Outside Desert Rock City, several mercenaries surrounded a young girl. She was small and slight, her head lowered as she dared not look at anyone.
"Half-breed, get lost." One mercenary shoved her. She stumbled several steps and nearly fell.
"I heard you were born to a Snake-Person?" another mercenary jeered. "No wonder you look so strange. A human and Snake-Person half-breed is an ill omen. Stay away from us before you pass your bad luck on."
The girl bit her lip, fear filling her eyes as she dared not speak. The mercenaries grew more and more vicious, and one of them raised a hand to hit her.
"Stop."
A voice came from behind them. The mercenaries turned and saw a young man standing some distance away, dressed in a black robe, his face expressionless.
"Who are you? Mind your own business," one mercenary said.
Xiao Yan didn't answer. He walked toward them. "I'll say it again. Stop."
The mercenaries exchanged glances. One sneered. "Kid, do you know who we are? We're from the Sand Mercenary Group. You think you can afford to cross us?"
Xiao Yan raised his hand and struck with one palm. The mercenary who had spoken flew backward and hit the ground, motionless. The others blanched and turned to run, but Xiao Yan blurred forward, striking each of them with a single palm. After several muffled thuds, every mercenary was sprawled on the ground.
The girl stood frozen, staring at the scene.
Xiao Yan turned to her. "Are you all right?"
She came to her senses and shook her head. "N-no, I'm fine."
She looked at Xiao Yan, gratitude filling her eyes. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me," Xiao Yan said.
"My name is Qing Lin," the girl said. "Benefactor, what's your name?"
"Xiao Yan."
Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "Xiao Yan? Are you the younger brother of the First and Second Regiment Commanders? I work for the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. The First and Second Regiment Commanders mention you all the time. They said you're a genius of the Xiao Clan, and that you became a Dou Zhe at eleven."
"I'll take you to see them."
"Okay." They headed toward the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
In the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's hall, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat in chairs, talking.
"Big brother, have you heard? Third brother killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Li said.
Xiao Ding nodded. "I heard."
"That was a Dou Wang expert. What kind of strength does Third Brother have now?"
"I don't know. I'll ask him when we see him in person," Xiao Ding said.
Xiao Li fell silent for a moment. "Big brother, do you think Third Brother might be in danger? The Misty Cloud Sect won't let this go."
"If Third Brother dared to kill him, he isn't afraid of their revenge."
Xiao Li nodded. "True, but the Misty Cloud Sect is the largest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, with experts as numerous as clouds. Their elder was killed—can they really swallow that?"
Xiao Ding set down his teacup. "And what if they can't? Didn't Third Brother kill everyone they sent?"
Xiao Li paused. "That's true. If Third Brother could kill the first one, he can kill the next. The Misty Cloud Sect can send as many as they want; Third Brother can kill as many as they send."
Xiao Ding nodded firmly. "Exactly."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Qing Lin walked in with a smile. "First and Second Regiment Commanders, look who's here."
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked up and saw Xiao Yan behind Qing Lin. Both of them stood.
"Third brother." Xiao Ding stepped forward.
"Big brother, second brother," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Ding looked Xiao Yan up and down, delight filling his eyes. "Third brother, we've heard all about what you've done."
"What have you heard?"
"That you killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Is it true?" Xiao Li asked.
Xiao Yan nodded. "It's true."
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, shock flickering in their eyes. Their third brother had killed both Dou Wang elders.
"And a steward who was a Seven-Star Great Dou Master?" Xiao Li's mouth fell open. For a long time, he couldn't close it.
Xiao Ding drew a deep breath, forcing down his shock. "Third brother, your strength now..."
Xiao Yan didn't answer. He released a trace of Dou Qi. Xiao Ding's expression changed. He could feel how powerful Xiao Yan's aura was. Only a Dou Wang expert could possess such oppressive force.
"Dou... Dou Wang?" Xiao Ding's voice trembled.
Xiao Li was stunned too. "Third brother, are you really a Dou Wang?"
Xiao Yan withdrew his Dou Qi. "Four-Star Dou Wang."
The hall fell silent. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood there, unable to speak for a long moment. A fifteen-year-old Four-Star Dou Wang—no such genius had ever appeared in the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Ding came to his senses and murmured, "Four-Star Dou Wang... Third brother, how did you do it?"
"I came across some lucky opportunities." Xiao Li saw that he didn't want to say more and didn't press him.
"Whatever method you used, it's good that you reached Dou Wang," Xiao Li said, nodding firmly.
"Big brother is right."
Xiao Yan looked at his two older brothers, his heart filled with emotion. Back when he had become a cripple, they hadn't looked down on him. Now that he had regained his strength, they still didn't press him for answers.
Qing Lin stood to the side, listening to them talk, astonishment filling her eyes. Young Master Xiao Yan was a Dou Wang expert? The younger brother of the First and Second Regiment Commanders was a Dou Wang expert, and he was only fifteen. Qing Lin murmured to herself in her heart.
Xiao Ding came to his senses and led Xiao Yan to a seat. "Third brother, how long are you planning to stay in Desert Rock City this time?"
"A few days. I'll leave once I've taken care of what I came for."
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances but asked no more. If their third brother didn't want to talk about it, they wouldn't ask.
Xiao Li poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. "Third brother, have some tea."
Xiao Yan took the cup and drank.
Xiao Ding sat down too and looked at Xiao Yan. "Third brother, what do you plan to do about the Misty Cloud Sect?"
"If they send one, I'll kill one," Xiao Yan said calmly.
Xiao Ding fell silent for a moment. "The Misty Cloud Sect is the largest sect in the Jia Ma Empire. It has quite a few experts."
"I know."
Xiao Li looked at Xiao Yan, a complicated feeling welling up inside him.
Qing Lin stood to the side, not daring to interrupt. She was just an ordinary maid in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. With the First and Second Regiment Commanders' younger brother here, she shouldn't be staying.
"Qing Lin," Xiao Yan suddenly said.
Qing Lin froze. "Young Master Xiao Yan, did you call me?"
"Do those mercenaries often bully you?"
Qing Lin lowered her head. "Yes."
"Who are they?"
"People from the Sand Mercenary Group."
Xiao Yan nodded. "They won't anymore."
Qing Lin raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan, gratitude flashing in her eyes. "Thank you, Young Master Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan said nothing more and lifted his teacup for another sip.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, both a little puzzled. Why was Third Brother so concerned about Qing Lin? But neither asked.
Xiao Ding spoke up. "Third brother, you've traveled a long way. Get some rest first."
"Okay."
Xiao Li stood. "I'll get a room ready for you."
Xiao Li turned and left.
Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Yan. "Third brother, tell big brother if you need anything."
"I will." Xiao Ding patted his shoulder and said nothing more.
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