Afterwards, the members of Pan Gate held a brief meeting to finalise the rules and regulations of their fledgling faction. As the saying went, nothing worthwhile could be achieved without order.
Once the discussions concluded, everyone returned to their cultivation, leaving only Xiao Jietian and Xun'er in the hall. Xiao Jietian slumped into a chair, rubbing his forehead.
"This… is far too mentally exhausting," he murmured.
Xun'er came up behind him and gently massaged his shoulders.
"Xiao Jietian Gege, you want to be a hands-off manager, yet even the affairs of Boundless Heaven Hall have been left to Little Fairy Doctor and the others. They're still grumbling about you. You'll have to find a way to appease them," she said, a teasing smile playing across her lips.
"Oh? And are you laughing at me now? Watch carefully, I'll teach you a lesson," Xiao Jietian replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace, patting her playfully.
"Xiao… Xiao Jietian Gege! You're too much!" Xun'er exclaimed, collapsing against him.
Unable to resist, Xiao Jietian leaned forward and kissed her. Xun'er struggled at first but soon melted into the kiss, gradually reciprocating, until they shared a long, lingering French kiss.
When they finally parted, Xun'er panted softly, cheeks flushed.
"You only know how to bully me, hmph," she murmured, though her smile betrayed her delight.
"Do you… like being bullied by me?" Xiao Jietian whispered, fingers threading through her silky hair.
"I'm not telling you, you big bad guy," she replied, hiding her face in his chest.
"Xiao Jietian Gege… what's that?"
Xun'er's question, paired with a slight shift, caused Xiao Jietian to gasp and firmly hold her in place.
"Xiao Jietian Gege… what's wrong with you?" she asked, worry lacing her voice as she noticed the fiery glint in his eyes.
Lowering his head, Xiao Jietian whispered into her ear.
"Ah~, Xiao Jietian Gege… you…"
Her face immediately flushed a deep crimson, her entire body radiating heat. Embarrassed, she glared at him and dashed away, curling under her quilt in her room.
"Oh dear~! Xiao Jietian Gege is such a pervert… so scary…" she muttered.
Xiao Jietian shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "This little girl… far too tempting. I'll have to be patient and work carefully with her shy nature."
With that, he left for Boundless Heaven Hall, appearing by the lake in Eternal Heaven Palace. Sensing the surroundings, he found Yun Yun and Qing Lin's auras absent—Yun Yun was likely tending to the Hall's affairs, and Qing Lin being guided by Medusa.
The only one free was Qing Lin, making their encounter all the more natural.
Little Fairy Doctor remained in seclusion, absorbing the Netherworld Poison Flame. Thanks to Ya Fei's help, she had gathered numerous poisonous medicinal materials. Her cultivation had surged to an astonishing eight-star Dou Zong.
"This Netherworld Poison Flame suits Xian'er perfectly. Though its rank is low, in her hands, its potential is maximised," Xiao Jietian thought.
He didn't disturb her, instead appearing in Ya Fei's bedroom. The room was painted light blue, accented with red décor. Ya Fei herself appeared in his arms, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Little Brother Xiao Jietian~ You finally come to see me? I've missed you so much I've lost weight."
"Is that so? Let me see how much you've missed me," he replied, placing a hand over her heart to feel her heartbeat.
Ya Fei leaned close, breath warm against his ear. "Did you feel it?"
"Yes… your heartbeat is so strong, so steady," Xiao Jietian murmured, holding her heart in his hand.
"Then look at what I specially prepared for you."
Ya Fei revealed her slender legs. One leg was sheathed in black silk, the other in white. The contrast was striking—black and white, impossible to resist. Xiao Jietian's eyes widened; his breath quickened.
"Hiss~" he whispered.
Meanwhile, in an attic of Jia Nan Academy, several people gathered around a table, anger etched into every line of their faces.
"This is outrageous. That new student had the audacity to attack our Bai Gang's men!" one growled.
"Fu Ao, Big Brother, was utterly beaten. Even with recovery pills, he'll be down for months," spat another, slamming his fist onto the table.
"Exactly! If we can't reclaim our face, how will Bai Gang maintain its foothold in the Academy? How can others respect us?"
All eyes turned to Bai Cheng, Bai Gang's leader, ranked thirty-fourth on the Inner Academy strong ranking. His expression was calm, but his Dou Qi simmered with yellow energy, cracking the teacup in his hand to powder.
"Xiao Shan, tell me… what is his true strength?"
Bai Shan's face, still swollen from the earlier encounter, paled slightly.
"I… we were taken by surprise. Fu Ao and I stood no chance. If it had been a fair fight, he would not have overpowered Fu Ao, Big Brother."
Bai Shan, ever mindful of his reputation, emphasised the "sneak attack" to preserve his honour.
A loyal follower slammed the table. "A sneak attack! Next time, Fu Ao and I will guard properly. Together, we will not lose."
Bai Cheng nodded slowly. "If any of my brothers are bullied, I, as their leader, will not shirk my duty. Tomorrow, I will personally take you to Pan Gate to issue a challenge. Not only will I crush Pan Gate, but I will disband them entirely."
His voice, calm yet cold, resonated with authority. The yellow Dou Qi surging from his body shattered the teacup completely, powder flowing like sand through his fingers.
The room fell silent, all hearts brimming with the anticipation of the coming clash.