilt toward Yan Qinghuang, along with all the anger he had suppressed over the years, slowly awakened.
And seeing the Yan family patriarch so utterly devoid of backbone, so afraid to make a choice, this Supreme Elder could hold back no longer.
Yan Wanjun's voice was not loud, but his tone was resolute and unwavering. His determined attitude startled even the Yan family patriarch.
"Elder Wanjun, you…" The Yan family patriarch was somewhat taken aback.
Yan Wanjun spoke in a deep voice: "Patriarch, don't try to dissuade me any further. I, Yan Wanjun, have always believed I've done right by this family. All these years, you've told me to think of the bigger picture, and I've done exactly that. But tell me — how has the family treated my Yan Wanjun over these years? My son and daughter-in-law were thrown into the Eternal Dungeon. My granddaughter was handed over to be used as a cultivation furnace. And my only direct grandson — the family still treats him as a priority to cultivate. Patriarch, with all of this, how can you still ask me to think of the bigger picture? I, Yan Wanjun, am not a beast. I have emotions and desires. I am a man of flesh and blood, and I want to protect my own. I am old now, and I have given everything I had to this family. At this stage of my life, let me be selfish just once. I have failed Huang'er. I have failed her parents. This time, no matter what, I will fight for a chance for her — even if it's just the chance to choose!"
Yan Wanjun spoke these words with tremendous agitation and deep emotion, his words tumbling out rapidly, his feelings surging.
The Yan family patriarch was dumbstruck. He had never imagined that Elder Yan Wanjun — who had always been so considerate of the bigger picture — would take such a stand.
At that moment, the Xiahou family elder let out a cold laugh.
"Yan family patriarch, it seems your authority is rather questionable. The old and the young of the Yan family — none of them seem to listen to you. A patriarch who has reached this level of…"
Before the man could finish, Yan Wanjun shot him a furious glare: "Shut your mouth! Don't you dare sow discord here. I, Yan Wanjun, have never intended to cause trouble for the patriarch. Our Yan family's affairs are none of your Xiahou family's business. Let me tell you — regarding Huang'er, forget about there being no written agreement. Even if there were, I would never recognize it. If you want to take my granddaughter away, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
Having spoken, Yan Wanjun cupped his fists and bowed respectfully to the Yan family patriarch: "Patriarch, I, Yan Wanjun, bear no disrespect toward you. But I ask that you grant me this one wish. Even if you were to expel both me and Huang'er from the Yan family, I would have absolutely no complaints."
Huang'er's heart was awash with a tangle of emotions. Had she not learned long ago to maintain her composure before others, tears would already have been streaming down her face.
All these years, she had endured every kind of cold treatment. Within the family, she had almost never felt such fierce support, never felt such fierce love.
Now, seeing her grandfather stand so resolutely in her defense, protecting her with such conviction, the ice around Huang'er's heart melted in an instant.
Huang'er had always been gentle, always considerate. Even cursed by fate as she had been, she harbored no great hatred toward her family.