「Meixin Community.」

Qin Qiu had bought some bamboo shoots and was sitting at the entrance peeling them. She seemed unhurried, yet she kept looking up toward the courtyard gate, her delicate face a mask of unease and anxiety.

She glanced at the time. An hour had already passed.

The sound of war drums, thundering like a storm over Lingjin City's river, hammered relentlessly against her soul.

What on earth is happening?

She didn't know. The waiting was nearly tearing her apart.

"Sister!"

Qin Mo, who had locked himself in his room, suddenly rushed over like a gust of wind, excitedly holding his cell phone. "Yang Hu just called!" he shouted. "He wants us to go to the Qin Family residence right now and to bring Grandpa!"

CLATTER.

Qin Qiu shot to her feet, accidentally kicking over the basin. The worry on her face was instantly replaced by sheer joy, her eyes crinkling into a smile. The immense weight on her chest quietly lifted.

If moments ago she felt a mountain pressing down on her, now she was as light as a swallow. Every pore in her body seemed to open, bringing an indescribable sense of relief.

"Did he say anything else?" Qin Qiu asked quickly.

"All is well."

Qin Qiu smiled.

"Hurry, get Grandpa. We're going right now," Qin Qiu urged anxiously, taking off her apron.

"Okay."

***

「Qin Clan Royal Family.」

Though the nature of his worry was different, Qin Lie's mood was identical to Qin Qiu's just moments before. He paced back and forth in the front courtyard, restless and uneasy.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Soon, the old butler ran over again, his face a complex mixture of excitement and hesitation.

Having lost his usual composure and poise, Qin Lie quickly stepped forward. "What is it? What's the situation?" he asked, his heart pounding with fear.

"The fighting has started!" the old butler panted, struggling for breath. "The Hanyun Valley Martial Guard of the Zhennan Prince has clashed with the Yang Family's eighty thousand Personal Guards!"

Qin Lie was speechless.

"Furthermore, rumor has it that the Zhennan Prince personally boarded the Yang Family's flagship to defeat Yang Tianli and Yang Qin! With a single sword sweep, he shattered mountains and rivers, wiping out the Yang Family's Personal Guards."

Qin Lie was speechless.

The old butler took a deep breath before continuing, "Master, it seems this Zhennan Prince is not our enemy!"

The news was staggering. Upon hearing it, even Qin Lie felt his emotions churn, his heart in turmoil and unable to calm for a long time.

After a good while, Qin Lie took a deep breath and shook his head. "It's too early to draw conclusions!"

"When this Martial Guard of the Zhennan Prince arrived, the Yang Family had no plans to attack Qiyun Road. They came only because I subsequently requested their aid! The timeline doesn't add up! Unless... unless the Zhennan Prince can see the future, there's no way he could have known to intercept them in advance."

But is that possible? Furthermore, if the Zhennan Prince truly wanted to suppress the Golden Summit Yang Family, wouldn't it be quicker and more convenient to march directly to the Holy Sea and point his sword at the Chen Family?

The old butler nodded, the flicker of excitement in his eyes vanishing. He frowned. "I heard earlier that Yang Qin sent men to contact the Zhennan Prince's Martial Guard. Not only were they flatly rejected, but the encounter was apparently quite unpleasant."

"Master, do you think that's why they came to blows?"

Qin Lie pondered. The explanation seemed somewhat reasonable, but…

He was exhausted. While the crisis from the Yang Family seemed to be resolved, a greater one now loomed. The Zhennan Prince's Martial Guard hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles.

"We don't know yet. Keep monitoring the situation." Qin Lie waved his hand weakly, then a thought struck him. "Right, what about Lord Yang? Has he appeared?"

"No," the old butler said, shaking his head. "I made a point of inquiring. Nearly everyone said that only the Zhennan Prince and one of his subordinates appeared on the Yang Family's flagship. No one else."

The old butler naturally knew what Qin Lie was thinking and added, "Master, in my opinion, Lord Yang probably saw the Zhennan Prince take action himself and didn't dare make a move."

Qin Lie offered no comment. He always had a strange feeling about Lord Yang, but he could never quite articulate what it was.

Seeing that Qin Lie was finished speaking, the old butler didn't linger and turned to leave, continuing to gather information.

"Grandfather, perhaps you're overthinking things?" Qin Yan said, supporting Qin Lie, whose posture had grown hunched.

Qin Lie shook his head and sighed. "Without a good reason, why would the illustrious Zhennan Prince move his army to the river at Lingjin City? Why is this Martial Guard stationed at the very gates of my Qiyun Road?"

They couldn't possibly have just come for a stroll, could they?

"The Zhennan Prince has his reasons. Since we can't figure them out, we shouldn't dwell on it," Qin Yan said comfortingly.

Qin Lie said no more, resuming his pacing.

A moment later, the old butler, who had only just departed, returned in a great rush. This time, his face was deathly pale and his steps were unsteady. He stumbled several times, nearly tripping over his own feet and crashing to the ground.

At this sight, a jolt of dread shot through Qin Lie. A terrible premonition flooded every corner of his being. This time, he didn't rush forward, but simply stood frozen in place. In fact, it wasn't just him. The faces of every Qin Family member present changed dramatically, as if a thick, dark cloud had descended upon them.

"Mas-Master!" the old butler cried out. "Yang Tianli and Yang Qin have been blood sacrificed! But…"

Although he had braced himself, Qin Lie's mouth still twitched upon hearing the twist.

"But what? Spit it out!" Qin Yan urged impatiently.

"The Zhennan Prince's Martial Guard... they've begun to disembark!"

It was as if Qin Lie had been struck by lightning. His face turned ghostly pale and his body wobbled, collapsing onto the Taishi Chair behind him. His gaze was empty, devoid of all life. The others looked on in horror, as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies.

Qin Yan could offer no more comfort. He just stood there, motionless.

However, even worse news followed swiftly.

"Master, it's a disaster! A squad from that Martial Guard is heading straight for our Qin Family!"

Qin Lie's fingers trembled violently as he drew a sharp, ragged breath.

The rumors are true. They really are targeting my Qin Family!

"Qin Yan, help me up. We will go to the gate to welcome the Zhennan Prince," Qin Lie commanded, his voice weak and his face drained of all color.

"Grandfather..." Qin Yan's whole body trembled as he helped Qin Lie to his feet.

Qin Lie's steps were unsteady, his bearing ancient and frail. "It is an honor for the Qin Family to be graced by the Zhennan Prince's presence. How can we fail in our etiquette? Everyone, try to look happy."

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