At Ye Xiu’s home in Tu Mountain Manor, Jin Ye City.

Qin Qing was having dinner alone when Gong Jin suddenly arrived.

"What matter is so important that you came here in person?" Qin Qing asked in surprise. Gong Jin was the Pavilion Master of Ming Feng Pavilion, the world’s number one intelligence organization, and one of the Thirteen Protecters under Huang Quan. Her identity and status were exceptionally high, so anything that required her personal attention was certainly a major issue.

"You don’t need to be nervous or surprised. As Madame Huang Quan, there’s nothing in this world that should make you anxious," Gong Jin said with a comforting smile. "I came in person because I was worried this matter couldn’t be explained clearly over the phone."

"It seems this matter isn’t large, but it is very important." Qin Qing stood to pour Gong Jin a glass of water and handed it to her. "Don’t be so formal here. Just treat it as your own home. Sit down and let’s talk."

"Thank you." Gong Jin accepted the water and sat down. "The elites of the Medicine King Valley’s reformist faction have all come out of seclusion. However, contrary to the Young Master’s expectations, this Jiang Yuan is incredibly ambitious. He isn’t in a hurry to deal with the Young Master and the Long Family. Instead, he wants to use this opportunity to pave the way for Medicine King Valley’s re-emergence..."

Gong Jin then recounted Jiang Yuan’s entire plan, deliberately omitting Ye Xiu’s orders while she waited for Qin Qing to process the information.

After listening, Qin Qing mulled it over for a moment and asked, "Does Ye Xiu want us to go into hiding for a while?"

Gong Jin secretly clicked her tongue in admiration. As expected of the Young Master’s wife. She understands him so well, hitting the nail right on the head about his intentions.

She replied, "That’s right. The Young Master could flatten Medicine King Valley without breaking a sweat, but he feels that Jiang Yuan’s free medical treatment campaign can benefit the common people, so he’s granting them a little more time to live."

"Where does Ye Xiu want us to hide?" Qin Qing asked.

"The Young Master didn’t say," Gong Jin said, shaking her head.

Qin Qing’s eyes lit up. "Since he didn’t specify where we should hide, doesn’t that mean we could hide in Guoyang?"

Gong Jin was startled. The Young Mistress’s way of thinking really is unconventional... Nevertheless, she said, "There’s no flaw in your logic, but if we really want to go, we should still ask for the Young Master’s opinion."

"Can’t we just give him a surprise?" Qin Qing asked.

"Ahem..." Gong Jin gave an awkward laugh. "You can give him a surprise, but we can’t. The Young Master will be angry if we act on our own without permission."

Qin Qing smiled. "I’m forcing you not to tell him. If he gets angry, I’ll be the one to put out the fire."

"Alright!" Gong Jin pretended to agree reluctantly, though inwardly she was thrilled.

In truth, she had been wanting to go to Guoyang and fight alongside Ye Xiu for a long time, but he had always refused. Since Qin Qing was taking responsibility for handling his anger, she had nothing to worry about.

Still, she added, "Well, if the Young Master decides to punish us, you have to hold him back a little."

"Don’t worry!" Qin Qing confidently assured her, narrowing her eyes and humming. "Leaving me all alone at home to watch an empty house... he’s having a great time. He went to Han Jin City and hooked up with Song Yushu. Now that he’s in Guoyang, he’s out shopping, eating, and drinking with four beautiful women every day. Humph, I’d like to go and see for myself if he’s done anything to be unfaithful to me."

Gong Jin’s scalp tingled. The Young Mistress isn’t going to Guoyang to hide; she’s going there to catch him cheating!

Suddenly, Gong Jin realized her decision to follow Qin Qing to Guoyang had been a bit rash. She asked timidly, "What if the Young Master really has been unfaithful to you?"

Qin Qing stood up and declared, "Bring the scissors and put on your Chloes. The three of us will leave right now. The others can stay here. If he dares to be unfaithful to me, I’ll cut it off."

「Long Family Manor.」

The Xing and Wei family members watched as Long Yifei limped back to his small house in the breeding area, crying. Their hearts were filled with guilt, as they were part of his faction. Xing Ming secretly stuffed a chicken leg into his pocket, planning to bring it to Long Yifei after he had eaten his fill.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Thirteen Vassal Families, who were not related to the Longs, felt an immense sense of satisfaction seeing Long Yifei crying with rage, and their appetites grew.

"Big Brother, I propose a toast to you," Tang Bo said, taking the lead. "If it weren’t for you, we might have gone our whole lives without tasting such a magnificent feast or drinking such fine, rare wines."

"From now on, everyone’s meals are on me. Cheers," Ye Xiu said, raising his glass to clink with Tang Bo’s before downing it in one go.

Hearing that they would be able to enjoy such delicious cuisine every meal from now on, all the members of the Thirteen Vassal Families happily raised their glasses to toast Ye Xiu. He didn’t refuse a single one.

As the alcohol began to take effect, the bond between Ye Xiu and the Thirteen Vassal Families warmed rapidly.

In reality, Ye Xiu had a purpose for treating them to this meal. The Thirteen Vassal Families were dependents of the Long Family. Having lived deep in the mountains their whole lives, most were experiencing a modern city for the first time. In the mountains, they farmed and hunted, and while they never went hungry, their material lives were incredibly monotonous. As for any kind of mental or spiritual life, it was nonexistent.

However, after arriving in the city, all their money was controlled by the Long Family. They were dependent on the Longs even for their meals, let alone enjoying what the city had to offer.

What Ye Xiu planned to do was simple. He would treat them to all sorts of food, drinks, clothes, and entertainment. He would make them clearly understand that by following him, they could have anything they wanted.

Of course, the Long Family was also very wealthy. But... It’s time to cut off the Long Family’s revenue streams.

Ye Xiu sent a text message to You Ming.

The Long Family had deep roots, with branches established in the city that extended beyond just the Xu Family in Han Jin City and the Longs in Guoyang. They had branches in various villages all along Hexia Road, so the family was not short on cash.

But now, after the Long Family had emerged from Hundred Flowers Valley, all their branches along Hexia Road were exposed.

Ye Xiu would plunder all the money from these branches. He would also steal all the gold, silver, and cash the Long Family had brought with them from Hundred Flowers Valley.

That way, the Long Family wouldn’t even be able to feed themselves. How could they possibly support the Thirteen Vassal Families?

Furthermore, Huang Quan had forbidden the Long Family from ever returning to Hundred Flowers Valley, cutting off their only retreat.

If the members of the Thirteen Vassal Families didn’t want to starve, what could they do? Naturally, they would come seeking refuge with their counterparts here at the Long Family Manor.

It’s a classic case of loyalty belonging to whoever provides. And since Ye Xiu was providing the ’milk,’ he was now the ’mother’ to all the Thirteen Vassal Families.

The dinner lasted until past eleven o’clock at night. Although the members of the Thirteen Vassal Families were all full and quite drunk, they still hadn’t had their fill of fun. Ye Xiu had no choice but to forcibly break up the party; he still needed to go beat up the Long Family Head.

Ye Xiu returned to the villa with Gu Meng, Nangong Yue, Bai Xi, and Wen Rubing.

Sitting on her bed, Nangong Yue couldn’t stop thinking about how perfect Ye Liangchen was. But when she thought about her three rivals—Gu Meng, Bai Xi, and Wen Rubing—she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Strike first and gain the upper hand!

Emboldened by the alcohol, Nangong Yue decided she would sleep with Ye Xiu tonight. She quickly took a shower, changed into the sexy outfit Ye Xiu had bought for her, and tiptoed barefoot out of her bedroom. When she reached Ye Xiu’s door, she opened it and slipped inside. She used her Martial Prowess to envelop the entire door, so it made no sound as she opened and closed it.