"Don't listen to that fatty's nonsense. His current state was just to escape the Xin family's pursuit," Mo Qian explained.
"Speaking of which, Mo Qian, why are you in the Holy City?" Xin Ci asked in return.
Mo Qian replied, "I am currently traveling normally. I only arrived in the Holy City not too long ago. I happened to meet Luo Fei and have been staying with the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce temporarily."
"I see."
"Then Xin Ci, what is your purpose for coming to the Holy City? I just heard you mention escaping the Xin family's pursuit. Could it be that your visit to the Holy City is related to the Xin family?" Mo Qian speculated, looking at Xin Ci.
Xin Ci did not deny it and nodded.
Mo Qian immediately understood.
He had been in the Holy City for some time.
He had naturally heard about the conflict between the Xin family and Xin Ci, and knew that the Xin family had been pursuing Xin Ci for years without success.
He figured that Xin Ci, having endured for three years, was now ready to settle things with the Xin family.
Thus, Mo Qian's dark eyes calmly met Xin Ci's and he said, "Although I have no grievances with the Xin family, Brother Xin Ci, I once received your help in Shuize Country. If you need any assistance in confronting the Xin family, I will gladly offer it without hesitation."
"Thank you for your understanding, Mo Qian," Xin Ci said with a slight nod.
As he spoke, a clear voice suddenly interjected.
"Fighting the Xin family, I must be a part of this."
The two looked towards the source of the voice and saw a beautiful, white-haired woman approaching. It was the Twelfth Luo Yue.
Xin Ci was slightly surprised and said, "You are still here."
"Where else would I be? Don't forget, like you, I am also being pursued by the Four Great Families. Where else can I hide but here?" Twelfth Luo Yue replied somewhat irritably.
After three years, Twelfth Luo Yue's automaton body had been further perfected.
She now possessed strength comparable to that of a Saint Emperor.
"Tell me, when do we act? The Xin family, as one of the families that annihilated the Puppet Sect back then, I will not let them off!" Twelfth Luo Yue's eyes flashed with a cold light, unconsciously revealing her killing intent, and she spoke with eagerness.
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, frowned slightly upon seeing this.
In terms of hatred for the Xin family, Twelfth Luo Yue was no less than Xin Ci.
With her help, Xin Ci would have more strength to confront the Xin family.
However, Mu Qingqing was concerned that Twelfth Luo Yue's hatred for the Xin family was rather extreme.
If Xin Ci succeeded in taking the Xin family back from Xin Li's control, how would he then deal with Twelfth Luo Yue's animosity towards the Xin family?
Mu Qingqing shook her head and mused, "Never mind, let's deal with the big trouble that is Xin Li first."
Xin Ci shared Mu Qingqing's thoughts. He first looked calmly at Twelfth Luo Yue, then said, "No rush. We must find a suitable opportunity to infiltrate the Xin family."
"Opportunity? This fatty here happens to know a perfect opportunity to sneak into the Xin family," Luo Fei suddenly chimed in with a sly grin.
"Oh? What suitable opportunity?" Xin Ci, Mo Qian, and Twelfth Luo Yue all asked with great interest.
"It's like this, the Four Great Families hold a Genius Gathering every four years. This gathering is an event where the genius disciples of the Four Great Families engage in martial arts sparring and exchanges. Basically, disciples from all Four Great Families will be present."
"And this year's Genius Gathering is being hosted by the Xin family. This means we can pose as young talents attending the event," Luo Fei said with a mischievous smile, winking at the other three.
"So, Boss, isn't my information very timely?"
"This is indeed a good opportunity, but we haven't received an invitation. If we go to this Genius Gathering rashly, we might be easily detected."
"Boss, you don't need to worry about that. With the name of the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce, even the Xin family wouldn't dare to stop us," Luo Fei said, patting his chest.
"Alright then, but we still need to discuss some strategies..." Xin Ci shared his thoughts with Mo Qian and the other two.
The three nodded in agreement.
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, smiled with relief as they reached a consensus.
Now, all they had to do was wait for the day of the Genius Gathering to arrive.
...
One month later, Xin Family Fortress
Xin Huanyan sat before her vanity, looking indifferently at her reflection in the bronze mirror as a maid meticulously brushed her long hair.
"Miss, why do you always look unhappy?" the maid beside her couldn't help but ask.
Xin Huanyan turned her exquisite face towards the maid and said emotionlessly, "Do I?"
"Of course! According to Yu Xiu, you are so beautiful, Miss. You should smile more; it would make you even more captivating."
"Besides, today is the Genius Gathering. I'm sure many outstanding young talents will be present. Many young masters will surely be mesmerized by your astonishing beauty, Miss."
The maid, Yu Xiu, showered Xin Huanyan with extreme praise, hoping to cheer her up.
However, Xin Huanyan's pretty face remained devoid of any smile. She coldly said, "Yu Xiu, please go out for a moment."
"Miss, did Yu Xiu say something wrong?"
"No."
"But, Miss..."
The maid Yu Xiu wanted to say more, but upon seeing Xin Huanyan's icy expression, she wisely withdrew from the room and closed the door.
As she left, Yu Xiu muttered to herself, "What's wrong with Miss all of a sudden?"
Shortly after the maid Yu Xiu left, Xin Huanyan looked coldly out the window and said in a sharp tone, "I didn't expect you to be so arrogant, walking right into a trap!"
As Xin Huanyan finished speaking, a gentle breeze slowly blew in from outside the window.
With the petals of two or three pure white pear blossoms gently drifting into the room, a handsome young man in green clothes suddenly appeared, sitting on the windowsill.
Xin Ci had taken advantage of today, the Genius Gathering, to bring his sister away.
But when he reached Xin Huanyan's windowsill, he found her looking at him with hostility.
Xin Huanyan's eyebrows furrowed tightly as she recognized him as the person she hated the most: Xin Ci.
"You truly are audacious. This is the Xin family! Since you've come here willingly, don't expect to escape!" Xin Huanyan's voice was filled with anger and killing intent.
Xin Ci also frowned upon seeing this. Why would his sister harbor such great animosity towards him?
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, was also taken aback.
It was she who had suggested taking Xin Huanyan away at this particular time.
She hadn't expected Xin Huanyan to suddenly harbor murderous intent towards her own brother.
"This shouldn't be happening. At this time, Xin Huanyan should have learned about her relationship with Xin Ci from Xin Yun."
"In the original plot, Xin Huanyan stood on Xin Ci's side at this point. This situation shouldn't be occurring," Mu Qingqing was momentarily confused.
However, she suggested that Xin Ci knock Xin Huanyan unconscious and take her away, which would save a lot of trouble.