Wiping Away Past Humiliation

Xiao Yan swept his gaze around, his eyes indifferent. Flecks of blood stained his white robes, and his right fist remained extended from his punch.

A breeze swept past, lifting the hem of the white-robed youth's clothes.

The square fell utterly silent.

"Xiao Ning!!!" Suddenly, a roar rang out from Xiao Ning's father, Xiao An. The middle-aged man charged onto the raised platform, ignoring attempts to stop him.

The guards beside the square had no time to intervene. Nor did they dare.

Thud! Xiao Ning dropped limply to the ground, coughing up blood. His entire right arm had snapped, a shard of broken bone jutting through the flesh in a horrifying sight.

Xiao An rushed to Xiao Ning's side. Staring at his son's miserable condition in disbelief, he reached out with a trembling hand to touch his right arm.

"Ah..." Xiao Ning let out a weak, agonized moan.

He had lost again...

Four years had passed. He had thought the once-gifted youth was a thing of the past, that he would become the new prodigy and claim everything that had once belonged to Xiao Yan: the clansmen's attention, better cultivation resources, a genius's reputation, and even Xiao Xun'er, who adored Xiao Yan.

But Xiao Yan, standing before him, had dealt him a crushing punch. With strength restored at some unknown point, he had trampled Xiao Ning and told him: what had never belonged to him before still did not belong to him now.

But why?!

Xiao Ning struggled to rise and looked at Xiao Yan.

The white-robed youth stood against the light, his handsome face shrouded in shadow. Only his indifferent eyes remained visible, like pitch-black voids that seized the soul.

"Xiao Yan!"

A powerful aura surged upward as Xiao An glared furiously at Xiao Yan. He had already examined Xiao Ning's injuries. Unless they could find an expensive healing pill, the damage was virtually irreversible.

A one-star Dou Shi?

Xiao Yan frowned. He had not struck to kill. Though Xiao Ning was irritating, he was still a fellow clansman. His wretched condition was entirely of his own making.

Their exchange had lasted only an instant, but Xiao Ning had undoubtedly intended to kill him. That Mountain-Splitting Palm had drained well over half his Dou Qi.

Yet an enormous gulf separated a Dou Zhe's strength from that of someone still cultivating basic Dou Qi. Besides, Xiao Yan was no ordinary Dou Zhe. With the Flame Mantra already at the intermediate Yellow Tier and the support of the Peach Blossom Flame, he was fully qualified to fight a high-star Dou Zhe.

"He used too much force and suffered his own backlash. What does that have to do with me?" Xiao Yan took the Heavy Xuan Ruler from his Storage Ring. Peach Blossom Flame surged from his dantian and coated the ruler's surface.

Xiao Yan watched Xiao An warily, guarding against a sudden attack from his uncle.

"What does it have to do with you? How glibly you say that." Xiao An had no intention of listening to his explanation. He stepped forward, his eyes brimming with hatred.

Xiao Yan's expression grew grave as he circulated his Dou Qi at full strength. He had wanted to see just how wide the gap between a Dou Zhe and a Dou Shi really was anyway.

As for his safety, he had not worried about it at all. Even setting aside the Xiao Clan guards nearby, who were already preparing to rush onto the platform and stop Xiao An, Yao Lao's soul within his ring would never allow Xiao An to harm so much as a hair on his head.

"Fa... ther... don't..."

Just as the arrow lay on the bowstring, poised to fly, a hand suddenly caught Xiao An's trouser leg. It belonged to Xiao Ning, who was still coughing up blood. He looked pleadingly at his father, hoping he would not act recklessly.

Only then did Xiao An abruptly raise his head toward Xiao Zhan in the viewing stands. Dou Qi blazed all around the Xiao Clan's leader, forming a pale green lion's head behind him.

Cold sweat instantly drenched Xiao An. He understood that if he dared take another step forward, both he and his son would die on the spot!

The First Elder also watched the platform below nervously. He no longer had the confidence with which he had stopped Xiao Zhan earlier. After all, Xiao Zhan was the strongest member of the Xiao Clan. Within the rules, he could embarrass Xiao Zhan, but if he himself violated the clan's rules, Xiao Zhan would surely crush him without mercy.

Then not only would Xiao An and Xiao Ning die on the spot, but he might also be severely injured.

By now, the Xiao Clan guards had surrounded Xiao An, and two Dou Shi had come to Xiao Yan's side to guard against any unforeseen trouble.

After a brief silence, Xiao An bent at the waist and cupped his hands, speaking humbly. "Please allow me to take Ning'er home to tend to his injuries before I report to the Enforcement Hall for punishment."

The surrounding guards said nothing. Their captain looked somewhat troubled.

In principle, this was not permitted.

"Very well." A resonant voice rang out as Xiao Zhan granted Xiao An's request from the viewing stands.

"Thank you." Xiao An carefully lifted Xiao Ning into his arms and left. The guards opened a path for him, and only their captain followed.

Xiao Yan shook his head, put away the Heavy Xuan Ruler and the Peach Blossom Flame, then walked through the guards and down from the platform toward the crowd.

The surrounding Xiao Clan members instinctively cleared a path for him. They whispered among themselves, their shock no less than that of Xiao Ning, who had crumbled under a single blow.

Xiao Yan stopped before the astonished Xiao Xun'er. He raised a hand to pat her head and slowly leaned his face closer, asking with a teasing smile, "Surprised?"

Xun'er nodded her little head furiously.

"Brother Xiao Yan, how did you do it?" The girl was desperate to learn his secret.

"My cultivation suddenly came back. That's all," Xiao Yan said smugly.

"As if something that miraculous could happen!" Xiao Xun'er puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to accept his evasive explanation.

"Hehe."

Xiao Yan turned toward the viewing stands. There, Xiao Zhan had already withdrawn his Dou Qi and was looking at his son with pride.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan clenched his fist and raised his right arm high, looking at his father with a triumphant expression.

"You little brat. Look how pleased you are with yourself." Amused by his son, Xiao Zhan turned his face aside in apparent disdain, though the corners of his mouth were practically curling up to his ears.

He had known that the son who made him proud would surely return!

After the last few participants finished their tests, the ceremony drew to a close. The crowd in the square gradually dispersed, and Xiao Yan prepared to go strolling through the marketplace with Xiao Xun'er for the first time in ages, stopping by the auction along the way.

Just as Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er reached the square's exit, he seemed to sense a gaze laden with complicated emotions. Following that feeling, he saw another girl standing quietly in the crowd, watching him.

When Xiao Mei saw Xiao Yan looking her way, she suddenly panicked and turned to leave.

But Xiao Yan was faster. He stepped in front of Xiao Mei and took a bottle of pills from his Storage Ring without the slightest hesitation.

"I remember you're quite close to Xiao Ning. This bottle contains healing pills. Sorry for the trouble, but please take it to him."

After placing the pills in Xiao Mei's hands, Xiao Yan immediately returned to Xiao Xun'er's side. She showed no displeasure and was merely curious about what he had given her.

Xiao Yan explained with a smile, and the two left arm in arm.

Rooted to the spot, Xiao Mei stared blankly at their retreating figures. Once, had she not been the one who always stood beside Xiao Yan?

But could she still stand beside Xiao Yan now?

Was she still worthy?