A late-night talk

"Wait, Teacher, even you can't see through Brother Yu's strength?"

The question suddenly occurred to Xiao Yan, and he asked in puzzlement.

"Uh..."

Yao Lao was stumped. Logically, his soul power should have made it impossible for Xiao Yu's disguise to escape his notice. After all, he had once been the continent's foremost alchemist, with the strength of a Nine Revolutions Peak Dou Zun.

Unable to explain it, he could only say, "This boy is strange. Before, he really did seem like an ordinary person to my senses. Now, though, I can sense his strength as a Three-Star Dou Zhe, and his aura is considerably stronger than that of an ordinary Three-Star Dou Zhe."

"There are only two ways he could fool my senses: either his soul power exceeds mine, or he possesses a rare treasure that conceals his cultivation."

"At his age, his soul power obviously couldn't surpass mine. The only explanation is that he has such a treasure. That's also why I suspect there's more to his strength."

"What he's displaying now is probably just the strength he wants you all to see."

Xiao Yan pondered his words, then suddenly asked, "Then, Teacher, do you have a rare treasure like that?"

"Me? I do, but it's a little different. Mine can only suppress the circulation of your Dou Qi and weaken your combat power. Your actual cultivation level remains unchanged."

After hearing that, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "You call that a rare treasure? Teacher, you really do collect every kind of junk."

"Heh, you ignorant brat. Once you become a Dou Zhe, you'll understand how useful my treasure is!"

Just then, Xiao Yu stepped down from the platform and approached Xiao Yan.

"Wait, little brother Yan, shouldn't you look utterly dumbstruck? Shouldn't you look heartbroken, like you've been deceived? What's with the eye roll?"

Seeing Xiao Yan rolling his eyes, Xiao Yu was baffled. This isn't right. Is the Three-Star Dou Zhe strength I showed too weak to shock Xiao Yan?

Feeling unsure, he glanced at the complicated, shocked, incredulous looks coming from around the grounds. Shouldn't Xiao Yan have that same expression?

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes again. "Brother Yu, why do you have such a twisted sense of humor? Keep being this obnoxious and you'll lose me."

"Ahem."

Xiao Yu really had gotten a little carried away. At the end of the day, he was still a young man, not all that composed.

It was also an old bad habit: whenever something good happened, he liked showing off to his brothers.

"Congratulations, Cousin Xiao Yu. I never expected you to be a Dou Zhe."

Perhaps because her affection extended to those close to Xiao Yan, Xun'er offered a rare compliment from beside them.

"Mm, keep it low-key, keep it low-key. I'm not the sort who likes showing off. Besides, you're no slouch yourself, Cousin Xun'er."

Xiao Yu waved his hand and spoke modestly, wearing an expression of studied restraint.

"Pfft."

At Xiao Yu's rather ridiculous expression, Xiao Xun'er let out a rare laugh.

She was beginning to understand why Brother Xiao Yan got along so well with this cousin of his.

Time slipped by as the three chatted, and the preliminary test drew to a close with Xiao Zhan's announcement.

"I'm in a good mood today for a change. Little brother Yan, Cousin Xun'er, how about going out for a stroll to unwind?"

"It's rare for you to be in the mood for that, Brother Yu. Normally, you'd rather hide in your room and sleep."

"Listen to you. Can't your cousin go out for a stroll?"

"Of course you can."

"Then are you coming or not?"

"I am. Why wouldn't I? It's been ages since I took a break, too. You have no idea how exhausted I've been this past year, working my way up to Seventh Stage Dou Qi."

"What about you, Cousin Xun'er?"

"If Brother Xiao Yan is going, of course I'm going too."

"Hah! Look at you, the wife following wherever her husband leads. You're drowning me in jealousy."

"Oh, get lost."

After Xiao Yan defeated his challenger, the three left.

As for Xiao Yu, only someone whose head had been caught in a door would challenge him. A Three-Star Dou Zhe-how were they supposed to fight that? They would just be asking for a beating.

Ignoring the boys and girls about to crowd around them, the three walked straight out of the training grounds toward the Xiao Clan's main gate.

They wandered around the marketplace for a long while and bought a few trinkets. Watching Xiao Yan buy one thing after another for Xun'er from the sidelines left Xiao Yu positively sour with jealousy.

It was evening before the three returned to the Xiao Clan, thoroughly satisfied.

Xiao Xun'er had been overjoyed that day. It had been so long since she last went shopping like this with her Brother Xiao Yan, and the smile had never left her face all day.

Xiao Yu, however, had suffered, force-fed endless mouthfuls of their lovey-dovey sweetness from the sidelines.

He regretted it now. Why did I have to open my big mouth and invite Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er? Wouldn't strolling around on my own have been much nicer?

After parting with Xiao Yan and Xun'er, Xiao Yu returned to his courtyard. But the moment he entered, he saw Xiao Zhan sitting beside the stone table.

"Second Uncle?"

At the sight of Xiao Yu returning, the smile on Xiao Zhan's face immediately vanished, and he fixed him with a stern look.

"Uh..."

"Second Uncle, what's this about?"

Xiao Zhan stared at Xiao Yu with a piercing gaze, still saying nothing.

That stare made Xiao Yu's scalp prickle. He said quietly, "Second Uncle, don't look at me like that. You're scaring me..."

"Hmph! You brat, so you do know fear!"

Xiao Zhan slapped the stone table and said in displeasure, "You kept this from me for so many years, and now you say you're afraid of me? You've really outdone yourself."

With Xiao Zhan still looking stern, Xiao Yu felt a little guilty. I only hid it for four years, though. He was also relieved. If Xiao Zhan found out I'm a six-star Da Dou Shi, stronger than him, wouldn't he explode?

"Come on, I was just thinking I'd give you a surprise at the coming-of-age ceremony."

"A surprise?" Xiao Zhan said pointedly. "A fright, more like. I nearly passed out in the stands."

"Surely not. It wasn't that bad."

Xiao Yu could only wave his hands.

"Hahaha! Did I scare you, brat?"

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan's expression changed, blooming into a delighted smile as he laughed.

"Huh?"

Seeing Xiao Zhan stroking his beard and smiling, Xiao Yu realized his second uncle had been teasing him. Helplessly, he said:

"Second Uncle, how come you're just like little brother Yan, always playing tricks on people?"

"Can't your second uncle have a little fun with you? You've been fooling me for over a decade."

Xiao Yu could only agree. "You can, of course you can. Whatever makes you happy, Second Uncle."

Xiao Zhan shook his head with a smile and called, "Come sit down."

Xiao Yu obediently sat beside Xiao Zhan.

As Xiao Zhan studied Xiao Yu, a gratified smile crossed his face from time to time.

Only when Xiao Yu began to feel uncomfortable did he stop looking and say with a delighted smile, "Good, very good! As expected of my elder brother's son. You had the restraint to keep it hidden and fool everyone."

"Second Uncle, I wasn't..."

Xiao Zhan waved a hand, cutting him off. "No need to explain. What you did was very good. I mean that sincerely; I'm not mocking you."

"Seeing you as you are now, I can finally put my mind at ease and stop worrying about your future."

"Now you can cultivate, and you have patience and restraint that ordinary people lack. You'll fare better out on the continent. I'm very pleased."

"I won't ask why you can cultivate now, or why your talent is so high. That's your secret, and I don't want to pry."

"Remember, no matter who it is-even me-you must never reveal your greatest secret. It could bring you endless trouble, or even get you killed."

"..."

Xiao Yu did not interrupt. He simply sat beside his second uncle, silently listening to his earnest guidance.

That night, uncle and nephew talked about many things. Xiao Yu also told Xiao Zhan that he wanted to venture out to train after his coming-of-age ceremony, and Xiao Zhan readily agreed.

In the past, he would never have agreed, even if beaten to death. After all, back then he had not known Xiao Yu was actually a Dou Zhe.

Now things were different. His strength far surpassed his peers, his talent was exceptional, his temperament resilient and restrained, his actions thoughtful, and he remained calm in the face of change. A Xiao Yu like this no longer belonged in a greenhouse.

Someone like him ought to weather wind and rain. Only after that baptism could he become truly strong.

In this world, there had never been any notion of hoping one's children would live ordinary lives, because mediocrity here was a sin!

There was no elder who did not wish for the younger generation to grow strong.

They talked until late into the night before Xiao Zhan finally left the courtyard.