Xiao Ning thought it over, then smiled.
"Grandpa's right. Let him go apologize himself. If he dies at the Misty Cloud Sect, he'll have brought it on himself."
The First Elder glanced at him but said nothing.
"Grandpa, when are you going to talk to the clan leader?"
"Tomorrow. I'll bring it up at the clan meeting, and the other elders will support me. Don't worry, grandson."
Xiao Ning nodded vigorously.
"Grandpa, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
The First Elder picked up his teacup and took a sip. Xiao Yan, so what if you've recovered your strength? You killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. No one can protect you now.
Xiao Yan sat in a chair with his eyes closed. The system panel was still in his mind: Two-Star Dou Wang.
His lips curled faintly. He was secretly thrilled. His strength was increasing even faster than he'd expected. He'd thought it would take a while to advance, but it had happened so quickly. At the Two-Star Dou Wang level, he already ranked among the top experts in the Jia Ma Empire.
He opened his eyes and brought his thoughts back to the present, then rose and walked to the window. Outside, dusk had fallen.
Misty Cloud Sect, if you're looking for death, I'll gladly oblige.
In the Xiao Clan's main hall, the three elders sat along either side, all wearing grim expressions.
The First Elder lifted his teacup, took a sip, then set it down.
"Xiao Zhan, you owe us an explanation for this."
Xiao Zhan sat in the seat of honor and looked at him. "What explanation?"
"Xiao Yan killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. We can't just let that go. If he refuses to apologize, what will happen to the Xiao Clan when the Misty Cloud Sect comes knocking?"
"The First Elder is right."
The Second Elder chimed in. "Xiao Yan brought this trouble on himself. He can't drag the entire clan into it."
"As clan leader, Xiao Zhan, you must put the clan first."
The Third Elder spoke up as well.
Xiao Zhan's expression darkened.
"So you're saying my Yan'er should go to the Misty Cloud Sect and throw his life away?"
"We're not telling him to throw his life away. We're only asking him to apologize."
"Apologize?"
Xiao Zhan's voice turned cold. "Someone from the Misty Cloud Sect is dead. Do you think an apology will settle that?"
"Then what do you suggest? We just wait for the Misty Cloud Sect to come after us? The entire Xiao Clan will be buried with Xiao Yan. You may not care what happens to the clan, but we do."
The Second Elder nodded. "Xiao Zhan, you can't sacrifice the whole clan for your son."
"Clan leader, think this through."
Xiao Zhan looked at the elders, his face twisted with anger.
"Yan'er is my son. No one is laying a finger on him."
"You..."
The First Elder flew into a rage.
"I said, no one is laying a finger on him."
Xiao Zhan cut him off.
"Xiao Zhan, you're too selfish. You're the clan leader, not just Xiao Yan's father. You have to take responsibility for the entire clan."
"The First Elder is right. There are over a hundred people in the Xiao Clan. We can't let your son ruin everything for them."
Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth and was about to respond when hurried footsteps sounded outside.
"Clan leader, something's wrong!"
A guard stumbled into the hall.
"What happened?"
"Someone injured our guards and broke in."
Xiao Zhan's expression changed. "Who?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before, but he doesn't look like an ordinary person."
"Is it someone from the Jia Lie Clan?" the First Elder asked.
"No, it's... it's..."
Xiao Zhan rose to his feet. "Come on. Let's go see."
The elders stood as well and followed Xiao Zhan out of the hall.
They had barely reached the entrance when a voice rang out from outside.
"There's no need."
An old man walked in, dressed in a gray robe. His face was stern and his gaze sharp. A young woman followed behind him. It was Nalan Yanran.
Xiao Zhan's expression changed when he saw Nalan Yanran.
"Yanran, what brings you here?"
"Uncle Xiao, I'm not here to see you. I'm here for Xiao Yan."
Xiao Zhan's expression darkened.
"What do you want with Yan'er?"
"He killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. My teacher sent me to take him back to the sect."
Xiao Zhan's heart lurched. The Misty Cloud Sect's retaliation had come even faster than he'd expected.
"Uncle Xiao, hand him over. My teacher said that as long as Xiao Yan comes with us, the Xiao Clan won't be implicated."
Xiao Zhan was about to speak, but the First Elder cut in.
"Miss Nalan, please wait."
Turning to Xiao Zhan, the First Elder said, "Xiao Zhan, did you hear that? The Misty Cloud Sect won't implicate the Xiao Clan as long as you hand over Xiao Yan."
"The First Elder is right. Hand Xiao Yan over for the sake of the clan."
"Xiao Zhan, stop being stubborn."
Xiao Zhan looked at the elders, fury in his eyes.
"I said no one is laying a finger on Yan'er."
"Xiao Zhan!"
The First Elder shouted angrily. "Have you lost your mind?"
"I haven't. Yan'er is my son. Whoever wants to touch him will have to get through me first."
"You..."
The First Elder shook with rage.
"Uncle Xiao, why do this? Xiao Yan killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. They won't let this go. Hand him over—it's better for everyone."
Xiao Zhan looked at her coldly. "There's no need to say anything more. I won't hand Yan'er over."
Nalan Yanran's expression darkened too.
"Uncle Xiao, are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure."
Nalan Yanran said nothing more. She stepped aside and looked toward the Fourth Elder.
The Fourth Elder stepped forward and studied Xiao Zhan.
"You're Xiao Zhan?"
Xiao Zhan looked at him, feeling a wave of pressure. A Dou Wang expert. This old man's strength was unquestionably at the Dou Wang level.
"I am."
"I'm the Fourth Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Your son, Xiao Yan, killed someone from our sect. I've come today to take him away."
"Impossible."
The Fourth Elder furrowed his brows. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Then you're asking for death."
Dou Qi surged through his body, and a powerful aura burst forth.
Xiao Zhan's expression changed.
The First Elder hurried forward. "Fourth Elder, please calm down. Xiao Zhan didn't mean it."
"Then what did he mean?"
"The clan leader is just confused for the moment. Xiao Yan has done wrong, and our Xiao Clan won't shield him."
"The First Elder is right. Our Xiao Clan will certainly give the Misty Cloud Sect an explanation about Xiao Yan."
"Fourth Elder, please remain calm."
The Fourth Elder's expression eased a little as he looked at the three elders.
"At least you know what's good for you."
Xiao Zhan looked at the elders, furious and seething.
"You..."
"Be quiet," the First Elder barked. "Are you trying to get the Xiao Clan killed?"
"The First Elder is right. Xiao Zhan, stop being foolish."
"Xiao Yan isn't worth it."
Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth and was about to speak when a voice came from outside.
"Elders, what's going on here?"
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Xiao Yan walked in, dressed in black, his face utterly expressionless.
Nalan Yanran saw him, hatred flashing in her eyes.
"Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan glanced at her.
"You're back again?"
"You killed Elder Ge Ye. I'm here today to take you back to the Misty Cloud Sect."
"Take me back to the Misty Cloud Sect? You think you can?"
Nalan Yanran's face went pale.
"Impudent!"
The Fourth Elder's voice turned cold. "Are you Xiao Yan?"
"And who are you?"
"I'm the Fourth Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. You killed Elder Ge Ye, and I've come to take you back to the sect to be punished."
Xiao Yan looked at him, his face still expressionless.
"And you think you can?"
The Fourth Elder's expression darkened.
"What an arrogant brat."
"Whether I'm arrogant or not is none of your business. If you want to take me away, you'll have to prove you can."
"You're courting death!"
The Fourth Elder roared. Dou Qi surged through him as he struck at Xiao Yan with a palm.
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