I, Xiao Fan, Don't Need Your Help!

The Xiao Clan, East Courtyard.

The room where Xiao Yan lived.

Creak~

The door was gently pushed open, and the smell of medicinal herbs rushed out to greet him.

The furnishings inside were very simple.

A bed, a table, and a bathtub stained greenish-brown.

Ever since Xiao Xun'er had relayed Xiao Yan's message to him, Xiao Zhan had felt uneasy.

So he set aside his work and came here.

"Even the bed's covered in dust. Does that brat never sleep?" Xiao Zhan brushed the bedding with his hand, only to discover that a layer of dust had long since settled over it. Clearly, it had neither been cleaned nor used for a long time.

Frowning, he walked over to the bathtub.

Perhaps because Xiao Yan often slept with his head resting on its rim, one corner of the green tub was especially smooth and shiny.

"That little brat... he's my son, all right. Just like his old man. Three years, and he's never once given up." His heart ached, and tears streamed down Xiao Zhan's face.

Wiping away his tears, he murmured to himself, "My dear, if you were here, you'd be proud of Yan'er too, wouldn't you?"

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan rubbed the rim of the tub.

Before long, his hand was smeared with congealed green liquid and brown blood.

No one knew how much effort, blood, and sweat Xiao Yan had poured into these days of tempering his body.

Each time, he broke himself down to rise anew, challenging his own limits.

Just as Xiao Zhan fell into a daze, a servant's shout came from outside.

"Clan Chief, trouble! There's trouble! The First Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning, is fighting someone again!"

Xiao Ning?

Why was it him again?!

Ever since the last clan test, Xiao Zhan had noticed that the boy seemed like a different person, constantly competing and trying to prove himself superior.

Had the boy not possessed some talent and been the First Elder's grandson, Xiao Zhan would probably have beaten him long ago.

"Come on. Take me there."

"Yes, Clan Chief."

Leaving the room and closing the door behind him, Xiao Zhan followed the servant toward Fortune Hall.

Fortune Hall was where Xiao Clan disciples received their pay, and it was under the First Elder's control.

Every Xiao Clan disciple could collect their allotted stipend here each month.

The higher their cultivation, the more gold coins they received.

Those who performed exceptionally well during that time would also be rewarded with low-grade Qi Condensation Powder.

"Why won't you give me my Qi Condensation Powder? My name is right there on the list!" A dark-skinned youth was arguing with Steward Wang, who was recording the disbursements.

Looking utterly indolent, Steward Wang lifted his eyelids and sneered, "Where exactly... is your name on this list?"

"Here." The youth pointed at the list. "Xiao Fan. That's my name."

"Oh." Steward Wang glanced where he was pointing, then picked up his brush and drew a line straight through the name.

Then he chuckled. "There. Now your name isn't on it, is it?"

"You're deliberately picking a fight! Tell me, did Xiao Ning put you up to this?"

"I... I don't know what you're talking about."

After all, the youth possessed the strength of the sixth stage of Dou Qi. Steward Wang, who lacked even the strength to truss a chicken, had no way to fight back. Seized by the collar, he nearly lost control of his bowels.

Killing intent. He could feel killing intent.

It was no exaggeration to say that, if not for the Xiao Clan's rules, this youth named Xiao Fan would have killed him without hesitation.

"Tell me! Who told you to do this?!"

"I... I, I..."

Just as Steward Wang was about to spill the truth, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"I did. I told him to do it!"

"Young master, save me!" Like a drowning child clutching a lifesaving straw, Steward Wang desperately cried for help.

"So it really was you, Xiao Ning!" In his fury, veins bulged one after another along Xiao Fan's scar-covered arms.

Seeing the youth's uncontrollable rage, Xiao Ning laughed mockingly. "So you know it was me. What can you do about it?"

"Xiao Ning, you're completely lawless! I'll tell the Clan Chief!"

"Hahaha! You want to report me? Go ahead! My grandfather is the First Elder. Even the Clan Chief wouldn't dare do anything to me. Besides..."

Xiao Ning paused, then continued, "Besides, with your talent compared to mine, which way do you think the scales will tip in the end?"

"You..."

"Let Steward Wang go and apologize to him, and I can pretend none of this happened."

"That's right, you mongrel! Let me go, or my young master won't go easy on you." With his master present, Steward Wang was clearly much more emboldened.

Xiao Fan's face darkened frighteningly. Ever since childhood, he had hated being called a mongrel more than anything.

Although Xiao Zhan had bought him from someone else, that did not mean he had no dignity.

"Die!"

A split second before Xiao Fan furiously shouted that word, Xiao Ning struck like lightning.

From beginning to end, he had been waiting for an opportunity-a reason to attack.

"How dare you! You think you can touch one of my people?!"

The gap between their strength was simply too great. After only a few exchanges, Xiao Fan was pinned beneath Xiao Ning's foot.

"Do you submit?"

"No!"

Even trampled beneath his opponent's foot, Xiao Fan displayed the same unyielding will he had shown that day.

That only enraged Xiao Ning. He pressed down harder, leaving a mud-stained footprint squarely on Xiao Fan's face.

Perhaps because he had used too much force, blood trickled from the corner of Xiao Fan's mouth.

Before long, the ground was stained red.

Among the watching disciples, some felt the injustice and others burned with righteous indignation, yet not one dared step forward to stop him.

"I'll give you one more chance. Tell everyone that I, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Xun'er are a born pair, a match made in heaven." Trampling Xiao Fan held little interest for Xiao Ning.

What interested him was using Xiao Fan to tell a certain someone-Xiao Yan-that this was the fate of anyone who opposed him.

Just then, an authoritative shout rang out from outside the hall.

"Stop! Xiao Ning, don't go too far!"

The newcomer was none other than Xiao Zhan.

The disciples present hurriedly bowed. "Clan Chief."

"Mm. Can someone tell me what's going on here?" His voice was loud and clear, reaching every disciple's ears.

Yet not a single person was willing to step forward and explain what had happened.

As his cold gaze swept over everyone present, a seed of desire for strength quietly took root in Xiao Fan's heart.

If only he had the strength of a Dou Shi right now...

No!

Even the strength of a Dou Zhe would do.

Then he wouldn't be trampled like this!

With Xiao Zhan himself here, Xiao Ning did not dare behave too brazenly anymore. He lifted his foot and awkwardly stepped aside.

"Xiao Fan, are you all right? Tell me, what exactly happened?" Xiao Zhan approached and reached out to help him up, only to have his hand violently flung away.

Then Xiao Fan's savage roar echoed through Fortune Hall. "Get lost, you pack of hypocrites! I, Xiao Fan, don't need your help!"