Coming of Age Ceremony Begins

Today, Ya Fei wore a red dress, brilliant as blazing fire. Her brows and eyes were filled with charm, her beauty breathtaking enough that no one could look away.

Ya Fei walked toward the Xiao Family's raised platform, where the clan heads of several smaller Wutan City families had already taken their seats. She slowly sat down in the middle of the guest section. The heads of some small families nearby gazed at her greedily, but Ya Fei had long grown used to such looks. She did not spare them a glance, merely sweeping her eyes back and forth below the platform, hoping to see that familiar figure.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family's clan head, arrived at the guest section and exchanged greetings with the families large and small of Wutan City. Before long, he came before Ya Fei. Xiao Zhan was beaming with pride today. All because, following the prediction a month ago, Xiao Huohuo had leaped from the third stage of Dou Qi to the seventh stage of Dou Qi. This had shocked all of Wutan City and brought his father immense prestige. Xiao Huohuo was now publicly acknowledged as the most talented youth of his generation in Wutan City. Over the past month, the family elders and clan heads of Wutan City's various families had praised Xiao Zhan until he was practically floating, saying he had taught his son well and that Xiao Huohuo was a dragon among men, destined for greatness. Amid all that praise, Xiao Zhan had become somewhat carried away.

"Miss Ya Fei, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend the Xiao Family's Coming of Age Ceremony today." Xiao Zhan cupped his hands toward Ya Fei. "Clan Head Xiao, you are too courteous. Your son is the talk of Wutan City these days—the greatest genius among Wutan City's younger generation. Of course I had to come and see for myself." Hearing Ya Fei praise his son, Xiao Zhan's smile widened. "Miss Ya Fei, you flatter him. That stinky brat is always full of surprises. For all we know, he might drop back to the third stage of Dou Qi in a couple of days."

At this moment, Xiao Huohuo also arrived at the Training Ground, followed by a young girl. She looked sixteen or seventeen. Her purple dress accentuated her slender, graceful figure, while her skin was white and lustrous as porcelain. Her delicate features were as exquisite as an immortal beauty in a painting. As she stood quietly there, a faint sense of distance seemed to surround her. Her elegant serenity lent her stunning face an even more otherworldly air. She was none other than the most beautiful girl among the Xiao Family's younger generation, Xiao Xun'er.

"Stinky brat, this is Miss Ya Fei from the Mite'er Auction House. Hurry up and greet her." Xiao Zhan pretended to be stern, though inwardly he could not have been more pleased.

"Hello, Sister Ya Fei." Xiao Huohuo cupped his hands toward Ya Fei. "Young Master Xiao is truly dashing and distinguished, a fine talent indeed." Since he was a member of Xiao Jin's clan, Ya Fei naturally did not hold back in praising Xiao Huohuo.

"You flatter me, Sister Ya Fei. Thank you for coming all this way to attend the Xiao Family's Coming of Age Ceremony. I still need to take part in the ceremony later, so I will not disturb you any longer." After speaking, he cupped his hands once more and left with Xiao Xun'er behind him.

Ya Fei was somewhat surprised. Ordinarily, when young men saw her, which one did not blush and stammer? Yet Xiao Huohuo had remained perfectly composed, his face calm and indifferent. Has my charm declined? That can't be. Every time Xiao Jin sees me, he looks like he wants to devour me. That just proves how irresistible I am. Thinking of Xiao Jin, a faint blush appeared on Ya Fei's face.

Xiao Zhan happened to see this scene and stared blankly at her. Only after a while did he come back to himself. What an enchantress, Xiao Zhan thought. "Miss Ya Fei, there are rather a lot of guests today, so I will not disturb you any longer. Please sit for a while. The Coming of Age Ceremony will begin shortly." "Clan Head Xiao, go ahead and attend to your affairs." With that, she waved her hand and continued sitting there, searching for Xiao Jin.

As time slowly passed, members of the Xiao Family gradually arrived at the Training Ground. Xiao Jin and Xiao Yi Xian entered the Training Ground hand in hand as well. After a month of spending time together, their relationship had grown much closer. They no longer minded holding hands openly like this.

Xiao Jin parted from Xiao Yi Xian and headed toward the Training Ground, while Xiao Yi Xian walked toward the guest area on the platform. People along the way automatically made a path for her, and she soon reached the guest seats, casually found a place, and sat down.

Naturally, Ya Fei, who had been searching for Xiao Jin all this time, saw the scene of him entering the Training Ground while holding Xiao Yi Xian's hand. The smile on her face gradually vanished, and she stared at Xiao Jin with an uncertain expression.

Ya Fei had long heard of Xiao Yi Xian's arrival, but she had not taken it to heart. After all, she believed her own looks surpassed Xiao Yi Xian's, so there was nothing to worry about. Besides, on the Dou Qi Continent, the strong were respected. For powerful people, let alone having three wives and four concubines, even having a hundred women was perfectly normal.

As a Sixth-grade Alchemist, it was not as though Ya Fei could not accept Xiao Jin having several women. She had merely been waiting for Xiao Jin to take the initiative and tell her about Xiao Yi Xian, but he had never said anything. She had not been in a hurry, wanting to see when he intended to tell her. Yet she had not expected to witness this scene today, and it gave her a sense of crisis.

Today, Xiao Yi Xian was dressed in white, cleaner than freshly fallen snow. Her unadorned face carried a soft, warm glow. When the breeze stirred her skirt, she seemed ready to float away with the wind, exuding an ethereal aura that made others afraid to disturb her. Even Ya Fei could not help but marvel at Xiao Yi Xian's beauty and temperament.

At this moment, Xiao Jin, who had casually found a place beneath the platform, felt a cold gaze sweeping back and forth over him. He raised his head toward its source, and when he saw Ya Fei's gloomy face, his heart skipped a beat. It's over, it's over. Sister Ya Fei caught me red-handed this time. How am I supposed to explain this? She won't leave me, will she? What should I do? This was the first time Xiao Jin had been so flustered since crossing over.

Damn it, how did I forget that Sister Ya Fei would come to watch the Xiao Family's Coming of Age Ceremony today? I'm such an idiot. Thinking this, Xiao Jin could not help slapping himself. The people beside him and those in the guest seats on the platform all looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Feeling the gazes around him, Xiao Jin gave an embarrassed smile and hurriedly sat up straight, waiting for the Coming of Age Ceremony to begin. I can't deal with this right now. I'll tell her the truth after the ceremony, Xiao Jin thought.

Watching Xiao Jin below the platform, Ya Fei found him somewhat amusing. The severity on her face gradually faded.

At this moment, Xiao Ying stepped onto the bluestone platform to one side and began presiding over the Coming of Age Ceremony. One by one, the Xiao Family's young men and women lined up and went onstage, allowing Xiao Ying to direct them as he pleased. Whatever he told them to do, they had to do. Watching the youths onstage being ordered about so freely by Xiao Ying, Xiao Jin could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.

"What is this supposed to be? Isn't it just a Coming of Age Ceremony? Why does it feel like some kind of spirit-dancing ritual?" Watching Xiao Ying leap about on the stage, Xiao Jin could not help laughing aloud. Xiao Ying happened to hear it and glared at Xiao Jin with a murderous look.

"Xiao Jin, what are you laughing at? You're up next." Xiao Ying had already been fuming from jumping around onstage like a clown, and now Xiao Jin even dared to laugh out loud. Naturally, this only made Xiao Ying angrier. Stinky brat, if we're going to embarrass ourselves, then we'll do it together. Let's see if you can still gloat down there, Xiao Ying thought viciously.

Xiao Jin's smile froze on his face, and his expression was a sight to behold. Xiao Yi Xian and Ya Fei, seated in the guest section on the platform, could not help laughing as well.