For a clan to endure for generations unimpaired, what mattered above all else was the preservation of its vitality — and the wellspring of that vitality lay in the young of the family. They were the fresh blood, and only by the ceaseless influx of fresh blood could that great mechanism of the clan be kept steadily turning.
And so, the coming-of-age ceremony was a most momentous day to every clan, and the Xiao Clan was no exception.
As one of the three great clans of Wutan City, the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony naturally drew the attention of all manner of forces throughout the city. Some of those on friendly terms with the clan went so far as to accept the invitation outright, coming in person to attend the ceremony's holding.
...
Seated with Xun'er in the cool shade beneath a great tree, Xiao Yan basked in the gently passing breeze, a warm and comfortable ease upon him.
His eyes narrowed faintly as he gazed at the enormous platform standing in the middle of the distant field. The platform had been built from massive timber, a site erected specially for the occasion of this coming-of-age ceremony. His gaze drifted idly across the empty stage before shifting to the crowds gathered from all manner of forces below the wooden platform, and he could not help but mutter with mild exasperation: "There really are so many people..."
Xun'er, who knew full well her companion's fondness for quiet, could not suppress a light, gleeful laugh at the sight of Xiao Yan's somewhat vexed little face.
But no sooner had the laughter left her lips than she caught the fierce glare shooting toward her from Xiao Yan, and she hurriedly sealed her small mouth shut. Her gaze swept over him, and a faint golden glimmer passed almost imperceptibly through her limpid autumn-water eyes as she asked with unexpected delight: "Xiao Yan-gege, have you reached the Eighth Grade of Dou Qi already?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan cast her a sidelong glance. With this girl at his side, it seemed nothing could be kept hidden. Heaving an inwardly disheartened sigh, he nodded, listless and feeble.
"Tsk, tsk... In less than a month, you've broken through the eighth grade — this pace... it's simply terrifying." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, even the composed Xun'er could not keep a trace of astonishment from appearing on her face.
Rolling his eyes at her, Xiao Yan's darting gaze suddenly came to a stop. Over near the timber platform, a bewitchingly beautiful woman in a scarlet dress was conversing with others, her smile warm and pleasant. The full and graceful figure wrapped within that crimson raiment showed itself in tantalizing glimpses, impossibly alluring. Around her a considerable crowd had already gathered, making hers by far the liveliest circle beneath the stage.
That woman in red, whose every smile and frown brimmed with a ripe maturity, was none other than Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Mitel Auction House, whom Xiao Yan had once seen before.
Allowing his gaze to sweep casually over her serpentine waist, Xiao Yan mused to himself in silent admiration: "A real piece of work, that one."
Yet even as his eyes lingered upon Ya Fei, a faint, low hum suddenly sounded from beside him.
"Cough..." Blinking, Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze without a trace of detection and turned a smiling face toward the placid-featured Xun'er: "I never imagined the Mitel Auction House would send someone to our clan's coming-of-age ceremony."
Shooting a glance at Xiao Yan, who was pretending that nothing was amiss, Xun'er said coolly: "The Xiao Clan has always enjoyed good relations with the Mitel Auction House of Wutan City. Is there any wonder that she would come? Besides, that woman's skill at social maneuvering is famed throughout Wutan City as the most formidable. Many a young lord, drawn by her beauty, has thrown who knows how much money at her — and in the end, not so much as a single bubble did they ever see. If Xiao Yan-gege is entertaining such designs, you had best be careful. Xun'er will not be lending you money to waste on such pursuits."
A sheepish smile on his face, Xiao Yan returned with a wry laugh: "Even if I did harbor such designs, she would have to take a little brat like me seriously first. She's seven or eight years my senior."
"Some women, do they not favor precisely that sort?" Xun'er's rosy little lips curved upward, half in a teasing smile.
With a dry cough, Xiao Yan had no choice but to concede defeat, and his gaze no longer dared to stray back toward that particular circle.
"Oh? Why has she come back?" Seeing Xiao Yan retreat, Xun'er abandoned her teasing as well. After a brief pause, she suddenly gave a startled exclamation.
"Who?" He hesitated for a moment, then followed Xun'er's gaze — and his brow, slowly, began to knit itself into a frown.
At the point where the two of them were looking, a young woman clad in what seemed to be a school uniform was leaning idly against a tree, a longsword at her waist. Hers was a rather tall, willowy figure, and what drew the eye most was the pair of smooth, elongated legs beneath her. Even that bewitching, alluring Ya Fei could not lay claim to such seductive limbs.
"Xiao Yu?" His gaze fixed upon the tall young woman, Xiao Yan frowned: "Didn't she go off to study at the Jia Nan Academy? Why has she returned?"
Xun'er gave an adorable little shrug, then suddenly tilted her head, a mischievous note in her voice: "Xiao Yan-gege, this time, you seem to be in trouble."
His face twisting slightly at the corner of his mouth, Xiao Yan rubbed at his aching brow and muttered a curse under his breath: "That headstrong woman is such a nuisance, she drives me mad. All because, back then, I accidentally stumbled into the hot spring where she was bathing on the back mountain, then inadvertently brushed her thigh — and for that, that madwoman chased me all over for six whole months."
"Hehe, a girl's body — one cannot simply lay hands on it as one pleases." At this, Xun'er covered her mouth and tittered, then suddenly recalled that this very fellow had, in her own childhood, groped every inch of her frame. A faint, alluring blush stole across her delicate little face.
Xiao Yan curled his lip in contempt: "This woman is also Xiao Ning's own elder sister — neither of them amounts to anything. That bastard's hostility toward me has a great deal to do with her as well."
In the distance, as if sensing something, Xiao Yu turned her head, and upon laying eyes on Xiao Yan beneath the great tree, gave a slight start. Her brows knitted, and a gleam of disdain and disgust flickered in her beautiful eyes.
After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yu set in motion those tempting, seductive legs and made her way toward where Xiao Yan was standing.
Seeing her approach, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed in turn, vexation and impatience plain across his countenance.
"Heh, Xiao Yan, I never expected you would live to see your own comeback — how astonishing." Drawing close, Xiao Yan took in the look of impatience on his face, so unconcealed he could not even be bothered to feign indifference, and she sneered.
"None of your business."
Xiao Yan clearly had not the slightest liking for Xiao Yu. His usual composure was utterly cast aside in that moment, and a coarse retort sprang straight from his lips.
"Your tongue is as sharp as ever. It seems these three years of ruin have yet to wear down your defiance." Xiao Yu looked down at him from above with disdain, speaking in a lofty tone of reprimand.
"Always the same lofty air..." Heaving a sigh of profound distaste, Xiao Yan cocked his head to one side and gave the woman, whom he had not laid eyes on for a year, a careful once-over. His gaze then drifted slowly to that pair of round, seductive legs, and, stroking his nose, he said flatly: "Your legs are as long as ever. I wonder — since back then, has any other man set his hands upon them?"
At these words, Xiao Yu, who had been sneering all the while, went livid with fury.