Chapter 89

Under the pitch-black night sky, a silver moon hung high, its faint light draping the earth in a layer of silver gauze, making it look exceptionally mysterious.

After the hustle and bustle of the day, the city of Wutan fell into darkness and silence at night. Occasionally, from the houses on some streets, the sound of a man's heavy breathing and a woman's restrained moans could be heard.

In the room at the back of the Xiao family's residence, a young man lay on his bed, his eyes as dark as the night sky, now filled with a cold gleam.

"Teacher, what is your current strength level?" After a long silence, Xiao Yan suddenly asked softly.

"What?" A casual counter-question came from the black ring on his finger. After a moment, Old Yao said indistinctly, "Although I am now just a soul, with the help of the异火 (mysterious flame), dealing with some Great Battlemasters or Spirit Warriors should not be a problem."

Hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on Xiao Yan's face, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Do you want to kill that guy from earlier today?" Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Old Yao asked with a slight surprise.

"Jialuo is not worth my effort." Xiao Yan smiled and said lightly, "The two months are almost up, and I'm losing patience with the Jialuo family. So, I want to secretly take care of that alchemist called Liu Xi. Once that alchemist is dead, the Jialuo family, without a source of healing potions, will lose their remaining market share. At that point, even if the family can survive, their power will drastically decline, and they will no longer pose a threat to the Xiao family."

"Hmm, is it really because you've lost patience? Your character doesn't seem to be the type to act rashly." After a moment of silence, Old Yao's teasing voice came from the ring: "It seems you really care about that girl named Xun'er. That guy was just a bit lewd, and you've harbored a grudge. You really are a jealous kid."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's face flushed slightly. Exposed, he felt a mix of anger and embarrassment: "I don't have much time left. How can I keep playing with them? Even if I hadn't met that guy today, I would have started using other means."

"Alright, alright, it's not about that girl..." Seeing Xiao Yan's reaction, Old Yao laughed a few times, the teasing in his voice making Xiao Yan roll his eyes helplessly.

"Since you want to take action, let's get moving. I'm in a soul state, so I'll need to use your body." Stopping his teasing, Old Yao said with a smile.

Nodding quickly, Xiao Yan leaped off the bed, pulled out a dark red storage ring from his pocket, and took out a black cloak that he had prepared. He put it on with great familiarity, and instantly, the slender young man transformed into a bulky, mysterious black-robed figure.

"Let's go. You don't need to do anything; I'll control your body. With my soul enveloping you, you don't have to worry about being identified by your aura." Seeing Xiao Yan ready, Old Yao reminded him with a smile.

"Okay." Nodding, Xiao Yan quietly walked to the window, looking around like a thief before jumping out. As he fell, a mysterious and powerful force emanated from the ring on his finger.

The mysterious force quickly enveloped Xiao Yan's entire body, and suddenly, his falling figure suspended in mid-air. He lightly touched the roof with his feet, and the black figure, like a hidden eagle, silently darted out of the Xiao family's residence, disappearing into the dark night.

A moonless and windy night, the perfect time for murder.

...

The Jialuo family.

"Mr. Liu Xi, can you really refine other potions?" In the brightly lit hall, Jialuo Bi, who had been in a very gloomy mood, was first stunned by Liu Xi's confident voice, then asked with great joy.

Very satisfied with Jialuo Bi's surprised expression, Liu Xi took a sip of tea and said with a proud look: "Besides healing potions, I can also refine a potion that is very suitable for mercenaries. It's called the Strength Pill, which can increase the strength of the person who takes it by about ten percent in a short time."

Hearing this, Jialuo Bi's joy increased. If he could really refine such a special potion, the Jialuo family could use it to regain popularity and perhaps even surpass the Xiao family.

"However, this Strength Pill cannot be mass-produced like healing potions. With my current strength, I can probably refine only about twenty a day." Liu Xi said with a hint of regret.

"Ha ha, twenty is fine. We can hold an auction, and the highest bidder gets it. After all, healing potions are the mainstay, and we just want to use this to regain popularity." Jialuo Bi waved his hand and laughed.

"Heh, Chief Jialuo, I can indeed refine the Strength Pill, but according to our agreement, I am only responsible for refining healing potions, right?" Seeing that the Strength Pill had piqued Jialuo Bi's interest, Liu Xi's eyes twinkled, and he suddenly smiled.

Jialuo Bi's face changed slightly. The cunning Jialuo Bi knew what this guy was up to, but at this point, he could only laugh dryly and ask, "What do you mean, Mr. Liu Xi?"

"Ha ha, don't worry. I know the current situation of the Jialuo family, so I won't make excessive demands." Seeing Jialuo Bi relax, Liu Xi's eyes gleamed with a silver light: "I just want Chief Jialuo to help me get that girl named Xiao Xun'er."

The smile on Jialuo Bi's face froze, and his eyes twitched. He hadn't expected this lecherous man to directly target the Xiao family.

"Mr. Liu Xi, if the Jialuo family moves against the Xiao family, Xiao Zhan will have an excuse to declare war on us. At that point, it won't just be an economic battle; it will turn into a real fight..." Sighing, Jialuo Bi said with a bitter smile.

Tapping his fingers on the table, Liu Xi said with a grin, "These are not my concerns. Whether the chief plans to forcibly take her or drug her and carry her away, I just want the result. As long as you can bring her to me, I'll start refining the Strength Pill immediately."

Jialuo Bi's eyes twitched again. Even though he was furious, he could only force a smile and say, "Can I think about it? Can I give you an answer tomorrow?"

"Heh, that's fine. Think about it. Before I leave, let me add that the Jialuo family and the Xiao family are already like water and fire. Why fear one more grudge?" Laughing sinisterly, Liu Xi stood up, patted his buttocks, and swaggered out of the hall, heading to his room in the back yard. Today, the refined and elegant girl had stirred his desire, and now he wanted to find a young and beautiful maid to satisfy himself.

Watching Liu Xi disappear around the corner, Jialuo Bi's face darkened. After a long while, he exhaled deeply and said coldly, "This woman-obsessed bastard will eventually die because of a woman."

...

In a room in the back yard, Xiao Yan looked helplessly at the beautiful woman lying unconscious on the bed. She was only wearing a thin bathrobe, revealing large areas of alluring white skin.

"That guy is back." Old Yao's soft voice from the ring made Xiao Yan quickly hide in a secluded corner, his eyes peering through a small crack to observe everything in the room.

"Creak..." The wooden door slowly opened, and Liu Xi's signature silver laugh echoed in the room: "Ha ha, my treasure, I'm back. Get ready to be ravaged tonight."

"Such a brainless idiot, filled with lust. Teacher, let's take action." Xiao Yan shook his head with a cold laugh and said in his mind.

"Okay... wait, something's wrong!" Before he could finish, Old Yao's urgent cry made Xiao Yan's heart tighten.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead from Old Yao's shout, and he stood still, not daring to move.

"Left!" Old Yao's soft voice came again in his mind.

Following the hint, Xiao Yan slowly turned his head and looked toward the left window of the room, his eyes widening in shock...

The window, which had been closed, was now open, and the faint moonlight streamed in. On the window sill, which had been empty a moment ago, a girl in a golden dress sat strangely, her legs, as smooth and white as jade, drawing an alluring curve in the air.

The moonlight illuminated the girl's delicate face, making her look like a goddess in the moonlight, beautiful and mysterious.

Seeing the girl who had appeared out of nowhere, Xiao Yan suddenly felt his throat dry, and he almost moaned her name in his heart.

"Xun... Xun'er?"