Chapter One Fainted

  Xiao Zhan and Xiao Jian had not yet returned to the backyard when they were intercepted by Wan Er, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. She first examined Xiao Zhan from head to toe, and after confirming that he was unharmed, she grabbed Xiao Jian's ear with a furious expression, causing him to let out a pained cry as his already bruised face turned even more discolored.

  Before long, the two brothers were dragged into the study by an enraged War Wanyu. As the main culprit, Xiao Jian was forced to kneel down and accept punishment, while Xiao Zhan, as the accomplice, stood behind War Wanyu, not daring to breathe a word.

  The study was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and on the main seat, Zhan Wan'er's face was gloomy, her eyes fixed on Xiao Jian's were even more filled with anger. Beside her sat a elegant and refined woman, gentle and charming, but at this moment, her almond-shaped eyes were also narrowed, staring fiercely at Xiao Jian.

  Her name is Liu Ruyan, she comes from a prominent family, and is Xiao Bilei's second wife, as well as Xiao Jian's biological mother.

  Jian Wan'er's anger surged in her heart, and she trembled with rage. She pointed a shaking finger at him and said, "You're great! I told you to take your brother out for a stroll, but instead you took him to get into a fight! Fighting is one thing, but you actually went up against a group of people alone! What if they had hurt your brother? Have you thought about the consequences?"

  When Xie Jian heard Zhan Wan'er's questioning, his originally unpleasant expression suddenly became even more unpleasant. At that time, he was completely blinded by anger, and now thinking about it makes him shudder with fear.

  Zhan Wan'er suddenly stood up and coldly said: "Do you think your skills are getting bigger and you can be invincible in the world? You actually took what I said as a mere rumor, today I must let you remember it well."

  Warner, who had never been physically punished before, was thoroughly angry now and couldn't quell the flames of anger in her heart without giving this rascal a good beating.

  Looking at her son's bruised and swollen face, which was originally handsome but now almost unrecognizable, Liu Ruyan felt a surge of anger and sadness in her heart. This kid is getting more and more out of control! Normally, she would praise him for having the courage to fight, being a real man, but today this kid was too outrageous! Even if Wan'er didn't teach him a lesson, as his mother, she had to severely punish him. But when her eyes met that purple and blue face, her heart ached again. Damn it! Those kids really went all out, targeting his face, next time I catch you, you'll be sorry!

  "Tell me, why did you fight this time?"

  As soon as he heard this, Xiao Jian knew that his mother was giving him a chance to explain himself. But just as he was about to respond, his face suddenly felt a sharp pain, so painful that it took his breath away. Instantly, Xiao Jian gritted his teeth in anger and resentment. Those bastards were really ruthless, actually hitting him in the face. He would definitely get revenge when he got the chance. After a while, he managed to stammer out: "Of course I remember your teachings, Mother, but those bastards insulted my brother and said many unbearable things. How could I tolerate it? In the heat of the moment, I rushed forward."

  "What?!"

  The son was War Wanyan's reverse scale, and seeing someone dare to insult her son, she was suddenly furious. At this moment, a cold breath rolled up the entire study, and only saw War Wanyan's eyes like a sword, staring straight at Xiao Jian, as if wanting to see through him. This situation made Xiao Jian breathe tightly, and after retreating several steps, he fell to the ground with a thud, staring at War Wanyan in horror.

  Seeing his disheveled appearance, Liu Ruyan coldly snorted and said: "Alright, just stay on the sidelines for me. Don't go anywhere these few days, just stay in the backyard to reflect on your mistakes. In the future, after you've practiced your martial arts well, don't go out and lose face again."

  Xiao Jian said discontentedly: "Who made them bully the minority with their majority? Otherwise... humph!"

  Liu Ruyan's eyebrows shot up, her eyes widened in anger, and Xiao Jian immediately shrank back, standing obediently to the side. With a snort, Liu Ruyan turned to comfort Zhan Wan'er, while secretly thinking with some schadenfreude: Ah! Insulting Big Sister's child, this is Big Sister's taboo, those little brats really don't know how to live. Hmph! Prepare to face Big Sister's wrath!

  As expected, Zhan Wan'er sneered coldly and said, "The tiger doesn't show its might, they really think I'm a sick cat!"

  Liu Ruyan shivered at the side and thought with a mixture of surprise and schadenfreude, "Looks like someone else is going to be unlucky again."

  In the evening, in the study of the Xiao family's master.

  Xiao Zhengqiu was alone, reviewing documents. Since becoming the head of the household, this kind of work had to be done every day, year in and year out, for decades on end. Gradually, he had become immersed in it and quite enjoyed the feeling of having power in his grasp, with everything under his control.

  After finishing the last document, Xiao Zhengqiu let out a light breath and took a sip of the fragrant tea that his maid had just served. His eyes narrowed slightly as he picked up a confidential report from the desk, and after scanning it briefly, his eyebrows furrowed.

  This report detailed the conflict between Xiao Jian and Xiao Ce. After finishing reading it, Xiao Zhengqiu casually threw the report away, and after a cold laugh, his face showed deep worry again. The Xiao family was indeed declining, with each generation not as good as the last. More than ten people couldn't even defeat one person.

  That Xiao Ce, who had been placed in high hopes by him, performed terribly today. One move, he lost with just one move, and it was to a younger brother who was only at the sixth heaven of the postnatal stage.

  Good for nothing! This guy is absolutely useless!

  Xiao Jian? He seems to be Bie Li's eldest son. Thinking of Bie Li, Xiao Zhengqiu let out a sigh. He suddenly stood up and walked to the window, looking at the scenery outside with a melancholy expression. Recalling the past, Xiao Zhengqiu felt a pang of regret, wondering if he had been wrong about his mother. If not, Bie Li would now be the pillar of the Xiao family, and the revival of the Xiao family would no longer be an empty talk.

  Suddenly, a hurried footsteps came from afar, startling Xiao Zhengqiu who was lost in thought. The despondent look on his face vanished instantly, and a cold gleam burst forth from his eagle-like eyes.

  "Boom!"

  A loud crash, the door was kicked open violently by someone, and a furious figure burst in instantly.

  Looking at the person coming, Xiao Zhengqiu had a cold smile on his face. The only one in the entire Xiao family who dared to kick his door like this was his younger brother, Xiao Zhengji. As for why he was so furious, it must be because his useless grandson was defeated by someone with just one move during the day, and now he was here to find someone to vent his anger on.

  Although he was a close brother, but unlike Xiao Zhengqiu's handsome appearance, Xiao Zhengji looked more rugged, especially with the long scar on his face, which made him look even more ferocious when angry. As soon as he entered the study, Xiao Zhengji downed the strong tea that Xiao Zhengqiu had left behind in one gulp, then said in a loud and clear voice: "Big brother, you owe me an explanation!"

  Before Xiao Zhengqiu could speak, Xiao Zhengji had already spoken in a fit of rage: "Do you know? Today my son was beaten so badly that even his mother couldn't recognize him, and he's still lying in bed. His handsome face has been completely ruined, although I often say that good-looking men are all pretty boys." As he said this, he glanced at Xiao Zhengqiu and added: "Of course, this doesn't include you, big brother."

  Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhengqiu sneered coldly: "That's your grandson, what does it have to do with me? As the number one master of the Xiao family, you can go find the person who beat up your grandson and take revenge."

  Take revenge himself? For no reason, Xiao Zhengji thought of the woman with a sword, and he, who had always been fearless, showed a fearful look in his eyes.

  Xiao Zhengqiu saw his expression and sneered, picking up the report on the desk and throwing it in front of him.

  "Take a look at yourself, how brave your precious grandson is."

  Xiao Zhengji picked up the report on the table in confusion and looked down at it.

  "Boom!"

  Almost instantly, Xiao Zhengji's palm heavily imprinted on the desk, leaving a clear handprint. Then, with a ferocious face, he roared: "That little rabbit bastard, how dare he deceive me! Dammit, why doesn't he go die? More than ten people can't beat one, and he even lets me get justice for him. Ah, spit! He's lost all my face."

  Xiao Zhengji sat down in the chair beside the desk with his tall and majestic body.

  Looking at the clear palm print on the desk, Xiao Zhengqiu felt a sharp pain, and after a while, he said lightly: "Zhengji, you'd better be careful this time."

  "Grandpa is fine, you should take care of yourself."

  Xiao Zhengqiu said with a calm expression: "Your grandson's words are quite unpleasant, if they reach that woman's ears, hehehe, you'd better be prepared to face her wrath."

  Xiao Zhengji shivered and said anxiously: "She shouldn't be angry about this little thing, should she?"

  The words had barely fallen when a sudden, shrill cry erupted from outside the study.

  "Get out of here, you two old men!"

  Xiao Zhengqiu was startled, he really wanted to slap himself, this is indeed a jinxed mouth, what he just said happened. And Xiao Zhengji was even more unbearable, he had already fallen to the ground with a thud.

  Among the panic of the two brothers, suddenly appeared in the study a beautiful and elegant woman, Yan Ruo'er. Her face was icy cold, her eyes were filled with hatred, and her purple dress fluttered as if blown by an invisible wind, dancing lightly.

  Xiao Zhengqiu opened his mouth, just about to say something, when he heard a cold hum from Zhan Wenyu, and then the air in the study suddenly solidified. The two people's necks felt like they were being pinched by someone's hand, their breathing was blocked, and they felt extremely uncomfortable.

  Looking at the two brothers struggling, Shao Wan'er coldly laughed and said: "From now on, I don't want to hear any gossip in the Xiao family. If anyone dares to slander my child again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

  Xiao Zhengqiu's difficult words: "Daughter-in-law, that... that..."

  "Hmph! I don't want to hear any explanations, tomorrow you must give me an account, or else..."

  After a cold snort, Zhan Wan'er disappeared without a trace, as if she had never appeared at all.

  Seeing the female star had left, Xiao Zhengji finally let out a breath of relief. Recalling the suffocating feeling just now, he was only a heartbeat away. This feeling was even more terrifying than over ten years ago; she wouldn't have already broken through to...

  At the thought of that possibility, Xiao Zhengji's body trembled, and he turned to look at Xiao Zhengqiu, only to find his counterpart staring back at him in equal astonishment. Xiao Zhengji swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he asked: "She... has she already broken through to the realm of Immortal Martial Arts?"

  Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhengqiu's face was filled with a complex expression.