The King's Gambit

"Brother Xiao Yuan, are we just going to let them go like that?"

Xun'er blinked, her gaze thoughtful as she watched the backs of Jialie Bi and his men retreating.

"What else? Should I invite them to stay for dinner?"

Xiao Yuan tapped the young girl on the forehead and laughed.

"As the saying goes, know when to stop. Don't be greedy, and don't be so bloodthirsty at such a young age. It's getting late, let's head back."

After being interrupted by that fellow Jialie Ao, the two of them had lost the mood to continue their date.

He instructed the guards of the Xiao Clan market to inform Xiao Yan that they were heading home, then took Xun'er and left the market.

"Know when to stop, you say? But Xun'er is a very greedy girl..."

Tilting her small head, Xun'er murmured softly before pursing her lips in a faint smile.

With light steps, she trotted to catch up with the leisurely youth ahead.

Though he said he would let the Jialie Clan off, Xiao Yuan didn't think so in his heart.

Given the personality of that old dog Jialie Bi, he definitely won't swallow the loss he suffered at the Xiao Clan market today. He'll probably be looking for a chance to get even sooner or later.

So, the most critical thing right now is to hurry back, learn that cultivation technique, and find an opportunity to blast him into oblivion!

As long as he mastered the technique, he would have absolute confidence in taking down Jialie Bi.

After all, families in a small place like Wutan City didn't use high-tier Dou Techniques; the Profound Tier was their limit, so the outcome depended on the grade of one's cultivation technique.

Not to mention, he still had the assistance of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Life Flame.

He had nothing to fear!

But come to think of it, the Jialie Clan played a major role in the death of my cheap parents back then. If I take down Jialie Bi, it can be considered avenging a great grudge.

And in the later plot, I remember the Jialie Clan hired a First-Grade Alchemist to suppress the Xiao Clan and even harbored evil intentions toward Xun'er...

Damn it, thinking about it now, I just want to go and kill that old bastard Jialie Bi right now!

Not to mention Xun'er.

Even the Xiao Clan had raised him, a debt of gratitude he couldn't ignore.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Xiao Zhan to take the lead during the marriage annulment that day, at least to save face.

Furthermore, the Jialie Clan, who killed his father, posed a threat to the Xiao Clan—how could he tolerate that!

[Ding, congratulations on obtaining one Dou Wang Experience Card.]

[Dou Wang Experience Card: Peak Nine-Star Dou Wang cultivation, effect lasts for one hour.]

[Ding, congratulations on obtaining a Disguise Mask.]

[Disguise Mask]

[After use, the user can transform into any object they desire, with 100% restoration of appearance and voice.]

Seeing this notification, Xiao Yuan paused for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curled upward.

As expected, this damn system understood him best!

Xun'er, sensing the melancholy in his inner thoughts, reached out and gently took Xiao Yuan's hand, interlacing her fingers with his.

Feeling the soft, boneless touch on his hand, Xiao Yuan collected his thoughts and asked:

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to hold Brother Xiao Yuan's hand. Is that not allowed?"

Xun'er tilted her head and smiled at him, her expression playful and cute, like the spring breeze in April, or flowers in full bloom.

Her elegant posture was like a lotus in the mundane world, refined and detached.

Very beautiful.

"Actually, whether it's the Nalan Family or the Jialie Clan, Brother Xiao Yuan, you don't need to worry. If Brother Xiao Yuan truly wants to get rid of them, Xun'er can help you."

Xun'er brought up the topic out of the blue, her gaze filled with sincerity.

Before she could finish, Xiao Yuan gently flicked her forehead and lectured her sternly:

"You just need to be a beautiful little rich girl; leave the fighting and killing to me. Don't think so much, as long as I'm alive, you don't need to intervene in these matters. I can handle them myself, understand?"

"I know."

Xun'er rubbed her forehead and made a playful face at him.

Even though she was rejected, these words still warmed her heart.

Jialie Ao getting beaten up and Jialie Bi being extorted—these two events spread quickly throughout Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan could be said to have known about it shortly after it happened.

However, neither the elders nor the clan head, Xiao Zhan, had any intention of disturbing Xiao Yuan.

Such matters were for the old fogies to deliberate; there was no need to involve the younger generation.

Yet, these few began to bicker as their opinions diverged.

Xiao Zhan, as the clan head, believed they could leverage this incident. After all, Jialie Ao had provoked them first, and they could use this to force the Jialie Clan into providing compensation.

But the Second Elder and Third Elder favored stability, preferring to wait and see how the situation developed.

As long as the Jialie Clan made no further moves, they hoped to settle the matter quietly and wait for the younger generation to grow up and shoulder the burden.

As for the First Elder, his approach was rather ruthless.

He wanted to use this opportunity to launch an attack, annex the Jialie Clan's markets and businesses, and find a way to wipe the Jialie Clan off the map!

The four of them voiced their own opinions, unable to convince one another, and debated until nightfall without reaching a conclusion.

They were so preoccupied that they didn't even notice Xiao Yuan had already snuck out of the Xiao Clan.

"The weather is turning cold; it is time for the Jialie Clan to go bankrupt."

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yuan gazed at the high-hanging moon and whispered softly, then donned his Disguise Mask and crushed the Dou Wang Experience Card.

Feeling the surging Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Yuan stretched his limbs and once again slipped into the night.

Late at night.

The moonlight was like silk, yet it could not illuminate the oppressive atmosphere deep within the Jialie Mansion.

The main hall was filled with people; judging by their attire, they were clearly high-ranking members of the Jialie Clan. Jialie Bi, whom they had seen earlier that day, was also among them, seated in the main chair.

He rubbed his temples, looking utterly pained as he listened to the reports from the servants below.

"How many is that now?"

"Re... reporting to the Clan Head, that is the third one to fall unconscious, and it is not over yet."

"..."

Jialie Bi no longer knew what to say.

He never imagined that the potency of the Joyous Union Powder would be this strong.

Although his son enjoyed playing with women on a daily basis, this was the first time he had managed to knock three of them unconscious in one go.

It was as if he were a heartless pile driver, completely unable to stop!

If they hadn't been feeding him plenty of tonics, Jialie Ao would likely have exhausted his essence to death by now.

Helpless, Jialie Bi raised his eyes to look at the maid serving beside him.

"Then you go."

Jialie Bi waved his hand.

The pretty maid's face instantly turned pale and bloodless, her eyes brimming with tears, and her delicate body trembled incessantly.

She was terrified.

Three of her sisters had already been ruined by the Young Clan Head, and she did not want to be the fourth.

"What, are you unwilling?"

"No... Clan Head, I beg you to spare my life!"

The maid collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

Jialie Bi was just about to scold her when he suddenly shot up from his seat, his expression changing drastically.

The maid was so frightened that she fainted on the spot.

But in reality, it wasn't just Jialie Bi who had stood up—everyone in the hall had done the same!

They had all simultaneously sensed an aura so powerful it made their hearts palpitate, sweeping toward them from the courtyard!