Chapter 24: Xun Er's Unusual Behavior

Chapter 24: Xun Er’s Anomaly

Regarding the dispute between Xiao Yan, his father, and the three elders of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Se remained indifferent from start to finish. He kept his eyes slightly closed, feigning repose while mentally reviewing his recent battle with Red Long Kui, analyzing where his strikes had gone wrong and where his movements had faltered.

"Brother, why is it so noisy outside?" Long Kui’s slightly lazy, ethereal voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Se’s mind.

Unlike the tone of Red Long Kui, this voice was incredibly gentle, leaving one with the sensation of having their soul cleansed. Xiao Se recognized this as Blue Long Kui.

"Long Kui, are you awake?" Xiao Se offered a faint smile and replied in his mind.

"Mm... I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time... It’s just too noisy out there right now," Long Kui’s sweet voice resonated once more within his consciousness.

"Don't worry about it. How about Brother sings you a song?" Xiao Se smiled faintly.

"Mm, go ahead then, Brother. I’m listening." Inside the Magic Sword space, Long Kui lay on the soft bed Xiao Se had prepared for her. Recalling the scene from yesterday when Red Long Kui had helped her change, her face flushed a delicate shade of pink.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..." Xiao Se hummed in a voice audible only to himself.

Xun Er, sitting beside Xiao Se, froze slightly. Others might not have caught the faint humming, but she, also possessed of an innately powerful soul, had heard it clearly.

Turning her head toward Xiao Se, Xun Er frowned slightly, murmuring to herself, "What song is this? Why does it feel so strangely familiar?"

She searched her memories but could not recall it. Frustrated, she shook her head and decided not to dwell on it, turning her gaze back toward Xiao Yan.

At this moment, Xiao Yan and the three elders had reached a breaking point.

"Xiao Yan, do you truly wish to continue holding the position of Young Clan Head?" The First Elder squinted his aged eyes and spoke in a deep voice.

"It is not that I, Xiao Yan, desire the position of Young Clan Head. This matter concerns my father's reputation. If I am stripped of my title, how will my father maintain his authority among the clansmen in the future?" Xiao Yan argued righteously.

"The position of Young Clan Head has always gone to the capable. Back then, the old Clan Head, Xiao Lin, also defeated the son of the previous leader to earn his position and eventually become the Clan Head. The Xiao Clan cannot abandon the rules of our ancestors just because you are the son of the current Clan Head."

Hearing the word "authority," the First Elder sneered inwardly. He was using a heavy-handed tactic; the three elders were stripping Xiao Yan of his position precisely to weaken Xiao Zhan’s influence within the clan so they could seize more benefits for themselves.

"You—" Xiao Yan’s face stiffened, left speechless by anger.

"Yan'er, say no more. The laws of our ancestors cannot be violated." From the head seat came Xiao Zhan’s helpless command to stop.

Although he knew the three elders were deliberately looking for trouble, they were not wrong. Not only the Young Clan Head but even the Clan Head himself held power based on ability. Xiao Zhan had become the Clan Head only because his cultivation was the highest in the clan.

Hearing Xiao Zhan speak, the First Elder revealed a satisfied smile. He waved his hand and solemnly declared, "Since that is the case, I officially announce the removal of Xiao Yan from the position of Young Clan Head. Until a capable successor emerges, we shall hold a new selection. Xiao Yan is demoted to an ordinary clan disciple, must move out of the main residence, and his cultivation resource allocation will be reduced by ninety percent, with his monthly allowance cut to ten gold coins. The surplus resources and gold will be reallocated to the outstanding younger generation of the Xiao Clan."

As soon as the First Elder’s words fell, they triggered a wave of mocking commotion throughout the hall.

"Three stages of Qi, heh. Even if his talent has returned, he won’t reach the Fighter stage for another seven or eight years."

"Sigh, he only has himself to blame for being so arrogant and looking down on everyone except his father."

"Twelve years old and only at the third stage of Qi? The youngest at this age have at least reached the fourth."

"It’s a waste of the family’s resources over the years. He should have been expelled from the clan."

The disdain and mockery from the surroundings pierced Xiao Yan’s heart like needles, causing his breathing to grow ragged.

With the dust settled, Xiao Yan looked up at his father, who seemed to have aged significantly in an instant. His throat tightened, and he turned and ran out of the assembly hall without looking back, leaving only a lonely, desolate silhouette behind.

He needed to vent the raging fire in his heart.

With Xiao Yan stripped of his status, the clan meeting came to a "perfect" conclusion, and the elders and the younger generation began to disperse.

"Cousin Xiao Se, Cousin Xiao Se, the meeting is over. It’s time to go." Xun Er looked at Xiao Se, who was still resting with his eyes closed, and after a moment of hesitation, she chose to give him a gentle nudge to remind him.

Xiao Se slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the crowd leaving one after another, and then looked at Xiao Xun Er. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—Xiao Yan had already left, yet she hadn't followed him.

"Oh, thank you." Xiao Se nodded in gratitude to Xiao Xun Er and stood up to leave.

"Cousin Xiao Se, please wait a moment." Before Xiao Se had walked far from the hall, Xun Er’s ethereal voice rang out behind him.

Turning around, Xiao Se said calmly, "Miss Xun Er, is there something you need?"

"No, nothing, just wanted to ask what the tune was that you were humming in the hall earlier. I keep feeling like I've heard it somewhere..." Xun Er blinked her large, watery eyes and smiled playfully.

Hearing this, Xiao Se frowned. He had been humming a nursery rhyme from his original world; it was impossible for her to have heard it. If she had, it was likely that Xiao Yan, the transmigrator from a parallel world, had sung it to her.

Realizing this, Xiao Se inwardly cursed his own carelessness. He had forgotten that Xun Er also possessed an innately powerful soul and could hear even the faintest of sounds.

"I think you must have misheard, Miss Xun Er. I wasn't humming any tune. I have matters to attend to; goodbye."

Without waiting for a reply, Xiao Se walked toward the gates of the Xiao Clan without looking back.

Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Xun Er was left bewildered by his cold, distant behavior. She stood there for a long time before reacting, stomping her foot and pouting as she whispered, "Hmph, fine, don't tell me then..."

In a desolate alleyway in Wutan City.

"Long Kui, is anyone monitoring us?" Xiao Se’s sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and after confirming the coast was clear, he asked in his mind.

"Brother, don't worry. The person who used soul power to monitor you at the market last time hasn't followed us," Long Kui’s ethereal voice sounded in his heart.

Xiao Se nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, a black robe appeared out of thin air, which he quickly donned.

After adjusting it to ensure his figure and appearance were concealed, he stepped out of the alley and headed toward the Mittor Auction House in the city center.

Entering the auction house, under the vigilant gaze of the guards, Xiao Se made his way through the familiar halls to the appraiser's office.

The middle-aged man sitting behind the desk caught sight of Xiao Se, froze for a moment, then stood up abruptly. He hurried over to Xiao Se and asked respectfully, "Are you Master Pu?"

"Mm." The familiar, gravelly voice of the middle-aged man emanated from beneath the black robe.

Hearing the familiar voice, the man didn't pay much mind to the fact that Xiao Se seemed slightly taller than he had been a month ago. Excitedly, he led him toward the VIP lounge.