Chapter 39: Killing in Broad Daylight
Outside the south gate of the Xiao family marketplace.
Liu Xi, dressed in white yet somehow managing to give off the impression of mourning clothes, was now wearing an expression of barely restrained excitement.
The reason, of course, stood not far in front of him—Xun'er and Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu's delicate face was lightly made up, her long black hair loosely tied back. The fitted white outfit she wore emphasized her graceful curves, long, sexy legs, and her full chest in all their glory.
Beside her, Xun'er wore a fresh, elegant pale blue dress with a light purple sash around her waist, highlighting her already slender figure.
Absolute beauties!
Liu Xi's eyes burned with lust as he stared at the two very different but equally stunning girls, his hands trembling with excitement.
One elegant as a lotus, the other curvaceous and seductive—both perfection.
Casting a glance at Xiao Ning, who had just been blasted to the ground, Liu Xi sneered, "If you want to protect the flowers, you'd better have the skill to back it up. You're not even close."
Humiliated by Liu Xi's mockery, Xiao Ning's face turned beet red as he glared back with bloodshot eyes. His sister and the girl he admired were being insulted before him, yet he could do nothing to stop it. The feeling was unbearable.
"Xiao Ning, step back. You're no match for him."
Xiao Yu stepped forward coldly, her voice calm.
Xiao Ning gritted his teeth but knew she was right. Reluctantly, he retreated.
"What's that girl's name?"
Liu Xi licked his lips and turned toward Jia Lie Ao, gesturing at Xiao Yu, who had just spoken.
"Hehe, Brother Liu Xi, they're all from the Xiao family. That long-legged one is Xiao Yu. But she's got a fiery temper. If a man's not capable, he'll never tame her."
Jia Lie Ao, flanked by a group of burly men, walked up with a lecherous smile.
"Heh, the spicier, the better." Liu Xi chuckled lasciviously, his gaze sliding over to the quiet girl in green beside Xiao Yu. His eyes lit up with predatory interest. "And what's this beauty's name?"
Seeing that Liu Xi now had his sights on the girl he liked, Jia Lie Ao's smile stiffened. Inwardly, he cursed this lust-driven idiot before reluctantly replying, "Her name is Xiao Xun'er."
"Lovely name."
Liu Xi nodded, then stepped forward with a fake gentleman's smile.
"I am Liu Xi. May I invite both young ladies to stroll through the marketplace? Anything you see and like, please consider it my gift."
As he spoke, he adjusted his robes to reveal the badge on his chest.
"A Grade-1 Alchemist?!"
Gasps erupted from the onlooking crowd as they caught sight of the emblem, causing Liu Xi's smile to grow even smugger.
Hearing those words, Xiao Yu's expression shifted. Still, she had already given her heart to someone else. How could she possibly go shopping with this sleazy, sharp-eyed creep? Her face turned cold.
"No time. Find someone else."
She took Xun'er's hand and turned to leave.
But several burly men stepped from the crowd and blocked their way with sinister smiles.
Seeing the group, all wearing the Jia Lie family emblem on their chests, Xiao Yu's expression darkened. She turned back toward Jia Lie Ao and snapped, "This is Xiao family territory. Aren't you being a little too arrogant?"
"Heh, the Xiao family? So what? All you've done is win some popularity with your little Coagulation Powder. If I wanted to, I could crush your Xiao family easily. That Vitality Powder I made? Just a random concoction."
Liu Xi pulled out a white folding fan, opened it, and fanned himself proudly, feigning elegance.
Xiao Yu's face turned even colder. Normally, she would've cursed someone like this without hesitation. But an alchemist wasn't someone to provoke lightly. After her time at Jia Nan Academy, she understood their power well.
And with the number of opponents around them, fighting would only lead to defeat. All she could do now was stall—this was that lecherous Xiao Yuan's territory, after all. Surely news would reach him soon.
But Xun'er had already run out of patience. A mere Grade-1 alchemist dared delay her from seeing Brother Xiao Yan?
"Trash will always be trash. Even if you wrap it in an alchemist's badge, it's still trash. And people like you—who flash your skills around like toys—Brother Xiao Yan has a word for that… idiot."
Xun'er's voice was clear and melodic, but her words stunned everyone.
The street fell silent. The elegant girl had cursed like a seasoned brawler!
Xiao Yu stared at Xun'er in disbelief for a moment before sighing, "Why are you picking up Xiao Yan's bad habits? I'm going to make Xiao Yuan scold him later. He's rubbing off on you!"
Publicly ridiculed, Liu Xi's face darkened. Already narrow-minded, he sneered coldly, "You're the first person in years to dare speak to me that way."
"What a stupid line."
Xun'er didn't even look at him. She turned to Xiao Yu and shrugged like Xiao Yan, looking utterly unimpressed.
Xiao Yu couldn't help but chuckle at her cute act.
"Jia Lie Ao, do it. I was going to play fair, but she clearly doesn't appreciate it."
Liu Xi waved his hand and said grimly.
"Ugh…"
Jia Lie Ao rubbed his temples, sighing internally:
What the hell is this guy thinking? Father was right—he might be able to refine pills, but he's a complete idiot in every other way. Dammit, how do morons like this become alchemists?
Sighing again, Jia Lie Ao forced a smile, "Brother Liu Xi… our Jia Lie family really can't afford to provoke the Xiao family."
"The Xiao family?" Liu Xi scoffed. "If I get that girl, I'll help you completely crush the Xiao family. I can refine more than just Vitality Powder. I've got two or three other pill recipes that will put them out of business for good!"
Jia Lie Ao was stunned. This idiot had just revealed everything without hesitation. While he was secretly delighted, he couldn't help but wonder: Is it easier to become an alchemist the lower your IQ?
He raised a hand. "Seize them!"
At his command, over ten burly men charged at the girls with fierce expressions.
Watching them rush forward, Xiao Yu's patience snapped. With a cold snort, she drew a green whip from her waist and lashed out.
Crack!
A long bloody welt appeared across a thug's face.
Xiao Yu, a Three-Star Fighter after studying at Jia Nan Academy, took down two or three thugs. But the rest were also Fighters, and soon she found herself on the defensive.
After blasting another thug back with a bleeding mouth, she retreated and shouted, "Xiao Ning, take Xun'er and get help!"
Xiao Ning nodded, but his face suddenly changed. "Sis, watch out!"
Xiao Yu spun around. The man she had whipped earlier was charging back, his face twisted in rage, aiming a punch at her chest.
Furious at the vulgarity of the strike, she summoned her Dou Qi to counter. But before she could strike—
A white-robed figure shot out from beside her, radiating ice-cold Dou Qi and a killing intent so intense the watching crowd trembled.
Shhhk!
A black iron spear pierced straight through the thug's fist and into his chest, protruding from the back.
"On my turf, someone dares speak to my people like that? Dares lay hands on them? Pei En—if even one of them survives, you and your useless bunch don't bother following me anymore!"
Xiao Yuan's chilling voice rang out as thirty men, armed and brimming with killing intent, surged from the crowd behind him like a pack of wolves.
(END CHAPTER)
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