Chapter 142: Returning Home
January 18th, Saturday, the 24th day of the 12th lunar month, Little New Year.
Northern Myanmar, Old Street, another morning.
The overall situation in Old Street has stabilized. Whether it’s the visible order of life or the underground world’s structure, they have gradually returned to normal, and several smuggling operations from overseas have reconnected.
For the northern Burmese region, such changes are perfectly normal.
Rather, the small towns around Old Street have experienced unavoidable chaos due to the reshuffling of local interests, with skirmishes erupting between various armed factions, social unrest intensifying, and refugees appearing. However, to Luo family and Xiang Zuxing, these matters are trivial, or rather, the disturbances of the mundane world have nothing to do with them.
The disposal of war spoils is proceeding in an orderly manner. The first batch of cash converted for Wanyue is only twenty million yuan. After all, the Luo family is merely a declining viscount family, and its basic interests have shrunk within the borders of China over the past few decades. It will take a month or two to settle accounts for spoils worth over three hundred million.
Regarding this, Wanyue is not particularly concerned. Her attention is mainly focused on the unstable hibernation process of Meng Huai, whose condition fluctuates wildly, with his pulse sometimes dropping to thirty and sometimes spiking to seventy or eighty. At one point, he even experienced an embarrassing case of hematuria, which has left Jiang Yan exhausted over the last few days.
Fortunately, there haven’t been any more dangerous signs in other critical health indicators; otherwise, Jiang Yan would worry that Meng Huai might fail his advancement and die during hibernation.
These days coincide with Jiang Yan’s menstrual period, and this internal and external turmoil has leaked pheromones, making several young knights stationed at the Hongtian Entertainment Center feel restless for the past few days.
A modified Hummer off-road vehicle stopped at the entrance of the Hongtian Entertainment Center. Wanyue stood in front with Jiang Yan, watching Dr. Lu and two members of the Luo family lift Meng Huai into the car.
“The conditions here are too poor; he can only be sent back to the country for now. His identity issues will be helped by the Wang family… Oh, from now on, you might have to call him Li Huai, a common name—you probably won’t find fewer than ninety thousand of them in the country.”
Everything is ready. Wanyue walked to Jiang Yan’s side, gently patted her arm, and smiled, “Get in the car and go back with him. By the way, remember to hand this over to Old Jin and let him figure out what it is.”
Saying this, Wanyue took out a small box and opened it, revealing several unknown vials inside.
Seeing Wanyue’s serious expression, Jiang Yan’s anxiety was palpable as she tucked the box away: “Sister Wanyue, Dr. Lu said his brain’s nervous system is severely damaged due to the side effects of many unknown drugs. Is he never going to get better…?”
“Unclear. For professional matters, we should leave it to professionals. It’s all up to Old Jin to perform well… I can’t give you any comfort right now; you need to mentally prepare yourself.”
Wanyue smiled helplessly, reaching out to smooth Jiang Yan’s hair like an elder would. This extremely intimate gesture gradually relaxed Jiang Yan’s tense mood.
“Sister Wanyue, are you really not going back with us?”
Jiang Yan opened the car door but suddenly turned back and lowered her voice.
“The Luo family informed me yesterday that the three families suffered a big loss at the Liang family a few days ago, and two viscounts were injured. Strange things have appeared; I plan to go take a look… I might not be able to return in time to celebrate the New Year’s Eve with you.”
Wanyue lit a cigarette, wearing an indifferent smile, but the more relaxed her demeanor, the more worried Jiang Yan became.
The more Jiang Yan got close to Wanyue during these days, the more she felt that the seemingly calm and confident exterior of the latter concealed burdens and pressures that were hard to comprehend.
At times, Jiang Yan also wondered, with Wanyue’s strength at half a viscount, and still just a minor Marquis of Hyacinth, was it really necessary for her to worry about the grand environment of the blood clan world to protect herself and Xiao Ta?
Perhaps the gap between herself and Wanyue isn’t about strength or rank, but about mindset. Maybe she is still far from being able to genuinely share Sister Wanyue’s burdens…
Jiang Yan silently nodded and said no more.
If there’s no significant issue, they can take it slow; there’s no need to rush.
Wanyue patted Jiang Yan’s face lightly and turned toward the entrance of the Hongtian Entertainment Center. The few little thugs guarding the door all nodded and bowed, wearing flattering grins.
“This girl’s fate is intertwined with that of Young Master Hao to such an extent that the world has become this small…”
Gently shaking her head to dismiss some of her inner feelings of helplessness, Wanyue vanished into the crowd of the casino.
…
The countdown to the Lunar New Year has begun. Amid the joyous atmosphere, the city’s last bits of hustle and bustle are rapidly slowing down, becoming more distracted, replaced by another kind of urgent anxiety to unwind.
As New Year’s Eve approaches, the number of customers arriving at the store decreases day by day. Today is also Little New Year, making the Jinhe Club especially empty. In the entire first-floor hall, only a few Hyacinth girls are dazing about, in a state of extreme desolation.
A young woman dressed in a fur-lined winter coat and jeans walked through the door, and because she wasn’t carrying the magnetic card exclusive to members, the receptionist immediately received a prompt.
“Sorry, miss, we are a members-only club…”
Xiao Mei, who had just joined the club for less than a month, hurried forward, politely blocking the young woman’s path.
As she approached within a meter, Xiao Mei’s expression began to change, her face a bit tense and showing signs of fear. She sensed a weak knightly aura emanating from the other party that was far beyond that of her newly initiated lower servant.
A member of the Hermit Alliance? She looks somewhat familiar…
Xiao Dong, who was patrolling the hall, walked over, cleverly blocking Xiao Mei behind her, and smiled brightly at the strikingly familiar woman in front of her.
“Um… may I ask if Sister Wanyue is back? I was sent here by Elder Chu of the Hermit Alliance.”
Compared to a few months ago, Yao Li had completely toned down, now slightly lowering her head as she softly spoke to the Hyacinth knight standing at the same level as her.
“Oh, a member of the Hermit Alliance; I think we’ve met once… but I’m sorry, Sister Wanyue is still out of town.”
Xiao Dong took another look at the Hermit Alliance messenger before smiling and turning to point at a certain private room on the second floor. “How about you go chat with Sister Xiao Ai?”
“Sister Xiao Ai? Is Brother Zhao not here…?”
Yao Li glanced around, suddenly realizing that today’s Jinhe Club seemed a bit different from usual—not only were there no guests, but that perennial Hyacinth steward was also absent.
“Brother Zhao is currently advancing to Baron; Sister Xiao Ai is in charge here right now.”
Xiao Dong smiled, her tone carrying a hint of pride. Even Xiao Mei, who had been lowering her head obediently, couldn’t help but straighten her back a little at this moment.
“Zhao… Brother Zhao is advancing?”
Yao Li was taken aback, turning her gaze towards the direction of the employee passage, unable to believe her ears. For years in the Hermit Alliance, she’d grown tired of hearing the rumors about Zhao Peng being stuck at half-barony just because he followed Sister Wanyue.
Now that Zhao Peng had broken through that barrier and started advancing to Baron, and everything seemed to be going smoothly, Yao Li felt envious.
Meanwhile, her former teammate, Wei Jun, was taken down by two Hyacinth girls and she nearly lost an arm. Those psychological scars have yet to fully fade.
Whatever words she had, she could share them with Sister Xiao Ai, or maybe come back in a few days…
Xiao Dong suddenly felt that the weather today was particularly nice, especially seeing the once arrogant demeanor of the woman in front of her had turned to something much more subdued; it felt satisfying.
Yao Li lightly sighed and regained her calm, forcing out a bitter smile and nodding gently.
…
In a luxurious private room on the second floor, Sister Xiao Ai, embodying a fashionable urban professional woman, welcomed Yao Li.
On the coffee table was a pot of black tea and some snacks. Considering the existing grievances and barriers between the Hyacinth and the Hermit Alliance, there naturally needed to be some introductory remarks filled with feminine intrigue.
Only black tea? I remember you, like my great-grandfather, prefer green tea.
Sister Xiao Ai casually warmed her teacup, intentionally or otherwise letting a hint of her aura leak out.
Sister Xiao Ai, have you reached intermediate knight status?
If Zhao Peng’s promotion brought Yao Li an immense shock,
then witnessing this woman who once had a much lower evaluation than herself surpassing her now fully crushed whatever last bit of superiority she held.
“Yeah, I just reached it last week. How about you? Still stuck as a lower knight?”
Despite usually being a quiet and reserved person, once Xiao Ai decided to play mind games, it came naturally to her, even for a woman in her fifties.
Still, only she knew her true situation—merely having a reservoir filled up before breaking through the growth shackles with some rare viscount blood, and how long she would take to push through to the next level was still unknown.
Xiao Ai was now just waiting for Zhao Peng’s successful advancement to Baron so she could be opportunely married to him; any thoughts of further growth no longer mattered.
Yao Li naturally had no idea about her thoughts and could only force a smile and evade the topic.
“Sister Wanyue is not here, and Brother Teng is in hibernation. You can tell me anything.”
Xiao Ai held up her black tea and sipped comfortably, her eyes narrowing with a smile.
Elder Chu plans to join forces with the Wang family and the Zhou family to launch a major crackdown on the domestic blood clan, primarily targeting the Black Dragon Society.
Steadying her mind, Yao Li hurriedly stated the purpose of her visit: “The meeting is set for the eighth day of the first lunar month, depending on whether Sister Wanyue can attend.”
“Are you referring to the incident where Sister Wu was injured in S City a month ago? The Black Dragon Society has been poking around; they must have found something behind the scenes…”
Such a significant matter was generally outside of Xiao Ai’s purview, but now, as the representative of Sister Wanyue at Hyacinth, she had to approach it with caution and seriousness.
“That’s beyond my purview; please convey that through Sister Xiao Ai.”
Yao Li quickly wrapped up her task in a few sentences and, not wishing to stay and hear any more tedious chatter, planned to leave.
“Um, Yao Li, wait a moment…”
Xiao Ai seemed to suddenly think of something, hurrying to stop her, a trace of tension on her face. “How’s Great-Grandpa’s health? Grandpa seems to be nearing the end, but he’s still in good spirits… You should go see him next time he conducts a few meetings.”
After Yao Li said this, she stood up.
Everyone in Hyacinth calls her Sister Xiao Ai, but few know her full name: Chu Yina, the direct descendant of Old Master Chu. By careful calculation, she is indeed a cousin of Yao Li, distantly related but significantly older.
“Sister Xiao Ai! My sister texted me! She’ll be back in a few days!”
The door to the private room burst open, and Jiang Yao rushed in, holding her phone high.
Yikes! Almost bumped into Jiang Yao! Yao Li instantly felt a strange aura radiating from her.
Though it wasn’t the chaotic aura typical of higher blood clans above Baron level, the sense of majesty and oppression embedded in that aura was comparable to that of a Baron, making her shudder.
In just a few months, she already reached half-barony? No, she’s far more intimidating than half-barony!
At this moment, Yao Li finally understood, nearly bending down like she was avoiding pestilence, and quickly left the room.
“Hey? It’s her… What is she doing here? Ha, she’s connected!”
Jiang Yao’s carefree voice wasn’t loud or soft, but that made Yao Li, who was about to descend the spiral staircase, stagger, feeling embarrassed, angry, and frightened all at once.
“Only Xiao Yan came back alone. What about Sister Wanyue?”
Having likely caught onto some key details in the conversation, Xiao Ai was momentarily stunned and quickly stood up.
“I’m not sure; Sister just said Sister Wanyue needed to go to Dong G Province and will probably return after New Year’s Eve.”
Jiang Yao typically couldn’t care less about Wanyue’s whereabouts, delivering the information casually.
“It’s good that your sister can come back earlier… Xiao Yao, I know that aside from Sister Wanyue and Xiao Yan, we can’t keep you in check. I heard that you secretly fought with He Jianqing early yesterday morning?”
Xiao Ai sighed, stepping in front of Jiang Yao and gently pinching her nose.
If it weren’t for Jin Ye’s reminder this morning, I wouldn’t have known about such matters!
“Ah? How did the Wang family know I went out to meet He Qingqing?”
Jiang Yao was taken aback, her face reddening as she mumbled for a long time, “I was just curious about what that Japanese aunt was really up to… Tch, it’s not like I wasn’t tempted by Zhong Jing’s body. How ridiculous…”
“Heh, actually, Baron Britannia isn’t that great; I defeated her in less than half an hour, oh, and that cat too!”
As soon as she said this, Xiao Ai froze. She had seen some arrogant people, but never someone so prideful as Jiang Yao.
Regardless, there’s still a qualitative strength gap between Barons and knights; even a half-barrier Baron would face considerable suppression from a Baron.
Although He Qingqing was considered to have the weakest individual combat power among Britons, defeating her
