Haki Yan, You Bastard...

Night fell, and the Xiao Household gradually grew quiet.

Xun'er sat by the window, thinking back on the person she had seen at the marketplace today. Something about him felt strange.

A Seven-Star Battle Master was already considered an expert in a place like Wutan City, let alone someone who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen.

"Elder Ling."

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

"Did you find anything?"

"I did."

Ling Ying raised his head, a trace of complexity flashing through his eyes.

"That man's name is 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.

"One-Star Dou Practitioner."

"How much?"

Xun'er turned her head, a flicker of surprise passing 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 only one year?

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

Ling Ying's voice also carried a hint of disbelief.

"He is indeed a Seven-Star Battle Master, and his foundation is extremely solid. It does not seem as though he forcibly raised it by taking pills."

The room fell into brief silence.

Qin Yu was 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 touch 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 marketplace today had proven that.

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

"Speak."

"Qin Yu is quite close to Xiao Yu, 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 before slowly rising to her feet.

"Cousin Xiao Yu..."

Her tone did not change, but Ling Ying had followed her for years and keenly sensed a subtle ripple in her emotions.

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 murmured to herself, a clear hint of petulance in her voice.

"Fine. It will do him good to suffer a little."

Ling Ying heard every word from behind her, and the corner of his mouth could not help twitching.

Miss, you truly 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, with Qin Yu being far stronger than Xiao Yan...

"But we cannot go too quickly."

She looked back at Ling Ying, a trace of mischief in her clear eyes.

"Once Brother Xiao Yan has suffered enough, we will show ourselves. We only need to make sure things do not get out of control."

Ling Ying opened his mouth, but in the end, he only managed two words.

"...Understood."

His figure melted back into the shadows and vanished.

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

Yet no matter how one looked at it, her pace resembled a leisurely stroll.

Elsewhere.

Xiao Yan felt that he must not have checked the almanac before leaving home today.

After hearing Xiao Ning's words, he had been itching with curiosity.

So he had wanted to come see what the so-called guy who went from a One-Star Dou Practitioner to a Seven-Star Battle Master in a year was all about.

Though he had said Xiao Ning was just messing with him, Xiao Ning's utterly dejected appearance really did not seem faked.

What if it was true?

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

But just as he reached the door and prepared to eavesdrop, it suddenly swung open from within.

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

The hand possessed astonishing strength. Before Xiao Yan could react, he was dragged inside and pressed to the ground.

Only when his face made intimate contact with the icy floor did Xiao Yan's mind completely crash.

Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?

"Hm? Xiao Yan?"

A somewhat familiar female voice came from above him.

Xiao Yan struggled to turn his head, and the first thing that entered his sight was a pair of long, beautiful legs.

Following them upward, he saw a familiar face.

"C-Cousin?"

Seeing the look in Xiao Yu's eyes, Xiao Yan could not help shuddering.

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 tingle.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, long time no see."

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

"Mm... Let go!"

Xiao Yan tried to struggle, but the person pinning him down was like a mountain. The gap in their strength was an insurmountable chasm.

"Tch. Xiao Yan, let me tell you, Brother Yu is a Seven-Star Battle Master. You are only at Third-Stage Battle Qi, so stop wasting your strength struggling."

Xiao Yan painfully twisted his head and saw Qin Yu's young face. An indescribable shock surged through him.

This guy pressing 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 few conflicts before. Leave him to me, okay?"

Xiao Yu winked at Qin Yu. Qin Yu immediately released him, rose to his feet, and stepped aside to watch the show.

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

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

"You say it is in the past, and that makes it over?!"

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

Xiao Yan struggled desperately to get up. Although Qin Yu had stepped off him, it still felt as if a crushing weight remained on his body, leaving him unable to move.

"First Elder! Control your granddaughter!"

The First Elder stood to one side, eyes fixed on his nose and nose fixed on his heart, arms folded with the air of someone who had nothing to do with this.

Now he was begging me? Had he forgotten how arrogant and unruly he had been back when his talent was still intact?

Haki Yan, you bastard...

A quarter of an hour later.

Xiao Yan lay sprawled on the ground, bruised and swollen, his eyes vacant. If his body had not still been rising and falling, others might have thought he was dead.

"Wah... You bastard..."

His black clothes had been torn to tatters, and his hair was a complete mess. He looked just like a young lady who had been thoroughly bullied.

"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 having avenged a great grievance.

If not for the fact that this guy was the clan leader's son, she would have kicked him so hard down there that it burst—he should count himself lucky he was sturdy!