Chapter 572: Chapter 568: Xiao Baihe

Xiao Qi looked entirely devastated, fiercely challenging Tang Siyuan, the flames in his eyes seemed almost tangible, his impatient tone revealing the hardness of his resolution as the young leader of the Xiao family.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Tang Siyuan glanced at him calmly and said dismissively, “You’re not qualified. It’s beneath me to bully the weak.”

If it were Xiao Jinlin standing here today, he wouldn’t hesitate to engage in the fight. But he couldn’t bear the disgrace of challenging the younger generation of the Xiao family.

As a warrior who gained fame in his youth, there were hardly any in Xiling who would deem Xiao Qi unqualified. But as the Great Elder of the Tang Clan, his refusal still carried significant weight.

To the furious arbitrator’s astonishment, Tang Siyuan declined his challenge outright. This was not what he’d anticipated. He trembled with rage but was in no position to object.

As the young leader of the Xiao family, he couldn’t take action unless the Xiao family wished to initiate a war with the Tang Clan.

Tang Siyuan glanced around with his hands clasped behind him; warriors began to retreat in alarm, assuming he was about to attack.

Unexpectedly, he simply gave everyone a slight bow and said indifferently, “We’ve overstayed our welcome.”

Turning to Xiao Qi he said, “Xiao Ziyu was the Pride of Xiling, the Tang Clan will send representatives to his funeral.”

Tang Siyuan could not comprehend why Tang Luo had been so heavy-handed. This incident could potentially jeopardize the alliance between the Tang Clan and the Xiao family. He hoped that Xiao Qi would understand his covert message.

No matter the issues between the two clans, the representative attending the funeral would clarify everything with sincerity on behalf of the Tang Clan. He felt this was the best course of action under the circumstances.

Before Xiao Qi could respond, a streak of light across the sky from the direction of the Xiao family heralded the arrival at the peak of Red Cloud Mountain, of an elder with white hair and a youthful face. He appeared, trembling, beside Xiao Ziyu’s body. He checked Xiao Ziyu’s pulse, his body swaying with grief.

With fury and disbelief evident in his gaze, the old man gathered himself to confront Tang Siyuan, “The Tang Clan needn’t trouble itself with insincere condolences, we will not be welcoming dishonourable guests at Ziyu’s funeral!”

The newcomer was Xiao Ziyu’s grandfather and the previous leader of the Xiao family, Xiao Baihe.

Tang Siyuan snorted at the sight of him, “So, they tell me you have been in seclusion, yet your temperament remains unchanged. It’s a pity that Xiao Ziyu was your grandson.”

His words, layered with meaning and mourning for his own deceased grandchild, turned Xiao Baihe’s face a furious red. “What do you mean!?” he demanded.

Tang Siyuan sneered derisively, “The Monument Dragon Diagram of the Xiao family provides both offence and defence. With five attacking and three defending moves, it’s almost unbeatable. Yet Xiao Ziyu was hell-bent on accomplishing everything in a single battle, leading to his decisive defeat. At first, I wondered how the pride of Xiling could be so careless, but now it makes sense seeing you.”

With that, Tang Siyuan dismissively looked away. His subtext was clear; he was blaming the elders for not properly guiding their youth.

“Tang Siyuan!” Now understanding the hidden meaning of Tang Siyuan’s words, Xiao Baihe pointed tremulously at the Tang Clan’s Great Elder. The furious warrior saw only one path left open to him: “You claimed Xiao Qi was not worthy of battling you. Very well, then let me challenge you instead. Do you dare to accept!?”

As the echoes of Xiao Baihe’s challenge faded, the onlookers paled in surprise. Nobody expected a conflict between two juniors to escalate to such heights.

The families invited to Red Cloud Mountain had come in the hopes of maintaining neutrality and peace, but one small misstep could ignite a war between the clans of Xiao and Tang.

Xiao Baihe, as the former leader of Xiao family, and Tang Siyuan, as the Great Elder of Tang Clan, had significant statuses. If either one of them were to be injured, it would stir a great upheaval in Xiling.

If the conflict escalated to involve Red Cloud Mountain, Xiling would lose its last tranquil site, and the flames of war would further intensify.

Seeing a conclusion they could easily deduct, the onlooking warriors turned their eyes to Tang Siyuan, their hearts in their throats. They hoped he could consider the bigger picture and not act rashly out of pride.

Tang Siyuan stared sullenly at Xiao Baihe. He couldn’t believe that this man, well over a hundred years old, had not matured in the slightest. He was quick to employ a warrior’s approach to resolve disputes. Why hadn’t Xiao Jinlin informed this foolish man about the alliance between the two families?

Perplexed, Tang Siyuan realized this was likely. After Xiao Baihe passed on the leadership to Xiao Jinlin, he secluded himself to study the ways of the masters and had no further news from the outside world since. Judging by his current behavior, he had rushed over from the Xiao family camp upon receiving the news of his grandson Xiao Ziyu’s death.

But why would he issue a challenge now of all times?

As a warrior, Tang Siyuan was not afraid of challenges. However, their statuses were highly sensitive. If they were to fight, it would no longer be a personal matter.

Looking at the Xiao family warriors spread across the sky, who earlier had clenched fists and downcast eyes, they now seemed to have transformed entirely at the arrival of Xiao Baihe, eager to join the battle.

Xiao Baihe may have lacked cunning in comparison to the present clan leader, Xiao Jinlin, but he more than made up for it with his protective nature and respect among his peers.

This was a man who would not hesitate to annihilate an entire clan for a clan member, and a top researcher in martial arts who willingly taught his unique skills to others.

A man of such stature was not taken lightly. Tang Siyuan felt backed into a corner, feeling helpless as the situation was going out of control.

“Hey! Let me say…”

The sudden booming voice drew everyone’s attention. It was Tang Luo, crossing his arms in disdain and ridicule, “Are all of you in the Xiao family like this? Brave enough to challenge but too cowardly to accept death in battle? You should go be farmers instead of warriors!”

His words caused a change in the expressions of the warriors gathered under the sky. Indeed, this challenge was initiated by Xiao Ziyu himself. His importance to the Xiao family sent everyone into a crisis. They wondered: as a warrior, isn’t life and death part of the gamble? If one lacks skills, what else is there to dispute?

Tang Luo paused before turning his attention to the elderly Xiao Baihe in the distance. He loudly taunted, “Xiao Baihe, on what grounds do you challenge the Great Elder of my Tang Clan? Xiao Ziyu challenged me to prove himself the greatest in Xiling. What’s your reason? Is it because your grandson died and you’re upset? Or do you not plan to rest until you’ve dragged the Xiao family into a war?”

Some things are much more interesting when said out loud rather than thought in silence, no point making it seem like an unfortunate decision resulting from not enough forethought.