Why Should I Forgive Him Just Because He Apologized?

Outside the Xiao Clan estate.

At that moment, the Xiao Clan's nine elders stood at the very front.

Behind them were the clan members with real power, along with their children.

However, all eight elders besides the First Elder, as well as the other clan members, wore panicked expressions.

"First Elder, do you think Xiao Yao will have the Lotus Sword Emperor wipe us all out?" Second Elder Xiao Long couldn't help asking.

First Elder Xiao Wei looked very calm. The corners of his mouth even lifted into a confident smile.

"Second Elder!"

"When have we ever mistreated the Young Clan Leader?"

"Or did you treat the Young Clan Leader badly behind my back?"

Xiao Long thought it over. He—or rather, they—had indeed never mistreated the Young Clan Leader, and his nervousness eased considerably.

But just then, Xiao Ting said anxiously under his breath, "Father, I mocked him on Ascension Avenue."

Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed in surprise, but he quickly composed himself. "Ting'er, didn't I tell you to treat the Young Clan Leader well? Why would you do something so stupid?"

"I thought that after taking a Demon Sage as my master, I'd be able to rest easy. I never imagined the Young Clan Leader had been hiding his Chaos Body and would successfully become the Lotus Sword Emperor's disciple."

Xiao Ting's words brimmed with grievance.

How was he supposed to know Xiao Yao could keep his cool like that?

If it were him, he'd have wanted the whole world to know he had a Chaos Body.

But in truth, Xiao Yao hadn't been holding back; he'd simply weighed the pros and cons.

"Ting'er, what did you say? The Young Clan Leader was hiding a Chaos Body?" Xiao Wei froze.

He'd always thought Xiao Yao had just gotten lucky and caught the Lotus Sword Emperor's eye.

The others were stunned too, especially the other eight elders. They realized Xiao Yao wasn't the simple-minded fool they'd once taken him for. If anything, he was quite the schemer.

"First Elder, could it be that the Young Clan Leader knows we were only pretending to treat him well?"

Xiao Long's words made everyone's hearts pound with anxiety.

"Bring me the thorny branches!" Xiao Wei shouted without hesitation. Then he turned to Xiao Ting and said, "Ting'er, you'll have to suffer for a little while."

Xiao Ting tilted his head slightly, looking utterly confused.

The thorny branches were soon brought over. Xiao Wei immediately barked, "Ting'er, take off your shirt!"

To save his own skin, Xiao Ting did as he was told.

The moment he had taken off his shirt, Xiao Wei bound the thorny branches to his back. The thorns instantly pierced his tender skin, and blood gushed out.

"It hurts... Father, it hurts so much!"

Seeing Xiao Ting's face twist in agony, Xiao Wei naturally felt for him as his father. But this was the best way to earn Xiao Yao's forgiveness.

"For your sake and everyone else's, grit your teeth and bear it."

"When Xiao Yao gets back, you'll kneel before him and beg him to forgive you."

Xiao Wei's words cut deep. Xiao Ting had never imagined that groveling like this was the only way to keep himself alive.

He looked around and saw nothing but agreement in everyone's eyes. Not a single person spoke up for him.

He was furious inside, but there was nothing he could do.

This was all Xiao Yao's fault. If it weren't for that bastard, how could he have ended up suffering like this?

Xiao Yao! Just you wait!

Five minutes later, Xiao Yao spotted the Xiao Clan members from afar, led by First Elder Xiao Wei.

What a grand spectacle!

As he drew closer, Xiao Yao saw that the First Elder had gathered every one of the Xiao Clan's influential figures.

Anyone who didn't know the whole story might have thought Xiao Ting had made it big!

In truth, Xiao Ting really had made it big!

After all, his master was Shātu Demon Sage, even if he was no match for Xiao Yao's master, the Lotus Sword Emperor!

Tap!

Tap!

Step by step, the sound of footsteps grew clearer.

When Xiao Wei heard them, he immediately looked toward the sound. The first person he saw was Xiao Yao, now sturdier and even more handsome than before.

The Young Clan Leader had changed so much!

As the thought crossed his mind, a powerful aura—cold and razor-sharp—washed over him. He could think of nothing but terror.

Looking closely, he saw that the person radiating this aura was a woman.

Even the White Immortal Light clinging to her body couldn't hide her tall, slender figure and graceful curves.

But Xiao Wei no longer wanted to look. Compared with worldly desires, staying alive was the problem he needed to solve first.

Xiao Yao had only just reached a point ten meters from Xiao Wei when the First Elder respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Welcome home, Young Clan Leader. Welcome to the Xiao Clan, Master of the Young Clan Leader."

The rest of the Xiao Clan members also cupped their hands respectfully and called in unison, "Welcome home, Young Clan Leader. Welcome to the Xiao Clan, Master of the Young Clan Leader."

Their voices rang out, echoing across the area.

The scene was magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Xiao Yao's eyes widened slightly!

He'd only seen a sight like this before he turned three, back when his father still lived at the Xiao Clan.

Once, he'd thought he'd never see anything like it again in his life. He hadn't expected to achieve it before his father had even returned!

He might have done it with his master's help, but Xiao Yao believed that even without her, the God-tier Sign-in System would have let him achieve this sooner or later.

Coming back to himself, Xiao Yao narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp and full of edge.

"First Elder, thanks for all your hard work!"

Xiao Wei froze for a moment, then realized Xiao Yao was using reverse psychology. He hurriedly replied, "Young Clan Leader, it was no trouble! No trouble at all!"

"Ah, First Elder, why do you sound so nervous? I'm not some man-eating tiger." Xiao Yao smiled pleasantly.

Xiao Wei swallowed, thinking that right now Xiao Yao was more terrifying than a man-eating tiger.

The next instant, he swept an arm through the air and shouted in feigned anger, "Bring that unfilial son over here!"

The crowd parted, revealing Xiao Ting, who'd been hidden among them. He was bare-chested, thorny branches strapped to his back, and bright red blood kept trickling down.

He looked wretched enough to stir anyone's pity.

Xiao Yao's gaze sharpened, his expression turning grave. He hadn't expected the First Elder to be so ruthless and decisive.

To inflict such heavy punishment on his own flesh and blood in so little time—it was no wonder he'd kept the entire Xiao Clan running without a hitch for the past nine years!

"Little Brother Ting, what did you do wrong?" Xiao Yao asked.

Xiao Ting said nothing. Enduring the pain, he slowly walked to within a meter of Xiao Yao.

Thud!

The sound rang out as Xiao Ting dropped to his knees. Weeping bitterly, he said, "Brother Xiao Yao, I shouldn't have mocked you on Ascension Avenue. Please forgive me for being young and foolish."

Seeing Xiao Yao remain silent, Xiao Wei gave the person beside him a look.

"Young Clan Leader, Xiao Ting has apologized. Please forgive him!"

"Exactly! He's still just a child. It's understandable that he made a mistake like this."

Then Xiao Wei cupped his hands and said, "Young Clan Leader, I will make sure to discipline Ting'er strictly from now on. Nothing like today will ever happen again."

After all that, if Xiao Yao still refused to forgive Xiao Ting, he would seem petty and narrow-minded.

[Beep! The host's clan members are using moral coercion against the host. A mission has been issued: Do not forgive Xiao Ting, and challenge him to a contest seven days from now. Complete the mission to receive a great reward.]

Just what I wanted! Xiao Yao thought.

Then he glared at Xiao Wei, a scornful smile curling his lips. "Why should I forgive him just because he apologized?"