Chương 435: Chapter 379: I Can

~~~ New Moon Town looks exactly the same as it did when Xiao Nan last saw it. So much has happened, yet this one place remains frozen in time. Xiao Nan feels a nostalgic urge to see if the restaurant where he ate with his Little Brother is still there, but that's not a priority. He is here for one reason only.

"Where is my treacherous aunt?"

"Young Master Xiao Nan!" cries out Elder Gang. His eyes are as wide as dinner plates.

"You are…You are…" Most likely, it is the shock of it all that has rendered him speechless. Still, Xiao Nan does his best to quell his presence. He has spent far too much time around the powerful people his Little Brother surrounds himself with and has forgotten the common courtesies. Elder Gang might be at the top of the Heaven Realm, but the rest of New Moon Town is far from that level. He's probably made half the town faint just by arriving.

"You are not so weak that you cannot speak in my presence, Elder Gang," Xiao Nan reminds him.

"Now, please tell me where-" Xiao Nan stops talking when Elder Gang grabs him in a hug.

"You foolish, foolish boy," Elder Gang says.

"When news arrived of the fate of Eastern Port City, we thought we lost you. To think you're now in front of me as an Emperor… The Heavens are kind to this old man." Xiao Nan's face softens. He hugs the Elder back. Unlike his Little Brother, Elder Gang never had a chance to see him before he departed for the Dead Plains, and it was too dangerous to visit him while he was still a Renegade. He might have already known he survived that terrible night, but that's not the same as seeing him face to face.

"I made you worry," Xiao Nan says.

"You always have," Elder Gang replies.

"You were a terrible youngster."

"Is that so? As I recall, all you Elders were constantly fighting over who was to blame for my many successes and trying to bribe me with treats to speak well of you."

"As always, your memory is self-serving," Elder Gang says, letting go of him.

"That was only half the time. The other half, you were putting yourself in exceedingly dangerous situations and taking away years of our lifespans through worry. Things have changed remarkably little." Xiao Nan laughs.

"True enough," he says. His smile falls off.

"Where is my treacherous aunt so I can kill her?"

"Young Master…"

"Where is she?" Xiao Nan repeats.

"This matter has gone on long enough. It's time I put an end to it."

"Is that all you have to say?" Xiao Nan sighs. It's not Elder Gang who spoke. Xiao Fang has made his way into the courtyard.

"Cousin," Xiao Nan says, turning in his direction and spreading his arms. Predictably, Xiao Fang does rush to hug him. Xiao Nan feels a brief moment of empathy for Feng Zhuo, but he squashes it ruthlessly. If he starts feeling sorry for that guy, he might start convincing himself that he is human.

"Years," Xiao Fang says.

"I have had to deal with this for years. Do you think you can come here and pretend you can solve everything?"

"Yes," Xiao Nan replies.

"I can." The cousins stare at each other in silence for several awkward seconds. Elder Gang loudly clears his throat and steps between them.

"We do not know if Xiao Yifan is truly the one behind this attack on the Xiao Sect," he says.

"But she's the most likely candidate," Xiao Fang counters.

"You said it yourself."

"The facts of the incident are as follows," Elder Gang says, ignoring the comment.

"The Yellow Grass branch of the Xiao Sect was attacked by a group of outlaws known as the Howling Claws. Our investigation revealed that they were not a traditional bandit group but likely a unit created by someone to strike at the Xiao Sect."

"By my aunt," Xiao Fang says.

"Who else could it be?" Xiao Nan adds.

"We sent scouts to their presumed location," Elder Gang continues, glaring at the two Young Masters.

"They failed and are presumed dead. A day later, another branch was attacked. Small and unimportant, yet significant because of what it represents."

"We have lost five branches since this whole thing began," Xiao Fang tells him, frowning and closing his arms.

"Letters have arrived from several minor Branch Masters. Some are demanding immediate action. Some are threatening to leave the Xiao Sect. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if some had already done so." Xiao Nan frowns. That's worse than he was expecting, but it's not surprising. Small branches do not receive many benefits from the main Sect beyond the reputation that comes with being part of it. It might not sound like much, but a name is sometimes enough.

The name of the Xiao Sect acts as a shield and sword against enemies, ensuring the branch's safety and prosperity. However, that is all worthless if someone does not fear the name. In that case, they are just the easiest targets available. What does it matter if the Xiao Sect eventually avenges them? That will not make them any less dead. If these attacks continue, it will not be long until even medium-sized branches start distancing themselves from the Xiao Sect.

"I can't help but notice you have yet to mention where these bandits are hiding," Xiao Nan says.

"And I will not, Young Master," Elder Gang says, crossing his arms.

"You might be an Emperor now, but so is Xiao Yifan, and she has more experience as an Emperor than you do. I will not watch you foolishly rush headlong into danger."

"I defeated a man on the Second Level of the Emperor Realm within minutes of becoming one," Xiao Nan says, deliberately omitting the part where a certain Duke helped him achieve the feat. The shock on Elder Gang's face is quite pleasant to watch. His Little Brother is a good companion, but the days when he was amazed at every little thing he did are long gone. Ah, the cruel march of time.

"Be that as it may," Elder Gang says, finally recovering.

"You will not hear the location from me."

"Elder Gang," Xiao Nan says.

"You know I have over a hundred ways of obtaining that information."

"I do," Elder Gang says.

"Young Master, I ask that you do not put your death on my conscience." Xiao Nan's face softens.

"Very well. I apologize for my rudeness, Elder," Xiao Nan says before looking at Xiao Fang.

"Cousin, will you tell me?" Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Xiao Fang glares at him in silence.

"Ah, so it's going to be like that," Xiao Nan says, breathing in through his teeth.

"I think…it might be best if we talked alone." Why can't either of his little brothers be as unproblematic as Xiao Shuang? ~~~"I understand that you are no longer young enough to run into my arms-""I have never once run into your arms!" Xiao Fang says, pointing a finger at him.

"However, I expected you to be a little happier to see me," Xiao Nan finishes. The two have moved into an upper room of the New Moon Town Branch, a study of sorts, perhaps the Branch Master's personal library. It looks elegant enough, but Xiao Nan doubts any of the books or scrolls here is worth anything.

"Of course, I'm happy to see you!" Xiao Fang says, throwing his hands into the air.

"I thought you died! How can I not be happy?"

"Then what's the problem?" Xiao Nan asks.

"You're trying to fix everything!" Xiao Nan stares at his cousin.

"Yes!" he says, raising his voice for the first time.

"How is that a problem?!"

"Because I'm the leader now!" Xiao Fang shouts back.

"It's my duty! It's my responsibility! If you can just come here and fix everything that's wrong, then…Why am I even needed? What's the point of me being the head of the Xiao Sect? It was obvious when we were kids and more so now that you're an Emperor! You're the one who should be leading us!" Ah…so it is like that. Xiao Nan smiles sadly.

"That would never work, cousin," Xiao Nan says.

"Why?!"

"Because I don't care about the Xiao Sect nearly as much as you do," Xiao Nan admits.

"I am powerful, but as long as those closest to me are safe, I would be content. I would use the Xiao Sect to do what is expected of me, but never go beyond that. However, you are not like that. You hunger for more. That is why you have been fighting so hard to reclaim Uncle's legacy. I simply cannot match that resolve." Xiao Fang snorts.

"What does resolve matter?" Xiao Fang asks.

"In the end, I am someone who cannot do anything on his own. If it were you or him, you would have been able to solve this on your own." There is no need for Xiao Nan to ask whom Xiao Fang is referring to.

"If that is what you think, I will have to tell you that you are wrong," Xiao Nan says.

"If I am an Emperor now, it is only because I lost and was at the whim of my captor for years. And to say Little Brother is not depending on others is laughable. He has only accomplished so much because he has relied on others. Even now, all those accomplishments have forced him to jail himself in his own house while others act as his hands and feet." Xiao Nan sighs deeply.

"Strong as we are, we have limits," Xiao Nan says.

"That is why we must rely on others. You are the master of the Xiao Sect, and now, the Xiao Sect's strongest weapon is before you. Act wisely." Xiao Fang looks at Xiao Nan in silence for a long time. His mind is buzzing with various thoughts as emotion and logic war against each other. Finally, he asks himself a simple question. What should he, as the leader of the Xiao Sect, do right now? He opens his mouth. ~~~ Falling Leaf Valley is not home to powerful Spirit Beasts or rare plants.

No major or minor Sect has ever shown much interest in it. It's really just a small valley in the middle of nowhere. The only thing noteworthy about it is the system of caves under it. It is what makes it such a good hiding spot for rogues and thieves. Xiao Nan drops down from above like a meteor. The ground explodes and craters under his force. A wave of dirt rises and spreads across the valley. It rushes into the caves, forcing those hiding inside to come out. Xiao Nan can sense their Qi.

Most of them are in the Nascent and Spirit Realm. A few are in the True Realm. By and large, they can be said to be ordinary rogues who were easily lured into this enterprise with promises of power. They should have thought better before daring to strike the Xiao Sect. [Void Step] Space is reduced to nothingness, and Xiao Nan is suddenly between them. The bandits do not even register his presence before he kills them. Then, he repeats the process. [Void Step] [Void Step] [Void Step] Dead. Dead. Dead.

There are nearly three hundred bandits hiding in the valley, and Xiao Nan kills them all within a single breath. Such quick deaths can be said to be a mercy, but that is not why Xiao Nan killed them so quickly. They are simply not his target.

"Dear me, is there really any need for such violence, nephew?" She comes out of the caves last. Her slow, measured steps echo across the suddenly silent valley. The dirt and dust picked up by Xiao Nan's arrival settle down and reveal her form. She wears a beautiful dress of contrasting shades of dark and light blue. Her brown hair is done up in an elaborate bun, and her blue eyes shine as she looks at him. Her face is beautiful, but it has not a single trace of softness.

She is Xiao Yifan, the woman who took hold of the Xiao Sect after Uncle died.

"Yes," Xiao Nan replies.

"In fact, I dare say I used far less than I am entitled to."

"Nephew," she says, placing a hand over her heart.

"When have I ever wronged you? It wasn't me who killed Xiao Zheng and left us without a leader. I merely did what was best for the Xiao Sect. Xiao Fang could not possibly lead us, and he would never willingly step down. Without you and his father, he became an existence that could only incite infighting in our Sect. Thus, he needed to be removed, regretful though it might be."

"Are you saying that now that I am here, you will support Xiao Fang?" Xiao Nan laughs.

"In the first place, had you wholeheartedly supported him from the start, there would have been no infighting! Everyone would have accepted him! You were supposed to guide him and be his family! Instead, you betrayed him and tried to kill him! Now, you're even killing members of the Xiao Sect to weaken him!"

"I removed parasites that had attached themselves to our name, and…" Xiao Yifan suddenly looks away and covers her mouth to hide her laughter.

"Ah, it is beneath me to pretend to care. Yes, I wanted the Xiao Sect, and if I cannot have it, I might as well ruin it for that child. If only he had died during the attack like he was supposed to!" Xiao Nan frowns.

"Wait a moment-""I waited for years," Xiao Yifan says. Her Qi flares up.

"I was very patient. Why should that child immediately receive the Xiao Sect when I have been waiting longer than he has been alive? That was too much. A pity that chance is gone now, but I can live with it. Nephew, I truly bear no ill will towards you. To be honest, I sympathize with you. Leave now, and I will let you live." Xiao Nan looks at Xiao Yifan in silence. There are many questions he suddenly wants to ask, but there is one thing that matters above all. She is the woman who tried to kill his cousin.

[All Consuming Heavenly Void] Falling Leaf Valley is destroyed in the blink of an eye. The void swallows all and destroys all, leaving nothing more than a huge crater where the valley used to be. Even the cave system under it is completely obliterated.

"Truly?" Xiao Yifan's voice, carried by her Qi, reaches Xiao Nan's ears as the technique fades away. The space around her is distorted by the barrier she used to protect herself. There is not a single wound on her body.

"Do you really wish to do this, nephew? You might be a prodigy, but I have been an Emperor longer than you."

"If you were the sort of foe I had to be wary of, you wouldn't have lived your life scared of my Uncle," Xiao Nan counters. Xiao Yifan frowns. Her Qi spikes. [Void Fist] [Void Fist] A battle between members of the Xiao Sect is a battle for control over space. Xiao Yifan and Xiao Nan each seek to distort the space inside the other. Sweat shines on Xiao Yifan's forehead as her Qi keeps growing. Her teeth gnash against each other, and veins become visible on her skin as she pits her Qi against her nephew's.

Her technique manifests first. A vicious grin spreads across her face as she twists the space inside Xiao Nan, and… Xiao Nan is no longer there. A kick to the back of her head sends her crashing down before her mind can fully comprehend it. Xiao Yifan's face twists with anger as she immediately rises into the sky once more. She twists the space around Xiao Nan and is surprised by the lack of resistance. However, her grasp ends up closing around nothing. Multiple hits explode on her side.

Xiao Nan's cold blue eyes are the last thing she sees before she's blasted to the ground. Again.

"Xiao Yifan, you have lived for far too long!" Xiao Nan yells.

"That mistake will be rectified today!" A tremor shakes the earth.

"Oh, nephew…" Xiao Nan frowns as Xiao Yifan's Qi rises. It is not the anger in her Qi that gives him pause, nor is it the strength of it. There is something in it that's just…off. Familiar, but not quite. She rises into the sky, and he watches as scales rise over her neck and creep to the left side of her face. Her hateful blue eyes gradually turn red. It is a very familiar shade of red.

"I am going to enjoy devouring you," Xiao Yifan declares. ~~~