The Clown Who Didn't Fit In

Leaving aside how the Yunhai Family Head would react to the message from his ancestor, out on the street at that moment—

Everyone silently watched as Jialu, born into a noble family, was beaten one-sidedly by Si Yao. Not a single person showed any intention of stepping in to help.

Well, there were a couple of exceptions: Jialu's two poor bodyguards.

Unfortunately, Jialu had set out without checking his horoscope that day. He had no idea he'd run into Si Yao. Otherwise, he would definitely have brought his Star Level bodyguards instead of two useless freeloaders who couldn't help him at all and only made him lose face.

For instance, one of his bodyguards was standing outside the domain, watching Jialu get pitifully beaten inside and shouting, "You brat! Do you know who we are?

"Our young master is from the Yunhai Family. The Yunhai Family has a World Lord backing them—if you know what's good for you, you'll let our young master go right now."

"Exactly." The other bodyguard nodded, joining in with a threat.

"Our young master is Lord Kemo You's only son. Lord Kemo You is a Universe Level powerhouse. Killing a little Planetary Level like you would be as easy as breathing."

The two of them took turns speaking, dragging out nearly every source of power Jialu might have, openly or otherwise, hoping to make Si Yao think twice.

But it was obvious from their bluster that they were out of options.

Did Si Yao care? Of course not. She even hit him harder.

Jialu: ...

His eyes nearly rolled right out of his head. Those two idiots would've been better off keeping their mouths shut.

They'd called over so many people. Were they trying to make sure everyone knew he was being beaten?

He did his best to dodge Si Yao's attacks, but the domain all around him slowed his movements. He couldn't actually go all out against her. Well, to be honest, it probably wouldn't have made much difference even if he had.

This little girl might have looked tiny, but she utterly outclassed him in movement, defense, and mastery of secret techniques. He was a useless runt who'd practically piled energy on top of energy to reach Star Level.

And on top of that, her domain was suppressing him.

What a terrible truth!

Three minutes later, the domain finally withdrew, revealing the two of them inside.

Si Yao's sleeves were a little dirty from beating Jialu up. Jialu, meanwhile, was already bruised and battered, unable to tell the sky from the ground. The moment Si Yao let go of him, he collapsed onto the ground and gasped for breath.

One of the two bows tied on his head had come undone, with only a single ribbon still barely attached. The other had long since vanished.

His purple dress was disheveled, spread across the ground. The bruises on his face stood out more than ever, and his face was red with anger. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath, making him look like a pitiful wretch who'd been thoroughly manhandled.

He glared at Si Yao. "You—you... you're unreasonable!"

He pointed at Si Yao, accidentally aggravating the injury in his arm. Tears spilled from his eyes again, and he trembled with rage.

"I already apologized to you and paid you compensation. Why did you still have to beat me?"

Unreasonable! She was just some vulgar, uncivilized brute from a backwater place.

He thought viciously.

Si Yao folded her arms and turned her face away, not even looking at him.

By then, the Yunhai Family members who had arrived had already dispersed the onlookers, including the two little beggars who had accidentally bumped into Jialu.

Kemo You and the Yunhai Family Head descended in front of World Lord Xunzhen and respectfully bowed. "Ancestor."

The moment Jialu saw his father, tears and snot came pouring out together. He drew a deep breath. "Father!!!"

His voice was so loud that Kemo You, who was kneeling before World Lord Xunzhen, shuddered, and his brow twitched despite himself.

That boy!

"Ancestor, my youngest son was disrespectful. I will make sure to discipline him properly from now on. Please forgive him." Kemo You bowed his head, looking ashamed.

Before coming, he had already watched the whole scene through the Virtual Universe.

When he saw that the ancestor had done nothing while that little girl beat his son, he knew there was no chance of him getting justice for Jialu, whether the ancestor disapproved of his son throwing his weight around or had some connection to the girl.

As for the Yunhai Family Head, his reasoning was simpler. He had only needed to see the Wind Domain around Si Yao and the pair of pure white feathered wings behind her, then put that together with the bits of conversation he'd heard earlier, to identify her.

There was only one person on Cloud Sea Planet who fit the bill: the student brought along by Gui, the Domain Lord's friend, Li Yilin. He had heard she was only twenty years old, yet had already reached Planetary Level Nine and comprehended a domain.

With such a young and exceptionally gifted genius on Cloud Sea Planet, he couldn't possibly fail to show her some regard. This was an excellent investment opportunity—which was also why Si Yao had been having so much fun on Cloud Sea Planet this past month without anyone daring to bother her.

"Father?" Jialu clambered to his feet in disbelief, yanked off the annoying ribbon on his head, and stared at his father.

"I'm the one who got beaten! She's the one being unreasonable." His finger trembled as he pointed at Si Yao, and his lips shook with anger. "That girl attacked me without a word. If I hadn't been holding back because she—cough, cough, cough... How did this become my fault?"

He was used to being rude, but no matter how you looked at it, he wasn't at fault this time.

Si Yao glared, about to retort, when a streak of light flashed across the sky. Li Yilin appeared in front of her.

His familiar figure, his smooth black hair flowing down his back and swaying gently in the breeze, the purple vertical eye between his brows half-closed, its divine light contained.

"Teacher!" Si Yao's voice was brimming with delight.

Li Yilin turned his head slightly to glance at her, then walked toward World Lord Xunzhen, who stood not far away.

"This junior, Li Yilin, pays his respects to Lord World Lord Xunzhen."

World Lord Xunzhen stood with his hands behind his back. His round face, much like the Buddha's in legend, smiled until his eyes were hidden. He discreetly glanced at Si Yao in the distance, then looked at Li Yilin with a hint more curiosity.

"So you're Li Yilin. You certainly look the part, and your talent is exceptional."

"You flatter me, Lord World Lord." Li Yilin smiled as if he hadn't noticed the curiosity in his eyes. He beckoned to Si Yao behind him. "Come here."

Si Yao knew this wasn't the time to make a scene, so she obediently walked over and bowed to the three of them. "This junior, Si Yao, pays her respects to Lord World Lord Xunzhen and the two seniors." She looked well-behaved, her voice unable to hide its girlish sweetness. The pure white wings behind her had already folded away, hanging obediently at her back and making her look even more petite and adorable.

Li Yilin's eyes were full of pride, too. She was his student.

The moment Si Yao spoke, World Lord Xunzhen couldn't help looking at her. His fondness was plain to see. He ignored everyone else present and didn't even look at Li Yilin, only smiling at her as he asked, "Little girl, would you consider becoming my disciple?"

Gasp!

Though they had already suspected it, when World Lord Ba Zhen voiced the idea, everyone present still drew in a sharp breath. Their gazes at Si Yao held not only curiosity and calculation but envy as well.

That was World Lord Ba Zhen, the founder of one of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's Sixteen Families, and one of the few World Lords among the Sixteen Families with a decent chance of breaking through to Immortal.

Such a major figure wanted to take a little Planetary Level girl as his disciple in front of everyone?

Take her as his disciple?

Did that unreasonable little brat deserve it?

Hearing the ancestor say this, Jialu instinctively wanted to mock her, hoping the ancestor would see her for what she really was. Kemo You, having anticipated the thought, shot him a cold look and immediately froze him in place.

He shuddered, as if only then coming to his senses. He quickly lowered his head, pressing all his little schemes deep inside and daring not to let them stir again.

He really had been blinded by anger. That was the ancestor, the family's mainstay, a great figure at World Lord Level.

How could a little Planetary Level like him presume to comment on the ancestor's thoughts?

Besides, if that girl really became the ancestor's disciple, her status would instantly surpass everyone else's. Given how badly he had offended her earlier, would his father beat him to death when they got home?

At the thought, a flicker of fear crossed Jialu's eyes.

He was his father's only child, but his father had always been strict with himself and valued the family even more than his own life. He couldn't stand anyone tarnishing the family's reputation or causing it trouble.

He was lazy about cultivating, unreliable, and never did anything useful. But as long as he didn't cause trouble for the family, his father indulged him and let him do as he pleased. Even if he went too far, he could turn the page by throwing a tantrum or asking his mother to plead for him.

But if he really brought shame upon the family, there'd be no point going to his mother, or even his grandfather. His father definitely wouldn't let him off.

Lost in thought, he accidentally bit the wound at the corner of his mouth and grimaced. His hand trembled as he held it over his mouth, wanting to touch the injury but not daring to, wanting to cry out in pain but not daring to make a sound—like a clown in a crowd of people with their own thoughts, completely out of place.