A Gift Deserves a Return

Although Xiao Yan did not know why his teacher had suddenly told him to accept it, he still did. After all, it was a token of his cousin Xiao Wujiu's goodwill.

The jade box Xiao Wujiu handed over felt cool and smooth to the touch. One glance was enough to tell that it had been carved from superior warm jade. A faint Battle Qi glow flowed across its surface, clearly the result of special nurturing meant to preserve the medicinal properties of the pill inside.

So, after a brief show of reluctance, he accepted it.

"Cousin Wujiu, I, Xiao Yan, will remember what happened today. I will surely repay you!"

Though Xiao Yan had fallen on hard times, he still possessed his own pride and was unwilling to accept favors for no reason.

Yet when he met Xiao Wujiu's steady, sincere eyes, smiling faintly at him, and heard Yao Chen's persuasion, the words of refusal on his lips were swallowed back down.

The youth's voice was somewhat hoarse, yet every word rang with conviction. In his dark eyes, usually veiled by gloom, a stubborn light now flickered.

Xiao Wujiu waved his hand at that, his smile still gentle. Like a kind older brother, he reminded Xiao Yan of his own eldest and second brothers.

There was also an unquestionable certainty in his tone. "There is no need for such words between us. Just do your best for the Three-Year Agreement."

"Besides, Nalan Yanran comes from the Misty Cloud Sect and has the Nalan Clan backing her. With the sect's resources piled upon her over these three years, I would not be surprised even if she broke through to the Da Dou Shi realm by then."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the towering parasol tree in the courtyard as his eyes deepened. "And our Xiao Clan naturally cannot simply do nothing. To be honest, Clan Leader Xiao has personally entrusted me with taking up the future burden of the Xiao Clan. Thus, this Qi Gathering Powder is not a personal gift from me. It is a small measure of help from the Xiao Clan, through me."

"On behalf of the Xiao Clan..."

Xiao Yan repeated those words softly, his heart suddenly trembling.

He raised his head, and his gaze toward Xiao Wujiu grew more complicated. Yet Xiao Zhan's paternal love warmed his heart deeply.

Naturally, he knew how much his father Xiao Zhan had worried over him: how many times he had overridden all opposition to provide him with cultivation resources, how many times he had comforted and supported him, sheltering him in his harbor. Again and again at the Clan Gathering, his father had overridden all objections to defend the position of his "useless" young clan leader.

"You know as well that Nalan Yanran will certainly receive vast amounts of resources, and our Xiao Clan is currently no match for the forces behind her."

"But the clan naturally cannot do nothing. To be honest, Clan Leader Xiao has already asked me to take up the future burden of the Xiao Clan, so I am also representing the Xiao Clan in offering you some help."

Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment before nodding and solemnly accepting the jade box containing the Qi Gathering Powder.

He also knew how much his father had worried for him and how many preparations he had made on his behalf. Every single one became a warm current flowing into his heart, turning into motivation for cultivation.

"Don't overthink it." Seeing the turbulent emotions in his eyes, Xiao Wujiu patted his shoulder and spoke more lightly. "After some time, I need to take care of something. When I return, I'll bring you a gift you will definitely like. What you need to do now is calm your mind and cultivate diligently, making up for those three lost years as soon as possible."

He nodded forcefully. The fingertips clutching the jade box had turned faintly white from the excessive strength.

"I understand, Cousin."

"But before that, I have something I would like to ask of you."

Xiao Wujiu changed the subject. The smile on his face faded somewhat, replaced by a grave expression.

After pondering for a moment and arranging his thoughts, he slowly began to describe Dugu Bo's situation in detail.

"I have a friend of immense strength who has already reached the Dou Emperor realm. Yet he has been afflicted by a strange poison. The poison has seeped into his bones and marrow, entwined itself within his meridians, and fused with his poison cultivation art."

"Over the years, he has tried countless methods, but none have managed to clear the poison. He has suffered from it ever since."

"What is more troublesome is that removing it would not be difficult, but the poison originated from the poison cultivation art he practices."

"The root cause is that his poison cultivation art is too domineering, and even he cannot fully control it. He came to me now, but my abilities are limited, and I have no solution that can satisfy both sides."

Xiao Wujiu's voice was low, carrying a hint of concern.

"So I would like to ask you to consult your teacher. Since your teacher could cure your Battle Qi problem, he must be a profoundly skilled senior. I want to cure my friend's deadly poison while preserving his poison cultivation art."

Xiao Wujiu then went on to describe Dugu Bo's symptoms in detail.

After receiving Yao Chen's affirmative response, Xiao Yan naturally could not immediately produce a solution, so he agreed for the time being.

"Then I'll leave it to you. I shall await good news."

Xiao Wujiu knew that some matters still needed to be digested by Xiao Yan himself. There would surely be private words between master and disciple, so he took his leave.

Xiao Yan was somewhat distracted, but he still saw him off to the courtyard gate.

Once the surroundings grew quiet again, Yao Chen flew out of the Bone Flame Ring and looked at him.

Those cloudy yet sharp eyes watched Xiao Yan with an amused half-smile.

"What, do you feel that you owe your father too much?"

Yao Chen's voice carried a hint of teasing, but it struck precisely at Xiao Yan's thoughts.

He shook his head. "I understand my father's worries and considerations. I just..."

"I think your cousin is right. Instead of dwelling on all that useless nonsense, you would be better off cultivating diligently." Yao Chen's smile vanished, and his expression became serious.

Yao Chen flicked his sleeve, his words filled with earnest instruction.

"Strength can solve most problems. If it cannot, then it only means you are not strong enough!"

"If you want to make your father proud, if you do not want to let down his goodwill, if you want to slap Nalan Yanran hard in the face at the Three-Year Agreement and restore the clan's dignity, then you should not be so sentimental!"

"This world has always revered the strong! The weak do not even have the right to be sad!"

Xiao Yan's entire body shook as he abruptly raised his head. His eyes were filled with shock as he looked at Yao Chen. He stared blankly at Old Yao, and the knot in his chest seemed to burst apart in an instant. A surge of hot blood began boiling through his limbs and bones.

That was right! The weak did not even have the right to be sad!

He clenched his fists, and the gloom in his eyes gradually dispersed, replaced by blazing flames.

"Teacher, you are right!" Xiao Yan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

As for Xiao Wujiu, first there had been his strength at the peak of the nine-star Da Dou Shi realm, then news that he was about to advance to Dou Ling. After that, a Dou Emperor friend had appeared, and now he had revealed his identity as a Fourth-Grade Alchemist...

This cousin's hidden cards were simply endless!

Xiao Yan had already gone numb. He felt that even if Xiao Wujiu now said he was a Dou Wang, Xiao Yan would not find it strange. He would instead think it perfectly reasonable.

"By the way, Teacher, since Cousin is a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, is even he unable to resolve his friend's condition?"

"You still do not understand the terror of poison. And that boy Wujiu is right: with his current abilities, he has no solution that can satisfy both sides."

Yao Chen knew that poison, once it reached a certain level, could be terrifying as well!

"Forget it. Though I cannot be certain whether it is the right thing, give it to him as well. Consider it a return for his gift."

With that, Old Yao handed Xiao Yan two scrolls and told him to put them away.

"Perhaps when the Three-Year Agreement arrives, that boy Wujiu may truly help you turn the Misty Cloud Sect upside down..."

He still remembered that when he had transmitted his voice to Xiao Yan earlier, there had been an indistinct gaze directed at the Bone Flame Ring, as though someone had noticed something.

The younger generation is truly formidable... Yao Chen thought.

Yao Chen's words made Xiao Yan's eyes light up sharply!

Turn the Misty Cloud Sect upside down!

He clenched his fists as the Battle Qi in his body slowly circulated, his eyes filled with stubbornness and fighting spirit.

The Three-Year Agreement, the Misty Cloud Sect!

He, Xiao Yan, would definitely go!

At this moment, Xiao Yan had gained another source of motivation. Aside from Nalan Yanran, that lofty favored daughter of heaven, there was also this cousin of his own age—the Xiao Clan's true number one genius, the cousin as mysterious as a riddle, Xiao Wujiu!

He had to cultivate diligently, catch up to his cousin's footsteps, and even surpass him!

He would let everyone know that he, Xiao Yan, was not trash!

"Continue cultivating!"