Ye Xiner immediately composed herself, a smile once again blossoming on her face as she rose to welcome Hong Yuan’s return.

And Hong Yuan, looking at Ye Xiner who so quickly recovered her composure, nodded imperceptibly to himself.

In fact, he had already returned. Moreover, by leveraging the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Worm, he also learned of the injustice Ye Xiner faced in the Huosang Garden.

"Gu Fan, you’re finally back. Come, taste the fruits of my labor," Ye Xiner’s eyes curved with her smile, instantly enchanting.

"Yes, let’s eat first. I must properly savor Xiner’s cooking skills..." Hong Yuan said softly.

He looked up at the sky.

A dark night with a fierce wind—the perfect time for murder and arson!

「...」

The eastern region of the Ye Family in Luochen City was the dwelling place of the elders. Its importance within the clan was second only to the central region occupied by the Clan Leader and the four major elders.

In a sprawling, brightly lit courtyard filled with numerous halls and pavilions, Elder Ye Qinghua and her grandson Ye Cheng were entertaining a host of guests. All sorts of delicacies were laid out, and numerous female attendants were on hand to serve them.

"HAHA, I am thankful to everyone for honoring me and allowing A-Cheng to be promoted to the main branch."

"Come, come, let’s all raise a glass!"

Ye Qinghua, sitting at the main table, raised her cup with a chuckle.

Many distinguished guests raised their cups in response to Ye Qinghua.

"A-Cheng is inherently clever; his promotion to the main branch is perfectly reasonable."

"You’re too kind, Elder. That Ye Gufan is nothing more than a C-rank good-for-nothing. If he went to the main branch, he would only bring shame upon our Luochen subsidiary branch."

"Strength? TSK TSK, young people are so idealistic. How could the foundation built by more than ten of our generations possibly lose to a mere decade or so of their effort?"

"HAHAHA, Ye Gufan? Just a destitute brat! The Mulberry Leaf Wine we’re drinking now is something he and Ye Xiner couldn’t afford a single sip of even if they worked their entire lives!"

...

Ye Cheng, seated in a secondary position, also had a slight smile on his lips. As the carefully nurtured grandson of an elder, it was unlikely he would have initiated a life-and-death feud with Ye Gufan solely over Ye Xiner. However, thinking of Ye Xiner’s beauty and curvaceous figure, a heat stirred in Ye Cheng’s heart. Truth can be twisted into falsehood, and falsehood into truth. Without strength, beauty itself is a transgression. That’s no fault of mine.

As the saying goes, a beautiful face is a harbinger of disaster. A beautiful woman is not so easily won. Only the naive believe that love and affection alone can conquer a beauty. In reality, it’s far more complex; a woman’s beauty is her natural dowry. This dowry is exceedingly rich, a great fortune. Who wouldn’t desire such a fortune? But not everyone possesses the ability to protect such a treasure. If a beautiful woman is willing to entrust this fortune to her partner out of pure love, then that lucky man had better cherish her.

Currently, in Ye Cheng’s eyes, Ye Gufan was just such a lucky man. And Ye Cheng coveted this astounding ’fortune’ that Ye Gufan possessed, intending to seize it for himself!

TAP TAP...

Just as the people in the large courtyard were reveling in their wine and merrymaking, Ye Gufan—that is, Hong Yuan—slowly approached.

By this time, Hong Yuan had already used Blood Tao techniques to alter his physique and appearance, transforming into a burly, bearded man.

Gazing at the brightly illuminated courtyard before him, a smile touched Hong Yuan’s lips.

Such brilliant sunshine!

「...」

Hong Yuan observed the guards at the front of the courtyard. With a flicker of his form, he silently slipped into a dark corner.

Nine nearly invisible Worms flew from his Aperture to scout the situation inside.

Upon discovering that the strongest Martial Artist present was merely a fourth-order existence, Hong Yuan sneered. With such pitiful strength, they still try to set up schemes? Truly courting death!

Afterward, Hong Yuan took out several blood-colored Array Flags. He circled the enormous courtyard, planting the flags one by one.

Although I can’t set up a fifth-order grand array right now, deploying a fourth-order one to conceal my presence is certainly not a problem.

After tossing the last Array Flag into place, the corners of Hong Yuan’s mouth tilted up slightly.

Then, his ten fingers danced, and a layer of blood-red light flowed over them.

Instantly, a pale red barrier of light flared up around the grand array, only to vanish just as quickly.

From this moment on, one could enter the vast courtyard, but none could leave!

Hong Yuan gazed at the courtyard, still brightly lit and echoing with revelry. He slowly drew the blood-colored Longsword from his waist and walked into it, step by step.

He emerged from the darkness, revealing himself openly in the light.

Soon, the house servants guarding the main gate spotted Hong Yuan.

"Scoundrel! Who do you belong to?!"

"Stop right there, or don’t blame us for getting rough!"

"HYAA—!"

Some guards harshly berated Hong Yuan, demanding he stop.

Others raised their spears and thrust them directly at him.

Facing the guards’ various attacks and warnings, Hong Yuan’s expression remained tranquil.