Chapter 8: Would You Believe Me If I Said No One Taught Me?

“Forget it.”

“Why?”

Yang Yi sighed and turned his head, casting a puzzled glance at Yang Qingyuan.

No matter how unwilling you are to admit it, the Xiao family now wields the power of supervision, and within the One Qi Dao Alliance, they truly are a force no one dares to provoke.

Because you never know what excuse the Xiao family might use next time to frame you—or even your entire clan—if you cross them.

True villains are always more dangerous than hypocrites; this is an eternal truth.

For this reason, most of the Xiao family members behave as recklessly as Xiao Tiansheng does today.

The last time Xiao Wancheng caused a scene at the Yang family’s wedding banquet, it was a complete humiliation for the Yangs in front of all the noble families in the Dao Alliance.

But what happened afterward?

Although the Yang family’s son-in-law was ultimately protected through the efforts of several prominent Dao Alliance families, the Yangs still dared not immediately retaliate against the Xiao family!

If even the powerful Tianyan Yang family, one of the top houses in the Dao Alliance, behaves this way, how much more ordinary people?

Therefore, without sufficient strength to protect themselves, Yang Qingyuan did not want to completely alienate the Xiao family.

After all, Yang Yi is the young master of the Yang family, a person of high status whom they might hesitate to provoke recklessly.

But what about me?

I’m a neglected disciple of the Yang family, even doubted as having the family’s bloodline. If I were targeted, wouldn’t I be nothing but easy prey?

With this thought, Yang Qingyuan sighed helplessly.

Alas, it’s still a matter of insufficient strength...

If I already possessed power comparable to a great demon emperor, why would I need to be so cautious?

Strength is the foundation of one’s security and livelihood, and so-called dignity always rests upon the sharp edge of a sword held in one’s hand.

Thinking this, Yang Qingyuan shook his head slightly and smiled faintly at Xiao Tiansheng in front of him.

“Since Young Master Xiao says this was all just a misunderstanding, then let’s consider the matter closed.”

“Tch, coward...”

Xiao Tiansheng secretly sneered at Yang Qingyuan in his heart, but outwardly kept up a friendly smile.

“Thank you, Brother Yi Tan. If there’s nothing else, shall we be going?”

“Wait.”

Just as Xiao Tiansheng was about to turn and leave with his two subordinates, Yang Qingyuan’s voice rang out again from behind.

Xiao Tiansheng paused, turning around with a puzzled look.

“Is there something else?”

“You said just now that you were misled by some traitor’s slander, right?”

“This...”

Xiao Tiansheng sensed something was amiss, but with Yang Yi and so many onlookers present, he could only grit his teeth and casually pointed at one of his subordinates.

“That one!”

“Alright.”

Yang Qingyuan nodded and gave Xiao Tiansheng a faint smile.

Under the gaze of all present, Yang Qingyuan calmly stepped forward and, narrowing his eyes, delivered a precise kick to the subordinate’s dantian.

“Ah!!!”

The subordinate let out a miserable scream.

“You crippled his cultivation?!”

Xiao Tiansheng’s face turned ashen, his disbelief barely contained in a low roar.

“According to the regulations issued by the One Qi Dao Alliance, to falsely accuse others of colluding with demons is a grave offense once proven...

And this person, as a Black Obsidian Supervisor, knowingly broke the law, making his crime even worse!

Young Master Xiao, as the injured party, I only crippled his cultivation—this punishment isn’t excessive, is it?”

“Not excessive...”

Xiao Tiansheng ground out the words through clenched teeth.

If looks could kill, Yang Qingyuan would have been torn apart by Xiao Tiansheng at that moment.

But since Xiao Tiansheng himself had admitted to being misled by his subordinate, and now Yang Qingyuan cited the Dao Alliance’s laws, this bitter pill had to be swallowed in silence.

“Take him with us. Let’s go!”

After watching Xiao Tiansheng leave the street, Yang Yi turned his gaze to Yang Qingyuan beside him.

To be honest, it was only today that he seemed to truly recognize this obscure young member of the Yang family.

With a mere smile and casual words, he had crippled a Black Obsidian Supervisor’s cultivation—a ruthless move indeed.

If this had happened to anyone else, it would be one thing, but Yang Qingyuan was only just eight years old...

Thinking this, a strange complexity surfaced in Yang Yi’s eyes as he looked at Yang Qingyuan.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“N-nothing.”

Yang Yi withdrew his gaze, his expression slightly awkward.

After breaking free from the crowd of onlookers, Yang Qingyuan looked at this little boy in front of him with interest.

“Tell me, why have you been following me all this way?”

“You noticed long ago?” Yang Yi raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I saw it as soon as we left the gate.” Yang Qingyuan nodded.

“Alright, I’m just curious—who taught you these skills you have?”

The Yang family practiced their ancestral cultivation methods, and none of these were ever taught to Yang Qingyuan.

So logically, without the heart method, Yang Qingyuan shouldn’t be able to cultivate at all.

“How about this: you answer one of my questions first, then I’ll answer yours. Deal?”

“Go ahead.”

“Who told you to ask me that?”

Yang Yi was momentarily stunned. Looking into Yang Qingyuan’s eyes, which seemed to see right through him, he found himself unwilling to meet that gaze.

“How did you know someone else asked you to question me?”

“You’re not the type to meddle in others’ affairs.” Yang Qingyuan shrugged.

“...”

Yang Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Although they were both young members of the Yang family, their interactions had been few. He only knew there was a peculiar child in the family, and even his parents had warned him not to get too close.

Even when they met at home, they would merely exchange greetings with little conversation.

But from what Yang Qingyuan said, it seemed as if he knew him quite well...

“Alright, it was my grandfather...”

“Head of the family?”

Yang Qingyuan narrowed his eyes, a playful glint flashing within.

For some reason, he felt the head of the Yang family treated him in a strange way...

If they truly regarded him as an insignificant servant, why go to such lengths as to send Yang Yi to approach him and inquire about his situation?

Why not just ask him directly while he was in the detention chamber?

Although there was no concrete evidence, Yang Qingyuan had a faint premonition that this matter might be connected to his unknown birth parents.

“Yang Yi, I want to ask you something. Do you know who my parents are?”

“I already answered your question. Isn’t it your turn now?”

“Alright, alright. As for these skills I have...”

Yang Qingyuan suddenly paused, then gave Yang Yi a mysterious smile.

“What if I told you no one taught me, and they just suddenly appeared in my mind? Would you believe that?”