The night was black as ink. Xiao Yan lay on his humble bed, while his Emperor Realm Soul silently spread like an invisible net over the entire Xiao Clan estate.
He had been away for months, and beneath this seemingly peaceful residence, hidden currents surged. He could clearly sense the light burning late into the night in his father Xiao Zhan's study, with several concealed auras coming and going, each bearing the mark of a different family. From his eldest brother Xiao Ding's courtyard came faint, muffled clashes of metal mingled with suppressed panting—he was clearly training hard. His second brother Xiao Li's room was unusually quiet, with only the occasional flash of a sharp aura, like a lone wolf lying in wait, carrying a hint of danger.
What concerned him more were three unfamiliar auras lurking in the shadows beyond the estate. All three were Peak Dou Masters, and their gazes swept toward his little courtyard from time to time. They were clearly here for him.
Are they from the Nalan Family? Xiao Yan's thoughts stirred, but he did not alert them. Small fry like these were not worth breaking his disguise over.
Early the next morning, Xiao Yan had barely opened his courtyard gate when he spotted a familiar figure crouching by the wall, holding a half-eaten steamed bun. It was Xiao Shi, the servant responsible for cleaning his courtyard.
At the sight of Xiao Yan, Xiao Shi jumped in fright, dropping his bun onto the ground. He hurriedly stood and bowed. "Y-young master!"
The servant was young and timid. The other servants in the Xiao Clan had always bullied him, and only the original Xiao Yan had occasionally helped him out. Looking at his ears, red from the cold, Xiao Yan said mildly, "Get up. You'll keep looking after this courtyard, and your monthly wages will be doubled."
Xiao Shi's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly kowtowed. "Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master!"
After sending Xiao Shi away, Xiao Yan walked slowly toward the Training Ground. To maintain his "good-for-nothing" persona, he had to show some desire to grow stronger, even if it was only an act.
Quite a few Xiao Clan youths were training at the Training Ground. When they saw Xiao Yan, the bustling grounds instantly grew quieter. Gaze after gaze turned toward him, some mocking, some sympathetic, and some taking pleasure in his misfortune.
"Well, if it isn't our Xiao Clan's 'genius,' Xiao Yan! You're actually still alive?" a burly youth sneered. He was Xiao Hu, a member of a collateral branch who had always been overshadowed by the original Xiao Yan. Now that Xiao Yan had become a cripple, he naturally would not pass up a chance to mock him.
A burst of laughter immediately rose around him.
Xiao Yan kept walking as though he had heard nothing. He went straight to a dust-covered wooden post in a corner, picked up a rusty iron sword, and began hacking at it halfheartedly. His movements were sluggish and his strikes lacked force, perfectly matching the level of someone at the third stage of Dou Qi.
Finding no amusement in Xiao Yan's lack of response, Xiao Hu snorted again and turned away to boast to the others about his recent breakthrough to Three-Star Dou Master.
Xiao Yan swept his peripheral vision over the crowd, taking in everyone's expression. The mockery from these collateral-branch youths actually put him more at ease—his "good-for-nothing" persona remained firmly intact.
After training for less than an hour, he stopped, "panting for breath," wiped away his nonexistent sweat, and left the Training Ground. He was only halfway back when a middle-aged man in a green robe blocked his path.
"Xiao Yan, come with me." The man's voice was low. It was his father, Xiao Zhan. Weariness showed on Xiao Zhan's face, but his eyes remained sharp as he looked Xiao Yan up and down. "It's good that you're back. Come to the study. I have something to ask you."
Xiao Yan followed Xiao Zhan into the study, where two people were already seated: his eldest brother Xiao Ding and his second brother Xiao Li. Both wore complicated expressions upon seeing him. Xiao Ding looked as though he wanted to say something but held back, while Xiao Li merely nodded, a barely perceptible trace of concern in his eyes.
"Sit." Xiao Zhan gestured toward a chair nearby, then took the main seat himself and poured a cup of tea from the teapot on the desk. "You didn't run into any danger on this trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, did you?"
"It was all right. I got lucky, gathered some low-grade herbs to sell, and traded them for a few cultivation resources." As Xiao Yan spoke, he took a small cloth pouch from his Storage Ring. Inside were several dried herbs, all common varieties found everywhere. "My strength is just too low. I didn't gain much."
Xiao Ding could not help speaking up. "Third brother, don't be too anxious. Cultivation has to be taken step by step..."
"You're right, eldest brother." Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, putting on a "dejected" expression.
Xiao Zhan waved a hand and said gravely, "That isn't what I'm asking about. Not long after you left, Wutan City became unsettled. The Mo Family's power in Black Rock City was torn out by the roots. Supposedly, a mysterious expert was involved. And their branch here in Wutan City has been making frequent moves lately, as though they're searching for someone."
He paused, his gaze settling on Xiao Yan. "I received word that the Mo Family has been spreading claims that they met you in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and that you killed their young master, Mo Cheng. I don't know whether it's true, but you must be careful. The Mo Family is ruthless. Once they set their sights on you, the consequences could be unthinkable."
Xiao Yan's thoughts stirred. The Mo Family had indeed laid the blame at his door. He showed a timely look of "panic." "I... I didn't kill him! I only ran into Mo Cheng in the mountains. He tried to steal my herbs, and I escaped. How could..."
"Whether you did it or not, the Mo Family won't spare anyone they consider suspicious," Xiao Li said coldly. "You'd better stay home for now. I've already arranged for people to protect you in secret."
Xiao Yan gave Xiao Li a "grateful" look. "Thank you, second brother."
Xiao Zhan offered a few more reminders, mostly telling him to focus on cultivating and stay out of trouble. Then he had Xiao Ding and Xiao Li leave first, keeping Xiao Yan behind alone.
With only father and son left in the study, Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated gaze. "You suffered an injustice over that matter with Yanran."
Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Father, I'm fine. I'll fulfill the Three-Year Agreement."
Xiao Zhan sighed. "I know you're angry, but the Nalan Family is powerful, and the Misty Cloud Sect is an even greater colossus. You..." He wanted to say something, but in the end, it dissolved into a sigh. "Never mind. Take care of yourself. Oh, and this is something your mother left behind. Keep it safe."
He took a small black wooden box from a drawer and handed it to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan accepted the wooden box. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and intricate patterns were carved into its surface, faintly exuding an ancient aura. His thoughts stirred. Anything Xiao Zhan had taken special care to preserve could not be ordinary.
"Your mother carried this with her when she was alive. She said to give it to you once you came of age." A note of wistful remembrance entered Xiao Zhan's voice. "I don't know what's inside either. She never opened it."
Xiao Yan put the wooden box into his Storage Ring and said solemnly, "Thank you, Father."
Xiao Yan's feelings were complicated as he left the study. He could feel the concern his father and two brothers had for him. This familial affection was one of the few sources of warmth he had found since transmigrating. But he was also more certain than ever that the waters of Wutan City ran deeper than he had imagined.
The Mo Family's unusual movements were only the surface. Greater powers were likely involved behind the scenes. And what secret lay hidden in the wooden box his mother had left him?
Back in his courtyard, Xiao Yan immediately set up a simple Soundproofing Formation and took out the black wooden box. Rather than rashly opening it, he first examined it with his soul power.
The patterns on the wooden box were not decorative. They formed an extremely ancient sealing formation. Though its strength had diminished greatly over the years, it could still block probing soul power.
"Interesting." The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted slightly. The method used for this seal actually bore some resemblance to an ancient formation he had seen in his previous life.
He did not force it open, instead putting the wooden box away again. Now was not the time to open it. His immediate priority was to uncover the Mo Family's true purpose in Wutan City, as well as the forces lurking in the shadows.
Just then, the Message Talisman he had placed on the table suddenly lit up. A line of small text appeared on it: "The Mo Family is making a trade tonight at the abandoned warehouse in the west of the city. The object of the trade may be related to 'heavenly flames.'"
The sender was unknown.
Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened. Heavenly flames? How could the Mo Family be involved with heavenly flames? Is this information true or false?
He pondered for a moment. True or false, this was a good opportunity to probe the Mo Family's strength and secrets. Besides, who had sent the message? A friend or an enemy?
Night fell. Xiao Yan changed into dark clothes and vanished from his courtyard like a phantom. He alerted no one, not even Xiao Li's men who were secretly protecting him.
The abandoned warehouse in the west of the city had long since fallen into disrepair. Its surroundings were deserted, with only a few dim lamps swaying in the wind, lending the place an eerie air.
Xiao Yan concealed himself on a rooftop opposite the warehouse. His Emperor Realm Soul spread silently, enveloping the entire building. More than a dozen people were inside. Their leader was a sinister-faced old man at the middle stage of Dou Ling—Mo Feng, the head of the Mo Family's operations in Wutan City.
There were also several black-clad figures with concealed auras. None were weak, and one had actually reached Peak Dou Ling.
"Did you bring it?" Mo Feng asked, his voice hoarse and tinged with urgency.
One of the black-clad men stepped forward and placed a black box on the table. He said coldly, "This is the 'Heavenly Flame Fragment' our boss went to great lengths to obtain. Where's what the Mo Family promised?"
"Don't worry. You'll get everything you're owed." Mo Feng waved his hand, and someone behind him immediately handed over a storage pouch.
The black-clad man checked the storage pouch, nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the box on the table and made to leave.
At that moment, Xiao Yan's gaze fell on the black box. The aura emanating from it did not belong to a heavenly flame. It was an extremely faint flame energy, more like... an artificially manufactured imitation.
Something is wrong, just as I thought. Xiao Yan sneered inwardly. The Mo Family was not trading a heavenly flame at all. They had deliberately leaked the information to lure certain people into taking the bait.
Just as the two sides were about to complete the transaction, disaster struck!
Several streaks of fierce sword energy shot into the warehouse from outside, heading straight for Mo Feng and the black-clad men!
"An ambush!" Mo Feng roared. Dou Qi erupted around him, deflecting the sword energy.
The black-clad men also reacted swiftly, instantly becoming locked in battle with the Mo Family's men.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. Who set this ambush? Judging by the way they wield their sword energy, they don't seem to belong to any force in Wutan City.
Amid the chaos, the box containing the "Heavenly Flame Fragment" was knocked away and landed in a corner of the warehouse.
Xiao Yan's gaze flickered. While everyone was caught in the melee, he silently slipped into the warehouse, snatched up the box, and withdrew like a phantom. The entire sequence flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without a single person noticing.
Back in his courtyard, Xiao Yan opened the box. Sure enough, it contained only a stone giving off a faint flame aura. Its texture was rough; it was clearly a fake.
But the instant he picked up the stone, it suddenly split open, revealing a rolled-up slip of paper inside.
There was only one line written on it: "A Misty Cloud Sect elder is lurking in Wutan City. The target is the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Yan's pupils abruptly contracted!
The Misty Cloud Sect? Why would they set their sights on the Xiao Clan? Is it because Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement? Or because of... something else?
This sudden piece of intelligence made him realize at once that Wutan City's peace had been utterly shattered. A greater storm was silently brewing.
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