Xiao Li threw a punch, the wind whistling around his fist. He hadn't used his full strength, only thirty percent. After all, the person facing him was his younger cousin. If he hurt him, he'd have a hard time explaining it to the clan.
Xiao Chen watched Xiao Li's fist fly toward him and sidestepped it.
Xiao Li froze. His punch had been fast, and even at thirty percent strength, it packed a punch. An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to dodge it, yet Xiao Chen had—and with ease.
"Again," Xiao Li said. This time, he used half his strength and punched toward Xiao Chen's chest.
Xiao Chen raised a hand and stopped Xiao Li's fist.
Xiao Li's expression changed. His fist had struck Xiao Chen's palm as if it had hit an iron plate. It didn't budge an inch.
"Put some strength into it," Xiao Chen said.
Xiao Li gritted his teeth and raised his strength to seventy percent. Still, Xiao Chen didn't budge. He used all his strength, and the result was the same.
Sweat beaded on Xiao Li's forehead. He pulled his fist back and took two steps away, staring at Xiao Chen in shock.
"What level are you, exactly?"
Xiao Chen said nothing.
The mercenaries around them were all dumbstruck.
"The deputy leader lost?"
"How is that possible? The deputy leader is a Dou Shi expert!"
"That kid barely moved, yet he took every one of the deputy leader's attacks."
"How strong is he?"
The mercenaries murmured among themselves, their expressions shifting from scorn to shock.
Xiao Ding watched from the side, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He knew how strong Xiao Li was. A Dou Shi was already considered top-tier in Shimo City, yet he couldn't last a single move against Xiao Chen. This Xiao Chen was no ordinary person.
Qing Lin stood nearby, gazing at Xiao Chen with admiration. The young master was so strong! Those people hadn't believed in him a moment ago, and now they were all stunned.
Xiao Li came back to himself, walked over to Xiao Chen, and clapped him on the shoulder. "You've been hiding your strength, haven't you?"
Xiao Chen smiled but said nothing.
Xiao Ding was about to speak when a sudden commotion came from outside. A mercenary stumbled in, his face deathly pale.
"Leader, something's happened!"
Xiao Ding furrowed his brow. "What is it?"
"There are—there are people outside," the mercenary gasped. "A lot of our brothers have been killed."
Xiao Ding's expression darkened. People from the Sand Mercenary Group? In Shimo City, only the Sand Mercenary Group would dare attack members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. The two groups had been at each other's throats for years, but neither had managed to get the better of the other.
"No," the mercenary said, shaking his head. "It's Snake People."
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a look, both of them stunned. Snake People? The Snake-Person Tribe rarely left the Tagor Desert, let alone came all the way to Shimo City to cause trouble. What was going on today?
"How many are there?" Xiao Ding asked.
"Not many," the mercenary said, "but they're all powerful. Our brothers can't stop them."
Xiao Ding fell silent for a moment. "What did they say?"
"They said..." The mercenary glanced at Xiao Chen and hesitated.
"What did they say?" Xiao Li asked.
"They said Young Master Xiao Chen has to get out here, or they'll kill him." The mercenary forced the words out.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li turned to look at Xiao Chen. The Snake People had come for him?
"Xiao Chen, what exactly did you do?" Xiao Li asked.
"Nothing much," Xiao Chen said calmly. "I just killed a few Snake People and kissed one."
Qing Lin lowered her head, her face turning red again.
The mercenaries looked at one another, their faces full of disbelief. He'd killed Snake People? And kissed one? This kid had some nerve.
"Who did you kiss?" Xiao Li asked.
"Yue Mei," Xiao Chen said.
"Who's Yue Mei?"
"A Seven-Star Dou Wang of the Snake-Person Tribe."
Everyone present froze. A Seven-Star Dou Wang—that was a Dou Wang expert, one of the strongest there was. There weren't many in the entire Jia Ma Empire. He'd kissed a Dou Wang and was still alive?
"Xiao Chen, you're joking, right?" Xiao Li's voice trembled.
Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Li. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Xiao Li fell silent, and so did Xiao Ding.
The mercenaries around them began to stir.
"We're done for. The Snake People came for him, and now we're caught in the crossfire."
"Exactly. He got himself into trouble and dragged us into it."
"Leader, hand him over, or we'll all die."
"Yeah, it's not worth dying for some outsider."
"That's enough!" Xiao Ding barked.
The mercenaries fell quiet.
Xiao Ding looked around at them, a cold glint in his eyes. "Xiao Chen is a member of the Xiao Clan, and he's my younger cousin. Anyone who wants to lay a hand on him will have to get through me first."
Xiao Li stepped forward as well. "Big brother's right. We're all members of the Xiao Clan. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
The mercenaries looked at one another, not daring to speak again.
Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, feeling a little moved. His two cousins really were loyal.
"Come on. Let's go see," Xiao Ding said.
Xiao Ding headed outside first, with Xiao Li following. Xiao Chen brought up the rear, Qing Lin close behind him.
More than a dozen Snake People stood outside the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters.
At their head was the Great Elder. Behind him stood a dozen elite Snake People, each at least a Dou Ling.
Yue Mei stood to the side. The blush had faded from her face, replaced by a murderous chill.
When she saw Xiao Chen, a complicated look flickered through her eyes.
The Great Elder stared Xiao Chen up and down. "You're the one who killed members of our Snake-Person Tribe?"
Xiao Chen looked at the Great Elder. "I am."
"And injured Yue Mei?"
"Yes."
"And kissed Yue Mei?"
Xiao Chen glanced at Yue Mei, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Yes."
The Great Elder's expression darkened.
Yue Mei's face flushed again. She bit her lip, wishing she could find a hole in the ground to hide in.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li listened from the side. He'd killed Snake People, injured a Seven-Star Dou Wang, and kissed her too. Their younger cousin really had some nerve.
"Do you know what you've done?" the Great Elder said coldly.
"I do," Xiao Chen replied.
"Then you should know that you're going to die today."
The Great Elder waved his hand, and the elite Snake People behind him immediately closed in.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions changed. They stepped in front of Xiao Chen.
"Friends from the Snake-Person Tribe, can we talk this over?" Xiao Ding said.
"Talk it over?" The Great Elder sneered. "You think you're worthy?"
Xiao Ding's expression darkened.
Xiao Li clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. But they knew they were no match for these Snake People. Forget the Great Elder, a Dou Wang—any one of the elite Snake People could wipe out the Desert Iron Mercenary Group with ease.
"Step aside, Cousins," Xiao Chen said.
"Xiao Chen..." Xiao Ding looked at him.
"This has nothing to do with you," Xiao Chen said. "I'll handle it."
Xiao Ding wanted to say something, but Xiao Chen's resolve was clear, and he swallowed the words.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stepped aside, but they didn't leave. If Xiao Chen couldn't hold his own, they'd risk their lives to get him out.
Xiao Chen looked at the Great Elder, his expression unchanged. "Are you sure you want to fight?"
"You killed members of the Snake-Person Tribe and humiliated a Seven-Star Dou Wang," the Great Elder said coldly. "Do you think you'll leave here alive?"
"Then come at me," Xiao Chen said calmly.
The Great Elder snorted. Dou Qi began surging inside him.
The Great Elder released the full force of his Dou Wang aura. The air around them trembled, and the sand on the ground was swept in every direction.
The aura pressed down on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, leaving them gasping for breath.
The mercenaries retreated several steps in terror. Some even collapsed straight onto the ground.
That was the strength of a Dou Wang expert. It was terrifying.
"Can Xiao Chen really withstand that?" Xiao Li's voice trembled.
Xiao Ding said nothing, his eyes fixed on Xiao Chen.
The Great Elder struck out with his palm, blasting toward Xiao Chen's chest.
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