'Fifteen years already...'
Lying beneath the moonlight, Xiao Yan laced his fingers behind his head, his gaze distant as he murmured.
In the blink of an eye, it had been fifteen years since he'd arrived in this unfamiliar Fighting Qi Continent from another world.
Those fifteen years, spent at his parents' side and treated as a Genius, had gradually given him the Heart-Nature of a teenager.
Yet the past three years of lost talent had reminded him he wasn't truly a fifteen-year-old boy; within this body lived a twenty-year-old Soul.
'Yaner!'
While Xiao Yan was lost in thought, Xiao Zhan—clad in grey—swept up the hillside and landed steadily before him.
'Father!'
Xiao Yan kipped up, turned, and forced a smile at the beaming Xiao Zhan.
Smack!
Xiao Zhan stepped forward, clapped a large hand on his son's shoulder, and—seeing the boy now nearly as tall as himself—pulled him down to sit on the grassy slope.
'Yaner, Father has two pieces of good news. Want to hear them?'
Xiao Zhan asked softly.
Xiao Yan sighed, stared at the bright moon, and absently tugged at the grass beneath him. 'Right now, apart from solving why my Dou Qi vanished, nothing counts as good news.'
Looking at his son's lost expression, Xiao Zhan slipped an arm around the boy's shoulders. 'Yaner, today at the Mittel Auction House I bought two Medicinal Pills. I'm now a Six-Star Great Dou Shi.'
He released his aura; the unmistakable ripple of a Six-Star Great Dou Shi flared before Xiao Yan.
'Six-Star Great Dou Shi?'
Though he'd claimed indifference, Xiao Yan was happier than anyone to see his father's Breakthrough.
'Exactly. The Alchemist who refined those pills is still at the Mittel Auction House.'
'I had Miss Ya Fei ask; he just sent word that he'll visit the Xiao Family tomorrow morning to look into your missing Dou Qi.'
'Yaner, don't worry—even if I have to empty the Family coffers, I'll find a way to fix this.'
'With my strength risen, my voice in the Family will carry far more weight; those old codgers won't dare object!'
'I believe my son was never trash—you were a Genius who became a Dou Practitioner at eleven!'
Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and turned to see the boy staring at him in a daze.
'All right, get some rest.'
'Early tomorrow, besides that Alchemist, other important guests will arrive.'
Xiao Zhan smiled, stood, and offered his hand.
Xiao Yan managed a small smile, grasped his father's large hand, and the two walked shoulder-to-shoulder down the hill.
...Xiao Family, Xun'er's room.
'Old Ling, do you know why Uncle Xiao Zhan suddenly broke through to Six-Star Great Dou Shi?'
Xun'er asked the deferential Ling Ying.
'A mysterious Alchemist appeared at the Mittel Auction House; the pill Master took allowed Lord Xiao to advance. The youth is only seventeen or eighteen, origins unknown. My guess: he hails from some hidden Alchemist clan in Central Province.'
Ling Ying replied.
'An Alchemist clan from Central Province?'
'Could it be Holy Pill City?'
'For a Holy Pill CityAlchemist to appear in this poor corner of the northwest—could he be after a Strange Fire?'
Xun'er murmured.
'Very likely.'
Ling Ying nodded.
'No matter where he's from, as long as he doesn't harm Brother Xiao Yan we needn't interfere.'
'The real trouble tomorrow is the Cloud Mist Sect's Young Sect Leader!'
Xun'er ground her teeth.
She simply couldn't understand—she'd only arrived a few years late; how had Brother Xiao Yan ended up with a fiancée?
Oh, the engagement had been set before the girl's grandfather died—never mind, then.
'The Cloud Mist Sect? When Yun Potian was alive the sect wasn't even third-rate on the Fighting Qi Continent, and he's been dead for years.'
Ling Ying's tone was dismissive.
'After tomorrow, we'll see how Brother Xiao Yan handles things.'
'If Brother Xiao Yan is hurt...'
Gold flame flashed in the girl's eyes; she dismissed Ling Ying... At the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei—having received the reply—waved the female Dou Master away and went to report to Chen Yang.
'Then after breakfast tomorrow, Miss Ya Fei can accompany me to the Xiao Family,' Chen Yang said.
'I...' Ya Fei hesitated.
'Of course, I still don't know the way; I'll need Miss Ya Fei to guide me.' Chen Yang smiled.
'I forgot—Great MasterChen Yang, you've been in Wutan City less than three days.' Ya Fei hid a chuckle, her Phoenix eyes full of charm.
'It's late, Miss Ya Fei. Rest early; we'll leave at dawn.' Chen Yang shook his head—this Ya Fei was truly a temptress; every smile was dangerous.
'Mm.' Ya Fei nodded, rose, and left Chen Yang's room with many a backward glance... The next day!
The Xiao Family gates stood wide; servants were up at dawn sweeping the courtyards in busy preparation.
Because a mysterious Alchemist was coming and he might restore his talent, Xiao Yan rose unusually early—and stepped outside to see this scene.
'Huh?'
'News of Father's Breakthrough to Six-Star Great Dou Shi has spread; no wonder it's so lively this morning...'
Xiao Yan muttered to himself.
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
Just then, a silvery bell-like voice rang out behind the youth. Xiao Yan turned to see Xun'er, in a purple dress, hugging a thick book, smiling at him from behind.
"Xun'er!"
Xiao Yan instinctively rubbed his nose and looked at her.
"You're up early, Brother Xiao Yan!"
Xun'er skipped forward and stopped in front of him. Her lively, adorable manner made the surrounding Xiao Family servants lower their heads.
"I have things on my mind, couldn't sleep."
"Is something happening in the clan today? Why are they sweeping the courtyard so early?"
Xiao Yan asked curiously.
Xun'er always knew the clan's affairs; asking her felt safest.
"Probably because Cloud Mist Sect people are visiting."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Xun'er's face, her voice turning sour.
"Cloud Mist Sect..."
...At Mittel Auction House, after breakfast, Chen Yang and Ya Fei rode a carriage straight to the Xiao Family gate.
Butler Mo was already waiting at the entrance.
Seeing Ya Fei step out first, Butler Mo hesitated, then assumed the Alchemist must be behind her and continued to wait respectfully.
But when he saw a youth only a few years older than Third Young Master emerge, he froze.
He'd pictured the Alchemist as an Elder like Gu Ni, at least a middle-aged man like the Clan Chief.
Who was this eighteen- or nineteen-year-old boy?
"Butler Mo, this is the Alchemist invited by Clan ChiefXiao Zhan. Please show us the way."
Ya Fei was slightly displeased Xiao Zhan hadn't come, but understanding Cloud Mist Sect was here, she forgave it—though Butler Mo's stare annoyed her.
"Forgive me, Miss Ya Fei; this old Mo's eyes failed him."
"Please, Great Master; please, Miss Ya Fei."
...On the way, Chen Yang admired the Xiao Family's landscape, thinking: this is where the Flame Emperor was born.
Halfway, he asked, "Where is Clan ChiefXiao Zhan? Why is a butler guiding us?"
Butler Mo feared Chen Yang was angry and hastily bowed: "Forgive me, Master. Cloud Mist Sect guests arrived today; the Clan Chief is receiving them in the great hall."
Chen Yang waved it off. "Then I'll go join the excitement."
How could he miss the classic break-off-engagement scene?
He'd risen early on purpose.
"This..." Butler Mo hesitated. The Third Young Master had lost his talent for three years, while Nalan Yanran joined Cloud Mist Sect; the gap was like heaven and earth. Their visit was likely to annul the engagement—if outsiders saw... Yet this young Alchemist might be the only hope of restoring Third Young Master's talent. Gritting his teeth, he nodded, "Please, sir, Miss Ya Fei, follow me."
The three soon reached the reception hall door; Butler Mo pushed it open.
Inside, hearing the door, Xiao Zhan looked up expecting Xiao Yan, but saw Ya Fei and a youth.
"Miss Ya Fei!"
Xiao Zhan rose quickly and strode to the entrance.
"Clan ChiefXiao Zhan, this is Great MasterChen Yang."
Ya Fei greeted him and introduced Chen Yang.
"Great Master!"
Though startled by Chen Yang's youth, Xiao Zhan knew from his time in Jia Ma Imperial Capital that some Geniuses defied common sense.
"Clan ChiefXiao Zhan, you're too kind. Please, inside."
Chen Yang's keen Soul Power detected the three Cloud Mist Sect members in the hall; the leading Seven-Star Great Dou Shi's aura was formidable.
"Father!"
Just then a youth's voice sounded behind them. Everyone turned; Chen Yang's eyes flashed with admiration.
The tall youth looked ordinary, but the purple-dressed girl beside him was stunning.
In the Fighting Qi Continent, only the Snake-People Tribe's Queen Medusa might rival her beauty.
Yet Chen Yang's gaze lingered only a moment—pretty, but... too young.
"Great MasterChen Yang, please enter."
"We have guests today; forgive any lack of courtesy."
Xiao Zhan's posture was humble.
The three Elders and others stared in puzzlement. They knew Ya Fei, but not the youth she accompanied, whom their Clan Chief treated with such respect.
"No matter. Carry on. When you're done, we'll talk."
Chen Yang's tone made it clear he wouldn't leave. Xiao Zhan clenched his teeth, thought briefly, then ushered Chen Yang and Ya Fei inside.
"Then today I must let the Great Master see a joke..."
Xiao Zhan gave a bitter smile, seated Chen Yang below the Cloud Mist Sect group, apologized again, and hurried off.
"Great MasterChen Yang, it seems something extraordinary will happen in the Xiao Family today?"
Ya Fei asked knowingly.
"I think it's going to be a fine show."
Chen Yang smiled, sipped his tea, and beckoned to the bewildered Xiao Yan standing in the hall: "Come, sit here beside me..."
(End of Chapter)
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