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

The sky was bright as Xiao Yan stepped out of his living quarters.

He walked toward the Xiao Clan training plaza, and just as he reached the entrance after passing through a few corridors, he saw several young disciples standing there, one of whom was Xiao Ning.

When Xiao Ning saw him, his expression immediately darkened.

"Yo, isn't this our genius, Young Master Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan ignored him.

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

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

"What does that have to do with you?"

Xiao Ning's expression stiffened.

"How could it not have anything to do with me? You offended the Misty Cloud Sect, and the entire Xiao Clan will suffer because of it."

"Exactly."

A disciple beside him chimed in, "Xiao Yan, you'd better go and apologize to the Misty Cloud Sect. Don't drag us down with you."

"If the Misty Cloud Sect comes for revenge, what does our Xiao Clan have to resist them?"

"Xiao Yan, you caused this trouble, so you solve it yourself."

The few disciples chimed in one after another, all pointing fingers at him.

There was no expression on Xiao Yan's face.

"Are you finished?"

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment.

"If you're finished, then get lost."

Xiao Ning was furious.

"Xiao Yan, don't be so arrogant!"

"I am arrogant. What can you do about it?"

Xiao Ning was trembling with rage, but he didn't dare to make a move. Xiao Yan could even kill Ge Ye; how could he, a mere 7th stage Dou Disciple, possibly be a match for him?

A voice came from behind.

"Xiao Ning, what are you doing?"

Xiao Xun'er walked in from outside the plaza, dressed in a pale green dress, her face exquisite and her temperament cold.

When Xiao Ning saw her, his expression changed immediately.

"Xun'er, why are you here?"

"I came to find Brother Xiao Yan."

Walking to Xiao Yan's side, Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Ning.

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

Xiao Ning's face turned pale.

"Brother Xiao Yan killing Ge Ye is his own business. What does it have to do with you? What right do you have to criticize him?"

"Xun'er, I..."

Xiao Ning wanted to explain.

"You are only at the 7th stage of Dou Disciple, while Brother Xiao Yan can kill a 7-star Dou Grandmaster. What do you count for?"

Xiao Ning's face flushed red; he hadn't expected her to compare him to 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 Xiao Clan will naturally bear it. Don't you feel ashamed, standing here gossiping?"

Xiao Ning gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with jealousy. The entire Xiao Clan knew he liked Xiao Xun'er, but she had never looked at him properly; her eyes only held Xiao Yan. He had accepted it when Xiao Yan was a genius, and he thought he had a chance when Xiao Yan became a waste, but Xiao Xun'er still didn't think much of him. Now that Xiao Yan had recovered his strength, his chance was completely gone.

"Xiao Xun'er, it's useless for you to protect him. He killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect, so he's dead for sure."

"What did you say?"

"I said he's dead for sure. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let him go."

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

"Xun'er, let me handle this."

Xiao Xun'er was stunned for a moment, then nodded and stepped aside.

Xiao Yan walked up to Xiao Ning.

"Say that again."

Looking into Xiao Yan's eyes, Xiao Ning felt a bit timid, but he didn't want to back down in front of Xiao Xun'er.

"I said you're dead for sure, and the Misty Cloud Sect won't let you go."

A crisp sound rang out as Xiao Yan slapped Xiao Ning across the face.

Xiao Ning was completely stunned, clutching his face as he stared at him in disbelief.

"You dare hit me?"

"And what if I did?"

Xiao Ning flew into a rage, throwing a punch toward him with the full force of his seven stages of Dou Disciple.

Xiao Yan didn't even glance at him, casually swatting him away. Xiao Ning's body flew backward and slammed heavily into the ground; as he struggled to crawl up, a sharp pain erupted in his chest—several ribs had been broken.

Xiao Yan stepped forward and looked down at him.

"Do you really think someone of your caliber is fit to bark in front of me?"

Xiao Ning's face flushed red with fury, but he didn't dare make another move; he knew he was no match for Xiao Yan.

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

"That is my concern, no need for you to worry about it."

The system's voice echoed in his mind.

[Host helped Xiao Yan slap Xiao Ning in the face. Reward received, strength increased: Two-Star Dou King.]

Xiao Yan was overjoyed. To advance from a One-Star Dou King to a Two-Star Dou King in just a single day—such speed was unimaginable. He took a deep breath to suppress his excitement, his face remaining expressionless.

Xiao Ning climbed up from the ground and glared at him, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Xiao Yan, don't get cocky. You'll regret it once the Misty Cloud Sect arrives."

Xiao Yan ignored him.

Xiao Ning gritted his teeth and turned to leave, the few disciples following him closely.

Only Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er remained on the plaza.

"Brother Xiao Yan, your strength..."

"It improved a little more."

Xiao Xun'er paused and nodded. She didn't ask further; Brother Xiao Yan's strength had indeed grown stronger again.

"Xun'er, thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for speaking up for me just now."

Xiao Xun'er shook her head. "I spoke the truth. Xiao Ning really shouldn't have talked about you like that."

Xiao Yan smiled and said nothing.

Walking on the path back, Xiao Ning's face looked ghastly.

The few disciples behind him didn't dare to speak.

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

One disciple couldn't help but speak up.

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

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

Xiao Ning stopped in his tracks and turned to look at them.

"Let it go? Impossible."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Just wait. The Misty Cloud Sect won't let him off. When the time comes, I want to see if he can still afford to be so arrogant."

The disciples exchanged glances and nodded.

"Brother Xiao Ning is right. Once the Misty Cloud Sect arrives, he'll know what he's up against."

"How can a mere Xiao Clan fight the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"He's a dead man."

Hearing these words, Xiao Ning's expression softened slightly. He touched his still-stinging face, a flash of hatred in his eyes. Xiao Yan, just you wait. When the Misty Cloud Sect arrives, I'll see how you die.

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

The First Elder was sitting in a chair drinking tea; seeing his appearance, his brows immediately furrowed.

"What happened to your face?"

"It was Xiao Yan who hit me."

The First Elder's expression darkened.

"Did he cause trouble for you?"

"I only said a few words to him and he attacked me. Grandfather, that Xiao Yan is too arrogant; he doesn't put me or the other disciples in his eyes at all."

The First Elder set down his teacup and sighed.

"I said long ago that that brat would bring trouble to the Xiao Clan sooner or later."

"Grandfather, you must think of a way. He killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect, and they won't let this rest. When the Misty Cloud Sect comes for revenge, our entire Xiao Clan will suffer."

The First Elder was silent for a moment.

"I know."

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

"How am I supposed to handle it? His strength is so great that he could even kill Ge Ye; what can I possibly do to him?"

Xiao Ning slammed his fist onto the table.

"Are we just going to let it go like this?"

The First Elder looked at him.

"Let it go? Impossible."

"Then what do you intend to do?"

The First Elder set down his teacup.

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

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment.

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

"Correct. Since he killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect, him going to apologize is better than the Misty Cloud Sect coming to our doorstep."

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

"That depends on his own fortune. He caused this trouble himself, so he must resolve it himself. We cannot let the entire Xiao Clan be buried with him."