Astral Pet Store

She owed him?

They could understand why she had said that. They watched Tang Ruyan as she grew up; they were very much aware of her true potential.

Back in the day, they had made a strict and extensive evaluation to determine that Tang Ruyan was merely qualified to become a decoy.

She wasn’t as talented as her younger sister, Tang Ruyu.

They observed her for a long time and made her go through several rounds of tests. They had acted prudently, not allowing for mistakes to happen.

For Tang Ruyan to have gained such strength had to be related to fate or a luck-related matter, something that couldn’t be explained by talent and effort.

That luck was most likely related to that store.

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“Ruyan, I believe that not even a legendary battle pet warrior can kill you easily at this point. Why belittle yourself by continuing as an employee? No titled battle pet warrior should work as store attendant!” Tang Linzhan blurted out; he wanted to make Tang Ruyan stay. Also... What would people think of the Tang family if she were still working as a store employee? The other elders jumped in with worry.

“Indeed. I know there’s a legendary battle pet warrior involved with that store. However, you’re a different person now, and you have such a promising future... Why do you have to put yourself through the suffering of being an attendant?

“We can choose other things if you want to repay his kindness. We’re willing to present half of our treasured artifacts and let him pick at will!”

“I don’t care what he names as terms as long as you can stay and lead the family. We’re open to all possibilities. Please, do think!”

Tang Ruyan waved her hand to stop them. “This has nothing to do with how powerful I am. If I were to become a legendary battle pet warrior, it would be because of him, because he transferred his astral powers to me. I’m here because he approved the trip. So, the fact that you could be saved is because of him,” Tang Ruyan explained. Tang Linzhan and the others were all stunned.

Did he approve the trip?

That explained it.

Indeed, Tang Ruyan had been kidnapped by that man. It was unlikely that she would go back without his permission.

“That... is not wrong.” Tang Linzhan was conflicted. He had to admit that he had to thank that man whom he had blacklisted because he had cost the Tang family two armies. Of course, Tang Linzhan would not go about and tell everyone he had blacklisted a man related to a legendary battle pet warrior. They wouldn’t be so stupid as to go and offend that man before they made sure the legendary battle pet warrior was gone.

“I have to repay his kindness. There’s nothing you can say that can change my mind.”

Tang Ruyan was getting bored with that conversation.

They stopped pressing on the subject once they felt that Tang Ruyan was getting impatient, fearing that she would lose her temper.

They could understand that Tang Ruyan would hold a grudge since they had abandoned her. They knew that forcing her in any way was out of the question. Tang Linzhan made another proposal, “Say you go back. I still hope that you can be our family head.”

He looked into Tang Ruyan’s eyes. “You’re the best qualified to become our family head. We once trained you to prepare you for this position; you know everything there is about the Tang family. I know that you didn’t become the true future family head because of... some special reasons. But we can say for sure that you’re more than qualified to become our family head.”

Of course, among the special reasons he spoke of was her weaker talent.

Tang Ruyan was fully aware of this, but she didn’t point that out; she just didn’t expect that Tang Linzhan would insist on her taking his position.

“I don’t have the time to manage family affairs. Save that for yourself.” Tang Ruyan shook her head.

She used to have so much expectation for that position back in the day, and she respected it. And yet, the position no longer mattered. Maybe it was because she had become a different girl. The fact that she could clean out two of the main families so easily had revealed her the vulnerability of those big families; they were unable to stand a single blow from a beast king.

Power ruled.

Also...

She wanted to go back.

As far as she was concerned, that place was where she was destined to be, her home!

One didn’t need a reason to want to go back home.

Tang Linzhan curled his lips at the repeated refusals. Being the family head was such an honored and coveted position; and yet, she disdained it.

He heaved a sigh. “I can act on your behalf if you don’t want to manage family affairs, but you’ll still be our family head. The family will always welcome you. We will wait!”

The other elders eyed Tang Linzhan with surprise. That didn’t sound like him.

Tang Ruyan was determined. Why would he insist on having her as the family head?

Besides, Tang Linzhan was still in his prime; he didn’t have to step down.

Tang Ruyan frowned.

“That settles it then,” Tang Linzhan declared since Tang Ruyan didn’t deny the last statement.

“Sir.”

Some elders wanted to speak but stopped on second thought.

They had no objections to Tang Ruyan becoming the family head. What they didn’t want was for her to go back to the Longjiang Base City to be the family head of herself. The family head was the brains of a family. So, in the future, it would be like the body of the family was in the Yedou Base City while the head and the brains were in the Longjiang Base City. It would be so weird and uncoordinated.

That’s not good!

Tang Linzhan darted that elder a glare, forcing the latter to swallow what was left unsaid.

“Prepare the ritual,” Tang Linzhan said to another elder.

That elder was in charge of such matters. Although hesitating, he nodded and took the order.

Tang Ruyan shook her head. “I do not have time for this. If you want, give that position to Yu. She’s your future family head, to begin with. The Tang family will have nothing to do with me from that day onward. When you’re in crisis again, I may or may not go back. Remember to behave.”

With that said, she jumped back onto her beast king, ready to leave. Tang Linzhan was frightened. “Either way, you’ll be our leader from today on. You don’t have to stay for the ritual, but I’ll keep your name on the record. You have the blood of the Tang family in you and you cannot change that. You will forever be a part of the Tang family!”

Tang Ruyan frowned, displeased. “Whatever.”

The beast king took her away.

After Tang Ruyan was away, the elders began to question Tang Linzhan, “Sir, why did you insist on letting her be the family head?” Tang Linzhan shook his head at them. “You do not understand, do you? Think about it. She wiped out two families on her own. She didn’t have to do anything and just the fact that she’s the normal family head will deter any attempted strikes at the Tang family. When she reaches the legendary rank, her influence can protect the Tang family for a thousand years!”

It was because a legendary battle pet warrior could leave for a thousand years!

Of course, unless being beaten to death. “The Tang family was in great disaster and almost doomed. It was because of my wrong decision. I am the family head but I almost got the Tang family destroyed. I have sinned!”

Tang Linzhan gazed into the distance and continued, “I cannot have let her leave without making her the family head. She’ll be the nominal family head and I will manage the family affairs for her. Let time do the work. When she changes her mind and when that man no longer needs her, she will come back eventually.”

So, Tang Linzhan was playing a long game and the prize was his daughter.

“She has made a name for herself. I believe that even the Star Organization will have to be respectful to us. Those families and forces that would rely on the influence of their late legendary battle pet warriors will have to behave themselves in front of us.” An elder grinned a sinister grin.

The other elders nodded in agreement.