When the Misty Cloud Sect's Third Elder arrived in Wutan City with five Dou Ling disciples, it was just past noon.
Standing at the city gate, the Third Elder looked at the small city before him, his face dark with anger. "Two of our Misty Cloud Sect's elders actually died in this dump."
A disciple beside him spoke up. "Third Elder, shall we go straight to the Xiao Clan?"
"What else? Why would we come here if not to wipe out the Xiao Clan?" The Third Elder glanced at him.
The disciple hurriedly lowered his head and didn't dare say another word.
"Let's go." The Third Elder waved his hand. "Wipe out the Xiao Clan."
The six of them headed toward the Xiao Clan.
Outside the Xiao Clan's main gate, two guards stood chatting idly.
One of them spotted the group approaching in the distance and frowned. "Those people don't look like they're from Wutan City."
The other guard looked over as well. "Their clothes don't look familiar either. Could they be here to cause trouble?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Third Elder had already reached the gate.
"Who are you?" one of the guards asked, stepping forward.
The Third Elder said nothing. He raised his hand and struck with his palm.
The guard flew backward and crashed into the doorframe. He died on the spot.
The other guard's face changed. He turned and tried to run.
One of the disciples behind the Third Elder blurred forward and struck the guard between the shoulder blades with his palm.
The guard fell face-first to the ground and lay still.
The Third Elder didn't even spare him a glance as he led his men through the Xiao Clan's main gate.
Several Xiao Clan members were walking around the courtyard. They froze when they saw what had happened.
"Who are you? How dare you break into the Xiao Clan?"
A young clansman rushed forward, only to be casually struck away by one of the Dou Ling disciples.
Another clansman tried to run, but a different disciple blocked him and struck him dead with a palm.
In just a few breaths, several bodies had appeared in the courtyard.
The remaining Xiao Clan members scattered in terror.
"Where is Xiao Yan?" the Third Elder asked coldly.
No one answered.
"Keep looking," the Third Elder said.
In the Xiao Clan's main hall, Xiao Zhan sat in the seat of honor, discussing matters with several elders.
They needed to decide how to take over the Jia Lie Clan's businesses and how to arrange their personnel.
The First Elder spoke up. "The Jia Lie Clan has been dealt a heavy blow this time. We can take over all their shops."
"The First Elder is right," the Second Elder agreed. "But we need to act quickly, before the other clans get there first."
Xiao Zhan was about to speak when hurried footsteps sounded outside.
A Xiao Clan disciple stumbled into the hall, his face deathly pale.
"Clan head, something terrible has happened!"
Xiao Zhan frowned. "What is it?"
"The Misty Cloud Sect... People from the Misty Cloud Sect are here," the disciple panted. "They've killed many of our people. The two guards at the gate are dead, and several clansmen have been killed in the courtyard too."
Xiao Zhan's expression changed instantly. The elders also stood, their faces grim.
"How many of them are there?" the First Elder asked.
"Six," the disciple replied. "The one leading them is an old man who looks like a Dou Wang expert. There are five young men behind him."
Xiao Zhan's expression shifted at once. He gritted his teeth. "Let's go out and see."
In the Xiao Clan courtyard, the Third Elder stood at its center, with five Dou Ling disciples lined up behind him.
Seven or eight bodies lay on the ground. They were all Xiao Clan members.
Several Xiao Clan disciples stood at a distance, afraid to approach.
Xiao Zhan came out of the main hall with several elders. His face turned livid when he saw the bodies.
"People of the Misty Cloud Sect, you've gone too far!" Xiao Zhan roared.
The Third Elder glanced at Xiao Zhan. "Are you the Xiao Clan's clan head?"
"I am."
"Where is Xiao Yan?" the Third Elder asked.
"I don't know," Xiao Zhan replied.
The Third Elder sneered. "You don't know? He's your son. How could you not know?"
"I don't know because I don't know," Xiao Zhan said.
A cold glint flashed in the Third Elder's eyes. "Looks like you won't talk until I teach you a lesson."
The First Elder hurried forward and clasped his hands. "Third Elder, this is our Xiao Clan's fault. We're willing to compensate you."
"Compensate us?" The Third Elder looked at the First Elder. "What could your Xiao Clan possibly offer? You killed two of our elders. Do you think a few gold coins will make things right?"
The First Elder's face turned pale.
"Xiao Yan must die today," the Third Elder said. "And your Xiao Clan will have to answer for this too."
Xiao Zhan stepped forward. "If you're going to kill someone, kill me."
"Gladly." The Third Elder kicked Xiao Zhan in the chest.
Xiao Zhan spat out a mouthful of blood. His whole body flew backward and crashed to the ground.
"Clan head!" Several Xiao Clan disciples tried to rush forward, but the Third Elder's glare froze them in place.
The Third Elder walked over and planted his foot on Xiao Zhan's face.
"Tell me. Where is Xiao Yan?"
Half of Xiao Zhan's face was pressed against the ground, blood still at the corner of his mouth.
"I don't know."
The Third Elder ground his foot down. "Are you going to talk or not?"
Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth. "You could kill me, and I still wouldn't know."
A murderous glint flashed in the Third Elder's eyes. "Then don't blame me for what happens next."
The Third Elder raised his hand. Dou Qi gathered in his palm as he prepared to strike.
The elders stood to one side. Not one of them dared step forward.
The First Elder opened his mouth as if to speak, then swallowed his words.
Outside the bamboo grove on the back mountain, Xiao Xun'er ran in.
Xiao Xun'er usually walked lightly and never made much noise, but this time her footsteps were heavy.
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a boulder. He had just finished cultivating, and opened his eyes.
"Brother Xiao Yan!" Xiao Xun'er ran to the foot of the boulder, panting. "Something's happened."
Xiao Yan looked down at her. "What is it?"
"People from the Misty Cloud Sect are here. They hurt Uncle Xiao and killed many Xiao Clan members," Xiao Xun'er said. "If you don't go now, they'll kill Uncle Xiao too."
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
Xiao Yan leaped down from the boulder and landed on the ground.
"Brother Xiao Yan, be careful," Xiao Xun'er said.
Xiao Yan said nothing. He blurred forward toward the Xiao Clan.
In the Xiao Clan courtyard, the Third Elder's raised hand slowly descended, Dou Qi growing denser in his palm.
Xiao Zhan lay on the ground, a foot still on his face. The blood at the corner of his mouth had dried.
"I'll ask you one last time," the Third Elder said. "Where is Xiao Yan?"
Xiao Zhan closed his eyes. "I don't know."
The Third Elder sneered. "Then die."
The Third Elder brought his palm down.
"Stop!"
A voice came from the gate.
The Third Elder's hand stopped in midair. He turned to look.
Xiao Yan stood at the gate, still carrying the scent of grass and trees from the back mountain.
Xiao Yan's face was expressionless, and his gaze was terrifyingly calm.
The Third Elder lifted his foot and turned to face Xiao Yan.
"Are you Xiao Yan?"
Xiao Yan didn't answer. His gaze fell on Xiao Zhan.
His father lay on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth and a footprint on his face.
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