I, Xiao Yan, Won't Be a Third Wheel

Bang!

Before Xiao Yan could answer, a heavy impact rang out.

Everyone saw Jia Lie Ao turn into a streak of light and fly backward, only stopping after crashing into a wall in the Marketplace.

The whole thing happened too fast for most people to react.

"Pfft!"

Jia Lie Ao spat out blood. Raising his head to look at the man whose foot was planted on his chest, he said venomously, "Chu Xiao!"

Amid the dust, a figure gradually came into view. Three thousand strands of black hair draped over his shoulders, and his sharply defined face looked as though it had been sculpted. His thick brows were sharp and cold, his high nose like towering distant mountains, his bone structure exquisitely pronounced. His slightly reddened thin lips were pressed together, while his deep eyes held mystery and astonishing danger.

Dressed in a black robe trimmed with silver, his tall, straight figure appeared stern and imposing. His aura was as deep as an abyss, as steady as a mountain, enough to inspire fear at a glance. He gave off both an icy and abstinent air, yet the faint smile at the corner of his lips added a touch of life to him.

"So he's Chu Xiao!" Yun Yun's beautiful eyes stirred.

Over the past nearly thirty years, she had seen countless handsome men and gifted prodigies, yet not one of them could compare to the young man before her.

If, for some reason, she were to develop a bit of ambiguity with this young man, it would be perfectly normal.

"And this bearing isn't something a Dou Master could possess."

In that instant, Yun Yun was almost certain that Chu Xiao was a reincarnator.

In truth, however, it had to do with him becoming a first-grade alchemist, fusing with the Thunder Flame Emperor Flame to undergo an all-around transformation, and having his soul power improved.

After fusing with the Thunder Flame Emperor Flame, Chu Xiao's realm had not changed, but his strength had increased greatly. In addition, after visualizing the Diary for an entire night, his soul power had become more compatible with his flame, and he had already taken the first step within the Mortal Realm.

By his estimation, simply visualizing the Diary Ancient Book would be enough for his soul to enter the Spirit Realm within a few months.

At that time, although he would not be able to "get possessed by a ghost" like Xiao Yan, he would still be able to boost his strength.

If he could learn a soul attack technique, he could even ambush a Dou Huang.

So many changes had occurred in one night. Naturally, his temperament had changed as well.

"Men."

Chu Xiao did not even spare Jia Lie Ao a glance as he spoke calmly.

Very soon, a squad of armored guards appeared and came to Chu Xiao's side.

"Young Master Chu Xiao." The middle-aged man at the front clasped his fists in salute.

He was the head of the Marketplace guard squad, a three-star Dou Master.

He was considered a minor higher-up in the Xiao Family and had connections, so he already knew about Chu Xiao's strength.

An eighteen-year-old Dou Master—with sufficient resources, becoming a Dou Ling would not be a problem. He had the potential of a Dou Wang!

"Take him away and throw him into the Jia Lie Family Marketplace." Chu Xiao smiled and waved his hand. "Today, he dared to block a Xiao Family young lady in our Marketplace. Tomorrow, he might casually beat up customers who come here. The day after that, he might directly rob the goods in the Marketplace."

"The Xiao Family must provide all merchants and customers with a safe environment. We absolutely cannot tolerate the existence of such a menace."

"I'll have my uncle speak with the Jia Lie Family Patriarch. Does he intend to start a war with the Xiao Family?"

Everyone: ?

Everyone: !

"Pfft!" Jia Lie Ao sprayed out another mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

That last line had been his line. The line before it was simply slander.

"Yes, Young Master."

The guard captain immediately had two men carry Jia Lie Ao away.

Chu Xiao then clasped his fists toward everyone. "My apologies for disrupting your visit to the Marketplace. Today, all merchants setting up stalls in the Xiao Family Marketplace will receive a ten percent discount on their stall fees."

"Anyone shopping at Xiao Family stores will receive a five percent discount on transactions of one hundred Gold Coins or more."

Upon hearing this, the people who had merely been watching for entertainment immediately began discussing among themselves.

Some who had not planned to set up stalls today instantly changed their minds.

Those preparing to buy things immediately decided to buy more today.

To common folk like them, saving ten percent or five percent was still no small amount of wealth.

"Thank you, Young Master Chu Xiao! Thank you, Young Master Chu Xiao!"

"The Xiao Family is righteous! The Xiao Family Marketplace is number one in Wutan City!"

"This old man has been setting up a stall in the Xiao Family Marketplace for twenty years. I've always known this place to be the safest and most honest."

"We can all testify that it was Jia Lie Ao who disrupted the Marketplace's business."

"..."

If Jia Lie Ao had still been awake, he probably would have been angered into fainting again.

Chu Xiao greeted everyone with a smile, appearing approachable and easygoing.

He took several steps to a stall and said to its owner, "I failed to control my strength and damaged your stall. I'll pay eight hundred Gold Coins for everything here as compensation for your losses. How does that sound?"

The stall owner had originally been frowning in distress, but immediately broke into a smile upon hearing this. "Whatever Young Master Chu Xiao says! Whatever you say!"

This pile of goods had been gathered by several brothers and entrusted to him for sale. It was worth around three to four hundred Gold Coins, with the most valuable item being a wood-element magical beast core.

Chu Xiao was buying it at double the price. What could he possibly be dissatisfied about?

"As long as you're willing." With a wave of his hand, Chu Xiao stored everything on the stall into his Storage Ring.

At the same time, he took out eight hundred Gold Coins and placed them all on the stall.

The stall owner immediately gathered up the coins and said with a beaming smile, "Young Master Chu Xiao, this old man has a granddaughter. She's clever and well-behaved. Could she perhaps become your maid?"

"Get lost, get lost! You're really pushing your luck. Do you think just anyone can become Young Master Chu Xiao's maid?" someone beside him teased.

Chu Xiao smiled faintly without responding, then walked over to Xun Er and Xiao Yan. "Let's go home."

As he spoke, Chu Xiao tossed the wood-element magical beast core to Xiao Yan.

"Thank you, Cousin." Xiao Yan did not stand on ceremony.

"Little Yan Zi, get that piece of iron." Old Yao's voice sounded.

"That piece of iron?" Xiao Yan was puzzled. "What use does it have?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it contains some kind of information recorded by an alchemist," Old Yao answered.

Xiao Yan's heart warmed at those words.

Information worth the effort of those noble alchemists to record was certainly not ordinary.

"Teacher, let's go back and cultivate first. We can find a chance to ask for it later." Xiao Yan did not rush to speak.

Chu Xiao was currently chatting and laughing with Xun Er. He was a good cousin, but he would not be a third wheel.

"Hm?"

As they reached a corner, Chu Xiao suddenly turned to look toward one side of the Marketplace.

But that area was completely empty. There was no one there.

Was that an illusion? Chu Xiao murmured inwardly.

"Brother Chu Xiao, what's wrong?" Xun Er stood with both hands behind her back, smiling as she tilted her head toward Chu Xiao, her dark hair fluttering.

"Nothing. A gift for you." Chu Xiao withdrew his gaze and took out a necklace from his Storage Ring, handing it to Xun Er.

It was a necklace set with a third-tier fire-element magical beast core. It could slightly speed up the cultivation of a fire-element Dou Qi practitioner.

Of course, its main purpose was that it looked beautiful.

"Thank you, Brother Chu Xiao. Xun Er really likes it." Xun Er's lips curved into a smile. "Why don't you put it on for me?"

Naturally, Chu Xiao did not refuse. Smiling, he said, "It would be my honor."

Xiao Yan: "..."

Sure enough, he had been right not to eat breakfast before leaving home.

After the three disappeared from the entrance of the Marketplace, Yun Yun, dressed in a black robe, appeared with undisguised shock in her eyes.

"He seemed to have noticed me. As expected of a reincarnator."

She was a Dou Huang, and a wind-element Dou Huang at that. When deliberately concealing her aura, even experts of the same level would find it difficult to detect her.

Yet Chu Xiao, a mere Dou Master, had sensed her observation.

He truly was extraordinary.

"Hm?"

Just as Yun Yun stepped through the gates of the Mittel Auction House, she suddenly received a notification that the Diary Copy had updated.

"He's still testing me!?"

"Opportunity!"