The Xiao Family

"Obviously it's mine. Do I look like someone who wears other people's secondhand clothes?"

Lu Chuan frowned slightly, deliberately putting on an annoyed expression.

Xiao Yan panicked and hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, no! That's not what I meant. Don't get me wrong, bro!"

He glanced around, leaned a little closer, and spoke cautiously in a low voice.

"The heavenly king covers the earthly tiger."

"The pagoda subdues the river demon?"

"!!"

At the familiar code phrase, Xiao Yan lit up. Unable to hide the excitement in his eyes, he grabbed Lu Chuan's hand.

"Bro! Don't tell me you're one too!"

Lu Chuan pulled his hand away in disgust and rubbed it hard against his clothes.

"Keep your distance. I'm not into men!"

Xiao Yan froze, his excitement stuck on his face and his hand suspended in midair. For a moment, he had no idea where to put it.

He had never expected that answer. His face flushed with embarrassment.

"No... Bro, you've got it wrong! I'm not gay! Xun'er, you have to believe me! I like women!"

Xun'er covered her mouth and giggled.

"Who can say for sure?"

Xiao Yan looked mortified, caught between laughter and tears.

"Oh, so you're teasing me too, you little minx."

He scratched the back of his head helplessly. Most of his excitement had vanished, but he turned back to Lu Chuan.

"Bro, seriously, are you or aren't you?"

Lu Chuan drawled, "Yes... and no."

"What does that mean?" Xiao Yan looked utterly lost.

Lu Chuan glanced at the pedestrians passing along the street. People were coming and going, and quite a few kept looking their way.

"Are you sure you want to talk about it here?"

Only then did Xiao Yan realize they were surrounded by passersby. This was hardly something to discuss in public.

He lowered his voice instinctively.

"Then... how about we go to the Xiao Family?"

"Lead the way."

Lu Chuan did not refuse. He still needed to get his hands on the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid. Not only could he and Zhu Zhuqing use it, he could also sell it as a treasure to people on the Douluo Continent.

"Right this way, bro."

Xiao Yan led them along cheerfully, telling Lu Chuan about his family as they walked. He had never shown even Xun'er this much enthusiasm.

Following behind him, Xun'er felt a twinge of jealousy and quietly watched Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing's every move.

Zhu Zhuqing followed Lu Chuan in silence. Her gaze also rested on Xun'er as she discreetly sized up the girl with the striking bearing.

Their eyes suddenly met.

Xun'er smiled faintly and gave Zhu Zhuqing a small nod.

"Hello. I'm Xiao Xun'er, from the Xiao Family. Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Zhu Zhuqing. The Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly in return, then looked away, paying her no further attention.

Xun'er felt a little deflated by Zhu Zhuqing's renewed silence.

What a distant woman. What should I do?

She had made the first friendly gesture, and though Zhu Zhuqing had answered politely, there had been a hint of distance in her manner. She clearly had no interest in talking.

The Star Luo Empire? The Zhu Family? Where's that? Why have I never heard of them? Could they be some hidden family?

Zhu Zhuqing kept her expression composed, but quietly edged away from Xiao Xun'er. She had a feeling this pretty girl was no pushover. Better to keep her distance if she could.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they arrived at the Xiao Family's gates.

"Good day, Third Young Master!"

The servants guarding the entrance bowed hurriedly to Xiao Yan, their curious gazes moving over the two unfamiliar faces behind him, Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing.

Xiao Yan waved a hand.

"No need for formalities. Let's talk inside."

With that, he led Lu Chuan and the two girls into the Xiao Family compound.

Lu Chuan looked around at the old-fashioned buildings and nodded to himself. As expected of one of Wutan City's three leading powers, the estate was enormous.

Still, given what a century-old Spirit Bone would be worth here, he could probably buy the whole estate with one without breaking a sweat.

He drew his gaze back and turned to Xiao Yan ahead of him.

"Xiao Yan, how old are you now? What's your cultivation level?"

The light in Xiao Yan's face gradually faded. He let out a long sigh, deep disappointment in his eyes.

"I'm fifteen this year... and only at the third stage of Dou Qi."

He clenched his fists, bitterness creeping into his voice.

"Three years ago, I came down with some strange illness. The Dou Qi in my body keeps leaking away for no reason, and my level keeps dropping no matter what I do.

"I used to be a genius everyone admired. Who would've thought that, in just a few years, I'd become the good-for-nothing everyone laughs at behind my back..."

Xun'er stood quietly beside Xiao Yan, her brows drawing together as she looked at him with aching concern.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you're not a good-for-nothing. I believe you'll reach the top again someday."

"Xun'er."

"Brother Xiao Yan."

Zhu Zhuqing stood silently to one side, watching the scene without a word.

But she envied them. Even after Xiao Yan had become a good-for-nothing, the person at his side had stayed with him.

As for her... she had been abandoned and left to fend for herself...

How could people's lives be so different?

After a brief wave of sadness, she gradually calmed down.

Then again, if that coward hadn't abandoned me, I'd never have met Senior by chance.

She raised her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on Lu Chuan's profile.

Just then, a mocking voice that practically begged for a punch came from the courtyard entrance.

"Well, well. If it isn't our great genius. And you've brought two outsiders?"

Xiao Ning strolled over with a group of Xiao Family youths. His arms were folded across his chest, and his face was full of mockery.

The hangers-on behind him looked eager for a show, their gazes shifting between Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing.

Xiao Ning looked briefly surprised when he saw Zhu Zhuqing's face, but paid her no further mind. To him, no one could compare to Xun'er.

He kept his taunting smile as he turned to Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, you sure have a lot of time on your hands these days! If your father weren't the clan leader and protecting you, you'd have been sent to do odd jobs at the Marketplace long ago."

Xiao Ning stepped forward, his lips curled in a cruel smile, and deliberately raised his voice.

"You're a good-for-nothing today, and you'll be one your whole life. If you have any sense, get out before you waste any more of the clan's resources!"

He turned to Lu Chuan and Zhu Zhuqing with a word of advice.

"You two probably don't know, but he's a famous good-for-nothing in Wutan City. I'd avoid getting too involved with Xiao Yan if I were you. He'll only drag down your standing."

The Xiao Family youths behind him chimed in with jeers, every mocking gaze falling on Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's chest heaved, his nails digging deep into his palms as humiliation surged through him.

Three years of ridicule and mistreatment seemed ready to crush him at last.

Being humiliated in front of someone from his own world made his anger burn all the hotter.

"Xiao Ning! You've gone too far!" Xiao Yan growled through clenched teeth.