"What should we do?" asked Tan Chang, his gaze sweeping toward Xu Lai, waiting for an answer.

More precisely, he was waiting for an answer from Senior Flower Fairy!

Xu Lai didn't respond but instead countered, "What do you think?"

"I believe we should strike first," Tan Chang said after pondering for a moment.

Xu Lai shook his head and smiled. "Wait."

Wait? Tan Chang looked puzzled. Hangcheng is within easy reach; catching them off guard is surely the best strategy!

"When the strength disparity reaches a certain level, surprise attacks become quite boring."

"Let them come to us," Xu Lai said with a meaningful tone.

After saying that, Xu Lai went home. It was time to tell his wife and child a story.

Tan Chang stood still, stunned.

Waiting for the enemy to come knocking? That's a bit too arrogant!

"That's not right!"

Suddenly, Tan Chang's brow furrowed. Xu Lai's opinion must, to some degree, reflect the thoughts of Senior Flower Fairy. This means Senior Flower Fairy doesn't wish to strike first. Why is that? Clearly, it's because Senior Flower Fairy is extremely confident in her own Boundary strength!

"Truly worthy of the Divine Gate Realm." Tan Chang clasped his hands in respect and bowed deeply toward Mount Haitang.

「Hangcheng.」

At the Liu Family's Qingyue Villa, the estate was decked out in bright lights and decorations. Waves of laughter and happy voices came from the reception room, as merry as a New Year's celebration.

In the spacious reception room, more than a dozen chairs were all filled with people.

On the right side sat the members of the Liu Family: Family Head Liu Long, his wife, their three sons, and their seventeen-year-old daughter, Liu Qingyue. The villa had been named after Liu Long's only daughter.

On the left sat just one person: Jiang Tengyun, the eldest young master of the Jiang Family.

"Uncle Liu, please forgive us. My father and the others were tired from the journey and have gone to rest early," said Jiang Tengyun. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his slightly pale face gave him a refined look, and he spoke in a gentle, cultured manner.

Liu Qingyue's heart fluttered upon seeing him.

Is this my future husband? As expected of the eldest young master from the Jiang Family of Yanjing, every word and gesture exudes such charm.

"Tengyun, think of this as your own home. There's no need to be so formal," Liu Long said with a laugh.

In truth, he felt slightly dissatisfied. The Jiang Family had only initiated the marriage proposal a few days ago. Although Jiang Tengyun was twenty-seven, nearly a full twelve-year cycle older than his daughter, Liu Long had still agreed. This was a tremendous opportunity for the Liu Family. After all, this was the Jiang Family, a top-tier Martial Dao wealthy family from Yanjing! The Shadows kept by the Jiang Family had a fearsome reputation throughout the Martial Dao World. Yet today, after the Jiang Family's party arrived at the villa, his future in-laws had only made a brief appearance, leaving Jiang Tengyun to handle everything.

"Of course. This is my home, too," Jiang Tengyun chuckled softly, even winking at Liu Qingyue. "Isn't that right, Qingyue?"

Liu Qingyue's cheeks instantly turned crimson. She nervously fiddled with the hem of her dress and nodded shyly. "Mhm."

Liu Long let out a hearty laugh. "Tengyun, besides the marriage proposal, is there anything else you need to handle in Hangcheng? If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask!"

"No," Jiang Tengyun shook his head. "Uncle Liu, I'm also a bit tired, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he gave a Martial Dao salute and left.

Liu Long's smile remained as he watched Jiang Tengyun leave, but it slowly faded once he was gone. He knew the Jiang Family's trip south had to be for more than just a marriage proposal; there was surely some other major affair. Since they didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't press the matter.

Jiang Tengyun returned to his private courtyard within the villa. When he pushed open the door, a beautiful maid came out to help him take off his coat and shoes.

Her name was Lyu He, and she had been serving Jiang Tengyun ever since she entered the Jiang Family at the age of ten. Although Jiang Tengyun was known for his quirky temperament and his maids were constantly being replaced, Lyu He was the only one who had never been dismissed.

"Young Master, would you like to have your meal?" Lyu He asked respectfully.

"I prefer it when you call me by that other name," Jiang Tengyun whispered, embracing Lyu He and laughing softly in her ear. "Like last night... what did you call me?"

Lyu He's charming face flushed with embarrassment. She gently pushed him away and chided playfully, "Young Master, the food will get cold."

"But you're still warm, and that's enough for me."

"Young Master, could it be that Miss Liu has left you disappointed? She is only seventeen, in the prime of her youth."

"Be it Liu Qingyue or Ye Wanqing, they're nothing but country bumpkins, not even worth a second glance," Jiang Tengyun sneered. "This so-called marriage proposal is just an excuse my old man needed to have a legitimate reason to come south."

Lyu He nodded. That much was true. The Jiang Family was, after all, a leading Martial Dao wealthy family in Yanjing, and countless eyes watched their every move. This operation had to be kept secret, so they certainly needed a believable pretext to hide their true intentions.

"So, does the Young Master want to eat his meal first, or eat Lyu He first?"

"What do you think?"

Lyu He giggled coquettishly.

「The rising winds foretold a coming storm.」

The news that Yanjing's Jiang Family was seeking a marriage alliance with the Liu Family of Hangcheng stirred excitement among the southern martial artists. The previous family to enter such an alliance, the Ye Family, had been wiped out by a mysterious powerhouse, and the killer had yet to be found. Nevertheless, many female martial artists still envied Liu Qingyue for the chance to marry into a genuine Martial Dao wealthy family like the Jiangs.

The male martial artists, however, secretly cursed the Jiang Family's shamelessness. First, it was Ye Wanqing, the foremost of Hangcheng's three beauties, and now the seventeen-year-old Liu Qingyue... That Jiang Tengyun is truly inhuman!

But what these martial artists didn't know was that the Jiang Family's real target was Mount Haitang—or more precisely, the eleventh Spirit Vein in Hua Country. And also—Xu Yiyi! In fact, Ruan Tang and Xu Lai were targets as well.

As the Jiang Family made their preparations, Xu Lai was already aware of their true intentions. It had to be said that Tan Chang was quite competent. While the rest of the world believed the Jiang Family was there for a marriage alliance, Tan Chang, having once been a Shadow himself, had seen through their ruse at a glance.

「The brief night passed.」

Dawn broke. Xu Lai, who had been meditating all night, opened his eyes, stretched, and after washing up, began to make breakfast for his wife, daughter, and sister-in-law.

"Morning, brother-in-law." Ruan Lan came downstairs with her hair in disarray, rubbing her eyes continuously.

Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, Xu Lai frowned. "Did you stay up late last night?"

"I didn't stay up late." Ruan Lan yawned before continuing, "I was asleep by four in the morning."

"You need to stop staying up so late. Your sister will scold you again if she finds out." Xu Lai poured a glass of milk and handed it to her. "Have a glass. It will help with the fatigue."

After taking a sip, Ruan Lan looked confused. "This milk tastes different from the usual."

Suddenly, she grew wary. "Brother-in-law, you didn't add something else to it, did you?"

Xu Lai's forehead creased with annoyance.

The milk at home came from the Star Cows of the Northern Immortal Domain, which fed on stars. It was absolutely pure, natural, and free of pollution. Of course it would taste different from milk on Earth!

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