Beating Ling Quan senseless: I'll visit the Gu Clan and see what you're all made of (third update)

"If you don't want to go, no one can take you away today."

Xiao Yan spoke calmly.

"Not even Clan Leader Gu Yuan."

The girl hooked her slender, lotus-root-like arms around Xiao Yan's neck and stared unblinkingly at his profile, her pretty face flushing as she grew a little entranced. "Brother Xiao Yan, you're so handsome when you're serious..."

"So I'm not handsome when I'm not serious?" Xiao Yan glanced at the girl in his arms, freed one hand, and gave her pert bottom a light pat.

"You're asking for a beating."

"Mmph..."

The beauty in his arms shyly buried her head against Xiao Yan's chest.

In the distance, ten figures came into ever clearer view. Each was pitch-black from head to toe, with a single silver horn atop its head. Four broad wings beat behind each of them, whipping up fierce winds that ravaged the surrounding woods.

Every magical beast was at least sixth rank, and a young man clad in black armor rode upon each one.

"Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan?"

The instant Ling Quan, who led the group, spotted Xiao Yan, a trace of astonishment surfaced in his eyes. After all, everyone in the Gu Clan knew his reputation as a useless failure. Yet he had never imagined that this fellow could now form Dou Qi Transformation Wings...

A warm smile curled at the corners of his lips.

"Me and the Xiao Clan?"

"So... you intend to lay hands on my Xiao Clan?"

"Hmph, nothing but a fallen household. The Xiao Clan today is just a pack of trash whose Dou Qi bloodline has been squeezed dry. If you were the Xiao Clan of old, I might show you some respect. But your clan has fallen this far through its own doing. So what if I