Forever Together

This silence was completely different from the previous two. Everyone's eyes were fixed firmly on Xiao Yan.

Half a year ago, this guy had fallen to Dou Qi Level 3. How had he become a Dou Zhe again in just half a year?

"Y-you actually advanced to Dou Zhe again."

Xiao Yu opened her mouth, a sense of helplessness gradually rising in her heart.

She had thought this was a hard-won chance to surpass Xiao Yan. Even if he caught up to her later, at least she would have been one step ahead of him this time.

Yet the cruel reality told her that Xiao Yan's monstrous talent was simply beyond ordinary people's understanding.

If even Xiao Yu felt this way, the other boys and girls of the Xiao Family were even worse off. Xiao Yan's breakthrough had left their faces full of despair.

They were all twelve or thirteen years old. He had already broken through to Dou Zhe twice, while they were still stuck at Dou Qi Levels 5 or 6.

The gap between them was truly as vast as a chasm.

Xiao Zhan and the elders, however, exchanged glances, each seeing wild delight in the others' eyes.

"Clan Leader, congratulations. With this little fellow's talent, our Xiao Family may finally produce a Dou Emperor."

The elders looked at Xiao Yan with meaningful smiles.

As long as Xiao Yan rose to prominence, the Xiao Family would surely become one of the foremost great families in Wu Tan City and even the Jia Ma Empire. By then, the benefits their branch families received would far surpass what they had now.

"Hahaha, drink! Drink!"

Xiao Zhan laughed heartily and could not help raising his cup. He had thought today was merely about welcoming his two sons home, yet his younger son had given him another tremendous surprise.

"Drink! For the Xiao Family to possess such a genius, it must be the blessing of our ancestors!"

For a time, the atmosphere in the hall swiftly split into two camps. Those who were slightly older were overjoyed, knowing that they would likely benefit from Xiao Yan's success in the future.

The younger ones, meanwhile, all looked like frostbitten eggplants. At that moment, Xiao Yan had thoroughly crushed their confidence.

When they looked at Xiao Yan now, there was no longer any desire to surpass him. All that remained was honest reverence.

"You little bastard, what's there to be proud of about breaking through to Dou Zhe? I'll break through in a couple of days too."

Though Xiao Yu had been defeated in her heart by Xiao Yan's display, she still muttered stubbornly, unwilling to concede verbally.

"I advise you not to rush your breakthrough. Otherwise, if you fail, all your previous efforts will be wasted."

Just as she resolved to break through in the near future, Xiao Yan, who had been chatting with Xun'er nearby, suddenly spoke and turned his gaze toward Xiao Yu.

Xun'er had finally recovered from Xiao Yan's outrageous words. Her autumn-water eyes glittered as she looked at him, then followed his gaze toward Xiao Yu beside her.

"What, you've broken through to Dou Zhe, so you won't let me break through too?"

Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Yan and could not help saying provocatively, "Don't think you can lecture me just because you've advanced to Dou Zhe."

"Oh? If you don't need a Qi Gathering Pill, then just pretend I never said anything."

Seeing that Xiao Yu refused to stop unless she argued with him a few times, Xiao Yan shook his head.

"Qi Gathering Pill? What Qi Gathering Pill?"

Xiao Yu froze slightly, her eyes suddenly locking onto Xiao Yan. Yet he was calmly cutting the meat on Xun'er's plate, as if he had said nothing at all.

"Xiao Yan, say something!"

Xiao Yu was getting anxious, but Xiao Yan showed no reaction whatsoever, making her even more flustered.

But with so many people present, she could not be too direct.

The banquet left some joyful and others worried. Only Xun'er, though her little face had calmed considerably, still had a trace of unusual emotion hidden deep in her clear eyes.

When the dinner finally ended, Xiao Zhan gave Xiao Yan a thoughtful look.

He smiled and said, "Yan'er, it's been a long time since the four of us father and sons sat together for a proper talk. Take Xun'er back first, then come to my room when you have time. The four of us can have a chat."

Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded noncommittally. As it happened, he also had some things he wished to discuss properly with his father and two older brothers.

But just before leaving the hall, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yu again. Seeing the itchingly impatient expression on her face, as though a cat had scratched her, he smiled and said, "Come find me in seven days."

After saying that, he ignored Xiao Yu's face full of question marks and left the hall with Xun'er.

Moonlight spilled down, bathing the frost-covered ground in a crystalline white glow. Xiao Yan walked beside Xun'er and could not help studying the little girl again beneath the moonlight.

Because her Dou Qi was still not dense enough, she remained wrapped in a light purple fox-fur cloak. Her jade-like little face still carried a blush, clearly not having fully recovered from tonight's events.

They walked in silence until Xiao Yan escorted Xun'er to the entrance of her small house. Looking at her lovely face, which outshone even the moonlight, he could not help gently taking her slightly cool little hand.

"Brother Xiao Yan."

Her slender eyelashes trembled lightly as Xiao Yan held her hand, and the blush on Xun'er's face spread once more. Even though she was still just a young girl, her shy appearance instantly made the moonlight lose its color.

"What I said today wasn't a joke."

Xiao Yan stared at the girl's bashful face, his eyes incomparably serious.

"Don't be nervous. I'll accompany you as you grow up slowly. From now until the future, we'll always be together."

"Forever. Always together."

Smiling, Xiao Yan gently put an arm around the girl's fragrant shoulders and finally drew her softly into his embrace.

It was the first time Xun'er had embraced Xiao Yan so intimately. Her body stiffened slightly at first, then she slowly softened in his arms.

Feeling his warm body temperature, Xun'er nodded her little head and softly said, "I've always believed in Brother Xiao Yan."

Under the moonlight, the boy and girl quietly leaned against each other. Only when Xiao Yan felt threads of cold did he gently release her.

"It's cold. Don't let yourself freeze. Go back inside quickly. I need to go see Father as well."

Hearing Xiao Yan's reminder, Xun'er obediently nodded. She turned back three times at the doorway before reluctantly closing the door.

"This girl."

Seeing the little girl like this, Xiao Yan wore a gentle smile. After lingering at the entrance for a moment, he headed toward Xiao Zhan's room with a cheerful smile.

After Xiao Yan left, a bitter murmur finally sounded from atop a large tree above Xun'er's room.

"This is bad. Miss has been completely infatuated with that boy. How am I supposed to explain this to the Clan Leader?"

"Yan'er, you're here."

When Xiao Yan entered Xiao Zhan's room, he saw that Xiao Zhan's face carried a hint of drunkenness. Across from him, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were also flushed red from drinking.

It was clear that in less than half an hour, the three father and sons had already drunk quite a lot.

Even more clearly, a trace of worry had appeared on Xiao Zhan's face.

"Yan'er, I know you like Xun'er very much, but her family..."