Chapter 98: with translation of chapter title

It took another three months to pacify Heijiao Yu, during which he almost killed batch after batch of criminals before Xiao Li used iron‑blooded methods to suppress the chaos in Heijiao Yu.

In a short time, the news that Heijiao Yu had been unified spread to several surrounding empires; because of Xiao Li's methods, large numbers of wanted criminals now avoid Heijiao Yu like snakes and scorpions, daring not to come near.

Adding up the other odd bits of time, only six months remain until Xiao Yan's three‑year agreement.

"Xiao Yanzi, come back to the Xiao family with me for a trip."

Xiao Li found Xiao Yan, who was still painstakingly cultivating at the Gan‑nan Academy, and spoke.

Xiao Yan blinked, "Why, second brother?"

"How could you forget the promise you made with Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Li said with a smile.

When Nalan Yanran was mentioned, Xiao Yan finally recalled the matter; it's not that he doesn't care, it's simply that Nalan Yanran is too weak—anyone he has defeated never stays in his mind.

"Just that matter—I'll go back myself in a few months; there's no need for you to tag along, second brother." Xiao Yan shrugged.

Xiao Yan has now advanced to Fighting Spirit; in another half year he'll likely be a three‑star Fighting Spirit—let alone Nalan Yanran, even taking on her father would pose no problem.

Seeing that Xiao Yan didn't take it to heart, Xiao Li also expressed understanding, after all he still didn't know that the Cloud Mist Sect had been taken over by the Soul Hall.

"This time I'm coming home not just to back you up, but also to help the Xiao family return to the imperial capital."

Xiao Li told a lie; in fact he'd prefer the Xiao family to keep a lower profile, which would also slow the Soul Hall's investigation.

"Then when do we set out, second brother?"

"Now."

……

Fu Ziyi and Liu Hongxia, two newly promoted Fighting Kings, led a disciple of the Lightning Sect slowly forward, while Xiao Li took the Lightning Sect's senior members and Xiao Yan ahead.

To eradicate the Cloud Mist Sect and its affiliated forces, of course manpower is needed; relying on only a dozen or so Fighting Kings is impossible.

Fu Ziyi and Liu Hongxia have always been in charge of managing the Lightning Sect, and they can perform this job better than the three Yao brothers, since the latter's work is more akin to bodyguarding.

Su Mei, Yin Gu Lao, Yuan Yi, Chen Long, Tie Wu and others—altogether eight Fighting Kings and Fighting Emperors—set out with Xiao Li.

The recently forgotten steward Li was in charge of guarding the home; Heijiao Yu had wholly come under the Lightning Sect, so there was little need to worry about anyone stealing the house, and no nearby empire wanted to provoke the now‑renowned Lightning Sect.

Ten streaks of light sliced across the sky, quickly arriving at the heavy gate of the Gama Empire—the Town Demon Pass.

To avoid causing any trouble, Xiao Li and the others chose to start on foot.

It took over a month before they finally rushed back to the Xiao family.

The Xiao family is now unlike in the original work; it not only completely controls Wutan City and Qingzhen Town, but its influence also radiates to several surrounding cities, truly bearing the air of a revival.

Xiao Ding, who had been serving as a guard for nearly half a year, had also just returned and was now discussing revenge with Xiao Zhan.

"Father, back then our Xiao family was driven out of the imperial capital by the three families joining forces—how could such a grudge not be avenged?" Xiao Ding said in a deep voice.

Xiao Zhan's eyes flashed; the revival of the Xiao family, how could he not want to return to the imperial capital, but…

"Ding'er, although those three families were once inferior to our Xiao family and have now also moved away from the imperial capital, their foundations remain, each having a Fighting Spirit expert holding the fort, so we still need to endure a few years." Xiao Zhan said, equally unwilling; as long as the Xiao Ding three brothers grow up, let alone returning to the imperial capital, even dominating the Gama Empire would not be impossible.

"Then… how should we deal with the Nalan family?"

When the Nalan family was mentioned, Xiao Ding's tone sounded off; back then Xiao Lin died from severe injuries while saving Nalan Jie, after which the Xiao family was forced to leave, and the other side hardly showed any reaction.

If Nalan Jie, a Fighting King, were to guarantee it, how could the still‑foundation‑rich Xiao family possibly have left the imperial capital?

Moreover, the Nalan family's Nalan Yanran even came to break off her engagement with Xiao Yan—isn't that just looking down on the Xiao family?

"If at that time they oppose us…"

"Then we'll wipe them out."

Before Xiao Zhan could finish speaking, a clear voice rang out.

Xiao Li and Xiao Yan's figures walked into the hall, bowing and saying, "Father, elder brother."

Seeing the two Xiao Li brothers return, Xiao Zhan felt pleased inside, though his face showed nothing: "What, couldn't make it out there, so you've come home to lay low?"

"Haha, what you say—we're returning in glory." Xiao Li gave a light smile, a pair of huge blood‑red wings unfurled, and the aura of a Fighting King made the windows rattle.

That's all Xiao Li held back; otherwise the hall would have collapsed.

Now Xiao Li is just a child seeking his father's approval, and he's showing off all his abilities.

"Fighting King!"

Xiao Zhan sprang up, "Good, good, good—the day our Xiao family returns to the imperial capital is now!"

Not only was Xiao Zhan excited, but the three great elders who had rushed over on hearing the wind were also excited.

"Second young master truly is a heaven‑born genius—our Xiao family's revival is within reach!"

"Not just revival—with Xiao Li's talent, what's to stop our Xiao family from ruling the future Gama Empire?"

The three great elders turned into Xiao Li's cheerleaders, almost blowing him up to be the top expert of the Gama Empire.

"Second brother, it's perfect that you're back—we're just discussing the matter of revenge."

"Revenge?"

"It's like this…"

……

After hearing Xiao Ding's account, Xiao Li couldn't help but be impressed—indeed, as the elder brother he had already cleared up the Xiao family's past; it seems not only he is working hard, but elder brother Xiao Ding has also taken a path different from the original.

Looking at Xiao Ding's current three‑star Fighting Spirit strength, Xiao Li smiled faintly; he really was a little curious about what elder brother Xiao Ding would develop into in the future.

"Good, then we'll wait until the third brother fulfills his three‑year agreement, after which our Xiao family will return to the imperial capital and avenge the grudge of our relocation."

Xiao Li finally gave the go‑ahead, at the same time introducing to Xiao Zhan the Su Mei and others he had brought back…

Cloud Mist Sect

Yun Yun looked at her disciple, who had been painstakingly cultivating for two and a half years, and felt a pang of sorrow.

"Yanran, rest a few days; cultivation stresses balance—you can't let the string of your mind be wound too tight."

Nalan Yanran now lives up to the Cloud Mist Sect's sole true‑inheritance title; at fifteen she is already a seven‑star Fighting Master, and if she cultivates another two and a half years she will surely surpass her original counterpart's level.

"No, Teacher; when I first saw Xiao Yan he was already a Fighting Master, and in these three years he's surely broken through to Grand Fighting Master—I only need to break through to Grand Fighting Master, relying on the sect's powerful techniques to have a chance."

Nalan Yanran, recalling Xiao Yan from back then, couldn't help but admire him; she was young then and failed to see how strong his potential was, but now, looking back, she can't help but sigh with emotion.

A thirteen-year-old Fighting Master—would he really be bound by his family's resources……

Immediately after, a flash of determination appeared in Nalan Yanran's eyes; the things Nalan Yanran has done she will never regret, she has a Fighting Emperor as her teacher, and will surely step into the Fighting Emperor realm; even if that Xiao Yan becomes a Fighting King, so what—her future husband must at least be stronger than her, right?

Folks, I have already tried to shorten the plot as much as possible; following the usual pattern, I should first add two filler chapters to tidy up Heijiao Yu, one chapter to shock the Ghost-Suppressing Pass, one chapter to make a name shake the Jia Ma Empire, one chapter of the conversation between Xiao Ding and Xiao Zhan, and various others' shock at Xiao Li—but because I previously inserted some side topics (although they all hit the word count, they won't incur extra cost, probably just a couple cents), so I won't give everyone too much filler; later, when writing the main text of the Cloud Mist Sect, I'll make it a bit more detailed, try to make it more satisfying, give a heads-up: the Cloud Mist Sect won't have the same strength as in the original, otherwise it'd be too simple; this time the Soul Hall already knows of Xiao Li and Xiao Yan's existence in advance, so…

(End of chapter)