The Misty Cloud Sect's hall was brightly lit.
Yun Leng sat in a chair, his expression frighteningly grim.
The Fourth Elder was dead. He had died at the Xiao Clan's hands, killed by a good-for-nothing. The news was like a thorn lodged in Yun Leng's heart, impossible to pull out.
The Second Elder spoke up. "First Elder, we can't just let this go. The Fourth Elder can't have died for nothing."
The Fifth Elder chimed in. "The Second Elder is right. What will outsiders think of the Misty Cloud Sect if word gets out? We can't even deal with a good-for-nothing. Where does that leave the Sect's reputation?"
Yun Leng raised a hand, signaling for the elders to quiet down.
"I know," Yun Leng said. "I can't swallow this insult either, but the Sect Master said not to act rashly."
The Second Elder gave a cold snort. "The Sect Master is the Sect Master, and we are us. The Fourth Elder was with us for decades. He was killed, and we don't even let out a fart?"
The Fifth Elder lowered his voice. "Second Elder, keep it down. It wouldn't be good if the Sect Master heard you."
"So what if he does?" the Second Elder said. "Am I wrong?"
Yun Leng fell silent for a moment, then looked toward the Third Elder.
"Third Elder, what do you think?"
The Third Elder stood up and said, "First Elder, give me a few men, and I'll wipe out the Xiao Clan."
Yun Leng looked at him. "Are you sure you can do it?"
"What powerful fighters could the Xiao Clan possibly have?" the Third Elder said. "The Fourth Elder was killed because he underestimated his opponent. I'll take a few core disciples at the Dou Ling level. With my own Dou Wang strength, killing one Xiao Yan will be easy."
Yun Leng nodded. "Good."
"Rest assured, First Elder. I'll set out tomorrow," the Third Elder said.
"There's no rush," Yun Leng said. "There's one thing you must do."
"What is it?" the Third Elder asked.
A cold glint flashed in Yun Leng's eyes.
"Kill all his family members in front of Xiao Yan."
The Third Elder froze for a moment.
"Then execute him," Yun Leng said. "I want Xiao Yan to know what happens when you offend the Misty Cloud Sect."
The Third Elder nodded firmly. "Understood."
"Go," Yun Leng said. "Be careful. Don't let the Sect Master find out."
The Third Elder turned and left.
The next morning, outside the Misty Cloud Sect's gates.
The Third Elder stood on the steps, with five young men behind him.
All five were core disciples at the Dou Ling level, the cream of the Misty Cloud Sect's younger generation.
One disciple asked, "Third Elder, where are we going?"
"Wutan City," the Third Elder said. "The Xiao Clan."
The disciples exchanged glances, excitement flashing in their eyes.
Once they returned after killing the Xiao Clan's people, the First Elder would surely reward them handsomely.
"Let's go." The Third Elder waved a hand and led the five disciples away from the Misty Cloud Sect.
In the corridor, Nalan Yanran stood behind a pillar, watching the Third Elder leave with his men.
Nalan Yanran said nothing. She only watched.
She knew exactly what they were going to do: go to the Xiao Clan, find Xiao Yan, and take revenge.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
Xiao Yan, you're dead. You killed Ge Ye and the Fourth Elder, slapped me in the face, and broke off our engagement. I'll settle every one of those scores.
The Third Elder was a Dou Wang expert, and he had five core disciples at the Dou Ling level with him. However strong you are, can you really beat one Dou Wang and five Dou Lings?
Nalan Yanran murmured to herself, "Serves you right."
She turned and left, feeling considerably better.
Two days later.
In the study of the Mittel Family in the imperial capital, Mite'er Tengshan was looking over the account books.
He was the head of the Mittel Family, in charge of the entire clan's business. Throughout the Jia Ma Empire, the Mittel Family's name was known to all. Its business spanned the country, and its wealth was beyond measure.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Mite'er Tengshan said without looking up.
A servant entered, holding a letter.
"Patriarch, this is a message from Miss Ya Fei in Wutan City."
Mite'er Tengshan put down the account books and took the letter.
He opened it and read a few lines, his brows furrowing.
"Sixth-grade medicinal ingredients?"
The servant nodded. "Yes. Miss Ya Fei said someone over there is looking to buy sixth-grade medicinal ingredients."
Mite'er Tengshan was silent for a moment.
How could anyone in a tiny place like Wutan City need sixth-grade medicinal ingredients?
"Did Ya Fei say who wanted them?" Mite'er Tengshan asked.
"She did," the servant said. "It was Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan."
Mite'er Tengshan's frown deepened.
He had heard of the Xiao Clan, a minor clan in Wutan City, and the name Xiao Yan rang a bell as well.
"Xiao Yan? The good-for-nothing with Three-Stage Dou Qi?" Mite'er Tengshan asked.
"Yes," the servant said. "That's him."
"What would a good-for-nothing want with sixth-grade medicinal ingredients?" Mite'er Tengshan couldn't believe it.
"Miss Ya Fei said things might not be so simple," the servant replied. "Heard Nalan Yanran went to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement, but Xiao Yan publicly broke it off with her instead."
Mite'er Tengshan froze. "He broke it off with Nalan Yanran?"
"Yes," the servant said. "Xiao Yan also killed Ge Ye, a deacon elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, and later killed the Sect's Fourth Elder."
Mite'er Tengshan's expression finally changed.
Ge Ye was a Da Dou Shi, and the Fourth Elder was a Dou Wang expert. How could a good-for-nothing with Three-Stage Dou Qi kill a Da Dou Shi? Or a Dou Wang? It was impossible.
"Miss Ya Fei said Xiao Yan might be very powerful," the servant said. "At least at the Dou Wang level."
Mite'er Tengshan sat in his chair and didn't speak for a long time.
A fifteen-year-old Dou Wang? No such genius had ever appeared in the entire Jia Ma Empire.
"Is the information reliable?" Mite'er Tengshan asked.
"Miss Ya Fei confirmed it herself," the servant said. "The Fourth Elder's body is still at the Xiao Clan."
Mite'er Tengshan took a deep breath.
If that was true, Xiao Yan was terrifying. A fifteen-year-old Dou Wang must have a powerful force behind him, and not a small one.
"What else did Ya Fei say?" Mite'er Tengshan asked.
"Miss Ya Fei said she wants to befriend Xiao Yan," the servant said. "That's why she asked the family for sixth-grade medicinal ingredients, as a gesture of goodwill."
Mite'er Tengshan nodded.
Ya Fei had made the right call. They couldn't afford to offend someone like this, and it was best not to antagonize him. If they could befriend him, they should do everything they could.
"Tell Ya Fei I'll arrange for someone to send the sixth-grade medicinal ingredients over," Mite'er Tengshan said. "Have her build a good relationship with Xiao Yan."
"Yes." The servant nodded.
"And one more thing," Mite'er Tengshan said. "Have her keep an eye on Xiao Yan's movements. Report back immediately if anything happens."
The servant acknowledged him, then turned and left.
Mite'er Tengshan sat in his chair, silent for a long time.
A remarkable figure had emerged from a tiny place like Wutan City. A fifteen-year-old boy could kill a Dou Wang expert. If that news got out, the entire Jia Ma Empire would be shaken.
The Misty Cloud Sect had lost one of its own and certainly wouldn't let this go. It looked like something big was about to happen in Wutan City.
Mite'er Tengshan stood and walked to the window.
Outside, night had fallen, and the streets of the imperial capital were brightly lit.
He thought of what Ya Fei had written in her letter, still finding it hard to believe.
He shook his head and let the matter go.
No matter what, it couldn't hurt to have Ya Fei build a good relationship with Xiao Yan. A fifteen-year-old Dou Wang had limitless potential. Someone like that was worth befriending—and if they couldn't befriend him, they should at least avoid making an enemy of him.
Mite'er Tengshan murmured to himself.
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