Although the man was displeased, he wasn't all that angry anymore.
To get Chen Jianjun's son to follow him, this fellow clearly had some tricks up his sleeve. He was also the first person who had managed to fool him twice.
The man had taken an interest in Xu Xiao.
"Three strikes and you're out," the man said calmly, his expression even. He didn't seem to blame Xu Xiao.
"Xu Xiao, there's no need to try to recruit us."
"You're just a few kids playing house. If you drag the Ye Family into it, you'll only bring disaster upon yourselves."
The man had put it very tactfully. He didn't want to drag the Ye Family's grudges into their affairs.
Xu Xiao waved a hand, looking remarkably mature for his age. "Senior, with the Seven Kill Douluo's reputation behind us, do you think we'll have any trouble?"
"Not only will we be fine, but once the news gets out, it'll also keep the Ye Family from having to fear the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"You'd be joining Chuan Ling, but you could say you'd be under the command of the Seven Kill Douluo's son. After all, the Seven Kill Douluo's son is Chuan Ling's Fifth Hall Master."
"I imagine the Seven Kill Douluo's reputation is still quite useful."
Xu Xiao chuckled, having already pointed out a clear path for him.
There was no denying that Chen Jianjun's reputation was truly useful.
Nowadays, there weren't many Title Douluos. On top of that, Chen Jianjun was a Level 98 Title Douluo, with strength that had nearly reached the peak. Aside from Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi, he was the strongest.
With that kind of standing, his reputation was bound to be useful.
Seeing the man's hesitant expression, Xu Xiao continued, "Senior, have you ever heard the saying that giving someone flowers when they're already dressed up is nothing compared to offering charcoal in a snowstorm?"
At that, the man's brows furrowed slightly as he hesitated.
The man looked at Ye Shengxin beside him. "Sheng Xin, go see if your mother's back."
Ye Shengxin understood. He immediately got up and left, leaving just Xu Xiao and the man there.
The man looked at Xu Xiao, drew a deep breath, then slowly rose to his feet and gazed into the distance.
"Little Friend Xu, since you're just playing house, why not let Sheng Xin follow you?"
After hesitating for a long while, the man finally said it.
Xu Xiao said nothing. It seemed everything had been within his expectations. In the end, the man still didn't dare to take a gamble, but he didn't want to give up just like that either.
So he had chosen a compromise: let Ye Shengxin follow Xu Xiao.
That way, the Ye Family wouldn't be left without an heir, and Ye Shengxin had awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
"Then I thank you, Senior." Xu Xiao knew that persuading the entire Ye Family to join would be difficult if he relied on his own words alone.
Unless he truly called Chen Jianjun over, the offer wouldn't be credible enough. But Xu Xiao couldn't summon Chen Jianjun right now.
As for Chen Xin? Xu Xiao couldn't bring him out either—not right now.
Chen Xin wasn't one of their own, and Xu Xiao didn't dare act so recklessly.
Before the two could finish talking, Ye Shengxin hurried back inside. "Father, Father, students from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are here."
The man's expression changed at that. "Ignore them."
Ye Shengxin said, "F-Father, they're here to challenge me."
Hearing that, Xu Xiao almost laughed in disbelief. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really wouldn't give up.
They'd actually thought of picking on an auxiliary Soul Master.
Before the man could speak, Xu Xiao said, "Senior, could you find me somewhere quiet?"
The man pointed to the second floor. "There are rooms upstairs. Go find one. I'll go out and see what's happening."
Xu Xiao didn't hesitate and left.
The man and Ye Shengxin headed for the entrance of the pavilion.
Outside the gate, people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had come again. Leading them was a rather hostile-looking young man.
"Heh."
"Ye Shengxin, were you so scared you had to go call your daddy?"
The young man at the front sneered, his tone full of provocation.
"Gu Rong, what kind of ability is there in picking on an auxiliary Soul Master like me? If you've got the guts, go pick on Chen Xin!"
Ye Shengxin snorted. Only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would stoop to bullying an auxiliary like him.
Clearly, Ye Shengxin knew the person in front of him.
And judging by his tone, they seemed quite familiar.
Gu Rong—if Xu Xiao had been there, he would have been stunned to find Gu Rong here.
And Gu Rong was a student of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Judging by their appearance, they were students.
"Hmph, your Ye Family refused to see reason. You brought this on yourselves."
"Ye Shengxin, in consideration of our past friendship, I'll let you take the first swing!"
"If you can drive me back, we'll leave!"
Gu Rong propped a leg on the stone statue beside the gate, speaking with blatant provocation. The people behind him burst out laughing.
Ye Shengxin's father snorted. The pressure of a Soul Saint bore down on Gu Rong and the others.
With a thud, Gu Rong was forced to his knees.
Gu Rong cried out in alarm, "Senior, if anything happens to us, there'll be no need for the Ye Family to exist either!"
"This is a matter between the younger generation. Senior, please don't interfere!"
Even with the pressure bearing down on him, Gu Rong wasn't the least bit cowed. He brazenly threatened the man.
There was no sign of fear on his face. Instead, he looked confident, certain that with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind him, nothing would happen to them.
The man snorted. For the sake of his family, he chose to endure it.
He withdrew his pressure and watched from the side, his gaze occasionally turning toward the pavilion, hoping that boy would come out and lend a hand.
Ye Shengxin was an auxiliary Soul Master. He couldn't possibly beat the other side.
The man knew this was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's show of force: if they couldn't find a reason to target you directly, they'd target your son.
They weren't bullying someone weaker, were they? What could you do about it? Your son was simply useless!
That was exactly what they were counting on.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to break down the Ye Family's resolve bit by bit until they had no choice but to bow their heads.
The man simply hadn't expected them to come so soon.
Once the pressure vanished, Gu Rong became cocky again. This was a duel between the younger generation, after all. Adults shouldn't interfere.
"Ye Shengxin, make your move. I'll let you strike first."
Gu Rong rolled his neck, his confidence restored.
He loved this sort of thing. It felt great.
Ye Shengxin's face darkened. He understood that he was going to be humiliated today.
He didn't blame his father. He understood him, too. If his father intervened, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's higher-ups would surely get involved.
They were people he couldn't afford to provoke.
At that moment, he wished more than anything that his father had joined Xu Xiao's Chuan Ling. At the very least, relying on Chen Jianjun's reputation would spare them a lot of trouble.
Gu Rong and his group kept casting provocative looks at Ye Shengxin. If his father hadn't been there, they would have already started hurling insults at him.
They had prepared a whole load of filthy abuse about his parents, but with his father there, they didn't quite dare. They were a little scared.
"What's the matter, Ye Shengxin? Don't tell me you've grown this big and still need your daddy to protect you."
Gu Rong and his group taunted him outright, as if they were afraid Ye Shengxin wouldn't fight back...