Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 1400: Within the Family

Chapter 1400: Chapter 1400: Within the Family

Dark City was restless today, with roiling dark clouds, flashing lightning, and roaring cold winds as if to mirror the foul mood of some individuals.

As a noble of the Organization X, Xue Long had privileges and there were few in Dark City who would dare to provoke him.

Yet today, Xue Long was beaten to a pulp, covered in blood, and riddled with wounds. He was even kneeling on the ground, his eyes filled only with panic, showing no intention of resistance.

In Organization X, the only one who could torment a noble like this was Xue Wang.

"Speak, why gather your men? What are you intending to do?" Xue Wang’s gaze was chilling as he looked at the trembling Xue Long before him, showing not the slightest intention of mercy. Xue Wang was furious, extremely so.

Xue Long explained, "I heard that recently many mercenaries planned to attack Dark City. Those of us who were out on business feared it wouldn’t be safe to return, so we decided to gather and come back to Dark City together."

"Nonsense, you think I don’t know?" Xue Wang kicked Xue Long to the ground and whipped him several more times, causing Xue Long on the ground to curl up and silently endure.

Lord Xiong sat on the side, indifferently watching. This was an internal matter of the X Family and he did not find it appropriate to interfere.

Just then, someone came to report, "Lord Xue Wang, there is a situation. Xue Xi and Xue Bei have arrived at the gate."

"So they have come." Xue Wang stopped whipping and ordered Xue Long to keep kneeling.

The doors opened and the leaders of the Western Nobles and Northern Nobles arrived together. Upon seeing Xue Wang, they immediately showed utmost respect and said in unison, "Father, please calm your anger."

Years ago, when the X Family escaped from the forbidden land, only over ten people survived, each of them becoming part of the Xue Clan, gaining eternal life and thereby possessing tremendous vitality.

Initially, the Xue Clan did not know their own weaknesses, and some turned to ashes under the sun—as a harsh lesson for them. In the end, only five truly escaped, one being Xue Wang and the other two his sons, and another his nephew.

Although the X Family had gained eternal life, sadly, the casualties in the forbidden land were substantial. Xue Wang, now the eldest, was elected as the new leader of the X Family.

Thus, Xue Wang restructured the X Family, first by renaming it to Organization X under which the Four Great Nobles were established, with the Western Nobles and Northern Nobles controlled by Xue Wang’s sons.

To save Xue Wang, his brother sacrificed himself in the forbidden land, so Xue Wang dearly loved his nephew, making him the leader of the East Nobles and incorporating all the remaining men and women of the X Family into the Southern Aristocracy.

Put simply, the Western Nobles and the Northern Nobles were passed down from Xue Wang, the Eastern Nobles from Xue Wang’s brother, and the Southern Aristocracy represented the lineage of other members of the X Family.

Over the years, leveraging their lineage from Xue Wang, the Western Nobles and the Northern Nobles suppressed the other two noble factions, often behaving recklessly, causing even Xue Wang much difficulty.

Now, taking this chance, Xue Wang intended to discipline these two noble factions to deter them from causing further trouble.

"You may go now, Xue Long." Xue Xi spoke directly, without waiting for Xue Wang’s approval.

To this, Xue Wang merely snorted, seeming to acquiesce.

Xue Bei approached to apologize, "Sorry, Father, for causing you trouble. We won’t do it again next time."

"Next time, next time, you always say there won’t be a next time, yet it happens again. When will you stop being so arrogant and reckless?" Xue Wang grew even angrier, almost smashing the table with his fist.

Xue Xi arrogant retorted, "Father, we were just trying to relieve your burden by gathering people to eliminate Gu Fan and solve all problems."

"If this Gu Fan was so easily dealt with, I would have already sent a thousand elite vampire warriors." Xue Wang pointed at Xue Xi and scolded, "Do you think I haven’t thought of that? I have held my forces back because I have my reservations about Gu Fan, a man who can escape the forbidden land unscathed."

Xue Xi was defiant: "What’s there to fear? We also escaped from the forbidden land; how are we worse than him, we are even stronger."

"Shut up, you’ve lived for over a thousand years and still haven’t grown up." Xue Wang rebuked, knowing in his heart that it wasn’t that Xue Xi hadn’t matured, but that things had been too easy, and Organization X had not faced worthy opponents or harsh lessons, leading Xue Xi to become increasingly arrogant.

With a calm yet firm tone, Xue Wang said, "If even Lord Xiong and I together can’t handle him, what makes you think you can?"

Xue Xi smiled slightly, "Although I’ve heard this Gu Fan is quite peculiar, I really can’t rest until I confront him myself, so please, Father, allow me to..."

"Enough, I don’t want to hear news of you getting killed by Gu Fan. We cannot afford to provoke Gu Fan anymore." Xue Wang outright refused, which only made Xue Xi more defiant: "What are you afraid of, Father? Even if you can’t handle Gu Fan, he can’t defeat us either. We can afford to fail a hundred times, but Gu Fan will lose everything if he fails just once. What do we have to fear? If once doesn’t work, we’ll try twice; if twice doesn’t work, we’ll try thrice. I simply don’t believe it."

Hearing this, Xue Wang was stunned, then seeing how determined Xue Xi looked, he thought it might be worth letting him try.

Continuing, Xue Xi said, "Father, I heard that the Eastern Nobles have captured a woman who could threaten Gu Fan. Please, Father, declare that the Eastern Nobles hand her over to me. I guarantee I will use this opportunity well and defeat Gu Fan once and for all."

After careful consideration, Xue Wang still shook his head, firmly sticking to his previous approach of not provoking Gu Fan without absolute certainty of defeating him.

Eventually, Xue Bei and Xue Xi left disappointed.

Seeing Xue Wang’s distressed expression, Lord Xiong couldn’t help but make a light-hearted remark, "Well, no matter how old your children get, they still give parents a hard time, especially the troublesome ones; they are the most headache-inducing."

Hearing this, Xue Wang couldn’t help but smile, "Indeed, Lord Xiong, you speak the truth, it’s clear you’ve had similar experiences. However, I’m curious, don’t you regret transforming the Eternal Life Clan into what it is now?"

Lord Xiong shook his head with a sigh, "What’s the use of regret? When children grow up, they become increasingly disobedient and eventually turn against you. Compared to my situation, I truly envy you, Xue Wang."

"Well, don’t be envious. If there weren’t two other noble factions as rivals, my two incompetent sons would probably be at each other’s throats by now." As Xue Wang said this, his face was filled with worry.