Chapter 5: The Ring
"Cough… so, what should I call you?"
Xiao Zhan asked carefully, worried that the little girl who had just been dropped off would suddenly cry.
"My name is Xun Er."
Her voice was cold but polite. "From now on, I'll take Uncle Xiao Zhan's surname and be called Xiao Xun Er."
"Ah… alright, alright. Uncle Xiao Zhan will prepare a room for you. You can rest first, and tomorrow Uncle will take you around the Xiao Family. How about that?"
Xiao Zhan scratched his head. He was a father of three sons, but he had no idea how to coax a girl. His way of parenting was simple: praise when right, scold when wrong, punish if necessary.
"Uncle…" Xun Er hesitated before asking softly, "Can we go for a walk outside?"
"Huh? Of course you can. What's wrong?"
In Xiao Zhan's mind, children should be raised freely. Taking her out for a walk was just to help her get familiar with the area so he wouldn't have to look for her later if she got lost.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Xun Er's eyes brightened a little.
"Ai… no need to thank me. Wait—why are you thanking me?" Xiao Zhan frowned. "We're family now, or at least friends. Friends don't need to be so polite!"
So, I don't need to say thank you?
Xun Er blinked. "And friends are—"
"Don't you have friends?"
"No."
"Do you talk like this to your family back home?"
"Yes."
That nameless bastard!
You call yourself a father? And you raised her like this?
"Uncle Xiao Zhan, can we go to the room now?"
Xun Er tugged his sleeve.
"Oh, right!"
Xiao Zhan's expression softened. He reached out and patted her small head, his voice gentle. "Child, you've suffered a lot. I'll prepare the best room for you right away."
"Master, what about Third Young Master's room?" the maid asked.
"Kick him out! He never comes home anyway, I'm tired of waiting for him to use it."
"Yes…" The maid sighed quietly.
Wasn't it you who waited up for him every night? And now you're taking it out on him?
Xun Er blinked but said nothing, obediently following the maid to her new room.
What a lively new home…
Splash!
Water shot up from the pond, startling a few fish that floated weakly to the surface.
"This feeling of power… it's amazing!"
Xiao Yan stood waist-deep in the water, stretching his body. He swung his arms hard, each movement rippling through the pond. After only a few strikes, his Dou Qi was almost exhausted.
Dou Zhi Qi – Stage Five!
"It's a pity this sudden boost only happens once. The rest I'll have to earn slowly."
Some of his Dou Qi had merged with his blood, strengthening his body and allowing him to break through to the fifth stage. But from now on, progress would be much slower.
"At least I have a proper training method now…"
Breathing exercises for the internal organs, waterfall training for the skin and muscles, meditation to strengthen tendons and bones.
This was the best way to train under his current conditions. Beyond this, it would be better to find a way to awaken Yao Lao.
"Hm?"
Xiao Yan suddenly froze.
He touched the black ring on his chest—it had just flickered faintly!
This wasn't an illusion.
The ring was icy cold. Startled, he almost dropped it.
Crack—
It felt as though the ground beneath him shattered, and in the next moment, his entire body was plunged into bone-chilling cold.
The cold vanished quickly, but Xiao Yan was left standing frozen like a statue, unable to move.
"Haa…"
After a long while, a puff of white mist escaped his lips.
'This coldness… it's the Bone Chilling Flame!'
Xiao Yan staggered out of the pond, collapsing onto the bank, his entire body aching as though filled with shards of ice.
Just a tiny wisp of that power nearly froze me to death…
Had Yao Lao awakened?
Then Xiao Yan remembered—Xun Er came to the Xiao Family when she was four years old… that was this year!
Could this strange event be connected to her arrival?
"Xun Er! How are you feeling?"
Xiao Zhan was frantic as he held the girl in his arms. The once quiet and calm child now radiated terrifying heat.
Even with Dou Qi protecting his hands, Xiao Zhan hissed in pain.
The burning heat was unbearable, as though it was melting his bones from the inside out.
"You… sigh…"
You say you're fine? Impossible!
You're literally burning right now!
"Bring water! Quickly!" Xiao Zhan roared.
"Water won't work…"
Xun Er's voice was faint, her consciousness blurring. She reached up and tapped his cheek. The touch seared his skin like hot iron.
"Master! Water is here!"
The maid rushed in with guards carrying a wooden tub.
Splash!
Without hesitation, Xiao Zhan tossed Xun Er straight into the water.
Hiss—
Steam exploded upwards, filling the room.
Everyone froze.
Then, realizing what he'd done, Xiao Zhan practically dove forward, pulling her out with lightning speed.
Ling Ying, hidden in the shadows, twitched as if ready to kill someone.
"Father?"
When Xiao Yan returned at night, he immediately noticed water all over the floor, towels and bowls scattered everywhere.
His father sat cross-legged, wrapped in green Dou Qi, fanning the sleeping Xun Er with his own energy.
"You're back?"
Xiao Zhan looked up with bloodshot eyes. "From now on, she's the youngest. You're the older brother."
"Oh? Is this my sister?"
Xiao Yan smirked, pouring a bowl of water for his father. "Do I get a new bride too?"
"Pfft—!" Xiao Zhan nearly choked. "She calls me Uncle!"
"Oh, so you just gave away all three of us brothers?"
"Get out!"