Although Xiao Chen had become stronger and could easily defeat opponents at the middle stage of the Fasting realm, Wang He was at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. No matter how much Xiao Changfeng believed in Xiao Chen's strength, it was impossible for him to be Wang He's match. Therefore, he had no choice but to adopt this strategy.
Xiao Chen glanced back at Wang He with unwavering eyes, showing no emotion. Without saying a word, he turned and walked off the arena towards Xiao Changfeng.
Wang He's face turned red with anger, but he did not act. After all, many people were watching. If he, as the head of the family, attacked Xiao Chen, the people of Fengyue City would mock him for bullying the weak, which would only tarnish the Wang family's reputation.
"Xiao Changfeng!" Wang He gritted his teeth in anger, his eyes filled with terrifying murderous intent. He thought to himself, "Xiao Changfeng, I, Wang He, will definitely wipe out your Xiao family!"
"Damn Xiao Chen!" Wang Xuan also gritted his teeth in fury, his eyes filled with malicious intent.
"Let's go!" Wang He shouted angrily, leading the Wang family members away.
"Father, elders," Xiao Chen greeted respectfully with a slight bow as he approached Xiao Changfeng.
"Chen'er, it's wonderful! It's truly wonderful! My Chen'er has returned. You don't know how worried I've been. For three years, I've thought about you constantly. You've finally come back. I always knew you were still alive! Come, let me take a good look at you." Xiao Changfeng said excitedly, tears streaming down his face.
"Father, I made you worry." Seeing Xiao Changfeng's joyful expression, Xiao Chen couldn't help but choke up, his nose tingling with emotion.
The two elders, Xiao Yuntian and Xiao Yunfeng, felt awkward when they heard Xiao Chen still addressing them as elders. They forced out smiles more painful than crying. At this moment, they didn't know what to say, fully aware of how they had treated Xiao Chen in the past.
"After three years, Chen'er has grown taller and stronger, and his power has increased. Good, very good!" Xiao Changfeng said excitedly, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"Brother Xiao Chen." Xiao Ling spoke up, while Xiao Kui stood awkwardly beside her, unsure of what to say and unable to look Xiao Chen in the eye.
The members of the Xiao family present were certain of one thing: Xiao Chen was no longer a waste. He had become someone whose power surpassed theirs!
"Hehe." Xiao Chen's slightly tanned face showed a faint smile.
"Father, let's go home." Xiao Chen said with a smile.
Xiao Changfeng nodded happily, "Yes! Let's go home!"
Since Xiao Chen's disappearance, Xiao Changfeng had not smiled in three years. He ignored family affairs and lived in constant pain. Now, with Xiao Chen's sudden return and his effortless defeat of two mid-stage Fasting realm experts from the Wang family, Xiao Changfeng was revitalized. His face, which had shown no smile for three years, was now lit with joy.
After Xiao Chen supported Xiao Changfeng and left, the cultivators began to discuss.
"It's really Xiao Chen back! It's unbelievable. After three years, he can defeat mid-stage Fasting experts!"
"It seems that the Wang family's plan to suppress the Xiao family won't be easy now. I have a feeling Xiao Chen's return is no simple matter. Did you see his calm eyes just now? That's not normal."
"And when facing Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng earlier, his composure wasn't something a fifteen-year-old could display. It was more like that of a veteran who has faced countless life-and-death situations, as if he could handle anything."
"The Yang family's broken engagement... now that Xiao Chen isn't a waste anymore, I wonder how he'll handle it. Xiao Chen has become a mystery, and today's events will surely alarm the Yang family. It's really something to look forward to."
...
The Xiao family hadn't changed much in three years. If there was a change, it was that they weren't as strong as they were three years ago.
As Xiao Chen entered the Xiao family's residence, the disciples were puzzled about the young man in a black robe carrying a longsword. When they realized it was Xiao Chen, they were all shocked. However, their eyes quickly filled with disdain and contempt.
"From today onwards, you better put away those disdainful and contemptuous looks. The young master is not the same as before. If you had seen it, you'd know the young master defeated Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng with just a flick of his right hand. More impressively, when Wang Yufeng punched the young master's chest, Wang Yufeng was in such pain that he knelt!" a Xiao family disciple quickly explained, recalling the previous battle with shock and admiration in his eyes.
The Xiao family disciples gathered around, listening to the disciple recount the arena events. They were all astonished and found it hard to believe.
The news of Xiao Chen's sudden appearance in Fengyue City and his timely intervention during the Xiao family's crisis, where he injured Wang family's peers, spread like wildfire throughout the city.
Everyone in Fengyue City was talking about how Xiao Chen easily defeated the Wang family's peers. The emphasis on the word "easily" was significant. Xiao Chen's return to Fengyue City stirred up quite a commotion.
In the Wang family's main hall, Wang He sat on the main seat with a gloomy face. The two elders sat on either side, and some powerful disciples were also present in the hall.
"How are Yufeng and Wang Cheng's injuries?" Wang He asked with a dark expression.
A disciple, slightly fearful, replied, "Master, their bones are slightly fractured, but they will recover in a few months."
"Fractured bones?" Wang He was slightly surprised, recalling the earlier battle on the arena. He frowned and said, "Wang Cheng's attack was blocked by Xiao Chen, who used great force to fracture Wang Cheng's bones. That's already impressive. But Yufeng's punch, which Xiao Chen didn't evade, ended up with Yufeng's fist fractured. How do you explain that?"
"Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng were both easily defeated by Xiao Chen, which means Xiao Chen is no longer the waste he used to be. His current strength might have reached the late stage of the Fasting realm." The Grand Elder, Wang Kongyuan, said with a serious expression.
"Late stage of the Fasting realm? Grand Elder, that's impossible. Even if Xiao Chen is no longer a waste, how could he have such powerful cultivation in just three years?" Wang Xuan immediately disagreed, but his angry face betrayed his disbelief.
"Master, should we send someone to investigate Xiao Chen secretly?" a disciple suggested.
Wang He shook his head, "We haven't had any information about Xiao Chen in these three years. There's no way to investigate. However, no matter what, we must make the Xiao family disappear from Fengyue City. As for Xiao Chen, humph, once we crush the Xiao family, he won't be able to cause any trouble. From today, cut off all business dealings with the Xiao family and let them starve."
In the Yang family's courtyard, a Yang family guard hurriedly entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and respectfully reported, "Master, Xiao Chen... has returned."
In the hall, besides a middle-aged man in a luxurious gray robe, there was a noblewoman in a red silk dress. The man, exuding an aura of authority, had his hair tied back with a silver-white crown and a short mustache. His eyes radiated the presence of a strong person, giving an invisible sense of intimidation. He was Yang Zhengxiong, the head of the Yang family.
The beautiful noblewoman wore a red embroidered silk cheongsam that highlighted her well-proportioned figure. Her eyes were bright and spirited, with well-groomed eyebrows and a straight nose. Her jade-like skin and the intricate jade hairpin adorned with precious stones on her head accentuated her nobility. This was Zhang Xuelian, Yang Zhengxiong's wife.
It was she who had rejected the marriage between the Yang and Xiao families.
"What? Xiao Chen? Isn't he dead? How did he appear in Fengyue City? What's going on?" Yang Zhengxiong, who was sipping tea, was shocked.
"I don't know, Master. This news just came in. People have seen Xiao Chen defeat Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng on the arena. This news has spread throughout Fengyue City," the guard quickly explained.
Yang Zhengxiong was shocked and immediately frowned, "Is this true?"
"Everyone in Fengyue City is talking about it. How dare I lie?" the guard said.
"Oh? Defeated Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng? So Xiao Chen is no longer a waste?" Yang Xuelian raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise.
"Madam, it's not confirmed yet, as Xiao Chen didn't use any true essence on the arena," the guard respectfully replied, a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Didn't use true essence? Alright, you may go." Yang Xuelian waved her slender hand dismissively.
"Xiao Chen has returned, but does he still remember the engagement? Hmph, just because he's no longer a waste, does he think he can marry Meng'er? The Xiao family is being heavily suppressed by the Wang family and will soon be defeated. What qualifications does he have to marry Meng'er? Foolish dreams. The Yang family will never allow someone like Xiao Chen to appear," Lady Yang said elegantly, sipping her tea. Her disdain was evident, and her words were sharp and scornful.
Even though Xiao Chen was no longer a waste, in Lady Yang's eyes, he was still an insignificant nobody, not worth her attention.
"Honey, Xiao Changfeng is an upright man. There's a saying that like father, like son. I don't think Xiao Chen is that kind of person. Your words are too harsh," Yang Zhengxiong said with a wry smile. His slightly embarrassed expression revealed that he was henpecked.
Meanwhile, in the Xiao family hall.
Elders Xiao Yuntian and Xiao Yunfeng briefly recounted the events of the past three years. Xiao Chen then learned that the Wang family, in their bid to become the dominant power in Feng Yue City, had been ruthlessly suppressing the Xiao family. Six of their shops had gone bankrupt, and at this rate, the Xiao family would soon be unable to hold on.
After quietly listening to the two elders, a barely perceptible murderous intent flashed in Xiao Chen's determined eyes. Xiao Changfeng, who had been observing Xiao Chen from the main seat, noticed this and felt a surge of joy in his heart. He immediately asked, "Chen'er, what do you think?"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, "I'll take a trip to the Feng Yue Auction House."