The Hot-Tempered Xiao Li Didn't Know Better? Two Slaps Woke Him Up!

Desert Iron Mercenary Group, council hall. Xiao Yao sat in the broad seat of honor.

Xiao Ding personally brought Xiao Yao a cup of fragrant tea that still curled with steam.

"Thank you for stepping in, Cousin Xiao Yao."

Xiao Ding's resolute bronze face was filled with excitement, reverence, and a trace of barely concealed restraint.

"Ten days ago, we received some fine medicinal pills and a letter from the family through a Mite'er Family caravan. Only then did my brother and I learn that the family... had undergone such earth-shaking changes!"

His voice was filled with emotion and a faint, dreamlike sense of unreality.

"The letter said that the family's powerful rise was entirely due to you. The Xiao Family now truly regards you as its leader."

With a bitter smile, he pointed toward the battlefield outside, where the scent of blood had yet to dissipate. "My second brother and I were only fortunate enough to break through to the Da Dou Shi realm because of those pills. It was precisely because of that that we threatened the Sand Mercenary Group's position as the foremost power here, drawing their frenzied retaliation today. They wanted to seize the critical moment of my second brother's breakthrough and wipe out us brothers—wipe out the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"Mm." Xiao Yao nodded, neither confirming nor denying it as he lifted his teacup and took a light sip.

At that moment, an enraged roar, filled with barely restrained savagery and killing intent, suddenly came from the rear hall!

"Sand Mercenary Group! I'll slaughter every last one of you!"

Boom—!!!

With an earth-shaking blast, the heavy ironwood door of the rear hall was shattered by violent lightning Dou Qi, exploding into splinters!

A figure radiating wild, unruly energy charged out with a spear in hand, crimson-eyed like a tiger unleashed from its cage!

It was Xiao Li, who had just successfully broken through and advanced to the one-star Da Dou Shi realm!

His mind was clearly still consumed by the fury of nearly being surrounded and killed. All he wanted was to bathe his enemies in blood!

But when he charged murderously into the hall and saw his elder brother along with Xiao Yao calmly drinking tea, the violent aura around him abruptly stalled.

Then he curled his lips. His face, somewhat similar to Xiao Yan's but far more rebellious, revealed undisguised reluctance and even a trace of inexplicable hostility as he greeted him.

"Oh, it's you. You got here at quite a convenient time."

"Second Brother! Do not be disrespectful!"

Xiao Ding's expression changed drastically at once! He immediately rebuked him sternly. He was nearly maddened with anger. He could not understand how his second brother, always reckless but never foolish, had lost his mind today. How could he speak in such a nearly provocative manner to the family's benefactor—the man who had saved the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group, hundreds of lives?

Yet Xiao Li remained completely unaware. In response to his elder brother's rebuke, he even muttered impatiently. His voice was not loud, but it was as though he deliberately wanted everyone to hear, echoing clearly through the hall.

"What was disrespectful about that? The family's letter made it perfectly clear. The Third Elder and the others want to nominate him as the Xiao Family's clan leader. If he becomes clan leader, what will happen to Third Brother Xiao Yan?"

At those words, Xiao Ding was so furious he nearly spat out blood!

Looking at his utterly foolish brother, he felt both angry and helpless.

Meanwhile, the smile on Xiao Yao's face slowly turned dangerous. Nothing but indifference remained in his deep eyes.

"Oh? Such brotherly devotion..."

He slowly set down his teacup with a crisp clink.

"How truly moving. I'm about to die laughing."

A terrifying pressure, icy and piercing yet as vast and unfathomable as an abyss, suddenly erupted from his body! Unlike before, this pressure was not merely a warning. It carried a tangible, mountain-like weight that instantly enveloped everyone in the hall!

Thud!

Xiao Li, who had just been glaring indignantly with his neck stiff, felt as though ten thousand pounds weighed upon his shoulders! His bones creaked under the unbearable pressure! His legs gave out uncontrollably, and he was forced down onto the hard stone floor in utter humiliation!

"You... you..." Xiao Li's face paled in shock, disbelief filling his expression! He had never imagined that Xiao Yao's strength was truly as terrifying as the letter had described! His mere presence left Xiao Li unable to even summon the thought of resisting!

"First of all, I never cared for the position of clan leader." Xiao Yao's cold voice made the temperature in the entire hall plummet.

"The Xiao Family has what it has today because of me!"

"You two brothers achieved your breakthroughs and can stand here safely today because of the pills I gave the Xiao Family!"

"And you," Xiao Yao's gaze pierced into Xiao Li's soul like two sharp swords, "rely on my favor to break through to the Da Dou Shi realm, yet not only do you fail to respect me, you still have the nerve to prattle on before me about some goddamned brotherly devotion?"

"Your temperament and your vision are as narrow as a frog at the bottom of a well. They are utterly unbearable to behold! Short-sighted fool!"

Cold sweat had already drenched Xiao Ding's back. He knew that because his second brother had been cultivating in seclusion in the rear hall, he had not witnessed Xiao Yao's terrifying display earlier, when he had slaughtered over a hundred mercenaries with a mere wave of his hand! Had Xiao Li seen it himself, he would never have dared to act so brazenly!

After hearing Xiao Yao's mercilessly sharp rebuke, Xiao Li was completely dumbfounded. Only then did he realize that the medicinal pill he had used to break through had also... come from him? And given Xiao Yao's strength, it seemed that he himself was the petty fool here.

An overwhelming shame surged onto his face like a tide, turning his rebellious features the color of pig liver.

"I... I didn't know. I never expected it."

"Since your elder brother cannot teach you properly, then today, I'll teach you myself!"

Before his words had even faded, he reached out with one hand.

Slap!

An incomparably crisp, resounding slap echoed throughout the hall!

Xiao Yao sent Xiao Li spinning three times on the spot with a single slap. Like a top, he finally crashed headfirst onto the ground. Half his face swelled at a visible rate, five distinct finger marks glaringly clear upon it!

Slap!

Before he could react, Xiao Yao struck him again with a backhanded slap across the other side of his face, turning him into a perfectly symmetrical pighead.

Xiao Yao had shown restraint with those two slaps, but they were enough to leave Xiao Li suffering for several days.

"Xiao Yao! Please show mercy! Please show mercy!" Xiao Ding pleaded at once. "Please forgive his ignorance and offense! I will certainly discipline him properly afterward!"

Xiao Yao looked at Xiao Ding's bitter smile, then glanced at Xiao Li lying on the floor and groaning in pain, his eyes filled with fear and regret. Only then did he snort coldly and withdraw his hand.

Xiao Ding then respectfully led him to the finest and most luxurious guest room to rest.

Xiao Yao sat cross-legged and circulated his Qi.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of extremely soft knocks sounded, as though the visitor feared disturbing him.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open. A petite, slender figure entered timidly, like a startled fawn, carrying a basin of steaming hot water.

It was Qing Lin.

She carefully placed the basin on the table, then took a neatly folded clean towel from her robe. Blushing deeply and lowering her head, she walked step by step before Xiao Yao. In a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, filled with nervousness and gratitude, she said softly:

"M-Milord... you must be tired today. I came... to serve you... and help you bathe..."