Early the next morning, Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. Feeling that the Dou Qi within him still hadn't grown, he couldn't help giving a bitter smile.
"Heavens! Why let me enjoy talent, only to snatch it away from me so cruelly?"
Xiao Yan couldn't help saying.
He hadn't yet gained the calm and maturity that came after enduring ridicule. His state of mind was still somewhat unsteady.
"Forget it. Today's the day to collect the allowance."
After thinking it over, Xiao Yan decided to go in person.
After all, there were still plenty of disdainful looks waiting for him. If he could avoid them this time, did that mean he could keep avoiding them forever?
He might as well start getting used to it now, and learn to ignore everyone's disdainful looks.
The Xiao Clan provided its underage disciples with a fixed number of gold coins each month.
On top of that, to encourage the clan's disciples to train hard, the higher their cultivation, the more extra gold coins they could receive.
When Xiao Yan had been a One-Star Dou Zhe, he had received as many as fifty gold coins a month.
Later, when he remained stuck at the third stage of Dou Qi, his monthly allowance was cut to just twenty gold coins.
On the Dou Qi Continent, an ordinary family of commoners only needed twenty gold coins a year to afford food and clothing!
Xiao Yan reckoned that he'd probably receive only a little over twenty gold coins today.
As he walked, Xiao Yan suddenly noticed two Xiao Clan disciples up ahead. He lowered his head slightly and quickened his pace.
He passed right by them without hearing either one whisper.
Only after he had put some distance between himself and the two Xiao Clan disciples did Xiao Yan feel puzzled.
He had noticed that they hadn't just refrained from looking at him coldly. There had even been a hint of fear in their eyes.
The moment they saw him, the two Xiao Clan disciples, who had been talking, had abruptly fallen silent.
As if they were afraid their words might offend him.
Of course, Xiao Yan didn't think he still had the aura of a Dou Zhe.
After all, Xiao Ning had just beaten him to the ground yesterday.
The name of the fallen genius had probably spread throughout the entire Xiao Clan by now!
But Xiao Yan was sure he hadn't imagined the fear in those two Xiao Clan disciples' eyes.
Confused, Xiao Yan soon encountered two or three more Xiao Clan disciples.
Without exception, they all looked at him with some fear.
Whenever they saw him, they shut their mouths and didn't dare speak.
This made the doubts in Xiao Yan's heart grow several times over.
Could his father have issued some kind of ban? But even as clan leader, his father wouldn't show him such blatant favoritism in this matter, would he?
That would easily provoke resentment among the Xiao Clan disciples.
Not to mention that the clan also had the Three Great Elders, whose authority was equal to the clan leader's!
As Xiao Yan thought about it, his confusion was joined by a hint of worry.
He was afraid his father might do something rash for his sake.
Just then, a girl's voice rang out. Xiao Yan raised his eyes toward the sound.
It was Xiao Mei, who had always followed him around and called him "Cousin Xiao Yan" back when he still had the aura of a genius.
Seeing someone he knew, Xiao Yan wanted to ask her what had happened.
"Xiao Mei, what's happened in the clan? Everyone seems to be treating me differently."
Xiao Yan asked without hesitation.
At his words, Xiao Mei froze for a moment.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, you don't know what happened yesterday?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. What had happened yesterday?
Hadn't he just been beaten to the ground?
Xiao Yan really didn't know. He had spent all of yesterday resting quietly in his room.
Although Xiao Zhan had witnessed what happened, he had to deal with the aftermath of the First Elder stepping down.
Besides, he felt it wouldn't be right for him to be the one to tell Xiao Yan.
After all, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ze were both his sons. Saying one was more outstanding than the other might wound the other boy's pride.
So Xiao Zhan decided to let Xiao Yan find out for himself, or have Xiao Ze tell him.
Seeing that Xiao Yan really didn't know, Xiao Mei explained.
"Yesterday afternoon, Fourth Young Master Xiao Ze went to the Dou Technique Hall and fought Xiao Ning."
"What? Fourth Brother! Is he all right?"
Xiao Yan immediately grew anxious. He had never expected that the source of all this would be his younger brother.
"It was just the opposite of what you're imagining, Cousin Xiao Yan. Cousin Xiao Ze wasn't hurt at all. He even blocked a strike from the First Elder when he rushed over."
"Gasp!"
After hearing the whole story, Xiao Yan drew in a sharp breath, his heart full of shock.
Fourth Brother had already reached Nine-Star Dou Zhe?!
How terrifying!
Xiao Yan was utterly shocked. He had once reached One-Star Dou Zhe himself.
That made him all the more aware of how difficult it was to reach One-Star Dou Zhe in the mere seven years between the ages of four and eleven.
And Xiao Ze was a Nine-Star Dou Zhe!
After learning what had happened yesterday, Xiao Yan was still a little confused.
"Even after something like that happened yesterday, it shouldn't have made all the Xiao Clan disciples so afraid of me, should it?"
"I've run into Xiao Clan disciples several times on the way here. Whenever they see me, there's a hint of fear in their eyes. They don't even dare speak in front of me."
Xiao Mei nodded, her eyes shining with admiration.
"Because Cousin Xiao Ze made a declaration."
Xiao Yan paused. It seemed the answer had something to do with what Fourth Brother had said.
At the same time, he noticed a slight change in Xiao Mei's expression.
Admiration and respect.
Xiao Mei had once looked at him that way, too.
Xiao Mei didn't notice Xiao Yan's complicated gaze. She cleared her throat, straightened up, and lifted her chin slightly.
Xiao Yan could tell she was imitating someone.
"These are Cousin Xiao Ze's exact words: 'Xiao Yan is my third brother. It's not like just anyone can bully him!'"
"'You lot, keep your hands to yourselves, and keep your mouths shut.'"
"'If I hear another bit of gossip, or my third brother tells me about it, don't blame me for being impolite!'"
"'We're the same generation, after all. By the First Elder's own words, the elders can't interfere in matters between people of the same generation!'"
"'Instead of wasting your time gossiping, you'd be better off training harder!'"
"'Instead of putting others down, work hard to improve yourself!'"
Xiao Mei's attempt at a low, stern voice was adorable, and Xiao Yan couldn't help smiling.
Had those really been the words of his usually low-key Fourth Brother?
Still, warmth spread through Xiao Yan's heart.
With a genius far more talented than him like Fourth Brother making such a declaration, the clan members would surely stop gossiping and sneering at him.
They didn't even dare start talking when they saw him, for fear he might hear them saying something bad about him.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, do you know? Lots of people in the clan have taken Cousin Xiao Ze's words as their motto and use them to spur themselves on."
Xiao Mei's eyes sparkled. With an admiring look, she repeated the last line: "Instead of putting others down, work hard to improve yourself!"
"I can see that!"
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. Wasn't Xiao Mei herself the perfect example?
Of course, Xiao Yan was happy not to have to endure other people's sneers anymore.
The clan members even seemed more afraid of him than before.
That, at least, put Xiao Yan somewhat at ease.
I have to work twice as hard from now on!
Being surpassed by his own younger brother left Xiao Yan feeling a little conflicted.
He was a proud man, and even more than that, he wanted to be an older brother who could protect his siblings.
Xiao Yan steeled himself: As long as he could still absorb Dou Qi and cultivate, he would never give up!
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