The Sun Household's Scheme

Seeing Tang Yao take half a step away, Sun Yin's outstretched hand froze in midair, her nails digging into her palm.

Never in her life had anyone avoided her so blatantly. She wanted to fly into a rage on the spot, but then remembered something and gritted her teeth, holding it in. She smiled awkwardly. "I'm quite interested in sword cultivators, but I'm a talisman cultivator."

"Talisman cultivators are great! What's so good about sword cultivators? Lugging some lousy sword around every day, hacking at people?" Chu Song spread his hands.

Tang Yao wholeheartedly agreed. Compared to scattering talismans like a celestial maiden showering flowers before, all the hacking she had done as a sword cultivator lately had worn her out.

"Exactly!" Tang Yao turned toward Chu Song and nodded vigorously, looking as though she were saying, Brother, I get you.

Chu Song froze for a second. "...Exactly??"

Wait, what exactly was Tang Yao agreeing with? Wasn't he the Azure Cloud Sect's head disciple??

Did the Azure Cloud Sect know their eldest senior brother was like this?

Chu Song looked at Tang Yao as though she were mad. Shaking his head, he edged over to Sun Yin and whispered, "I think sword cultivators are also prone to Qi Deviation."

Sun Yin: "..."

How was she supposed to carry out her task now?

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Brother Chu, do you think you're speaking very quietly?"

Tang Yao suddenly appeared behind them, smiling. Who was Chu Song taking a jab at? Wasn't she the only sword cultivator here?

Chu Song awkwardly rubbed his nose, then gazed at the sky.

But the sudden voice startled Sun Yin, who had been caught in the crossfire. She shuddered, then turned to see Tang Yao's smile that did not reach her eyes.

Sun Yin: "..." She really needed a moment to recover.

"Miss Sun, what's wrong...?" Chu Song asked, puzzled.

Tang Yao looked over as well, asking with concern, "Are you all right?"

Only after a long while did Sun Yin manage a faint smile and shake her head at them. "I'm fine. The sun has made me a little dizzy."

After repeatedly confirming that Sun Yin was all right, Tang Yao led her to the pavilion.

Although she had swindled the Sun Household, it would still look bad if anything happened to Miss Sun at the Tang residence.

The three sat down in the pavilion. Tang Yao instructed a few servants to fetch some cooling tea. Before long, two servants brought it over, and Tang Yao pushed the tea toward Sun Yin, gesturing for her to drink some.

Sun Yin picked up the cooling tea with a show of reluctance and took a small sip, but as she did, she noticed that Tang Yao wore a serious expression and kept watching her drink?

"Young Master Tang, what is this about?"

Tang Yao smiled and waved a hand to indicate that nothing was wrong. What else could she say?

That she was afraid Sun Yin would faint at the Tang Household, and that the Sun Household would take issue with it?

Tang Yao simply smiled without saying a word.

Sun Yin: "..."

Sun Yin returned her smile.

"Miss Sun." Beside her, Chu Song asked in bewilderment, "Why does your smile look worse than crying?"

"Hey! Miss Sun, why did you faint!"

"..."

Tang Yao stood up with a frown. "Someone, come quickly!" She waved anxiously. "What are you dawdling for? Hurry!"

A group swiftly gathered around Sun Yin. Two maids helped her up, and Sun Yin swayed slightly.

"Quick, help Miss Sun to a guest room to rest!"

Sun Yin offered no objection when she heard this. She nodded with her eyes closed. It would be better to leave this place first, but then she remembered the task her grandfather had given her...

"...Miss Sun has fainted again!"

"Help Miss Sun back first!" Tang Yao directed the maids, adding worriedly, "Fetch the household physician!"

Only Tang Yao and Chu Song remained in the pavilion.

Tang Yao's gaze was serious. "I think this is your fault." She continued her analysis. "Who tells a girl her smile looks worse than crying?"

Chu Song: "..."

It was all because his mouth had been too quick, but then he reconsidered. "I think you suddenly appearing behind us and saying that had something to do with it too!"

Tang Yao covered her forehead. It seemed she really had seen Miss Sun shudder.

"Let's go check on her."

With that, the two followed the maids to the guest room. Seeing the household physician enter, they were just about to follow him when a maid stopped them. "Young masters, please wait outside for a moment."

They nodded and began standing guard at the door. Just then, a servant ran over. "The household head says the banquet is about to begin and asks the three of you to come."

"Miss Sun is feeling unwell and resting." Tang Yao sighed, then turned to Chu Song helplessly. "Let's head over first."

Chu Song agreed. "Let's go..."

The banquet was held in the Tang Household's largest courtyard. Dozens of tables stood in orderly rows, each laid with exquisite porcelain and silver chopsticks. Cups and tally sticks crisscrossed, and guests gathered like clouds.

Servants bustled through the courtyard, carrying all manner of delicacies.

"The Tang Household can really hold its head high this time," one guest murmured.

"Hmph, it's merely a junior who happened upon a fortuitous opportunity. What can that change?" another voice replied disdainfully.

"That may be true, but the Chu Household's head came today too. Who knows whether the two households will form an alliance in the future?"

"Impossible. There has never been an alliance among the five great households before."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, but when Tang Yao arrived, they all paused for a moment and turned toward her in unison. Most of them had come today for Tang Yao.

Tang Yao headed straight for the main table. Not seeing his granddaughter, Sun Yuanshan grew a little anxious and asked, "Wasn't Yinyin with you?"

Tang Yao: "...She's feeling a little unwell and resting in a guest room."

Chu Song sat down alongside Tang Yao. Afraid that Old Master Sun would worry, he added, "It might be because the weather is rather hot."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yuanshan actually looked a little angry. He took a sip of wine. "That girl..."

Once everyone saw Tang Yao sit down, they came over with wine cups in hand.

"Young Master Tang, to achieve so much at such a young age-you truly are a heaven-gifted genius!"

"I heard the Azure Cloud Sect's sect master intends to pass his position to you, Young Master Tang. Is that true?"

Tang Yao: ? How are these rumors getting more and more outrageous?

How come I don't know Sect Master Ren intends to pass his position to me?

For now, she could only respond to them one by one, smiling politely.

Just then-

Supported by a maid, Sun Yin also arrived at the banquet. "You can go. You don't need to support me anymore."

Tang Yao's eyes lit up when she saw Sun Yin. She immediately used this as an excuse to leave the crowd showering her with flattery.

"Miss Sun!" Tang Yao strode straight over. "Are you feeling any better?"

Seeing Tang Yao charging straight toward her, Sun Yin still felt a little afraid.

In the distance, Sun Yuanshan stroked his graying beard at the sight, revealing a satisfied smile.

Her small face pale and her forehead dotted with fine beads of sweat, Sun Yin glanced at her grandfather. At the thought of what she would have to do shortly, her vision began to darken again, and she wished she could faint once more.

She drew a deep breath, steadied her emotions, pressed her lips together, and chatted with Tang Yao.

Just consider it all for the Sun Household!

While no one was paying attention, Sun Yin threw caution to the wind. She suddenly collapsed into Tang Yao's arms. "Ah! Young Master Tang, you!!"

Tang Yao stared in astonishment at Sun Yin in her arms.

Tang Yao: "?" What are you doing?

Staging an accident to extort me?!

Sun Yin: "..." She did not want to do this either.

For a moment, the banquet fell so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard. Every guest's gaze converged on the two of them in unison.