To wear the crown, you must bear its weight!

"Aah-!"

The next morning, sunlight spilled through the window into the room. As usual, Xiao Qian sat shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Xun'er at the table, eating breakfast in warm, peaceful silence.

But a boy's miserable screams shattered that peace. They drew closer from afar, seemingly laden with endless grievances, enough to bring tears to anyone who heard them.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er exchanged glances, both looking faintly startled and puzzled.

"Why does this scene feel so familiar?"

Xiao Qian frowned, a strange feeling welling up inside him.

Sure enough, Xiao Yan soon fled into the room, his face bruised and swollen, his hair a bird's nest, looking utterly bedraggled.

Xiao Yu followed close behind, shouting at the top of her lungs. The Long Whip in her hand lashed through the air with sharp cracks, like notes heralding death.

"Stop right there, you little bastard! If I don't break your third leg today, my surname isn't Xiao!"

Xiao Yu shouted as she chased him, flames of fury burning in her eyes, her small face flushed crimson with anger.

"Eldest Miss Xiao, all I did was touch your leg! You know perfectly well I was barely conscious at the time..." Xiao Yan loudly defended himself as he ran circles around Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er's breakfast table.

"Besides, aren't those lovely legs of yours meant to be looked at and touched? Why be so stingy?" Those words were like a bomb, blowing straight through Xiao Yu's composure.

"Aaargh!" Xiao Yu's face burned red with fury. With a sharp crack, the Long Whip swept through the air toward Xiao Yan, trailing a fierce whistle, as though she meant to lash him to pieces.

"You're serious?" Xiao Yan caught the Long Whip, and a red welt immediately appeared on his hand.

He sucked in a sharp breath, his brows furrowing as he held the Long Whip fast so Xiao Yu couldn't pull it back. "I'm warning you, my brother's right here! Keep acting like a spoiled brat, and one punch from him will leave you with more than you can stomach!"

A hint of menace showed in his eyes as he looked toward Xiao Qian, as though seeking shelter.

Xiao Yu's expression changed. "Xiao Yan, are you even a man? What kind of man always hides behind him?!" she demanded angrily.

After what had happened last night, she really didn't dare shout at Xiao Qian. She held a trace of awe toward him.

"Didn't you find out whether I was a man last night?" Xiao Yan chuckled, a mischievous edge to his grin.

"You!" Xiao Yu's face flushed, whether from embarrassment or anger was unclear. Her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to retort but didn't know what to say.

"About last night..." Xiao Xun'er's voice, clear as a mountain spring, suddenly rang out softly. She set down her bowl and chopsticks and elegantly wiped her mouth. "If you hadn't been holding him back, Cousin Xiao Yan, my brother wouldn't have been injured so badly. So..."

She raised her eyes to Xiao Yu and smiled gently, her smile as lovely as a spring blossom, yet carrying a hint of slyness. "Cousin Xiao Yu, beat him all you like. I promise my brother won't interfere."

Xiao Yu's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned a malicious gaze on Xiao Yan.

"You were badly injured?" Xiao Yan's expression visibly shifted. He grabbed Xiao Qian's shoulder, all traces of his joking grin vanishing.

His eyes filled with worry and guilt. Brows tightly knitted, he stared at Xiao Qian, desperate to know how badly he had been hurt.

"It's nothing. I recovered ages ago," Xiao Qian said casually.

Xiao Xun'er's small face turned slightly cold. "If I hadn't arrived in time..."

A trace of reproach showed in her eyes as she looked at Xiao Yan, still somewhat displeased with his actions last night.

"Damn the Jia Lie Family!" Xiao Yan said furiously.

Flames of anger burned in his eyes. His fists clenched tightly, his hatred for the Jia Lie Family deepening.

Xiao Qian raised his eyes toward the morning sun, a flash of killing intent passing through them. "Soon. Jia Lie Bi should be coming to our door before long."

His gaze grew deep and cold, as though he were awaiting the approaching moment of revenge.

"What can I do?" Xiao Yan clenched his fists.

Xiao Qian stood, patted his shoulder, and smiled. "Keep yourself safe. Don't get kidnapped and turned into a hostage."

Xiao Yan's cheek twitched. He followed him outside, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Don't underestimate me. If that drug hadn't been so strong yesterday, I..."

A trace of defiance showed in his eyes. He was somewhat frustrated with his performance last night.

"Cousin Xiao Yu." Xiao Xun'er elegantly wiped her mouth clean and stood as well, leisurely pointing at Xiao Yan's retreating back. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Her voice was gentle, but carried a note of reminder.

"Huh?" Xiao Yu stared blankly at Xiao Yan's departing figure, then suddenly caught on. "Xiao Yan! Stop right there!" She raised the Long Whip again and chased after him.

"Shit!" Seeing her raise the whip and come after him again, Xiao Yan's expression changed dramatically, and he took to his heels.

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

Xiao Yu pursued him closely, beginning another round of the chase and lending plenty of liveliness to the Xiao Clan's morning. Their noisy bickering filled the entire courtyard.

"Actually, if Xiao Yan fought back, Xiao Yu wouldn't stand a chance."

Xiao Qian shook his head with a chuckle.

Xiao Xun'er hurried over, taking Xiao Yan's place. She slipped her small hand around his arm, enveloping him in her delicate fragrance.

Xiao Qian felt a little dazed. He could feel the warmth of Xiao Xun'er's arm, spreading from his own arm through his entire body.

They had taken walks like this before, but today felt especially different, as though a heartstring that had long lain silent had suddenly been plucked.

That kiss was like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending ripples through his heart.

Last night's catalyst had been remarkably effective, and... had done no small amount of harm.

Alas, was my blade going to grow dull?

Xiao Qian felt troubled.

He knew these emotional fluctuations might affect his cultivation, yet he couldn't control his own heart.

"What are you thinking about?" The girl was exceptionally sensitive and easily noticed the change in his mood.

She lifted her head and looked at Xiao Qian, a trace of concern in her eyes.

Xiao Qian casually caught a falling leaf. Autumn had arrived before he knew it, and the breeze had grown pleasant.

He looked at the leaf in his hand, a thousand thoughts running through his mind.

"Xun'er, what do you want to do in the future?" he asked softly.

His gaze was somewhat lost, as though he were searching for an answer, or probing Xiao Xun'er's heart.

The girl tilted her lovely head, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall.

"Me? The first thing, of course, is to grow strong as quickly as possible. Strong enough to inherit the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame."

The girl smiled charmingly, but her words left Xiao Qian with tangled feelings he could hardly express.

Waiting for someone else to liberate me really isn't my style...

He murmured inwardly.

He didn't want to rely on others, nor did he want to lose his independence because of his feelings.

"Then why exactly did you come to the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Qian asked again.

He looked at Xiao Xun'er, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes, wanting to learn more of her secrets.

Xiao Xun'er unconsciously reached up to tuck a fallen lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze wavering slightly. "Father wanted me to have a quieter childhood..."

"Was that all?" Xiao Qian pressed.

The girl lowered her lovely head slightly, neither nodding nor answering.

She felt conflicted, unsure whether she should tell Xiao Qian everything.

Neither continued the conversation.

The morning sun remained bright, but Xiao Qian's newly stirred heartstrings fell quiet once more.

Our standing was never equal. A mistaken beginning won't have its destined ending changed by some small interlude along the way...

"Have you heard? The head of the Jia Lie Family is coming in person today to apologize, and they're compensating our Xiao Clan with three market districts!"

"I heard as soon as I stepped outside this morning. The whole town's talking about it. Apparently, the clan leader and the others are holding Jia Lie Bi's only son!"

"Heh, nicely done! I've been sick of those Jia Lie Family scumbags for ages!"

Once they left the courtyard and walked along the clan's paths, they kept seeing Xiao Clan members gathered in discussion. Their excitement seemed infectious, setting the entire clan abuzz.

"Sometimes I really envy them."

Xiao Xun'er suddenly spoke wistfully, seemingly hinting at something. "In a little border town of the Jiama Empire, even the biggest events are insignificant when measured against the whole continent. They don't have to think too much about the consequences or worry about so many things."

A trace of envy showed in her eyes.

Xiao Qian smiled faintly. "If they knew who you were, they'd envy you enormously too. They'd envy how you stood at the pinnacle of the continent from the moment you were born."

"To wear the crown, you must bear its weight!"

Deep longing and ambition lurked in his slightly raised gaze. "All you have to do is work hard, and you can see the view from the continent's summit. Don't you think that makes you especially fortunate?"

"That's what you men like." Xiao Xun'er pursed her lips and glanced sideways at his expression, her heart trembling slightly. "We girls don't want that!"

"You don't understand. 'All you have to do is work hard' is a dream countless cultivators at the bottom can only yearn for."

Xiao Qian and she were not on the same wavelength.

His heart held only cultivation, only the dream of standing at the continent's summit.

The Ancient Void Dragon's inheritance wasn't enough to take him to the pinnacle of this world, but the nine dantians could. How could he abandon them?

Besides, his continued inability to break through the ninth stage of Dou Qi might also have something to do with his feelings.

"Come on, you two! The Otto Family's witness is here, and Jia Lie Bi has already set out! He'll reach the clan gates in the time it takes an incense stick to burn!"

Xiao Yan ran over with his head swollen like a pig's, his face mottled with bruises. He paid them no mind, his eyes filled with excitement and urgency.

Ignoring the quietly amused looks of those around him, he grabbed Xiao Qian's wrist and ran toward the Family Council Hall...

Xiao Xun'er stamped her foot.

"Why does it feel like this guy gets along better with Xiao Yan than with me? That's too much!"

She was a little angry. Pouting as she watched their figures disappear into the distance, she felt rather put out.