Xiao Jiu nodded. "Even if you didn't say anything, Xiao Ba knows what to do once he makes a move." Ranging from number one to number nine, the nine of them were cultivated generation after generation by those at the Young Miss's side, and upon reaching the age of thirty-five, the next generation would take over.
These few had taken over from the previous generation, and they were dispersed across various places to manage businesses while incidentally cultivating their successors. They knew very well in their hearts how many things should be done and whether they ought to be done.
"Tell them to watch out for their safety. In the past, we were in the shadows just like them. Now that I've returned to the light, all of you monitoring the people in the shadows must be careful not to lose your lives through a moment of carelessness."
Those people had been able to make a move when she left the Xie Residence, and now they could target her again upon her return. Only by unearthing all of them could she set her mind at ease. Besides, the final Lightning Tribulation was almost here, and she had to make preparations before that.
"Rest assured, Young Miss, we will certainly protect both you and the young master well." Seeing that Xie Nanyou remained silent after he finished speaking, he assumed his own Young Miss did not believe him. "I have already notified Uncle Jiu. He will shift the focus of our business toward Sijiu City, and people have already begun entering Sijiu City one after another.""With you all here, of course I'm relieved. I didn't say I didn't believe you, what are you getting so antsy for?" He finished speaking, then looked up to glance at Xiao Jiu sitting off to the side. "I'm fine now. Once Xiao Wu gets back, get things ready—it's time for us to head back."
Xiao Jiu stood up, gave an acknowledgement, and quietly left.
In Qinghai, inside a remote sanatorium, the front gates were tightly shut at the moment, with two cars parked horizontally across the entrance. The sounds of smashing and wailing rose and fell in waves inside the small building.
"Step lively, all of you. Don't miss a single corner," said the young man in a black long-robed gown, his slightly curly hair gathered at the nape of his neck. As he spoke, he walked toward a room off to the side and headed all the way down via a hidden set of stairs.
Gazing at the man who had already been carried out, his eyes falling upon several needle marks on the man's arm, his brow knitted slightly. "Get him into a car first; I'll follow along shortly." With that, he looked at the woman locked in the next room, beside whom another man sat calmly on the edge of the bed.
"Send these two to Uncle Si." Seeing that the condition of the two did not look too good and figuring his medical skills probably wouldn't be of any use anyway, he decided to leave them for Uncle Si to deal with.
Returning to the ground floor, he saw that well over half of the gathered people had already collapsed, and the remaining few were not looking too well either.Taking the booklet handed over by the person beside him and looking at the familiar addresses listed inside, he said, "If they truly refuse to speak, dispose of them all. We are leaving as soon as possible," and strode away.
Getting into the car and looking at the still unconscious man, he reached out to press his fingers against the man's pulse. After a long moment, he withdrew his hand with a frown, took out his phone to draft and send a message, and then leaned back against the seat to rest with his eyes closed.
In a secluded estate, a man wearing a black windbreaker carried a cardboard box into a house. Walking all the way inside, he knocked on a room door and placed the box on the table. "Boss, a box appeared outside the door at some point, and it says it's for you to receive," he reported. Seeing the man wave his hand, he hurriedly left to resume his patrol.
Frowning, the man slit open the box and looked at the stack of plastic food containers inside. He randomly opened one, took a look at its contents with a deep frown, picked up the box, and strode out of the room toward the other side.
Knocking on a room door, he looked at the man sitting upright in a chair, walked over to set the box down, and with a solemn expression, took out the opened container and placed it on the table. "What is this?"
"I don't know who sent it. The recipient is me." With that, his gaze fell back onto the container.
Inside lay a piece of bloody, mangled skin. Picking up a cup of steaming water from the table, he poured it directly over the skin. As they watched a phoenix pattern slowly emerge, the two men exchanged glances, both seeing deep solemnity in each other's eyes.
More than half a month later, three identical white off-road vehicles parked in front of the Xie Residence. Xiao Jiu got out, opened the rear door, and looked at the hand resting on his wrist.
Before she could even step out and steady herself, the gates of the Xie Residence swung open, and a toddler rushed out, throwing themselves into Xie Nanyou's arms. "Great-Aunt, why did it take you so long to get here? I've already learned how to ride a horse."
Taking Xie Yuchen's hand with one of hers, she replied, "Is that so? Let me see how well our Xiaohua rides." Then, looking at the Head of the Xie Family standing at the door, she said, "Brother, I'm back."
A warm smile spread across the face of the Head of the Xie Family. This was a scene he had yearned for and waited for all this time, and now he finally saw it. "Good, it's good that you're back. Let's go inside and talk," he said, walking over to Xie Nanyou's side, taking her by the wrist, and leading everyone into the courtyard.
Xu Ansheng settled Xiao Jiu and the others in, had the cars driven away and parked properly, and closed the gates of the Xie Residence, blocking out the prying gazes of passersby.