Gao Jiaxing and Liu Yuanchao’s duel was vigorous, with the surrounding new recruits watching more and more enthusiastically. However, as time passed, they also quieted down, their initial curiosity turning into a serious study of the fight. Some were commenting on Gao Jiaxing and Liu Yuanchao’s techniques, others were already absorbing the experience.
In the end, Gao Jiaxing still couldn’t defeat Liu Yuanchao, but with each fight against Liu Yuanchao, Gao Jiaxing gained quite a bit of experience and progressed rapidly, which is why Liu Yuanchao said that given time, Gao Jiaxing would definitely surpass him.
Gao Jiaxing, more determined with each setback, said to Liu Yuanchao, "Let’s fight again tomorrow."
In the dead of night, Xia Xiao quietly left her home.
Her first stop was to go to Yang He’s place, Shitou’s greatest advantage being that one glance at a person was enough to locate them.
Xia Xiao stealthily entered Yang He’s room and, seeing him fast asleep, Shitou said, "Xiaoxiao, place me on his chest and then recite over his head."
Following Shitou’s instruction, Xia Xiao placed Shitou on Yang He’s chest and began reciting over his head, "Don’t mess with the Xia Family, don’t mess with those surnamed Xia, don’t mess with the Xia Family, don’t mess with those surnamed Xia..."
Xia Xiao’s recitation was just that one line, repeated over and over in a hushed voice, as indistinct as possible.
In his sleep, Yang He as if entrapped in a nightmare, seemed unable to breathe and struggled continuously.
After a while, Yang He suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, "Who’s there?"
By then, Xia Xiao had already retreated with Shitou into her space. When she came out again shortly after, Yang He hadn’t fallen back asleep but was warily scanning the surroundings. He checked outside his door and only after returning to his room and placing a dagger under his pillow did he continue to sleep.
However, even in sleep, Yang He remained vigilant. Xia Xiao observed him until Shitou confirmed Yang He had once again fallen into a deep sleep, then she resumed placing Shitou on his chest and continued the refrain over his head.
"Don’t mess with the Xia Family, don’t mess with those surnamed Xia, don’t mess with the Xia Family, don’t mess with those surnamed Xia..."
On her way out, Xia Xiao deliberately knocked over Yang He’s water cup on the table, causing it to fall to the ground and shatter with a ping.
Yang He jumped, staring fixedly at the tabletop; he hadn’t placed the cup on the edge, nor had the table wobbled, so how could the cup have fallen?
Xia Xiao then knocked down a photo of Yang He from the wall, and in an instant, Yang He’s photo floated to the floor.
But the recent dream warning against messing with the Xia Family, what did that mean?
"Dad, what’s wrong?" Two voices called from outside.
Yang He answered, "It’s nothing. Go back to sleep."
Silence returned outdoors, and Yang He found himself completely unable to sleep, even feeling a bit afraid to do so.
Holding his dagger, he walked to his desk and, seemingly without intent, wrote, "Don’t mess with the Xia Family, don’t mess with those surnamed Xia."
Yang He couldn’t remember his nightmare, but this phrase was etched in his mind.
Surnamed Xia? Someone from the Xia Family? Yang He had no recollection of ever encountering someone with the surname Xia.
Seeing this, Xia Xiao thought it was enough and left with Shitou.
"Shall we go to Liang Wei’s place next?" Xia Xiao asked.
"Are we setting up another suggestion?" Shitou inquired.
Zhao Yan’s lips trembled, her shaking hand pointing at the window, "I... I’m sure I had closed it. How did it open on its own?"
"Are you sure you closed it well?" Liang Wei was also frightened.
Zhao Yan nodded, "Yes, it was securely closed."
Zhao Yan then saw that Liang Wei had wet the bed.
"How could you pee in the bed?" Zhao Yan was exasperated and also found Liang Wei useless; if not for her desperation and Liang Wei’s bit of authority, she would never have gotten involved with him.
"Don’t move," Liang Wei ordered, not letting Zhao Yan leave.
As the saying goes, those with a clear conscience fear no midnight knocks.
Yet Xia Xiao was up to no good; she didn’t use the space to move but instead went through the door of Liang Wei and Zhao Yan’s room, directly opening their bedroom door.
Startled, Zhao Yan let out a scream, and both she and Liang Wei were truly frightened.
After causing mischief, Xia Xiao left.
For her third stop, Xia Xiao intended to go to the Zhao family but suddenly had a thought, turning to Shitou and said, "I’ve got an idea."
"What idea?" Shitou asked.
"Let’s go back to Yang He’s place."
And so, Xia Xiao and Shitou returned to Yang He’s place. He wasn’t sleeping but moving around in his room, wielding a dagger, practicing his martial arts as a warning to unseen entities.
Xia Xiao approached Yang He’s desk and using a brush dipped in ink, she dotted on the paper.
Soon, she had dotted out the traditional character for "Zhao," drew a big circle around it, and crossed it with a large X.