Did Xiao Lei Run Away?

The most lively Coming-of-Age Ceremony the Xiao Clan had seen in years came to an end amid everyone's shock.

Xiao Lei's talent immediately drew people from every family in Wutan City flocking to the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan and the other elders were occupied by these people, so they had no choice but to deal with them first.

By the time everyone came to their senses and went looking for Xiao Lei, he had already disappeared.

"Where is he? I asked you, where is he! Didn't I tell you to bring Xiao Lei to the hall and have him wait for us?"

The Second Elder roared at the guard before him, visibly agitated.

"Young Master Xiao Lei said he had something to take care of. I didn't dare stop him!"

Perhaps this was the first time the guard had added the suffix "Young Master" to Xiao Lei's name. Until now, only people like Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning had earned that privilege.

But the guard was terribly wronged. He couldn't afford to offend either side. Xiao Lei was a genius, and already quite powerful; there was no way he could have stopped him.

"Second Elder, don't worry. Xiao Lei said he had something to take care of, so we can just go to his residence and look for him."

The Grand Elder looked calm. "Of the people here, I'm the only one with any connection to Xiao Lei. And I still have Xiao Yu as my trump card. Heh."

In short, the advantage was mine.

"Then where does Xiao Lei live? Take us there."

"I don't know, sir. The elders should ask the person in charge of assigning residences..."

"Let's go!"

Xiao Zhan and the three elders had no choice but to search all over the clan. At last, with Xiao Tanmo leading the way, they arrived in front of a dilapidated house.

"C-Clan Leader, th-this is Xiao Lei's residence!"

Xiao Tanmo wasn't a fool. He already knew what had happened at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony that day.

He was a thousand times reluctant to bring Xiao Zhan and the others to Xiao Lei's residence. Wouldn't that expose everything he had done over the years?

After all, the Xiao Clan's rules stated that orphans within the clan were to receive full support, at least until they came of age.

But now he was already

"You mean Xiao Lei has lived in this broken-down house all these years!"

Looking at the ramshackle house, with wind and rain blowing through it, Xiao Zhan felt a sinking dread.

With treatment like this, what good impression could Xiao Lei possibly have of the Xiao Clan? What was more, his parents seemed to have died while leaving the imperial capital with the clan. They were heroes, even if plenty of people had died in that battle.

"I'll deal with you once this is over! Guards, take him away!"

Xiao Zhan made a quick decision. He knew perfectly well which mattered more: this man or a future Dou Wang, perhaps even a Dou Emperor.

The Grand Elder remained silent. He knew about Xiao Lei's situation; Xiao Yu had mentioned it to him several times. But he had never thought much of Xiao Lei, so why would he bother with the state of his residence?

"Let's go in first!"

The group filed into Xiao Lei's house, only to find a letter left on the table.

"I was orphaned at age four. My parents died in the battle during the evacuation. For twelve years, the clan provided for me, and I have no complaints about that. Nor do I feel that I owe the clan anything. Now, I believe I can protect myself, and I wish to leave the clan and stop using its resources..."

Looking at the letter, Xiao Zhan knew they were done for. Xiao Lei had already left.

The letter said that Xiao Lei didn't feel he owed the clan anything. That was indeed true.

The Xiao Clan had raised him for twelve years, but his parents had died fighting for the clan. That was only right and proper, not to mention this house...

Xiao Zhan and the others fell silent. They were completely in the wrong!

What right did the clan have to refuse to let Xiao Lei leave? Besides, now they couldn't even find him.

"Send people to look for him. Remember, don't mention asking him to return to the clan. And when you find him, give him five thousand gold coins. Make it clear that it's not for any other reason, just compensation for his living conditions over the years."

"Go, now!"

At this crucial moment, Xiao Zhan was the quickest to react and immediately made a decision.

After leaving Xiao Lei's residence, the Grand Elder hurried to Xiao Yu's quarters. Xiao Yu wasn't at all surprised by his arrival.

"Yu'er, do you know where Xiao Lei went?" The moment he reached Xiao Yu, the Grand Elder put everything else aside and asked about Xiao Lei.

"Grandpa, didn't you forbid me from seeing him? How would I know where that little pervert is?" Xiao Yu said haughtily, not even turning to look at him. She acted as if she wanted nothing to do with him.

"You!"

"Fine, I admit I misjudged him. Xiao Lei really is a genius, and I won't oppose the two of you anymore. Now tell Grandpa where he went!"

The Grand Elder was asking for both everything and the moon, and every word he said was to his own advantage.

But Xiao Yu was baffled by his question. What did he mean, tell him where Xiao Lei had gone? Shouldn't Xiao Lei be in that shabby wooden shack of his?

"Grandpa, what do you mean? You couldn't find Xiao Lei?"

"Alas! We went to his residence, but he wasn't there! He left a letter saying he'd already left the clan. The elders are looking for him now! I came to ask if you knew where he went!"

Now it was the Grand Elder's turn to be stunned. If even Xiao Yu didn't know where Xiao Lei had gone, who else could? Could he have already left Wutan City?

"Oh no! It's over. That kid must have been unhappy living in the Xiao Clan these past two years and decided to leave. He might already be out of Wutan City!"

The Grand Elder sighed. They had only just discovered this fine young genius, and now he had left the clan!

"How could that be!" But Xiao Yu was even more incredulous than the Grand Elder.

"That little pervert hasn't even said goodbye to me. He can't have left!"

Xiao Yu looked panicked, her eyes unfocused. Xiao Lei had run off without a word—what did that make her?

Although whenever she sought Xiao Lei out, he always acted as if he couldn't be bothered with her, Xiao Yu could still tell that he cared about her. So what was this supposed to mean?

"I'm going to find him!" Xiao Yu said, then rushed out the door without a glance at the Grand Elder.

As she stepped outside, she ran straight into Xiao Ning. Seeing Xiao Yu hurrying along, he was about to call out to her, but she shoved him aside.

Clearly, Xiao Yu had no time for him.

"What the—!"

Xiao Ning was dumbfounded. Just then, the Grand Elder came out too, and Xiao Ning hurried over to him.

"Grandpa, what's wrong with my sister?"

"You have the nerve to ask! Who told you to provoke Xiao Lei? Get on your knees and stay there until your sister finds him!"

The moment the Grand Elder saw Xiao Ning, his anger flared. The idiot had actually gone and tested Xiao Lei after he'd shown his strength.

Xiao Ning: ?? Are you even my grandpa?!

"Kneel!"

The Grand Elder roared again, and Xiao Ning had no choice but to obey.

While the Xiao Clan was nearly going mad searching for Xiao Lei, he was being warmly received by Ya Fei at the Mittal Auction House.

"Young Master Xiao Lei is truly a fine, talented young man. Your performance at today's Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a sensation. Ya Fei would like to congratulate you in advance on making a name for yourself throughout the Jia Ma Empire!"

As she spoke, Ya Fei drained the wine in her hand.

The wine in the cup spilled over the rim, ran across her cheek, slid down her delicate neck, then trailed farther down.

Xiao Lei didn't dare let his gaze follow the wine. He was afraid he might see something that wouldn't get past the censors.