Chapter 7

As Xia Tian walked out of the Xia residence, the feelings of discomfort that had arisen in less than a day made him feel somewhat out of place. Looking at the extended Lincoln outside the door, Xia Tian did not know what kind of car it was, but he did not feel the usual unfamiliarity. He opened the car door, sat in the back, and found himself sitting side by side with Wang Sihan, who had changed into a new outfit.

Wang Sihan's eyes lit up involuntarily. She looked at Xia Tian, sizing him up from head to toe. It wasn't that the new clothes had made Xia Tian look more spirited, but rather that today's Xia Tian gave her a different feeling. Mainly, his demeanor had completely changed from yesterday. How could he have changed so much in just one night? Wang Sihan was puzzled, but she felt more joy than anything else. She sat there like a lady, her eyes constantly scanning Xia Tian's reactions.

The car started moving slowly. What Xia Tian didn't know was that at that moment, a major conspiracy was brewing at the Xia residence. The main character of this conspiracy was Xia Tian's second uncle, Xia Zhonghe. He had already gathered most of the family members, intending to decide the succession of the family head in one fell swoop. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Xia Tian would be the main character in this whirlwind, but it might also be true that in Xia Zhonghe's eyes, he was just a prelude, with no chance to speak up. All the pressure would fall on Xia Zhongjiang.

It would make him so disheartened that he wouldn't dare to retaliate in the slightest. At that moment, Xia Zhongjiang's brows were furrowed. To say that he didn't love his son Xia Tian would be a lie. After all, he was his own flesh and blood. Unfortunately, living in such a family, everything was for the family's benefit. As long as you had talent, you could rise to power, but this "talent" wasn't necessarily about ability; it was about overall strength. Whether it was a conspiracy or an open move, as long as it brought benefits to the family, you could be the family head.

Xia Tian's poor performance had a significant impact on Xia Zhongjiang. The main issue wasn't his poor behavior but the fact that he was born impotent. This was a major headache. Without a sharp mind and the ability to carry on the family line, it was a serious problem. Xia Zhongjiang, in his room, kept rubbing his head, making the faces of his daughters, Xia Ri and Xia Shuang, who stood beside him, turn gloomy. This was not a look that should be on their young faces.

At that moment, Xia Tian, in the car, looked at the delicate Wang Sihan, and a sense of longing welled up inside him. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Wang Sihan saw all of Xia Tian's actions and wanted to laugh but couldn't. She pursed her lips and said, "What are you looking at?"

"Oh! I'm looking at you!" Xia Tian scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward. He had been caught staring at Wang Sihan and felt a bit embarrassed, lowering his head. "Do I look good?" "Yes, very good," Xia Tian answered subconsciously.

"I remember you never used to look at me before. What's different today? Did you learn to sneak a peek?" "Oh!" Xia Tian felt awkward, not knowing how to respond. He cursed his former self for not appreciating the beauty beside him. Before he could finish his thoughts, Wang Sihan continued, "You never used to sneak a peek. If you looked, it was always openly, but you seemed a bit insecure."

"Ah!" Xia Tian felt like a deflated balloon. He thought, "You're a beauty! Can't you finish your sentences? You left me hanging, and now you're making me feel even worse. The reputation of a fiancée killing her fiancé isn't good." Annoyed, Xia Tian stopped sneaking peeks and openly looked at Wang Sihan. He leaned in close to her hair, taking a deep breath of the faint jasmine scent.

Wang Sihan's eyes widened. This was the first time Xia Tian had treated her like this. She was surprised, and a wave of emotion washed over her. It was like a small boat on a lake, drifting with the waves. Being so close to a boy, even if he was impotent, he was still a man. She hadn't felt this way yesterday, but today, Xia Tian's changed demeanor made her blush uncontrollably. She sniffed, catching the scent of a man from Xia Tian.

Her eyes, filled with water, dared not look at Xia Tian for long. Her face, flushed with embarrassment, radiated heat, and her heart beat rapidly, making it hard to breathe. Before she could lower her head, she felt a cool touch on her burning face and instinctively looked up.

In that instant, their lips met. Xia Tian greedily kissed Wang Sihan's lips. The light lipstick stuck to Xia Tian's mouth, and he licked it with his tongue. Wang Sihan's mind went blank. He had actually kissed her. They had kissed. The comedic scene left Wang Sihan in disbelief, and she remained in a daze for the rest of the day.

Xia Tian, still at school, didn't know what to do. He couldn't understand the lessons, so he sat on his chair, practicing his cultivation technique. Cultivation was endless, and with his current low strength, if he encountered a powerful opponent, he wouldn't even know how he died. Continuous cultivation was a necessary condition. No one was managing him, so he did whatever he wanted without caring about others' opinions.

However, some people in the classroom still called him a "waste." Xia Tian ignored them, immersing himself in cultivation. Although the spiritual energy during the day and night was similar, Xia Tian, now at the first level of Qi Sensing, no longer felt as uncomfortable as yesterday. He could now guide the small amount of spiritual energy into his body without it escaping. From morning to afternoon, Xia Tian remained motionless, making everyone think he was not only a waste but also a lunatic.

At noon, Wang Sihan came to find Xia Tian, but she couldn't wake him up. She eventually returned alone. At that moment, Wang Hao was following behind Wang Sihan. Seeing Xia Tian in a meditative pose, he sneered. He wanted to kick Xia Tian but was stopped by Wang Sihan. She didn't know what Xia Tian was doing but didn't want him to be disturbed.

Xia Tian slowly woke up in the afternoon. He hadn't gained much during the day, realizing that the spiritual energy was most abundant during the early morning. Although it was fleeting, he decided to practice in the morning instead of wasting time.

Wang Sihan still came to pick up Xia Tian, holding his hand as they walked out of the school gate. However, today was different. Besides Wang Sihan's extended Lincoln, a BMW Q7 was also parked by the roadside. As Xia Tian was about to get into Wang Sihan's car, two men in black suits got out of the BMW Q7 and said, "Young Master Xia, please get in our car. The old master has asked you to come immediately after school."

Xia Tian was puzzled. "Which old master?" Wang Sihan, seeing Xia Tian's confused look, said, "Grandpa Xia wants you to come. It must be important. You should go. I won't see you off today. Goodbye!"

Wang Sihan got into her car and waved at Xia Tian, who subconsciously returned the gesture. Puzzled, Xia Tian got into the BMW Q7. The two men escorted him like they were transporting a prisoner. Xia Tian immediately felt something was wrong, recalling the many people who had rushed into Xia Zhonghe's room last night.

Could it be that Xia Zhonghe was making a move? If Xia Zhonghe really used him as a pawn, he would leave the Xia family. It would save him from the discomfort and others' disapproval. Xia Tian decided that no matter what happened, he would leave the Xia family. Besides, he needed to cultivate, and the current environment wasn't suitable.

He needed a place with abundant spiritual energy. Xia Tian wasn't worried; he just wanted to see who in the Xia family cared about him and who he disliked.

When Xia Tian was brought into a large living room, he saw many people seated around. At the northern end sat an elderly man with a ruddy complexion, a long white beard, and sharp, intelligent eyes. He was the current family head, Xia Guozhu, exuding an aura of authority. As soon as Xia Tian arrived, Xia Guozhu gave him a cold look.

Everyone felt a chill at the sight of the family head. His authority was inviolable, and offending him had severe consequences. They were discussing the succession of the next family head. One candidate was Xia Tian's father, and the other was his second uncle, Xia Zhonghe. Both were Xia Guozhu's sons. Xia Tian's presence was likely due to Xia Zhonghe's move against Xia Zhongjiang.

Xia Guozhu looked around, his face stern, and said to Xia Tian, "Xia Tian, your second uncle says you are impotent and that you are uneducated and do not consider the family's future, living a life of idleness. Is this true? Speak!"

Xia Guozhu's last word was raised, the buzzing sound shaking the entire hall. Xia Tian knew what was happening. He didn't immediately speak but scanned the room, noticing a middle-aged man with a dejected look, his eyes filled with guilt, self-reproach, and care. Xia Tian recognized him as his father, the care genuine. Behind Xia Zhongjiang were two children, a boy and a girl, looking at him with obvious familial affection. Around the room, he saw ridicule and indifference, but no care. His second uncle, Xia Zhonghe, was especially despicable, smiling at him, the one who had kicked him yesterday.

Xia Tian quickly gathered his thoughts, looked at the elderly man in the center, and suddenly smiled, laughing out loud. The authority Xia Guozhu had created vanished. Xia Guozhu was surprised; usually, the younger generation cowered in his presence, and even his grandson had been the same. What was different today? Was he insane?

Xia Tian stopped laughing, raised his hand, and said, "You must be the current family head!" Before he could finish, Xia Zhonghe interrupted, "Ridiculous! He is the family head and your grandfather. You are being disrespectful."

"Hmph!" Xia Tian coldly responded, turned to Xia Zhonghe, and said, "The family head is asking me a question, and I am answering. You are interrupting. Is he the family head, or are you? Or do you think you can make the decision to be the family head?"

Xia Tian's rebuttal changed the atmosphere in the room. It was clear that Xia Zhonghe had overstepped. "Zhonghe, step back," Xia Guozhu said, smiling. He didn't reprimand Xia Tian but gestured for him to continue. However, Xia Tian didn't answer Xia Guozhu but said, "Since everyone is here, I have a decision to announce. From now on, I will leave the Xia family and have no further contact. You can't use me to attack anyone or take advantage of me. I have said my piece. If there's nothing else, I will leave. This is not my home."

"What!" "This kid is too slippery." "Good! Xia Tian's move has foiled Xia Zhonghe's plans." Various comments filled the room. Xia Zhonghe's gaze didn't fall on Xia Tian but on Xia Zhongjiang, who looked at Xia Tian with a mix of guilt and concern. Only Xia Guozhu, sitting at the head of the table, looked at Xia Tian with admiration.