This time, Zhang Yuan had many things planned for his return to Wutan City.
First, he would properly handle Nalan Yanran's annulment of the engagement and avoid the worst possible outcome as much as possible.
Second, he would befriend Old Yao in advance. If things went smoothly, he would ask him for some cultivation techniques and have him refine pills.
Third, he would comprehensively strengthen the Xiao Clan in every aspect, whether for future self-preservation or the development of their power.
He had completed all three plans perfectly. Along the way, he had also deepened Xiao Yan's feelings toward him and confirmed his relationship with Xun Er.
Yet behind those three plans, he had concealed an even deeper one. Everything was proceeding in secret, and he might not necessarily carry it out.
He had not expected Xiao Zhan to notice so early. At what point had he exposed a flaw?
Seeming to see through Zhang Yuan's thoughts, Xiao Zhan smiled. "Yuan'er, Uncle didn't discover that you had a plan. I guessed. As the saying goes, nephews are close to their uncles. Yan'er and you were both raised by my own hands. How could I not understand you?"
"Since childhood, you've been modest and mild-mannered, never ostentatious. You handle matters steadily and methodically, unlike an ordinary young man. But after returning to the clan this time, every move you made was high-profile, as if you were trying to attract someone's attention."
"Originally, I thought you had changed after training in the army. But when it came to working with Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni, I realized you were still as farsighted and calculating as before. That made me suspect there was another purpose behind your actions."
"But I had no intention of investigating further until Jia Lie Bi came to cause trouble this morning."
"With your temperament, even if you were confident you could deal with Jia Lie Bi, you wouldn't have said something like that."
"You deliberately lured Jia Lie Bi into coming after you."
Zhang Yuan secretly praised Xiao Zhan after hearing that analysis.
As expected of the clan leader who had led the Xiao Clan to regain its footing in Wutan City even after it had nearly been destroyed. He truly could not be underestimated.
Zhang Yuan also understood that the casual move he had made had not been exposed. Xiao Zhan had merely known him too well and noticed something amiss from another angle.
"Uncle, let's go inside and talk."
Zhang Yuan turned and entered the council hall, making his way to the inner chamber.
Xiao Zhan quickly followed, and after hesitating slightly, Xun Er did not stay behind either.
At the same time, in the rear courtyard of the Jia Lie Family.
After taking a third-grade healing pill and regulating his breathing for half a day, Jia Lie Bi finally suppressed his injuries. With his strength as a Da Dou Shi, he would recover completely after another half month of rest.
Yet for some reason, he still had a premonition that disaster was about to strike.
"It must be because of that brat's talent. He has to be eliminated as soon as possible, or my Jia Lie family will surely face utter ruin one day." Remembering the contempt in Zhang Yuan's eyes when he had beaten him, Jia Lie Bi felt a faint pain in his dantian again.
He left his room, intending to discuss how to eliminate Zhang Yuan with Jia Lie Qing, only to find someone in the council hall whom he was not too surprised to see.
"Ao Ba Pa, are you in my Jia Lie family to watch me make a fool of myself?" Jia Lie Bi asked coldly.
"I'm not that idle." Ao Ba Pa set down his teacup, his expression grave. "Last night, when you obtained the High-level Profound tier combat technique, the Wind Scroll Art, I was thinking of guarding against the Jia Lie family. But now, Zhang Yuan is our greatest concern."
"Though there have been conflicts between our two families, they are merely conflicts. But both of us share a history of betrayal with the Xiao Clan. If the Xiao Clan rises again, I fear neither of us will have peaceful days ahead."
Jia Lie Bi snorted. "Of course I understand that. But suppressing the Xiao Clan cannot be done in a day. That brat Zhang Yuan is a Black Armored Guard. Once he returns to the army, we will have even fewer ways to target him. When he becomes a Dou Ling one day, heh."
"Then don't let him return to the army!" Killing intent flashed openly in Ao Ba Pa's eyes as he said in a chilling tone, "I've already received word that he will remain in Wutan City for at most another four days before he has to return to the army. We can act on the road."
Jia Lie Bi's eyes lit up, but he immediately frowned. "Zhang Yuan is a one-star Da Dou Shi, stronger than either of us. He also has dozens of Black Armored Guards with him. To kill him, our two families would have to deploy at least half our elites."
"Such a large move cannot be hidden from the Xiao Clan, the City Lord's Manor, or the Mittel Clan. When that happens, we will be tearing off all pretense. Neither of us can bear the charge of intercepting and killing the empire's Black Armored Guards."
Ao Ba Pa narrowed his eyes. "Why do we have to act ourselves?"
"The Black Armored Guards are rotating their deployment with the Dragon Guard, meaning they will be stationed in Qingyun Town."
"Between Wutan City and Qingyun Town, there is a place they must pass through. We can simply—"
Ao Ba Pa did not finish his sentence, but after thinking for a moment, Jia Lie Bi understood. His eyes brightened. "Brother Ao Ba, you mean..."
"That's right. Exactly what you're thinking." Ao Ba Pa and Jia Lie Bi exchanged glances.
The two men let out sinister, raspy laughter.
At the same time, in the Xiao Clan's inner hall.
Zhang Yuan invited the two of them to sit at a small round table. He took out a tea set from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xun Er. He did not mind the eye roll she gave him and smiled. "Uncle, why do you think Jia Lie Bi made such a big show of bringing people here over a conflict between juniors, insisting on attacking me?"
"You're testing Uncle again?" Xiao Zhan shook his head with a laugh. "Naturally, he noticed your talent and wanted to personally assess your potential for growth. If he had the chance, he would destroy your will to cultivate or seriously injure you. If not, he would secretly arrange to kill you."
Among forces with competing interests, stifling the other side's talented disciples had always been a common tactic. It was nothing new.
Of course, some forces might choose to invest early and attach themselves to the other side, waiting for that force to rise so they could rise with it.
But because of old historical grievances, that would never happen among the three great families of Wutan City. If the Jia Lie family or Ao Ba family produced a genius like Zhang Yuan, Xiao Zhan would likely be unable to eat or sleep in peace and would scheme against them in secret as well.
The Xiao Clan had once been powerful. The Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family had been small clans in the nearby towns that depended on the Xiao Clan. Yet after the Xiao Clan suffered a drastic upheaval, they chose to betray it, joining forces to divide much of the Xiao Clan's resources and take control of Wutan City.
Fortunately, when those two families had still been the Xiao Clan's subordinates, they had already disliked each other and had accumulated years of conflict. The Xiao Clan had deliberately kept them from becoming united, so they failed to join forces and destroy the Xiao Clan. In the end, Wutan City became a three-way balance of power.
Because they had betrayed the Xiao Clan before, neither family would want it to rise again. Likewise, if either of those families showed signs of rising, the Xiao Clan and the other family would join forces to suppress it.
The strength and potential Zhang Yuan had displayed were now enough to break that balance. The two families were very likely to put aside their conflicts and join forces to suppress him.
"What I want is for them to try to kill me." Zhang Yuan lowered his gaze, and a cold curve appeared at the corner of his lips. "Uncle, your earlier guess was not entirely correct. I acted against Galen simply to drive away an annoying fly for Xun Er. Saying that Jia Lie Bi should come find me was only a sudden thought. I wasn't sure he would actually come."
"If he came, I could settle things in one move. If he didn't, I would deliberately act high-profile over the next few days. The purpose would be to make the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba family notice me until I confirmed they intended to kill me!"
Xun Er's heart remained completely calm as she focused on making tea.
No matter what Zhang Yuan was planning, she supported him unconditionally.
With Ling Ying guarding them in secret, she did not need to worry about Zhang Yuan's safety either.
But Xiao Zhan was somewhat confused. "Yuan'er, why do you want to do this?"
Zhang Yuan did not answer immediately. Instead, he took the tea Xun Er handed him and sipped it before asking, "Uncle."
"Don't you think Wutan City is too small? It isn't even enough for my Xiao Clan to play in by itself."
A Ban: "This ninja world is too small. It's only enough for me to play in!"
Please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone. This is a data-driven account, and there will be extra updates after it goes premium.
(End of chapter.)
Before you continue