C6 The People from the Wang Family

After stepping out of the restaurant, Qin Buyi was ready to find a quiet spot to strategize his next move against the Tang family. His path was suddenly blocked by a man dressed as a butler, prompting Qin to rest his right hand on the hilt of his blade, poised for action.

The butler's eyelids twitched at the sight of Qin's readiness to unsheathe his weapon, and he couldn't help but wonder, "Inviting such a cold-blooded killer, is it a stroke of luck or a disaster for the young lady? Sigh..."

Noticing Qin's hand inching towards his sword, the butler quickly plastered on a smile and said, "Young Master, my master extends an invitation to you."

Qin remained on guard as he inquired, "And who might your master be?"

The butler produced a token from within his robes, engraved with the character "Wang," and said, "Follow me, Young Master, and all will be revealed."

"The Wang family?" Qin mused internally. He had overheard patrons in the restaurant discussing how the Sixth Young Master Tang had insulted the Wang family by publicly harassing their beloved daughter, leading to his confinement.

Sensing no malice from the butler, Qin contemplated his precarious position. Having annihilated the Nine-dragon Gang and slain the Sixth Young Master Tang, he was now locked in a bitter feud with the Tang family, compounded by the weight of a war mission he carried.

Reconciliation was out of the question, and Qin was outnumbered. Aligning with the Wang family could potentially improve his dire circumstances, or at the very least, buy time to strengthen his position.

Qin Buyi was not one to hesitate in battle, nor was he naive. He understood the importance of leveraging the resources at his disposal to fulfill his objectives.

With this in mind, his expression softened, and he lowered his hand from the Killing Saber, nodding in acknowledgment to the butler.

The butler wiped the nonexistent sweat from his brow, clearly relieved. Communicating with such a formidable person was no small feat.

Deep within the Wang family's estate, in a secluded courtyard, two figures—a man and a woman—stood by a pond teeming with golden fish.

The man's eyebrows were sharp as blades, his eyes twinkled like stars. Clad in a yellow robe, he exuded an air of nobility.

The woman's features were as if painted by an artist's hand. She wore a plain dress, her eyes brimming with boundless tenderness.

"Third Brother, could it be that you're also interested in him?" the woman inquired with curiosity.

"Haha, Sister Zhirou, upon my arrival in Azure Sun City, I heard that someone had slain Sixth Young Master Tang for his affront to you. Of course, I'm eager to see who possesses such audacity to cross the Tang family," the man replied, his lips curling into a smile.

As they conversed, the butler stepped in from the doorway.

"Miss, the guest has arrived and is awaiting outside," the butler announced with due respect.

Hearing this, Wang Zhirou responded with a hint of reprimand, "Then why haven't you brought the guest in? It would be quite the joke if word spread that the Wang family hosts so poorly."

"Right away, Miss," the butler responded, and promptly departed.

Meanwhile, Qin Buyi was leisurely exploring the vast Wang family estate, its architecture a testament to luxury and grandeur.

"This place would surely rank among the top-tier elite households on Blue Star," Qin Buyi mused to himself.

"My apologies for the wait, Young Master. I hope you'll forgive the delay," the butler said breathlessly as he hurried over.

"It's of no consequence," Qin Buyi replied coolly.

Each noble house had its own customs for receiving guests, and being on another's turf, it was only proper to adhere to their traditions.

Qin Buyi followed the butler to the courtyard where Wang Zhirou awaited.

Upon seeing Qin Buyi, Wang Zhirou greeted him with a warm smile, "I am Wang Zhirou, and it's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I fear I've been somewhat remiss. Might I have the honor of knowing your name?"

The woman before him was strikingly beautiful, her features finely chiseled, her eyes soft and inviting – it was hard not to feel drawn to her.

Qin Buyi paused for a moment, taking in Wang Zhirou's visage, then quickly regained his composure, shifting his focus away from her looks.

In that instant, he could somewhat grasp why Sixth Young Master Tang had so brazenly made advances toward her in public.

The moment he laid eyes on Wang Zhirou, he instantly recognized the true identity of his summoner.

Qin Buyi inquired, "Qin Buyi here. What matter does the young lady wish to discuss with me?"

With a giggle, she replied, "I wanted to personally thank you for dispatching that scoundrel, Tang Liu."

"It's been weighing on my mind. I'm naturally unable to cultivate due to my physical condition. Had you not slain him, Young Master Qin, I'm unsure when I'd have gotten my revenge."

Wang Zhirou's long-standing troubles seemed to lift, and her mood was visibly brighter as she spoke with a sense of relief.

She paused, then sighed, "I must be amusing to Young Master Qin."

"Allow me to introduce someone to you, Young Master Qin. This is Young Master Huang from the Imperial Capital."

"Just call me Huang San," said Huang San, his face beaming with a friendly smile.

"Don't just stand around; we've prepared a feast. Right this way, please."

They followed Wang Zhirou to a pavilion in the courtyard, which was laden with an array of dishes.

Once seated, Huang San was the first to break the ice, "Young Master Qin, by crossing the Tang family, you've stirred up quite the storm. What's your plan moving forward?"

Qin Buyi maintained a serene demeanor, responding, "I'll face the soldiers with strategy, and stem the flood with earth."

"Ha, that's the spirit! A toast to you, Mr. Qin," cheered Huang San, downing his glass in one go.

"Enough chatter, let's eat. This is rare Demon Beast meat from the Falling Star Mountain Range, just outside Azure Sun City," Wang Zhirou interjected.

The meal was a merry affair for all involved.

Throughout the conversation, Huang San and Wang Zhirou did most of the talking, providing Qin Buyi, the newcomer, with a wealth of valuable information.

Azure Sun City was under the intricate control of three major powers.

At the forefront was the City Lord's Mansion, wielding supreme influence over the city.

Next in line was the Wang family, long-time residents of Azure Sun City with deep ties to the Imperial Capital, commanding a respect that even the City Lord's Mansion could not ignore.

Ultimately, the Tang family branched off from the main line in the Imperial Capital three centuries ago, seemingly in search of something elusive.

Satiated with food and drink, Huang San and Wang Zhirou escorted Qin Buyi to the gates of the Wang estate. Wang Zhirou produced a small box from within her robes and offered it to Qin Buyi, saying, "I have little to offer, but here are five hundred Middle Grade Spirit Stones. Please accept them, Young Master Qin, and be wary of the Tang family's retaliation."

Qin Buyi hesitated before accepting the box, his gaze lingering on Wang Zhirou. Recognizing her resolute demeanor, he finally accepted the gift, expressing his gratitude with a simple, "Thank you."

At that moment, Huang San presented a dragon-shaped Jade Plate to Qin Buyi, advising, "Should you ever face a mortal peril, Mr. Qin, this Jade Plate might just save your life."

Qin Buyi, puzzled by the gesture, inquired, "Why would you help me?"

With a chuckle, Huang San replied, "Who knows? Perhaps one day I'll be the one in need of your assistance."

Wang Zhirou chimed in, "Just accept it, Young Master Qin. I've always coveted Third Brother's Jade Plate myself."

With the jade plate in hand, Qin Buyi expressed his appreciation for their generosity and took his leave with a respectful, "Thank you for your hospitality. Farewell!"

Once Qin Buyi had departed, Wang Zhirou turned to Huang San and remarked, "Third Brother, aren't you placing too much faith in him? You even gave away your Jade Plate."

Gazing at the moon's glow above, Huang San voiced his frustration, "The tides are turning against me. My visit to Azure Sun City was meant to be a respite from the relentless turmoil. Too long at the eye of the storm can drive a man mad."

"If he proves capable of aiding me in the future, what's a Jade Plate in the grand scheme of things? I have a knack for judging character. If he survives, he's destined for greater things than Azure Sun City can contain."

"But all that aside, the most compelling reason for my aid is his defense of Sister Zhirou. That's why I chose to help him."

After Huang San finished speaking, Wang Zhirou's voice was soft and tender as she said, "It's getting cold outside, time to head back."

...

"Fifth Master, the man has emerged."

"Hmm? He's out?" A groggy middle-aged strongman wiped drool from his mouth, appearing to be barely awake.

Rising and stretching, the burly man remarked, "This kid has kept me waiting a long time, from the afternoon right through to the evening."

"Hehe, he dared to kill a member of my Tang family? He's in for it now."

"Fifth Master, this kid didn't leave the Wang family until this late. It could be that the Wang family is pulling the strings behind this."

"The Wang family? What of it? They'll get theirs soon enough, along with the rest."

"Attack! Kill the kid and let's report back."

Qin Buyi remained vigilant after leaving the Wang family's residence.

He didn't trust the Tang family to let him off so easily, and true to his suspicions, he was encircled just two streets over.

"Kid, your time is up!"

Fifth Master Tang, gripping his Mountain Opening Axe, struck from his elevated position.