Chapter 21: After the Storm, a Warning
Chapter 21: After the Storm, a Warning
As Xiao Chen’s figure vanished beyond the horizon, a strange silence descended upon the grand hall. No one spoke. No one moved. Every gaze remained fixed on that disappearing back—struggling to accept the reality they had just witnessed.
A soft breeze whispered through the stillness.
Suddenly, Xiao Rongyu bolted after him, her delicate figure dashing out with no hesitation, ignoring the burning stares around her. In her eyes, nothing else mattered.
Snapping out of his daze, Elder Xiao Jian cleared his throat and stepped forward. “What happened here today... was shocking indeed. But, as I said earlier, let’s conclude this gathering. The elders still have other matters to attend to.”
The young geniuses sighed in collective relief. This suffocating hall—once grand and imposing—had begun to feel like a prison.
Surprisingly, the first to move wasn’t any of the youths, but Deacon Mo.
Beaten senseless by a junior, shame scorched through his bones. He couldn't bear another second in this hall.
Head lowered, he bolted for the exit, his figure a blur of desperation.
But then—
Bang!
A sudden gust of wind slammed the giant entrance doors shut with a thunderous crash, shaking the hall’s marble pillars.
Deacon Mo collided headfirst into the sealed doors.
“Urghh!!”
He rebounded like a thrown sack of potatoes, flipping backward in an awkward arc before crashing to the floor. His face scraped across the marble tiles, robes in disarray, nose flattened, and his disheveled hair now a bird’s nest. The stocky man looked less like a deacon and more like a drenched rat booted out of the sewer.
Silence reigned—until it shattered.
“Pfft—Hahaha!”
Xiao Lan exploded with laughter, clutching his stomach, tears streaming from his eyes. “H-He looks like a soaked rat! Ah, I can’t...!”
Even the stoic Xiao Li couldn’t hold back. A rare smile tugged at her lips—beautiful, fleeting.
The other geniuses exchanged glances—some biting their lips, others trembling with effort to contain their laughter.
The elders remained composed—but observant.
Elder Xiao Jian’s eyes narrowed. Just before the doors slammed shut, he had sensed a controlled burst of spiritual iQ—wind-aligned, fierce yet measured. There was only one person in this hall with a top-grade wind affinity...
Patriarch Xiao Hao.
Slowly, every elder turned toward the Patriarch.
Xiao Hao sat lazily in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. His sharp eyes glinted with mischief as he surveyed Deacon Mo’s pitiful form.
Then, with a slow nod, he murmured, “Consider that punishment... light.”
The realization hit everyone at once.
That wind strike wasn't an accident—it was a warning. The Patriarch hadn’t forgiven Deacon Mo for laying a hand on Xiao Chen.
The elders sighed. Truth be told, if it had been their own child, they might’ve done worse.
Elder Xiao Mei raised her hand to her lips and let out a soft, melodic chuckle. “So petty... yet so satisfying,” she whispered, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Meanwhile, Xiao Han stood stiffly, fists clenched, his face dark as thunder. Deacon Mo was one of his supporters.
Beside him, Xiao Boyan bit down on his lip until blood trickled. The sight of Deacon Mo—a man of authority—reduced to a mockery, only made Xiao Chen’s rise more bitter to witness.
But the tension was finally starting to ease.
Xiao Lan wiped tears from his eyes and sighed. “Ah... I needed that. If I stayed serious another minute, I might’ve exploded.”
No one rebuked him. His laughter had lightened the mood, even if only for a moment.
For once, everyone silently agreed—maybe having someone like Xiao Lan around wasn’t such a bad thing.
As the crowd began to disperse, footsteps echoed and murmurs filled the air. But then—
A deep, commanding voice froze them in place.
“Remember this clearly—engrave it in your soul.”
The entire hall fell into dead silence. All eyes turned to Patriarch Xiao Hao, whose expression had turned grave.
“Xiao Chen’s Martial Spirit and his true strength... must remain an absolute secret.”
His gaze swept across the room, lingering on the seven geniuses.
“No one outside this hall must hear a word of what transpired today.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle like a storm cloud.
“This awakening is both a blessing and a curse. If word spreads, our enemies will not sit still. They will see Xiao Chen as a future threat—and strike before he grows.”
His voice turned cold, biting.
“I will not allow that.”
His next words sliced through the air:
“If I hear even a whisper, I will hold the seven of you personally responsible.”
Cold sweat broke out across their backs. His gaze was like a blade, stabbing into their hearts.
“And if I find the traitor...”
A cruel smile curved his lips.
“I’ll cripple your cultivation with my own hands... and throw you out of the Xiao Family. By then, death will be the mercy you’ll pray for.”
No one dared move. The air was heavy with dread.
Most of the geniuses understood. They had seen Xiao Chen’s terrifying potential. None were foolish enough to risk their lives over gossip.
But not everyone shared that restraint.
At the back of the hall, Xiao Han stood trembling, his face pale, teeth grinding. Pride shattered.
Beside him, Xiao Boyan’s twisted expression darkened further. His nails pierced his palm, blood dripping silently.
The urge to curse, to scream, boiled within them—but fear chained their tongues.
Among the elders, quiet glances were exchanged. Some nodded solemnly, others frowned with hidden conflict. While many grasped the gravity of the situation, not all were loyal.
In the far corner, Xiao Yang stood motionless, head lowered, body trembling—not in fear, but fury.
His nails dug deep into his palms, crimson drops falling to the floor.
“Today... is the most disgraceful day of my life,” he thought bitterly.
Then, his eyes gleamed with cruel intent.
“Xiao Hao thinks he's protected him... but he’s only painted a bigger target on Xiao Chen's back. Maybe... it’s time I form alliances with his enemies.”
The Patriarch, unaware of Xiao Yang’s dark thoughts, surveyed the room one last time. His senses had caught every twitch, every flicker of emotion. But he said nothing more.
The warning had been issued.
Betrayal would not be tolerated.
---
As the hall emptied, a cool breeze greeted them outside.
“Ahhh~” Xiao Lan exhaled, stretching. The suffocating pressure lifted. He ran a hand through his dark red hair, smiling for once.
“Today was wild, huh, Sis?” he said playfully.
Xiao Li’s red eyes flicked to him. Cold as ever.
“I have more important things to do,” she replied flatly, her silver-blue hair fluttering as she walked away.
“Come on, don’t be like that!” he called after her, jogging to catch up.
One by one, the other geniuses vanished.
Xiao Niye melted into the shadows.
Xiao Gu stormed off, jaw clenched.
Xiao Yue lowered her head, hurrying alone.
The courtyard grew quiet.
Suddenly—
“Damn it! That bastard ruined everything!” Xiao Han roared, kicking the ground. Dust flew.
Xiao Boyan quickly stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. Xiao Chen may have awakened something powerful, but he crossed First Elder. If you earn his favor... you’ll rise again.”
But Xiao Han wasn’t listening.
“Shut up! I’m thinking!” he snapped, eyes burning.
With a stomp, the stone beneath his feet cracked.
He stormed off, leaving Xiao Boyan behind.
The young servant’s calm facade twisted into a bitter sneer.
“It’s all... Xiao Chen’s fault.”
His fists trembled.
“Why him...? What happened to him? How did he become so strong?”
His thoughts spiraled, haunted by a single truth:
Something terrifying had awakened... and no one knew how or why.