After returning from the back mountain behind the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Early the next morning, he went straight to find Xiao Zhan.
"Father, I know who was behind what happened to the Jialie Clan."
Xiao Zhan was looking over the account books. His hand trembled when he heard that, and he looked up. "Who?"
"A senior who looked about my age." Xiao Yan lowered his voice. "I ran into him on the back mountain last night. He's a Nine-Star Great Dou Master, and he admitted it himself."
The account book slipped from Xiao Zhan's hands and landed on the table.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm certain." Xiao Yan recounted everything that had happened the night before in detail. "The senior said he had no interest in the Xiao Clan and was just passing through. But I can't help thinking that we should try to build a connection with someone like him..."
Xiao Zhan fell silent for a long time.
"Do you know where he's staying?"
Xiao Yan shook his head. "I didn't dare follow him. But since the senior is in Wutan City, he must have somewhere to stay."
Xiao Zhan thought for a moment, then called the steward in. "Find out whether any unfamiliar faces have rented a house in the city in the past couple of days. Quickly."
The steward left at once.
The news came back in less than two hours.
"Clan Head, someone rented a large private residence in the eastern part of the city the day before yesterday. The renter was a boy around fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a black robe. He put down a deposit of a hundred gold coins without a second thought."
Xiao Zhan nodded.
They'd found him so quickly. It seemed he hadn't bothered to hide his tracks.
What did that mean? It meant he didn't care if people found him.
"Get things ready. I'll pay him a visit in person." Xiao Zhan rose to his feet.
Ye Xiu hadn't been trying to hide in the first place.
He was a Nine-Star Great Dou Master. What was there to hide from? In a place as small as Wutan City, hardly anyone could do anything to him.
The residence he'd rented was quite large, with two courtyards and a spacious yard. At first, the landlord had been reluctant to rent to a kid. But the moment Ye Xiu took out a bag of gold coins and slapped it on the table, his attitude changed. He even brought the keys over that very afternoon.
At the moment, Ye Xiu was stretched out on a wicker chair in the yard, basking in the sun.
Freshly brewed tea sat beside him, and a few medicinal herbs he'd picked up at the auction were set beneath the tea table. Life was comfortable.
Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the gate.
There was more than one person.
Ye Xiu opened his eyes and swept the area with his spiritual power. There were two men: a Five-Star Da Dou Shi and a Three-Star Dou Zhe.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.
He wasn't surprised that the two of them had come.
There was someone else, too?
Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow.
A woman in a red dress stood outside as well. There wasn't the slightest trace of Dou Qi coming from her.
Just as he thought this, someone knocked.
"Is Senior Ye Xiu here? Xiao Zhan of the Xiao Clan has come to pay a visit."
The voice was courteous.
Ye Xiu didn't move. "The door's unlocked. Come on in."
The gate swung open, and Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan walked in.
As soon as he entered, Xiao Zhan cupped his hands in greeting. "I hope you'll forgive me for this unannounced visit, Senior."
Ye Xiu waved a hand. "You're too polite, Clan Head Xiao. What brings you here?"
Xiao Zhan's manner was humble. "My son ran into you on the back mountain last night and told me about it when he returned. That's how I learned you were behind what happened to the Jialie Clan."
He paused, then continued, "The Jialie Clan and the Xiao Clan have long been at odds. By taking action against them, you've rid the Xiao Clan of a major threat. I came today first to thank you in person, and second to tell you that the Xiao Clan hasn't touched any of the Jialie Clan's businesses. You may do with them as you please."
Ye Xiu looked at him and smiled.
What a sly old fox. He knew just what to say.
What did "do with them as you please" really mean? He was clearly testing whether Ye Xiu intended to take over the Jialie Clan's businesses. If Ye Xiu said he didn't want them, then the Xiao Clan could take them over with a clear conscience.
"What happened to the Jialie Clan has nothing to do with me anymore," Ye Xiu said coolly. "I had a score to settle, and now it's settled. As for those businesses, divide them up however you like. I'm not interested."
Xiao Zhan's heart settled, and his smile grew more genuine. "Your generosity does you credit, Senior."
As he spoke, he took a jade box from his robes. "This is a small token of my appreciation: a five-hundred-year-old blood lingzhi. It's good for healing injuries and aiding cultivation. I hope you'll accept it."
Ye Xiu took the jade box and opened it for a look. It was indeed a fine specimen.
He didn't refuse. He put it straight into his Storage Ring. "All right, I'll take it."
Xiao Zhan breathed a sigh of relief.
The fact that Ye Xiu had accepted the gift meant he wasn't opposed to them, at least.
Just then, a woman's voice came from outside the gate. "Excuse me, does Senior Ye Xiu live here?"
Ye Xiu looked toward the entrance.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan turned around as well.
A woman in a red dress stood beyond the gate, tall and graceful, with delicate features and a smile at the corners of her lips.
Ya Fei.
Ye Xiu narrowed his eyes.
When Ya Fei saw Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan in the yard, she clearly froze for a moment. Then she smiled. "Clan Head Xiao? Young Master Xiao Yan? What a coincidence. You're here too."
Xiao Zhan was taken aback as well. "Miss Ya Fei, what are you..."
Ya Fei walked in without hesitation and dipped into a slight curtsy toward Ye Xiu. "I hope you won't take offense at my unannounced visit, Senior."
Leaning back in his wicker chair, Ye Xiu said nothing. He simply watched her.
Ya Fei's smile nearly faltered.
But she'd spent years in the auction business. She quickly composed herself and said with a smile, "Please don't misunderstand, Senior. I came today purely because I admire you and wanted to meet you."
"Admire me?" Ye Xiu finally spoke, his tone indifferent. "What is it you admire about me?"
Ya Fei was about to answer when Ye Xiu continued, "How did you find out about me?"
Ya Fei's smile stiffened for a moment.
Ye Xiu watched her, his gaze turning cold. "Did Gu Ni tell you? Were you investigating me?"
The moment he said those words, the atmosphere in the yard changed.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance, then silently took half a step back.
Ya Fei's expression shifted, but she quickly regained her composure. She lowered her head, her voice turning softer. "Please don't be angry, Senior. I wouldn't dare investigate you. It's just..."
She raised her head and looked at Ye Xiu, a hint of hurt in her eyes. "It's just that Master Gu Ni suddenly showed you such respect at the auction house that day. I've worked at the auction house for years, and I've never seen him treat anyone that way."
"Then the Jialie Clan ran into trouble, and I heard the rumors. This morning, I heard that Clan Head Xiao had sent people to ask around about a boy who'd rented a house. I guessed you might be the same person."
She bit her lip. "I meant no harm. I really did just want to meet you, Senior. I was... just curious."
Ye Xiu looked at her without speaking.
Ya Fei stepped forward half a pace, her voice growing softer. "If I've offended you, I'll accept whatever punishment you see fit, Senior. But I'm just an ordinary person. Surely you wouldn't hold it against me?"
Ye Xiu suddenly laughed.
"An ordinary person?" he said. "And an ordinary person would be bold enough to investigate a Nine-Star Great Dou Master?"
Ya Fei's face went pale.
Xiao Zhan gave a light cough from the side. "Well... Senior, Miss Ya Fei really does have no Dou Qi cultivation. I can vouch for that."
Ye Xiu glanced at him. Xiao Zhan immediately fell silent and even slapped himself.
The yard was quiet for a few seconds.
Ya Fei kept her head lowered, her heart pounding. She'd met plenty of important people, but this young man gave her a different feeling. He looked only fourteen or fifteen, yet his eyes seemed able to see right through people.
"That's enough," Ye Xiu finally said. "Sit down."
Ya Fei froze, then raised her head.
Ye Xiu pointed to a stone stool nearby. "Why are you standing? I don't have so many rules here."
Relieved, Ya Fei quickly sat down.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan found seats as well.
"Senior," Xiao Zhan began cautiously, "I have one more request."
Ye Xiu glanced at him. "Go ahead."
"Although you're not interested in the Jialie Clan's businesses, you were the one who dealt with them. It wouldn't look good if the Xiao Clan simply took over," Xiao Zhan said. "What I mean is, we could say publicly that the Jialie Clan offended you and you dealt with them. The Xiao Clan would only manage their businesses on your behalf. If you ever give us instructions, you can take them back at any time."
Ye Xiu waved a hand. "Do whatever you think best."
A weight lifted from Xiao Zhan's heart.
Ya Fei, who'd been listening nearby, suddenly spoke. "At the auction house that day, Senior recognized the third-grade Ice Profound Pill. Master Gu Ni said you were highly knowledgeable about alchemy."
Ye Xiu turned to look at her.
Ya Fei smiled brightly. "Forgive my bold guess, Senior, but you're not only highly cultivated—you're probably an Alchemist too, aren't you?"
Xiao Zhan was startled and looked at Ye Xiu.
Ye Xiu neither denied nor admitted it. He simply looked at Ya Fei. "You certainly have a lot to say."
Ya Fei smiled and said nothing more.
But Xiao Zhan had already caught on.
Ye Xiu had recognized a third-grade pill at a glance, and Gu Ni, that Second-Rank Alchemist, had respectfully called him "Senior."
What rank was Ye Xiu?
Third? Or higher?
Xiao Zhan was completely overwhelmed.
A fifteen-year-old Nine-Star Great Dou Master was already absurd enough. Add a third-rank Alchemist to the mix... Was this even human?
He took a deep breath, stood up, and cupped his hands. "Senior, I came today mainly to thank you and make our position clear. Now that I've said my piece, I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Ye Xiu nodded. "All right."
Xiao Zhan pulled Xiao Yan along and left.
At the gate, Xiao Yan looked back. Ya Fei was still sitting there.
The yard fell quiet again.
Ye Xiu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Ya Fei. "Why haven't you left yet?"
Ya Fei smiled. "Didn't you tell me to sit? I thought you still had something to say."
Ye Xiu set down his teacup.
"You don't think that's all there is to it, after you investigated me, do you?"
Ya Fei's smile stiffened.
She quickly stood up and came to stand in front of Ye Xiu, bending slightly at the waist. "I really know I was wrong, Senior. Just tell me how I can make it up to you, and I'll do it."
Leaning back in his wicker chair, Ye Xiu looked at her.
From this angle, he could see her fair neck and the slight opening of her neckline.
Ya Fei noticed his gaze. Her ears turned a little red, but she didn't look away.
"Make it up to me?" Ye Xiu said. "What could you offer?"
Ya Fei lifted her head, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Whatever you want, Senior, I'll give you. I've saved up some money over the years—not much, but a few tens of thousands of gold coins. It's just..."
She paused and studied Ye Xiu carefully. "Someone like you probably wouldn't care about such a small amount."
Ye Xiu didn't reply.
He held out a hand and patted his thigh. "Ya Fei, come here."
Ya Fei froze.
Ye Xiu watched her.
One second.
Two seconds.
Ye Xiu gave a cold laugh. "You hesitated."
Ya Fei's expression changed. "Senior, I..."
"Get out," Ye Xiu said, waving a hand. "If you show up uninvited again, don't blame me for being rude."
Ya Fei opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
She lowered her head, took a step back, and turned to leave.
When she reached the gate, she couldn't help glancing back.
The young man had already leaned back in his wicker chair and closed his eyes to bask in the sun, as if she'd never been there at all.
Ya Fei bit her lip and pushed the gate open.
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