The Big Fish Takes the Bait, Xiao Xun'er's Invitation!

"You..."

Qi Yan'er's words pierced deeply into Xiao Yan's heart.

He felt another mouthful of old blood rise to his throat.

"Pfft~"

Though he tried to force it back down, he could not bear it any longer and spat out another huge mouthful of blood!

He was only fifteen years old!

How had he stopped being a youth and become some old man?

If anyone else had said that, he could have argued back.

But the one saying it was Qi Yan'er, a little girl of only seven.

To her, who here was not an old fossil?

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west?"

Qi Yan'er clearly had no intention of letting Xiao Yan off so easily just because his mouth was stubborn.

Her tender little finger pointed at Xiao Yan, her cheeks puffed up in anger.

"What right do you have to lecture my Sister Yanran?"

"Your talent might have been passable before, but now you're nothing but trash!"

"Yan'er is right."

Nalan Yanran stepped to Qi Yan'er's side and said sternly.

"You want to rise again?"

"Fine. I, Nalan Yanran, will wait for the day you surpass me again, Xiao Yan, and come seeking revenge!"

"But the engagement between us is hereby annulled as of today. Because of your overbearing attitude, I will make this matter public. Xiao Clan Leader, do not blame Yanran for being heartless!"

"Hahahahaha~ Good, good, good!"

The successive rebukes from the two girls made Xiao Yan burst into loud laughter.

Yet his laughter was filled with endless bitterness and self-mockery!

Xiao Yan tilted his head back and screamed inwardly.

Fuck you, heavens! Did you bring me into this world just to make me a laughingstock?

No matter what, Xiao Yan could not understand it.

Why had he gone from an unparalleled genius to the trash he was now, humiliated and trampled beneath others' feet?

"Pfft~"

After vomiting another mouthful of blood, Xiao Yan's head lolled to one side, and he fainted.

"Alas~"

As his father, Xiao Zhan's heart ached terribly.

But all he could do now was sigh helplessly.

"Steward Mo, take Yan'er away to treat his injuries first!"

"Yes!"

Steward Mo gave a respectful bow, then ordered the servants to carry Xiao Yan away.

After Xiao Yan was carried off.

Xiao Zhan turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran.

"Miss Nalan, are you satisfied with this outcome now?"

"Xiao Clan Leader, I never wanted things to become this bad, but the Xiao Clan's attitude has truly disappointed me."

Nalan Yanran's pretty face was icy as she said coolly.

"You watched Xiao Yan confront Yan'er and chose to remain silent. Is this the bearing of the Xiao Clan, once one of the Jia Ma Empire's Four Great Clans?"

"When I return, I will report everything that happened today to my grandfather exactly as it occurred. I trust that Grandfather will make his own judgment!"

As soon as those words were spoken.

The Xiao Clan members were all left too ashamed to raise their heads.

The Xiao Clan had indeed once been one of the Jia Ma Empire's Four Great Clans!

That was only when the previous Clan Head, Xiao Lin, a Dou Wang powerhouse, was still alive.

Now, the Xiao Clan had declined to this tiny Wu Tan City.

It was long since no longer what it once had been!

"Uncle Ge Ye, Yan'er, let's go!"

With that, Nalan Yanran took Qi Yan'er's little hand and stormed toward the exit of the Xiao Family Hall.

Ge Ye set down the jade box he had been holding in his palm all this time, then hurried after them.

Such an act was nothing short of humiliation.

Xiao Zhan's chest rose and fell, his expression darkening to a terrifying degree. With a wave of his hand, a surge of Dou Qi poured from his palm.

"Take the Qi Gathering Powder with you too!"

"Xiao Zhan, what are you doing?!"

Seeing the jade box thrown out, the three Elders' expressions immediately changed.

"Three Elders, don't forget that I am still the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan!"

Xiao Zhan roared furiously.

"Fine..."

The three Elders gnashed their teeth in hatred but had no choice except to endure.

Sensing the movement behind him, Ge Ye reached back with one hand and steadily caught the jade box. He shook his head with a smile.

Like father, like son. This father and son of the Xiao Clan truly did not know what was good for them!

"Please wait!"

Just as Nalan Yanran and Qi Yan'er were about to step out of the Xiao Family Hall, a light, graceful young girl's voice suddenly rang out.

The three of them paused.

Their gazes turned toward the young girl in green standing in the corner.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the doors and windows.

It happened to envelop the girl, making her look from afar like a lotus blooming in the mortal world—pure and beautiful, untouched by dust~

Curiosity shone in Qi Yan'er's large eyes as she spoke.

"Pretty Sister, what is it?"

"I have a few questions I would like to ask you. Little Sister, do you have the time?"

Xiao Xun'er slowly rose to her feet, a sweet smile appearing on her pretty face.

"Of course!"

Qi Yan'er tilted her little head, her eyes curving into crescents.

The reason she had acted so domineeringly in the Xiao Family Hall was for no other reason than to fish for a big catch!

And just like that~ the big fish had taken the bait herself!

Daddy, leave Yan'er's happiness to me with complete peace of mind~

"Yan'er, you..."

Nalan Yanran had been eager to leave the Xiao Clan.

She did not want to remain in the Xiao Clan for even one more second, yet now she had no choice but to stay.

After all, she absolutely could not rest easy leaving Yan'er here alone.

"Miss Nalan, would you be willing to move to the city for a chat?"

With graceful steps, Xiao Xun'er approached Nalan Yanran and asked.

"Alright."

Unable to refuse Qi Yan'er's wishes, Nalan Yanran nodded.

Under the bewildered gazes of the Xiao Clan members, the group quickly disappeared from sight.

At this moment, the three Elders' expressions had changed from their earlier fury to calmness.

Looking at Xiao Zhan again, they said respectfully.

"Clan Head, her taking the initiative to approach them is not a good thing for us."

Xiao Zhan nodded.

"But even so, there is nothing we can do. We can only let nature take its course... Alas~"

The people in the Xiao Family Hall looked at one another, all utterly confused.

What was going on?

Weren't the Clan Head and the three Elders at odds with each other?

Why were they now...

Elsewhere.

Xiao Yan, who had been carried to his room for treatment, suddenly opened his eyes.

After looking around and seeing no one there, his bloodless face was filled with gloom.

"Strength!"

"In this world, without strength, you're not even worth a pile of shit. At least someone would dare step on dog shit!"

His ten fingers plunged into his black hair, and blood trickled from the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth.

Without reaching up to wipe it away, Xiao Yan let the blood run down and drip into his palm.

"I will not suffer today's humiliation a second time!"

"Hehehe~ Little one, it seems you really need some help!"

Just as Xiao Yan etched this oath into his heart, a strange elderly laugh suddenly entered his ears!

"Who?"

Xiao Yan's face changed as he abruptly looked around the room.

His sharp black eyes swept over the room, but he could not find a single figure.

A ghost?

"Hehehe~ Stop looking. I'm on your finger!"

Just as Xiao Yan thought it had been an illusion, the strange laughter sounded again.

"My finger?"

Xiao Yan lowered his head, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

This was... Mother's keepsake?

Staring at the pitch-black ring on his finger, Xiao Yan suppressed the fear in his heart and asked calmly.

"Were you the one speaking?"

"Not bad composure, little one. You didn't even leap off the bed in fright."

A teasing laugh came from within the ring.

Bitterness welled up in Xiao Yan's heart.

What good composure?

Fuck, if that little brat hadn't injured me, I would've jumped down already!