Facing dozens of Four-Star Fighters wielding iron bars, the over a dozen guards who had been so arrogant just moments ago instantly turned pale. Before they could even flee, black iron bars ruthlessly struck at their bodies. In a matter of moments, their pained cries filled the entire street. Glancing coldly at Jialeo, whose face was now twisted in a grimace, Xiao Yan slightly turned his head and looked at Xiao Yu, whose pretty face was blushing from a mix of shame and anger. His tone softened a bit, “Are you okay? You should have let me know you were coming. The Gallen family has been trying to cause trouble lately.”
Caught off guard by Xiao Yan’s gentle words, Xiao Yu clearly hesitated, her blush deepening slightly. She moved her eyes around aimlessly, seemingly at a loss, and said, “I met Xun’er on the way out, and she wanted to come here, so I accompanied her. How was I supposed to know we’d run into these jerks?”
Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly, his gaze shifting to the young girl in green clothes, who was brimming with excitement due to his presence. His smile grew softer, “You really let him have it, didn’t you?”
At Xiao Yan’s teasing, Xun’er innocently shrugged and smiled, pursing her lips, “I didn’t mean to, I just couldn’t stand the way he acted. After all, even back then, Brother Xiao Yan wouldn’t dare to snatch someone right off the street.”
Xiao Yan grinned and scratched his nose, countering Xun’er’s sly remark. Back then, although he was a bit arrogant, he wasn’t as stupid as this guy.
“Hey, isn’t this the Xiao family’s little master? I heard you finally shed the title of ‘waste’ after a year?” Jialeo’s eyes twitched as he watched Xiao Yan chat intimately with the girl he liked. Driven by jealousy, he laughed in a mocking tone.
“Who is he?” Liu Xi’s gaze was equally cold. The girl, Xun’er, who had previously ignored him, was now chatting and laughing with another man. This was a blow that was hard for him to accept, given his overly proud nature.
“Hehe, Brother Liu Xi, this is the famous ‘genius’ of the Xiao family, named Xiao Yan. He used to practice for more than ten years, yet his Dou Qi only reached the third or fourth level. But recently, for some reason, a few months ago, he suddenly jumped to the eighth level of Dou Qi,” Jialeo introduced with a sneer.
“A person who can’t even be called a Fighter, no matter how ‘talented,’ is still a waste,” Liu Xi sneered.
Hearing Liu Xi’s words, Xun’er’s face turned cold, and a golden flame flashed across her autumnal eyes.
Patting Xun’er’s slightly tensed body, Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head. He turned to look at Liu Xi, who was dressed in white, and casually glanced at the Alchemist emblem on his chest. “You must be the one who made the ‘Rejuvenation Powder,’ right?”
Liu Xi gave a cold laugh, straightening the emblem on his chest proudly. “That’s right, I am the Alchemist hired by the Gallen family.”
Xiao Yan nodded as if he suddenly understood, smiling. “No wonder, such a low-grade medicinal powder, only an Alchemist like you could produce it. You truly live up to your teacher’s teachings.”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, the surrounding mercenaries burst into laughter. After the recent profiteering of the Gallen family, these mercenaries had developed a grudge against the maker of the Rejuvenation Powder. Now, seeing Xiao Yan dare to mock him openly, they felt a sense of relief.
The loud laughter made Liu Xi’s face darken. He glared at Xiao Yan coldly. “You’re inviting enemies you can’t handle for the Xiao family.”
Xiao Yan was a bit surprised by this, but he just chuckled and rubbed his forehead. He found it hard to believe that this arrogant person thought he was the direct disciple of some Dou Emperor. A First-Grade Alchemist might make the Xiao family take him seriously, but saying he couldn’t be handled was just a joke.
“Sigh, how can someone with such intelligence become an Alchemist?” Shaking his head, Xiao Yan exchanged a knowing look with Xun’er. After talking to Liu Xi, he finally understood why the gentle and mild-mannered Xun’er disliked this guy so much.
Rubbing his face, Xiao Yan decided not to waste more words on this obviously dim-witted person. He waved his hand at the dozens of burly men behind him, smiling. “Attack, including the master. Since they dared to cause trouble on our territory, there’s no need to be polite. Otherwise, people will just laugh at us.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s actions, Jialeo’s face changed slightly. He hadn’t expected Xiao Yan to actually follow through. His eyes darted around, and he sneered, “I thought you had improved, but it turns out you’re still just a useless person relying on your subordinates.”
“Your provocation is very amateurish,” Xiao Yan said softly, swinging his iron bar.
“If you want to think of it as a provocation, then it’s a provocation. A waste like you doesn’t deserve to walk with Miss Xun’er,” Jialeo sneered, his eyes flashing with a hint of malice. “You must have undergone the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, right? Hey, that means I can challenge you, and you can’t refuse, can you?”
“You are utterly shameless. Xiao Yan is only seventeen, while you are already twenty-three. How can you say something like that?” Hearing Jialeo’s challenge, Xiao Yu’s eyebrows rose, and she flicked her long whip, leaving a faint white mark on the floor. “If you want to play, I’ll play with you!”
Jialeo’s mouth twitched, and he mocked, “Your luck with women is quite good. You always hide behind them, soft stuff.”
“Damn it, this pretty boy is too arrogant. Little Master, we will help you play with him,” some of the mercenaries who usually got along well with Xiao Yan shouted loudly, seeing the aggressive Jialeo.
Seeing the huge reaction to his words, Jialeo’s face changed. As a mere Three-Star Fighter, he would indeed be in trouble if he angered everyone.
Glancing at the still expressionless Xiao Yan, Jialeo brushed his sleeve and sneered, “Since you don’t dare to accept, let’s go, Brother Liu Xi. Such a person who can’t even accept a challenge isn’t worth paying attention to.”
Liu Xi nodded with a sneer, his eyes lingering on Xun’er with a lustful gaze. He glared fiercely at Xiao Yan, snarling, “Boy, wait and see. I’ll make the Xiao family deliver you to me. I’ve never failed to get any woman I set my eyes on.”
Xun’er glanced at the lecherous Liu Xi with a cold look, her eyes flashing with a sinister intent.
As Jialeo and Liu Xi turned to leave, several indifferent-faced Xiao family men appeared at the entrance of the marketplace, blocking the door like a wall.
“I know you really want to cripple me. Okay, as you wish… I accept your challenge,” the young man’s voice suddenly sounded calmly from behind, just as Jialeo was about to signal for backup.
Hearing this, Jialeo was initially taken aback, but a vicious smile slowly spread across his lips. “If you are looking for death, then don’t blame me!”
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