"Brother Xiao Yuan, are we just going to let them go?"
Xun'er blinked, gazing thoughtfully at the backs of Jialie Bi and the others as they departed.
"What else? Invite them to stay for dinner?"
Xiao Yuan lightly tapped the girl's forehead and smiled.
"As the saying goes, know when to quit while you're ahead, and don't be insatiable. You're still young, so don't be so bloodthirsty. It's getting late. Let's go back."
After Jialie Ao had stirred up trouble, neither of them felt like continuing their date.
So they instructed the guards at the Xiao Clan Market to tell Xiao Yan and the others that they had already gone home, then left the market with Xun'er.
"Don't be insatiable? But Xun'er is a very greedy girl..."
Tilting her little head, Xun'er murmured softly, then pressed her lips together in a faint smile.
With light steps, she hurried to catch up with the leisurely boy ahead.
Although he had said he would let the Jialie Clan members go, Xiao Yuan didn't actually think that way.
[With that old dog Jialie Bi's personality, he'll definitely be unable to swallow the humiliation he suffered at the Xiao Clan Market today. Who knows when he'll decide to get even.]
[So the most important thing right now is to hurry back, learn a cultivation technique, and then find a chance to blow him away!]
Once he'd learned a cultivation technique, he'd be absolutely certain he could take out Jialie Bi!
After all, the clans in a backwater place like Wutan City didn't use very high-grade Dou Techniques. The Profound Tier was their limit, so the deciding factor was the level of their cultivation techniques.
Not to mention, he also had the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and Life Spirit Flame to help him.
He had nothing to fear!
[Come to think of it, the Jialie Family was largely responsible for killing my cheap excuse for parents back then. Taking out Jialie Bi would count as revenge for that great grudge.]
[And as I recall, later in the story, the Jialie Family even hired a First-Rank Alchemist to suppress the Xiao Clan, and tried to take advantage of Xun'er...]
[Dammit, now that I think about it, I want to go take out that old bastard Jialie Bi right this instant!]
Never mind Xun'er.
Even the Xiao Clan had raised and nurtured him.
Otherwise, when the engagement was broken off that day, how could they have let Xiao Zhan handle it and at least save some face?
And besides, the Jialie Clan was his father's killer and posed a threat to the Xiao Clan. How could he put up with that?
[ Ding, congratulations! You have obtained one Dou Wang Experience Card.]
[Dou Wang Experience Card: Peak Nine-Star Dou Wang cultivation. Effect lasts for one hour.]
[ Ding, congratulations! You have obtained a Disguise Mask.]
[Disguise Mask]
[After use, the user can transform into any desired object, perfectly reproducing its appearance and voice.]
Seeing the notification, Xiao Yuan froze for a moment, then raised the corners of his mouth.
As expected, this Dog System understood him best!
Hearing his thoughts, Xun'er was filled with melancholy. She couldn't help reaching out to gently take Xiao Yuan's hand and lace her fingers with his.
Feeling the soft, boneless touch of her hand, Xiao Yuan collected his thoughts and asked:
"What is it?"
"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 smile playful and adorable, like an April breeze with flowers blooming all around.
Her elegant figure, meanwhile, was like a pure white lotus rising above the mortal world—graceful and serene.
She was beautiful.
"Whether it's the Nalan Family or the Jialie Clan, Brother Xiao Yuan, you don't have to hold back because of me. If you really want to get rid of them, Xun'er can help you."
Xun'er abruptly brought up the subject, her gaze fixed on him with utmost seriousness.
But as soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yuan flicked her forehead and sternly lectured her:
"Just be a pretty little rich girl. Leave the fighting and killing to me. You're a girl; don't think about so much. As long as I'm alive, you don't need to get involved in these things. I can handle them myself, understand?"
"Got it."
Xun'er rubbed her forehead and made a mischievous face at him.
Although he had refused her, his words still warmed her heart.
The news that Jialie Ao had been beaten up and Jialie Bi had been extorted spread quickly through Wutan City.
The Xiao Clan heard about it soon afterward.
But none of the elders, nor Xiao Zhan, the clan head, had any intention of disturbing Xiao Yuan.
The few old fellows could discuss this kind of matter among themselves. There was no need to involve the younger generation.
However, the four of them soon started arguing over their differing opinions.
Xiao Zhan, as clan head, thought they could use the incident to make a fuss. After all, Jialie Ao had started the trouble, so they could use that to pressure the Jialie Clan into offering some compensation.
But the Second Elder and Third Elder wanted to play it safe and wait to see what happened.
As long as the Jialie Clan made no moves, they would rather let the matter rest and wait for the younger generation to grow up and take on the burden.
As for the First Elder, he was a bit ruthless.
He wanted to seize the opportunity to attack, swallow up the Jialie Clan's markets and businesses, and find a way to erase the Jialie Clan entirely!
Each of the four voiced their opinions, but none could convince the others. They argued until nightfall without reaching a decision.
They had no idea that Xiao Yuan had already slipped out of the Xiao Clan.
"The sky is turning cold. The Jialie Clan should go bankrupt, too."
Beneath the moonlight, Xiao Yuan gazed up at the bright moon and murmured softly. Then he put on the Disguise Mask and crushed the Dou Wang Experience Card.
Feeling the surging Dou Qi within him, Xiao Yuan stretched his limbs and slipped into the darkness once more.
Late at night.
The moonlight spilled down like silken strands, yet it could not illuminate the oppressive depths of Jialie Mansion.
Quite a few people sat in the hall. Judging by their clothes, they were clearly members of the Jialie Clan's upper ranks. Jialie Bi, whom Xiao Yuan had seen earlier that day, was among them, seated in the main chair.
Massaging his temples with an expression of distress, he listened to a servant's report.
"How many is that now?"
"R-reporting to the clan head, this is the third one to pass out, and it's still not over."
"..."
Jialie Bi didn't know what to say.
He had never expected the Joyous Union Powder to be so potent.
His son liked to fool around with women, but this was the first time he had made three of them pass out in one go.
He was like a feelingless pile driver, unable to stop!
If they hadn't also given Jialie Ao plenty of tonics, he might have truly exhausted himself to death by now.
With no other choice, Jialie Bi looked toward the maidservant attending him.
"Then you go."
Jialie Bi waved his hand.
The pretty maid's face instantly turned deathly pale. Tears welled in her eyes, and her delicate body trembled nonstop.
She was afraid.
Three of her sisters had already been ruined by the young clan head. She didn't want to become the fourth.
"What, you refuse?"
"No... Clan Head, please spare my life!"
The maidservant dropped to her knees with a thud.
Jialie Bi was just about to scold her when he suddenly sprang up from his seat, his expression changing dramatically.
The maidservant was so frightened that she fainted on the spot.
But Jialie Bi wasn't the only one who had stood up. Everyone in the hall had risen to their feet!
They had all felt an aura so powerful it made their hearts tremble, surging toward them from the courtyard!