A Favor?

Xiao Yan and Dan Xuan began chatting, paying little attention to the "battlefield" on the other side that was about to erupt. In any case, it had nothing to do with either of them.

Just as the two talked and prepared to leave, someone finally could not hold back any longer.

"Junior Brother Xiao Yan!"

Hearing the shout, Xiao Yan thought, Here it comes, and turned to look.

After all, he had come specifically for these people. How could he really leave?

A chubby fellow had spoken up. Xiao Yan asked with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "May I ask what guidance this senior brother has for me?"

The fat man pointed toward the red-clad girl, his voice muffled and heavy. "One of our own is being bullied, and Junior Brother Xiao Yan plans to just stand there and watch?"

The muscles on Xiao Yan's face twitched as he put on a puzzled expression.

"I don't quite understand. Aren't you also just standing here and watching, Senior Brother Fat?"

"I..." The fat man was left speechless. Behind him, Song Qing shook his head. He would have to handle this himself. Stepping forward, he assumed the air of a peacemaker.

"Senior Brother Kong speaks bluntly. Junior Brother Xiao Yan misunderstood what he meant. We merely feel that Junior Brother Xiao Yan is the strongest among us disciples, so naturally, we must ask you to lend us a hand."

Seeing Song Qing finally step forward, Xiao Yan became certain that this was the one harboring ill intentions toward him. His goal was most likely to set Xiao Yan up so that the little girl could beat him up.

Although Xiao Yan did not understand why the other man wanted to scheme against him, this inexplicable feeling of being resented was already rather familiar. He even felt that Song Qing had seen too little of the world; the commotion Han Xian had caused was far greater than this.

"Senior Brother Song flatters me too much. In terms of cultivation, Junior Sister Cao Ying may not be inferior to me. Besides, Junior Sister Cao Ying and Cao Dan are siblings. Do you think Junior Sister Cao is inferior to me, or do you think their relationship is poor?"

As he spoke, Xiao Yan deliberately shot Cao Ying a look.

"Junior Sister Cao, I think Senior Brother Song is calling you out. If you don't step up in this situation, who will?"

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Cao Ying could not even be bothered to lift an eyelid. Ever since that last incident, she knew her own fighting strength quite well. Otherwise, why would she still be sitting here now?

Still, she silently added another mark against Song Qing. How could his clumsy little scheme possibly escape her notice? She thought, That idiot is meddling again. Cao Dan got beaten up, and I wasn't even in a hurry, so what are you anxious about? The emperor isn't anxious...

Song Qing, Song Qing, why did you have to provoke that bastard Xiao Yan?

When Song Qing saw Xiao Yan drag Cao Ying into this, he panicked somewhat. He absolutely did not want Cao Ying to misunderstand anything, though she had already seen through him long ago. He hurriedly pulled the topic back.

"Xiao Yan, don't talk nonsense! I only think that something like this shouldn't be left to a girl!"

"So Senior Brother Song looks down on female cultivators?"

What a punch!

That blow nearly knocked Song Qing senseless. However, he quickly recovered. He felt Xiao Yan was making excuses only because he feared embarrassing himself, so today, he had to make Xiao Yan step forward!

"Junior Brother Xiao Yan, I recall that when we entered the Pill Tower a month ago, you asked Elder Qiu about cultivation techniques and combat skills. It seems you have studied such things. We orthodox inheritance alchemists have never touched that sort of thing, so we can only ask Junior Brother Xiao Yan for help."

Xiao Yan did not care about Song Qing's hidden jab. Since the other party was determined to make him suffer, there was no need for him to be polite.

"Senior Brother Song is right. I have indeed learned combat skills, but if I go over now, it would be an unfair victory. I think we should forget it."

Seeing Xiao Yan still trying to evade the matter, Song Qing was even less willing to let him off. Several people whom he had long since egged on promptly chimed in.

"What unfair victory? He clearly just doesn't dare fight. He's scared!"

"Maybe those combat skills he talked about were all made up. He was just bragging to get attention."

"I could tell at a glance that this kid was no good. He has a rat-like face..."

Song Qing glanced at Cao Ying with satisfaction, wanting to see whether Xiao Yan's avoidance of battle had disgusted her. Yet he saw no reaction from her and assumed that he had not pushed hard enough.

Song Qing then hypocritically stopped the crowd's clamor. Putting on the bearing of a leader, he said to Xiao Yan, "Junior Brother Xiao Yan, you don't need to make excuses. If you haven't cultivated combat skills, then leave. Just don't tell lies in front of your fellow disciples next time."

Watching Song Qing perform like a clown, Xiao Yan could not help shaking his head with a smile. Naturally, Song Qing and the others took that as an attempt to conceal having his lie exposed, and faint mocking whispers immediately spread through the crowd again.

"I truly don't wish to take advantage of anyone, but if Senior Brother Song is willing to help me, then I wouldn't mind exchanging moves with that girl."

Xiao Yan's sudden turn instantly silenced the voices of doubt. Song Qing only thought Xiao Yan had been angered by humiliation and wanted to prove himself. Of course, he would not stop him; he was overjoyed instead.

"Oh? That would be wonderful. How would you like me to help, Junior Brother Xiao Yan?"

Hearing that answer, Xiao Yan smiled even more happily.

"Good."

Song Qing suddenly lost sight of Xiao Yan. The next moment, he felt the world spinning, and only after collapsing onto the ground did he feel a searing pain in his cheek.

Song Qing looked toward the spot where he had just been standing and found Xiao Yan there, his fist not even withdrawn. What had happened was obvious.

Song Qing could no longer maintain his good-guy facade and roared furiously, "Xiao Yan! What do you mean by this?!"

But Xiao Yan did not look at him at all. Instead, he met the astonished gazes of those around him. "Don't just stand around either. Come at me together."

Before they could understand what he meant, Xiao Yan threw a punch. He actually spared no one around him.

At first, some people did not understand what was happening. But after taking a few punches and kicks from Xiao Yan, their tempers flared as well. Fire-attribute Dou Qi of varying strengths erupted, and figure after figure lunged at Xiao Yan...

Dan Xuan and Dan Chen watched the scene in a daze. However, Dan Xuan suddenly found it somewhat familiar. Just now, Cao Dan's group had rushed in exactly like this...

Cao Ying was finally drawn over by the commotion. After sweeping her gaze over the scene, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed again. Watching the group get beaten black and blue under the repeated attacks, a faint smile appeared on her face...

Xiao Yan viciously kicked down the last fellow. This was the one who had called him rat-faced, so Xiao Yan secretly put twenty percent more strength into that kick.

He had not used Dou Qi throughout the entire fight. Simply relying on his body, he had beaten more than a dozen people to the ground. For Xiao Yan, it truly was a refreshing warm-up for both body and mind.

Song Qing, who had received special attention from Xiao Yan as well, struggled to ask, "Shiao Yan, wu duh you mean by dish?"

After making some effort to understand what he was saying, Xiao Yan patiently explained to Song Qing.

"That little girl knocked down so many people. If I challenged her now, wouldn't that be an unfair victory? Now that I've knocked down a group of people too, it's fair. Besides, wasn't this what you agreed to help me with, Senior Brother Song?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's explanation, a surge of anger shot straight to Song Qing's head, and he fainted on the spot.

Naturally, Xiao Yan would not blame such a helpful Senior Brother Song. He gently helped him lie down, then thoughtfully turned Song Qing's battered, unrecognizable face toward Cao Ying, the one he had been yearning for.

Xiao Yan then rolled his wrists. Knocking down this group had posed no pressure at all to him. Song Qing had simply had a lapse in judgment and wanted to scheme against him, so Xiao Yan had merely struck back. The real main event was still over there.

Although Xiao Yan could have left directly now, after that bout of exercise, he had genuinely developed a bit of fighting spirit.

Ever since entering the Central Plains, Xiao Yan had not found another chance to fight anyone. Now that he had an opportunity to test his own combat strength, it was exactly what he wanted.