After Xiao Lin retired and Xiao Zhan became the Xiao Household's new patriarch, the uproar over Xiao Lin's earlier "grave injuries" gradually died down.
Yet, although the incident had passed, the Xiao Household's position in the Gama Imperial Capital had become rather delicate.
It was not that the other factions would do anything to the Xiao Household. Rather, whenever they looked at its members now, their eyes seemed to carry a trace of pity.
After all, in their view, if Xiao Lin had not been "gravely injured and left unconscious," the Xiao Household might well have become a new family with a Dou Emperor among its ranks!
Moreover, quite a few people implied that the Xiao Household owed everything it had today to Xiao Lin, its former patriarch.
Even Yun Shan's acceptance of Xiao Zhan as a disciple had led many to the same conclusion: it absolutely had something to do with Xiao Lin!
And what of Xiao Lin now?
Although he still retained the strength of a seven-star battle king, everyone outside the household already knew that every time he fought from now on, his strength would likely decline afterward.
In other words, outsiders now saw Xiao Lin as something akin to the Xiao Household's last reserve.
Every time they drew on that reserve, the Xiao Household would grow a little weaker.
That was how outsiders currently understood the Xiao Household and Xiao Lin's situation.
Xiao Lin himself felt nothing much about it. In fact, this was precisely what he wanted now.
The rest of the Xiao Household, however, found it rather hard to stomach.
How could they put it?
Their household was developing exactly as before. Nothing had changed at all!
And yet, they could never quite avoid a few snide remarks from people with ulterior motives.
That