Xiao Ni's gaze fell on the portrait, and his expression immediately turned much more solemn.
Although his memories of Lan Suyin had grown somewhat hazy, she had treated him very well back then. He had long since etched some of her basic features deep into his heart.
The beauty mark at the corner of her left eye, the lotus pattern on the hem of her clothes, the pale blue jade sword in her hand, and the emerald jade flute at her waist—all of them stirred Xiao Ni's memories. He was certain that the woman in the portrait Galeo held was Xiao Yan's mother, Lan Suyin.
Lan Suyin rarely left the house, and even when she did, she wore a veil. Let alone Galeo, even Jia Liebi and Ao Bapa might not recognize the woman in the painting.
"Young Master Galeo, spare me! If you like it, I'll give you this painting directly to you." Knowing he could not afford to offend Galeo, the sixty-year-old man hurriedly begged for mercy.
Galeo was not only the young master of the Jia Lie Lineage, one of the three great lineages, but also notoriously lecherous. How could insignificant people like them dare provoke him?
"You know what's good for you. Get lost! Don't let me see you in Wutan City again!" Galeo released the old man's collar and spoke arrogantly.
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll pack up and get out of Wutan City right away." The old man bowed with a trembling voice, then hurriedly began gathering the calligraphy and paintings from his stall.
The old man sold calligraphy, paintings, and some ordinary healing medicine. They looked rather worthless, so few people patronized his stall. Still, his paintings were indeed lifelike; they simply were not suited for sale in the marketplace.
No wonder Battle Through the Heavens only briefly mentioned Xiao Yan's mother. So Galeo, that idiot, had cut off the clue. Uncle Xiao Zhan, if you'd just taken a stroll through the marketplace once in a while, you might have seen Aunt Lan's portrait. Xiao Ni smiled bitterly to himself before striding over.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Xiao Xun'er? Did you come to the marketplace to buy something today? I would be happy to serve you." Noticing Xiao Xun'er approaching, Galeo put on a nauseatingly gentlemanly pose and completely ignored Xiao Ni.
Crack
In the next instant, Xiao Ni grabbed Galeo's wrist. A crisp crack of breaking bone rang out, Galeo's face twitched, and as his scream died away, the portrait in his hand landed steadily in Xiao Ni's other palm.
"This is Xiao Household territory. It isn't up to you to decide who stays and who leaves!" Xiao Ni said coldly, then walked straight to the old man. "Sir, you don't need to be afraid. I'll deal with this scum!"
"Then let's see who deals with whom!" Galeo's face darkened as the pain in his wrist caused the rage in his heart to surge.
He was not blind. Of course he had seen Xiao Ni earlier. He had simply thought Xiao Ni was a Seventh Duan of Dou Qi piece of trash, not much better than Xiao Yan, and surely would not dare sneak attack him. That was why he had chosen to ignore him. Who would have thought this fellow would directly crush his wrist bone? Since when had Xiao Ni become so strong?
Hmph, so what if he was strong? He was already a One-Star Dou Practitioner. Crushing a Seventh Duan of Dou Qi trash would be effortless.
"One finger is enough to deal with you." Xiao Ni smiled faintly at the old man, then his face turned cold again as he fixed his gaze on Galeo.
Galeo was only a minor early-game villain. There was no need to waste time on someone like him.
"Then let's see whether your one finger is stronger, or mine!" Galeo roared and actually lunged forward, pointing the index finger of his right hand at Xiao Ni's chest.
Although he had infused some Dou Qi into his index finger, he was still using one finger to deal with Xiao Ni.
Bang
Just as Galeo's finger was about to strike Xiao Ni's chest, Xiao Ni suddenly drove a fist into Galeo's stomach and sent him flying.
As expected of a bit player, his brain really wasn't too bright. I only said one finger was enough to deal with him. I never said I would actually use one finger against him. I'm five stars above him, yet this idiot still thought he could handle me with one finger. Jia Liebi really ought to take him to see a brain doctor someday.
"Young Master Xiao Ni, what happened?" Hearing the commotion, Payne immediately rushed over with his men.
"Galeo was causing trouble here, so I casually knocked him out. Once he wakes up, remember to make him compensate for the losses here." Xiao Ni pointed at the unconscious Galeo and casually explained what had happened, leaving Payne utterly stunned.
What? Young Master Xiao Ni knocked Galeo unconscious, and he didn't seem to be hurt at all. This was far too unbelievable! Could it be that Young Master Xiao Ni had also become a Dou Zhe?
Yes, that had to be it. Otherwise, there was no way Young Master Xiao Ni could have knocked out a One-Star Dou Practitioner like Galeo without suffering even a scratch.
"I understand. Leave this place to us." After thinking it over for a moment, Payne did not ask about Xiao Ni's level. He merely revealed a rather brilliant smile.
Haha, Young Master Xiao Ni was probably about to rise to prominence. Next, it would depend on Young Master Xiao Yan.
"Brother Xiao Ni is amazing! You took care of Galeo with one punch." After watching the show for quite some time, Xiao Xun'er finally walked over with a cheerful smile.
"He was just a petty clown. If you had acted, you could have handled him too," Xiao Ni said with a smile.
He had great confidence in Xiao Xun'er's strength. She was already at the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi, so dealing with a One-Star Dou Practitioner would not be difficult for her at all.
"Xun'er doesn't want to dirty her hands, so things like this should be left to Brother Xiao Ni."
Hearing Xiao Xun'er say that, Xiao Ni shook his head with a laugh, then asked the old man rather politely, "Sir, where did this portrait come from?"
Although he now knew that Aunt Lan was Xiao Yan's mother, even Xiao Zhan himself did not know much about her background. Since he had been fortunate enough to see Aunt Lan's portrait today, he naturally had to ask about it clearly. Perhaps this portrait would let him follow the trail and gradually uncover Aunt Lan's origins.
He had always felt that Lan Suyin's death was suspicious. It might have deceived Xiao Zhan and the others, but it could not fool him. There was definitely more to Lan Suyin's poisoning. Since he had transmigrated here and activated this hidden storyline, he would surely get to the bottom of it.
"Oh, I acquired all these portraits from Black Jade Pavilion," the old man answered respectfully.
"Black Jade Pavilion? I'll buy this portrait. Fifty gold coins, right?" Xiao Ni frowned in thought for a moment and did not continue questioning the old man.
Black Jade Pavilion had never been mentioned in Battle Through the Heavens. However, Xiao Xun'er was extremely well-informed and knew many things, so he could just ask her later.
"If Young Master Xiao Ni likes this painting, just take it. You helped me resolve my trouble just now, so consider this painting repayment for the favor I owe you." The old man stopped Xiao Ni from taking out money and spoke with some excitement.
Although he rarely set up his stall in this marketplace, he had long heard of Wutan City's two wastes and one flower.
The two wastes referred to Xiao Yan and Xiao Ni, while the flower referred to the lecherous Galeo. He never could have expected Galeo to cause trouble for him today, nor that the rumored second waste of Wutan City, Xiao Ni, would stand up for him. What shocked him even more was that Xiao Ni's reputation as a waste seemed undeserved. Otherwise, how could he have knocked Galeo unconscious with a single punch?
"Then thank you very much." Xiao Ni smiled brightly, put away the portrait, and left with Xiao Xun'er.
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