NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: I Know You Are Inside
Chapter 27: I Know You Are Inside
After leaving the Jia Lie Family, Xiao Zhan first checked Xiao Yan's injuries. After confirming that there was no serious harm, he let out a deep sigh of relief and then clasped his fists in gratitude toward Ya Fei.
"Miss Ya Fei, thank you for your intervention today. Xiao Zhan will remember this favor."
Although the Xiao Clan now had to provide 30% of the medicinal material costs for the Jia Lie Family's Revival Pill for free, this outcome was far better than a scenario where both families fought to the bitter end.
Moreover, even with such a compromise, if not for Ya Fei mediating in the name of the Miteer Family, it would have been impossible for Jia Lie Bi to accept the terms.
As Jia Lie Bi himself said, the main reason he accepted the mediation was out of respect for Ya Fei and the Miteer Family behind her.
"Clan Leader Xiao, you don't need to take it to heart. As Ya Fei just mentioned, if the two major families in Wu Tan City were to harm each other severely, the Miteer Auction House would inevitably be implicated. Naturally, I couldn't just sit by and do nothing."
Ya Fei's words were not false. From a business perspective, how much wealth could be gained from commoners? Most of the Miteer Auction House's income came from the three major families of Wu Tan City.
If the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Family went to war, both families' economies would suffer greatly. The Miteer Auction House relied on the three major families of Wu Tan City for revenue—losing two would be unbearable for the Miteer Family.
However, more than business interests, Ya Fei's primary reason for intervening was still Xiao Yan.
After all, Xiao Yan had indeed gone too far this time, and continuing to escalate the matter would be highly disadvantageous for him.
("But come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen Little Brother Xiao Yan act so ruthless.")
Ya Fei frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Yan, who was lying unconscious on Xiao Yu's back.
Over three years of interaction had made Ya Fei understand deeply that Xiao Yan was not someone who acted recklessly. She had never heard of him handling matters in a way that left no room for negotiation.
The scene earlier in the Jia Lie Family's courtyard had truly shocked Ya Fei. It was one thing for Xiao Yan to break Jia Lie Ao's limbs, but the terrifyingly cruel methods used on Liu Xi... If it weren't for the evidence before her eyes, Ya Fei wouldn't have believed Xiao Yan could do such a thing.
(It seems this little brother still has aspects of himself that I don't understand.)
With these thoughts in mind, Ya Fei turned to Xiao Zhan and spoke softly.
"Clan Leader Xiao, I'll head back to the auction house now. I wish your son a speedy recovery."
"Ah, take care."
After bidding farewell to Ya Fei, Xiao Zhan turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, who was slung over Xiao Yu's back, and a faint bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"This brat... this is the first time I've seen him be so ruthless."
Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yan, who was leaning against her shoulder in deep sleep, her delicate brows furrowed. While shocked by Xiao Yan's ruthlessness, what puzzled her even more was something else.
Although Xiao Zhan and the elder hadn't witnessed it because they arrived late, Xiao Yu had been at the scene and had clearly seen Xiao Yan clash head-on with Jia Lie Bi.
It wasn't that Xiao Yu didn't wish for Xiao Yan's well-being, but truthfully, under such an impact, it was unbelievable that Xiao Yan's arm hadn't been completely shattered—it was too abnormal.
Xiao Yu knew that Xiao Yan had been training his body due to his inability to cultivate Dou Qi, making his physique indeed resilient.
However, the gap between a high-tier Dou Practitioner and a Da Dou Shi was far too vast, something that couldn't be compensated for by a strong physique.
Most importantly, in the instant Xiao Yan's fist clashed with Jia Lie Bi's claw, Xiao Yu keenly noticed a strange white light flashing from the ring on Xiao Yan's chest.
Although there was no conclusive evidence, Xiao Yu's instincts told her that Xiao Yan had avoided a shattered arm because of that white light.
What exactly was it?
Harboring this doubt in her heart, Xiao Yu carried Xiao Yan and followed the group back to the Xiao Clan.
Since the clan's younger generation had just finished their training, most were resting in their rooms and were unaware of what had just transpired.
Otherwise, given their loyalty to the clan, if they saw Xiao Yan in his current unconscious and pitiful state, they might have stormed the Jia Lie Family en masse.
"Xiao Yu, I've checked just now. Yan'er's injuries are not serious. He only needs to rest for a while," Xiao Zhan said calmly, his hands behind his back. "The younger ones just came back from the mountain and need rest as well. There's no need to disturb them. I leave Yan'er in your care."
"Don't worry, Clan Leader. I'll take good care of Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yu nodded in assurance. Under the watchful gaze of Xiao Zhan and the elder, she carried Xiao Yan into his room, gently placed him on the bed, rummaged through the room for a medical kit, and carefully tended to his wounds.
Although the injuries weren't severe, she applied the medicine out of caution. Better to be safe than sorry.
After finishing the treatment, Xiao Yu removed Xiao Yan's damaged clothes, covered him with a blanket, pulled a chair to the bedside, and sat down quietly, gazing at his sleeping face.
After years apart, Xiao Yan's face had shed much of its boyishness. His resolute features made him appear two or three years older than his actual age.
While Xiao Yan's cruelty in the Jia Lie Family shocked her, it didn't evoke any fear in Xiao Yu. Instead, a warm feeling seeped into her heart.
Xiao Yan had acted this way for her sake.
When she returned and mentioned being harassed by the Jia Lie Family in the market, her exceptional skills had prevented Jia Lie Ao's group from succeeding, allowing her to return safely.
For most people, the matter would have ended there.
After all, Xiao Yu wasn't harmed, and Jia Lie Ao's group had already been punished by Xiao Yu and the Xiao Clan guards.
But Xiao Yan thought differently.
Xiao Yu knew that when she mentioned the incident, Xiao Yan must have imagined the worst possible outcome.
What if Xiao Yu hadn't been able to defeat them? What if she had been abducted by Jia Lie Ao? What if something irreversible had happened to her?
Xiao Yan must have been terrified of these possibilities.
That was why he was so furious.
Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan with a slight smile, gently brushing his cheek with her hand.
To Xiao Yan, if the worst had happened, it would have been too late to fix anything.
Just like that time, the first and only time he displayed such brutality before the Xiao Clan members.
Oh, wait.
Xiao Yu corrected herself inwardly.
Including today, it's now twice.
But unlike last time, where he acted for the clan's younger generation, this time, it was for her alone.
(Thinking of it that way, it's kind of sweet, isn't it?)
Xiao Yu chuckled softly, her gaze softening as she watched Xiao Yan sleep.
It's because of someone as exceptional as you that I can't take an interest in any man at the academy.
Suddenly, her eyes caught the ring on Xiao Yan's chest. Recalling the strange white light she had seen earlier at the Jia Lie Family, her delicate brows knitted together tightly.
She knew the ring was a memento from Xiao Yan's mother, and logically, it shouldn't be an issue.
However, there was one thing she had overlooked until now that made her suspicious.
The timing of Xiao Yan losing his Dou Qi coincided with when he began wearing this ring!
In other words, Xiao Yan's loss of Dou Qi three years ago might be closely related to this ring!
Supporting herself with one hand on the bed, Xiao Yu lightly lifted the ring on Xiao Yan's chest with the other, a bold hypothesis forming in her mind.
If the ring had indeed absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi and had protected him earlier at the Jia Lie Family, then it might possess self-awareness!
With this thought, Xiao Yu stared intently at the ring and said coldly, "Come out. I know you're inside."
(End of Chapter)
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For every 100 power stones = 1 chapter
300 power stones = 5 chapter
500 power stones = 8 chapter