Close to being bored out of his mind, Yan Mingliang tried his best to pay attention. The problem was, like all shows, the Daoist Times liked to not only drag things out a bit, but also give a lot of useless information.

In the end, the visuals were what kept Yan Mingliang attentive. With flashy colors, interesting graphics, and stunning pictures, they kept the eyes interested—even if the content was so boring that Yan Mingliang checked his ears to ensure they were still attached to his head.

Deciding to propose a pause on the watch party once they finished Lin Songmei’s part, Yan Mingliang took a moment to knead his eyebrows as the show continued to drone on about the most basic information about Lin Songmei. Her sect, her fighting style, whatever.

Tuning out the broadcast, Yan Mingliang went back to his new pastime, eavesdropping on the important people sitting above himself. For Yan Mingliang, he was numb to how famous his parents were; however, it was still... jaw-dropping, to say the least, to see such esteemed figures bantering with his parents.

[Now, I understand Lin Songmei’s basic fighting style,] The host commented, [but I can’t help but notice she’s... not our usual damage-dealer or tank. Would you say then that she falls under the elusive category of support?]

Tuning back in with a raised eyebrow, Yan Mingliang resisted the urge to call the host dumb until an expert corrected him.

[Hmm... I wouldn’t say elusive,] The expert began, pausing while taking a moment to figure out how to phrase it. [Support itself is a broad category. Most backline combatants in general can be considered support and really, they’re incredibly useful. However, I’d say what sets Lin Songmei apart is her natural cultivation path.]

[Cultivation path?] The host exclaimed with an over-the-top incredulity. [Please, enlighten me.]

Raising his eyebrows with how fake it sounded, Yan Mingliang shook his head as the expert continued, it really was a basic concept.

[So, the cultivation path is just how the cultivation art will develop. For someone like... Yan Mingqing, let’s say, her combat skills will skyrocket.] The expert shrugged, giving an easy example as a graphic popped up on screen. [Right now, her fighting style is quite limited by range, but us experts don’t criticize or focus on it because we know that in the future, her cultivation path will naturally make her into an offensive juggernaut.]

[Then, considering her... cultivation path, what makes Lin Songmei so unique?] The host asked, motioning for the expert to continue.

[Well, as a support, we like to say you have to choose between being able to fight and being able to heal. However, Lin Songmei’s able to cultivate a very unique art.] The expert explained with an interested gleam entering his eyes. [It starts off very fighting focused, very stereotypical. But later on it really blossoms, and here’s where I have to praise Starlight Lake for choosing an art that fits Lin Songmei so well. In the later stages of the art, it really diverges, turning into a potent healing art while also still providing enough firepower to make an impact on any battlefield.]

[Why do you say it's so difficult then? Why doesn’t everyone cultivate an art like this?] The host asked, posing an easy question most people should know the answer to just to guide the discussion along.

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[I think it’s quite the easy answer, it’s an issue of... aptitude really.] The expert reiterated. [By adding more things into a cultivation art, it takes more time and more Qi to cultivate to the next realm. That’s why many top disciples, with the most complicated cultivation arts, advance at a similar pace to disciples at lower levels. The difference is just that they're much more powerful at the same level.]

[Interesting, interesting,] The host nodded as the conversation slowed, [I’m still so amazed someone like her has rocketed so high. She’s an orphan isn’t she? Is anything known about her background?]

[Well, her background, as publicized by Starlight Lake, is completely mundane.] An expert answered after a hesitant pause. [It seems like not even she or the sect know. However, some are in doubt because she has inherited some eye-related powers. It’s rare to see, but it seems she’s been training them ever so slowly.]

[Ah... are people investigating then?] The host asked, curious as he began to smell the hook of a new story.

Deflating the host’s hopes, an expert waved him off. [There are people trying to do an investigation based on looks alone. However, because neither the sect nor Lin Songmei herself have addressed or shared any information regarding the topic, no third-party investigations have yielded any information. We also don’t know if Starlight Lake is doing an investigation on their own. We assume they are, but as experts, we sadly still have no insight into the sects themselves.]

[Understandable, the top sects are very mysterious after all,] The host nodded, pausing to try and find another segue to move into.

Yan Mingliang, watching an awkward silence fall onto the conversation being held by the broadcast, could only facepalm. They were wasting the segment! Out of everyone in the broadcast mentioned so far, Lin Songmei was the only... really interesting one. At least for Yan Mingliang.

Sure, he wasn’t as interested in high-status young disciples because... he himself had been one and he had talked to many of them. But still! Wasn’t it more interesting to follow the unlikely underdog than the already established, expected top prospects?

Breaking the atmosphere of quiet murmurs, one expert jump-started the conversation. [Well, there is a rumor, it’s not very substantial, and many people doubt it. However, there are some theories that Lin Songmei and Yan Mingqing are dating.]

Snorting the moment the broadcast shared the rumor, Yan Mingliang suppressed his laughter as a huge raucous broke out in the upper level.

With two voices echoing above the rest, Yan Mingliang sighed as he looked back. Of course it was his father and mother. At least they had improved, Yan Mingliang himself remembered when he first brought home a girlfriend. Their reaction was... cold... at best.

Now, both his father and mother were just astounded Mingqing managed to woo such a nice looking girl...

Maybe that was more of a dig at Mingqing though...

Listening to their mother go “Little Mingqing? She’s not social! There’s no way...” Yan Mingliang tried his best to resist a facepalm. She did have a point though, Yan Mingqing was pretty social, it just... takes a little to open her up.

Their father, on the other hand, having more of a private conversation with White Tiger, spoke just loud enough for Yan Mingliang to overhear. “I just don’t know if I should feel good... I feel a little sad that my daughter is leaving the nest and growing up... but out of everyone, this Lin Songmei seems... not bad.”

“You should feel good,” White Tiger grinned and laughed, “In previous generations of this clan, I’ve seen many worse couples. Sometimes, I’ve even wanted to separate them! Some of those spouses were just... demon-like! More so than the demons themselves! Not my business though, so I’m glad the clan has survived to the present day.”

Having a whiff of some family history he was not aware of, Yan Mingliang took a mental note. He’d ask his father about it the next time he came by to learn more about family affairs as part of his training as the next head of house. “Just who was so controversial in our past?”

Remembering the group chat, Yan Mingliang shot a message to his team, maybe he could crowdsource the information...