"The Dou Qi Continent has always been a place where the strong reign supreme. Otherwise, why do you think Hun Tiandi needed to ambush Tian Ce despite being so much stronger than him?"
The Xiao Realm, True Martial Academy.
After hearing Xiao Wu's explanation, Xiao Tian Yun was utterly stunned. He had never underestimated Xiao Tian Ce-or so he had thought. In reality, he had still underestimated him.
"Brother Wu, are you saying I can't vent this anger? But if I do nothing at all, I just can't swallow it!" Xiao Tian Yun said resentfully.
"You have to swallow it, whether you can stomach it or not. Tian Ce isn't someone you two brothers can handle. Endure it.
"Besides, only you came to see me today. Your brother didn't, which means he thinks the same way I do.
"Tian Yun, we're on good terms. That's the only reason I'm offering you this advice.
"You've always thought Tian Ce only has the strength of an Early Five-Star Dou Sheng, but his cultivation rank on paper has never been a true measure of his strength. Don't underestimate Tian Ce, and don't underestimate the Three Talents of the Xiao Clan!" Xiao Wu said with solemn earnestness. The look in his eyes left Xiao Tian Yun deeply shaken.
At that point, he looked at Xiao Tian Yun and smiled. "I still have matters to attend to, so you should head back, Tian Yun. One final word of advice: don't entertain thoughts of revenge again. Otherwise, even the clan leader might not be able to save you."
Since Xiao Wu had made it clear that he should leave, Xiao Tian Yun could hardly linger. He bowed to Xiao Wu and left the True Martial Academy.
After leaving the True Martial Academy, Xiao Tian Yun refused to accept it and visited several other places, only to receive exactly the same answer.
Dejected, he returned to the Mountain Ghost Pavilion, where he found Xiao Tian Shan carefully checking a chest of gifts he had already packed, his expression solemn.
"You're back?"
Xiao Tian Shan glanced up at Xiao Tian Yun and asked casually.
"Yes."
Xiao Tian Yun looked dispirited, all the energy drained out of him.
Seeing this, Xiao Tian Shan, who had already expected as much, shook his head. "You... I've protected you since you were little and never let you suffer any real grievances. Now that you've taken a blow, you're quick to lose confidence. That's only natural."
"Big Brother, why are you telling me this?" Xiao Tian Yun shouted impatiently.
Xiao Tian Shan did not get angry. He simply continued gently, "You're young. You don't know just how much prestige Xiao Tian Ce once held in the clan. I don't blame you for that.
"Take this incident as a lesson. Just make sure you don't provoke him again."
"I understand, Big Brother." Xiao Tian Yun nodded despondently.
Xiao Tian Shan shook his head slightly and said nothing more. Only after putting the chest into his Spatial Storage Ring did he say gravely, "Let's go. This started because of you, so naturally, you should be the one to end it. It's still early. Let's go and get back soon."
With that, he led the reluctant Xiao Tian Yun toward Heavenly Strategy Manor.
Before long, they arrived at Heavenly Strategy Manor.
"Greetings, Elder Tian Shan, Elder Tian Yun." Seeing the two brothers arrive, Xiao Bieli guessed they had come to apologize. He was therefore unworried and merely bowed respectfully.
"No need for such courtesy. Please inform Brother Tian Ce that Tian Shan and Tian Yun have come to apologize over the matter involving Second Uncle Xiao Chun," Xiao Tian Shan said with a smile.
"Please wait a moment, Elders. I'll report your arrival at once." Xiao Bieli cupped his hands and bowed with a smile.
"Sorry for the trouble!"
After hearing Xiao Tian Shan's reply, Xiao Bieli quickly entered Heavenly Strategy Manor.
A moment later, he stood before Xiao Tian Ce and reported, "Patriarch, Elders Tian Shan and Tian Yun have come to apologize and request an audience."
"There's no need to see them. Go back and tell them the matter is settled. They need only take care to maintain harmony within the clan from now on," Xiao Tian Ce said, nodding with a smile.
"Yes, Patriarch."
Xiao Bieli bowed respectfully and went out.
A short while later, at the entrance to Heavenly Strategy Manor.
"Elder Tian Shan, Elder Tian Yun, the patriarch says there's no need to apologize. He asks only that you take care to maintain harmony within the clan from now on."
"In that case, we'll take our leave. Oh, and these are the gifts we brought as an apology. Our thanks to Brother Tian Ce for his generosity. Farewell!" Xiao Tian Shan waved his left hand, and a chest landed on the ground. He then cupped his hands toward Heavenly Strategy Manor and left with Xiao Tian Yun.
After the two departed, Xiao Bieli brought the chest to Xiao Tian Ce.
Xiao Tian Ce did not even look inside the chest Xiao Tian Shan had sent. He simply told Xiao Bieli to deliver it to Xiao Chun.
Meanwhile, after the brothers had left, Xiao Tian Yun said furiously, "Damn it! Xiao Tian Ce really doesn't take us seriously at all. He wouldn't even let us through the door!"
Hearing this, Xiao Tian Shan smiled beside him. "Enough. Stop complaining. It's already more than fair of Xiao Tian Ce to let this matter go.
"If this had happened in the past, the two of us would probably still have some bitter medicine to swallow."
Seeing that Xiao Tian Yun was still furious, Xiao Tian Shan shook his head and smiled. "Enough. Let's go home. This matter ends here. There's no need to stir up more trouble."
"Hmph!"
Xiao Tian Yun snorted coldly but ultimately said nothing more.
Back at Heavenly Strategy Manor.
The gifts had only just been delivered when Xiao Chun and Xiao Tian Ming arrived.
"Tian Ce, didn't I tell you it was nothing serious? Why did you still..." Xiao Chun was deeply touched. After all, Xiao Tian Ce had stood up for him. Still, he had not taken the matter to heart and felt there had been no need.
Xiao Tian Ce waved a hand, cutting Xiao Chun off, then looked at him and said, "Second Uncle, you watched me grow up. No matter what, I would never stand by and do nothing while someone bullied you.
"Besides, I'm the patriarch. If an elder of my branch is bullied and I do nothing, how am I supposed to hold my ground in the clan afterward?
"I was asleep for a hundred years. I can't seek justice for all the grievances you suffered during that century. I have to consider the bigger picture, so I can only ask you to bear them.
"But now I'm awake, and Xiao Tian Shan and Xiao Tian Yun happened to deliver themselves right to my doorstep, giving me a chance to establish my authority. I had to do something.
"It's only because I don't want to reveal too much right now that today's matter was allowed to end so easily!"
Hearing the finality in his words, Xiao Chun nodded and said gently, "Since things have already come to this, we can only leave it at that."
"Thank you for standing up for my father, Brother Ce," Xiao Tian Ming said, cupping his hands in gratitude.
"As long as you don't blame me for letting Xiao Tian Yun off with a light punishment as a warning, Tian Ming," Xiao Tian Ce said apologetically.
"You're being too hard on yourself, Brother Ce. The bigger picture comes first," Xiao Tian Ming said, cupping his hands again.
"All right, let's put this matter aside.
"I came back this time mainly for two things. First, for mithril. Second, to take you and all the remaining Dou Zun away with me. I've opened up a new space in the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range. From now on, it will serve as the base for our branch.
"As for the clan, I'm sorry for the trouble, Second Uncle, but I'll need you to continue overseeing things.
"Once we leave this time, unless something major happens in the clan, it will be ten years before we return." Xiao Tian Ce waved his hand and laid out his plans.
"We shall obey your instructions, Patriarch," father and son said, cupping their hands and bowing.
This makes up for yesterday's missing update. I have an exam on the ninth and need to travel somewhere more than two hundred kilometers away, so Wumeng will do his best to keep updating over the next few days. Please support me.
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