I'm Actually Not From This World

Xiao Clan, back mountain.

"I'm done, I'm done. I give up."

Xiao Yu waved a hand from where he lay on the ground, giving up completely.

Xiao Yan stood beside him and said, "Xiao Yu, you can't keep this up! Your combat experience is too weak. If you run into someone even a little formidable, relying only on your body will put you at a disadvantage!"

"Brother, if there really is an expert like that, there's you, and Big Brother and Second Brother. How would it ever come down to me?" Xiao Yu refused to fight any longer, no matter what.

At his words, a helpless look crossed Xiao Yan's face. He sat down beside him.

Over this period, Xiao Yan had gotten a clear picture of his younger brother's strength. When he learned that Xiao Yu was actually a Three-Star Dou Zhe, he had been stunned for a long time.

Still, Xiao Yan had never pressed him for an explanation.

The two had grown up together, and knew each other's personalities inside out.

Whenever Xiao Yu wanted to say something, he would say it without being asked.

But if he wanted to keep a secret, no amount of asking around would uncover it.

It was just that Xiao Yu's combat skills were so poor that Xiao Yan could barely stand to watch.

He wondered if, back at the tournament, Xiao Yu might have lost in the end if Jia Lie Ao hadn't been so arrogant and careless.

Unfortunately, the world had no shortage of what-ifs...

Xiao Yu's body was so powerful that even Xiao Yan felt a little envious.

The moment he learned of his younger brother's strength, Xiao Yan couldn't resist challenging him to a spar.

At the time, Xiao Yan had been a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, on the verge of breaking through to Dou Master. When Xiao Yu landed a punch, he had nearly dropped to his knees and vomited.

That savage force had punched through his Dou Qi and muscles, making his abdomen cramp so violently that he could scarcely imagine it.

How could he generate that kind of power with nothing but his muscles? Without using a single Dou Technique?

Xiao Yan had nearly thought his younger brother had been possessed by a Magical Beast!

After all, he had only ever felt that kind of force from Tier 1 and Tier 2 Magical Beasts at the academy.

Of course, Xiao Yu had only had the upper hand that one time.

That first spar between the brothers had been the high point of Xiao Yu's past half-month.

Once Xiao Yan truly brought his combat skills to bear and combined them with the Dou Techniques he had learned, Xiao Yu often couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

Every time, Xiao Yu tried to refuse, but his Third Brother insisted on dragging him into it.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan wasn't trying to bully him. He genuinely wanted Xiao Yu to improve his combat ability and learn to protect himself.

Knowing his older brother had his best interests at heart, Xiao Yu had kept at it throughout this period, training for at least half an hour each time.

One lay down and the other sat beneath the shade of a tree, feeling the cool mountain breeze wash over their still-hot bodies.

"Brother." Xiao Yu spoke with his eyes closed.

Xiao Yan tilted his head to look at him. "Yeah? What do you want to say?"

Xiao Yu said calmly, "Aren't you curious about why I suddenly got so strong?"

"Why would I be curious? It's enough for me to know you're my younger brother! I'm only happy you've gotten stronger. Now you can protect yourself, and you're no longer the good-for-nothing they all called you. That's all I need."

Xiao Yan stretched one leg out and bent the other, wrapping both arms around his knee.

He smiled and said, "Everyone has secrets of their own. There's no need to pry."

"Brother, do you have a secret too?" Hearing this, Xiao Yu opened his eyes a sliver.

Xiao Yan raised his chin slightly and gazed up at the sky through the gaps in the leaves, speaking with a touch of melancholy. "Yes, I do. I'm actually not from this world, you know?"

Silence fell.

Xiao Yan found it strange. When he looked down, Xiao Yu was no longer lying beside him.

Then Xiao Yu's amused voice came from a distance. "Brother, that's the thousandth time you've said that."

At this, Xiao Yan smiled and murmured, "But do you believe me?"

When Xiao Yu got home, he saw Li Qian nursing the baby.

"Get out! Hurry, get out!" Li Qian hurriedly turned around, looking as if she'd just seen a bandit appear.

Xiao Yu rubbed his nose and sat down nearby, looking sheepish. "Come on, it's not like I did anything. I was just curious and wanted a taste."

Li Qian shot him a glare over her shoulder. "You have the nerve to say that? What kind of father fights his own son for food?"

"Because I'm still a child too..." Xiao Yu said as though it were only natural.

After all, he wouldn't truly be an adult until after tomorrow's coming-of-age ceremony.

Hearing this, Li Qian didn't respond.

With nothing else to do, Xiao Yu let his gaze wander. Suddenly, a pile of things caught his attention.

"Dear, did someone bring these things over?" Xiao Yu asked, taken aback.

Li Qian said, "Before you got back, Miss Xun'er came by and brought quite a lot of things for Xiao Fan."

Xun'er?

Xiao Yu nodded, an elegant figure flashing through his mind.

Since he knew the story, after becoming Xiao Yan's younger brother, he had also stepped in to stop Xiao Yan from sneaking into a four-year-old girl's room in the middle of the night.

After that, Xun'er grew up alongside the two of them. Perhaps because that incident had never happened, she became closer to Xiao Yu.

Later, when Xiao Yan joined Jia Nan Academy, Xun'er and Xiao Yu stayed in the Xiao Clan.

During that time, Xun'er followed him around all day, calling him "Big Brother" this and "Big Brother" that.

Xiao Yu liked this little sister too. He took her bird-catching in the trees, fishing in the river, and made sure they never missed out on any fun.

He looked like a boy himself, so he would sometimes joke around. Before long, his teasing would turn to talk of Xun'er becoming his wife.

Every time, the pure-hearted little girl, as graceful as a lotus, would blush to the tips of her ears, her eyes full of shyness.

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, would laugh without restraint.

But in truth, he had only meant it as a joke. He had never taken it seriously.

He knew Xun'er's identity. Given his own status, a relationship with her was completely out of the question. If he dared to make even the slightest inappropriate move,

the Dou Emperor hidden in the shadows might well rush out and slap him to death.

But just because Xiao Yu hadn't taken it to heart didn't mean Xun'er hadn't taken him seriously.

Xiao Yu remembered it clearly. On the night he got married, Xun'er's eyes had been red and swollen from crying, like two little cherry tomatoes.

After that, Xun'er barely showed up anymore and devoted herself to cultivating in silence.

When they happened to meet, she no longer called him Big Brother.

"Xiao Yu? Xiao Yu?" Just then, Li Qian's voice sounded by his ear, drawing his wandering thoughts back.

He turned to her. "What is it?"

Holding the baby in her arms, Li Qian pondered for a moment. "Miss Xun'er brought Xiao Fan a gift. Shouldn't we thank her and send her something in return?"

"I don't think we need to... That girl doesn't lack anything." Xiao Yu hesitated.

Li Qian put on a stern face. "Why wouldn't we?"

She suddenly lowered her voice and leaned closer. "I've noticed Miss Xun'er has an indescribable air about her. She's completely different from the people of Wutan City. If we get on her good side, Xiao Fan might be able to latch onto a powerful backer someday."

Xiao Yu was at a loss for words. You sure have a keen eye.

He thought for a moment. "What do you think we should give her?"

"Go buy her a hairpin." Li Qian recalled seeing Xun'er earlier and noticed she hadn't been wearing much in the way of ornaments.

Xiao Yu tried to argue, but Li Qian wouldn't let up.

After leaving the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yu headed for the marketplace.