Chapter 10: I Am the Path of Righteousness
After leaving the Xiao family, Xiao Yan arrived at the market managed by the Xiao family, wandering around while searching for the items listed on Yao Chen's alchemist materials list.
"Twenty-year-old Purple Leaf Orchid, five-year-old Bone-Cleansing Flower."
After a brief stroll, Xiao Yan purchased these two items at a reasonable price.
Gold coins, minus 900.
Good grief, this cut his savings in half.
Xiao Yan held his head in pain.
As for the remaining Wood Elemental Magic Core, he didn't even need to guess—there was no way his remaining money would be enough.
(Senior Yao, is this how alchemists spend money?)
(What did you think? Let me remind you, this is just the most basic of materials. Slightly higher-tier herbs? Even if you sold the entire Wu Tan City, it wouldn't be enough to cover them.)
Yao Chen's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, leaving him speechless.
Everyone says alchemists are precious, and today Xiao Yan truly understood that firsthand.
Not to mention the qualifications and mentors required to become an alchemist, just the cost of materials alone is something ordinary people can't bear. From this, it's clear how much it costs to train an alchemist.
Back to the topic, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows again.
What to do about the remaining shortage of money?
"Get lost!"
Just when Xiao Yan was at a loss, he suddenly heard a familiar voice among the bustling crowd ahead.
Was that Xiao Mei?
And from the tone of her voice, she seemed quite angry?
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he pushed through the crowd in the direction of the voice, only to find a circle of people gathered. He squeezed through with difficulty and immediately saw Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er confronting a young man with a servant in tow.
When he saw the man, Xiao Yan's face darkened slightly.
He was the son of the head of the Jia Lie family, one of the three major families of Wu Tan City, Jia Lie Ao.
"It's rare to run into Xun'er today, would Xun'er like to go for a walk with me?" Jia Lie Ao smiled handsomely, staring at Xiao Xun'er with a lecherous look, which made Xiao Xun'er wrinkle her brows in disgust.
She and Xiao Mei had hurried to change clothes after learning that Xiao Yan would be going to the market today. After changing, they learned from Xiao Zhan that Xiao Yan had already left, so they rushed to the market.
But with so many people there, finding Xiao Yan was no easy task.
Before they found Xiao Yan, they were first accosted by Jia Lie Ao.
More accurately, it was only Xiao Xun'er who was accosted.
Facing this disgusting man who seemed to deserve a punch in the face, Xiao Xun'er really wanted to smash her fist into his face.
But since he was from the Jia Lie family, physically striking him could cause unnecessary trouble for the Xiao family. Xiao Xun'er didn't want to make things worse, so she forced herself to suppress her impulse.
However, Xiao Mei, being a direct descendant, didn't care about that much.
Seeing Jia Lie Ao's offensive gaze, her temper flared, and she immediately pointed at his nose and cursed.
"Get lost! Is Xun'er supposed to be called by you? Go look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are! Just seeing you makes me feel disgusted! How dare you invite a member of the Xiao family to go shopping? I spit!"
Well, Xiao Mei's temper and mouth were both explosive, and her words made Jia Lie Ao's face darken.
On the other hand, Xiao Xun'er's face softened, and she even smiled a little when she saw Jia Lie Ao's awkward expression.
This smile made Jia Lie Ao's previously grim face lighten, and all the resentment from Xiao Mei's insults instantly disappeared. His gaze toward Xiao Xun'er became filled with unreserved possessiveness.
"Don't dismiss me so quickly~" said Jia Lie Ao, pulling out a bracelet from his pocket. "This is a bracelet I just bought. It has a Wood Elemental Magic Core embedded in it, which greatly helps with Dou Qi recovery. Xun'er, since you're about to become a Practitioner, this would be the perfect accessory for you. I hope you'll accept it~"
Jia Lie Ao's persistence finally made Xiao Xun'er unable to hold back her frustration. Her previously soft expression became tinged with anger.
Xiao Mei had never seen someone so shameless that they could still smile after being cursed at. Her fury rose another level, and she was about to scold Jia Lie Ao again when suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them.
It was Xiao Yan.
"Cousin Xiao Yan!"
"Xiao Yan ge ge!"
Both Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan with joy. Xiao Yan turned slightly and handed the herbs he had just purchased to Xiao Xun'er for her to hold. Then, he turned to face Jia Lie Ao, cupping his hands and speaking in a solemn tone.
"Young Master Jia Lie, my two younger sisters have clearly expressed their displeasure. I hope you will stop bothering them."
Compared to Xiao Mei's merciless cursing, Xiao Yan's words were slightly confrontational, but they were still polite.
Jia Lie Ao looked at Xiao Yan, who had appeared suddenly, his expression shifting between gloom and light. Then, he laughed.
"Oh~ I thought who it was, isn't this the useless son of the Xiao family's patriarch?"
"You!!!"
Jia Lie Ao's words immediately angered the two girls behind Xiao Yan. Xiao Mei was about to speak when Xiao Yan raised a hand to stop her, and Xiao Xun'er also stopped her with a glance.
After calming the two girls down, Xiao Yan turned his gaze back to Jia Lie Ao and responded, speaking with calm composure.
"I accept the name of being a waste, but I ask Young Master Jia Lie not to involve my father."
As Xiao Yan spoke, a hint of anger could be heard in his tone.
It was a fact that everyone in Wu Tan City knew that he was a waste, and Xiao Yan wouldn't argue against it.
But his status as a waste had nothing to do with his father.
He could be insulted with the title of "waste," but his father should not be dragged into this.
Filial piety is the most important, and Xiao Zhan, his father, was someone worth protecting and honoring.
Jia Lie Ao coldly snorted and said slowly.
"If the son is a waste, what about the father? What's wrong with me insulting him?!"
Once Jia Lie Ao said this, Xiao Yan's aura suddenly changed, his gaze turning cold.
Xiao Yan hated the law of the jungle, but he also knew very well that there were people in this world who only learned their lesson when they were beaten up.
"Jia Lie Ao." Xiao Yan no longer used honorifics, and his gaze darkened as he stared at Jia Lie Ao. "I challenge you to a life-and-death duel. Whatever the outcome, we will leave it to fate!"
As soon as Xiao Yan's words fell, the crowd fell silent. Even Jia Lie Ao was stunned.
What is this?
A waste with three levels of Dou Disciple dares to challenge me, a Practitioner?
Is he out of his mind?
"Cousin Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Mei was startled and was about to step forward to stop him, but Xiao Xun'er pulled her back.
"Believe in Xiao Yan ge ge."
Seeing the seriousness in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, Xiao Mei calmed down and quietly watched Xiao Yan's back.
What Xiao Mei didn't see was that Xiao Xun'er had secretly hidden one hand behind her, with golden light shining in her palm.
At that moment, Jia Lie Ao came back to his senses, and a smug smile spread across his face.
"Good! Good!" Jia Lie Ao raised his arm, slowly clenching his fist. "I've been waiting for this day! I'll beat you to the ground and let Xun'er see what a pathetic mess you are! I never thought you'd walk right into my trap today!"
Jia Lie Ao would never agree to a life-and-death duel on equal footing, but now, facing a waste with third stage of Dou Disciple who initiated the challenge, there was no reason not to accept!
I, Jia Lie Ao, will beat you into the ground today!
"Then it's settled, you've agreed, right?"
Xiao Yan slowly assumed a combat stance, while Jia Lie Ao just stood there casually, looking at Xiao Yan with a relaxed smile.
"To avoid others saying I'm bullying you, you can strike first~"
Jia Lie Ao waved his hand at Xiao Yan, completely not taking him seriously.
A waste with third stage of Dou Disciple? You can only win if you dream!
Before Jia Lie Ao could finish speaking, Xiao Yan's figure vanished in an instant. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Jia Lie Ao, his clenched fist hovering near Jia Lie Ao's face, causing him to fall onto the ground, looking dazed and shocked.
How is this possible?!
A waste with three levels of Dou disciple, how could his speed be this fast?!
Xiao Yan didn't care about Jia Lie Ao's stunned thoughts. He coldly looked down at the man sitting on the ground in a disgraceful state.
"Jia Lie Ao, this is a life-and-death duel. Don't take your life lightly."
"You!!!"
Looking at Xiao Yan's indifferent eyes, Jia Lie Ao was furious.
He had been despised!
He, a proud first-star Dou Practitioner, was looked down upon by a mere three-star Dou Disciple waste!
Great humiliation!
Unbearable!
With the help of his servants, Jia Lie Ao stood up, glaring at Xiao Yan as he returned to his position.
"I will kill you!"
Jia Lie Ao had already made up his mind to kill Xiao Yan in this duel.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's mind echoed with Yao Chen's reprimanding voice.
"Hey! Xiao Yan! You could have killed that brat with the Eight Extremes Collapse technique just now! Why did you stop?!"
(Because, I want to defeat him honorably, not while he's defenseless.)
"You! So stubborn!!!"
Yao Chen was nearly furious. She had sensed that Xiao Yan was very stubborn, but she didn't expect him to be this stubborn! More stubborn than any old fool she had ever met!
In a life-and-death duel, who cares about methods?
Only the winner matters! The loser has nothing left!
But Xiao Yan calmly responded in his heart.
(This is not stubbornness, Senior Yao.)
Xiao Yan looked at the enraged Jia Lie Ao, his heart growing colder.
(I will defeat him honorably, and I want him and everyone else to have no excuses.)
If Xiao Yan wanted to study underhanded methods, there were plenty of ways to do so.
But Xiao Yan had never resorted to them.
To him, honor was not only about methods but also about his heart!
He wanted everyone to recognize that Xiao Yan was the right path! And the ideals he believed in were the right path!
Xiao Yan knew that if he ever used even the slightest underhanded trick, no matter how small, everything he had said would become a lie.
In the future, he hoped to stand at the peak of the world and declare to all on this continent:
"I, Xiao Yan, am the path of Righteousness!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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