Volume One: Intrigue in the Imperial Capital - Leaving the Mountain

The usually leisurely Nanyuan was in complete chaos today.

"Tomorrow is the last day of the clan competition! Where is that idiot Xiao Ye Si Nan Ying?! Aa...

"I didn't bring my compass with me, so I can't locate it directly!"

"How's the intelligence network doing?"

"Can't find them! It's like they've vanished into thin air!"

"Holy shit!"

Si Nan Yuan slammed her fist on the table, unable to hold back a curse. Tomorrow is the most crucial day; all the forces, including the high-ranking officials of the imperial palace, will be there. And this guy has actually disappeared at the last minute?! What a joke!

"However..." Si Nan Yuan calmed down slightly. Based on her understanding of Liu Ye was definitely not the type to act recklessly. Her disappearance must have a hidden reason. Could she actually be a spy sent by another force? No, Liu Ye's lack of knowledge about supernatural abilities during this period was definitely not an act. Could it be that a hostile force led by the Cleon Family did something behind the scenes? No, according to their calculations, Liu Ye's last place was definitely the Si Nan Main Family. What kind of power could directly infiltrate the main residence? Even a teleportation ability user would leave traces if they infiltrated, unless someone who was already within the main residence's detection field directly teleported her out...

Etc.

Transfer it directly out?

Si Nan Yuan slapped her thigh and shouted, "You wait here, I'm going to see Elder Hong!"

Zhongyuan--

In a corner of the Imperial Guard's quarters on the east side, there was an inconspicuous little stone house, without any decoration. Anyone would think it was just a small storage room. However, everyone in the Si Nan Family respected this little house immensely and would never dare to make a fuss around it. This was because this stone house was the residence of Si Nan Si Nan Changzheng Si Nan Family.

However, today was an exception. The usually deserted cottage welcomed a distinguished guest: the current Patriarch, Si Nan Zheng, who had just turned fifty. He looked even more haggard than when the two had last met. An incurable disease was eroding his body, and he only had a few months left to live.

After dismissing the servants, the two extremely important Big Figure began their conversation.

"It's been a while, Zheng. Have a cup of tea." Si Nan Changzheng brewed a pot of fine tea, the pale red liquid exuding a fragrant aroma.

"Thank you so much, senior... Ah!"

Si Nan Zheng taking the teacup when his hand suddenly trembled, spilling tea all over the floor.

Si Nan Changzheng's eyes narrowed, and he asked in a heavy tone, "Tell the truth, A-Zheng, how much time do you have left?"

Si Nan Zheng, "Not much left... If I'm lucky, I might last five months; if I'm unlucky, I probably won't even last two months..."

"So..." Si Nan Changzheng hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and asked the key question, "How's the struggle going with your four sons?"

Si Nan Zheng silent, picked up a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp before replying, "Just yesterday, Feng'er died. I don't know who among the other three did it."

As he spoke, he slammed his cup down. He had fought his way up in his youth in the same way, killing his own family members. He was the most ruthless of them all, and he won in the end. Back then, when he first became the Patriarch, he only felt extremely proud and elated. Now, seeing his son repeating the same things, he truly felt sorrow.

Regardless, they were all his own flesh and blood. How could he not be heartbroken to see his own children killing each other? Not to mention the devastating blow his second son's death had dealt him, further worsening his health. But before he passed away, his sons' power struggle had to be resolved...

"Let's not talk about that now, senior. I came to see you with another request." Si Nan Zheng shook his head, forcibly dispelling his gloomy thoughts.

"Speak!" Si Nan Changzheng had already guessed what he was going to say.

"Tomorrow is the semi-final and final rounds at the palace, and my daughter will be participating."

"Um."

"As you know, things haven't been peaceful for the family lately. A few months ago, Beast Tide attacked Winter Arrival City, which is under our jurisdiction, and my daughter almost died. In the past few months, the Si Nan Family's businesses in the capital have also been constantly harassed by hostile forces led by the Cleon Family. That old man Tang even dared to provoke me at my birthday banquet, and in the competition a few days ago, the Cleon family's members deliberately injured and humiliated our family members... All of this indicates that the Cleon Family is planning something, but we can't find out anything! Therefore, I hope you can..."

"They want me to be there in person to intimidate everyone?"

"That's right! I know you don't like crowds, but I just heard that Connie Cleon will be there to watch tomorrow's match!"

"Connie Cleon? The one from forty years ago?" Si Nan Changzheng exclaimed in surprise.

"It was her. Forty years ago, during that conflict, she was the right-hand woman of Victor Cleon, the strongest Cleon Family at the time, and she caused great damage to the Si Nan Family!"

"Connie... Ha, if I remember correctly, her ability is soul swapping. The two ability users whose souls are swapped will be unable to use their abilities because their spirits and bodies are out of sync. I almost fell for it back then... I haven't heard from her since I killed Victor, I didn't expect her to come back now."

"As a veteran, the fact that the Cleon Family mobilized her is probably also for deterrence," Si Nan Zheng quickly added.

Si Nan Changzheng remained silent, seemingly lost in memories.

"Hey, Nagamasa! Have you finished your homework? Let me copy it!"

"Family rivalry? Why bother with all that! A family is a family, and we are us!"

"Changzheng, this is my cousin Connie, isn't she pretty? Connie, this is Changzheng, my best friend, Victor. You should get along well with him!"

"Changzheng... I heard there's a conflict within our family; I have to go back and check..."

"Changzheng, you really show no mercy... Those people you killed were all my family!"

"Irony, how ironic, to have to fight you here..."

"Let's fight to the death... For my family, I will never back down!"

"Hahaha! Kill me, Changzheng! You've won! The Si Nan Family has won! We've lost! Go ahead and do it! Only you are worthy to kill me!"

Coming back to his senses, Si Nan Changzheng remained silent, his heart filled with sorrow.

Victor... I never imagined that after forty years, I'd still have to deal with this mess...

He made a decision.

"Alright, I'll personally go and oversee things tomorrow. It's time to teach the younger generation of the Cleon Family a lesson!"

"Found it! There's a record here. One of Si Nan Feng's subordinates is a teleportation ability user named Gong Yan. It's likely he's the one who abducted Liu Ye!"

"So it really was Si Nan Feng who did it?" Rui Feng frowned.

"I was wondering if it could be like this..." Rui Xin said, her arm, which had been broken a while ago, had now been reattached. "Yesterday, we found out that the second young master was dead, right? It's possible that Si Nan Feng was too lustful and had Gong Yan kidnap Liu Ye, wanting to get her. As a result, Liu Ye fought back in anger and accidentally killed Si Nan Feng. So she fled to avoid punishment, and Gong Yan, not knowing what to do, had no choice but to bring the body back first..."

"" "" "..." ""

"Uh, what's wrong with you guys? You look so scared..."

"Sister Rui Xin! You're a genius!" Si Nan Ying suddenly hugged her.

"A very reasonable analysis..." Lin Bing hugged her back.

"Smart! So smart! I'm going to promote you!" Even Si Nan Yuan hugged him.

"I was just guessing... What should we do if it's really like that?" Rui Xin said helplessly.

"No matter what, the most urgent thing is to find her!"

"""Clear!"""