Chapter 22: Xu Haoliang Shows His Power

The disciples carried the monster beast’s body into the city gate happily. Seeing the cheering common people, their exhaustion faded away, and their faces turned red. They puffed out their chests proudly, acting like they were the only heroes.

Xu Haoran and Xu Haoliang did not enter through the city gate. Instead, they flew up to the city wall. As soon as they landed, they heard waves of cheers:

“Welcome back, Clan Leader, victorious!”

“The Clan Leader is mighty!”

Xu Ziyan, standing on the city wall, was also very happy after driving back the monster beasts. She joined everyone in cheering loudly. When Xu Haoliang landed on the wall with Xu Haoran, he saw the cheers for Xu Haoran and his face darkened, like someone owed him a copper coin.

Xu Haoran landed on the city wall and laughed heartily, “Hahaha… That was a satisfying fight, really satisfying!”

At that moment, Xu Haobo also flew up to the city wall using his sword flight technique. At a glance, he noticed Xu Haoran’s face looked a bit pale. He quickly looked Xu Haoran over and saw a snake head still biting Xu Haoran’s ankle. Earlier, when Xu Haoran used his sword flight to chop the black snake into pieces, he did not expect the snake’s head to remain tightly clamped on his ankle and not fall off.

Seeing this, Xu Haobo was shocked. He knew the snake was venomous. His eyebrows twitched, and he quickly shouted:

“Physician, physician, find a physician quickly! The Clan Leader is poisoned!”

Xu Haoran looked down at his ankle, frowned slightly, waved his hand, and smiled. “Don’t make a fuss. This little injury is nothing serious!”

After saying that, he took two steps forward but suddenly felt dizzy. His knees went weak, and he almost fell to the ground. Luckily, Xu Haobo beside him reacted quickly and caught him.

Xu Haoran shook his head, then suddenly closed his eyes and fainted. Everyone panicked. They quickly lifted him up together and noisily carried him back to the clan.

Once back at the clan, they placed Xu Haoran on a chair in the Main Hall. Xu Haobo crouched down, tore open Xu Haoran’s pant leg, and saw that the lower leg had turned Wu Qing. He immediately turned his head and shouted:

“Call Physician Zhang! Hurry!”

Soon, an old man rushed into the Main Hall. He crouched down to look at Xu Haoran’s ankle. The snake head had already been removed and thrown away by Xu Haobo. The bitten area was swollen, black and glossy, and slowly oozing a foul-smelling liquid.

Xu Haobo asked nervously, “Physician Zhang, how is it? Is my elder brother in danger?”

Physician Zhang was the best doctor in the Xu Clan and also an Offering Elder of the clan. Skilled in alchemy and medicine, having treated people his whole life, he showed no panic. He took a jade knife from his Storage Pouch, gently cut open the swollen area, and the black blood immediately flowed out. Xu Haoran, leaning on the chair, felt nothing.

Physician Zhang carefully soaked up the blood with a medicated cotton swab, brought it to his nose to smell, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Fortunately, this is a bite from a Black Flame Snake. The Black Flame Snake’s venom is not strong. But the Clan Leader continued chasing monster beasts after being bitten, which sped up the venom’s spread, causing him to faint. Wait until I drain the poisoned blood, then give him a Detoxification Pill. He will recover fully in three days.”

Everyone nearby let out a long sigh of relief. Only Xu Haoliang, standing to the side, rolled his eyes, as if plotting something. Suddenly, Xu Haoliang’s face turned stern. He flicked his sleeve and scolded:

“Foolish! Ignoring the bigger picture, only seeking bravado and fighting—how can such a person bear the responsibility of leading the clan?”

Everyone was stunned. Xu Ziyan, standing outside the Main Hall on her tiptoes looking in, was startled. She thought:

“Who is he scolding? Second Uncle? Or Physician Zhang? The Clan Leader is fine now, right? Why is he angry? Could he be scolding the Clan Leader? To insult the Clan Leader in front of so many disciples… that’s too bold!”

Meanwhile, Xu Haoliang put on an enraged expression. Pointing at Xu Haobo and the others, he loudly berated them:

“As the Clan Leader, he should coordinate the forces from the center, not go out personally to kill monster beasts. You usually care so much about Elder Brother, don’t you? And Elder Brother listens to you, doesn’t he? Why didn’t you persuade him not to go into danger? Instead, you accompanied him in this reckless outing. The Clan Leader, as the head of the clan, failed to oversee the overall situation. He was brave but had no strategy, just reckless courage. How absurd!”

After saying this, he flicked his sleeve fiercely again. With Clan Leader Xu Haoran unconscious, Xu Haoliang had the highest cultivation level present. He used this chance to criticize his elder brother, the Clan Leader, and heap accusations onto Xu Haobo and the others. Though Xu Haobo and the others felt resentful and inwardly cursed:

“If you hadn’t argued with Elder Brother, would he have gone out to kill monster beasts? Now you see he’s unconscious, and you show off your power here!”

But even though Xu Haoliang’s words weren’t entirely truthful, they sounded reasonable. Plus, his cultivation level was the highest. With Xu Haoran unconscious, Xu Haobo and the others were at a loss facing the forceful Xu Haoliang. For a moment, everyone inside and outside the Main Hall fell silent, letting Xu Haoliang rage freely.

Xu Haoliang’s harsh, indirect scolding was seen through by those who knew the truth. They understood he was seizing the opportunity, but they couldn’t say anything, so they stood there with their heads down.

Suddenly, bell ringing came from the direction of the City Lord’s Manor. Everyone’s hearts stirred, and they couldn’t help but look at Xu Haoliang, as he now had the highest cultivation level in the clan. Seeing everyone’s eyes on him, a rare trace of a satisfied smile appeared on Xu Haoliang’s face, but he hid it instantly. Coldly, he said:

“Guest Elders and above, and all Hall Masters, wait in the Main Hall. The other disciples may disperse. The City Lord is summoning with the bell. I will go to the City Lord’s Manor first. Wait for my return to discuss matters.”

After speaking, Xu Haoliang flicked his sleeve and left the Main Hall. Xu Haobo and the other Hall Masters and Elders exchanged glances, then said to the disciples below:

“Everyone, disperse!”

The disciples scattered in a flurry. As Xu Ziyan moved away with the crowd, she pondered:

“The monster beasts were driven back, but the City Lord’s Manor bell is ringing. It seems the Beast Tide isn’t over. Maybe in a couple of days, we’ll be sent out to block the monster beasts. Now the Clan Leader is unconscious, and Ninth Uncle is in charge. I wonder what will happen to the clan? I’d better quickly make more talismans and refine more pills for backup!”

Looking at Xu Qingxue and others beside her, Xu Ziyan said softly, “You go ahead first. I have something to do.”

After saying that, she pushed through the crowd and walked away…