After making his preparations, Xiao Che pushed the door open and stepped outside.
His aura was fully restrained, still showing only the fluctuation of the first level of Qi Refining.

“Young Master, everything is ready.”

Outside the door, Xiao An stood with hands lowered.

In the courtyard, four figures stood silently at attention.

They wore black fitted outfits, longswords at their waists, their expressions sharp and capable, their auras deep and steady.

All four were at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

When Xiao Che appeared, their eyes lit up. They clasped their fists and bowed in unison.

“Young Lord!”

Their voices rang out like steel striking iron—clear and forceful.

Memories from the original owner surfaced.

The Xiao Clan’s four elite close guards—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning.

Carefully selected from clan orphans and trained from childhood, they existed solely to protect the direct bloodline. Each was a sworn retainer willing to die for their charge.

Wind Guard Xiao Xun—swift as the wind, skilled in reconnaissance.
Rain Guard Xiao Mu—meticulous and calm, skilled in defense.
Thunder Guard Xiao Ting—fierce and explosive, skilled in surprise attacks.
Lightning Guard Xiao Lie—fiery in temperament, skilled in frontal offense.

They had grown up alongside the original Xiao Che, closer than brothers, and were his most trusted aides.

After his cultivation had been crippled, when despair drove him into seclusion, he had not summoned them for a long time.

Yet now, in their eyes, there was not the slightest hint of distance—only tightly restrained excitement and unwavering loyalty.

Xiao Che swept his gaze over their resolute faces, his heart settling.

Good.

That cultivation-obsessed original owner hadn’t completely burned away his humanity after all—he’d at least left behind a few reliable brothers.

He walked down the steps and stopped before them.

The four bowed again, speaking in perfect unison:

“Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning—await the Young Lord’s command!”

Xiao Che nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Outside the main hall, several elders led by Xiao Zhantian were already prepared, ready to provide covert support.

As he passed his father, Xiao Che paused slightly and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Father, when we engage the Sun family later, be wary of Third Uncle.”

Xiao Zhantian’s gaze sharpened. He studied his son deeply, then slowly nodded.

……

Ten Mile Slope—wild grass growing thick.

Xiao Che reined in his horse and stood at the foot of the slope.

Dressed in white, his robes fluttered in the wind, the Clear Edge sword strapped across his back.

Behind him, the four guards of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning stood silently, their auras heavy and restrained.

On the far side of the slope, several figures flickered in and out of view.

That was where Xiao Zhantian, Xiao Yuantou, and the others were holding position—concealing their presence, yet steady as pillars holding up the sky.

At the top of the slope, the Sun family was already waiting.

At the forefront stood a middle-aged man in embroidered robes, around forty years old, with prominent eye bags and the appearance of someone long indulged in wine and women.

It was Sun Tao, the Sun family’s young lord, at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

Seeing his face, Xiao Che almost reflexively wanted to throw out a sarcastic remark.

But just as the words reached his lips, a faint soreness stirred at his lower back.

Uh…

Three days and three nights.

Xiao Che touched his nose and swallowed the teasing words.

Fine. No need to throw stones from a glass house.

Behind Sun Tao stood more than ten elite Sun family guards, all late-stage Qi Refining to early Foundation Establishment cultivators, arrayed in disciplined formation.

Seeing Xiao Che approach with only four people, Sun Tao curled his lips in mockery.

“Well, if it isn’t Young Master Xiao, once hailed as the number one genius of Cangyun Prefecture. One year apart, and you still look the same…”

He paused, his smile turning arrogant.

“What, has the Xiao family run out of people? Sending a Qi Refining first-level trash like you to die? Or is it that you’re reminiscing about the feeling of having your dantian pierced by my sword back in the Black Mountain mine?”

A few Sun family guards behind him snickered quietly.

Xiao Che’s expression didn’t change. He raised a hand, stopping Wind Guard Xiao Xun from moving.

“Young Lord Sun.”

“Hm?”

“My cultivation is ruined. The whole world knows that.”

Xiao Che lifted his chin slightly and gestured behind Sun Tao.

“You, a dignified Foundation Establishment fifth-level cultivator, dealing with a Qi Refining first-level cripple like me—do you really need to bring thirteen guards?”

“This is all the courage the Sun family’s next pillar amounts to?”

The laughter atop the slope died instantly.

The mockery on Sun Tao’s face stiffened, his eyelid twitching.

This brat…

He stared at Xiao Che’s calm, handsome face, unease creeping into his heart.

With Xiao Che’s old firecracker temper, those words alone should’ve made him draw his sword and charge recklessly.

Now he was cutting people with his tongue instead?

Had losing his cultivation also burned away his guts?

Thinking that, Sun Tao’s irritation strangely dissipated.

He sneered, no longer bothering with pretense.

“Sharp tongue. Xiao Che, enough nonsense. Did you bring the White Deer Academy exemption token?”

Xiao Che didn’t answer. “Where’s my sister?”

Sun Tao tilted his head.

Behind him, two guards dragged forward a young girl with her hands bound.

It was Xiao Qing.

Her small face was pale, her hair slightly disheveled, and a cloth gag stuffed in her mouth. When her large eyes saw Xiao Che, they instantly filled with tears. She shook her head desperately, muffled sobs escaping her throat.

Xiao Che’s gaze darkened, his fingers tightening slightly inside his sleeve.

He took out a jade token from his storage ring.

About the size of a palm, it was milky white throughout. One side bore an elegant white deer, the other a single ancient character: Recommendation.

It was the White Deer Academy’s exemption token, carrying a unique aura that could not be faked.

A flash of heat crossed Sun Tao’s eyes.

“Good. Xiao Che, you know what’s good for you. Hand over the token, and you can take the girl.”

Xiao Che didn’t move. He tossed the token lightly in his hand.

“I want to take my sister myself. And you can inspect the goods personally.”

A faint smile curved his lips.

“Well then, Young Lord Sun—do you dare come down and check it yourself?”

Sun Tao’s gaze sharpened.

An older guard immediately lowered his voice. “Young Lord, be careful. There may be a trick. Let this subordinate—”

Xiao Che snorted.

“What, don’t tell me you’re afraid of a Qi Refining first-level cripple?”

A flash of viciousness crossed Sun Tao’s face.

Afraid? Of him?

What a joke.

“Fine!”

Sun Tao’s eyes turned icy as he stared at Xiao Che.

“You’re asking for death. Don’t blame me.”

He seized Xiao Qing and marched down the slope.

Xiao Che, holding the jade token, walked up to meet him.

They met halfway up the wild slope, no more than ten paces apart.

Sun Tao clutched Xiao Qing’s shoulder, blocking her in front of him, his eyes locked onto the jade token in Xiao Che’s hand.

Xiao Che stopped, his gaze flicking quickly over his sister’s pale face. Seeing that she was only frightened, not injured, he felt a measure of relief.

The surroundings fell silent. Only the rustle of wind through wild grass could be heard.

Both sides held their breath, eyes fixed on the two figures at the center.

Xiao Che raised the jade token.

“Untie my sister. You let go, I throw the token. At the same time.”

Sun Tao stared at the token, greed flickering in his eyes. He released Xiao Qing’s restraints and shoved her forward.

“Fine.”

Tears streaming, Xiao Qing staggered toward Xiao Che.

Xiao Che flicked his arm, and the jade token traced a gleaming white arc through the air between them.

The instant the token left his hand—

Xiao Che pushed the Wind-Chasing Step to its limit, shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, straight toward Xiao Qing.

Sun Tao leapt instantly, reaching for the token.

Xiao Che arrived first, scooping Xiao Qing around the waist and flinging her backward.

“Catch her!”

Rain Guard Xiao Mu caught Xiao Qing securely.

Everything happened in a flash.

Sun Tao’s hand was less than half a foot from the jade token.

And in that same instant—

Xiao Che didn’t stop at all. He drew the Clear Edge sword and slashed horizontally!

Spiritual power at the first level of Foundation Establishment surged into the blade. The Pure Yang Golden Flame Sword Art flowed naturally, the eighteen meridian routes connecting in an instant.

A streak of crimson-gold light flashed across the sword edge—then vanished.