BTTH: Demon Emperor Xiao Yan

"Uh… you want to directly take over all these factions?" Hai Bodong was stunned after hearing Xiao Yan's idea. "Well, I suppose that would save time and effort, but it would definitely leave some hidden dangers. Just because they swear loyalty to you today doesn't mean they won't turn to someone else tomorrow. People like that don't exactly have a high level of loyalty."

"I don't need their loyalty," Xiao Yan said calmly. "I just need them to get the job done. Besides, I'm not afraid of betrayal. We'll go out, beat all those guys into submission, and absorb them. Anyone who doesn't listen gets killed. The rest? I'll feed them poison. Let's see who dares to disobey me then."

"Damn, kid… you're ruthless!" Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan a thumbs up, both amused and impressed. "With your approach, half the forces might get wiped out, but the survivors? They'll be scared stiff. No one will dare cause trouble."

In a place like the Black-Corner Region, soft approaches had little effect. Brutal and direct was the most effective.

Of course, Xiao Yan hadn't shared the real reason he was forming a faction here. It was part of his long-term plan for the Xiao Clan. Wu Tan City was too small, too insignificant—it wasn't suitable for the clan's future. Once his power base stabilized, he intended to relocate the Xiao Clan here to the Black-Corner Region.

"By the way, Xiao Yan," Hai Bodong said while sizing him up, "you said you wanted a new identity in the Black-Corner Region. Why not change your appearance a bit more?"

"Haven't I already altered my face?" Xiao Yan asked, confused.

"You've changed your face, sure," Hai Bodong said with a chuckle, "but your build, your presence, your aura—they're the same. If you run into someone who knows you, they'll figure it out."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth to argue that he wasn't likely to meet anyone familiar here, but after some thought, he realized Hai Bodong had a point. "So, what are you suggesting, Senior Hai?"

"I designed a new hairstyle for you last night!" Hai Bodong grinned as he pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to Xiao Yan. "Guaranteed to make you look like a whole new person."

"...I didn't expect you to have this kind of talent," Xiao Yan said after glancing at the sketch—then his lips twitched. "Senior Hai… if you have a problem with me, just say it. No need to sabotage me like this."

"...Huh?"

"The ponytail is barely passable. But six wind-blown tufts on the back of the head and a single vertical fringe down one side? Senior Hai, don't you think this hairstyle is... obscenely ugly?" With a flick of his finger, a flame shot out and turned the parchment to ash. "I'm genuinely curious, what state of mind were you in when you designed that abomination?"

If he really went out looking like that, it would certainly prevent anyone from recognizing him—because they'd be too horrified to get close. If Hun Yuer saw him like that, she'd probably roll on the ground laughing.

"Let's drop the topic. I'm not changing my hairstyle. If you still want that Purple Spirit Recovery Pill, don't bring it up again," Xiao Yan warned, his tone carrying a hint of threat. Seeing how firm Xiao Yan was, Hai Bodong could only give up.

After that brief detour, the two immediately began preparing to absorb local forces. With their combined strength, subduing the city's factions didn't even take a day. Before the scouts from other cities could figure out what happened, this city had already changed hands.

Hai Bodong originally wanted to negotiate and win people over with charm, but the results were poor. Then Xiao Yan took the field—and went straight for the brutal route. He used his heavy ruler to cut down a third of the leaders outright. He wasn't in the mood for psychological games.

With Xiao Yan's iron-fisted methods, resistance quickly crumbled.

What really stunned the survivors was when Xiao Yan barked at Hai Bodong afterward:

"You seriously wasted time talking with that trash? A bunch of guys who aren't even Dou Spirits acting like they're something special? I say we just wipe out the whole lot and go to the next city to find people. This place isn't short on manpower. Don't tell me we can't find some obedient ones."

Those words silenced the gangsters, even the hardened veterans who lived by the blade. Normally, wouldn't you first offer terms? Show a little goodwill? This guy skipped all that and jumped straight to mass slaughter—and he looked serious. Was this really how you build a faction?

In the end, it was only after Hai Bodong's repeated persuasion that Xiao Yan reluctantly held back. But he still made everyone swallow poison. That alone left the survivors feeling bitter. They had clearly fallen under the control of a terrifying, merciless boss.

Xiao Yan did offer a small carrot with the stick—he said that if they performed well, they would be rewarded with Pills and Dou Techniques. It was at least a form of comfort.

Once the crowd dispersed, Hai Bodong relaxed and chuckled, "You played the bad cop and left me the good one. That routine's so old it's got whiskers—but you really sold it. Even I thought you might actually wipe them all out."

"Senior Hai, do you think I was acting?" Xiao Yan sipped his tea and said lightly, "If even one of them had dared to resist, I would've done it. You know me—I'm not very patient."

"You little devil... you're damn ruthless!" Hai Bodong winced. That had been several hundred people! Xiao Yan had really considered killing them all. Hai Bodong even began to wonder—if he hadn't agreed to come with Xiao Yan to the Black-Corner Region, would this kid have killed him too? The more he thought about it, the more plausible it sounded…

"It's just a few hundred people. And it's not like they were good people—they were scum from the Black-Corner Region. What's there to regret?" Xiao Yan said calmly. "But since they chose to submit, I'll give them the opportunity to work for me."

"Now that we've got a base and manpower, we're officially a faction. What do you plan to call it?"

"Hmm… a name, huh…" Xiao Yan replied lazily, "Let's go with Xiao Sect. I can't be bothered to come up with anything fancier."

(End of Chapter)

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