Before the topic could shift again, Yoriichi's expression hardened slightly. "Patriarch, there is one more matter," he stated, his voice lowering to ensure absolute privacy.
"You must ensure higher security for the women of the Xiao Clan, especially those venturing outside the estate. I have received intelligence that the Jia Lie Clan has temporarily recruited a Tier 1 Alchemist from Black Rock City, and the man is notoriously lustful."
Xiao Zhan's expression instantly darkened, taking serious note of the grim warning. "A Tier 1 Alchemist? How did you come across this information?"
"Hidden spies," Yoriichi replied simply, keeping Jia Lie Ao's identity protected.
Xiao Zhan nodded, his eyes flashing with a cold, calculating light. He understood the dirty tactics of their rivals perfectly.
"I will increase the patrols immediately. As for the financial war, do not worry. I will personally speak with our own hidden alchemist to secure a larger supply of foundational elixirs to counter them. Your only focus right now should be on increasing your strength."
Yoriichi exhaled softly, feeling a fraction of the burden lift from his shoulders. It was reassuring to have a competent Patriarch handling the logistics. He would leave the clan's defense to Xiao Zhan for now, allowing him to remain ever vigilant.
Soon, the deep chime of the estate's clock tower signaled the dinner hour.
Xiao Zhan clapped his hands, summoning a servant who had been waiting anxiously at the outer gates. The Patriarch ordered a lavish spread to be brought to the veranda to celebrate the youth's breakthrough.
When the servant asked for Yoriichi's preferences, expecting the young Dou Zhe to request the finest cuts of Rank 2 magical beast meat to celebrate, Yoriichi politely shook his head.
"I insist only on a bowl of plain white rice, some steamed spirit vegetables, and a simple, unseasoned river fish," Yoriichi requested mildly.
The servant blinked in surprise, looking to the Patriarch for confirmation. Xiao Zhan waved his hand, allowing the ascetic order.
When the food arrived, the contrast was stark. Xiao Zhan's side of the table was filled with rich, aromatic roasted meats, thick gravies, and high-energy medicinal soups.
Yoriichi's side held a modest, clean wooden tray with his requested simple fare. They ate in companionable silence, the sounds of the night garden providing a peaceful backdrop.
During the meal, Yoriichi noticed the continued absence of the Patriarch's youngest son.
"Is Xiao Yan not joining us for dinner?" Yoriichi asked casually, picking up a piece of steamed vegetable with his chopsticks.
Xiao Zhan smiled, though a hint of fatherly worry touched his eyes. "No, he rarely joins the main hall for dinner these days. Xiao Yan comes back very late at night. He pushes himself to the absolute limit in the back mountains, and when he returns, he either sleeps deeply to recover or meditates continuously until dawn."
Yoriichi sighed softly at the thought. 'How incredibly hardworking,' Yoriichi mused. He remembered their brief, intense clash in the arena. Xiao Yan had possessed a fierce, unyielding will even when his Dou Qi was crippled. Now that his talent had returned, his work ethic was terrifying.
Yoriichi's heightened senses had caught glimpses of the younger boy around the estate recently; he got the distinct feeling that Xiao Yan was far stronger now than he had been just weeks prior.
'He is a true rival. A dragon waking up,' Yoriichi thought, a spark of genuine anticipation warming his chest.
They finished their dinner, the plates cleared away by the silent servants.
As they sat enjoying the cool night breeze, Xiao Zhan picked up his cup of water to wash down his meal. However, a lingering curiosity had been gnawing at the Patriarch's mind ever since he heard the reports of Yoriichi's new lifestyle, and it had only been amplified by the dinner they just shared.
"Xiao Ning, tell me," Xiao Zhan asked, setting his cup down, his tone inquisitive and genuinely baffled. "Why do you insist so persistently on never eating the meat of spirit animals or high-tier magical beasts?"
Xiao Zhan gestured to the empty plates. "You know that in our world, consuming the flesh of powerful beasts is essential. It helps to drastically strengthen our mortal bodies, fortifies our meridians, and provides a dense source of ambient Dou Qi. At your current stage, as a newly advanced Dou Zhe, you need that raw physical nourishment the most. High-quality meats are known to actively assist cultivators in achieving faster breakthroughs."
Yoriichi raised his eyebrows slightly at the sudden, direct question. He chewed on the inquiry for a moment, a low, thoughtful hum vibrating in his chest.
How could he explain a philosophy born from a completely different universe? In the Dou Qi Continent, the law of the jungle was absolute: the strong ate the weak to grow stronger.
But to Yoriichi, who had spent his life witnessing demons devour humans for power, the act of consuming another living creature purely to steal its strength felt uncomfortably close to the path of the monsters he used to hunt.
He set his cup down and slowly, gracefully got to his feet.
"Patriarch," Yoriichi said politely, offering a small gesture with his hand. "Can you please come with me for a moment? I would like to show you something."
Xiao Zhan, being a kind, pragmatic man who didn't bother with stiff, arrogant formalities—especially with a genius whose mind he found endlessly fascinating—casually got up from his mat. Driven by curiosity, he followed Yoriichi to the very edge of the wooden veranda.
They stood side-by-side, gazing out over the natural scenery of the private courtyard. The night was pristine. A large, luminous silver moon hung high in the cloudless sky, casting a pale, ethereal glow over the manicured lawns, the stone pathways, and the trickling koi pond.
Stepping away from the heavy burdens of clan politics and cultivation theories, Xiao Zhan found himself physically relaxing, his breathing syncing with the peaceful tranquility of the garden, much like the stoic youth standing beside him.
Yoriichi raised his hand, pointing his long, calloused index finger toward a specific tree near the edge of the courtyard wall. It was a Silver-Leafed Osmanthus tree, slightly taller and older than the surrounding flora, its leaves shimmering like polished coins under the moonlight.
"Can you see those two little ones resting in the branches of that Osmanthus tree?" Yoriichi asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the peace of the night.
Xiao Zhan followed the youth's pointing finger. He squinted slightly, focusing his Da Dou Shi vision into the dense, silver canopy of the tree.
There, nestled safely in a crook between two sturdy branches, were two small birds. They were Twin-Tailed Emerald Finches, a low-level, harmless species of spirit bird known for their vibrant plumage and lifelong mating bonds.
The two tiny creatures were huddled close together to share their warmth against the night chill, their heads resting against one another, occasionally letting out soft, happy, melodic chirps.
It was a perfectly serene, loving scene of nature existing in quiet harmony.