"What? You mean the Wei Family of the Royal Sky Group?" Elder Jiang leaped out of his chair in shock.
"Yes."
"Oh, no! The Jiang Family probably won't be able to escape disaster this time. The Wei Family..." Elder Jiang wobbled, barely able to stand.
Just then, a servant rushed in in a panic. "Master, someone is forcing their way in to see you, and we can't stop him."
"A bunch of useless trash! Why haven't you grabbed him yet?" Elder Jiang was still furious, but before he could finish speaking, a figure leaped in through the window, smashing the table to pieces.
"Elder Jiang certainly puts on quite an airs. Who are you planning to grab?" A middle-aged man in black walked in, his arrogant expression full of disdain for everyone around him.
The complexions of the Jiang father and son changed drastically as they glared furiously at the uninvited guest. This was already the second time recently that someone had broken into the Jiang Estate.
How had the Jiang Family become so weak?
"Who on earth are you?" Elder Jiang asked in a deep voice.
"My identity isn't something you are qualified to ask about. You just need to know that I'm here to investigate the killing of Marquis of the Northwest General Li," the man said arrogantly. "Tell me, who killed the Marquis of the Northwest? What are his names? Where are they now?"
"Could you be a subordinate of the Divine Eagle Holy Lord?" Elder Jiang asked, terrified out of his wits.
"Some things are better left unasked, or you might lose your life," the man warned.
"Yes, sir, please sit down. I will tell you everything I know," Elder Jiang immediately became deferential.
The man ignored him and remained standing right where he was.
Elder Jiang hurriedly spoke up again, "The ones who killed the Marquis of the Northwest are Shang Yilin and her younger brother Zhang Ming."
"Shang Yilin, it's her again, as expected," the man thought to himself, though his face remained completely expressionless.
"Where are they now?"
"I don't know that. They fled right after killing the Marquis of the Northwest at the old Zhang Family residence last night, and I have no idea where they went. But we are searching with all our might, so we should have news very soon," Elder Jiang replied.
"Hmph, what useless trash," the man sneered coldly.
The man roared a warning, "Remember this: if you don't find that woman, the Jiang Family can just wait to be wiped out."
"The Jiang Family must take responsibility for the death of the Marquis of the Northwest. My master will not let you off. Enjoy your remaining days—there aren't many left." With that, he left without looking back, leaving the Jiang Family members with ashen faces.
"It's over. Completely over. The Jiang Family is doomed this time." As soon as the man left, Jiang Huonian collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
"Father, who on earth was that person? Why are you so afraid of him?" Jiang Xilin hurriedly rushed over to help his father up and asked.
"Xilin, don't ask! It's best not to know! Go notify everyone immediately to leave the Xia State at once and hide abroad. Never come back without my command," Elder Jiang said in extreme anxiety.
"Father, who on earth is he? To make the Jiang Family..." Jiang Xilin still didn't understand.
"Stop asking, just go! If you don't leave now, it will be too late. Take all our assets and run!" Elder Jiang's face was full of terror.
"Father."
"Go! You rebellious son, you won't even listen to my words anymore? Do you really have to watch the Jiang Family be destroyed? Go!" Elder Jiang roared, slapping his son across the face.
Jiang Xilin clutched his burning cheek and froze. "Father, don't be angry. I'll leave right away. Please take care of yourself." With that, he covered his face and hurried away.
Elder Jiang stood there all alone, muttering to himself.
Elsewhere, Zhang Ming had been brought by Shang Yilin to an underground trading market, and he felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
Shang Yilin was extremely familiar with the place. Along the way, people kept greeting her while casting strange glances his way.
Those looks reminded him of his college days, when the wealthy older women driving luxury cars outside the school gate would look at male students—the way they appraised kept-men.
And now, these people were sizing him up with those exact same gazes, obviously treating him as Shang Yilin's kept-man.
This made him feel immensely insulted!
Although he had once been a matrilocal son-in-law and a subservient flatterer, those were things of the past. Now he was a proud, upright man—how could he endure such contempt?
"Sister Shang, could you not hold my arm?" Zhang Ming finally couldn't help speaking up.
"Hehe, what's wrong? Does being my kept-man wrong you?" Shang Yilin teased with a smile, her arm still tightly linked through his.
The roles had reversed in an instant!
"Look, you should be satisfied now, right? Your Sister Shang has found herself a handsome young man to keep her company—that's fine, isn't it?" Shang Yilin said, shaking Zhang Ming's arm as she spoke, looking very much like she was showing off a new toy.
Zhang Ming felt completely awkward from her antics. Just as he didn't know what to do, a hearty laugh broke the awkwardness.
"Hey, little demoness, long time no see! What kind of benefits are you trying to fish for this time?"
Zhang Ming turned his head to see a middle-aged man in Taoist robes walking over, smoking a cigarette and wearing a pair of flip-flops. His outfit looked thoroughly mismatched with his identity as a Taoist priest, appearing somewhat slovenly.
"Old whiskery-nose, if you call me a little demoness again, I'll pull out every last hair of your beard!" Shang Yilin retorted angrily.
The slovenly uncle walked right up to them, his cunning eyes sweeping back and forth over Zhang Ming before he suddenly said with a teasing smirk, "Yo, you found such a handsome fellow for a boyfriend? You've got a pretty good eye."
This remark almost made Zhang Ming blurt out a rebuttal; he had thought the man was seriously appraising him, but it turned out he was just here to crack jokes.
"What are you talking about! He is my boyfriend." Shang Yilin stepped forward, fiercely protecting Zhang Ming.
"Oh my, what a rarity! Even our little demoness has someone in her heart." The slovenly uncle gave an exaggerated gasp of surprise, then sized Zhang Ming up again carefully. "Well, the young man is quite decent."
Before Zhang Ming could react, the slovenly uncle started introducing himself, pulling a small bottle from his pocket and handing it to Zhang Ming. "This is the 'Tathagata Great Buddha Cudgel'. Good stuff, you'll definitely find it useful."
"Go on, go on, put your trash away and stop corrupting my man." Shang Yilin hurriedly pulled Zhang Ming's hand back, her face full of disgust.
Zhang Ming shook his head helplessly, thinking that the people this Sister Shang knew were truly bizarre.
This slovenly uncle wasn't just eccentric in his behavior; even his name carried an improper vibe, claiming to be the thirty-sixth generation successor of Dongxuanyzi, Xuan Tiangang. It really made one laugh and cry at the same time.
He remembered back on the mountain, that slovenly master of his always loved secretly reading improper books, and when caught, would make up lies about the thirty-six styles of Dongxuanzi.
Now this slovenly uncle also claimed to be a successor of Dongxuanzi—who knew what on earth Dongxuanzi even was.
"Haha, I'm used to it. Sorry, sorry, occupational habit," Xuan Tiangang said with an ingratiating smile.
Shang Yilin said with displeasure, "Hurry up and bring out that black gold silk soft armor you gave me last time. I'm taking it for sure this time."
"Taking it for sure? That's great! Hahaha, I knew it. That soft armor suits you best, especially the pattern across the chest—it's simply tailor-made for you. You'll definitely look stunning in it. Let's go, I'll help you put it on right now."
Hearing this, Xuan Tiangang perked up immediately, his face plastered with a lewd smile, especially his little eyes, which looked just like a lecherous ghost.