The Family Head Is In Trouble, The Third Young Master Has Been Beaten!

That day.

The main hall of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan was discussing matters with Xiao Ze.

"My Lord Ancestor, this junior has a presumptuous request, and I hope you might grant it." Xiao Zhan grinned, rubbing his hands together like a fly, his expression sheepish.

"What is it?"

"It concerns my good-for-nothing son, Xiao Yan... I request that you take him under your wing, My Lord Ancestor, and provide him with some guidance."

"Hm?" Xiao Ze raised an eyebrow. Take Xiao Yan as a disciple?

He was not willing.

How did that saying go in web novels?

Those who become masters to protagonists rarely meet a good end.

Not only do they have to clean up the protagonist's messes, but they also have to fend off all the enemies the protagonist offends.

It was a completely thankless job.

He certainly wasn't going to do it.

Such a grueling task was better left to that old fellow, Elder Yao. Although his judgment was a bit lacking, he was quite capable when it came to teaching disciples.

"This..." Xiao Ze pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Xiao Yan and I share no fate as master and disciple; I fear I cannot take him as a student."

As these words fell, Xiao Zhan's eyes dimmed.

"So it really isn't possible..."

Just as he was feeling regretful for his son's future:

"However..." Xiao Ze's voice suddenly sounded in his ears again. "While I have no fate with him as a master, there is no issue with taking him as a nominal disciple and providing some guidance."

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan's face immediately filled with excitement. "Then, on behalf of my good-for-nothing son, this junior thanks you for your great kindness, My Lord Ancestor."

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Xiao Ze.

"That's enough. I am a member of the Xiao Tribe, so guiding a descendant is only natural..." Xiao Ze waved his hand. "As the Clan Head, you need not be so formal."

After returning the salute, Xiao Zhan sat back down in his seat.

At this moment, he suddenly thought: if word got out that he had asked the ancestor to look after his son, wouldn't it cause dissatisfaction among the other high-ranking members of the Xiao Clan?

After all, besides being a father, he was also the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan.

Everything had to be prioritized for the benefit of the entire Xiao Clan.

Acting in such a way would inevitably make others feel he was showing favoritism, which was truly inappropriate.

Therefore.

He could only lick his lips and, with a thick skin, say, "Um, My Lord Ancestor..."

"You have more business?"

"Uh... just one last small thing."

"Out with it... no, speak!"

Xiao Ze showed a trace of impatience.

What was going on?

He was only an impostor, not the real ancestor of the Xiao Clan.

Even if he were real.

Could they not stop coming to him for every little thing?

Could he not have a little bit of his own time, life, and freedom?

"Well..." Xiao Zhan gave a dry laugh and continued shamelessly, "Since you have already accepted my son, My Lord Ancestor, could you perhaps also provide some guidance to the other juniors in the clan?"

"..." Xiao Ze fell silent.

Looking at the obsequious Xiao Zhan before him, he was instantly enraged.

"Bang!"

"What do you take me for?"

"A Doraemon who grants wishes at will?"

"Why don't you just ask me to go to the Xiao Clan's private school and teach all the disciples?"

Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up. "Would you be able to do that, My Lord Ancestor?"

His blood boiled!

His fists clenched!

He, Xiao Ze, had never seen such a thick-skinned and shameless person!

To think he would dare to make such an excessive request of him.

He really intends to work him, the ancestor of the Xiao Clan, like a beast of burden!

If the person before him weren't Xiao Yan's father, he would absolutely make the man taste what a lesson from an ancestor's iron fist felt like!

"What do you think?" Xiao Ze stared at him with unfriendly eyes.

"Uh..." Xiao Zhan shrank his head back sheepishly. He scratched his head and continued, "Ancestor, you know that the most important thing in managing a large clan is fairness."

"It is this junior's honor that you are willing to guide my son, but if this matter were known to the other clansmen, they would surely think that I, as the Clan Head, am abusing my position for personal gain..."

"However, please rest assured, Ancestor. This junior has already thought of a way."

"Oh?" Xiao Ze raised an eyebrow, curious. "What way?"

Xiao Zhan said, "This is what this junior thinks."

"You have been back in the Xiao Clan for some time now, Ancestor. How can it be right for you to have no disciples around to attend to you? This junior is willing to select a few high-quality juniors from the clan to specifically take care of your daily needs..."

He paused at this point.

Although he did not continue, Xiao Ze already understood his meaning.

"In name, they are clan disciples serving me, but in reality, you want me to guide them..."

"You are truly a thoughtful Clan Head."

"You flatter me, Ancestor. This is what this junior ought to do." Xiao Zhan chuckled, then asked, "Old Ancestor, what about this matter..."

"I agree!" Xiao Ze waved a hand. "It just so happens that I am lacking people to look after me."

"Let it be done as you say."

"However, let me state this clearly: do not send disciples without talent to me. Send a few of the more excellent ones."

Xiao Zhan's face lit up with joy. "Many thanks, Old Ancestor!"

Just as the two were chatting, a sudden, urgent cry rang out from outside.

"It's bad, it's bad!"

A servant of the Xiao Clan rushed in, panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead, looking completely flustered.

"What is the meaning of this, acting so frantic!" Xiao Zhan frowned and scolded, then asked, "What has happened to make you so panicked?"

"Do you not see that I am discussing important matters with the Old Ancestor?"

The servant gasped for air and hurriedly said, "Clan Head, it's bad! The Third Young Master has been severely injured and has already fallen into a coma!"

"What???"

Xiao Zhan was shocked to the core and abruptly stood up from his seat.

Without another word, he rushed toward the courtyard where Xiao Yan resided.

Xiao Ze followed behind at a leisurely pace.

His face did not show much shock.

On the contrary, he felt accustomed to Xiao Yan being severely injured and falling into a coma.

Is this the protagonist's talent for causing trouble?

How long has it been since he recovered his cultivation? He's already started fighting with others...

As he thought this, Xiao Ze followed the crowd into Xiao Yan's room.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was lying on the bed in a wretched state, his face pale and his breathing weak. His upper body was covered in wounds, with fresh red blood seeping from them.

He looked truly ghastly and terrifying.

"What on earth is going on?"

"Why has my son ended up like this!!!"

Seeing his son in such a miserable state, Xiao Zhan, as a father, was immediately enraged and began to roar at the servants nearby.

"C-Clan Head, the reason the Third Young Master ended up like this is because he had a conflict with the young master of the Jialie Clan at the marketplace, and was beaten by him."

The servant beside him recounted the events exactly as they happened.

The story was simple.

This morning, on a whim, Xiao Yan had taken his childhood sweetheart, Xiao Xun'er, to the Xiao Clan's marketplace, only to encounter Jialie Ao, the young master of the Jialie Clan.

The Jialie Clan already had friction with the Xiao Clan.

Thus, a dispute naturally broke out between the two sides.

Jialie Ao not only insulted Xiao Yan but also insulted Xiao Xun'er, who was with him. How could Xiao Yan accept that?

Consequently, a fight broke out on the spot.

But having only just recovered his cultivation and barely reaching the fifth stage of Dou Zhi Li, how could he be a match for Jialie Ao, who had been cultivating for a long time and had reached the level of a Dou Zhe?

And so, he was beaten into his current state.