Chapter Seventy-Five: A Fierce Beating for the Quan Brothers

“Father, since Young Master Yang wishes to buy the shop, you should feel free to sell it to him. Weren’t you planning to sell it anyway? What difference does it make who the buyer is? I trust Young Master Yang, and I’ll stay by his side until we defeat the Quan brothers,” Bai Xue said to Bai Sheng with an impatient tone, clearly dissatisfied with her father’s tendency to avoid trouble. In contrast, she greatly approved of Yang Xiao’s approach.

“You stubborn girl, why are you still so headstrong?” Bai Sheng replied with a helpless sigh.

“This isn’t stubbornness; it’s called taking responsibility. If you won’t accept the spirit stones, then I will.” With that, Bai Xue accepted the spirit stones from Yang Xiao and turned to him, saying, “Young Master Yang, now that I’ve taken your spirit stones, this shop belongs to you. My father finds owning it troublesome anyway, with his timid ways. I believe you will manage it far better than he ever could.”

Yang Xiao could only feel a sense of helplessness toward Bai Xue’s temperament. Once she set her mind on something, she saw it through. This time she was betting on him, which was fine, but he worried that if she made such bets too carelessly in the future, it could bring her trouble.

As Yang Xiao pondered Bai Xue’s resolve and Bai Sheng faltered uncertainly, a sudden shout sounded from afar: “Bai Sheng, who gave you permission to sell the shop? If you’re selling, it has to be to us, the Quan brothers. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with the consequences!”

With that shout, two men approached, leading a group of followers. Both men were short and ugly, but their aura revealed that their cultivation was anything but ordinary.

“Are those the Quan brothers?” Yang Xiao asked Bai Xue.

“That’s right, it’s them. Ever since they arrived at Lin Gu Village, they’ve stirred up no end of trouble. But their cultivation is high, and few dare cross them. Now they’ve set their sights on my family’s shop and want to take it by force—that’s why my father wants to sell,” Bai Xue explained.

Yang Xiao took note of the situation. Judging from the brothers’ cultivation, there was still a considerable gap between them and himself. Even if they were of the same rank, the techniques Yang Xiao cultivated were of the highest order, and with the support of exceptional elixirs, his spiritual power far surpassed that of any cultivator of equal standing.

“Bai Sheng, you’ve got some nerve, slighting us like this. We were going to give you ten thousand spirit stones for your shop, but since you’re so ungrateful, you’ll only get a thousand. Take it and get out of Lin Gu Village,” the elder brother, Quan Hu, shouted, tossing a pouch of a thousand spirit stones at Bai Sheng’s feet.

“My good brothers, calm yourselves. Since you want the shop, how could I not sell it to you? But a thousand spirit stones is far too little. This shop is worth at least tens of thousands. Why not stick to the original price—ten thousand spirit stones? I’ll sell it to you, and we’ll call it a friendly deal,” Bai Sheng replied with a sycophantic smile.

“You wish! If you won’t drink the toast, you’ll have to drink the forfeit. You had your chance at ten thousand, but now? There’s no way you’ll get that much. A thousand spirit stones, not a single one more. Actually, if you want ten thousand so badly, there’s a way—sell your daughter to me as a concubine. Then I’ll give you ten thousand, and ensure your wealth and glory for life. To be honest, your daughter grows lovelier by the day—truly a delight to behold,” Quan Bao, the younger brother, said, his eyes fixed on Bai Xue with undisguised greed.

“You—how dare you! Do you really think you can do as you please in Lin Gu Village? Even in all of Yao Country, there are rules and laws. What you’re doing flies in the face of our country’s fair trade laws,” Bai Sheng said angrily. He was especially furious at the suggestion of selling his daughter, whom he adored dearly. Threats against himself he could endure, but threats against his daughter were intolerable. In his heart, he resolved that even if the Quan brothers meant him harm, he would fight them with all his might. If he died, he would at least ensure the brothers suffered for underestimating him.

“Bai Sheng, everywhere strength reigns supreme. Now that my brother and I are the strongest, you’d best give in. Since you dare defy us, it seems you’re tired of living. Very well, I’ll send you to the underworld to collect spirit stones there. This time, you won’t get even a single spirit stone. In fact, your very life ends here,” Quan Hu said coldly. With that, he launched a punch at Bai Sheng. Even before his fist landed, a chill of spiritual energy surged toward Bai Sheng.

But Yang Xiao happened to be standing between them. He intercepted Quan Hu’s momentum completely, releasing his own aura, which instantly suppressed Quan Hu’s. Then, Yang Xiao’s fist met Quan Hu’s in midair.

In that instant, Quan Hu’s arm went numb, as if it no longer obeyed his commands—clearly, it was on the verge of being ruined.

“How powerful! How can this man’s body and spiritual force be so strong?” Quan Hu was shocked by this unexpected opponent. He had trained in body-tempering arts and possessed spiritual power far greater than most, yet compared to Yang Xiao, the difference was as great as sun to stars—utterly terrifying.

Especially since this blow was not a casual one; he had put most of his strength into it, not daring to be careless against a peer. Yet Yang Xiao had blocked it with apparent ease. How could that not fill him with dread?

“Brother, what happened? Who is this brat, daring to stop you? Let me take care of him!” Quan Bao, unaware of the situation, prepared to teach Yang Xiao a lesson.

“Wait, brother, don’t act rashly. You’re not as strong as I am—neither in body nor spiritual power. You’re no match for this man,” Quan Hu quickly stopped him.

“Brother, did you actually lose to this man? Is he really that formidable?” Quan Bao looked at Yang Xiao in disbelief, unable to imagine that this youthful cultivator possessed such strength.

“He is indeed formidable. In terms of true power, neither of us is his match. My arm was nearly ruined by his blow,” Quan Hu replied, still staring at Yang Xiao in astonishment.