Yan Residence.
No sooner had Yan Jiaojiao stepped into her home than a maid came to report.
"Miss... Miss Jiaojiao, the Family Head has returned."
Her voice trembled, and she dared not lift her head, clearly having been greatly startled.
Without even looking, Yan Jiaojiao knew that Yan Zhengfeng, upon learning his beloved daughter had been crippled by his own hands, must have rushed back in a frenzy and surely had already thrown a monumental tantrum.
But what did that have to do with her, an ancient ancestor of a thousand years?
"Oh."
Yan Jiaojiao indifferently responded.
"Miss Jiaojiao, aren't you going to see him? The Family Head..."
The maid wanted to say more, but Yan Jiaojiao shot her a look, instantly silencing her.
"If he's back, he's back. It has nothing to do with me, and you don't need to tell me. Go attend to your duties."
With that, Yan Jiaojiao turned and left.
When the maid came to her senses, she subconsciously looked up in the direction Yan Jiaojiao had gone.
Miss Jiaojiao had indeed changed completely, just as the rumors said!
And the little black dog in her arms was probably the culprit behind the death of Elder Xu Feng.
The thought of having spoken so closely to such a killer sent a shiver down the maid's spine, and she scurried away.
Returning to her quarters, Yan Jiaojiao casually placed the little black dog in her arms onto the bed.
She propped her chin on one hand, idly scratching the little black dog's chin with the other, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
The tribulation of forming a core had been perilous, and she had foreseen failure. It seemed someone had saved her.
But she hadn't seen the person's face clearly. Only a name came to mind. She wondered if the little black dog had seen them.
"Yan Jiaojiao, come out here!"
As she was pondering, a furious voice suddenly boomed from outside the door.
The voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Yan Jiaojiao slowly looked up and saw Yan Ruoxue barging in, bringing others with her.
Yan Ruoxue, the biological elder sister of Yan Ruoliu, was the true favored daughter of the Yan family, possessing even greater talent than Yan Ruoliu.
Normally, her cold demeanor made her seem more composed than Yan Ruoliu, and the household servants praised her over Yan Ruoliu.
But only Yan Jiaojiao knew that this woman was even more venomous than Yan Ruoliu.
"Kneel!"
The sharp voice echoed throughout the room. Yan Ruoxue's eyes blazed with malice as she coldly stared at Yan Jiaojiao.
Yan Jiaojiao casually shifted her posture, leaning back in the chair as if she hadn't heard, her demeanor languid.
"What is your attitude?" Yan Ruoxue asked ferociously.
Yan Jiaojiao smiled, "You demand I kneel the moment you enter, what are you? Do you think you're worthy of my kneeling?"
Though she was smiling, her eyes held no warmth, making one feel a chill to the bone.
"You injured Ruoliu, and you still want to deny it?"
Yan Ruoxue looked at Yan Jiaojiao's nonchalant manner, and an inexplicable rage surged within her.
"Not just her, there's also Yan Rou'er."
Yan Jiaojiao "kindly" reminded.
After all, she would let none of those who had harmed her off the hook.
"You still have the audacity to mention them! Hurry up and kneel! Today, I will teach you a good lesson and let you know the Yan family's rules!"
Saying this, one of her subordinates handed over a whip.
Yan Jiaojiao glanced at it dismissively.
She sneered, "Since when do the Yan family rules matter to a mere concubine-born daughter like you?"
Yan Ruoxue advanced step by step, her eyes fixed on Yan Jiaojiao.
She scoffed and said, "The Boundless Continent never distinguishes between嫡 (born of the principal wife) and 庶 (born of a concubine). This matter has already been reported to Father. After I discipline you, Father will handle the rest!"
With that, she pressed closer again.
Yan Jiaojiao's gaze, however, fell upon a jade pendant tied to her waist.
This jade pendant was left by the original host's deceased mother.
Yan Ruoxue had now reached Yan Jiaojiao and stood before her.
Her gaze was fierce, and she raised the whip high. The whip was imbued with spiritual energy; a strike from it would result in death or crippling injury!
Just as the whip was about to fall on Yan Jiaojiao, she lightly tapped the ground with her toe and vanished from Yan Ruoxue's sight in an instant!
By the time Yan Ruoxue reacted, Yan Jiaojiao was standing not far away, holding a jade pendant.
Yan Ruoxue instinctively reached for her waist.
The jade pendant was gone!
"You dare steal my jade pendant! Give it back immediately!"
Yan Ruoxue glared fiercely at Yan Jiaojiao, a mix of shock and disbelief on her face.
Hadn't Yan Ruoliu already turned her into a cripple? How could she now seem even more formidable than before?
"Your jade pendant? Didn't you snatch it from me?" Yan Jiaojiao sneered. She examined the jade pendant closely. Fortunately, it was undamaged.
"Nonsense! This is mine!" Yan Ruoxue adamantly refused to admit it.
Hearing this, Yan Jiaojiao's eyes narrowed slightly, a chilling glint appearing within them.
Yan Ruoxue was startled by that look and involuntarily swallowed.
Before she could react, she suddenly felt a black shadow flash before her eyes, and the grip in her hand loosened.
*Crack*
After a whip crack, Yan Ruoxue let out a pained cry.
The whip that had been in her hand inexplicably appeared in Yan Jiaojiao's.
How had Yan Jiaojiao gotten so close to her?
Yan Ruoxue's eyes widened in terror, staring at Yan Jiaojiao in disbelief.
"You..."
"This whip is a warning to you."
A chilling aura emanated from her beautiful phoenix eyes, making Yan Ruoxue tremble inwardly.
When had Yan Jiaojiao become so powerful?
Before her inner core was destroyed, she hadn't been my match. How could she be so formidable now that her inner core was ruined?
However, with Father around, that wench wouldn't dare cause too much trouble!
"You crippled two exceptionally talented disciples of the Yan family, and now you dare strike me?"
"Father sent me to teach you a lesson. Today, you will endure it properly!"
Yan Ruoxue's eyes turned red with fury. She condensed an attack in her hand and struck fiercely at Yan Jiaojiao!
Yan Jiaojiao retreated again, easily dodging the blow.
Then, she retaliated with a slap, fiercely striking Yan Ruoxue across the face.
This slap carried a third of her current spiritual power. Yan Ruoxue screamed, spitting out a broken tooth mixed with blood!
"Ah! I'll kill you!"
Yan Ruoxue was enraged. She condensed white mist in her hand again, gritting her teeth as she glared at Yan Jiaojiao.
"You want to kill me? You'd better be qualified."
Yan Jiaojiao sneered and stopped holding back.
Yan Ruoxue was merely a cultivator at the peak of the Red rank. If she didn't want to attract too much attention, she would have already killed her.
*Bang!*
Yan Ruoxue hurled her spell towards Yan Jiaojiao. Yan Jiaojiao blocked it with one hand while her other hand, glowing with faint red spiritual energy, also struck towards Yan Ruoxue.
Since Yan Ruoxue was seeking death, she didn't mind sending her on her way!
"Next time you come looking for trouble, weigh your own capabilities first."
Just as Yan Jiaojiao was about to cripple Yan Ruoxue, a golden light flashed and intercepted the attack, shielding Yan Ruoxue.
Immediately after, a furious voice boomed—
"Wicked creature! Stop!"