Wutan City, Xiao Clan Residence.
Xiao Zhan and the three elders had dumbfounded expressions on their faces as they looked at the ragged group of more than twenty Xiao Clan younger members who had just returned from the mountains. The oldest one among them was unable to process what was happening.
What's going on? What happened?
Did Xiao Yan manage to turn all these younger generation members of the Xiao Clan into Dou Zhe in just three months???
Am I dreaming? Or am I not fully awake yet?
"Father, the three months have passed, and I have safely brought back all the Xiao Clan juniors," Xiao Yan reported respectfully, clasping his fists.
"Ah? Ah!"
Only then did Xiao Zhan snap out of his daze, realizing his own reaction. He lightly clenched his large palm into a fist near his mouth.
"Cough... You all have been working for three months straight, you have all worked hard. Everyone, go back and rest for now."
"Yes!"
The Xiao Clan juniors responded in unison and then went back to their respective homes. Even Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, the two little girls, didn't stay behind to pester Xiao Yan.
The three months of training in the mountains had caused them, being girls, to lose many things that were extremely important to girls. As a result, they decided to do nothing these days and focused on taking care of their skin, determined to restore their former radiant beauty!
"Xiao Yan, you should go back and change your clothes first. Come to the meeting hall later; I have something to discuss with you."
"Okay."
Xiao Yan nodded and turned to walk towards his own room.
Watching Xiao Yan's figure recede, Xiao Zhan and the three elders exchanged glances, none of them said anything, but their eyes revealed their unspoken agreement.
That is, they won't inquire further about how Xiao Yan managed to help all the Xiao Clan juniors advance to the Dou Zhe rank within three months.
They trust Xiao Yan.
Meanwhile, in Xiao Yan's room, he took off his worn-out clothes and searched through his wardrobe. At that moment, Yao Chen's figure appeared, looking helplessly at her disciple.
If it was only Xiao Yan himself who was training, he could have come down from the mountain in one month. However, for the sake of these Xiao Clan juniors, he had stubbornly stayed with them in the mountains for three months.
Xiao Yan was strict not only with the Xiao Clan juniors but also with himself. In fact, his own training intensity surpassed that of the Xiao Clan juniors, when they would run 10 miles, he would run 100 miles.
As the leader, he had to lead by example; otherwise, it would be difficult to gain their respect.
Although everyone understood this principle, how many could truly achieve the level of Xiao Yan?
Xiao Yan's respect and position as the leader of the Xiao Clan juniors were well-deserved.
In Yao Chen's mind, while she was thinking about this, Xiao Yan finished dressing and adjusted his collar, then glanced at Yao Chen and said,
"Senior Yao, didn't you say you wanted me to cultivate a technique after I reached the Dou Zhe rank?"
"Ah? You mean that...," Yao Chen hesitated slightly, and her ruby-like eyes revealed a hint of uncertainty.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
As Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan's face, still bearing a touch of youthfulness, her heart sank slowly.
Should he, Yao Chen, truly gamble with this child's future for her own selfish desires?
The time they had spent together had made Yao Chen deeply understand that even without her help, Xiao Yan's future would undoubtedly go further and even surpass her own.
Most importantly, the righteous path that Xiao Yan followed and wanted to promote was something Yao Chen couldn't bear to disrupt.
Yao Chen knew deep down that although she herself couldn't be considered evil or a crooked person, she was far more evil and sinister than Xiao Yan was.
To put it more bluntly, even if she were gone, this continent wouldn't change in the slightest.
In the end, she was just a person with a considerable cultivation strength and reputation in the field of alchemy.
But Xiao Yan was different.
His path that is full of righteousness could truly change this continent for the better in the future!
Yao Chen wanted to witness that day when Xiao Yan's dreams came true! She hoped that this continent could truly be transformed for the better by Xiao Yan's righteous path!
But as for herself, was she truly willing to do this...
Yao Chen lowered her head, looking at her own ethereal figure, a hint of sorrow appearing in her eyes as she said in a low voice,
"Let's talk about that matter... later."
After saying these words, a bitter self-mocking smile emerged on Yao Chen's lips.
Hehe... Yao Chen, oh Yao Chen...
It seems that deep down, you are still a selfish person after all.
Anyone who truly understands right from wrong and knows what is important and what is not would not have the slightest hesitation when faced with these two choices, right?
Does your existence truly have value?
"I'm tired. Let's rest for a while."
Yao Chen disappeared into the ring, leaving Xiao Yan standing in the room, stunned.
Just a moment ago, Xiao Yan clearly saw the hesitant, sad, and self-reproachful expression on Yao Chen's face.
Why hesitate? What is there to hesitate about?
Sadness? Why be sad?
Self-reproach? Why blame oneself?
Xiao Yan, with a confused mind, left the room and walked towards the council hall, constantly recalling the desolation that appeared on Yao Chen's beautiful face just now.
Xiao Yan's heart couldn't help but ache.
Did I... do something wrong?
Troubled, Xiao Yan arrived at the council hall. Xiao Yu, who was sitting on a chair, noticed Xiao Yan's slightly distressed expression as he entered and stood up, approaching him.
"Xiao Yan, what's wrong?"
"Hmm?"
Xiao Yan snapped out of his thoughts and immediately adjusted his emotions, smiling and waving his hand at Xiao Yu.
"It's nothing, don't worry."
"..."
Seeing this, Xiao Yu didn't ask further because she knew that even if she asked, Xiao Yan wouldn't say.
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan and asked softly,
"Father, you mentioned earlier that you had something to discuss with me?"
"Ah..." Xiao Zhan scratched his head and sighed slowly. "You haven't been down recently, so you don't know. The merchants and customers in the Xiao Clan's market have been taking a lot of lost these days. They have all gone to the market of the Jia Lie clan."
"Why is that?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow in confusion, and Xiao Zhan explained.
"The Jia Lie clan somehow found a Rank One Alchemist and had him produce a healing medicine called 'Rejuvenation Powder,' which attracted all the mercenaries."
As Xiao Zhan spoke, he sighed deeply, and Xiao Yan nodded understandingly.
The income of the Xiao Clan's markets largely came from the mercenaries. Once the mercenaries stopped coming, the merchants couldn't make money, so naturally, they would withdraw from the market. It was only natural.
However, at that moment, Xiao Yu suddenly pounded the table beside her.
"Ah! I was just about to tell the Clan patriarch about it, but I forgot because I was busy going to the back mountain to find you." Xiao Yu said to Xiao Yan in this manner, then looked at Xiao Zhan. "Clan patriarch, is the alchemist that the Jia Lie clan brought named Liu Xi?"
"Hmm? Have you met him?"
Xiao Zhan was slightly surprised, and Xiao Yu nodded lightly, then proceeded to recount what had happened when she encountered Liu Xi in the Xiao Clan's market.
Bam!
"That bastard! How dare he do that to my granddaughter?!!"
The First Elder slammed the table and stood up, trembling with anger. Xiao Zhan, sitting next to him, also had an extremely displeased expression.
"The Jia Lie clan has no shame! They not only caused trouble in the Xiao Clan's market but also tried to kidnap people in public?!"
"Grandfather, there's no need to be so angry." Xiao Yu raised her hand lightly and spoke to calm the first elder down. "I've already dealt with all the guards of the Jia Lie clan. As for Jia Lie Ao, I didn't spare him either. As for that alchemist, I instructed the Xiao Clan's guards to beat him half to death before throwing him out. They shouldn't dare to cause trouble in the Xiao Clan's market again."
Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, the first elder anger subsided to some extent, and Xiao Zhan's expression improved slightly.
"Since you've already taught them a lesson, I will let it go this time. If they dare to come again..."
"There won't be a next time."
Before Xiao Zhan finished speaking, a cold voice abruptly interrupted him, coming from Xiao Yan who was sitting beside Xiao Yu, leaving Xiao Zhan momentarily stunned.
His son had never before shown such impolite behavior of interrupting an elder while speaking like this before!
Xiao Yu also sensed something amiss in Xiao Yan's words and turned her head slightly, her pupils contracting in surprise.
Xiao Yan?!