Chapter 37

For a family to remain enduring, the most important thing is to maintain vitality. The source of this vitality is the young generation within the family. They are the fresh blood of the family, and only with the continuous influx of fresh blood can the large machinery of the family continue to operate smoothly.

Therefore, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony is a day of great importance for every family, and the Xiao family is no exception.

As one of the three major families in Wutan City, the Xiao family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony naturally drew the attention of various forces in the city. Some friendly forces were even directly invited to participate in the ceremony.

...

Sitting in the shade of a large tree, the cool breeze was refreshing and comfortable.

Xiao Yan squinted his eyes and looked at the huge platform in the distance. The platform, made of giant logs, was specially built for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the empty platform and then shifted to the crowds from various forces below the wooden platform. He sighed softly, "There are really a lot of people..."

Seeing Xiao Yan's slightly gloomy face, Xun Er, who knew he preferred quiet, couldn't help but laugh with a hint of schadenfreude.

Just as her laughter escaped, Xun Er noticed Xiao Yan's fierce gaze and quickly closed her mouth. Her eyes scanned him, and a faint golden light flashed in her clear eyes. She said with a surprised smile, "Brother Xiao Yan, you've reached the eighth level of Combat Qi?"

Xiao Yan glanced at her. It seemed that nothing could be hidden from this girl. He sighed inwardly and nodded weakly.

"Tsk tsk... to break through to the eighth level in less than a month, this speed... is terrifying." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, even Xun Er, who was usually calm, showed a look of surprise.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and suddenly paused, his gaze landing on a woman in a red dress near the giant wooden platform. She was chatting with others with a charming smile, her full and curvaceous figure barely concealed by the red dress, extremely alluring. At this moment, many people had gathered around her, making her the most lively circle below the platform.

This woman, whose every smile and frown exuded a mature charm, was none other than Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Temir Auction House, whom Xiao Yan had met before.

His gaze casually swept over her slender waist, and Xiao Yan inwardly sighed, "What a beauty!"

Just as Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on Ya Fei, a low hum came from beside him.

"Cough..." Xiao Yan blinked and subtly withdrew his gaze, smiling at the calm-faced Xun Er, "I didn't expect someone from the Temir Auction House to attend our family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony."

Glancing at Xiao Yan, who was pretending to be nonchalant, Xun Er said indifferently, "The relationship between the Xiao family and the Temir Auction House in Wutan City has always been good. What's so strange about her coming? Besides, this woman's social skills are well-known in Wutan City. Many young masters and gentlemen have spent a lot of money on her, but in the end, they didn't even get a glimpse of her. If Brother Xiao Yan has any such thoughts, be careful. I won't lend you money for such things."

Xiao Yan chuckled awkwardly and said with a bitter smile, "Even if I had such thoughts, would she even look at a little kid like me? She's at least seven or eight years older than me."

"Some women like that kind of thing, don't they?" Xun Er's red lips curled up in a half-smile.

Xiao Yan cleared his throat and had to retreat, his gaze not daring to move toward that circle again.

"Hmm, why is she back?" Seeing Xiao Yan back down, Xun Er gave up on her teasing. After a moment of silence, she suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Who?" Xiao Yan was taken aback and followed Xun Er's gaze, his brows slowly furrowing.

Where their gazes landed, a beautiful woman in what seemed to be school attire was leaning against a large tree. She had a long sword at her waist and a tall, slender figure. The most eye-catching feature was her smooth, long legs, which were even more alluring than the seductive Ya Fei.

"Xiao Yu?" Xiao Yan's gaze fixed on the tall beauty, and he frowned, "Didn't she go to the Jia Nan Academy for further studies? Why is she back?"

Xun Er shrugged cutely and suddenly tilted her head, teasing, "Brother Xiao Yan, you seem to be in trouble this time."

Xiao Yan's lips twitched, and he rubbed his aching forehead, muttering, "That spoiled woman, she's such a nuisance. Damn, it was just an accident when I stumbled into the hot spring where she was bathing in the back mountain and accidentally touched her thigh. As a result, that crazy woman chased me for half a year."

"Ha ha, a girl's body can't be touched casually." Xun Er covered her mouth and giggled, suddenly remembering that this guy had once touched her all over when she was little. A faint, alluring blush spread across her delicate face.

Xiao Yan pursed his lips and said coldly, "This woman is Xiao Ning's older sister, and neither of them is any good. The reason that bastard is so hostile to me is largely due to her."

In the distance, Xiao Yu seemed to sense something and turned her head, looking at Xiao Yan under the tree. She paused, then her brows furrowed, and a look of disdain and disgust flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yu moved her alluring, long legs and walked toward Xiao Yan.

Seeing her approach, Xiao Yan's brows also furrowed, and a look of disgust and impatience appeared on his face.

"Huh, Xiao Yan, I didn't expect you to have a comeback. It's quite surprising." As she got closer, Xiao Yu saw the unhidden impatience on Xiao Yan's face and sneered.

"None of your business."

Xiao Yan clearly had no patience for Xiao Yu. His usual calmness was completely abandoned, and he opened with a crude remark.

"Your mouth is still as sharp as ever. It seems that three years of hardship haven't dulled your edge," Xiao Yu said condescendingly, looking down at Xiao Yan with disdain.

"Same old tone..." Xiao Yan sighed inwardly with extreme disgust, tilted his head, and carefully examined the woman he hadn't seen in a year. His gaze slowly shifted to her long, smooth legs, and he touched his nose, saying indifferently, "Your legs are still as long as ever. I wonder if any other men have touched them since then?"

At this, the sneer on Xiao Yu's face turned into a look of iron-gray.

(Sorry, I was out of town these past few days, and it was inconvenient to write. But I'm back now, and updates will resume next week. The next update will be at midnight.)