The tears Su Wan had just managed to stop welled up again. Her face went deathly pale.
“Che… Sun Tao really is at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment? Then you—”

Xiao Che raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of understanding flashing through his eyes.

Heh.

So this was where they were heading.

Using his damaged dantian as leverage, betting that he wouldn’t dare give up that slot.

If he backed down, he’d be abandoning his own sister.
If he went, it would be like throwing an egg against a stone.

Quite the calculation.

Too bad for them—his dantian was already fully restored.
And his cultivation… was nothing like before.

Xiao Che looked at him with a hint of amusement. “Brother Li, you even know exactly who the Sun family is sending to lead the team?”

Xiao Li’s smile stiffened. “It—it’s already spread outside…”

Xiao Che gave a soft snort and didn’t bother looking at him again. Turning to Su Wan, he said in a steady voice,
“Mother, rest assured. I’ll bring the four guards—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—with me.”

“I will bring Qing’er home safely.”

“Nonsense!”

Xiao Zhanxuan shot to his feet, his voice rising sharply.

“The Sun family’s old ancestor has already broken through to mid–Golden Core! Your father’s injuries were caused by him! You’re going there, isn’t rescuing anyone—it’s walking straight into death!”

Xiao Che lifted his brows, looking at him with a half-smile.
“Third Uncle, you and Brother Li… seem very reluctant to see me go.”

Xiao Zhanxuan’s breathing hitched.

Xiao Che let the smile fade and said seriously,
“Third Uncle, a Golden Core ancestor isn’t something I need to concern myself with. Soldier against soldier, general against general—surely you understand even that much?”

Xiao Zhanxuan froze.

“If it’s a contest between peers, I’ll take it. And if they really have no shame and send a Golden Core to suppress me…”
He glanced around lightly.
“Wouldn’t there still be all of you elders?”

He looked back at Xiao Zhanxuan, smiling calmly.
“Third Uncle, you wouldn’t actually expect me—a mere Qi Refinement cultivator—to stand up to a Golden Core ancestor, would you?”

Xiao Zhanxuan swallowed and forced out a dry laugh. “Naturally… the family elders will provide support.”

“With those words, your nephew is at ease.”
Xiao Che cupped his fists politely, sneering inwardly.

Yeah right.

Xiao Yuantu remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly,
“Che, have you truly thought this through? This is no trifling matter.”

“I have.”
Xiao Che nodded, his tone relaxed.

“Can’t keep letting people call me a waste while I squat on the latrine without doing anything—ah, I mean, while occupying the position of young clan head, right?”

Several younger clan members almost burst out laughing.

Even the great elder’s mouth twitched.

“Since you’ve made up your mind…”
Xiao Yuantu looked around the hall.
“What do you all think? Is Che’s proposal acceptable?”

Xiao Zhanxuan immediately cupped his fists.
“Che has such courage—of course, as his uncle, I support him. Let the outcome of this mission decide whether the young clan head’s position stays or goes. Fair and reasonable!”

He lowered his gaze, hiding the flash of cold light in his eyes.

Several elders aligned with him quickly voiced their agreement.

The pro-war elders exchanged glances, then nodded. At the very least, it would let the Xiao family present a united front to the outside world.

As for Xiao Che…
Well, they could only leave that to fate.

Xiao Yuantu turned to Xiao Zhantian.
“Clan Head, what is your view?”

Xiao Zhantian took a deep breath and looked into his son’s blazing eyes. At last, he nodded heavily.

“Good! We’ll do as Che says!”

He rose to his feet. Though his Golden Core pressure was somewhat sluggish, the decisiveness of a clan head remained.

“Tomorrow, Che will represent the Xiao family and bring Qing’er back. All elders are to provide covert support in case of emergencies. If the Sun family follows the rules, so be it. But if they dare to bully the weak with the strong…”

His gaze swept the hall like lightning.

“Then the sons of the Xiao family are not lambs to be slaughtered!”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned solemn. Many straightened their backs.

Xiao Che felt his heart settle.

It was done.

“Very well,” Xiao Yuantu concluded. “It’s settled then. Che, make preparations at once.”

Xiao Che cupped his fists. “Yes.”

He suddenly seemed to recall something and added,
“Oh, right. Great Elder, please send someone to pass a message to the Sun family.”

Xiao Yuantu asked, “What message?”

Xiao Che grinned, showing a row of white teeth.

“Tell them this—
Tomorrow at noon, Ten-Mile Slope south of Cangyun City.
The Xiao family’s young clan head, Xiao Che, will arrive in person,
bringing the White Deer Academy’s no-exam admission slot—
to take my sister home.”

Xiao Yuantu studied him deeply, then nodded slowly. “Very well. The message will be delivered word for word.”

A trace of mockery flashed through Xiao Zhanxuan’s eyes.
A mere Qi Refinement cultivator challenging a fifth-level Foundation Establishment? This waste must be tired of living.

Su Wan tightly grasped Xiao Che’s hand, her voice low.
“Che, you…”

“Mother, don’t worry.”
Xiao Che squeezed her hand back, lowering his voice.
“I know what I’m doing.”

He said it calmly, but mentally added the rest:
And while I’m at it, I’ll collect some old debts—with interest.

To avenge that sword strike from back then.

He wasn’t the original owner of this body—the aloof, cultivation-crazed fool ignorant of the world.

He was Xiao Che: someone who had died once, cherished the warmth of this life deeply, and… held grudges very well.

The slot?
They could have it.

If they were capable of taking it.

The meeting adjourned.

Under his mother Su Wan’s repeated reminders, Xiao Che felt a sting in his heart. Only after much coaxing did he manage to calm her, then turned and headed toward his own courtyard.

His bedroom was called Sharpened Sword Pavilion—quite fitting for the original owner’s single-minded obsession with cultivation.

The moment he pushed open the door—

“Young Master, you’re finally back!”

A soft, delighted voice rang out, sweet and gentle.

The next instant, a warm, supple body threw itself into his arms, carrying a faint milky fragrance.

“Wuu… You were gone for three days and nights. A-He thought she’d never see you again…”

Xiao Che froze with his hands half-raised.

Good grief—what’s this now?

He looked down.

In his arms was a little maid of about fifteen or sixteen. She had a round face and big, watery eyes filled with worry and lingering fear.

Small lips, twin buns in her hair, dressed in a light green maid’s outfit. Her figure had begun to fill out, yet she still carried a girl’s youthful innocence.

The original owner’s memories surfaced.

Xiao He—his personal maid, who had followed him since childhood.

A childhood betrothal? A bedmaid?

Damn rich bastard. Decadent feudal life… cough—kind of nice, actually.

He came back to himself, felt the girl’s dependence in his arms, and awkwardly patted her thin shoulder.

“Alright. I’m fine, see?”

“Let go first. Prepare some hot water. Your young master needs a bath—covered in dust.”

Xiao He immediately released him.

“The water’s already ready! As soon as I heard Young Master was back, I went to boil it!”

Her voice still carried a hint of nasal congestion as she turned to lead the way.

Xiao Che followed, but noticed Xiao He still standing at the door, fidgeting with her fingers instead of leaving.

“Why are you still here?”

Xiao He’s cheeks grew even redder, her voice as soft as a mosquito.

“I—I haven’t helped Young Master change yet…”

Xiao Che’s mouth twitched.

…That’s an option too?

Well.
Seems it’s not an option.

Resigned, he spread his arms.

Xiao He’s eyes lit up. She hurried forward in small steps, stood on tiptoe, and carefully began undoing the ties of his robe.