A Moonless, Windy Night

Xiao Yan, standing nearby, looked at his cousin Xiao Tian in astonishment. He knew Xiao Tian might have had some kind of fortuitous encounter, which was why he had stunned everyone at the testing ceremony, but he had never expected his cousin's body to withstand a One-star Fighter's attack without so much as budging.

"Jia Lie Ao, you're up!"

Xiao Tian stood with his hands in his pockets, turning his head slightly as he gave Jia Lie Ao a faint smile.

Seeing Xiao Tian's calm, unbothered expression, as though he didn't take Jia Lie Ao seriously at all, Jia Lie Ao's chest heaved with fury. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and tear that bastard's mouth apart!

But for the moment, he didn't dare. After all, the good-for-nothing he had once looked down on was now a completely different person.

"I said... you're up!"

Xiao Tian's voice rose a few notches. Staring at Jia Lie Ao, he spoke slowly, each word distinct.

For some reason, Xiao Tian's gaze made Jia Lie Ao's heart lurch. His face twitched, and fear welled up inside him.

Smack!

Before he could hesitate any longer, Xiao Tian suddenly stepped forward and raised his right hand, landing a resounding slap across Jia Lie Ao's pallid, kidney-deficient face.

The sharp crack of the slap rang out. Everyone around them froze. A buzzing explosion sounded in their heads, and the whole world fell silent, save for the startled cries echoing around them.

"This..." Uncle Payne stood there gaping, completely stunned. What he had just witnessed was beyond anything he could comprehend.

Even all the Xiao Family guards had frozen. Not long ago, some of them had heard that Xiao Tian had apparently cultivated Dou Qi and beaten Xiao Ning at the testing grounds. They had doubted whether it was true.

But now, having seen it with their own eyes, they finally knew it wasn't a rumor. This once-ridiculed good-for-nothing had really made a comeback—and could easily defeat a One-star Fighter!

For a moment, the entire marketplace street fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The slap sent Jia Lie Ao's whole body reeling. His vision filled with stars, and his mind went blank, leaving him unable to think. Before long, he passed out completely.

The onlookers around the marketplace were all stunned, disbelief written across their faces.

Was this... really the same good-for-nothing everyone had despised and mocked?

"Young Master! Young Master!"

Seeing Jia Lie Ao unconscious, several attendants from the Gale Family hurried to carry him away. As they left, they cast resentful, hate-filled glares at the Xiao Family members.

Once Jia Lie Ao and his men had gone, the Xiao Family Marketplace returned to its usual bustle. After their brief shock, the people there began whispering among themselves.

"Holy crap, I wasn't seeing things just now, was I? Xiao Tian actually beat Jia Lie Ao?"

"You haven't heard? I heard Xiao Tian was measured at a hundred million levels of Dou Qi at the testing grounds!"

"Damn! What? A hundred million levels of Dou Qi? Are you messing with me? How is that possible?"

"I didn't believe it either. I figured the Proving Magic Stone Tablet had malfunctioned. But... you've all seen it now. Xiao Tian really has gotten stronger!"

"Damn, what kind of fortuitous encounter did that good-for-nothing have?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't let him hear you!"

Whispers spread throughout the marketplace, all of them about Xiao Tian's transformation and strength. Even Xiao Yan looked utterly disbelieving, his face twitching.

Only Xun'er's beautiful eyes held a glimmer of light, as though she had already guessed what would happen.

Several hours later, with night falling, the three of them finally left the marketplace.

"See you tomorrow, Brother Xiao Tian!"

Xiao Xun'er looked back with a radiant smile and waved at Xiao Tian before disappearing into the night.

Watching Xun'er walk away, Xiao Tian smiled warmly and brightly, then prepared to leave. But just as he took half a step, he suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed as he looked toward several figures up ahead.

"People from the Gale Family?"

Though they were masked, Xiao Tian's keen eyes made it easy to recognize who they were.

Clearly, they intended to avenge Jia Lie Ao under cover of the dark, windy night. After all, he had nearly slapped Jia Lie Ao to death.

"The boss said to nip the Xiao Family's hope in the bud. You've only yourself to blame for offending someone you shouldn't have. We're sending you on your way tonight."

The middle-aged man at the head of the group sneered and glared darkly at Xiao Tian. Then he abruptly raised a hand, pointed at him, and barked:

"Kill him!"

As soon as he spoke, several sharp whooshes rang out. Five or six figures lunged forward like hungry tigers and reached Xiao Tian in the blink of an eye. Their knife-hands shot out, aiming for his neck, abdomen, and ribs!

These men clearly weren't doing this for the first time. They worked together seamlessly, each strike coming from a tricky angle and leaving no opening. There was no way to dodge them all; avoiding any one attack would leave him open to a fatal blow from another!

Yet, faced with the sudden ambush, Xiao Tian remained in the same pose he had struck after taking that step, a faint, cold smile on his lips. He seemed completely unafraid.

At that moment, a surging torrent of Dou Qi burst from Xiao Tian's right palm, followed by the clear, sonorous roar of a dragon.

"Roar!"

A tremendous wave of palm energy swept out. In an instant, the figures that had been rushing toward Xiao Tian were sent hurtling backward.

"Pfft—"

Blood sprayed from the mouths of several gray-clad Gale Family assassins as they crashed to the ground in a sorry heap. They struggled for a moment, then fell still, their life force gone.

"Life is short enough as it is. Why do some people insist on taking shortcuts?" Xiao Tian sighed as he looked at the bodies scattered across the ground. Then he turned and headed toward the Gale Family's compound.

On a moonless, windy night, it was the perfect time for killing and arson.

Xiao Tian had long despised the Gale Family. They had brazenly seized the Xiao Family's businesses and bullied its members. And the way Jia Lie Ao and his father threw their weight around was more than enough to make Xiao Tian lose patience. On top of that, the Gale Family had now joined forces with the Oba Family, intent on swallowing the entire Xiao Family.

And then there was the personal matter: Jia Lie Ao had bullied him time and again over the years, and had always coveted Xun'er's body.

Now that they were enemies, there was no reason to show mercy.

With that, Xiao Tian made up his mind and slipped like a ghost into the Gale Family's rear courtyard.

But just as he was about to make his move, the window on his left, which had been tightly shut, was gently pushed open. Moonlight spilled down, and a beautiful young woman in a golden dress quietly sat on the windowsill. Her snowy-white legs, smooth as mutton-fat jade, were crossed, and her slender waist stood straight as a willow. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, veiling her delicate face; only her red lips and limpid eyes gleamed in the night, enchanting as a fairy.

At the sight of that exquisitely beautiful face, Xiao Tian's heart skipped a beat. His throat bobbed as he murmured:

"Xun... Xun'er!"

He clearly hadn't expected Xiao Xun'er to be at the Gale Family's compound too.