Take Your Formula and Get Out

The First Elder looked utterly unconvinced, but in the end, he could only compromise helplessly.

Both Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan with eyes full of admiration.

Damn, no wonder he's the protagonist's father. An ordinary person could never pull off that commanding presence. He's incredible.

As he thought this, a trace of worry appeared on his face.

But who would come over at a time like this? Why does it feel like they're here to mooch off us? Can their proposed solution really save the Xiao Clan?

Unable to figure it out, he could only push the thought to the back of his mind for now. After all, Xiao Zhan was an upright man, and his thinking was far from rigid.

If the other party really had laid a trap, a slight reminder from him should be enough for Clan Leader Xiao to catch on.

He did not need to worry too much.

He caught Xiao Yan by the wrist and reached over to ruffle his hair.

"Can you stop looking so gloomy all day, kid? Let your father worry about this. Why are you fretting so much?"

Then he leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear.

"Besides, we have pills that cost so little to make. If they try any schemes or tricks, wouldn't that be the perfect chance for the two of us to step in?"

At these words, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. His worries vanished in an instant, and he immediately leaned closer to Xiao Mo as the two began whispering together.

Seeing how close they were, Xiao Zhan could not help letting out a soft sigh.

"If only I'd had a brother like that back then."

Soon, they arrived at the Xiao Clan's main hall, only to find that the people seated inside were from the Nalan Family of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"What are these people doing here?"

Xiao Mo had not expected the Nalan Family to send anyone over. By all rights, negotiations between the two families had already broken down, and Xiao Yan in particular hated Nalan Yanran to the marrow of his bones.

After all, she had made him and his father lose face before the clan. Even now, people still mocked the Xiao Clan for having their engagement broken off and being cast aside.

Members of that family were the last people Xiao Yan wanted to see. Why had they suddenly come to visit?

Meanwhile, Ge Ye looked at the Xiao Clan members with an arrogant expression, his eyes filled with disdain.

Xiao Mo's gaze darkened.

Apparently, the lesson this man had learned last time had not been enough. Had he come to lose face in the Xiao Clan once again?

He suddenly noticed that something seemed off about Xiao Yan beside him. A ball of flame surged into Xiao Yan's palm, and his eyes blazed with fury as well.

Clearly, his anger was already on the verge of escaping his control.

Xiao Mo hurriedly pressed down on his arm, sending a surge of icy power through his wrist and into his body.

Xiao Yan's emotions settled instantly.

He looked up at Xiao Mo beside him, a hint of hurt in his eyes.

"Senior Brother, I..."

Xiao Mo cut him off.

"You don't need to say it. I understand. But we can't lose our composure in front of outsiders right now, especially this old man Ge Ye."

"No matter how deep your grudge against him runs, we can take revenge in secret later. But we absolutely cannot embarrass your father in public. Do you understand?"

He placed his hand against Xiao Yan's chest.

"Take a few deep breaths and slowly calm yourself down. Let's first see what this old bastard is up to, then figure out how to deal with him."

Xiao Yan nodded. After taking several deep breaths, his expression eased considerably.

Only once he had completely calmed down did the two enter the hall side by side and take their places behind Xiao Zhan.

When Ge Ye saw Xiao Yan, surprise immediately flickered in his eyes. He scrutinized the spirited young man from head to toe.

He had also gathered quite a bit of news about Xiao Yan recently. Supposedly, Xiao Yan had actually leaped straight to the eighth rank at his coming-of-age ceremony.

It was as though the genius of old had returned. One particular purpose of this visit was to find out whether that news was true.

Of course, he had also come to placate the Xiao Clan.

"Clan Leader Xiao, I've already explained the purpose of my visit. Our Sect Master Nalan Jie knows that breaking off the engagement last time left us indebted to you."

"When he learned of the crisis you were facing, he specifically instructed us to bring you the formula for refining rejuvenation powder, in the hope that we could help restore life to your market."

"Consider it an apology and compensation. We hope you will accept it."

The First Elder, seated in a secondary seat, quickly rose and reached for the sheet of paper in Ge Ye's hand.

His expression was excited, and even his hands trembled. This was an exceptionally rare medicinal formula. If they could refine rejuvenation powder purer than what the Jia Lie Family Market sold-

And even sell it at a lower price, then the Xiao Family Market would be saved.

But just as the First Elder's hand was about to touch the paper, Ge Ye suddenly withdrew his hand and pulled it away.

"However, while we can give this to you, we do have a condition. We can't simply hand it over for nothing."

Xiao Zhan had remained silent from beginning to end. He merely watched Ge Ye quietly, waiting to see the true purpose of his visit.

The First Elder watched helplessly as the sheet of paper was pulled away before his eyes and instinctively asked,

"What condition? Tell us."

Ge Ye's face was filled with disdain. With an air of lofty arrogance, he swept his gaze across everyone's faces, deliberately lingering a little longer on Xiao Yan's.

"Our formula cannot be given away for free. We require ten percent of your profits!"

At these words, everyone exchanged glances.

Xiao Zhan sprang to his feet and slammed his palm onto his chair.

"Your Nalan Family has gone too far! You want to take ten percent of our profits? Who do you think you are?"

The broken engagement had already left anger smoldering in his chest. Although his son had done him proud and won a round back for them,

He had endured no shortage of ridicule from outsiders lately. Many families had pointed accusing fingers at their backs and criticized the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan had endured it all. After all, he did not want to show these emotions in front of the younger clan members and leave them feeling dejected as well.

Later, when he made inquiries, he learned that Nalan Jie had not approved Nalan Yanran's request to break off the engagement. Ge Ye and the others had acted entirely on their own.

That was why he had retained some goodwill toward the Nalan Family, though a rift had already formed in his heart.

When he first heard that the Nalan Family had specifically sent people to resolve their urgent crisis, he had thought they had come out of guilt, hoping to show goodwill and repair relations between the two families.

Since the engagement had already been annulled, there was no need for their two clans to make things too ugly. Xiao Zhan had been prepared to make peace.

As long as the other party showed sufficient sincerity. But he had never expected them to set their abacus right on his doorstep, its beads practically flying into his face.

"In your dreams! Take your formula and get out this instant!"