Mediation

Gazing at Xiao Yu standing in front of Xiao Yan, Gale Bi's expression shifted unpredictably.

He naturally knew Xiao Yu, the Xiao Family Great Elder's biological granddaughter, and he was also aware of what had happened at the Xiao Family Market today.

To put it bluntly, the Gale Family had been in the wrong from the start. Causing trouble on someone else's territory was one thing, but they had even tried to snatch someone off the street. No matter who heard it, they would find it indefensible.

Therefore, Gale Bi had no face to go to the Xiao Family and demand an explanation for his son and the Gale Family guards being whipped all over by Xiao Yu, while Liu Xi had been beaten half to death.

And more importantly, there were the words his son, Gale Ao, had told him.

Xiao Yu, a mere Three-star Dou Shi, had instantly defeated the Gale Family guards, the weakest of whom were Five-star Dou Shi!

If anyone else had told Gale Bi this, he would never have believed it even if beaten to death!

Pure nonsense! Utterly absurd!

But his own son had said it, leaving Gale Bi no choice but to believe.

And now, after seeing Xiao Yu with his own eyes, the shock in his heart became impossible to describe.

Xiao Yu truly was only a Three-star Dou Shi. There was no doubt about that.

Yet that whip just now was something even he, a High-level Great Dou Shi, would not dare take head-on!

With such strength, instantly defeating those Dou Master guards of his would be no problem at all!!!

What kind of monsters were these people from the Xiao Family?!!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu stood guard in front of Xiao Yan, warily watching Gale Bi. She glanced slightly at Xiao Yan behind her and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he did not appear to be in mortal danger.

Xiao Yu then focused all her attention on Gale Bi before her.

It was not as though she had never fought High-level Great Dou Shi in the academy, but she had lost more often than she had won, and every match had been perilously close regardless of the outcome.

But now, if she lost to Gale Bi, the fate awaiting her and Xiao Yan was easy to imagine.

This was, after all, the Gale Family's territory. They would never let members of the Xiao Family off easily.

Fortunately, before leaving, Xiao Yu had already informed Xiao Zhan and told him to bring people over.

At this moment, they arrived just in time.

"Gale Bi! You can even lay hands on juniors? You old dog have truly lived backward all these years!!!"

Along with that furious roar, Xiao Zhan suddenly appeared between Xiao Yu and Gale Bi. The Great Elder stood to one side, gazing worriedly at his granddaughter.

"Yu'er! Are you alright?"

At that moment, Xiao Yu finally relaxed completely. Gazing at the Xiao Family guards confronting the Gale Family guards outside the courtyard, she softly spoke to her grandfather.

"Grandfather, I'm fine."

Xiao Yu then turned around to examine Xiao Yan's condition. Though he was covered in blood, his body was tough enough that his muscles and bones had not been injured. He had merely fallen unconscious.

Behind Xiao Yu, Gale Bi pointed at Xiao Zhan and sternly rebuked him.

"Xiao Zhan! Your rebellious son trespassed into my Gale Family, beat up my Gale Family guards, and crippled all four of my son's limbs! He did not even spare Mister Liu! You must give me an explanation today!!!"

"Hmph! They had it coming!"

Xiao Zhan coldly refuted him, finally getting the chance to observe the situation in the courtyard. Deep in his eyes, surprise emerged.

Putting aside the matter of strength for now, the Gale Family guards only appeared to have been knocked unconscious and had not suffered serious injuries. That was also in keeping with his son's usual habit of showing mercy.

But Xiao Yan's methods toward Gale Ao and Liu Xi had been exceedingly cruel. The former had all four limbs crippled, while the latter was covered in blood even below the waist. Judging by his ragged breathing, he clearly did not have long to live.

Had his son truly done something so cruel?

Xiao Zhan felt deep fear in his heart. In his eyes, his son had always been gentle and amiable, someone who tried to avoid violence whenever conflicts arose.

Even if Xiao Yan resorted to violence, he would still leave others some room to retreat, just as he had during the Life-and-Death Duel with Gale Ao.

But this kind of brutal conduct, which completely escalated the conflict beyond reconciliation, was simply not something Xiao Yan would normally do!

But regardless of the truth, Xiao Yan was still his, Xiao Zhan's, son. It was not anyone else's place to teach him a lesson!

"Gale Bi! Wasn't it your people who first went to our Xiao Family Market to cause trouble?!"

Xiao Zhan glared at Gale Bi, his eyes carrying an unquestionable dominance.

"Never mind that! You even wanted to use force to abduct the Xiao Family Great Elder's granddaughter! Do you really think the Xiao Family has no one left?!!"

The instant his words fell, Xiao Zhan's aura as a High-level Great Dou Shi, equal to Gale Bi's, surged forth, making the pressure throughout the courtyard grow heavier.

Xiao Zhan's attitude was extremely clear.

Your Gale Family was at fault first. Ending up in such a miserable state was entirely your own doing!

"Xiao Zhan! You old bastard!!!"

Xiao Zhan's unyielding attitude sent Gale Bi into a fury. He glared at Xiao Zhan with a twisted expression.

"Fine! Fine!!!" So enraged that he even forgot the pain from his broken arm, Gale Bi raised his hand and roared with blazing fury, "I'll fight you to the death today! All Gale Family members, heed my command!!!"

Seeing Gale Bi's savage face, so enraged that all reason had vanished, Xiao Zhan's expression darkened deeply as well.

It seemed this battle could not be avoided today.

Clap!

Suddenly, a loud clap rang through the courtyard, startling both groups that had been on the verge of fighting. Then, a bewitching voice drifted in from outside the courtyard.

"Peace should be valued above all else. Why must the two Clan Leaders lose their tempers so badly?"

Everyone looked over to see a seductive woman in a long red dress swaying her boneless willow-like waist as she passed between the guards of both families. She entered the courtyard gracefully and stood between Xiao Zhan and Gale Bi.

The chief auctioneer of the Miter Auction House's Wutan City branch, Ya Fei!

"Young Lady Ya Fei, this is a private grudge between the Xiao Family and me. It has nothing to do with the Miter Auction House."

Even Gale Bi did not dare act recklessly before the Miter Auction House's future heir. He forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart and tried his best to politely persuade Ya Fei to leave.

Xiao Zhan looked at Ya Fei, who appeared quite close to his son, but said nothing.

"Hehe~ What are you saying, Clan Leader Gale? Are you treating Ya Fei as an outsider?" Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed charmingly. "We all conduct business in Wutan City. If the Xiao Family and Gale Family were to have a major conflict, my Miter Auction House would naturally be affected as well. How could I possibly stand by and ignore it?"

Ya Fei's words left Gale Bi speechless. He merely stared at her intently.

He understood that this woman was determined to meddle in this matter today.

"Ya Fei already knows the general course of events."

Ya Fei lightly stroked the corner of her lips as she slowly looked at Gale Bi.

"The incident began when your young master went to the Xiao Family Market to cause trouble and even attempted to forcibly abduct the Xiao Family Great Elder's granddaughter. You have no objection to that, correct?"

"..."

Gale Bi's expression was as dark as water, but he could not utter a single word of rebuttal.

Because it was the truth.

Seeing Gale Bi tacitly admit it, Ya Fei turned her gaze toward Xiao Zhan and spoke softly.

"Clan Leader Xiao, although the Gale Family was at fault first, your Noble Young Master forcibly entered the Gale Family's residence, beat several guards, broke all four of Young Master Gale's limbs, and beat Mister Liu until he was on the verge of death. You have no argument against that either, correct?"

"My son committed wrongs due to my failure as his father to keep him properly in check. I, Xiao, will certainly bear responsibility!"

Xiao Zhan clasped his fists and spoke solemnly.

Ya Fei then brought her hands together and smiled seductively.

"Doesn't that make things simple?" Ya Fei looked at Gale Bi. "Clan Leader Gale, regarding the medicinal ingredients your Gale Family recently purchased, I guarantee in the Miter Auction House's name that we will do everything possible to gather them for you, and we will reduce the purchase cost by thirty percent."

"This..."

Gale Bi was stunned. Although the ingredients for Hui Chun San were not expensive, thirty percent would be a considerable sum once the quantities became large. Moreover, Ya Fei had guaranteed that she would gather them with all her strength, meaning the Gale Family would not need to worry about supplies running out!

Seeing that Gale Bi was tempted, Ya Fei turned to Xiao Zhan.

"Clan Leader Xiao, the thirty percent reduction on the medicinal ingredients Clan Leader Gale purchases will be paid by the Xiao Family as punishment. What do you think?"

What a shrewd calculation!

Xiao Zhan, Gale Bi, and everyone present inwardly mocked Ya Fei's words.

After all this maneuvering, the Miter Auction House had not lost anything. It had even gained a good reputation, and it no longer needed to worry about its medicinal ingredients going unsold.

This woman truly had a talent for business.

But even so, this compromise was the best outcome for both the Xiao Family and the Gale Family.

"I, Xiao, accept such punishment."

Thus, under Ya Fei's mediation, the two great families of Wutan City finally avoided a fight to the bitter end.

Xiao Yu carried the unconscious Xiao Yan on her back and left the courtyard under the Great Elder's company, with Xiao Zhan following behind them.

As he passed Gale Bi, Gale Bi's sinister and cold voice clearly entered his ears.

"Xiao Zhan, I gave Young Lady Ya Fei face today, but this is not over!"

"Heh, likewise."

Xiao Zhan clasped his fists toward Gale Bi and left the Gale Family with the members of the Xiao Family. Ya Fei also politely bade Gale Bi farewell before departing with them.

After all the outsiders had left, Gale Bi looked at Gale Ao lying on the ground with all four limbs broken, and a trace of heartache inevitably appeared in his eyes.

No matter how disappointing he was, he was still his biological son.

However, Gale Bi was not overly worried. His bones were merely broken. On the Dou Qi Continent, that was not a difficult injury to treat. He would recover after resting for some time.

But the key issue was—

Gale Bi shifted his gaze to the utterly miserable Liu Xi, who had already breathed his last. There was no pity in his eyes as he cursed in a low voice.

"You lecherous bastard! If not for your identity as an alchemist, you would have died hundreds of times over! That Xiao Family kid did the people a service today!"

Though he said that, no matter how much he despised Liu Xi's character, Liu Xi had played an indispensable role in helping the Gale Family steal customers from the Xiao Family.

And there was also the matter of Hui Chun San. The Miter Auction House had promised to reduce the cost of Hui Chun San ingredients by thirty percent, but without Liu Xi, there was no one left to refine the medicine. Even if they bought the ingredients, they would be useless.

That vacancy had to be filled quickly.

"Second Elder." Gale Bi slightly turned his head and looked toward the Gale Family's Second Elder, Gale Nu. In a cold voice, he said, "Personally take people and invite Liu Xi's teacher here. Tell him that his beloved disciple was killed by that Xiao Family kid, and that our Gale Family will fully assist him in taking revenge on the Xiao Family."

"Yes!"