When the old patriarch was arranging the funeral, none of the elders were around.

Of course, he knew that this was a taboo in arranging the aftermath, but he didn't mean to do so, he planned to arrange his two sons first, and then summon the elders over to ask for assistance.

However, he did not calculate the sudden attack of the poison, which robbed him of the only chance to see the elders at the last moment.

Before Xiao Ding could spread the order to appoint Xiao Zhen as the patriarch, he died suddenly, which made the originally simple and clear situation of the Xiao family suddenly complicated.

In Xiao Zhen's view, his father just made a verbal statement, and died suddenly before he could leave an edict to write for himself.

If Xiao Li raises his arms and exhales, and the forces of the Xiao family supporting him take the opportunity to make trouble, then he will fall into a state of fire and water.

At the same time, none of the elders accept the entrustment of the elders, and it is possible that all kinds of accidents may be born in the end.

Thinking of this, Xiao Zhen gradually calmed down.

Both of them saw their father at the last moment, but the eldest brother saw his father first, when his father was still safe, and after the eldest brother left, he faced his father alone, but his father died suddenly, which was obviously not good for him.

If someone takes the opportunity to make a martyr, not only is he suspected of killing his father, but the perpetrator can declare that his father's edict is fabricated.

Thinking about it, Xiao Zhen was indifferent. Suddenly thinking that Xiao Xuan had returned, his heart warmed, and he walked towards his room.

On a bed in the middle room of the courtyard, a young man about thirteen years old opened his eyes vaguely. He is the Xiao Xuan who escaped death and rushed back in the heavy snow.

A maid with delicate eyebrows sat on the side of the bed, stretched out her slender jade hand to pull the corners of her quilt, and her slightly erected chest looked very seductive.

"Young master, wake up quickly, get up and drink medicine. ”

The girl's tone was soft, slightly anxious.

Looking at the girl's cute appearance with a little hurry, Xiao Xuan's heart warmed, and he gently pinched her pretty face.

"Xiao Xuanshao.... Young Master," the maid's face flushed. Shy lowered his head.

Seeing this, Xiao Xuan didn't feel it.

The thought of what had happened before made him feel uneasy.

Without a trace, he touched the black ring on his ring finger, which was the only thing he could comfort about this trip. It's just that so far, he has not found anything else except that the black ring can see some of his attributes.

"Hehe, Xuan'er, have you slept enough?"

There was a sound of solid footsteps, and a middle-aged man walked in.

The middle-aged man was dressed in black, his expression was not angry and arrogant, and a pair of sword eyebrows on his face added a bit of arrogance to him, he was Xiao Xuan's father, a strong man in the middle stage of gathering spirits, Xiao Zhen!

"Well, ahem......"

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly and nodded.

"How?"

Seeing Xiao Xuan's face flushed, Xiao Zhen's brows furrowed slightly.

"It's okay, it's too cold on the road, and I'm a little cold. The pharmacist has prepared the medicine and can take it for two days. ”

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen felt a hint of apology in his heart. Glancing to the side, he saw a small stove next to the bed.

The stove was pitifully small, and the firewood in it was about to burn out, and it was difficult to dispel the cold in the room.

"Why don't you come over with a bigger one?"

Xiao Zhen turned to look at Xuan'er, and there was a faint anger in his tone.

"It's not that Xuan'er refuses, the miscellaneous servant department has already promised to send the big stove, but Young Master Xiao Lin just happened to come to ask for the stove, and there is only one big stove, and he was forcibly asked to go by Young Master Xiao Lin......."

Xuan'er lowered her head nervously, trembling and speechless.

"Father, I can't complain about Xuan'er. How can I, a countryman from the countryside and a sick and disabled person, enjoy the same treatment as my cousin Xiao Lin?"

Xiao Xuan waved his hand and laughed at himself.

"This Xiao Lin has a good talent, but his courage is getting bigger and bigger. ”

Xiao Zhen said coldly, with a cold chill in his eyes.

Turned to Xuan'er and said lightly:

"Go and move the big stove in my room"

When Xuan'er heard this, a touch of joy appeared on her pretty face.

At that moment, he bent down shallowly, and immediately closed the door and walked out.

Looking at Xiao Xuan, who was lying on the bed with a thin body, Xiao Zhen's heart was filled with a trace of distress. Xiao Xuan is now thirteen years old, and his spiritual power has always stayed in the realm of the third layer of foundation building. This kind of cultivation speed couldn't be worse.

In the same year as him, Xiao Li's son Xiao Lin has now built the peak of the fourth layer of the foundation, and it is impossible to say that he will soon break through to the fifth layer of the foundation.

At the beginning of spiritual power cultivation, the first thing is to build a foundation. The foundation is divided into seven layers, and on the foundation, it is the spirit of attraction, and after the spirit is introduced, it is the gathering of spirits.

Seeing the slow progress of Xiao Xuan's cultivation, Xiao Zhen felt distressed, but also accompanied by a trace of guilt.

More than ten years ago, he was assassinated, and in danger, his pregnant wife, Kaoru, blocked a sword for him.

Xun'er died shortly after giving birth to Xiao Xuan, and although Xiao Xuan survived safely, he was picked by the sword and injured some tendons, which made it difficult for him to cultivate, and the progress of his cultivation was extremely slow.

The competition between the disciples of the Xiao family was fierce, and in order to avoid the condemnation, indifference and ridicule of others, Xiao Zhen had no choice but to send him to the countryside.

Thinking that since he would not have any future in his cultivation, then let him live an ordinary life in the countryside, and he would also be able to avoid many worldly disputes.......

"I wonder if I can call my father the patriarch now?"

Xiao Xuan held his chin and said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen was slightly stunned, shook his head with a wry smile, and told Xiao Xuan his bitterness.

At this juncture, only his own son can make him feel at ease.

In this way, the key person at this moment is Uncle Xiaoli.

If he had no other thoughts, then everything would have been simple and straightforward.

If he has him in his heart, then the Xiao family is bound to be in civil strife. ”

Xiao Zhen nodded, very much in agreement with his analysis.

Although he and Xiao Li have a deep brotherly relationship, when he thought that Xiao Li's thought at this moment would determine the next safety of the Xiao family, he felt a trace of vigilance in his heart.

And his father also said before he died that Xiao Li was very thoughtful.

Thinking of this, Xiao Zhen suddenly felt a chill in his back, if this is the case, how should the situation be cleaned up?

As if seeing Xiao Zhen's worries, Xiao Xuan thought for a while, and then comforted:

"Father, don't panic at this time. It's useless to think about it, since grandpa personally gave you orders, then you will be famous.

You should first see how Uncle Xiao Li chooses.

Also, look at the reaction of the elder body. If Uncle Xiao Li denies it, then you will not be defeated, father, at least in a balanced situation. It's just that I don't know, among the four elders of the family, which elders are facing you?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen had a touch of embarrassment on his face and said:

"In private, there is only one person who has a good relationship with me, the three elders. ”

His face twitched slightly, Xiao Xuan's heart sank, and he lost his voice:

"What about the other three elders? Could it be that they all support Uncle Xiao Li? If that is the case, things will be in trouble. ”

After a little silence, Xiao Zhen shook his head and said:

"Not really. As far as I know, the Second Elder and the Fourth Elder have a good relationship with Xiao Li. And the respected Great Elder, who blows his beard and stares at him on weekdays, is too lazy to pay attention to the two of us. ”

"From this point of view, if Uncle Xiao Li has bad intentions, then the choice of the Great Elder is the key to who can serve as the patriarch. ”

"In that case, then I will go to the Great Elder now, explain the matter to him, and ask him to help me. ”

After that, Xiao Zhen was about to get up and leave, but was pulled by Xiao Xuan.

"Never, father. Xiao Xuan said urgently.

"Huh?"

"If Xiao Li has different intentions, then he naturally knows that whether he can become the patriarch or not, the opinion of the Great Elder is the most important thing.

What if Xiao Li went to find the Great Elder and lied that the Old Patriarch had given way to him?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen's heart trembled. After thinking about it, what Xiao Xuan said made sense.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but blame myself: Xiao Zhen, Xiao Zhen, they all say that you are stable and serious, why are you so impetuous at a critical moment now?

"Father, as a child, sit back and watch what happens. The Great Elder is respectful and experienced, and he will definitely give the most objective and fair choice, and will never be misled by the words of others.

Moreover, since you have been ordered by the old patriarch himself, you should be natural and calm at this moment, and now you go to the Great Elder, but you are like being a thief.

What is yours is yours and you don't need to prove it to anyone.

At this time, whoever can calm down will have a better chance of winning. ”

Xiao Xuandao chopped the axe, unfolding the messy knife in Xiao Zhen's heart, which suddenly made him suddenly enlightened.

Listening to Xiao Xuandong's view of the fire, Xiao Zhen suddenly realized that at the same time, he couldn't help but feel surprised:

This kid's insight is so unique, could it be that it is really as the old patriarch said, the martial arts are not passable, but the literary path can be taken?

......

The moon stars are scarce, and the black magpie flies south.

Xiao Li, dressed in black, came to the front of the Great Elder's house, and before he could knock on the door, he heard the Great Elder's vicissitudes of life and majestic voice coming from inside the house:

"Xiao Li, it's getting late, what's the matter here?"

Hearing this, Xiao Li didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly arched his hand towards the door of the house, and said, "Recently, I heard that the Great Elder was unwell, and the junior specially sent someone to Luoyang to buy a Nayuan Dan. Hope it will help the Great Elder's body. ”

Na Yuan Dan, a second-level elixir, can only be refined by a specialized alchemist.

The alchemist's status is noble, not to mention his Xiao family, even if you look at Ye City, you can't find a first-level alchemist.

And a second-level pill like Na Yuan Dan can only be refined by a second-level alchemist!

Its medicinal power is mild, it can quickly recover from injuries on the body, and it is simply a must-have medicine for going out and staying at home!

"Well, I have a heart. But what else is there to do?"

Feeling that the Great Elder's voice had eased a lot, Xiao Li's heart suddenly became ecstatic, and he hurriedly continued:

"The day before yesterday, when my father was dying, he verbally appointed me as the next patriarch. Unexpectedly, before the elders were entrusted, they passed away suddenly.

The juniors were confused for a while, and they didn't know what to do next, so they came to ask the Great Elder for advice. ”

Hearing this, there was silence in the room.

After a long time, the Great Elder said:

"Since the old patriarch has appointed you as the next patriarch, you will do what you want in your heart, what is there to be confused about?"

The Great Elder's words were like a reassuring pill, which calmed Xiao Li's restless heart abruptly.

Towards the wooden door slightly, Xiao said sharply: "Thank you for the guidance of the Great Elder, the junior understands." ”

With that, he hurried away.

A moment later, there was a long sigh in an inexplicable tone from inside the room.

......

It was night, and Xiao Xuan woke up from his dream. I think it's because I slept too long during the day, but at this time, I tossed and turned, and I couldn't sleep at night.

Since the fight has crossed over, bad things have continued. First, he almost died on the road, but finally rushed back, and was involved in the whirlpool of the patriarchal dispute.

Although Xiao Li has not yet expressed his position, he can vaguely feel that this matter will not be so simple. If my father can't become the patriarch as he wishes, then I'm afraid I won't have a good time.

With no background and no strength, how can you gain a foothold in this world where the strong are respected?

In the previous world, poor strength would only be looked down upon. In this world, the strength is poor, and I am afraid that I will worry about my life.

And judging from yesterday's events, now the Tang Dynasty is not peaceful, the wind and rain are shaking, the traitors are in charge, the rogue is everywhere, and there is no strength, I am afraid that I will not be able to gain a foothold in this troubled world.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xuan didn't feel sleepy, got out of bed and walked to the door, quietly pushed open the wooden door, and walked out gently.

There was silence all around, scattered snowflakes falling. One, two, low cut, moonlight like water, sprinkled on his shoulder.

He looked up at the sky, the moon hung in the sky, and the stars were dotted.

"Hehe, Xuan'er, why haven't you slept so late?" In the woods, after a moment of silence, a man's concerned laughter came out.

The branches swayed, and a middle-aged man jumped out, with a smile on his face, looking at Xiao Xuan in the moonlight.

Xiao Zhen smiled and asked, as if he thought of something again, but before Xiao Xuan could answer, he said softly:

"Xuan'er, don't be in a hurry when you practice, even if you stay on the third floor of the foundation forever, your father will not blame you. Regardless of whether your father succeeds you as patriarch, as long as your father is alive, you will not let anyone bully you. ”

When Xiao Xuan heard this, his heart warmed. immediately looked at his father, smiled slightly, and said, "Children don't know how to be mediocre." ”

"Haha, okay, father believes in you, it's not too early, you can go back to your room and rest. ”

Xiao Zhen laughed, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

"Don't worry, father. Xiao Xuan raised his head, looked in the direction his father left, and muttered.

At the moment when Xiao Xuan raised his head, the black ring in his finger suddenly lit up with an extremely faint and strange light, which was fleeting and did not attract anyone's attention......