A Ghost That Wouldn't Go Away

His younger sister had plenty of flaws, but the bond of blood between them was something that could never be severed.

So he would do everything he could to give his sister a good ending, to let her take a dose of regret medicine.

But taking medicine was one thing; she had to reflect on herself as well.

At first, he had considered giving his sister some guidance, but he quickly gave up on the idea.

The best way for a person to grow was not by listening to others lecture them. For someone as stubborn and obstinate as her, no amount of talking would help.

"There's not much time left. Come on, I'll tell you more about that Empress's story..."

Ten days later.

Wu Tan City, Xiao Clan.

"Cousin Xiao Yan is incredible! He's already at Seven-Stage Dou Qi at only nine years old!"

"At this rate, Cousin Xiao Yan will break through to the eighth stage by ten. Becoming a Dou Zhe before twelve won't be anything unusual either."

"Our Xiao Clan has truly produced a real dragon this time. Young Master Xiao Yan will be the one to bring glory to our family in the future."

On the Xiao Clan's training grounds, several youths surrounded Xiao Yan, their mouths full of flattery and their faces piled high with ingratiating smiles.

Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, a faintly arrogant smile on his lips.

Ever since news of his breakthrough to Seven-Stage Dou Qi had spread, most of his peers in the clan had become meek and respectful before him.

"Cousin Xiao Yan's talent is exceptional. How could we possibly compare to him?"

"Exactly! Cousin Xiao Yan will definitely become a Dou Emperor in the future!"

"..."

The overlapping praises rang out one after another. As Xiao Yan listened, the smile on his face, now much more mature than it had been four years ago, deepened further.

He enjoyed this feeling.

In his previous life, he had been an ordinary person, mediocre and unremarkable. Now that he had come to the Dou Qi Continent and possessed a cultivation talent others envied, how could he not feel proud and fulfilled?

"Alright, alright, disperse."

Xiao Yan waved his hand, his tone indifferent and carrying a hint of superiority.

The youths nodded repeatedly and tactfully scattered. No one dared utter a word of objection.

Xiao Yan turned and entered the stone pavilion beside the training grounds. He picked up the teacup on the stone table and brought it to his lips, just about to take a sip.

"Little Yan!"

A bright voice came from outside the training grounds, carrying a familiar teasing note.

Xiao Yan's hand trembled sharply, spilling half the tea.

Xiao Yan stiffly turned his head. When his gaze landed on the figure at the entrance, his pupils suddenly contracted.

A moon-white robe, black eyes like ink, and a smile that was not quite a smile hanging from his lips.

That familiar face, that familiar voice, made the blood throughout Xiao Yan's body seem to freeze for an instant.

"Brother... Brother Chenfeng?"

Xiao Yan's voice was somewhat dry, and his grip on the teacup tightened involuntarily.

Nalan Chenfeng strode into the Xiao Clan's training grounds at an unhurried pace.

"What? You brat aren't happy to see me?"

Nalan Chenfeng stopped before the stone pavilion, his gaze falling on Xiao Yan's bitter expression. His dark eyes were full of amusement.

Before heading to Jia Nan Academy, he needed to make a trip to the Xiao Clan. Wu Tan City was also one of the cities visited by Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team, so leaving from here was just as convenient.

"Happy... of course I'm happy..."

Xiao Yan forced a smile onto his face, though inwardly he was groaning in misery.

Why had this jinx come again?

Last time he came to the Xiao Clan, he beat him up for more than a month straight. He had finally enjoyed several peaceful years and stopped thinking about it, so why had he appeared again today like a ghost that wouldn't go away...

"That's good."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded, walked into the stone pavilion, and sat down opposite Xiao Yan.

"Seven-Stage Dou Qi. Not bad."

Nalan Chenfeng sized Xiao Yan up and offered a teasing compliment.

Xiao Yan instinctively puffed out his chest, but quickly shrank back when he saw the ill intent in Nalan Chenfeng's dark eyes.

"Brother Chenfeng, you came to our Xiao Clan this time...?"

Nalan Chenfeng picked up the teapot on the stone table, poured himself a cup, and slowly took a sip.

"I heard you did a few sneaky things. Since I had the chance this time, I came over to take a look."

"Ahem..."

Xiao Yan choked on those words and coughed, his face flushing red.

"Brother Chenfeng, I didn't!"

"You didn't?"

Nalan Chenfeng set down his teacup, took out a letter from his sleeve, and lightly placed it on the stone table.

"Xiao Yu wrote this letter to me. Do you want to have a look?"

Four years ago, after he returned to the Nalan Clan from the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan had indeed behaved himself for a while after more than a month of Nalan Chenfeng's education.

But the good times did not last. Xiao Yan still wanted to use Xiao Xun'er to experiment with his so-called Dou Qi, but Xiao Yu had been nearby, so he had failed to get what he wanted.

Seeing Nalan Chenfeng produce evidence directly, Xiao Yan's immature face instantly became a colorful spectacle.

"Xiao Yu..."

Ever since that cousin of his had moved in with Sister Xun'er, she had guarded Xun'er tightly, leaving him without even a chance to get close.

And that had all happened more than three years ago. Later, since Sister Xun'er had always been cold and indifferent toward others, he no longer had such thoughts.

"Xiao Yu told me that not long after I left, you brat still hadn't given up and wandered around Sister Xun'er's place several more times."

"You really don't learn, do you!"

Nalan Chenfeng's voice remained unhurried, but his gaze scraped across Xiao Yan's face like a blade.

"Brother Chenfeng, that was all years ago..."

Xiao Yan's voice grew quieter and quieter. He did not dare look Nalan Chenfeng in the eyes.

"You make it sound pretty easy..."

Nalan Chenfeng stood up, walked around the stone table, and stopped before Xiao Yan.

"I..."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth but could not say anything.

"Come on. Let's spar on the training grounds and let me see how capable this genius of the Xiao Clan really is."

Nalan Chenfeng reached out, grabbed Xiao Yan by the collar, and lifted him straight off the stone bench.

"Brother Chenfeng, can I just admit defeat!"

Xiao Yan hurriedly spoke, his face full of panic as fear rose in his heart.

The shadow of being beaten up for more than a month four years ago had never truly faded from his mind.

Though he could not sense Nalan Chenfeng's current strength, his instincts told him that he was absolutely no match for him.

"Admit defeat?"

"How can a man admit defeat so easily? How are you going to marry Yanran in the future if you're like this?"

Nalan Chenfeng shook his head. His smile was gentle, yet it made Xiao Yan's back turn cold.

"With such a violent older brother, then that younger sister..."

Xiao Yan froze for a moment. Some thoughts involuntarily sprang into his mind, but in the end, he did not dare say them aloud.

If Nalan Chenfeng had not come to the Xiao Clan, he would not even have known that he had a marriage contract.

And he did not object to this marriage contract. Having another wife was something he could only wish for, especially when she was the eldest daughter of the Nalan Clan, one of the Imperial Capital's three great clans.

The marriage alliance between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Clan was highly beneficial to the Xiao Clan. It was precisely because this marriage contract existed that the Oba Clan and the Jia Lie Clan in Wu Tan City had not dared act recklessly against the Xiao Clan these past few years.

He simply did not want his future wife constantly running to her older brother for help. If she was violent too, then would he not have any happy life left in the future?

"It's been years since we last met. Let me see what progress you've made, brat."