Shy Ya Fei, Ruthless Xiao Zhan!

Two Da Dou Shi stood respectfully at either side of the grounds. Xiao Yan walked beneath a lush green Willow Tree and lazily sat down on a stone chair.

The usually shrewd and capable Ya Fei lowered her head in confliction, as docile as a kitten.

"Miss Ya Fei, why are you so nervous? I'm not going to eat you." Xiao Yan sounded rather helpless.

"Even if you truly wished to eat Ya Fei, Ya Fei would have no choice." Ya Fei bit her red lips tightly, her devilish waist trembling faintly.

"Do I look like that kind of person?"

Xiao Yan shook his head with a laugh. "Don't worry. This old man has no interest in you. That little fellow came to ask me, so I agreed to help. You don't owe me a favor."

Xiao Yan?

Ya Fei froze for a moment, a trace of complicated emotion crossing her exquisite face.

"Don't misunderstand!"

Seeing her expression, Xiao Yan explained helplessly, "That little fellow merely felt that this matter began because of him, so he wanted to see it through himself."

"Then the reason you asked me here, old sir, is..."

"I want the Jia Lie Family to cease existing in Wutan City."

Xiao Yan's aged voice drifted through the air. "I could wipe out the Jia Lie Family with a wave of my hand, but as you know, there are countless heroes in this world, as numerous as carp crossing a river."

"If I destroy the Jia Lie Family today, who's to say that the Lin Family, Ye Family, or Zhou Family won't appear tomorrow? I can't possibly destroy them all."

Ya Fei seemed to understand. "Then what do you mean, old sir?"

"The Jia Lie Family relies largely on the marketplaces for its income, and most of the goods in those marketplaces come from Mittel. Therefore..."

Hearing Xiao Yan state his intentions himself, Ya Fei said troubledly, "Old sir, the Mittel Auction House has rules. We cannot participate in conflicts between families. It goes against our regulations..."

"I can refine two Qi Gathering Powders for you free of charge," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Old sir, this isn't a matter of medicinal pills, truly..."

"Three."

"Old sir..." Ya Fei smiled bitterly.

"Five!" The faint aged voice mercilessly smashed through Ya Fei's bottom line.

"Hiss..." Ya Fei slowly closed her narrow beautiful eyes and drew in a breath of cold air.

Before she could speak.

Xiao Yan's quiet voice rang out again. "Miss Ya Fei, your position within the Mite'er Family isn't particularly high, is it? Don't you want to work at the headquarters, or even... take control of the entire Mite'er Family?"

Ya Fei's delicate body trembled fiercely. The delight and fervor in her eyes were sharply caught by Xiao Yan.

"That would be far too difficult! Ya Fei has no one to rely on. How could I..."

Snap!

Xiao Yan lightly snapped his fingers, and transparent flames danced leisurely. "As long as you cooperate with this old man, this old man will be your backing. In the future, not only can I let you take charge of Mittel headquarters, I can also expand your businesses across the continent."

Ya Fei fiercely pinched her palm. After confirming that she was not dreaming, she bowed in ecstatic gratitude.

"Old sir, Ya Fei is alone and without support. I will have to rely entirely on you!"

"Hehe."

Xiao Yan nodded. The cold wind blowing past nearly lifted the brim of his hat.

The glimpse of pale skin in the darkness startled Ya Fei slightly.

However.

Overjoyed as she was, she gave it no further thought. After Xiao Yan and the two Da Dou Shi left, she remained standing there for a long while.

"Xiao Yan, this old sir must have done it for your sake."

"How should I repay you..."

At that moment, a couple arrived. Seeing their intimate gestures, Ya Fei's pretty face flushed red.

Still, she put on a dignified air and gracefully left the place.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Xiao Family's main hall.

Xiao Zhan and several Elders sat within, and the atmosphere was somewhat stifling.

"Clan Leader, in just half an hour, four of our marketplaces have been attacked. The two Elders and I often have to leave the city to transport goods, so we truly don't have the manpower to guard them!" Second Elder said with a worried expression.

Great Elder nodded. "The Xiao Family only has a few Da Dou Shi. Dou Shi are too slow, and they're utterly useless against these sudden attacks. We're far too passive!"

"If only we had another two Da Dou Shi... No, even one would be enough!"

Another one?

The several Elders smiled bitterly.

In Wutan City, a Da Dou Shi was already a figure capable of calling the wind and summoning the rain, exceedingly rare and precious.

Where could they find another one?

Besides.

Even if a Da Dou Shi truly happened to be staying in Wutan City, what leverage did the Xiao Family have to invite one to become their Guest Elder?

"Damn it! At worst, I'll fight that Jia Lie Old Dog to the death! I'll slaughter every Dou Shi in his family!" Xiao Zhan's fury was imposing without needing to be displayed.

The nearly crazed Jia Liebi had continuously sent people to attack the Xiao Family's marketplaces.

In just half an hour, more than ten people had been injured, and goods worth tens of thousands had been destroyed.

"Clan Leader, you mustn't!"

Great Elder hurriedly stopped him. "Those Dou Shi are highly organized. Once we appear in Wutan City, they stop acting. We have no proof that the Jia Lie Family is behind this!"

The fighting spirit that had just risen in Xiao Zhan instantly dissipated. He slumped helplessly into his chair.

Just as Great Elder had said, acting rashly would only give others something to criticize.

The reputation he had built over half his life would be ruined in an instant.

That was also Jia Liebi's goal.

"I hear you need help?" Xiao Yan's smiling voice entered through the door as it was pushed open.

"Yan'er, this is a matter for adults. You..."

When Xiao Zhan saw the two Da Dou Shi behind Xiao Yan, his pupils shrank slightly.

The several Elders also abruptly rose to their feet.

Six-Star Great Dou Shi!

"May I ask, Your Excellency..."

Xiao Zhan had just raised his hands in greeting when the two Six-Star Great Dou Shi suddenly dropped to one knee.

"Greetings, Master!"

Not only Xiao Zhan, but the three Elders also stood there dumbfounded, completely at a loss.

These two Six-Star Great Dou Shi were kneeling before Xiao Zhan?

And calling Xiao Zhan their master!

Under their stunned gazes, Xiao Yan sat down in a chair, picked up a teacup, and rubbed it between his fingers.

"They're only Six-Star Great Dou Shi. They're a little lacking as household servants, but they'll do for now. Once I go to the Imperial Capital, I'll bring you some Dou Ling and Dou Wang."

"Oh, right! I hear there are Dou Huang in the Imperial Capital too. I should get a few of those as well..."

Xiao Yan pondered inwardly, calculating how many more days he would need before gaining the ability to subdue Dou Huang.

"This..."

Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression as he contemplated it, Xiao Zhan and the others nearly fainted.

House... household servants?

Dou Wang?

Dou Huang?

Could they have heard wrong?

"Greetings, Clan Leader Xiao!"

Having witnessed Xiao Yan's terror, the Da Dou Shi respectfully said, "My name is Zhou Yuan, and his is Zhou Cang. From this day onward, we are at Clan Leader Xiao's disposal!"

"Please, rise quickly!" Xiao Zhan's face nearly blossomed with joy.

How had he forgotten? His son was an alchemist!

With Xiao Yan's influence, he only had to beckon, and a whole group of Da Dou Shi would follow him.

Even Dou Ling!

"Father, you all talk. I need to continue refining pills."

Xiao Yan stood up and pushed open the door to leave under their excited gazes.

"Clan Leader, the Xiao Family is going to prosper now!"

"It's all thanks to Yan'er!"

Xiao Zhan grinned, and his gaze gradually turned vicious.

"Tomorrow, we'll kill those bastards from the Jia Lie Family!"