Xiao Feng's Apology

Unfortunately, no one came forward to challenge him.

Xiao Peng found that rather regrettable. He had wanted to spar with a few more people.

On careful thought, no one among the Xiao Family's younger generation could defeat him.

News of Xiao Peng becoming an Eight-star Dou Practitioner and Xiao Yan advancing six stages in a year soon spread throughout Wu Tan City.

Many people envied the Xiao Family. Two geniuses had emerged at once, and in the future, the Xiao Family could produce two Dou Emperors.

After all, within the Jia Ma Empire, Dou Emperors were the ceiling.

Where there was envy, there was naturally jealousy toward the Xiao Family, such as from the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family.

The three families were evenly matched, each centered around a Da Dou Shi-level patriarch. With the Xiao Family suddenly producing two geniuses, how could the other two families possibly not be jealous?

Bang—

"Damn it! Absolutely damn it! Those two trash actually recovered, and their talent is even better than before."

Jia Lie Bi smashed the teacup in his hand and spoke furiously.

Although his son, Jia Lie Ao, had already reached the Two-star Dou Practitioner level, Jia Lie Ao was already over twenty years old and was completely incomparable to Xiao Peng and Xiao Yan.

Inside the Jia Lie Family's council hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed one could wring water from it.

Jia Lie Bi paced irritably, tugging his luxurious robe out of shape. "Back then, one of those two Xiao Family brats was a good-for-nothing, and the other was trash. Our Jia Lie Family's Ao was the standout among Wu Tan City's younger generation! How long has it been? The tide has completely turned!"

He abruptly stopped and looked at his son, Jia Lie Ao, seated below him. "Tell me, what kind of damned luck did Xiao Peng and Xiao Yan stumble upon? One is an Eight-star Dou Practitioner, while the other advanced six stages in a single year. If this continues, in just a few years, both the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family will be crushed by the Xiao Family until we cannot breathe!"

Jia Lie Ao's expression was equally unpleasant, his fists clenched tightly. "Father, they say Xiao Yan encountered some kind of lucky opportunity and suddenly came to his senses. As for Xiao Peng... he was still trash a few years ago. How did he suddenly become an Eight-star Dou Practitioner? There must be something suspicious going on!"

"Suspicious?" Jia Lie Bi sneered. "So what if there is? Their strength is right there for all to see! In another two years, once they become Da Dou Shi, the balance among our three families will be completely destroyed!"

At that moment, a family elder could not help speaking up. "Patriarch, how about... joining forces with the Ao Ba Family and striking first?"

Jia Lie Bi nodded in agreement. "That will work. We also need to hire some people to assassinate Xiao Peng."

In his eyes, it did not matter whether Xiao Yan lived or died, but that monster Xiao Peng had to die.

At Xiao Peng's rate of progress, who knew when he would become a Dou Emperor?

Forget becoming a Dou Emperor. Once he became a Dou Ling, he could wipe them out.

"Hire people?" Jia Lie Ao raised a brow. "Father, are you thinking of finding people from the Black Wind Group?"

Jia Lie Bi nodded sinisterly. "Those desperadoes vary greatly in strength, but they have a Da Dou Shi overseeing them. They are ruthless, and as long as the price is high enough, they will take any dirty job. Xiao Peng may be an Eight-star Dou Practitioner, but he is still young and cannot guard against underhanded tricks."

All the elders present nodded in agreement. This was indeed a good plan.

Third Elder asked, "Who should we send to make contact?"

Jia Lie Bi's gaze swept across everyone present before finally landing on a tall, thin middle-aged man with sinister eyes. "Jia Lie Ying, you go."

Jia Lie Ying was the family steward in charge of covert affairs. He dealt with all sorts of shady people year-round, was most skilled at concealing his tracks, and best understood how to negotiate with forces like the Black Wind Group.

Upon hearing this, he gave a slight bow, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper. "Rest assured, Patriarch. I will not fail you. It is only that... the Black Wind Group's leader, One-Eyed, is notoriously greedy. His price may not be low."

"Money is not the issue." Jia Lie Bi waved a hand, his tone ruthless. "As long as Xiao Peng is eliminated, even half the family's reserves would be worth it! Make sure it is done cleanly and decisively. Do not leave behind any evidence."

A trace of surprise flashed through Jia Lie Ying's eyes before he nodded heavily. "This subordinate understands."

Jia Lie Ao rose and walked over to Jia Lie Ying. From his robes, he took out a bronze token engraved with the Jia Lie Family crest. "Take this. One-Eyed recognizes it. Tell them that if they can also... make Xiao Yan die by accident, I will add some money from my own pocket."

He envied Xiao Yan's lucky opportunity, but he hated Xiao Peng's suppression even more. He had merely been too embarrassed to suggest eliminating Xiao Yan along with him in front of his father earlier. Now, taking advantage of Jia Lie Ying's departure, he added the request.

Jia Lie Bi glanced at his son without speaking, tacitly approving it.

Jia Lie Ying accepted the token and tucked it into his robes. After bowing once more, he silently slipped out of the council hall like a civet cat.

"I will pay a visit to the Ao Ba Family. You may all leave."

After saying that, Jia Lie Bi led Jia Lie Ao swiftly out of the council hall and headed straight for the Ao Ba Family.

It was impossible for only his side to send people to kill the Xiao Family's geniuses. He had to drag the Ao Ba Family into this.

Although Ao Ba Pa was his friend, friendship meant nothing when the survival of their families was at stake.

Knock, knock, knock...

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

Hearing the knocking, Xiao Peng opened the courtyard gate and saw Xiao Feng and Xiao Ning standing outside.

When he saw Xiao Feng, Xiao Peng could not help freezing for a moment.

Xiao Feng was covered in wounds, clearly having been beaten by someone.

Xiao Ning looked at Xiao Peng with a smile. "Xiao Peng, sorry to disturb you. I brought this fellow Xiao Feng here to apologize to you. Xiao Feng used to cause you trouble every day, and he even mocked you. We are truly sorry."

Xiao Peng looked at the injuries on Xiao Feng's body, his brows knitting slightly.

He had not expected First Elder's side to beat Xiao Feng into this state in order to win him over.

Still, this was not bad. It was quite satisfying to see.

Xiao Feng lowered his head. His face was mottled with bruises, blood still staining the corner of his mouth. He spoke indistinctly, "Before... I was wrong. I kept causing you trouble and called you trash... I know I was wrong."

As he spoke, his fists clenched tightly, as though he found it deeply humiliating.

Xiao Ning tried to smooth things over from the side. "Xiao Feng has truly learned his lesson this time. Yesterday, he got into a conflict with someone outside the city and was beaten badly. When he came back, he told me that he had treated you too harshly before and insisted on coming to apologize."

Xiao Peng's gaze traveled over Xiao Feng before he said blandly, "There is no need to bring up the past."

He was not a saint, but he could not be bothered to cling to old grudges either. His mind was now entirely focused on cultivation and the upcoming training expedition.

Xiao Feng abruptly raised his head, surprise flashing in his eyes. He seemed not to have expected Xiao Peng to forgive him so easily.

Thinking of how he had mocked Xiao Peng over the years, Xiao Feng could not help feeling ashamed. Without hesitation, he slapped himself across the face.

Slap—

With a crisp sound, a red mark instantly appeared on Xiao Feng's face.

That slap left both Xiao Peng and Xiao Ning at a loss for words.