Sneaking...

"Get lost!"

Xiao Qian roared in fury, his voice crashing like thunder, filled with boundless anger and power.

The Dou Qi in his several Dantians erupted all at once. Light blazed, and a powerful surge of air burst outward, as unstoppable as raging ocean waves.

The surge carried savage force as it slammed forward, overturning tables and chairs and shattering cups and plates in its path.

The owner and snake women were hurled into the distance like fallen leaves swept up by a gale, crying out in alarm.

"Go!"

The next instant, Xiao Qian grabbed Xiao Yan and ran without hesitation, his movements swift and decisive, without the slightest wasted motion.

Ignoring the other patrons' startled cries, he knocked over who knew how many tables and chairs.

The patrons stared at them in terror, as though they were looking at two crazed beasts.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan barreled through the bar, leaving chaos in their wake like a sudden storm sweeping through.

"Young clan leader, should we stop them?"

In his urgency, the bar owner blurted out the wrong thing. The young man hiding in the back slapped him across the face with a sharp, ringing crack, leaving him seeing stars as a red handprint instantly appeared on his cheek.

"What nonsense are you spouting?! Useless fool!" The young man's gaze was sinister and icy as he watched Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan disappear through the bar's entrance.

His eyes brimmed with anger and resentment as he said darkly, "I meant to have them die on top of women, so the Xiao Clan would have nothing to say. But this Xiao Qian really surprised me. The Dou Qi he unleashed just now was definitely stronger than three-stage Dou Qi. He's fooled everyone!"

The young man clenched his teeth, countless thoughts churning through his mind.

Ignoring the bar owner, he hurried away and returned to his family.

Had Xiao Qian seen him, he would surely have realized who had secretly drugged them.

The Jia Lie Family, one of the three great families of the third-tier Wutan City.

"Father, the plan failed. What do we do now?"

The young man was, of course, Jia Lie Ao, the only son of the Jia Lie Family's patriarch, Jia Lie Bi. He was already sixteen, yet had only reached eighth stage Dou Qi.

His eyes were filled with anxiety and unease, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead beneath the lamplight.

Jia Lie Bi frowned, his voice low and stern. "Did you send anyone after them?"

"I did, but that brat Xiao Qian is too slippery. All we know right now is that they've entered the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain area and haven't returned to the Xiao Clan," Jia Lie Ao said bitterly, clenching his fists until veins bulged on the backs of his hands.

"We spent so long arranging this plan, yet it still failed. The same plan won't work a second time." After pondering for a moment, Jia Lie Bi swept his hand through the air, a ruthless gleam in his eyes. "Since we've already acted, we might as well go all the way. We won't get another opportunity this good."

His gaze was like an icy blade, carrying a vicious edge.

"Jia Lie Nu, gather the family elders and go provoke trouble at the Xiao Family Market. Make sure you draw Xiao Zhan and all three Xiao Clan elders there! I'll go myself!"

Jia Lie Bi rose, issuing one command after another in rapid succession. His authoritative voice echoed through the room, inspiring fear and awe.

"Ao, take a group of men to the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain..."

Jia Lie Bi's eyes turned cold as he waved his hand. "Kill those two little bastards for me! We absolutely cannot let them grow!"

"Yes, Father!"

Jia Lie Ao's blood surged with excitement. At last, he had a chance to remove those two thorns in his side.

He had envied those two so-called Xiao Clan geniuses for a long time!

A savage smile spread across his face, as though he could already see Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan lying at his feet.

Deep moonlight shrouded the earth like a mysterious veil, spilling through the woods in patches of mottled light and shadow, like an enigmatic painting.

"I... I can't take it anymore... Someone... someone make me feel good..."

Dragging Xiao Yan's burning-hot body, Xiao Qian hurried through the woods. His rapid footsteps rustled through the fallen leaves, sweat covered his forehead, and his eyes were filled with urgency and worry.

He had already noticed the people trailing them far behind. Whenever he tried to return to the Xiao Clan, they blocked his way and forced him back. Besides, returning to the Xiao Clan now would not cure the drug's effects.

"I'll find you a sow!" he snapped.

Xiao Yan's eyes widened, and his mind cleared considerably. "You... you're inhuman!"

"Up ahead! There's a waterfall up ahead! Let's go there!"

Perhaps afraid that Xiao Qian really would find him a sow, Xiao Yan finally recovered some of his senses. He even broke free of Xiao Qian's grip and rushed ahead himself, his movements urgent as he searched for a way to find relief.

His figure darted through the woods, stirring up a gust of wind.

With his powerful physique, Xiao Qian was doing much better by comparison. He quickened his pace and soon caught up beside him.

The two sprinted through the woods like prey being chased by hunters.

"We're here!"

Soon, a lake spanning over a thousand feet appeared before them. It gleamed mysteriously beneath the moonlight, like an enormous silver mirror set into the earth.

In the distance, they could see a waterfall plunging straight down like a white dragon charging from the heights, its magnificent force accompanied by a deafening roar.

With two splashes, Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan eagerly jumped into the water.

The icy water enveloped their bodies, forcibly cooling them down with considerable effect.

The chill instantly spread through them, bringing a little relief to their feverishly hot bodies.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan struggled in the water, savoring the comfort and release its icy currents brought.

Their bodies bobbed up and down as their hands paddled continuously.

The two immediately circulated the Dou Qi within their bodies, striving to suppress the restless energy inside them.

The stuff was not exactly poison, so there was no way to detoxify it. They could only suppress it themselves and hold on through sheer willpower. But they had been given far too much; if they had truly lost their senses back there, they might really have died on top of the snake women.

No, Xiao Qian probably would not have died. He would have worn the women to death instead... As he suppressed the drug's effects, he silently counted himself lucky.

Neither knew how much time had passed. After surfacing for air many times, they finally managed to settle the turmoil inside their bodies somewhat. Their faces looked exhausted, as though they had endured a grueling battle, but their minds were clearer too.

Splash!

Underwater, something seemed to occur to Xiao Yan. He suddenly swam toward the other side of the lake, looking back and signaling for Xiao Qian to follow.

This guy seems pretty familiar with this place. Is there some hidden haven over there? Somewhere to hide would be nice, at least until the drug wears off. Without thinking much more of it, Xiao Qian followed him.

A thousand feet was not all that far, and they soon approached the opposite shore.

Xiao Qian was about to surface for a breath when Xiao Yan suddenly held him down.

He looked over in confusion and saw Xiao Yan raise his eyebrows, wearing an expression that said, Follow me. I've got something good to show you.

They slowed their movements and quietly swam a few dozen feet underwater. Suddenly, a hazy, snow-white figure appeared beneath the water near the shore ahead.

Xiao Qian's eyes widened with surprise and curiosity, and his heart involuntarily began to race.

A little farther ahead, the first things he could make out were two flawless, perfectly shaped legs, white as jade. Then his gaze traveled upward...

Xiao Yu!

Now fourteen, Xiao Yu was in the budding bloom of girlhood, and her figure was undoubtedly worlds apart from what it had been a few years ago.

Her body appeared and disappeared in the water.

The drug he had just suppressed began affecting his mind again. This is bad! Xiao Qian cried inwardly. He immediately shut his eyes and devoted all his strength to suppressing it.

Form is emptiness, emptiness is form...

Outward sights and sounds, painted beauties and withered bones...

He did not even know what he was reciting to himself. He simply let all kinds of nonsense tumble through his mind to distract himself, trying to resist the drug's influence.

Splash!

But the sound of water beside him startled him. He hurriedly opened his eyes, only to see Xiao Yan swimming over without a second thought, about to pounce on Xiao Yu like a starving tiger lunging at its prey.

His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Ah... glug, glug... ah-"

It was not hard to imagine how terrified the girl was when she noticed the disturbance. In an instant, she flailed her arms and legs, her eyes filled with fear and panic as she struggled desperately.

Xiao Qian closed his eyes in weary exasperation.

With willpower like this, how did this guy become the Flame Emperor admired by countless people in later years? Was something rigged behind the scenes?

"Stop your hands! No, your legs!"

Xiao Qian swiftly swam over and hauled the red-eyed Xiao Yan away with all his strength.

But Xiao Yan struggled fiercely. It seemed that seeing Xiao Yu had fully unleashed the drug throughout his body. There was nothing but madness in his eyes; he had completely lost his reason.

"I've really been spoiling you!" Xiao Qian pinned Xiao Yan down and started punching him-with Dou Qi behind the blows.

His fists rained down on Xiao Yan.

Thud, thud, thud...

Who knew how many punches he threw. Meanwhile, the still-terrified Xiao Yu finally scrambled ashore. Bruised and swollen all over, she put on her dress and only then regained some sense of safety.

Her body still trembled slightly, and tears shimmered in her eyes. Clearly, she had been badly frightened.

Splash!

At last, Xiao Qian dragged Xiao Yan ashore, beaten limp as a dead dog.

"That bastard! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!"

The little reason Xiao Yu had recovered vanished the instant she saw Xiao Yan. She threw herself onto his unconscious body, hitting, biting, and crying, and the scene descended into utter chaos for a while.

Xiao Qian did not know whether to laugh or cry. Stopping her felt wrong, but so did letting her continue.

"The noise came from up ahead."

"Quick! Over here!"

Seven or eight black-clad men emerged from the woods and swiftly surrounded the three of them.

Their figures looked especially sinister beneath the moonlight. Their black clothes blended into the night, leaving only pairs of cold eyes visible.

Xiao Yu froze, terror written across her face. "Who... who are you?" Her voice was filled with unease.