Just Keep Spoiling Her

After thinking it all through, Xiao Zhan let out a long sigh. "All right. Tomorrow, I'll visit the Jia Lie Family with a few of the elders..."

Xiao Yan raised both hands in support.

Of Wutan City's three major families, the Ao Ba Family also controlled several Marketplaces, but its main businesses were the shady, sordid trades of prostitution and gambling. Marketplaces did not account for the bulk of its income.

Only the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Clan relied primarily on Marketplace business.

That meant that, as long as they took over the Jia Lie Family's Marketplaces, the Xiao Clan could stand head and shoulders above everyone else in Wutan City. The Xiao Clan would set the Marketplace rules, and its annual earnings could easily increase three- to fivefold.

Of course, the Marketplaces were also one of the Jia Lie Family's major sources of income. Losing them would not leave its members starving, but their days ahead certainly would not be pleasant.

Still, that was not something Xiao Yan needed to worry about. Better a fellow cultivator die than this humble cultivator, right?

Besides, even if the Jia Lie Family held a grudge, what would it dare do before Nalan Jie died?

Nalan Jie had already "given his word" that he would "look after the Xiao Clan." With how desperately he clung to his pride, he would absolutely take good care of the Xiao Clan before he died.

At the very least, the Nalan Family could casually bring a mere Jia Lie Family to heel-an "invincible foe" would be another matter.

The Jia Lie Family only had Jia Lie Ao with any hope of breaking through to Da Dou Shi, while the Xiao Clan had five geniuses-Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei-plus Xiao Yan, whose talent exceeded all limits.

In another ten years or so, once the Xiao Clan's younger generation had grown into its strength, what could the Jia Lie Family do even if Nalan Jie died?

She did not even need to become all that strong. As long as Xiao Yan reached Dou Ling, the Jia Lie Family would not dare so much as fart in front of a Xiao Clan member.

So the insignificant Jia Lie Family was nothing to fear.

Xiao Yan's mindset was very peaceful now. The only four people she cared about were Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Xun'er. Whether the Xiao Clan could dominate Wutan City meant nothing to her.

She simply thought that strengthening the Xiao Clan would make her dad happy.

Besides, her cultivation would certainly reach considerable heights in the future. She could not possibly keep the Xiao Clan confined to this tiny Wutan City.

So her dad needed to gradually learn how to manage a "major clan," too.

Yes, the Xiao Clan's leader would begin learning clan management by "dominating Wutan City"...

Only after coming back to her senses did Xiao Yan belatedly notice that something was slightly off.

Logically speaking, the Jia Ma Empire was not small, and the distance between Wutan City and the imperial capital was anything but short.

On top of that, news did not spread particularly quickly across the continent, much less "news" from a minor clan like the Xiao Clan, which did not even have a single Dou Ling.

So the fact that news of her restored talent had crossed such a great distance and reached Nalan Jie's ears so precisely was suspicious in itself.

Having lived two lives, Xiao Yan instinctively became a little more wary.

Was someone paying attention to me? Watching the Xiao Clan?

Who? Which faction? The Misty Cloud Sect?

The Misty Cloud Sect would be a somewhat plausible explanation.

After all, she had made the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yan, the Misty Cloud Sect's chief disciple. If she actually defeated him when the time came, the sect would lose face too.

But... Xiao Yan kept feeling that she was thinking too simply.

Yet if it were some other faction, how could that make any sense?

Even the faction behind Xun'er would not explain it perfectly-what would Xun'er gain? Was she helping vent Xiao Yan's anger?

Then why wait until half a year after the engagement was broken off? When it came to slapping someone in the face, wasn't it more "satisfying" the sooner you did it?

Xiao Yan also consulted Apothecary about it in her mind, but likewise failed to obtain a perfect answer.

Though their final conclusion was that whoever was pulling the strings probably meant neither her nor the Xiao Clan any harm.

Still, the incident served as a warning to Xiao Yan-someone might be watching her from the shadows.

Who knew when someone might arrange her fate without her even realizing it!

"Teacher, you haven't been exposed, have you?" Xiao Yan asked inwardly.

"Probably not. If the other party really were strong enough to discover me, they would have no reason to do something like this," Apothecary replied, sounding somewhat uncertain herself.

"Did your talent attract someone's attention because it was 'too strong'? How strange..."

Although she did have a suspicion, it seemed a little too far-fetched, so she did not mention it for the time being.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, made up her mind. Once she had gained a measure of strength, achieved some proficiency in alchemy, and accumulated enough "capital," she would immediately leave the Xiao Clan to train-and "change her name."

As for the Xiao Clan, with a young lady of Xun'er's standing there, whoever it was presumably would not dare lay a hand on it.

If even Xun'er could not hold this hidden figure in check, then... there was nothing she could do either.

Tsk. The entire clan's safety is at stake. Looks like I need a few more backup plans.

How about... clinging to the Imperial Family's leg? Here in the Jia Ma Empire, the Imperial Family should still be able to protect the Xiao Clan, right?

If even the Imperial Family could not be relied upon, then the situation truly was hopeless, and there would be no point in making any futile struggles.

Xiao Yan devised several plans in her mind, while reminding herself that she had to act cautiously from now on. Otherwise, she might die without even understanding why.

Of course, whether she clung to someone powerful or pursued another plan, she would have to demonstrate sufficient "value." Improving her strength was therefore the foundation of everything.

First, hurry up and break through to Dou Zhe!

Hopefully, whoever is lurking in the shadows means the Xiao Clan no harm...

"He only came now? Oh well. At least it helped Sister Xiao Yan vent some of her anger..."

Listening to a shadowy figure's report, Xun'er idly twirled a strand of her dark hair around her finger and spoke coolly.

With a soft sigh, a trace of helplessness surfaced on Xun'er's impassive little face.

"If it weren't for the possibility that Sister Xiao Yan might figure it out and get upset, the Nalan Family would have vanished from the Jia Ma Empire long ago. How could there still be so much trouble...?"

At those words, the shadowy figure beside her seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly. A mature woman's voice came from within the shadows. "Young miss..."

"Don't worry, Aunt Ling. I know where to draw the line..."

Naturally, Xun'er had arranged for Nalan Jie to hear that Xiao Yan's cultivation talent had returned.

There was no other reason. She simply wanted to help Sister Xiao Yan vent her anger.

-Today, you barely give my sister the time of day. Tomorrow, she'll be far beyond your reach!

As for the possible "consequences" of doing this... she was right here in the Xiao Clan. What consequences could there be?

In this tiny Jia Ma Empire, who could touch Gu Xun'er's female friend?

With a single word from her, Dou Sheng would blockade their doors, shake every egg until its yolk broke, turn the ground over three times, and slice the earthworms lengthwise!

All one could say was that Xun'er's feelings for Xiao Yan had already gone beyond friendship.

After all, Heaven's will had arranged it. Even if she did not become Xiao Yan's skincare darling, she would not fall far short.

As it happened, the Brand Poison in Nalan Jie's body had flared up once during the period after Nalan Yan broke off the engagement.

That was why he had delayed his visit to the Xiao Clan to "make amends" until now, considerably later than Xun'er had originally anticipated.

Still, although the process had taken a few twists and turns, Xiao... Gu Xun'er had achieved her goal.

And the results seemed pretty good.

With the Nalan Family's matter settled, it was time to discuss something else.

Xun'er turned and asked, "Aunt Ling, how is your investigation into that matter coming along?"

"I've found a few leads..."