As one of the three Major Clans in the Outer Circle's Eastern District and a top power in the Outer Circle as a whole, in the eyes of the Outer Circle citizens, the Han Clan was a behemoth-like existence. However, for someone like Ah Mieu, who grew up in the Inner Circle, where powerful cultivators were as many as clouds in the sky, the Han Clan was nothing more than a big fish in a small lake.
As he stood in front of the massive wall that surrounded the Han Clan's two-thousand-acre property with his hands behind his back, Ah Mieu thought the grandiosity of place was decent at best.
But with that said, he was not about to look down on the Han Clan. In fact, after assessing the appearance of the property, Ah Mieu could not help but nod his head in approval when he thought about its position near the transportation hub. After getting directions from passersby, it had only taken him twenty minutes to reach the front of their gates.
"As a Clan known for their Rune Inscriptions, they've successfully woven themselves into the very fabric of the Eastern District by becoming the ones responsible for overseeing and maintaining the Flying Ships. Then, using the excuse of being closer to repair and maintaining them, they've strategically positioned their Clan near the transportation hub, thus becoming the unofficial overseers of the entire area."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Ah Mieu's lips. The reason why having control over the transportation hub, which is the center of the Eastern District, is so significant is just as one might imagine. It is the heart of the Eastern District. All the resources in the district need to pass through here before reaching anyone's mouth. So, if one were to stop the heart, the limbs would slowly rot.
In other words, the Eastern District might be said to have three Major Clans on the surface, but in fact, it has only one Hegemon Clan.
With hands folded behind his back and a slight smile on his lips, Ah Mieu walked towards the large, golden double gates of the Han Clan, which sported two lion heads on each of the doors.
A few pedestrians walking by suddenly turned their heads to curiously observe this plainly dressed youth approach the Han Clan, but Ah Mieu did not mind their gazes.
After walking up the short flight of steps, he reached the doors and extended his hand to use the metal ring in one of the lion's mouths to knock on the door.
The dull sound of metal meeting wood echoed out three times before Ah Mieu retrieved his hand and stood there waiting. However, after waiting for a while, he did not see anyone coming to answer the door.
Ah Mieu paused with a thoughtful look on his face. After three seconds, he glanced at the doors with an assessing gaze. Then, after another four seconds had passed, he reached out with his hand and tapped a certain spot on one of the doors two times, before drawing a full circle around that spot with his finger four times.
All of a sudden, red Rune Inscriptions that were once invisible to the naked eye flashed into existence on the doors. But not even a second after they appeared, they shattered into specs of red light.
Ah Mieu then pushed open one of the double doors and calmly entered the Han Clan residence. As the door closed behind him, the pedestrians who were observing him had expressions of disbelief appear on their faces.
....
...
..
Twenty-Nine Minutes Later...
Inside a certain room located in the deepest area of the Han Clan, which was only reserved for very, very important guests visiting them. Ah Mieu had just sat down at a table after walking around the room when a maid entered the room with a tray, upon which were a pot of tea and two cups.
She approached his table and skillfully placed the items down before pouring him tea in a well-practiced manner.
"Thank you."
Ah Mieu said politely as he picked up the teacup. The maid did not reply, but she smiled sweetly and bowed before turning to leave.
The guard who was by the door allowed her to leave before positioning himself back in front of the door. His face was cold and expressionless, but he could not help but glance at the mysterious youth who was sitting at the table in the middle of the room with a mix of emotions swirling in his heart. The more prominent ones were fear and confusion, especially when he thought back to a few minutes ago, when the youth somehow destroyed their Clan's Grand Formation Array and casually began roaming inside their residence while looking for their Clan Patriarch.
He had even been so brazened as to stop a few of their servants and guards to ask for directions.
The guard had the corner of his mouth twitch uncontrollably upon reaching here in his thoughts because he was that guard. However, rather than doing his duty, he actually took it upon himself to lead him here before going to report to his Patriarch.
He had thought someone had neglected their duty and left an important guest wandering around.
He also initially planned to find that person and teach them a harsh lesson, but it was only after he reported this youth's presence to his Patriarch that he found out the youth was just a random person who had somehow disabled their Grand Formation Array and snuck in.
At that moment in time, he had thought that he had made a colossal mistake, but his Patriarch, instead of punishing him, ordered him to guard the room the youth was in and have a maid serve him.
The guard was at first angry at this youth for tricking him, but while returning to this room, he began thinking about why his Patriarch gave that order and what it meant for someone so young to break their Clan's Grand Formation Array. By the time he reached the room, his anger had transformed into both fear and confusion, which were all aimed at this plain-looking youth.
After drinking his first cup of tea, Ah Mieu licked his lips while his eyes behind his bangs glinted with surprise.
Without hesitation, he poured himself another cup of tea.
After another fifteen minutes and several more cups of the delicious tea, Ah Mieu finally heard faint footsteps approaching the room door. He keenly noted their rhythmic nature and deduced that they were from someone who had practiced Martial Arts. If he were to be more specific, this person has practiced Swordsmanship, and though he was trying to hide it, just that alone shows their level was not shallow.
'Huh... A Clan that specializes in Rune Inscription has a Patriarch that is extremely proficient in Swordsmanship, and it's to the point he's unable to hide their traces in his steps. Indeed, this Han Clan is not so simple.'