December 24.
Moon Lake Market.
[Today's divination signs: moderately auspicious. Your second son, Xu Mingyuan, is using the Zhou Household's name to maneuver against the Chang Household, intending to reclaim your businesses completely and establish a foothold in the Commandery Seat.]
"That boy really is bold."
Xu Chuan generally consulted the divinations about his lineage's fortunes. Half a month ago, the signs had shown that Xu Mingwei had broken through to mid-stage grandmaster, which had pleased him greatly.
Now the signs were moderately auspicious. There was a chance of victory, but failure remained possible.
Xu Chuan pondered. "A Yuan still lacks something if he wants to borrow the Zhou Household's influence. Empty words prove nothing, and the Chang Household is hardly so gullible."
He went to Xu Mingxian's room and knocked twice.
"Who is it?"
"Fellow Daoist Yunming, it's me."
The restriction dissipated and the door opened. Once Xu Chuan entered, the restriction closed again.
"What brings you here, Father?"
"Your second brother will arrive in Moonlake Commandery City today to negotiate with the Chang Household and recover all the profits from our Xu Household's shops."
"Take my Guest Elder Token and deliver it to Mingyuan. Then stay in the Commandery Seat and protect him in secret until the matter is settled before returning."
"I'll go right away."
"As it happens, I've made a few simple Jade Pendants over the past two months. They can withstand three attacks from an early Xiantian martial artist, or one full-strength strike from a mid-Xiantian martial artist.
I'll take them to Second Brother and have them brought home for the younger generation."
"You've grasped formations quite quickly. You've already learned defensive array patterns," Xu Chuan said with a faint smile.
"The Formation Path is difficult to enter, and a Spirit-Gathering Formation is