The hot blood of the Xiao Clan's older generation

At that moment, the Xiao Clan's estate blazed with lights.

The atmosphere in the Xiao Clan had grown unbearably oppressive. All its guards had gathered in the courtyard, sitting on the ground with their heads hanging like routed soldiers who had lost a battle.

"Captain, are we really just going to watch our own clansmen charge out to their deaths? I..."

The courtyard was frighteningly quiet. Only after a long while did one of the Xiao Clan guards speak, his eyes red and his voice filled with unwillingness.

His hoarse voice drew every guard's attention. As one, they raised their heads and looked with bright eyes at the captain seated in their midst.

How could the middle-aged man sitting at the center not know what they were hoping for? Not long ago, his younger brother had stormed over and given him a vicious scolding, demanding to know why he would not save their neighbors. Those ringing, furious words still echoed in his ears.

"Xiao Wuqi, when you got married, who got up first thing in the morning to help you get everything ready? Sure, the clan leader values you. You've made something of yourself, even become a captain, and now you look down on those honest, decent neighbors. But I, Xiao Wugou, can't do that. If you won't save them, I will!"

"With what? Your strength as a three-star Dou Shi?"

"With this head still sitting on my shoulders, one that remembers the kindness others have shown me! With a conscience that hasn't been eaten by dogs!"

Without allowing another word, he had snatched Xiao Wuqi's usual sword and charged out with a group of Xiao clansmen, heedless of everything.

Xiao Wuqi touched his nose with a bitter smile. If he followed his own heart, how could he not want to charge over without a care, just like his younger brother? At worst, jade and common stone would burn together.

But he still bore the clan leader's charge. That day, the clan leader had suddenly come to him in great secrecy, laid out the entire plan, and specifically instructed him not to let anyone else know.

The Xiao Clan had to pretend it had suffered devastating losses, avoid the enemy's sharp edge, preserve its strength, and wait for the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family to take the bait.

So Xiao Wuqi ought to have reprimanded the guard who had asked that question. He ought to have kept things stable and waited for the clan leader and the Grand Elder to return. He could not lead the Xiao Clan's middle generation out to their deaths before the clan leader and the others were ready.

But the Jia Lie Family's act of inviting wolves into the house had ignited the fury of the entire Xiao Clan. Like a volcano on the verge of erupting, how long could he hold it down alone?

Surely he could not wait until the remaining youngsters at home, who had not even become Dou Zhe yet, woke up and came to question him too?

"...Ah, let's go. We'll save our neighbors. But remember, this operation is about saving people, not fighting to the death."

Looking into every guard's resolute, hopeful eyes, Xiao Wuqi knew the timber had already become a boat, and he was powerless to stop it. With a long sigh, he relented.

"We're bringing our families and neighbors home!"

The Xiao Clan guards cheered softly, then rose to their feet and followed Xiao Wuqi toward the Xiao Family Market.

Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family Market.

The Hyena Mercenary Corps had already scattered like birds and beasts. Those too slow to escape were caught by the arriving Xiao clansmen. With no will to fight left in them, they dropped to their knees and begged for mercy without hesitation.

The Xiao clansmen did not hesitate either. They gave them a savage beating, tied them up, and threw them into the ruins of the buildings.

Nalan Yanran's gaze swept over everyone present.

Their cultivation talent was poor; plenty had reached middle age and were still lingering at the Dou Shi level. Their combat experience was limited too; many looked as though they had grown accustomed to holding kitchen knives and forgotten how to wield battle blades. Their Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills were poor as well, their mere Yellow Tier cultivation methods leaving their Dou Qi scant and insubstantial.

It could be said that these people were not fit for battle.

In every respect, they fell short of the Misty Cloud Sect's inner disciples. They were the ordinary masses Nalan Yanran had always overlooked, the backdrop against which dragons and phoenixes among men, the favored children of heaven, shone.

But the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples could not say things like, "I still have hot blood left to spill." The Misty Cloud Sect's disciples would not step forward against an enemy they could not resist.

Still less would the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples put themselves in danger for some neighbors.

These people would.

These people, steeped all day in the petty concerns of firewood, rice, oil, and salt, toiling and running about for a single gold coin, would.

Grandmaster, did you bring me here because you wanted me to see this? To see this foolish courage to march to one's death? For some reason, Nalan Yanran felt a sting in her nose. But this courage... it really makes me yearn for it...

"Protect yourselves."

She had a thousand things to say, yet only those words passed her lips. Nalan Yanran beckoned, and the longsword sprang up as though alive, returning to her hand.

In the distance, several Da Dou Shi were racing toward them with battle-hardened guards. Presumably, Jia Lie Jing's self-detonation had alerted them.

"Get ready to fight for your lives..."

Nalan Yanran drew a deep breath. Once again, she removed the silk scarf binding her hair, and her tresses streamed in the wind like a surging waterfall.

She pointed her sword straight at the distant enemies. Scorching light flowed along her arm into the longsword in her hand. It gathered at the tip like a blazing sun, too bright to look at directly.

Faint ripples still spread from the sword's tip, but she had improved considerably since her fierce battle with Xiao Yan on Misty Cloud Mountain. Clearly, Nalan Yanran had not neglected her diligent training over these past days.

Nalan Yanran moved as though drawing a bow and nocking an arrow. Beneath her feet, the hard bluestone road cracked under the force, a dense web of fissures spreading across it.

"Extreme Wind: Setting Sun Radiance!"

Like the morning sun rising in the east, like a stubborn stone plunging into water, the longsword left her hand and flew unerringly toward the Da Dou Shi charging from the distance. Its speed rose from slow to fast, its temperature climbed ever higher, and its light grew increasingly dazzling.

Even the longsword bearing that energy melted. Only a blinding orb of light soared into the sky, roaring forth with immense energy!

Nalan Yanran's face paled a little. Her strength as a One-Star Great Dou Master was not really enough to support two more uses of a high-level Dou Technique like this. Against several powerful enemies whose strength exceeded hers, she should not have recklessly opened with an attack without a moment's preparation.

But the courage of the Xiao clansmen behind her had infected her. She did not want them to face what would amount to a one-sided slaughter.

Thus, Nalan Yanran chose not to delay any longer. She opened directly with her signature ultimate technique, seeking to land a decisive blow and seize the initiative.

She would draw all their hatred onto herself!

In the distance, Setting Sun Radiance truly fell like a round sun, its momentum tremendous and its power extraordinary!

"Hah!"

Someone shouted loudly. In an instant, a pale-blue tornado spiraled upward like a colossal tree holding up the heavens, propping up the falling "sun"!

"You little bastard, what a vicious strike!"

Dou Qi infused that voice, making it loud enough to pierce the clouds and shatter stone. One could well imagine just how furious its owner was.

"Cloud-Piercing Hand!"

It was actually another intermediate Mysterious Tier Dou Technique. Nalan Yanran's face paled a little more, and she gave a bitter smile, knowing she had underestimated the resources of these local tyrants of Wutan City.

Grandmaster, where on earth have you gone...?

Nalan Yanran took another longsword from her Storage Ring. Her expression was resolute, but she could not help murmuring those words in her heart.