"Xue'er, so you also know what he did was wrong, and you still want to defend him like this? Do you know what will happen to our Xiao family once we offend the Crimson Blade Sect?"
He questioned, although his tone softened a lot.
Then, as if fed up with scolding her, he sighed heavily and said,
"I know you and Xiao Chen are childhood sweethearts, and you may like him a lot. But, while liking someone, you also need to remember that you are also a member of my Xiao family. It's not like I didn't give him a chance to correct his mistakes."
Zhixian gave a passionate speech and, without allowing her to butt in, he continued,
"But even after knowing the stakes, he continued to provoke an enemy that we cannot afford to resist."
"What does that mean?"
"It either means he is stupid, or he doesn't take this family as his own."
"And no matter what his reason was, being thrown into prison for seven days was a light outcome, in my opinion."
Zhixian truly thought so.
Although it seemed the incident was a little skirmish between the younger generations, Xiao Chen's behavior was almost borderline betrayal to his family.
And from the usual plot direction, that was indeed the case, as even now, he never thought the trouble caused by that bastard was over.
"Umm... Brother Zhixian, I understand. B-but you are wrong about one thing though..."
Xiao Xue saw Zhixian finally stop his grand speech and nervously call out, causing him to look at her once again.
"Oh, what did I say wrong?"
'Is this girl also stupid? Did she not see the problem yet?'
Zhixian thought with trepidation, feeling that Xiao Xue might be the type of heroine who always sided with the protagonist, thinking everyone else was wrong.
If that was the case, he would have another headache.
Fortunately for him, though, her next words made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"A-ah, I-I mean, I am not that close to Xiao Chen, and I don't like him like that."
Xiao Xue replied a little shyly as she felt that Zhixian seemed to have misunderstood her.
"He is just my good childhood friend who took care of me when I was little, and I thought of helping him out when he was at his lowest."
She didn't know why she was explaining, but she felt it was better to clear things up. And as if feeling that it wasn't enough, she continued,
"Now that you explained the whole thing, I also think Xiao Chen was too stupid."
"He didn't think of his family at all in anger. Getting beaten and sending him to prison was indeed a good decision. Don't worry, Brother Zhixian, I will also try to persuade him when he's out."
Xiao Xue assured while puffing up her impressive bosom as if to guarantee.
Poor Xiao Chen, if he saw her like this, he would probably cough up another mouthful of blood in anger.
"It is a pity that I already gave him a recovery elixir. Should have given it to him a little later..."
Then she mumbled in a low voice unconsciously, which Zhixian heard clearly.
"Huh? Did you come here after meeting him?"
Zhixian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
How long had it been since that guy Xiao Heng took Xiao Chen away? And this girl already met him and even gave him a recovery elixir?
'That bastard's luck is quite good.'
He couldn't help but envy a little.
"Hmm? Oh, I just met him with the Clan Leader when I was returning from outside. So, seeing him injured, I gave him the pill out of sympathy...."
Xiao Xue trailed off as if feeling guilty for doing something wrong.
"Well, you don't have to feel guilty or anything, you know. We all know you two are like real brother and sister, and I don't really care about such things."
Zhixian waved his hand to show her that everything was alright, calming the solemn atmosphere.
Then he suddenly smiled at her and said a little jokingly,
"And besides, I believe our bond is strong enough that you can share anything in your heart with me without hesitation. Or… am I still not as important to you as Xiao Chen?"
"Um? N-No, you are very important to me."
Xiao Xue replied reflexively, then, feeling that it felt wrong, she tried to correct herself.
"No, I mean… I didn't mean it like that! Wait, no, I mean… you're more important to me than Xiao Chen—no, that's not it.."
Xiao Xue was flustered by the sudden question from Zhixian, causing her to stammer, not knowing what she was saying.
Then, seeing the smiling eyes of Zhixian, she finally understood she was being played around, and retorted with a pout,
"Brother Zhixian, you are clearly bullying me. You know everything, and still ask. I don't want to talk with you anymore."
She said with a little anger and suddenly turned around, intending to leave the courtyard.
At first, she came to hold Zhixian accountable, but instead, she was lectured, scolded, and even teased at last.
Now she regretted her earlier decision to come here.
"Haha... Xue'er, so I am more important to you than Xiao Chen? I didn't know that. Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Seeing the cute, pouting girl walk away in anger, Zhixian laughed and teased her once more.
"Hateful. When did I say that? You are bad."
Xiao Xue's face went completely red after hearing him shout like that. If other clan members heard it, wouldn't they misunderstand?
'When did this guy become like this?'
She thought while quickly walking away from the courtyard in shame.
As for the condition of Xiao Chen and the new Clan Leader, she had already forgotten about it.
'Tsk, tsk, tsk, this little girl has no experience of the real world at all. I think I should teach her a few things so she isn't taken advantage of.'
Zhixian shook his head at the easily flustered girl, completely forgetting that her realm was higher than his.
'Forget it. Let's use the Marrow Cleansing pill to increase my talent first. Then use the Qi Gathering Pill to increase my realm. I need to be fast; there is no time.'
Zhixian put aside those thoughts for now and thought about his low realm.
Even Xiao Xue was already at the Middle Stage of the Essence Forging Realm, and he was still at the Middle Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.
If he didn't become strong fast, he would really become a laughing stock in the entire Mistwood City one week later, not to mention the challenge he would face from the protagonist.
'System, show me my status.'
So, he immediately ordered the system, as only after seeing his current situation could he improve faster.