Xiao Mei Frightened Away

The midday sun shone into the Xiao Clan's main hall.

Xiao Zhan sat in the seat of honor, with the Three Elders of the Xiao Clan seated below him.

The hot-tempered Third Elder was the first to speak.

"Xiao Zhan, why did you summon us? We still have other matters to attend to."

"Exactly, exactly. Instead of wasting time on this, Xiao Zhan, you might as well find Xiao Yan a way out, so that he won't..."

Before the elder could finish, Xiao Zhan's expression darkened as he roared.

"Enough!"

The Three Elders had no choice but to shut their mouths. Though they said nothing further, their dissatisfaction with Xiao Zhan only grew.

After waiting a while and seeing that the Three Elders had fallen silent, Xiao Zhan slowly explained what Xiao Yan had told him about the Peach Pastry from Ruyi Zhai.

A few minutes later, Xiao Zhan swept his gaze over the Three Elders and said,

"I have tried the food called Peach Pastry. It can indeed increase Dou Qi, and its effects rival those of a first-grade medicinal pill. Elders, tell me what you think."

The Third Elder spoke first.

"There is actually something this miraculous? Then we must firmly keep it in the Xiao Clan's hands. I think we should buy that shop."

The Second Elder also agreed with the Third Elder and said,

"Since Ruyi Zhai is located in our Xiao Family Market, its owner should know the Xiao Clan's status and strength in Wutan City. I agree with the Third Elder."

The First Elder was more composed. After giving it some thought, he felt that something was not right.

"I do not agree with buying Ruyi Zhai. Have you considered this? If they can produce such miraculous food that increases Dou Qi, could there be no powerful force backing that shop? You are thinking too simply."

"Then what should we do? We cannot let the Jia Lie Family discover Ruyi Zhai's secret."

The Second Elder spoke with some concern.

The Third Elder's temper flared, and he said directly,

"At worst, we go to war with the Jia Lie Family. The Xiao Clan is not afraid."

Just as the Three Elders were unable to decide, Xiao Zhan spoke.

"Three Elders, hear me out. I think we should build a good relationship with Ruyi Zhai's owner. Just as the First Elder said, anyone capable of producing something so extraordinary must have an expert or a powerful force supporting them. If we can befriend Ruyi Zhai, we may also gain the favor of the force behind the shop."

"That is indeed reasonable. It is better to make one friend than one enemy. Moreover, building a good relationship with an expert could help the Xiao Clan break the current three-way stalemate and become the ruler of Wutan City."

The First Elder said.

"If that is the case, how should we build a relationship with Ruyi Zhai? They probably would not care for our medicinal pills or Martial Skills."

The Third Elder asked worriedly.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Zhan said,

"My Yan seems to have a good relationship with that shop's owner. I think we can use Yan to build ties with Ruyi Zhai."

"Xiao Yan? He has a good relationship with that shop's owner? Impossible, isn't it?"

The Second Elder held Xiao Yan in great contempt. What could a worthless third stage of Dou Qi do?

The other elders also felt that Xiao Zhan was probably trying to deceive them when he claimed Xiao Yan had a good relationship with the shop's owner.

Seeing the scornful, disbelieving expressions on the Three Elders' faces, Xiao Zhan was furious inside, but he still restrained himself. Taking a deep breath, he said,

"This is the truth. Xiao Yan truly has a good relationship with that shop's owner."

"Xiao Zhan, what is that shop owner called? Perhaps we should investigate his background."

The Second Elder asked cautiously.

"According to Xiao Yan, his name is Xiao Cheng. He is about the same age as Yan, but his strength is unknown."

Xiao Zhan said.

"Second Elder, we cannot investigate Ruyi Zhai. What if we anger the force behind it? That would bring disaster upon the Xiao Clan."

The First Elder rejected the Second Elder's idea of investigating Xiao Cheng's identity.

If things were truly as they believed, and a powerful force stood behind Ruyi Zhai to support Xiao Cheng, then blindly investigating him would only bring disaster upon the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan nodded as well.

"The First Elder is right. We cannot investigate Ruyi Zhai. The most important thing now is to have more of the younger generation in the clan visit Ruyi Zhai and buy Peach Pastry. That way, they can increase their Dou Qi while indirectly drawing closer to Ruyi Zhai."

The Three Elders exchanged looks and nodded in agreement. This method was feasible: it could raise the Xiao Clan's overall strength without any side effects while also building goodwill with Ruyi Zhai. Why not?

Xiao Cheng, who was in Ruyi Zhai, had no idea about the background Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders had imagined for him. If he knew, he would probably laugh himself silly.

He had no powerful force and no expert backing him. At most, he had a system helping him.

Naturally, he would not tell anyone the system's secret. Only he could know it; it had to remain buried in his heart.

After Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er had come by that morning, no one else had visited Ruyi Zhai. Mainly because the shop was located in a remote corner of the market, and few people came here in the first place.

"If my guess is right, Xiao Yan's old grandfather should have been awakened. Old Yao... I really want to meet this Venerable Yao."

Xiao Cheng slowly said as he looked at the street outside.

He still cared a great deal about Xiao Yan, his fellow townsman. Old Yao had absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years to nourish his soul. If Old Yao had not awakened, Xiao Yan would never have gained that dazzling protagonist's halo later on.

But now that Xiao Cheng was here, with Ruyi Zhai and Peach Pastry that could increase Dou Qi, Xiao Yan's circumstances could quickly change.

"Fellow townsman, don't disgrace us Earthlings."

As Xiao Cheng sighed, a pure-looking young girl suddenly walked in from outside. She carried a hint of charm and appeared to be around Xiao Yan's age.

Huh? Why is it Xiao Mei? In the original story, she seemed to have liked Xiao Yan, but after he became useless, she distanced herself from him. She really is a little beauty.

Xiao Cheng thought.

Xiao Mei had originally planned to cultivate at the Xiao Clan. She was currently at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, and she felt that she would soon reach the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi.

However, staying in the clan all the time was truly boring. Besides, she was only fourteen or fifteen, an age when young girls loved to play. Unable to sit still, she came to stroll around the market and unexpectedly discovered Ruyi Zhai, so she entered.

"Are you the owner of this shop?"

Xiao Mei asked.

"I am Xiao Cheng, the manager of Ruyi Zhai. Would you like to buy Peach Pastry?"

"Peach Pastry? Is it something to eat?"

Xiao Mei asked doubtfully.

Xiao Cheng nodded and briefly explained what Peach Pastry was to Xiao Mei.

"Oh, there is something so miraculous? Then I'll buy one to try it. How much is it?"

In the end, Xiao Mei decided to buy one and taste it.

"Eighty-eight Gold Coins. It's worth every coin."

Upon hearing the price of eighty-eight Gold Coins, Xiao Mei was stunned.

"So expensive? Then... then I'll come back another time."

Without waiting for Xiao Cheng to persuade her otherwise, the girl hurriedly left Ruyi Zhai.

Seeing Xiao Mei like this, Xiao Cheng smiled bitterly and said,

"Am I really that scary?"

What Xiao Mei did not know was that later, she would cry and plead for a piece of Peach Pastry, acting cute and coquettish toward Xiao Cheng. In the end, she would even nearly sell herself to him.