Chapter 184: "What Is Your Name?"
Compared to Mo City, a bustling hub for the empire and Snake Clan, Mo Bei City was far smaller and much less prosperous.
As Xiao Yan descended upon the city, memories of his brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, surfaced in his mind.
If Xiao Xuan hadn't unexpectedly broken through to the Dou Di level, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li would probably still be struggling as lowly Dou Practitioners in this very place. Xiao Yan himself might still be climbing the early stages of his rise.
Fate, however, is always full of surprises. Who could have predicted that a mysterious jade book would fall from the heavens at a crucial moment?
Xiao Xuan's breakthrough to Dou Di had not only changed the Xiao Clan's fate but also deeply altered the trajectory of the entire continent.
Why had a copy of "Battle Through the Heavens" fallen from the sky?
How had a source of energy, lost for thousands of years, reemerged through this book?
These questions hinted at a greater mystery, one that Xiao Yan suspected would only reveal itself once he became a Nine Star Dou Saint. For now, all he could do was focus on his current journey.
Scanning Mo Bei City
Hovering above Mo Bei City, Xiao Yan noted its modest size a mere twenty li from south to north. With a sweep of his immense soul power, he scanned the entire city, imprinting its details in his mind.
"Look, there's someone in the sky!"
Down below, some curious onlookers spotted the lone figure standing in midair.
Most of them were low level Dou Practitioners or ordinary people who didn't understand that standing midair required Dou Sect level strength. However, a few more knowledgeable individuals recognized the feat.
"That's a Dou Sect powerhouse!" someone exclaimed, their voice filled with awe.
"What? A Dou Sect?!"
Mo Bei City erupted in astonished murmurs. In a small city like this, a Dou Grandmaster was considered a peak level expert. A single Dou King could easily raze the entire city.
Now, a Dou Sect had appeared above their heads?
As waves of chatter echoed throughout the city, Xiao Yan remained unfazed. His soul power continued sweeping through the area until it paused on a specific mansion. His brows furrowed slightly.
A Scene of Cruelty
In one of the city's more luxurious courtyards, a woman stood glaring coldly at a young girl.
The girl appeared to be around 14 or 15 years old. Her light green hair framed a petite figure that, despite her youth, showed signs of early development. Her delicate, doll like face was as exquisite as porcelain, but her expression was one of pure panic, like a frightened rabbit.
She knelt on the ground, hurriedly gathering shards of broken pottery. Her bright, teary eyes glistened with fear, evoking pity from anyone who saw her.
Beside the woman stood a pale faced man whose lecherous gaze lingered on the girl's trembling figure.
"Madam, the girl didn't break them on purpose. Perhaps we should let it go," the man said with a forced smile.
"Let it go?" The woman snorted coldly, casting a sharp glance at him. "What, feeling sorry for her? Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're drooling over that little wench, aren't you? Well, I won't let you have your way."
"Madam, how could you say that?" The man's face turned awkward as his motives were exposed. Trying to save face, he said, "You know my heart belongs only to you."
"Really?" The woman's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"If that's the case, let's sell this wench to a brothel after the New Year. She's just a lowly bastard, but with her looks, she should fetch a good price."
Her venomous words stunned the man into silence. He glanced briefly at the young girl, but any pity he felt was quickly suppressed his wife's brother was a Dou Master, and he dared not provoke her wrath.
Upon hearing the woman's cruel decision, the girl froze. Her small body trembled as tears filled her eyes, and she looked up at the woman pleadingly.
Xiao Yan Intervenes
Xiao Yan's sharp senses captured every detail of the scene. His eyes narrowed.
In a flash, he descended upon the courtyard.
The sudden gust of wind announced his arrival. The oppressive aura of a Dou Sect powerhouse swept over the courtyard, silencing the bickering couple and causing the girl to flinch in fright.
"Who dares trespass here?!" the woman snapped, though her voice wavered with fear.
Xiao Yan ignored her, his gaze falling on the trembling girl.
"You what's your name?" he asked gently.
The girl blinked, her large green eyes wide with confusion and fear. She hesitated before stammering, "M my name is Qing Lin."
"Qing Lin," Xiao Yan repeated, a faint smile softening his sharp features.
Her unique green hair and timid demeanor matched a familiar figure from his memories. So, it's her.
"You've been through enough," Xiao Yan said, stepping forward. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of Dou Qi swept over the courtyard. The oppressive energy sent the couple sprawling to the ground, leaving them pale and gasping.
"From now on, you belong to me," Xiao Yan declared firmly.
Qing Lin's eyes widened in shock. She didn't fully understand what was happening but instinctively felt that this mysterious figure offered her safety.
"W who do you think you are?" the woman sputtered, trembling as she struggled to stand.
Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold. "Silence."
With another wave of his Dou Qi, the woman was forced to her knees, unable to move. The man, seeing his wife's plight, dared not utter a word.
Xiao Yan turned back to Qing Lin, his voice softening. "Come with me."
Qing Lin hesitated briefly but then nodded, stepping toward him. For the first time in a long while, a glimmer of hope shone in her eyes.
Xiao Yan turned to the couple, his tone icy.
"Consider yourselves fortunate that I'm sparing your lives. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
With that, he took Qing Lin's hand, and the two vanished into the sky, leaving the stunned couple behind.
"Young Lady, What Is Your Name?"
"Madam, please, I beg you, don't sell me to a brothel!"
The girl's youthful face already carried hints of a breathtaking beauty in the making. Her tear streaked cheeks, paired with her trembling and delicate demeanor, tugged at the man's heartstrings, filling him with pity.
"Madam, I think we should let it go. This girl is diligent and hardworking," the man said, forcing a smile.
"Let it go?"
The woman's face darkened at his words, jealousy flashing in her eyes. Her gaze lowered to the faint layer of pale scales on the girl's wrist. Disdain filled her voice as she spat venomous words.
"You need to understand something this girl is nothing but a filthy half breed, the child of a human and a snakeperson! Are you seriously going to defy me for her?"
She sneered and continued, her tone dripping with hatred.
"Let me tell you right now I will sell this little bastard to a brothel! I'll make sure she becomes a wench for every man to use!"
Her cruel words sent the already terrified girl trembling even more, her small frame shaking like a leaf in the wind.
Xiao Yan Appears
"If you dare call her a bastard again, I'll throw you to the snakepeople and let a group of snake warriors take turns serving you!"
A chilling voice cut through the air.
The source was a young man clad in black, descending from the sky with the ease of someone strolling down a staircase. His casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the palpable killing intent radiating from his eyes an aura so suffocating it seemed almost tangible.
His mere presence overwhelmed the man and woman. Their minds went blank, and without realizing it, they fell to their knees, trembling uncontrollably.
Walking through the air what kind of terrifying power is this?
To them, the youth's strength was utterly unimaginable. His overwhelming aura and unshakable dominance left no doubt: this was someone they could never afford to offend.
The Woman's Plea
"M my lord! I didn't know she was related to you! If I had known, I would never have dared to say such things!" the woman stammered, her face pale with terror.
Xiao Yan's lips curled into a cold smile. "So if she weren't related to me, it would be acceptable for you to say those things?"
"I… I…" The woman was rendered speechless, her lips quivering as she searched for words.
"Please, my lord, have mercy!" she finally blurted out, her voice shaking.
"Mercy?" Xiao Yan chuckled lightly. "You've done nothing wrong. This girl is weak, so you bullying her is perfectly normal."
The woman froze, confusion flashing across her face. Then, thinking she was safe, a glimmer of joy appeared in her eyes.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you for sparing me "
Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Yan interrupted her, his tone calm but chilling.
"And now, you are the weak one. So isn't it just as normal for me to kill you?"
"What ?"
The woman's face went blank with shock. In the next instant, her complexion turned deathly pale.
"You can't kill me! My brother is "
She never finished her sentence. A flick of Xiao Yan's finger released a wisp of flame that landed on her.
The moment the fire touched her, her body burst into flames, and in a blink, she was reduced to nothing but ash.
The Man's Terror
"My lord, I… I didn't do anything too terrible!" the man stammered, his body shaking uncontrollably as he stared at the pile of ash that had once been the woman. The terror was so overwhelming that he'd wet himself.
"Nothing too terrible?" Xiao Yan's sharp gaze turned to him, his eyes narrowing.
"That means you've done something, haven't you?"
"N no, my lord! I I "
Another flick of flame, and the man met the same fate as the woman, his body igniting and disintegrating into ash.
In truth, the man's crimes didn't warrant death. But having entertained inappropriate thoughts about the girl Xiao Yan had come for, his fate was sealed. Such foolishness was tantamount to courting death.
Meeting the Girl
With the couple dealt with, Xiao Yan finally turned his attention to the trembling girl.
Her tear filled eyes reflected a mix of terror and confusion as she stared at him, unsure of his intentions.
Xiao Yan's expression softened, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"You've suffered enough, young lady," he said kindly. "What's your name?"
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