Chapter 1: The Xiao Family
Night covered Wutan City.
Xiao Yan carefully stepped across the rooftop until he found a good spot to sit. He stayed quiet, letting the cool night air hit his face while listening to the noise coming from the main hall below.
"Xiao Zhan! Are you really going to fight another clan over such a small market? There has to be a limit to your recklessness!"
The Grand Elder's angry voice shook the hall.
His face was red with rage, and Dou Qi burst out from his body, making his sleeves whip in the air. "Have you already forgotten the hard days when we first came to Wutan City? The Xiao Family only just gained a foothold here, and now you want to risk everything?"
"Big Brother, calm down!"
The Third Elder rushed to hold him back, afraid the old man might jump forward and punch Xiao Zhan.
The Second Elder was already lying on the ground, pretending to be dead after being smacked earlier.
Who would dare argue with the Grand Elder head-on?
"Let go!"
The Grand Elder swatted the Third Elder's bald head but couldn't shake him off. Giving up, he glared at Xiao Zhan, pointing a shaking finger at him.
"You! Kicking over one shop was already bad enough, but two? Do you want them to join forces and crush us? Do you still care about the Xiao Family?"
Bang!
Xiao Zhan slammed his fist on the table, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "Enough! I caused this, and I'll fix it myself. Stop bringing it up!"
"Xiao… Zhan!"
The Grand Elder's chest heaved with anger, and his voice carried disappointment. "You will regret this!"
The hall went silent.
The Second and Third Elders exchanged worried looks. "Grand Elder, don't—"
But Xiao Zhan was already standing up.
Dou Qi exploded from his body like a storm, sweeping through the hall. The half-open doors slammed wide, and wind howled inside.
Behind him, the raging energy formed the faint image of a roaring lion.
Furious Lion Roar!
The three elders froze where they stood, the pressure too much to move under.
Da Dou Shi…
When had he broken through? And not just by a little — he had gone from Seven-Star Dou Shi straight to Da Dou Shi!
"Big Brother Lin…"
The Third Elder muttered softly, as though seeing a shadow from the past.
The boy who once called them "Clan Uncles" was now a man who could stand on his own — a Clan Chief.
"You three can rest easy. I will handle this matter." Xiao Zhan's voice was calm but strong. His gaze swept across them, stopping on the Grand Elder.
"Don't forget — I am the Clan Chief."
…
"Hey, Xiao Yanzi, what are you doing up here?"
An arm suddenly landed on Xiao Yan's shoulders, followed by a teasing voice.
Xiao Li, with his usual grin, sat down beside him. On the other side, Xiao Ding quietly walked over, dressed in his spotless white clothes. He looked calm and gentle, like a scholar.
"Big Brother. Second Brother," Xiao Yan said with a small smile.
"Hey! I got here first. Why greet him first? You like Big Brother more than me?"
Xiao Li grabbed Xiao Yan's head and rubbed his hair until it turned into a mess.
Smack!
Xiao Ding tapped Xiao Li with his folded fan. "Stop that. And Xiao Yanzi, this roof is very high. How did you even get up here?"
"Ladder," Xiao Yan said, pointing to the side of the roof. Then his face turned serious. "The coming-of-age ceremony is soon… are you really leaving, Big Brother?"
"Yes."
Xiao Ding sat next to him and looked at the moon while fanning himself. "If I stay, I'll only waste the family's resources. It's better to leave and earn my own way, so no one will gossip."
The ceremony was just two months away. Even though Xiao Ding had just broken through to Seven-Star Dou Zi Qi, his decision was firm.
The Xiao Family was under constant pressure from two rival clans, and Wutan City had very limited resources.
Leaving was the smarter choice. If the Xiao Family was ever forced to retreat, at least there would be a backup plan. As the eldest son, Xiao Ding could not bring shame to their name.
"With Seven-Star Dou Zi Qi, Big Brother, you should pass the ceremony easily. Why do you still need to go?"
Xiao Yan sounded confused.
"Start cultivating early, Xiao Yanzi. Don't waste your youth like I did." Xiao Ding tapped his forehead lightly with the fan.
Xiao Li stayed silent, his face a little more serious now.
Xiao Yan nodded quickly, but inside, he understood what was really going on.
The death of Xiao Lin, the family's move, the hardships they had faced — there had been nothing peaceful about those years. Xiao Ding's pale face and slow recovery told the whole story.
"Being a mercenary is dangerous. Will you still come home often?"
Xiao Ding's fan slowed. After a moment, he forced a smile. "I'll write letters and bring gifts whenever I can."
"But Big Brother, your health… Mother worries about you every day. Does she know?"
"…"
Xiao Ding's lips moved, but no words came out.
"Big Brother…"
Even Xiao Li spoke up. "Why don't you just stay—"
"Quiet!"
Xiao Ding's sharp tone cut him off. This was something he couldn't tell Father about — and definitely not Mother.
But before he could continue, a deep voice sounded behind them.
"…Who are you telling to be quiet?"
Xiao Ding froze.
Xiao Li quickly pointed at himself as if to say, Not me.
Slowly, Xiao Ding turned around.
Xiao Zhan stood behind them like a wall, his face expressionless.
"Eldest," he said slowly, "why don't you explain what you mean by becoming a mercenary?"
"…Father!"
The three brothers jumped up. Xiao Li grinned nervously while Xiao Ding and Xiao Yan lowered their heads like children caught doing something bad.
Xiao Zhan's gaze moved across them, finally landing on Xiao Yan.
"And why," he said darkly, "is the Third Elder on my roof?"
The brothers looked at each other.
They were doomed.