173: Passive annexation? Active surrender?

“But since they want to leave, let them. Xiao Yue thought to himself, the Xiao Family will surely rise again one day. At that time, if these people want to come back, hmph hmph…”

“Then it’ll depend on whether he agrees.”

Xiao Zhenxuan didn’t know what Xiao Yue was thinking at the moment. He was full of melancholy, looking at the bright moon in the sky and sighing deeply, “Yue’er, if this negotiation fails, our Xiao Family will truly have no chance.”

“What?” Xiao Yue’s eyes widened. He couldn’t imagine what the Xiao Family would be like without a chance.

“However…” Xiao Zhenxuan turned to look at Xiao Yue, his eyes full of kindness, “Even if the Xiao Family declines, your future development will definitely not be bad.”

“Why?” Xiao Yue didn’t understand.

He always felt that the distance between him and his father was growing further and further.

It had always been like this… From the time he was born and understood nothing, his father had unilaterally made a decision for him, blocking his meridians with a secret technique, turning him into a useless person who couldn’t cultivate.

For eighteen years, for eighteen whole years, he had been treated as a good-for-nothing.

Besides Xiao Zhenxuan, who knew the inside story, only Xiao Shen was willing to treat him as a younger brother and play with him.

If anyone said anything bad about Xiao Yue in front of Xiao Shen, Xiao Shen would make him understand why the flowers were so red.

But Xiao Yue didn’t appreciate it.

Because his father told him that what Xiao Shen was doing was what he should do.

Everything of the Xiao Family would eventually belong to him, Xiao Yue.

Including the Jade Dragon Acupoint in Xiao Shen’s body and all of his cultivation.

At that time, Xiao Yue deeply trusted his father.

Because everything about him had been planned by his father since birth: being mocked as a good-for-nothing for eighteen years, then in one night seizing Xiao Shen’s Qi Cavity and cultivation, becoming a genius envied by everyone.

Indeed, being called a genius felt truly wonderful.

Xiao Yue was already intoxicated by it.

Unfortunately, good times don’t last. At the annual Four Clan Tournament, everything turned into a bubble.

His dream shattered with it.

Especially after the negotiation with Director Li, Xiao Yue realized how difficult the Xiao Family’s situation was now.

But facing such a difficult situation, he couldn’t contribute any strength at all.

He was merely a Level Seven Martial Artist.

To put it nicely, he was a genius, but to the older generation, what was a Level Seven?

That Director Li was already Level Twelve that day.

The same level as Xiao Zhenxuan, but because Director Li belonged to the Martial Artist Training Base, he had much more power than Xiao Zhenxuan. Previously, Xiao Zhenxuan and Director Li had a cooperative relationship, but now that was no longer the case.

“Yue’er, if the Xiao Family truly cannot regain its glory, you can join any of the Three Great Powers.” Xiao Zhenxuan looked at Xiao Yue seriously; this was the Xiao Family’s last hope. “With your aptitude, joining any faction will not be a problem.”

“But Father, what about you?” Xiao Yue didn’t understand.

“You and I are different.” Xiao Zhenxuan shook his head, not explaining clearly, “Let’s wait and see. Perhaps we can reach an agreement this time?”

“Mm, we can definitely reach an agreement!” Xiao Yue didn’t know where his confidence came from, perhaps because he didn’t want to fly off alone.

Xiao Zhenxuan’s mood was actually very complicated at this moment. When he cultivated Xiao Yue back then, he didn’t actually hope that one day Xiao Yue would grow strong enough to fly on his own.

But with things having reached this point, he couldn’t keep holding onto Xiao Yue.

He was very conflicted.

Could a person who had been selfish for decades actually want to do something to fulfill others and sacrifice himself?

However, he knew in his heart that this matter probably wouldn’t need to be done.

Because if nothing unexpected happened with tonight’s negotiation, it should be successful.

“They’re here.”

Hearing footsteps, Xiao Zhenxuan turned around and hurried to greet them.

Xiao Yue also quickly followed. He wondered who his father had invited for the negotiation today?

“Director Gao, thank you for gracing us with your presence…” Xiao Zhenxuan smiled fawningly, bowing very low, afraid that they wouldn’t see his sincerity.

Director Gao waved his hand, and before Xiao Zhenxuan could finish speaking, he said, “Alright, no need for these pleasantries. Tell me your plan.”

To be honest, the reason he made time to come here today was because of the sincerity in the message Xiao Zhenxuan had sent him.

Xiao Zhenxuan’s intention was to surrender proactively.

And he was prepared to bring the remaining forces of the Four Great Families to surrender together.

This was very appealing to him.

As the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter how bad the Four Great Families were now, they still had some use.

For example, the four patriarchs; the lowest-ranked among them was a Level Eleven Martial Artist, and the higher ones were Level Twelve.

They were no less formidable than him, the director of the Martial Artist Training Base.

“Good, please have a seat first.” Xiao Zhenxuan gave Xiao Yue a look, and Xiao Yue immediately brought a chair from behind.

“You are Xiao Yue?” Director Gao saw Xiao Yue, sized him up, and asked.

“Precisely my son.” Xiao Zhenxuan said with a smile, “Yue’er, why don’t you quickly greet Uncle?”

“Hello, Uncle Gao.” Xiao Yue quickly said.

It had been a long time since he had been so polite.

“Mm, not bad, not bad. You’re handsome and strong; you’ll definitely achieve great things in the future.”

Contrary to Director Li, Director Gao seemed to think highly of Xiao Yue, even reaching out to pat his shoulder.

Xiao Yue originally wanted to dodge, because he didn’t like being touched, but this was someone his father had gone to great lengths to invite, so in the end, he didn’t dodge.

“Director Gao, I actually invited you here this time to ask for your help in saving the Four Great Families.” Xiao Zhenxuan finally got to the point.

“Oh?”

Director Gao raised an eyebrow. This Xiao Zhenxuan truly was a character; he was clearly trying to save their Xiao Family, but he framed it as saving the Four Great Families.

“You know the situation of the Four Great Families now. The building is about to collapse. If our four families don’t unite, the final outcome can only be to scatter and flee, and in the end, no one will be left.”

Xiao Zhenxuan looked at Director Gao, his eyes very serious, as if he was truly considering the Four Great Families.

“That’s true.” Director Gao sat in the chair, took off the string of prayer beads on his right wrist, and held them in his palm, admiring them, his expression seemingly indifferent. “But the Four Great Families have already fallen apart. Do you have the confidence to make them unite?”

Xiao Zhenxuan knew immediately that there was something to discuss, so he continued, “With your help, Director Gao, I can definitely unite the Four Great Families and have them all join the Martial Arts Training Center under your name.”

Director Gao also privately ran his own Martial Arts Training Center, named the White Wing Martial Arts Training Center.

Xiao Yue was bewildered after hearing what Xiao Zhenxuan said. Did his father mean to have the Four Great Families be swallowed up by the White Wing Martial Arts Training Center together?

How was this different from what Director Li had said?