Xiao Yan, Don't Drag the Xiao Clan Down with You!

The sky had grown bright, and Xiao Yan left his residence.

He headed for the clan's training ground. After crossing several corridors, he had just reached the entrance when he saw a few young disciples standing there. One of them was Xiao Ning.

The moment Xiao Ning saw him, his expression darkened.

"Well, if it isn't our genius young master Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan ignored him.

"Xiao Yan, don't think you're all that just because you've regained your strength."

Xiao Ning blocked his way. "You killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. They won't let you off."

"What's it to you?"

Xiao Ning's face stiffened.

"How is it not my business? You've offended the Misty Cloud Sect, and the whole Xiao Clan will suffer for it."

"Exactly."

One of the disciples beside him chimed in. "Xiao Yan, you'd better apologize to the Misty Cloud Sect. Don't drag the rest of us down with you."

"What can the Xiao Clan do to stand against the Misty Cloud Sect if they come for revenge?"

"Xiao Yan, you caused this trouble, so you should deal with it yourself."

The disciples all took turns criticizing him.

Xiao Yan's face remained expressionless.

"Are you finished?"

Xiao Ning froze for a moment.

"If you're finished, get out of my way."

Xiao Ning flew into a rage.

"Xiao Yan, don't get too cocky!"

"I'm cocky. What are you going to do about it?"

Xiao Ning trembled with anger, but he didn't dare make a move. Xiao Yan had even killed Ge Ye. How could someone at the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi possibly be a match for him?

A voice came from behind them.

"Xiao Ning, what are you doing?"

Xiao Xun'er walked in from outside the training ground, dressed in a pale green skirt. Her features were delicate, and her bearing cool and aloof.

Xiao Ning's expression changed the instant he saw her.

"Xun'er, what brings you here?"

"I came to see Brother Xiao Yan."

She went to Xiao Yan's side and looked at Xiao Ning.

"Xiao Ning, I heard everything you just said."

Xiao Ning's face paled.

"Brother Xiao Yan killed Ge Ye. That's his business. What does it have to do with you? What right do you have to criticize him?"

"Xun'er, I..."

Xiao Ning tried to explain.

"You're only at the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi, while Brother Xiao Yan can kill a Seven-Star Great Dou Master. What does that make you?"

Xiao Ning's face flushed red. He hadn't expected her to compare him with Xiao Yan in front of so many people.

"Brother Xiao Yan is a member of the Xiao Clan. If the Misty Cloud Sect wants revenge, the clan will deal with it. Don't you feel ashamed, standing here spouting off?"

Xiao Ning gritted his teeth, his eyes full of jealousy. Everyone in the Xiao Clan knew he liked Xiao Xun'er, but she had never once looked at him with interest. Her eyes were always on Xiao Yan. Back when Xiao Yan had been a genius, Xiao Ning had accepted it. Later, when Xiao Yan became a good-for-nothing, he'd thought he might have a chance. But Xiao Xun'er still wouldn't give him the time of day. Now that Xiao Yan had regained his strength, Xiao Ning's hopes were completely dashed.

"Xiao Xun'er, protecting him won't do any good. He killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. He's doomed."

"What did you say?"

"I said he's doomed. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let him off."

Xiao Xun'er's expression turned cold, and she was about to speak when Xiao Yan stopped her.

"Xun'er, let me handle this."

Xiao Xun'er paused, then nodded and stepped aside.

Xiao Yan walked up to Xiao Ning.

"Say that again."

Under Xiao Yan's gaze, Xiao Ning felt a little nervous. But with Xiao Xun'er watching, he didn't want to back down.

"I said you're doomed. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let you off."

Smack! Xiao Yan slapped Xiao Ning across the face.

Xiao Ning was completely stunned. He clutched his cheek and stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief.

"You dare hit me?"

"So what if I do?"

Xiao Ning flew into a rage and swung a punch at him, unleashing all the power of his Seventh Stage Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan didn't even look at him. With a casual swipe, he sent Xiao Ning flying. He crashed heavily to the ground, and when he struggled to get up, a sharp pain shot through his chest. Several of his ribs were broken.

Xiao Yan walked over and looked down at him.

"You think a wretch like you can come here and yap at me?"

Xiao Ning's face flushed, his eyes brimming with fury, but he didn't dare attack again. He knew he was no match for Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, just you wait. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let you off."

"That's my business. You don't need to worry about it."

A system notification rang in Xiao Yan's mind.

[The host helped Xiao Yan slap Xiao Ning in the face. Feedback reward obtained. Strength increased: Two-Star Dou Wang.]

Xiao Yan was overjoyed. In just one day, he'd gone from a One-Star Dou Wang to a Two-Star Dou Wang. That kind of speed was almost unimaginable. He took a deep breath, tamping down his excitement, and kept his expression blank.

Xiao Ning climbed to his feet and glared at him, hatred in his eyes.

"Xiao Yan, don't get too pleased with yourself. You'll regret it once the Misty Cloud Sect gets here."

Xiao Yan ignored him.

Xiao Ning gritted his teeth and turned to leave. The other disciples followed him.

Only Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er remained on the training ground.

"Brother Xiao Yan, your strength..."

"I've gotten a little stronger."

Xiao Xun'er paused, then nodded. She didn't ask any more questions. Brother Xiao Yan really had grown stronger again.

"Xun'er, thank you."

"What for?"

"For speaking up for me just now."

Xiao Xun'er shook her head. "I was only telling the truth. Xiao Ning shouldn't have said those things about you."

Xiao Yan smiled but said nothing.

As Xiao Ning walked back, his face was terribly grim.

The disciples behind him followed in silence, not daring to speak.

"Brother Xiao Ning, that Xiao Yan is way too arrogant."

One of the disciples couldn't help speaking up.

"Exactly. Who does he think he is? He killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect and still has the nerve to act so cocky."

"Brother Xiao Ning, are you just going to let this go?"

Xiao Ning stopped and turned to look at them.

"Let it go? No way."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Just wait. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let him off. When they get here, we'll see if he can still act so cocky."

The disciples exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Brother Xiao Ning is right. He'll find out how powerful the Misty Cloud Sect is when they get here."

"How can the Xiao Clan possibly fight the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"He's doomed."

Only after hearing them say this did Xiao Ning's expression ease a little. He touched his still-burning cheek, hatred flashing in his eyes. Xiao Yan, just you wait. When the Misty Cloud Sect gets here, I'll see how you die.

Xiao Ning pushed open the door to the First Elder's room and walked in.

The First Elder sat in a chair, drinking tea. The moment he saw Xiao Ning, his brow furrowed.

"What happened to your face?"

"Xiao Yan did it."

The First Elder's expression darkened.

"Did he pick a fight with you?"

"I only said a few things to him, and he attacked me. Grandpa, that Xiao Yan is far too arrogant. He doesn't care about me or the other disciples at all."

The First Elder put down his teacup and sighed.

"I said it long ago. That boy was bound to bring trouble to the Xiao Clan sooner or later."

"Grandpa, you have to think of something. He killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. They won't let this go. If they come after us, the whole Xiao Clan will suffer."

The First Elder was silent for a moment.

"I know."

"If you know, why aren't you doing anything?"

"What can I do? He's so powerful that he could even kill Ge Ye. What can I possibly do to him?"

Xiao Ning slammed his fist down on the table.

"Are we just going to let this go?"

The First Elder looked at him.

"Let it go? No way."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

The First Elder set down his teacup.

"Make him go apologize to the Misty Cloud Sect."

Xiao Ning froze for a moment.

"Make him go apologize to the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"That's right. He killed one of their people, so he should go apologize himself. That's better than having the Misty Cloud Sect storm our doors."

"If he goes to the Misty Cloud Sect, will they let him off?"

"That'll be up to his luck. He caused this trouble, so he should deal with it himself. We can't have the whole Xiao Clan buried with him."