Chapter 289: Reluctant Xia Family

The treasure pearl feels warm in the hand, a pure, lofty righteous Qi spreads from the palm outward.

Seeing Jiang Feng take the Demon-Breaking Pearl, Xia Junlan's tense body instantly relaxes, and a hint of relieved smile appears on her face.

She was already weak; just now she forced herself to get out of bed and released her breath to awe the crowd, and now she has exhausted all strength, her body swaying as if about to collapse.

Xia Chunyuan, quick‑eyed and swift‑handed, hurried forward a step and steadily supported her arm.

"Aunt, lie down and rest quickly, don't tire yourself."

Xia Junlan nodded, and with Xia Chunyuan's support, slowly lay back on the bed, closed her eyes and eased her breath.

After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again and spoke to everyone in the room.

"Everyone, I'm tired and want to rest properly; you all go out first."

Xia Junzhou and the others, seeing this, dared not stay and left one after another.

Jiang Feng then put away the Demon-Breaking Pearl, turned and walked toward the doorway.

Leaving the bedroom, Jiang Feng walked outside, after all the matter here had been settled…

But at that moment, a sharp voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Jiang Feng, stop right there!"

Jiang Feng turned his head and saw Xia Minjun standing there, breathing heavily.

Xia Minjun hurried forward to Jiang Feng's front, gritting her teeth as she said.

"Jiang Feng! This Demon-Breaking Pearl is the Xia Family's supreme treasure, a clan‑protecting artifact bestowed by the Divine Machine Celestial Ancestor. Aunt must be gravely ill and delirious to foolishly give such a precious item to you, an outsider! If you have any sense, hand over the Demon-Breaking Pearl at once!"

She grew more excited as she spoke, and her voice rose considerably.

"Rest assured, we won't withhold a single cent of the consultation fee you're owed, and there's no need for you to keep a treasure that isn't yours, causing trouble for yourself!"

As soon as the words fell, Xia Junzhou hurried over, his face assuming an overbearing stance.

"Indeed, Dr. Jiang. This Demon-Breaking Pearl is no ordinary object; you're still young and can't possibly master it. Take my advice and return it to our Xia Family; we won't treat you unfairly."

"You must have heard the saying that an ordinary man is innocent, but one who holds a treasure bears guilt. A supreme treasure like the Demon-Breaking Pearl isn't something a rootless wanderer like you can guard. If you take it today, it may bring death‑warranted disaster tomorrow, and then no one can save you."

Jiang Feng looked at the two as they sang in unison, and couldn't help but sneer.

He pulled the Demon-Breaking Pearl from his chest and idly toyed with it in his hand.

The pearl's aura swirled at his fingertips, making Xia Minjun and Xia Junzhou's eyes widen.

What right does a doctor have to hold such a treasure?

"When Xia Junlan let me take it earlier, you said nothing; why did you all dare not oppose?"

Jiang Feng's tone carried a hint of mockery.

"Now you jump out, blocking the door and demanding I hand over the Demon-Breaking Pearl. What, do you think I, Jiang Feng, am a soft‑target easy to bully?"

Xia Minjun's face flushed red from Jiang Feng's rebuke, and the anger in her eyes grew stronger.

She snorted coldly, gritted her teeth and spoke coldly.

"Looks like you've lost face, haven't you? Do you really think the Xia Family can't do anything to you?"

"Help!"

Xia Minjun shouted sharply, the sound piercing and shrill.

As soon as the words fell, two figures darted out from the shadows of the courtyard like wraiths, landing instantly before Jiang Feng.

They were two gray‑haired elders, eyes sharp as hawks, exuding a strong Grandmaster aura.

These two are the Xia Family's servants, rarely seen, intervening only when the Xia Family faces a major crisis.

And Xia Minjun, to reclaim the Demon-Breaking Pearl, actually summoned these two servants.

Xia Minjun looked at Jiang Feng, a trace of proud cold smile on her face.

"Jiang Feng, I know you're a grandmaster‑level expert, capable, but the Xia family also has grandmaster‑level servants! Today you either hand over the Demon‑Breaking Pearl obediently, or don't blame us for being rude and leaving you here!"

The two white‑haired elders stepped forward together, their Grandmaster aura bursting instantly.

Two mighty forces intertwined, pressing toward Jiang Feng, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify.

"Hand over the Demon-Breaking Pearl, and we'll spare your life!"

"Otherwise, don't blame us for the strong overcoming the weak!"

The two Grandmaster servants spoke in unison; if Jiang Feng dared utter a single 'no', they would strike at once.

The surrounding Xia Family members, seeing this, showed looks of schadenfreude.

In their eyes, even if Jiang Feng were extremely powerful, he could not possibly defeat two Grandmaster servants at once.

Yet at this tense moment, an angry shout rang out.

"Stop!"

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw Xia Chunyuan stride out of the bedroom, his face so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it.

The two white‑haired elders, hearing Xia Chunyuan's shout, instinctively stepped back two paces and withdrew their Grandmaster aura.

Xia Minjun's smile froze instantly.

She looked at Xia Chunyuan with displeasure and loudly questioned.

"Brother! What are you doing? Are you really going to let Jiang Feng take our Xia Family's treasure away?"

"Exactly, Chunyuan!"

"Both servants have already acted; why not let them snatch the Demon-Breaking Pearl back?"

Xia Chunyuan ignored the two and walked straight to Jiang Feng, bowing his hand to him.

"Mr. Jiang, I sincerely apologize for making you look foolish. My younger sister is ignorant and immature; please be magnanimous and do not argue with them."

"Since the Demon-Breaking Pearl was personally given to you by Aunt, it is now yours; our Xia Family will never betray you or contest your possession!"

At that moment, Duanmu Ya arrived quickly with Sun Boyong and Lu Shanqing.

They had been guarding the Xia Family's main gate; hearing something amiss inside, they rushed in to see.

Duanmu Ya walked to Jiang Feng's side.

"Mr. Jiang, rest assured, the Xia Family wouldn't dare act against you. With me here, I will safely escort you out."

Jiang Feng nodded at Duanmu Ya, ignored Xia Minjun, Xia Junzhou and the others, turned and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Duanmu Ya gave Xia Chunyuan a cold glance.

"Xia Family Head, regarding the Pearl‑Flame Pill, Yitian Pavilion is still waiting for your Xia Family to give a reasonable explanation. Moreover…"

She hesitated, then Duanmu Ya swept her gaze over Xia Minjun and Xia Junzhou.

"I'll say it again: Mr. Jiang is the most honored guest of Yitian Pavilion. If the Xia Family dares any disrespect toward Mr. Jiang, don't blame Yitian Pavilion for forgetting past ties and being unkind to the Xia Family!"

After speaking, she didn't linger, stayed close behind Jiang Feng, and together they headed toward the outside of the Xia Family gate.

Xia Junzhou and Xia Minjun watched Jiang Feng's departing back, their faces turning extremely grim.

When Jiang Feng, Duanmu Ya and the others completely vanished from sight, Xia Minjun could no longer hold back, and, with a resentful expression, rushed in front of Xia Chunyuan.

"Brother! You really let them leave like that? That's the Demon-Breaking Pearl! It's our Xia Family's treasured clan relic! If that guy Jiang Feng takes it away, what will become of our Xia Family later?"

But at that moment, Xia Chunyuan's expression immediately darkened,

"And if not? Do you think we could actually take down Jiang Feng?"

"You don't even gauge your own strength! Duanmu Ya is watching beside you; can you take down Jiang Feng and also Duanmu Ya? That's simply foolish!"

Xia Minjun was scolded into silence, lowered her head and dared not speak.

Xia Chunyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.

"Moreover, since our little aunt has already given the Demon-Breaking Pearl to Jiang Feng, if we truly act against Jiang Feng, and our little aunt finds out, what if she, in a fury, stops caring about the Xia Family's fate?"

With those words, Xia Minjun completely wilted, a hint of panic appearing on her face.

"I... I also don't want the Demon-Breaking Pearl taken by that guy..."

Xia Minjun muttered softly, her tone full of grievance.

Xia Chunyuan's eyes now flashed with a hint of cold ruthlessness.

A moment later, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Rest assured, this Demon-Breaking Pearl is our Xia Family's property; no matter who holds it now, it will eventually return to our Xia Family."

"No one can truly take away our Xia Family's belongings, Jiang Feng included."