~~~

It is late in the afternoon when Xiao Nan walks into the residence of the Main Family. The Xiao Sect's compound is quite large, and most are not allowed to see its innermost parts. Indeed, an Outer Disciple like Liu Jin would never be allowed inside the main house. Had the Patriarch not been greatly ill at the time, a stranger like Liu Jianguo would have never been invited.

However, Xiao Nan is neither a stranger nor a mere Outer Disciple. He is a Core Disciple and the Xiao Sect's rising star. Where he walks, disciples and servants move out of the way and bow.

"Where is my cousin?" He asks one of the servants. It is mostly for show. He can feel Xiao Fang's Qi quite clearly. He knows exactly where his cousin is.

"The young master is in the meditation chamber," the servant replies, bowing his head to him. By the time the servant dares to look up, Xiao Nan has already walked away.

It does not take Xiao Nan long to reach the meditation chamber. It is a special room deep underground where a person can cultivate without being bothered by the outside world. Xiao Fang is no doubt working hard there as befits the heir to the Xiao Sect. He evidently requires tranquility at the moment in order to obtain the best possible results.

Xiao Nan enters the meditation chamber without a care in the world.

Xiao Fang does not notice his arrival. His cousin is deep in meditation. Xiao Nan feels proud of his cousin for reaching such a deep focus while at the same time lamenting his cousin's lack of awareness. Even though the main house is the safest place in Eastern Port City, one should never lower one’s guard. Any assassin skilled or lucky enough to reach this place would find his cousin an easy target.

Still, Xiao Nan decides to wait. There is no need to interfere with his cousin's cultivation, especially when it seems to be going so well. He sits in front of Xiao Fang and waits.

Fifty breaths go by, and Xiao Fang still shows no signs of stopping or of even having noticed Xiao Nan. Five hundred breaths go by, and Xiao Nan still waits patiently. Five thousand breaths go by, and Xiao Nan still waits. Even as the sky goes dark, Xiao Nan waits for he knows what will soon happen. Yes, it should be any moment now.

There!

Xiao Nan's eyes gleam as his cousin's Qi spikes and swells. It is a breakthrough! Xiao Fang had been on the cusp of one for a while, but he has finally broken through and reached the next level.

Before even reaching the age of ten, Xiao Fang has stepped into the seventh level of the Inner Realm. Even within the Xiao Sect, it is a notable achievement, fitting for the one who will one day lead it. At his current rate, his cousin is sure to reach the Nascent Realm long before his time to participate in the Eastern Port City Tournament comes. In a few decades, Xiao Fang may even enter the Emperor Realm like his father before him.

Xiao Nan smiles. The future of the Xiao Sect is safe.

Slowly and carefully, Xiao Fang works to bring his increased Qi under control. It is a dangerous process. A cultivator is always at his most frail immediately after a breakthrough. Xiao Nan has seen promising talents accidentally cripple themselves due to their inability to deal with the new power raging inside them. However, Xiao Fang is a cut above those people and manages to bring his Qi under control in only thirty breaths.

"Cousin," Xiao Fang says as he finally opens his eyes. "I did not feel you come in. I hope you did not wait for too long."

"Do not worry. I did not wish to interfere with your cultivation, cousin. Congratulations are in order, I believe."

"Your praise is wasted on me, cousin. It is nothing you did not accomplish when you were my age." Xiao Fang is understating things, and they both know it. When Xiao Nan was his age, he had already broken through the Inner Realm. "If I may ask, for what reason did you come to visit me?"

"I came to communicate my gratitude, cousin," Xiao Nan says, drawing a surprised look from Xiao Fang. "I heard the most interesting thing happened the other day. It was your words and actions that saved my little brother's life. You cannot imagine how surprised I was when I learned that. After all, your relationship with Liu Jin has never been the best."

Xian Nan is not overstating things when he says Xiao Fang saved Liu Jin’s life. At that moment, Liu Jin could have died. In a world ruled by power, those without it are at the mercy of the powerful. The Yun Sect’s young master does not need to care for the life of a simple doctor's son. Yun Han could have killed Liu Jin, and he would have been within his rights to do so. It is simply the way things are.

The Yun Sect is strong, and the strong do as they wish.

"That is true. I have never been fond of him." Xiao Fang does not bother denying it. There is no point in doing so. His dislike of the Liu family is well known within the Sect. "However, I cannot allow the Yun Sect to believe they can get away with killing one of our disciples."

"Cousin, I have known you since you were a baby. Do not lie to me," Xiao Nan says. His placid smile is still in place, but there is an unmistakable tension in the room. "You know full well that Liu Jin is not an official disciple of the Xiao Sect and is not allowed to wear our colors outside these walls. His loss would have been regrettable but not something that would cause us to lose face. Should I go on or will you answer truthfully?"

Xiao Fang glares at him in silence. "Is it true?" He asks at last.

"What is?"

"The old man! The one who is staying at their clinic now. I heard you and father talking. Is it true? Is he really..."

Xiao Fang trails off, knowing better than to finish that sentence. Xiao Nan has to give him credit for that. Some things are better not said. Still, now he understands his cousin's actions perfectly.

"So that's why you acted."

"Of course, it was!" Xiao Fang replies, sounding offended that Xiao Nan felt the need to even say that. "If that man truly is... The consequences of Liu Jin's death would have been unspeakable!"

Killing the son of a simple, powerless doctor is one thing. Daring to anger someone in the Emperor Realm is the height of foolishness. Liu Jin's death could have very well caused Old Jiang to lash out in anger. The Patriarch of the Yun Sect is strong, but in spite of his best efforts, he has not yet reached the Emperor Realm. It is one of the factors that cements the superiority of the Xiao Sect over the Yun Sect. If Old Jiang wanted to destroy the Yun Sect in its entirety, its Patriarch would not be able stop him on his own.

Now, it goes without saying that the destruction of the Yun Sect wouldn't be an unfavorable outcome for the Xiao Sect. Xiao Fang's interference was not born out of something remotely like kindness.

It was fear that forced Xiao Fang's hand.

An angry Emperor is a terrible thing. Had Old Jiang been angered by Liu Jin’s death, the damage of his rampage could have spilled over. An Emperor's power could easily destroy Eastern Port City in its entirety. If such an outcome were to become likely, the Xiao Sect's Patriarch would have no choice but to intervene to protect the Xiao Sect from being dragged into things.

And a fight between Emperors is just a terrifying prospect.

Xiao Fang understood that and acted in defense of Liu Jin in order to prevent such an outcome.

"Not bad, cousin," Xiao Nan says. "You showed good judgement. However, I believe you overlooked something important."

"What could it be?"

"My reaction, of course!" Xiao Nan points to himself. "Do you think I would do nothing if Little Brother died?"

"You cannot be serious."

"If he killed Liu Jin, I would have ripped Yun Han's throat out." There is no trace of a smile on Xiao Nan's face. His voice is so cold that Xiao Fang shivers. "I would have marched right into the Yun Sect's compound and killed him."

Xiao Nan is also pretty sure Xiao Fang is greatly underestimating his father's possible reaction, but there is no need to let him know that just yet.

"Oh well, that did not happen in the end, and it's all because of you, cousin." Just like that, the tension is gone. Xiao Nan stands up and leaves. Xiao Fang does not bid him goodbye or says anything at all. His cousin is still stunned by his words. Regardless, Xiao Nan is happy with how things went. It is nice to know Xiao Fang is not lacking in judgement.

Once Xiao Fang reaches the Emperor Realm and becomes the next Patriarch, the Sect’s future will be assured. When that happens, the Xiao Sect will surely have four cultivators in the Emperor Realm–For Xiao Nan has never once doubted his ability to reach that level eventually–and the Yun Sect will have none. Yes, the Xiao Sect's future is certain.

As far as Eastern Port City is concerned, that is.

The Empire is a big place. Xiao Nan has seen with his own eyes the level of talent in the capital. For the Xiao Sect to one day stand at the level of the greatest Clans and Sects in the continent, another step is needed.

For that step, Liu Jin is an absolute necessity. One day, Xiao Fang will have to understand that.

~~~