In the sunlight streaming through the door, a slender young man slowly walked in, passing through the group of armed men as if they weren’t there. He then walked past the stunned Jia Lie Bi and Aubba Pa. The atmosphere in the hall was quiet, with only the sound of slightly hurried breathing.
Under the watchful eyes of all, the young man slowly approached the Xiao family, looking down at the old man whose face was filled with tears, and gently bowed. “Xiao, Xiao Yan…”
With the support of his clan, the First Elder, overwhelmed with emotion, gazed at the face that had lost some of its boyishness over the past two years and gained more resolute lines. His voice trembled, “Is it really you?”
Looking up at the familiar face he once wanted to stomp on, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. In his heart, he felt a bit nostalgic. After two years of training, he had indeed matured. The resentment from those years had faded with time. No matter what, he still had a blood connection with this family that couldn’t be erased.
“First Elder, it’s really Young Master Xiao Yan!”
“Young Master Xiao Yan is back! Our Xiao family…” The Xiao clan members, who were supporting the First Elder, were overjoyed and almost at a loss for words. Seeing the familiar contours of the face, the tightly strung Xiao family members let out a sigh of relief, and a joyful atmosphere replaced the earlier despair. Some even burst into cheers.
The Second and Third Elders exchanged glances, secretly relieved. They looked at the smiling, composed face and nodded, pleased. After two years of training, this sharp, brash member of the younger generation finally learned how to temper his sharp edges. Overly sharp and exposed is not always good; a sword hidden in a sheath with hidden power is the right way.
Compared to the joy of the Xiao family, the once fierce Jia Lie Bi and his group instantly fell silent. They stared at each other, their hands gripping their weapons, trembling. Almost every person in Utan City had heard about the shocking events of Xiao Yan’s battle with the Yun Lanzong. This legendary figure now stood before them, and it was no wonder these murderous people felt a sense of fear.
“Damn it, Jia Lie Bi, you bastard, didn’t you say Xiao Yan had been secretly killed by the Yun Lanzong? Why is he still alive?” Fixing his gaze on the slender back, Aubba Pa’s eyes flickered with unhidden fear. He turned, his face pale, and grabbed Jia Lie Bi’s collar, growling, “You said Xiao Yan was killed. Why is he standing here?”
Gazing at the same back, Jia Lie Bi’s mouth twitched, and his legs grew weak. He swallowed hard, his face turning from cruel to mournful, “How should I know? That person clearly said Xiao Yan was killed. With his strength, why would he lie to a small clan leader like me?”
“Then is this person before us, Xiao Yan, back from hell?” Aubba Pa snarled, gritting his teeth. He had agreed to join Jia Lie Bi’s plot against the wounded Xiao family, partly because the Xiao family had suppressed them harshly over the past two years, but mostly because Jia Lie Bi had assured him Xiao Yan was dead.
Thus, he had reluctantly joined in, believing Jia Lie Bi. When he first heard Xiao Yan had fought the Yun Lanzong and survived, he was shocked. It was only under Jia Lie Bi’s vile oath that he had reluctantly agreed. As the days passed without Xiao Yan’s return, Aubba Pa had begun to believe Jia Lie Bi’s words. But now, seeing Xiao Yan alive, Aubba Pa was plunged into rage and fear.
Jia Lie Bi’s face was ashen, his body ice-cold. He stared at Xiao Yan, his throat moving, his face shifting between expressions. His earlier fierce aura had weakened considerably.
“Three Elders, are you alright?” Facing the different expressions, Xiao Yan looked at the Elders’ pale faces.
“We’re fine,” the First Elder straightened up, shaking his head. Then, he solemnly bent toward Xiao Yan, but was supported by a hand. Looking up, he saw a young face with a gentle smile, and his old eyes welled up with emotion.
“First Elder, you are my senior. You shouldn’t treat me like this, or Father will scold me.”
“In the past, we old guys were too harsh. From now on, I, as the First Elder, guarantee that such things will not happen again…” The First Elder wiped his wet eyes and sighed.
“Ha, I wasn’t very likable as a child, and things have passed. I tend to forget easily,” Xiao Yan shrugged with a smile. Re-entering this family, he knew that, regardless of anything, his bloodline belonged to this family. At least, before he became a waste, this family had given him a perfect childhood.
Scanning the familiar faces of his clan members, Xiao Yan smiled, “But now, let’s deal with the trouble here first, and then catch up later.”
“Child, be careful. Jia Lie Bi and Aubba Pa are both five-star Great Warriors, and that old man is a Grade 3 Alchemist and a six-star Great Warrior,” the First Elder warned softly.
Nodding, Xiao Yan turned around, his smile fading as he looked at Jia Lie Bi and the others.
“Two years have passed, and Jia Lie Bi’s vigor hasn’t waned,” Xiao Yan laughed, his gaze sweeping over Jia Lie Bi.
Staring at the face with the faint outline of the youth from two years ago, Jia Lie Bi’s body trembled, and he stammered, “Haha, Xiao Yan, I didn’t expect to see you again…”
Xiao Yan smiled, pulled out a chair, and sat down, holding the ruler and pulling it out, embedding it into the stone floor. Cracks spread from where the ruler struck the ground.
“Chief Aubba, I didn’t expect you to be here,” Xiao Yan turned to the flustered Aubba Pa.
“Ah? Oh, ha, ha, ha… Xiao Yan, your demeanor has become more impressive over the years. Your father will be very proud,” Aubba Pa forced a smile, his body trembling.
“Spit out the nonsense.” Xiao Yan glanced at him coldly, his hand touching the ruler. “I just want to know what you two are doing here at my Xiao family today.”
“Ah? That… that… Ha, Xiao Yan, this is a misunderstanding. We came because we heard the Xiao family was in trouble. You know, we have a lot of collaborations. We naturally need to check on the Xiao family when something happens,” Aubba Pa stuttered, his face turning paler.
“Really?” Xiao Yan laughed, his head snapping up, his black eyes like sharp blades, staring at Aubba Pa and Jia Lie Bi. A slight boom echoed, and green flames erupted from Xiao Yan, raising the temperature in the hall. The Xiao family members near him quickly retreated.
“If you two came with ill intent, don’t leave today…”
Surrounded by green flames, Xiao Yan’s voice was icy. Watching the green flames rise, Aubba Pa, Jia Lie Bi, and the Grade 3 Alchemist all stepped back in fear.
“Xiao Yan, don’t misunderstand. We had no ill intentions. This is just a misunderstanding. I’ll take my men and leave,” Aubba Pa’s voice trembled.
After saying this, he waved his hand, and the armed men gathered around him, carefully retreating.
“Junior Chief, don’t let them go. Many of our people were hurt by them,” the Third Elder, impatient, spoke up. Xiao Yan stopped him with a gesture, and the Elder stepped back, realizing Xiao Yan was now the pillar of the family.
Seeing Aubba Pa leaving, Jia Lie Bi hesitated, his face twitching. He turned to Xiao Yan, forcing a smile, “Xiao Yan, this is a misunderstanding. I will personally apologize in the future. I must leave now…”
He waved his hand, and the men followed him out. The Grade 3 Alchemist, his face pale, gritted his teeth, unable to leave like a dog. “Stop! The Xiao family is weakened. What face do you have to stand in Utan City, scared by a young man?”
Hearing this, Jia Lie Bi and Aubba Pa hesitated, but a scream echoed in the hall. They turned to see the Grade 3 Alchemist enveloped in a colorful energy membrane, being corroded by a corrosive liquid. Within seconds, the alchemist’s body was completely dissolved.
“Bang!” The membrane burst, and the liquid merged into a beautiful, menacing woman. Her eyes, cold and threatening, made everyone shiver.
“Medusa Queen?”
“Xiao Yan, goodbye. This is just a misunderstanding,” Jia Lie Bi and Aubba Pa, terrified, left with their men, deciding to leave Utan City as soon as possible.
Watching them leave, Xiao Yan finally waved, his voice calm but making the Xiao family members feel vindicated. “Leave none alive.”
As Xiao Yan spoke, the Medusa Queen’s figure faded, and the door slammed shut. Outside, screams echoed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage