Xiao Lei Ran Away?

The most lively ceremony in the Xiao Clan for many years ended amidst the shock of the crowd.

Xiao Lei's talent immediately caused the various families in Wutan City to swarm toward the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan and the other elders were pulled away by these people, leaving them no choice but to go and deal with the guests first.

By the time everyone calmed down and wanted to find Xiao Lei, he had already vanished.

"Where is he? I'm asking you, where is he! Didn't I tell you to ask Xiao Lei to wait for us in the main hall?"

The Second Elder roared at the guards before him, his emotions running high.

"Young Master Xiao Lei said he had something he needed to attend to, and this subordinate dared not stop him!"

This was perhaps the first time a guard had added the suffix "Young Master" to Xiao Lei's name; previously, only the likes of Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning had been entitled to such a term.

However, the guard felt incredibly aggrieved. He couldn't afford to offend either side, and since Xiao Lei was a genius whose strength was already formidable, he simply couldn't stop him.

"Second Elder, don't be anxious. Xiao Lei did say he had matters to attend to; we can just go directly to his residence to find him."

The Grand Elder's expression was calm. "Among us, I am the only one with some connection to Xiao Lei, and I still hold the trump card of Xiao Yu in my hand, heh."

In short, the advantage was with him.

"Then where is Xiao Lei's residence? Take us there."

"This one does not know. The Elders should ask the person in charge of housing assignments..."

"Let's go!"

Xiao Zhan and the three elders had to scramble through the clan before finally being led by Xiao Tanmo to a dilapidated shack.

"Pa... Patriarch, th-this is Xiao Lei's residence!"

Xiao Tanmo was no fool; he already knew what had happened at the ceremony today.

He was ten thousand times reluctant to lead Xiao Zhan and the others to Xiao Lei's home, as doing so would expose what he had been doing all these years.

It was known that the Xiao Clan had regulations stating that orphans within the clan must be provided with full support, at the very least.

But now, it was already...

"Are you saying that Xiao Lei has been living in this broken-down shack all these years!"

Xiao Zhan looked at the dilapidated house, which leaked both wind and rain, and felt a sense of impending disaster in his heart.

With treatment like this, what kind of favorable impression could Xiao Lei possibly have of the Xiao Clan? Not to mention that the boy's parents had seemingly died during the retreat from the Imperial Capital, making him a martyr—even if many people had died back then.

"I'll deal with you after this is over! Someone, take him away!"

Xiao Zhan made a quick decision. Compared to a future Dou King or even a Dou Emperor, he knew exactly where the weight of importance lay.

The Grand Elder remained silent. He had known about Xiao Lei's situation; Xiao Yu had mentioned it to him many times, but he had always held a poor opinion of Xiao Lei and had never bothered to care about the boy's living conditions.

"Let's go in first!"

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

"At age four, my late father and mother perished in the retreat battle. For twelve years, I have been supported by the clan. I hold no resentment, nor do I feel indebted to the clan's grace. As of today, I feel I am capable of self-preservation and wish to leave the clan of my own accord. I shall no longer draw upon the clan's resources..."

Reading the words in the letter, Xiao Zhan knew it was all over; Xiao Lei had already left.

As the letter stated, Xiao Lei did not feel he had received any grace from the clan, which was, in fact, the truth.

Although the Xiao Clan had raised him for twelve years, Xiao Lei's parents had died in battle for the clan, which was their duty to begin with, not to mention this house...

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

What right did the clan have to refuse Xiao Lei's departure? Besides, they couldn't even find the person now.

"Send people to find him. Remember, do not mention asking him to return to the clan. Also, once found, give him five thousand gold coins and explicitly tell him it is not for any other reason, but merely compensation for the housing issues over the years."

"Go, quickly!"

At the critical moment, Xiao Zhan reacted quickly and immediately made his decision.

Leaving Xiao Lei's residence, the Grand Elder hurried toward Xiao Yu's quarters. Xiao Yu was not at all surprised by his arrival.

"Yu'er, do you know where Xiao Lei went?" Upon reaching Xiao Yu, the Grand Elder could not care about other matters and immediately asked about Xiao Lei's situation.

"Grandfather, didn't you forbid me from associating with him? How would I know where that little lecher has gone!"

Xiao Yu said with a hint of haughtiness, not even looking back at him, acting completely indifferent.

"You!"

"Sigh, I admit I was wrong. Xiao Lei is indeed a genius. I will no longer oppose your affairs, but first, tell Grandfather where he ran off to!"

Good heavens, the Grand Elder was trying to have his cake and eat it too, saying everything that was advantageous to himself.

However, Xiao Yu was left bewildered by his question. What did he mean by asking her where Xiao Lei had run off to? Shouldn't Xiao Lei be in that broken wooden shack of his?

"Grandfather, what do you mean by that? You didn't find Xiao Lei?"

"Sigh! We went to his residence, but he wasn't there at all! He left a letter saying he had severed ties with the clan, and now the Elders are all looking for him! I came here 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, then who else could possibly know? Could he have already left Wutan City?

"Oh my! It's over. This little guy must have been uncomfortable staying in the Xiao Clan these past two years and has already planned to leave. He might even be out of Wutan City by now!"

The Grand Elder sighed. A genius they had only just discovered was leaving the clan!

"How is that possible!" However, Xiao Yu was even more incredulous than the Grand Elder.

That little pervert hasn't even said goodbye to me yet; there's no way he would just leave!

Xiao Yu's expression was flustered, her eyes unfocused. Xiao Lei had run off without a word, so what did that make her?

Although the latter always acted indifferent whenever she sought him out, Xiao Yu could still tell that he cared about her. But what was this situation now?

"I'm going to find him!" Xiao Yu said, bolting out the door and ignoring the Grand Elder standing to the side.

Once outside, she ran straight into Xiao Ning. Seeing her hurried appearance, he was about to call out to her, but Xiao Yu shoved him aside.

Clearly, Xiao Yu had no time to deal with him right now.

"This!"

Xiao Ning was bewildered. The Grand Elder walked out right after, and Xiao Ning quickly turned to him.

"Grandfather, what's wrong with Sister?"

"You still have the nerve to speak! 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. This good-for-nothing brat had actually tried to test Xiao Lei even after the latter had revealed his strength.

Xiao Ning: ?? Are you even my grandfather anymore!

"Kneel!"

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

Just as the Xiao Clan was going mad trying to find Xiao Lei, he was being warmly received by Ya Fei at the Mittal Auction House.

"Young Master Xiao Lei is truly a man of exceptional talent. This time, you are bound to stun everyone. Ya Fei would like to congratulate you in advance on becoming famous throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire!"

As she spoke, Ya Fei downed the fine wine in her hand in one gulp.

The wine spilled over the rim of the cup, trickling down her cheek and sliding past her delicate neck before trailing off toward somewhere else.

Xiao Lei dared not follow the path of the liquid with his eyes, terrified of seeing something that wouldn't pass censorship.