Chapter 95: with translation of chapter title

Yaoyue followed the sound and saw, sure enough, it was Muzhan, that belligerent element, and she rolled her eyes, saying, "You guys go ahead and fight; I'll head back first."

(How? Are you waiting for Xiao Ding to show off his skills? nonono, not that cliché.)

Yaoyue was straightforward, and without regard for Muzhan and the others' attempts to detain her, she immediately rose and left her seat.

Looking at the surrounding clan youths about to swarm over, Yaoyue was exasperated, "Xiao Ding!"

With a spirited shout, Xiao Ding's ghostlike apparition appeared, and with a single move of Wood Shadow Evasion he materialized beside Yaoyue, furrowed his brows and scanned the surroundings; seeing the youths cowed by his presence, Xiao Ding extended a hand.

Princess, please.

Yaoyue's face broke into a smile; indeed, a princess's side should have a guard who is both handsome and capable of fighting.

All right, Brother Xiao Ding, let's go, back to the mansion.

…On the carriage, Yaoyue held a book about medicinal herbs, half-asleep; upon arriving at the manor she was still dazed, Xiao Ding helplessly shook his head, called two maidservants, and lifted Yaoyue into the room.

Inside the room, the maid had just left when Yaoyue sat up, pursing her lips in a strange manner.

"At this moment, shouldn't the guard be carrying the princess in? This isn't like the illustrations in the storybooks—damn those storybook authors, completely unrealistic."

…The next day, Xiao Ding entered the palace by imperial decree to see Jia Xingtian.

After being led by several attendants, Xiao Ding finally met Jia Xingtian, together with the Grand Princess Yaoye.

An old man in coarse hemp robes possessed a profound aura, as if merged with heaven and earth, appearing unfathomably deep.

Xiao Ding's spirit tightened; he suddenly felt he had been too rash—facing such an expert, he could no longer act as he pleased in Qing Shan Town, doing whatever he wanted.

"Guard Xiao Ding, I pay my respects to Elder Jia and to the Grand Princess."

"Hehe, no need for formalities; a Fighting Spirit expert under nineteen, with balanced qi, showing no signs of forced growth—truly a heaven‑gifted talent."

Elder Jia spoke lightly, his expression somewhat gentle; a Fighting Spirit expert could indeed serve as a mainstay of the royal family, but it was not necessary for Jia Xingtian, a peak Fighting Emperor, to personally intervene.

The reason Jia Xingtian decided to see Xiao Ding was his age—under nineteen, a Fighting Spirit.

"Yaoye was young and dared not speculate, but Jia Xingtian had seen countless geniuses; one of this caliber would undoubtedly become a Fighting King expert in the future, certainly worth his personal effort to win over."

"I'm rather old, so I'll just call you Xiao Ding, little friend."

Xiao Ding bowed respectfully and said, "I am currently the guard of Princess Yaoyue; Elder Jia may call me Xiao Ding."

Jia Xingtian waved his hands, "No, no, making you a mere guard would be wasting your talent; even the imperial household has no precedent for letting a Fighting Spirit serve as an ordinary guard—how about… you stay by my side to study?"

"Huh? Have me follow you to study?"

Xiao Ding straightened his waist, his face showing none of the joy Jia Xingtian had expected, only calmness.

"Elder Jia, I cannot accept reward without merit—"

Yaoye raised her eyebrows; this Xiao Ding is indeed somewhat out of the ordinary—Grandfather's words just now were practically an offer to take him as a disciple, and to remain so composed before a Fighting Emperor expert is truly remarkable.

Still, this doesn't stop Yaoye from scolding Xiao Ding a few times as an idiot—this is a Fighting Emperor expert, the number one in the Jia Ma Empire; why refuse? After all, previously only she could often follow Grandfather in training.

Jia Xingtian was striving to break through to the Fighting Sect realm; besides Yaoye, others hardly ever got to see him.

Jia Xingtian paused his action, gazed at Xiao Ding's calm eyes, gave a slight smile, and said, "Geniuses always have their own ideas; I won't insist. Ye'er, you go out first—I have some things I want to say to Xiao Ding, little friend."

Yaoye was taken aback, didn't dare to ask, and at once performed a salute and withdrew from the main hall.

In the dim, secluded hall, only Jia Xingtian and Xiao Ding remained.

Jia Xingtian walked to the window, gazing down at the Jia Ma Holy City, his voice shifting from gentle to somewhat heavy.

"Are you a member of the Xiao family?"

Xiao Ding's heart jolted, yet he still replied loudly, "Wutan City, Xiao family."

"No."

Jia Xingtian slightly shook his head, "Yes, the Xiao family of the Jia Ma Empire, the Xiao family of that fellow Xiao Lin."

Xiao Ding understood; Jia Xingtian indeed knew something—when the Xiao clan all moved out of the capital, of course they couldn't escape the royal family's surveillance, so being recognized was normal.

"Even so, Xiao Ding feigned puzzlement, saying, 'From my earliest memory I've lived in Wutan City; where does the talk of a Jia Ma Empire Xiao family come from? Our clan's genealogy does indeed list this senior Xiao Lin…'"

Seeing Xiao Ding's clueless appearance, Jia Xingtian didn't press further about whether he knew; he only knew that if Xiao Ding continued to grow, once he reached the Fighting King realm, the Xiao family would certainly not be content to linger in the cramped Wutan City, and if they came to the capital, others aside, the one who owed Xiao Lin's favor, Nalan Jie, would also speak up.

"By then, the already‑declined enemies would surely suffer Xiao Ding's retaliation; Jia Xingtian did not wish to see the Jia Ma Empire plunged into turmoil again, so rather…"

"Actually, your Xiao family was originally one of the major families of the capital."

Jia Xingtian's eyes flashed like torches, and he suddenly spoke.

"Xiao Ding could no longer remain calm; Jia Xingtian saying these things—could he be intending to tell him the inside story of what happened back then?"

"Please, Elder Jia, speak plainly."

"A gleam flashed in Jia Xingtian's eyes; he decided, on the condition of not affecting the outcome, to embellish the existence of the imperial household…"

At dusk.

"Yaoye curiously sized up Xiao Ding as he just walked out; since she first saw him, Xiao Ding had always appeared composed, his refined bearing and demeanor once led her to think he was a noble heir."

"But now… he seemed as if he wanted to kill someone."

"Gazing at Xiao Ding's blood‑red eyes, Yaoye didn't understand why, but the faint aura exuded by a Fighting Spirit expert still made her step back a little."

"You, are you all right?"

"Yaoye hesitated before speaking, then immediately wanted to curse herself as an idiot, her eyes turning red—surely something was wrong."

"Trouble the princess for your concern."

"He replied coldly, Xiao Ding had already gone far, leaving only Yaoye stomping her feet in anger on the spot."

"This guy, did Great‑Grandfather stimulate him? How come he seems possessed?"

(Side note: These past few days I haven't read the comments, I don't know what everyone thinks of the plot about elder brother Xiao Ding, but I suppose you're eager to see the protagonist; rest assured, he'll appear soon—I just want to explain to everyone the reasonableness of Xiao Ding coming to the capital to seek the truth.)

(Because I haven't read the comments, I feel many will question why Xiao Ding doesn't go ask the family elders.)

(1, the three elders of the Xiao family are all old, nearly on their deathbeds, still only Great Fighting Masters; likely they were marginal figures in the original Fighting King family, so they don't know the full story.)

(2, Xiao Zhan is somewhat younger, so he might also know little of the inside story; if the Xiao ancestors, intending to protect the younger generation, didn't pass this matter down, then Xiao Zhan would know even less. But some readers might ask, 'How do you know Xiao Zhan doesn't know?' Well, let's suppose Xiao Zhan does know—if Xiao Ding went to ask him, would Xiao Zhan tell him? Those who could drive out a Fighting King‑level clan were certainly not kind-hearted; Xiao Zhan would surely not feel at ease letting Xiao Ding investigate, even if he were a Fighting Spirit. After all, Xiao Zhan is a father; when the family was flourishing, he would certainly not want Xiao Ding to take risks.)

(3, Is Xiao Ding's doing this really irrational? First, put yourself in his shoes: you are the eldest son, your second brother became a CEO of a listed conglomerate, your third brother is the top student of a prestigious academy, and there are well‑known continental seniors serving as teachers, graduating straight to the peak; whereas before your second brother helped you, you were merely a first‑generation private entrepreneur in a small city—Xiao Ding surely feels pressure, so he wants to achieve something to show others.)

（4, why always put side notes into the main text, because QQ Reading there may have delays or other issues, so cannot see the author's words, and moreover it is well known that QQ Reading has some readers who like to talk, so I put it into the main text, please forgive the seniors, thank you for your support! ）

(End of chapter)