Chapter 273: Betrothal Gift
Tianbei City was no smaller than any other city Xiao Yuan had seen before. Perhaps due to meticulous planning, the entire city gave off a sense of grandeur and magnificence, with wide, bustling streets filled with a continuous flow of people.
The Han family resided in the southern part of the city, while the opposing Hong family occupied the north. These two families were like twin sovereigns of the city, each controlling one half of it in a clearly divided fashion.
Naturally, other minor forces existed within the city, but compared to the Han and Hong families, they were insignificant—merely surviving in the cracks, like drifting plankton, forever looking up at the city's two behemoths.
After asking for directions, Xiao Yuan wandered through the crisscrossing streets for nearly half an hour before stopping outside a massive estate.
Outside the Han family manor, numerous carriages were parked, all bearing a distinct red emblem—the mark of the Hong family.
"Already causing trouble this early?" Xiao Yuan muttered, rubbing his chin as he looked at the carriages.
From his recollection, the Hong family was always at odds with the Han family, and the Hong family's young master harbored quite the desire for the Han family's twin sisters.
Xiao Yuan had a good impression of Han Yue—after all, the Geocentric Body Tempering Milk had been secured thanks to her intelligence. He figured he might as well lend a hand this time.
Besides helping the Han family, Xiao Yuan had another main goal: to provoke the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
After all, the Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body technique wasn't going to be handed over easily. Xiao Yuan figured even offering a seventh-tier pill wouldn't be enough.
Instead, why not see how much strength he could muster while restricted to the Dou Wang level?
And maybe use the opportunity to build rapport with Her Majesty the Queen.
After all, nothing strengthened bonds more than fighting side by side.
With that thought, Xiao Yuan strolled toward the Han family's gate.
Clad in white robes, the handsome young man walked up with calm grace.
"Who are you looking for, young sir?" the guard at the gate asked politely, recognizing Xiao Yuan's extraordinary bearing.
"I'm here to see Senior Sister Han Yue. She lives here, right? I'm her junior from Jia Nan Academy—Xiao Yuan. Please inform her."
The guard's demeanor changed at once, standing tall. "So it's the young miss's junior from Jia Nan Academy. Please wait a moment, Young Master Xiao. I'll report at once."
"Thank you," Xiao Yuan replied with a courteous nod, looking every bit the elegant nobleman.
Meanwhile, inside the Han estate, Han Yue's face was tight with displeasure. Not only was Hong Chen coveting her, but now he was also targeting her younger sister!
What a shameless bastard!
Just as the tense situation escalated, a guard walked in and reported, "Young miss, there's a handsome young man surnamed Xiao outside, claiming to be your junior from Jia Nan Academy."
Han Yue froze for a moment before abruptly jumping from her seat. "You mean Xiao Yuan? He is quite good-looking... Quickly, invite him in—no, I'll greet him personally!"
Everyone around stared wide-eyed. The usually cold and aloof Han Yue was completely flustered.
Hong Chen immediately sensed something unusual. Han Yue's feelings for this Xiao Yuan were clearly more than platonic.
Han Yue ignored the odd looks and hurried outside.
"To warrant such a reaction from Yue'er... this Xiao Yuan must be something special," murmured Han Xian, head of the Han family, thoughtfully.
Hong Chen, face twitching, stood up and followed. The rest of the Hong family trailed him, forcing Han Chi to follow suit with his people.
Outside, Xiao Yuan didn't wait long before a silver-haired beauty in a purple dress came running from the estate. Upon seeing him, she quickened her pace even more.
"Junior Xiao Yuan, how did you find this place?" Han Yue asked joyfully, her radiant smile lighting up her face.
"It's a long story. But Senior Sister, wasn't it a bit much to mobilize such a crowd to greet me? People might think I've come to propose marriage," Xiao Yuan said with a playful glance at the large gathering behind her.
"Ah?" Han Yue looked back and gasped internally. Why had everyone followed her?
Then she caught the teasing tone in Xiao Yuan's words, and her cheeks turned slightly red. "Is that how you speak to your senior sister?"
"Haha." Xiao Yuan chuckled. Seeing this rare coy side of Han Yue amused him.
Unfortunately, a brash voice soon broke the moment.
"Who are you? Han Yue is my fiancée!"
"Senior Sister?" Xiao Yuan's expression cooled. He glanced at the four-star Dou Huang, Hong Chen, and frowned.
"Don't mind him," Han Yue said coldly. "He thinks backing from the Wind Lightning Pavilion gives him the right to force me into marriage. I'd rather die than marry him."
"I don't like the way you phrased that. Why die? Just kill him, and you won't have to marry. I'd be quite sad if you died," Xiao Yuan replied earnestly.
The Han family members looked at Xiao Yuan with amusement. This young man had guts—surely this would enrage Hong Chen.
"Pfft!" Han Yue couldn't help but laugh. Then, without thinking, she took Xiao Yuan's arm and said seriously, "But I can't beat him. You don't want me to die to protect my honor, do you? Why not kill him, and I'll marry you instead?"
She playfully winked at him.
"You're not the Han Yue I remember. She was a cold and aloof ice queen, not a playful temptress," Xiao Yuan said with a wry smile.
"Icebergs only show their tip above water. Maybe you're the one who can see beneath the surface," Han Yue replied, her voice cool again, but her eyes burning with intensity.
The surrounding Han family members were shocked. When had they ever seen Han Yue act so boldly?
Meanwhile, Hong Chen was seething. Watching Han Yue openly flirt with another man filled him with murderous rage.
"Senior Sister, you're at a disadvantage. I fall in love easily," Xiao Yuan teased.
He then turned his gaze to Hong Chen and coldly asked, "Are your eyes broken?"
This classic Medusa-Queen-style retort completely shattered Hong Chen's remaining sanity.
"You damned brat! I'll kill you!"
Hong Chen lunged toward Xiao Yuan.
Given the short distance between them, the Han family couldn't react in time and were both furious and shocked.
How dare he attack on their territory?
But in their eyes, Xiao Yuan was now family.
"Back off." Xiao Yuan pulled Han Yue behind him and casually caught Hong Chen's punch with one hand before tossing him like trash.
Hong Chen crashed into a wall and got embedded inside.
Silence fell.
Everyone stared at Xiao Yuan, stunned.
He had tossed a four-star Dou Huang like a sack of potatoes?
Just how strong was he?
Han Yue wasn't surprised. She knew Xiao Yuan had easily crushed Dou Huangs before.
A year had passed. His strength must have soared again. That casual strike showed overwhelming power.
Marrying him was no loss.
She sighed internally. A man like him had no shortage of admirers. But he was the only one capable of saving her family.
If she had to marry, better someone she loved than someone she despised.
From the ruins, Hong Chen emerged, bleeding and vengeful.
"You want death? Then don't blame me!" he shouted.
Lightning crackled around him, forming a dense net.
"Lightning attribute, huh?" Xiao Yuan said blandly.
"Senior Sister, I didn't bring a betrothal gift... but seeing how the Hong and Han families are at odds, I did some research. If the Hong family falls, your Han family will dominate Tianbei City. What do you think of that as a betrothal gift?"
Han Yue blushed but nodded firmly. "If you can do it, I'll marry you today."
"Then let it be so."
As Hong Chen unleashed a thunderous attack, Xiao Yuan gently sent Han Yue toward Han Chi, then crushed the lightning with a stomp.
"I don't have time to play. If you don't fight seriously now, you won't get another chance," Xiao Yuan said coldly, his gaze like death itself.
"Arrogant brat! You die today!"
Hong Chen burst forward in a blur, lightning-charged fist aimed at Xiao Yuan's head.
Xiao Yuan shifted slightly—just enough to dodge.
Hong Chen's punch flew past his ear.
Hong Chen smirked, turned his hand into a claw, and aimed at Xiao Yuan's shoulder.
But his claw was suddenly locked in place.
Xiao Yuan had jammed two fingers—imbued with thick Dou Qi—straight into his palm.
"Not bad," Hong Chen admitted, before shouting, "Try this—Wind Lightning Pavilion's Wind Lightning Claw!"
Electric energy surged, forming sharp thunder claws at his fingertips. His strength spiked, forcing Xiao Yuan's fingers back.
He slashed down, splitting the air with a silver blur.
Xiao Yuan dodged effortlessly and gave him a swift kick.
Boom!
The kick struck Hong Chen's chest. He faltered but recovered, his eyes now bloodshot.
He launched a flurry of claw strikes, filling the air with deadly wind and lightning.
But Xiao Yuan's face remained calm. His fists and palms moved rhythmically, forming a circle of defense. With enhanced soul perception, he countered every lethal blow.
After a warm-up, Xiao Yuan got serious.
He punched, unleashing monstrous physical power.
Crash!
Hong Chen flew again—this time embedded in the wall like a painting.
"...?"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Earlier, maybe it was a sneak attack—but again? That easily?
(END CHAPTER)
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