Xiao Yan paced anxiously before the door, holding a fresh, dewy spiritual fruit basket. He had bought them with the money he earned from selling potions.
"Yan Xiao, what are you hesitating about?"
Suddenly, Yao Lao's voice echoed in his mind, causing Xiao Yan to stop. "I'm just thinking about what reason to give..."
"Visiting a sick person requires another reason?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback, his mouth twitching as he heard Yao Lao's sigh. "Why did I accept a disciple with brain problems?"
Just as Xiao Yan was about to retort, he noticed a green-clad girl approaching with a food box.
"Cousin Xun'er..."
"Cousin Xiao Yan? What brings you here?"
The girl glanced at the basket of spiritual fruits in Xiao Yan's hand. "Sister still needs rest, so I won't be entertaining you, cousin."
Seeing the girl walking towards the house, Xiao Yan hurriedly stepped forward.
Xun'er turned around, her big eyes filled with caution as she looked at Xiao Yan. "What do you want?"
"N-no, it's not that!" Xiao Yan lifted the basket of fruits. "I just wanted to bring these fruits to you."
"Hand them over to Xun'er."
Xiao Yan had no choice but to hand the basket to the girl.
"Thank you, Cousin Xiao Yan."
She softly thanked him and disappeared in an instant. Xiao Yan sighed and turned to leave.
"Yan Xiao, can't you handle witnessing a Dou Wang-level battle?"
"It's not that."
The voice in his mind paused, "Is it seeing a peer become a Dou Wang that affected your mindset?"
Xiao Yan nodded, reluctantly admitting, "A little bit."
"Are you visiting Miss Mo because you like her? Weren't you interested in that girl named Xun'er before?"
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, helplessly saying, "Master, please don't guess wildly. How could I possibly like her, even if we are both..."
Xiao Yan stopped mid-sentence, but Yao Lao's interest was piqued. "That girl is practicing the 'Burning Decision,' no doubt about it. Do you also want to learn this technique?"
Xiao Yan, lost in thought, replied, "We'll see. Who knows what the future holds?"
Yao Lao fell silent. The battle two days ago must have placed a tremendous psychological burden on his disciple.
He had seen many geniuses grow resilient under pressure, but he had seen more crumble under immense stress, only to be ground into the dirt, forgotten.
"No one knows what the future holds, but as your teacher, I know that if you don't meet the requirements soon, you'll become a marginal figure in the Xiao family. While it won't affect us much, it will hurt your pride, right?"
Xiao Yan straightened up. "Yes, Master!"
'One day, I, Xiao Yan, will become stronger than them!'
Kurumi took a bite and picked up one of the fruits Xiao Yan had brought. The aroma was delightful. Regardless of anything else, the quality alone must have cost that boy a lot.
'Why did he come? To find an excuse to get close to Xun'er?'
Recently, Kurumi had paid little attention to the master and disciple. Apart from their fortunes, the only thing of interest was the Bone Chilling Flame on Yao Lao.
After thinking for a while and getting nowhere, Kurumi shifted her attention to Xun'er.
"How has your cultivation been lately?"
"I'm working hard to catch up to you, sister!"
"And the bloodline refinement?"
"Half of my bloodline has been converted to nine grades. As you instructed, I'm continuing to refine the nine grades."
Kurumi nodded. "Once your entire bloodline is converted to nine grades, you can start refining the divine grade."
"Will there be enough resources for that?"
"Don't worry about it. Just focus on improving your strength."
Xun'er's face showed a hint of bitterness. "If I had a divine-grade bloodline, the young master of the Yan clan wouldn't have come to cause trouble."
"What are you thinking?" Kurumi reached out and patted Xun'er's head. "If you were strong enough, he wouldn't dare provoke you."
"Okay."
Xun'er replied in a muffled voice. The battle between her sister and the young master of the Yan clan had made her acutely aware of their distance.
If her sister hadn't been by her side that day... how would she have coped? By relying on Lin Lao?
Xun'er felt like a fish out of water, struggling in vain for a moment.
"By the way, have the Xiao family elders been troubling Xiao Zhan?"
"Every day when I pass by the council hall, I hear the elders yelling. The destruction of the market has brought a lot of negative impact on the Xiao family, far more than this."
"Really?" Kurumi rubbed her chin. "Come with me to the council hall this afternoon."
"Okay."
"Xiao Zhan! No matter what, you have to find a way to investigate the true culprit behind the fire!"
Xiao Zhan, who was seated at the head, remained silent. Instead, another elder said, "I think it was that old rascal from the Jia Lie clan! What does it matter to us if his son faked his death?"
"It could be another family," said the last elder, his voice sad. "He might be waiting to sit back and watch the tigers fight."
"Enough! Stop arguing!"
Xiao Zhan slammed the table, spilling tea. The other elders fell silent.
"Does arguing help? Can it bring the merchants and vendors back to our market?"
The elders had no response no reasonable solutions. As for lower prices, the other two families could do the same, and over time, the Xiao family would be the first to collapse.
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath. "I've already sent people to investigate, but it will take some time."
"That's not good enough," an elder said. If we wait any longer, the other two families will take over our market share! We need to come up with a solution to get through this crisis. Once the fire blows over..."
"You're too naive. Do you think the other two families will give you that chance?"
The chubby elder fell silent.
The chief elder, sitting opposite Xiao Zhan, pondered for a moment. "Have you heard those rumors?"
"This..."
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The four of them exchanged glances. During meetings, no one else would dare to disturb them.
So who could it be?
"Uncle Xiao, are you there? Mo'er wants to discuss something with you."
They sighed in relief, thinking it might be more bad news from the servants.
Xiao Zhan stood up, followed closely by the other three elders heading to the door.
Xiao Zhan opened the door. "Miss Mo'er, Miss Xun'er, please come in!"
Kurumi looked around the room and then at the three elders. "Could the elders please leave? I wish to speak with Uncle Xiao alone."
The three elders froze, the chief elder being the first to bow to Kurumi. "Since Miss Mo'er has business, we shall take our leave."
"Thank you for your understanding."
"Not at all, not at all!"
The three elders exited the council hall. Puzzled, Xiao Zhan looked at the two girls about the same age as his son.
Before he could speak, Kurumi said, "I want to make a deal with you, Uncle Xiao."