You've Got Some Nerve

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, the year had reached its end. This also meant that the Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony was about to begin.

Outside Wutan City, a beautiful woman entered the city, her round, slender, seductive legs—enough to make any woman envious—carrying her slowly toward the Xiao Family.

The woman was Xiao Yu, the Xiao Family Great Elder's granddaughter and the biological sister of the Xiao Family Disciple Xiao Ning.

Two years ago, Xiao Yu had entered Jia Nan Academy, the most renowned institution on the Dou Qi Continent, hoping to find the reason Xiao Yan had lost his Dou Qi and a way to solve it.

Yet even now, she had found nothing.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yu could not help muttering curses under her breath.

"What renowned academy? They couldn't even find a single clue. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone."

Though she said that, Xiao Yu understood that if she were given another chance, she would still have entered Jia Nan Academy two years ago.

For no other reason than Xiao Yan. Even if the hope was infinitesimal, she would still do everything she could to find an answer.

On her way back to the Xiao Family, Xiao Yu passed through the Xiao Family Market and suddenly frowned. She swept her eyes over the sparse pedestrians and noticed that many of the shops in the market had been left empty as well.

Why had the Xiao Family Market become so deserted?

Just as Xiao Yu was pondering this, a figure suddenly blocked her path. What followed was a frivolous voice that made her sick to the bone.

"Oh, oh, oh~~~ I never expected such a tiny place as Wutan City to have a beauty like this?"

The man's eyes overflowed with desire as he openly looked Xiao Yu up and down, his gaze finally settling on her exquisite legs.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk~ These beautiful legs are simply the finest I've seen in all my years as an alchemist."

"Huh?"

Hearing such lewd words, Xiao Yu's face darkened slightly as she stared coldly at the rude man before her.

His body was weak and unsteady, his face pale, and his attire dissolute. One glance was enough to tell that he indulged in lust far too often.

Xiao Yu had never shown the slightest courtesy to men like this. Besides, compared with the righteous Xiao Yan, this man was even more unbearable to look at.

"Get lost."

After tossing out those words, Xiao Yu walked past the man, intending to return to the Xiao Family. Yet he refused to let it go and blocked her path again.

"Don't leave, beauty~ This alchemist is Liu Xi. Would you like to share a night of spring with me? Glory and wealth are guaranteed to satisfy you~"

"Scum."

A trace of anger surfaced on Xiao Yu's face as she reached for the long whip at her waist.

Her temper had always been worse than that of the other Xiao Family members, only slightly better than Xiao Mei's. And now, this disgusting man kept pestering her again and again.

Clearly, Xiao Yu's patience was nearly exhausted.

Just as Xiao Yu was about to make her move, a figure stepped between Liu Xi and Xiao Yu, wearing a flattering smile.

"Well, um, Xiao Yu, Mister Liu didn't mean anything by it. I hope you won't take it to heart."

Seeing the man who had suddenly stepped in front of her, Xiao Yu frowned slightly.

She knew this man.

He was Gale Ao, son of Gale Bi, the clan leader of the Gale Family, one of Wutan City's three great clans alongside the Xiao Family.

"Please call me Young Lady Xiao Yu. We aren't close enough for you to address me so familiarly."

Xiao Yu glared coldly at Gale Ao, then withdrew the hand that had nearly reached her long whip.

After all, he was the son of one of the three great clan leaders. If she could avoid causing trouble for the Xiao Family, she would.

With that in mind, Xiao Yu stretched out her long legs again, preparing to leave.

However, the Next Moment, Liu Xi blocked her way once more.

But This Time, Xiao Yu would not tolerate it.

"You've got some nerve!!!"

Xiao Yu raised her long leg and viciously kicked Liu Xi in the abdomen, sending him flying more than ten meters away. Gale Ao and the nearby Gale Family guards were stunned for quite some time before they reacted.

My dear grandma?! Why did you attack without even giving me a warning?!!

After coming to his senses, Gale Ao immediately rushed to Liu Xi's side to check on him.

This was no joke! Liu Xi was currently the Gale Family's cash cow! If anything truly happened to him, wouldn't his father skin him alive?

Fortunately, although Liu Xi's body had been hollowed out by wine and women, he was still a Seven-star Dou Zhe. Moreover, Xiao Yu had not used her full strength in that kick, so there was no Serious Problem.

But Xiao Yu's kick had essentially kicked away all the dignity he had as an alchemist!

When had Liu Xi ever suffered such humiliation?!

"Gale Ao!!! Capture this woman for this alchemist!"

Liu Xi sat up clutching his stomach. The little bit of elegance he had displayed earlier had vanished completely as he pointed viciously at Xiao Yu with a savage expression.

"This..."

Hearing Liu Xi's order, Gale Ao was immediately put in a difficult position.

She was the Xiao Family Great Elder's granddaughter! You want me to capture her? Are you trying to make the Xiao Family fight us?!

Gale Ao could not help blaming his father inwardly. How had he found such a brainless idiot?!

Liu Xi also saw Gale Ao's predicament and added another sentence.

"I have an even better prescription! With this prescription, driving the Xiao Family out of Wutan City will be effortless!"

Those words undoubtedly tipped the scales in Gale Ao's heart.

Ever since Xiao Yan had beaten him flat on the ground, the ashamed Gale Ao had stayed home for a full three months. He had only dared to come out recently because Xiao Yan had not shown himself in Wutan City for some time.

Thus, it was easy to imagine Gale Ao's hatred for Xiao Yan and the Xiao Family. He desperately wanted to trample the entire Xiao Family beneath his feet and mock them to his heart's content!

"Men!"

Gale Ao raised one hand and shouted. The Gale Family guards immediately surrounded Xiao Yu.

These guards had been personally selected by Gale Ao's Father, Gale Bi, to protect Liu Xi. Even the weakest among them was a Five-star Dou Shi!

"Xiao Yu, please come with us."

Gale Ao looked Sinister and Cold as he stared at Xiao Yu, surrounded by guards. Xiao Yu glanced lightly at the Gale Family guards around her, a scornful smirk curling at the corner of her lips.

"I've only been gone for a year, and your Gale Family has already become this pathetic. You can even snatch people off the street now? Have dogs eaten all your shame?!"

Xiao Yu's insults instantly made Gale Ao's expression incomparably ugly, yet he said nothing.

Because he truly had no way to refute her. No matter what excuse one used for snatching someone off the street, it would sound utterly weak and powerless.

But since he had already decided to do it, he would see it through to the end.

"Attack!"

Gale Ao gave the order in a Cold Voice, and the guards slowly closed in on Xiao Yu.

In response, there was not the Slightest trace of retreat in Xiao Yu's eyes—only deep contempt.

"I was originally planning to come back and have a happy New Year, but before I could even enter my home, I ran into trash like you. What rotten luck." As Xiao Yu spoke, her aura steadily rose. "Fine."

The Next Second, under Gale Ao's astonished gaze, the Dou Qi within Xiao Yu's body erupted instantly.

"Today, I'll make you dogs remember this to your bones—Xiao Family members are not to be provoked!!!"