Haji Yan, You...

Night fell, and the Xiao Household estate gradually quieted down.

Xun'er sat by the window, recalling the person she had seen at the market today. She could not shake the feeling that there was something strange about him.

A Seven-Star Battle Master—such cultivation already qualified one as an expert in a place like Wutan City, not to mention that man looked no older than eighteen or nineteen.

"Elder Ling."

At Xun'er's soft call, the shadows in the corner of the room twisted. An elderly man dressed in black slowly emerged, dropped to one knee, and respectfully saluted Xun'er.

"Did you find anything?"

"I did."

Ling Ying raised his head, a complicated look flashing through his eyes.

"That man is named Qin Yu. He is a native of Wutan City. His parents died early, and he has always lived alone in a small house in the western part of the city."

Xun'er listened quietly without interrupting.

"A year ago, he came to the Xiao Household once. Xiao Ning brought him here."

"What was his cultivation then?"

Ling Ying hesitated before answering.

"A one-star Dou Practitioner."

"How much?"

Xun'er turned her head, a trace of surprise flashing through her calm, water-like eyes.

If her senses were correct, then this person had gone from a one-star Dou Practitioner to a Seven-Star Battle Master in just one year?

"Miss, there is no mistake. I confirmed it personally."

There was also a hint of disbelief in Ling Ying's voice.

"His cultivation is indeed at the Seven-Star Battle Master level, and his foundation is exceptionally solid. It does not seem like he forcibly improved it through medicinal pills."

The room fell into a brief silence.

Qin Yu, an ordinary person with no background and no bloodline inheritance.

To cross nearly two major realms within a year—such talent was enough to make anyone take notice.

"Interesting."

Xun'er spoke softly, with a trace of appreciation in her tone, but that was all. She did not believe Qin Yu would pose any threat to Xiao Yan.

There was neither enmity nor conflict of interest between them, and Qin Yu's attitude while watching the show at the market today had proven that.

"Miss, there is one more matter..."

"Speak."

"Qin Yu's relationship with Xiao Yu is... rather close. And right now... Young Master Xiao Yan seems to be heading their way."

Ling Ying chose his words carefully. Xun'er fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then slowly rose to her feet.

"Cousin Xiao Yu..."

Her tone did not change, but Ling Ying had followed her for years and keenly caught a subtle fluctuation.

Xun'er walked to the window and pushed it open, gazing toward the depths of the courtyard, in the direction of Xiao Yan's room.

A moment later, she shook her head and muttered softly, a clear hint of petty displeasure in her voice.

"Forget it. Letting him suffer a little will do him good."

Ling Ying heard every word from behind her, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Miss, you really are...

The next second, Xun'er suddenly turned and headed for the door.

"Miss, you are..."

"Going to take a look."

Given the relationship between Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan, and now that Xiao Yu had Qin Yu to rely on—and Qin Yu was far stronger than Xiao Yan...

"But we cannot get there too quickly."

She glanced back at Ling Ying, mischief glinting in her clear eyes.

"We will appear after Brother Xiao Yan has suffered enough. We only need to make sure things do not get out of control."

Ling Ying opened his mouth, but in the end, only managed to squeeze out two words.

"...Understood."

His figure melted back into the shadows and vanished.

Xun'er walked alone through the corridor, neither fast nor slow. She was indeed heading toward the First Elder's courtyard.

Yet her pace looked more like she was taking a leisurely stroll.

Elsewhere.

Xiao Yan felt that he must have forgotten to check the almanac before leaving home today.

After hearing Xiao Ning's words, he had been unbearably curious.

So he had wanted to come see what this so-called guy who had gone from a one-star Dou Practitioner to a Seven-Star Battle Master in a year was all about.

Though he had claimed Xiao Ning was just messing with him, Xiao Ning's dazed, dispirited appearance really did not seem faked.

What if it was true?

With that thought in mind, he somehow found himself near the First Elder's courtyard.

But just as he reached the door and prepared to eavesdrop, the door was suddenly pushed open from inside.

A hand shot out like lightning and seized him by the neck.

The hand possessed terrifying strength. Before Xiao Yan could react, he was dragged inside and slammed onto the ground.

The moment his face made intimate contact with the icy floor, Xiao Yan's mind completely crashed.

Who am I? Where am I? What happened?

"Hm? Xiao Yan?"

A somewhat familiar female voice came from above him.

Xiao Yan painfully turned his head, and a pair of long, beautiful legs entered his sight.

Following those legs upward, he saw a familiar face.

"C-Cousin?"

The look in Xiao Yu's eyes made Xiao Yan shudder.

It was the look of a hunter seeing prey walk right into her trap.

"Hehe..."

Xiao Yu smiled, and the smile made Xiao Yan's scalp go numb.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, long time no see."

Xiao Yu crouched down, pinched Xiao Yan's cheeks, and tugged hard in both directions.

"Mmph... Let go!"

Xiao Yan tried to struggle, but the person pinning him down was like a mountain. The gap in strength was as vast as a heavenly chasm.

"Tch, Xiao Yan, let me tell you this. Brother Yu is a Seven-Star Battle Master. You only have three stages of Battle Qi, so stop wasting your energy struggling."

Xiao Yan painfully twisted his head and saw Qin Yu's young face, an indescribable shock surging through his heart.

This guy pinning him down was the Seven-Star Battle Master Xiao Ning had mentioned?

It was actually... true?

"Brother Yu, this guy is my cousin. We had a bit of a conflict before. Leave him to me, okay?"

Xiao Yu winked at Qin Yu. Qin Yu immediately released him, stood up, and stepped aside to enjoy the show.

"Xiao Yan, you have a day like this too, huh? Do you remember what you used to do?"

"Th-That was all in the past, Cousin."

"You think it is over just because you say it is?!"

Xiao Yu sneered as she approached Xiao Yan, loosening up her limbs.

Xiao Yan struggled desperately to get up, but although Qin Yu had climbed off him, it felt as if that crushing weight still pressed down on his body, leaving him unable to move.

"First Elder! Control your granddaughter!"

The First Elder watched his nose, his nose watched his heart. He stood with his arms folded, looking utterly unconcerned.

Now he knew to beg me? Had he forgotten how arrogant and unruly he had been back when he still had talent?

Haji Yan, you...

A quarter of an hour later.

Xiao Yan lay sprawled on the ground, battered and bruised, his eyes vacant. If not for the rise and fall of his body, others might have thought he was dead.

"Wuw... You bastard..."

His black clothes had been torn to shreds, and his hair was a complete mess. He looked exactly like a young girl who had been ravaged.

"Hah... That felt good."

Xiao Yu let out a long breath. Looking at Xiao Yan whimpering on the ground, she felt the exhilarating satisfaction of settling a great grudge.

If not for the fact that this guy was the clan leader's son, she would have kicked him in the crotch until it exploded today—consider him lucky he was tough enough!