Two days later, Xiao Chen arrived at Feng Yue City from Qing Shui Town. As he stood at the city gates, staring at the streets and buildings that hadn't changed much from three years ago, an uncontrollable excitement welled up within him.
It had been three years since Xiao Chen left Feng Yue City. Now, returning once again, he was filled with a mix of emotions. At this moment, he realized that the city he once thought wasn't worth his attachment actually held a significant place in his heart, something he had buried deep inside back then.
"Xiao Chen, is this Feng Yue City where you grew up? It's far inferior to Tian Du, and I hardly see any cultivators in the fasting stage," the ancient white tiger transmitted its thoughts, seeming disappointed as the city didn't match its expectations.
"Hehe, yes, this is Feng Yue City. I know every street and what each shop sells. I'm finally back," Xiao Chen said with an uncontainable smile on his face.
Step by step, Xiao Chen walked slowly into Feng Yue City. He appeared calm on the surface, but inside, he was extremely excited and nervous.
As he walked through the streets, Xiao Chen looked at the familiar shops on both sides. Everything was almost the same as three years ago. The biggest difference was that Xiao Chen had grown up and changed significantly. No one recognized him; at most, they glanced at him and then looked away. No one knew he was the so-called "waste" Xiao Chen who disappeared three years ago.
"Xiao Chen, you seem to miss Feng Yue City a lot. Although you felt no attachment back then because you were a 'waste' who couldn't cultivate true essence, you grew up here. No matter how much you hate it, you will still have memories. Because what you hate isn't the city itself, but the people here who mocked and bullied you. Am I right?" The ancient white tiger transmitted its thoughts with a smile, easily reading Xiao Chen's eyes.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen smiled bitterly, "Hehe, Little White Tiger, maybe you're right. This is the place where I grew up. I have no reason to hate Feng Yue City; it provided me a place to live. I shouldn't hate it."
"Hehe, it's good that you understand. Let's go, let's visit your Xiao family. I'm curious to see where you used to live," the ancient white tiger transmitted its thoughts with a laugh.
"Hehe, you might be disappointed. The Xiao family isn't wealthy. Although it is considered a family in Feng Yue City, it pales in comparison to the Wang and Liu families," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile, his nervousness and excitement gradually calming down.
"Hey! Everyone, come and see! It's about to start!"
"Oh? Is it the conflict that escalated yesterday?"
"Yes! Didn't you see the stage set up this morning? Let's go and see."
As Xiao Chen strolled along the street, he overheard these conversations. Curious, he wondered, "What's happening? Why are they in such a hurry?"
"Bang!"
"Ouch! That hurts!"
While Xiao Chen was still puzzled, an elderly man accidentally bumped into him and fell to the ground, clutching his head in pain.
Xiao Chen quickly helped the old man up and said with a faint smile, "Uncle Liu, are you hurt?"
"Oh, no, no, I'm fine. I'm sorry for bumping into you," the old man, whom Xiao Chen called Uncle Liu, said with a smile. However, upon seeing Xiao Chen, he asked in confusion, "Young man, you seem unfamiliar. How do you know me?"
Xiao Chen didn't answer the old man's question and instead asked curiously, "What happened? Why is everyone running to see?"
"The Wang family took over the business of six of the Xiao family's shops, causing them to close down. The Xiao family can't take it anymore and has completely fallen out with the Wang family. A stage has been set up; it seems they're going to resolve this with force," Uncle Liu explained. It turned out he was also heading to watch the commotion.
"I see. I'll go take a look," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile and followed the crowd.
"Old Liu, are you okay?" Another old man of similar age came over with concern.
Uncle Liu shook his head and then said curiously, "I'm fine, but it was strange. When I bumped into that young man, it felt like hitting an iron plate. It hurt a lot."
"What? An iron plate? Are you getting senile? How could a young man's body be like an iron plate? Come on, let's go watch too," the other old man said with a helpless smile, not believing Uncle Liu at all.
"Could I be getting senile? That's impossible. Why did it hurt so much?" The more Uncle Liu thought about it, the stranger it seemed to him.
In a large open area in the center of Feng Yue City, a stage about half the size of a basketball court had already been set up. Seating areas had been arranged on both sides several meters away from the stage, where the high-ranking members of the Wang and Xiao families sat facing each other. The area around the stage was already packed with people, all nearby cultivators who had rushed over, including Xiao Chen, though no one recognized him.
"Xiao Chen, which side is your Xiao family on?" the ancient white tiger transmitted its thoughts.
"The left side is the Xiao family. The one sitting in the middle is the family head, with two elders beside him. The ones behind are the Xiao family disciples," Xiao Chen explained in a low voice. As he looked at Xiao Changfeng, a sharp pain pierced his heart, and his eyes reddened.
At this moment, Xiao Changfeng no longer had the demeanor of a family head from back then. His hair was a mix of black and white, and his face looked haggard, devoid of any vitality.
"What? Your Xiao family is so weak? There's not a single Jindan stage cultivator, and even the family head is only in the middle stage of the fasting period? The two elders are only in the early stage of the fasting period? How are you going to fight the Wang family like this?" The ancient white tiger was stunned, finding the current Xiao family extremely weak.
"I don't know what's going on. Their cultivation levels don't seem to have improved. Only a few disciples have broken through to the early stage of the fasting period," Xiao Chen said in a low voice, immediately seeing through the cultivation levels of the Xiao family members.
On the other hand, the Wang family head, Wang He, was already in the early stage of the Jindan period. The three elders had reached the late stage of the fasting period, and even the Wang family disciples were all in the fasting period. Their strength far surpassed that of the Xiao family.
"Xiao family head, don't say I, Wang He, don't give your Xiao family face. This stage was your suggestion. If you're afraid of losing face, it's not too late to regret it now," Wang He, the Wang family head, stood up and said coldly, his words full of contempt, not hiding it at all.
Xiao Changfeng didn't speak. The first elder, Xiao Yuntian, angrily shouted, "Wang He, your Wang family is too much. You've taken over the business of six of our shops, driving them out of business. Do you want to force our Xiao family to a dead end?"
"Xiao Yuntian, you're not speaking correctly. Business always involves competition. If people don't like buying from your Xiao family's shops, can you blame it on our Wang family?" Wang family elder Wang Kongyuan sneered, a look of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"Hmph! Your Wang family disciples frequently disrupt our shops and injure our disciples, scaring away customers! Besides these despicable means, what else can you do?" Xiao family second elder Xiao Yunfeng snorted, his old face turning red with anger.
"Xiao Yunfeng, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense. Do you have any evidence or witnesses to prove that our Wang family disciples disrupted your shops? Without evidence or witnesses, don't slander our Wang family, lest you ruin our reputation!" Wang He immediately shouted coldly, his face darkening.
"You!" Xiao Yunfeng was furious, but he had no evidence or witnesses. Even if someone had seen it, no one would dare to testify. Standing up as a witness would mean making an enemy of the Wang family, and the consequences would be severe.
Wang He glanced at the silent Xiao Changfeng and then said coldly, "Xiao family head, my Wang family has given your Xiao family enough face. Business matters are unpredictable. Didn't we leave your family one shop?"
"Family head, there's no need to give the Xiao family face. Since Xiao Chen disappeared, Xiao Changfeng has been a mess, no different from a waste. In three years, his cultivation hasn't improved at all. Let's take this opportunity to completely eradicate the Xiao family! That way, Feng Yue City will only have our Wang family and the Liu family. Our Wang family's strength has greatly increased, and we control half the business in Feng Yue City. Soon, we'll be able to compete with the Liu family! We have nothing to fear," Wang Kongshan said in a low voice.
"This matter can't be rushed. Let's wait and see. The Liu family isn't that simple," Wang He replied in a low voice.
"Too despicable! First elder, they're going too far! I'll fight them!" Xiao Kui shouted angrily, his teeth grinding in rage. The more he saw the Wang family's hypocritical faces, the angrier he became. He immediately jumped onto the stage.
"Xiao Kui, with your early fasting period cultivation, you dare to come on stage? I'll deal with you!" Wang family disciple Wang Yufeng sneered and also jumped onto the stage.
"Be careful, I won't go easy on you!" Wang Yufeng sneered, and as he mobilized his true essence, he stomped on the stage and charged forward.
"Bang!"
Wang Yufeng, being in the middle stage of the fasting period, had an advantage in cultivation and speed. He knocked Xiao Kui off the stage with a single blow.
"Xiao Chen, your Xiao family is too weak," the ancient white tiger transmitted its thoughts. Xiao Chen didn't reply, but his face was very dark.
"Xiao Kui, you're too weak. Can't even take a punch?" Wang Yufeng sneered arrogantly.
"I'll go!" Xiao Ling shouted, leaping onto the stage and immediately launching an attack with her true essence.
"Hmph! Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a girl," Wang Yufeng snorted, throwing a powerful punch.
"Bang!"
Although Xiao Ling was also in the middle stage of the fasting period, she couldn't withstand Wang Yufeng's attack and was sent flying with a single punch.
"Hmph! Xiao Chen is a waste, and so are you all. You're no match! If anyone else from the Xiao family is dissatisfied, come up!" Wang Yufeng became more arrogant after defeating two people.
The Xiao family disciples looked at each other, none daring to step up. Seeing this, Wang Yufeng continued to mock, "Is there no one left in the Xiao family? Xiao family head, why don't you give it a try?"
"Who said there's no one left in the Xiao family?" At this moment, a cold voice echoed from the crowd, and a dark figure leaped onto the stage.
"Who is he? I've never seen him before," people around the stage began to murmur.
"Who is he?" Xiao Yuntian and others were also puzzled, not recognizing the person on the stage. However, Xiao Changfeng stared intently at the person.
Wang Yufeng looked him up and down and asked arrogantly, "Kid, who are you?"
"Xiao Chen of the Xiao family!"