Facing dozens of four-star Dou Warriors wielding iron rods, the dozen or so guards who had been swaggering moments ago went pale as ghosts. Before they could even attempt to flee, the black iron rods descended upon them from every direction, thudding into flesh with brutal precision. In mere moments, the street echoed with their wretched screams.
Xiao Yan cast a cold glance at Jie Lie'ao, whose face had darkened with fury, then turned his head slightly toward Xiao Yu, whose cheeks burned crimson with humiliation. His voice softened: "Are you all right? You should have sent word before coming over. Those bastards from the Jia Lie Clan have been looking for trouble lately."
Being addressed with such uncharacteristic gentleness by Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned. The flush on her cheeks deepened slightly, and her gaze darted about in confusion as she stammered: "I ran into Xun'er when I came out. She wanted to come see the market, so I accompanied her. How was I to know we'd run into this rabble?"
Xiao Yan shook his head with a sigh, his gaze shifting to the young woman in green whose face had brightened with delight at his arrival. The warmth in his eyes deepened: "That was quite the lecture you gave him just now."
Xiao Xun'er spread her hands innocently at his teasing, her lips curving into a small smile: "I couldn't help it. His attitude was simply too insufferable. Even the Xiao Yan of old wouldn't have dared to drag a girl off the street like that."
Having been subtly reminded of his own past indiscretions, Xiao Yan rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. He had been arrogant back then, certainly, but he'd never reached the depths of idiocy that this fellow represented.
"Oh my, if it isn't the little master of the Xiao Clan." Jie Lie'ao's eye twitched as he watched Xiao Yan chatting intimately with the girl he desired. Jealousy gnawing at him, he let out a mocking, effeminate laugh: "Haven't seen you in a year or so. Word is you've finally shed the label of 'useless'?"
"Who is he?" Liu Xi's gaze had turned equally cold. The very girl who had barely deigned to glance at him was now laughing and talking with another man. Such a blow was simply intolerable to one whose pride exceeded all reason.
"Hehe, Brother Liu Xi, this is the famous 'genius' of the Xiao Clan, named Xiao Yan." Jie Lie'ao leaned in with a sinister grin: "Spent over a decade cultivating, yet his Dou Qi only reached about three or four stages. But recently—don't know what he's been taking—just a few months ago he jumped straight to eight stages of Dou Qi."
"Someone who isn't even a Dou Warrior, no matter how 'genius,' is still just trash." Liu Xi sneered.
At these words, Xiao Xun'er's delicate face went cold, and a flicker of golden flame passed through her autumn-water eyes.
Xiao Yan placed a light hand on Xiao Xun'er's slightly tensed shoulder, shaking his head with a faint smile. He turned to regard Liu Xi in his white robe, his gaze casually dropping to the alchemist's badge on the man's chest: "You must be the one who refined that 'Rejuvenation Powder.'"
Liu Xi let out a cold laugh and thrust out his chest to display the badge: "Indeed. I am the alchemist the Jia Lie Clan has hired."
Xiao Yan nodded as if coming to a realization, his smile growing: "No wonder. Such low-grade medicinal efficacy—only an alchemist of your caliber could produce it. You certainly haven't disappointed your teacher's instruction."
The surrounding mercenaries burst into uproarious laughter. After the Jia Lie Clan's recent price gouging, they harbored no small resentment toward the creator of the Rejuvenation Powder. Seeing Xiao Yan mock the man to his face brought them considerable satisfaction.
The laughter turned Liu Xi's face gradually sour. His eyes fixed upon Xiao Yan with predatory intent: "You are inviting enemies your Xiao Clan cannot afford to provoke."
Xiao Yan blinked, genuinely taken aback. He rubbed his temples with a helpless laugh, finding himself at a loss for words. Did this man truly believe he was some personal disciple of a Dou Emperor? A first-rank alchemist certainly warranted respect, but "enemies we cannot afford"? That was simply laughable.
"Sigh... such intelligence, and yet he becomes an alchemist." Xiao Yan shook his head with a pitying sigh, exchanging a look of shared understanding with Xun'er. After only a brief exchange with Liu Xi, he finally understood why the gentle, mild-mannered Xun'er had taken such a strong dislike to this man.
Xiao Yan rubbed his face, weary of wasting breath on someone who was clearly not playing with a full deck. He raised his hand to the dozens of burly men behind him and called out with a smile: "Hit them. Including the masters. If they dare come to our Xiao Clan's territory looking for trouble, we need not be polite—otherwise people will laugh at us."
Jie Lie'ao's expression shifted. He had never imagined Xiao Yan would actually resort to force. His eyes darted about, and he sneered: "I thought you'd improved. Turns out you're still the same useless coward who hides behind others."
"Your goading is rather primitive." Xiao Yan casually twirled the iron rod in his hand, his voice light.
"If you want to call it goading, then so be it. Someone like you doesn't deserve to walk beside Miss Xun'er." Jie Lie'ao sneered, a cold gleam passing through his pupils as he added maliciously: "You must have already undergone your coming-of-age ceremony, yes? Heh—which means I can challenge you now, and you have no grounds to refuse?"
"You truly have no shame. Xiao Yan is only seventeen this year—you're already twenty-three. How dare you issue such a challenge!" Xiao Yu's willowy brows rose in anger. Her whip cracked across the floor, leaving a shallow white mark: "If you want to play, I'll play with you!"
The corner of Jie Lie'ao's mouth twitched: "You certainly enjoy the favor of women. Always have someone else fighting your battles. A man who hides behind a woman's skirt."
"Damned pretty boy! Too arrogant! Little Stall Master, let us play with him for you!" Several mercenaries who were on friendly terms with Xiao Yan began shouting loudly.
Seeing his words provoke such a reaction, Jie Lie'ao's expression darkened. At only three-star Dou Warrior strength, if he truly sparked a crowd's fury, he would be in serious trouble.
After a quick glance at Xiao Yan, whose expression remained unchanged, Jie Lie'ao flicked his sleeve and sneered: "Since you don't dare accept, so be it. Let's go, Brother Liu Xi. Someone who doesn't even dare take a challenge isn't worth our attention."
Liu Xi nodded with a sinister smile, his greedy gaze lingering upon Xun'er for a moment before he shot Xiao Yan a venomous glare: "Just you wait, brat. I'll have your Xiao Clan begging to deliver her to me! Any woman I set my sights on, I always get."
Xiao Xun'er glanced coolly at Liu Xi's leering face, and for the first time, a flash of murderous intent flickered through her eyes.
As Jie Lie'ao and Liu Xi turned to leave, several expressionless men from the Xiao Clan appeared at the market entrance, forming a human wall that blocked the way.
"I know you're itching to cripple me. Very well... I accept your challenge."
Just as Jie Lie'ao was about to signal for his men, the young man's calm voice drifted over from behind.
Jie Lie'ao froze, then slowly turned back. A cruel smile crept across his lips: "You've chosen your own death—don't blame me!"