Chapter 85

Facing dozens of Four-Star Fighters armed with iron rods, the more than ten guards who had been strutting around earlier instantly turned pale. Before they could even think of escaping, the black iron rods ruthlessly rained down on their bodies. In a short while, the street was filled with the piercing screams of agony.

Xiao Yan glanced coldly at the grim-faced Jialuo opposite him, then slightly turned his head to look at Xiao Yu, whose face was flushed with anger and embarrassment. His tone softened a bit, "Are you okay? You should have notified me in advance. The Jialuo family's bunch of bastards have been looking for trouble lately."

It was the first time Xiao Yan had spoken to her so gently, and Xiao Yu was clearly taken aback. The flush on her face deepened, and she moved her gaze around aimlessly, not knowing what to do. She said, "When I came out, I met Xun'er. She said she wanted to come and take a look, so I accompanied her. How was I to know we'd run into these bastards?"

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly, his gaze shifting to the green-clad girl who was beaming with joy at his appearance. His smile became even gentler, "You really let it all out just now, didn't you?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's teasing, Xun'er innocently shrugged and smiled, "I didn't mean to, but I just couldn't stand his attitude. After all, even the Xiao Yan from back then wouldn't dare to snatch people on the street."

Xiao Yan chuckled awkwardly and rubbed his nose. Although he had been a bit arrogant back then, he wasn't as brain-dead as this guy, right?

"Hey, isn't this the young master of the Xiao family? It's been a year, and I hear you've finally shed the label of a waste?" Seeing Xiao Yan chatting intimately with the girl he admired, Jialuo's eyes twitched. Driven by jealousy, he let out a mocking laugh.

"Who is he?" Liu Xi's gaze was also somewhat cold. The Xun'er who had never given him a proper look before was now chatting and laughing with another man. This was a blow that the overly proud Liu Xi found hard to accept.

"Hehe, Big Brother Liu Xi, this is the famous 'genius' of the Xiao family, named Xiao Yan. He practiced for over ten years, and his Combat Qi only reached the third or fourth level. But recently, after eating something, he suddenly jumped to the eighth level of Combat Qi a few months ago," Jialuo introduced with a sneer.

"A thing that isn't even a Fighter, no matter how 'genius,' is still a waste," Liu Xi sneered.

Hearing Liu Xi's words, Xun'er's face turned cold, and a golden flame flashed in her eyes.

Gently patting the slightly tense Xun'er, Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head. He turned to look at Liu Xi, who was dressed in white, and casually glanced at the Alchemist's badge on his chest. He smiled, "You must be the one who refined the 'Spring Revival Powder,' right?"

Liu Xi sneered, puffing out his chest where the badge was pinned, and said proudly, "That's right, I'm the alchemist the Jialuo family hired."

Xiao Yan nodded as if in realization, smiling, "No wonder. A healing potion with such low-grade medicinal power can only be refined by an alchemist like you. You really haven't let down your teacher's teachings."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the surrounding mercenaries burst into laughter. After the Jialuo family's recent brutality, these mercenaries had a lot of resentment towards the maker of the Spring Revival Powder. Now, seeing Xiao Yan daring to mock him openly, they felt a sense of satisfaction.

The laughter around him made Liu Xi's face slowly turn dark, and he stared coldly at Xiao Yan, "You're inviting enemies that you can't afford to provoke for your Xiao family."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback, and he laughed bitterly, rubbing his forehead. He was really speechless with this overly arrogant guy. Did he think he was a disciple of a Dou Di? A First-Class Alchemist could indeed make the Xiao family take him seriously, but to say they couldn't afford to provoke him was just a joke.

"Sigh, how can someone with such intelligence become an alchemist?" Sighing and shaking his head, Xiao Yan exchanged a look with Xun'er. After talking with Liu Xi, he finally understood why the gentle and soft-tempered Xun'er disliked this guy so much.

Rubbing his face, Xiao Yan was too lazy to waste words with this clearly unintelligent guy. He raised his hand to the dozens of men behind him and smiled, "Fight, including the master. Since they dare to cause trouble on our Xiao family's territory, we shouldn't be polite. Otherwise, we'll be laughed at."

Seeing Xiao Yan's actions, Jialuo's face changed slightly. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to actually dare to do it. He turned his eyes and sneered, "I thought you had improved, but you're still just a waste who relies on your subordinates."

"Your provocation is very low-level," Xiao Yan said softly, waving the iron rod in his hand.

"You can take it as a provocation if you want. A waste like you doesn't deserve to walk with Miss Xun'er," Jialuo sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He said with ill intent, "You've undergone the Chengren Ceremony, right? Heh, that means I can challenge you now, and you have no reason to refuse, right?"

"Your provocation is really despicable. Xiao Yan is only seventeen this year, and you're already twenty-three. How can you even say such a challenge out loud? If you want to play, I'll play with you!" Hearing Jialuo's challenge, Xiao Yu's eyebrows furrowed, and she whipped her long whip, leaving a shallow white mark on the floor. She scolded.

Jialuo's mouth twitched, and he sneered, "You really have good fortune, with women standing up for you. Heh, you're just a coward who hides behind women."

"Damn, this pretty boy is too arrogant. Little Master, we'll help you play with him." Seeing Jialuo's aggressive stance, some of the mercenaries who were on good terms with Xiao Yan immediately shouted loudly.

Seeing the reaction his words had caused, Jialuo's face changed. His strength was only at the Three-Star Fighter level, and if he really provoked everyone, he was a bit nervous.

Glancing at the still expressionless Xiao Yan, Jialuo brushed his sleeves and sneered, "Since you don't dare to accept, forget it. Let's go, Big Brother Liu Xi. A person who doesn't even dare to accept a challenge isn't worth paying attention to."

Liu Xi nodded with a sinister smile, his gaze lingering on Xun'er with lust. He then glared at Xiao Yan fiercely and said, "Kid, wait and see. I'll make your Xiao family hand you over to me! No woman I set my eyes on has ever slipped through my fingers."

Xun'er glanced coldly at the lecherous Liu Xi, and a cold killing intent flashed in her eyes.

As Jialuo and Liu Xi turned to leave, several cold-faced men from the Xiao family appeared at the market entrance, blocking the door like a wall.

"I know you want to cripple me. Well, fine, as you wish... I accept your challenge." Just as Jialuo was about to signal for help, the young man's calm voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Hearing this, Jialuo was first stunned, then a sinister smile slowly spread across his face, "If you're looking for death, then don't blame me!"