Blood Ties

Xie Xuanyuan shifted his gaze to Xie Huaijin beside him.

"All the signs corroborate one another."

"That day, Jinlin was ordered to deliver a banquet invitation to the Azure City Sword Sect. He never reached his destination. Most likely, he fell into a killing trap Wu Hen had set up in advance along the way."

His life or death was unknown, and his whereabouts uncertain. That was Xie Jinlin's current situation.

Xie Huaijin nodded and added in a deep voice, "This morning, Wang Zhongze secretly sent a carrier pigeon with a clue. That group of fleeing black-clad assassins had appeared around the old Black Tiger Mountain area before vanishing without a trace."

Xie Huaijin swept his gaze across everyone at the banquet, then finally settled on Xie Jinghan, whose bearing was now utterly transformed. He spoke earnestly, "Han'er, your cultivation is now the highest in the household, and your swordsmanship the strongest. Your elder brother's safety is at stake. With no other choice, I can only entrust this to you. I need you to leave the city and investigate Jinlin's whereabouts, determine whether he lives or dies. If he is alive, bring him back. If dead, bring back his body."

The matriarch, Madam Shen, sat beside him with reddened eyes. Days of worry and grief weighed heavily upon her heart. Holding back her tears, she rose and gave Xie Jinghan a solemn bow, her plea earnest. "Han'er, your eldest aunt begs you. You must find your elder brother. Dead or alive, I only ask for an answer, so I may lay this obsession in my heart to rest."

The hall fell silent enough to hear a needle drop. Every member of the Lineage fixed their eyes on Xie Jinghan, waiting quietly for his reply with unease and hope.

Xie Jinghan sat in silence, his expression slightly darkened as reluctance rose within him.

He had only just broken through to the Innate Realm. His martial foundation had undergone a complete transformation, and both his swordsmanship and cultivation had made a qualitative leap. This was the perfect time to focus on further improvement. His Sword Intent Realm was not yet complete, Draw Sword Art Intent still held enormous room for comprehension, and his Innate True Qi needed repeated refinement to stabilize his realm.

For him, what he ought to do now was remain hidden in his small courtyard, cultivate quietly, steadily grind his proficiency to the limit, consolidate his Innate cultivation, and push toward a higher swordsmanship realm—not run about outside and be distracted by mundane affairs.

Yet after weighing it over again and again, his stubborn obsession with cultivation ultimately yielded to the heavy bonds of blood and Lineage.

In this life, he had been born into the Xie Household and raised by the Xie Household. Thanks to the Lineage's care and protection, he had been able to live peacefully in seclusion and devote himself to sword cultivation. He had long since engraved this kindness in his heart.

Moreover, the decades of experience from his previous life had made him far more clear-headed than an ordinary youth. He placed great importance on blood ties and familial affection.

His elder brother's whereabouts were unknown, his life and death uncertain. As a son of the Xie Household, he could not possibly stand aside and watch coldly, whether out of reason or emotion.

Having made up his mind, Xie Jinghan raised his eyes and stood. His expression was solemn as he spoke in a deep voice. "Grandfather, Father, Eldest Aunt, there is no need for this. My elder brother is in danger. As a member of the Xie Household, it is my duty. I will do everything in my power to investigate and find my elder brother's trail."

Hearing his firm answer, the weight in everyone's hearts eased somewhat, and much of their days-long worry dissipated. With Xie Jinghan willing to act, they finally had something to rely on.

Xie Huaijin's expression softened slightly. He rose and walked over to four middle-aged members of the Lineage, introducing them to Xie Jinghan one by one. "Han'er, these four are the core members of the Xie Household responsible for external affairs. They have managed the Lineage's businesses for many years, faithfully performed their duties, and handled matters prudently. They have kept every affair in the household in perfect order without a single mistake."

He pointed to the leading middle-aged man, whose face was steady and who wore a dark blue brocade robe. "This is Xie Cang. He oversees all the Lineage's restaurants and taverns and is well acquainted with connections from every corner."

He then pointed to the reserved and refined man beside him. "This is Xie Heng. He manages all the Xie Household's inns and relay stations. Travel arrangements, reception, and intelligence gathering are all coordinated by him."

Next came an elegant middle-aged man with a gentle expression and the faint scent of medicine about him. "This is Xie Yan. He manages the Lineage's apothecary and is well versed in medicinal principles and pill formulas. The healing pills and antidotes kept in reserve are all prepared and stored by him."

Finally, he looked toward a burly man with a tall, upright frame and the sharp aura of a martial artist. "This is Xie Yue. He leads the martial instructors of the Xie Household's escort agency. He has traveled the martial world for years, knows the mountain roads and dangers of the jianghu well, and possesses considerable strength."

The four stewards of the Lineage stepped forward in unison, bowed with cupped fists, and greeted him respectfully in deep voices. "Greetings, Second Young Master!"

Xie Jinghan immediately returned the salute, his manners impeccable and tone gentle. "You four uncles have worked tirelessly for the Lineage for many years, managing its affairs and maintaining its livelihood. I am deeply grateful."

Xie Huaijin continued arranging the following matters with clear precision. "Han'er, rest well tonight, recover your strength, and stabilize your cultivation. At dawn tomorrow, Xie Yue will personally lead a team and select twelve reliable, experienced elites from the Lineage to leave the city with you."

"Xie Cang will take full charge of the carriages, horses, and arrangements along the route. Xie Yan will prepare all necessary healing pills and emergency medicines in advance. Xie Heng will coordinate the travel expenses, emergency funds, and supplies along the way. Everything must be thorough and meticulous. There must not be the slightest oversight."

The four men turned solemn and bowed with cupped fists. "We obey the Household Head's command!"

With all arrangements made, everyone raised their cups and resumed eating.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, the banquet gradually neared its end.

Xie Xuanyuan watched Xie Jinghan for a long while, studying him repeatedly in astonishment. From the moment Xie Jinghan had entered the banquet, he had sensed an otherworldly, ethereal quality around him. Yet no matter how carefully he examined him, he could not see through the depth of Xie Jinghan's cultivation.

After a moment of thought, he slowly asked in a gentle voice, "Han'er, only three days have passed, yet your aura is completely different. I have examined you repeatedly, but I cannot see through your cultivation realm at all. What cultivation have you reached now?"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone at the banquet stopped their conversations and turned to look.

His third younger brother, Xie Jingming, widened his eyes in innocent curiosity. His younger sister, Xie Zhiwei, also stopped eating and looked over obediently.

Xie Jinghan smiled faintly and answered truthfully, "In reply to Grandfather, I was fortunate enough to break through and cast off the shackles of the Postnatal Realm. I am now at the first level of the Innate Realm."

His words landed like thunder exploding across the hall!

The entire Lineage erupted in uproar, one cry of shock following another.

"Innate?! He actually reached the Innate Realm!"

"My heavens! Young Master Han is only seventeen, yet he has already broken through to the Innate Realm?"

"I have lived for decades and never seen such peerless talent! Ordinary martial artists may spend twenty or thirty years cultivating without ever reaching the Innate Realm, but the Second Young Master broke through directly!"

Xie Huaijin's body trembled slightly. His eyes were filled with incredulous shock and wild joy as he stared fixedly at Xie Jinghan, his emotions surging beyond restraint.

Xie Xuanyuan stroked his beard and let out a long sigh. A bright gleam burst from his aged eyes, filled with comfort and emotion. "Good! Excellent! An Innate Realm martial artist at seventeen! Our Xie Household actually has such a heavenly prodigy! Heaven blesses the Xie Household! Before I die, I will surely witness the Xie Household sweep away its decline and return to the glory of its peak!"

The astonished exclamations throughout the hall continued for a long while. The household banquet's atmosphere, already filled with intense excitement and joy, was pushed completely to its peak.

Once everyone gradually calmed down, the family banquet came to an end as well. The Lineage members bowed in farewell and departed in an orderly fashion.

The family banquet ended, and everyone dispersed.

The household servants stepped forward to clean up the hall.

Xie Jinghan found his mother, Madam Yang, and the mother and son strolled slowly along the corridor.

The evening breeze was soft, carrying the fragrance of flowers and trees. The corridor lanterns cast a gentle glow, and the noise and bustle of the day had faded away.

The mother and son chatted and laughed as they walked, speaking of everyday household matters in a warm, peaceful atmosphere.

Madam Yang looked at the youth before her and spoke softly, her words full of love and concern. "Han'er, you have always been steady and full of your own ideas, so Mother has always been at ease. But this journey is full of unpredictable dangers. You must be careful in all things and put your own safety first. If something cannot be done, return immediately. Do not force yourself into danger."

"Rest assured, Mother. Your son understands."

After their heart-to-heart talk, the night deepened and the evening breeze turned cool.

He bid farewell to his mother and watched Madam Yang return safely to her courtyard.

Alone, Xie Jinghan walked beneath the clear moonlight blanketing the ground and returned to the Wutong Courtyard.