Chapter 75: Pressure from the Xi Family

“Xiaoru!” Xi Yuran flickered and appeared beside Xi Xiaoru. He looked pained and said softly, “Grandfather knows what you are worried about. Rest assured, since the Sword of Taisho has recognized its master, he should be considered a member of our Xi Family. Grandfather will definitely bring him back safely.”

Hearing Xi Yuran’s guarantee, Xi Xiaoru’s expression relaxed slightly. At that moment, an old man whispered, “Family Head, there is no time to lose…”

Xi Yuran nodded and said decisively, “Let’s go!”

Several old men, including the old servant, suddenly flew into the air. After many years, the hidden strength of the Xi Family was revealed once again; there were six Grandmaster-level experts in a single trip.

Xi Xiaoru looked more and more tired, and finally, she simply lay down in the grass. Zhou Qian and the others stayed by her side. The remaining members of the Xi Family began to pack the Spirit Tools piled together and searched the valley carefully a few more times, but they found nothing.

After an unknown amount of time, Xi Xiaoru opened her eyes. Seeing that the Martial Artists of the Xi Family were no longer nearby, she whispered, “You fools! Do you know what you have done?!”

“Big Brother, what happened?” Zhou Qian asked, confused.

“What happened?!” Xi Xiaoru snorted coldly. “Why did you tell them about the Tree of Destiny?”

“You didn’t tell us not to say it…” Zhou Qian defended herself in a low voice.

“Just because I didn’t tell you doesn’t mean you can say it? Can’t you think for yourselves?!” Xi Xiaoru became increasingly angry. “You guys… you just took a walk through the gates of hell, and you really don’t know?!”

“The gates of hell…” Zhou Qian was shocked. “This… that can’t be?”

“Heh… luckily the Tree of Destiny has already withered, otherwise, did you think you would still be alive?!”

Zhou Qian and Lu Feixia turned pale. They found it hard to believe. Usually, when they saw Xi Yuran of the Xi Family, they always called him Grandpa Xi respectfully, and Xi Yuran’s attitude was very kind. Could he really act cruelly against them just for the Tree of Destiny, especially since they didn’t even hope to get any benefits?

Fang Yizhe’s expression was strange. He had doubts at the time, but it was too late to stop her; Zhou Qian had already spilled everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube. Moreover, he hadn’t expected the situation to be this serious, otherwise, he might have sneaked away alone long ago.

“Hey, why are you looking at me like that? It’s weird!” Xi Xiaoru shouted. Having been out of the Demonic Breath state for a long time, she had recovered her careless manner.

“I…” Fang Yizhe smiled bitterly. “Chief, others say you only know how to cause trouble and make a fuss everywhere, I didn’t expect you…”

“Think I’m stupid?” Xi Xiaoru curled her lip. “It’s just that I don’t like wasting my mind, but this time it concerns Little San’s safety. I have no choice but to think more.”

“Little San?” Zhou Qian finally realized. “Is Little San not in the Split Carriage Canyon?”

“Of course not. I just wanted to coax them away,” Xi Xiaoru said.

“Big Brother, do you think Grandpa Xi will make things difficult for Little San?” Zhou Qian asked.

“My grandfather has already said those words, so he won’t. But what about the others? Didn’t you see those shameless old men jump out?” Xi Xiaoru said.

“But… the Tree of Destiny has already withered!”

“It withered, but did Little San get any benefits?” Xi Xiaoru said. “If Little San says he didn’t, who would believe him? They will definitely capture Little San and question him carefully. Heh… perhaps they will torture him. By the time they are sure Little San got nothing, he will probably be tortured to the brink of death.”

The scene Xi Xiaoru described was chilling. Zhou Qian and Lu Feixia were stunned. After a long while, Fang Yizhe coughed. “The Xi Family Head just promised to keep Brother Su safe. Chief, please don’t worry.”

“This kind of thing cannot rely on others; we must rely on ourselves,” Xi Xiaoru said. “As you just said, my grandfather is the Family Head. Sometimes, he is not free to act as he wishes.”

Silence fell again. After a long time, Xi Xiaoru suddenly sniffed. “I’m a bit hungry. Do any of you have food?”

The group searched themselves, but none of them had any. Fang Yizhe had a sharp eye and spotted the fruit tree. “Look over there!”

Xi Xiaoru stood up first and walked toward the fruit tree. Without much effort, she jumped onto the tree, picked a fruit, wiped it casually on her clothes, and opened her mouth to bite it. Lu Feixia hurriedly shouted, “Big Brother, you can’t eat things randomly in Yunshui Marsh.”

“Tsk, your parents told you that, didn’t they?” Xi Xiaoru said. “Old Fourth, how old are you now?” After speaking, she took a huge bite of the fruit. In the next moment, Xi Xiaoru froze.

“Big Brother?!” Seeing that Xi Xiaoru’s expression was strange, Zhou Qian and the others called out hurriedly.

Xi Xiaoru suddenly began to chew vigorously, then swallowed it quickly, and took another big bite, nodding while she ate.

Seeing Xi Xiaoru eating with such enjoyment, Zhou Qian and the others also jumped onto the tree one after another and picked fruits. After only a small taste, they couldn’t stop themselves.

“How… is it? Delicious, right?” Xi Xiaoru said unclearly.

“Mm…” Zhou Qian managed a small smile. Knowing that she had just narrowly escaped death, she really wasn’t in the mood to joke. However, the incredibly sweet fruit flesh seemed to contain something that could change one’s mood. As she ate, the sorrow and fear from before slowly faded, and her mood became more and more excited.

The group became more and more cheerful as they ate. Several Martial Artists of the Xi Family saw the commotion from afar and shook their heads. This young miss truly didn’t know the taste of worry…

“I thought of a way,” Xi Xiaoru whispered. “Little Fang, you’ll have to work a bit harder. Can you leave some marks around here to remind Little San not to come back?”

“He won’t be able to come back for a short time,” Fang Yizhe said. “Past this valley and further inside is the Nine Hundred Mile Ghost’s Sorrow. Even a Grandmaster might get lost in there…”

“Really?” Xi Xiaoru was stunned. “Is it dangerous?”

“Of course it’s dangerous,” Fang Yizhe said. “It depends on his own luck… anyway, I feel that being trapped inside is much better than coming back immediately.”

“So what if he comes back? My Zhou Family is not to be messed with!” Zhou Qian said. “When the time comes, I’ll tell my dad and mom, and they will definitely protect Little San.”

“Big Brother, your second and third grandfathers are not good people,” Lu Feixia said. “Really, my father often says so at home…”

Zhou Qian and Lu Feixia seemed drunk on the fruit, daring to say anything. Normally, they would have been careful.

Xi Xiaoru fell silent. In fact, the Zhou Family and Lu Family were small families, far inferior to her Xi Family. But because they were small and their populations were not large, their lives were relatively simple, and their choices were simple—they just had to depend on the Xi Family. The Xi Family, however, had to be prepared at all times to handle external threats and pressure.