Chapter Eighty-Three: Encounter with the Man in Black

  "Grandpa, don't you trust me to handle things?" Leng Ruo Xue coquettishly said while hugging Leng Qing Tian's arm.

  "I'm fine, of course, but you should also give Grandpa a good explanation, or he'll worry." Leng Qingtian said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

  "Alright, alright."

  Cold as snow, not teasing grandpa, and from head to toe, detailed a cooperation between the two countries...

  Actually, she gained a lot from this trip to Nanyue. At least, she learned many secrets from the Emperor and Empress of Nanyue, including things about her parents that she never knew before. It turned out that the Emperor and Empress of Nanyue knew more details than even her grandfather did. This only strengthened her determination to eliminate the Xu family.

  "Xu'er, what are you planning to do?" asked Leng Qingtian with a serious expression after listening to all the things his granddaughter had said. The ambition of this Xu family was really too big, actually thinking...

  "Grandfather, aren't the Xu family still waiting for news from the other four families? I've decided to reveal these matters to those few families. If they still choose to cooperate with the Xu family, it's unlikely that their hearts will be in harmony." Cold Snow explained, she had decided to use a divisive tactic, but she was very clear that even if she didn't do so, those few families would not have been able to unite anyway.

  "What about the imperial family?" Cold Tian nodded, and then asked worriedly again. The power of the imperial family was not weaker than that of the five major families. If they all...

  "Grandfather, don't worry, the Five Great Families and the Imperial Family are on par in terms of status. For now, only the Western Xuan Country is within the Xu family's absolute control range, while the other Xu families have not yet fully succeeded. However, this time the Xu family has set a big trap." Leng Ruoxue didn't expect that those people would be so concerned about the quota for the secret realm, but the other three countries were no match for Dongchi and Nanye in terms of strength, so she wasn't too worried. The ones who were more difficult to deal with were actually those few great families.

  "Xue Er, you're still young and can't understand what the quota for the Secret Realm means to others," Leng Qing Tian said with a hint of sigh, Xue Er may not know, but he was very clear.

  For thousands of years, every time the secret realm is about to appear, there will be a reshuffle among the major families. Just like his family, the Leng family used to be one of the top families on the continent of Lingfeng, but later... declined, until this generation rose again. So, he has a very deep feeling about it.

  "Grandpa, and grandpas..."

  "Don't worry, Grandpa will send them away in a few days." Leng Qingtian understood his granddaughter's meaning, and he also knew that with his relationship with Yu Lao Tou, if he told him, the old man would definitely stay to help. But this matter... he couldn't and didn't want to drag them into it either.

  "Grandpa, I'll go take a look at Guo Yong and them." Leng Ruo Xue nodded, turned around and left Leng Qing Tian's study.

  Leng Ruo Xue arrived at the courtyard where Guo Yong brothers lived, and as soon as she entered the gate, she saw that the two brothers were arguing about something, their faces red with rage, on the verge of a fierce fight...

  "What are you doing?" Leng Ruoxue shook her head helplessly and walked up to the two of them.

  "Master Shu, you've arrived just in time. Give us your judgment!" Gu Yong said with a cold hum, casting a sideways glance at Gu Qiang before speaking directly to Leng Ruoxue.

  "What are you arguing about?" Leng Ruoxue was very curious, is this going to be a refining tool?

  "I'm going to refine the instrument, and he has to come along and interfere." Guo Qiang explained with a face full of anger.

  "The materials you provided are incorrect, of course I have to say something." Guo Yong said matter-of-factly, he didn't think he was wrong.

  "That's also my business, my materials, I want to put it out and I will!" Guo Qiang retorted immediately, shouting without showing any weakness.

  "Are you going to fight over this?!" Leng Ruoxue was speechless, these two people's combined age wasn't small, did they have to be so childish?!

  "Hmph!" The two of them both snorted and turned their heads away, ignoring each other.

  "I have something to ask you two." Leng Ruoxue changed the subject, saying to both of them that she didn't plan on getting involved in their dispute, after all, each master's habit and technique for refining equipment were different, so how could they be generalized?

  "What's going on?" "Master!" The two of them turned their heads at the same time, with a flattering expression, looking at Leng Ruo Xue.

  "Is there nothing going on with your master and the others?" asked Leng Ruoxue somewhat ambiguously, implying that they should be leaving, and the sly glances from those two made her hair stand on end, truly unbearable...

  Guo Yong and Guo Qiang looked at each other in dismay, and as soon as they heard Leng Ruo Xue's cold words, they immediately understood that she was driving them away. However, they still didn't want to leave!

  "Don't worry, Master Shifu. Shi Gong will be fine, nothing big usually happens, and small things don't require our attention." Guo Yong explained with a smile, automatically converting Leng Ruo Xue's words into concern.

  "Yes, Master Shu, don't worry about us." Guo Qiang also cooperated and said with a smile on his face.

  These two are obviously pretending to be stupid! Leng Ruoxue was speechless, what did these two want to do? To be honest, they had been living in the General's Mansion for many days, but they rarely looked for her, which made her somewhat puzzled. What was their purpose after all? This question, Leng Ruoxue had always been thinking about it.

  "Oh, in that case, you can stay here at ease, I'm leaving." Leng Ruo Xue said somewhat gloomily and turned to leave.

  Back in the courtyard of Tingxue Xuan, Leng Ruo Xue sat listlessly on a stone bench to the left of the yard.

  "Xuě ér, what's wrong with you?" The demon walked over from the other side and asked with concern, Xuě ér's mood seemed to be low!

  "I originally wanted to let Guo Yong and the others leave first, but it was all in vain. I underestimated their shamelessness." Leng Ruo Xue said with some helplessness, her beautiful face full of worries. Alas! How could she get those two people to leave on their own? She didn't want them to get involved in this matter as well, after all, the Instrument Master's Guild and the aristocratic families were different from the imperial family.

  "Why don't I just go and drive them away?" The demon suggested, Xue'er felt embarrassed, so let him be the bad guy instead.

  "Never mind, let them stay if they want to, but this matter must not be known to them." Lan Ruoxue said with a slight frown.

  "Xue Er, actually... if Master Shi Gong could also become our ally, the Xu family would be much easier to deal with." The demon reminded.

  The Alchemist Guild is a force to be reckoned with! As long as the Alchemist Guild roars, many powerful individuals will be willing to work for it. Of course, the Dan Master Guild and the Beast Tamer Guild are no exception. On the surface, these three major guilds seem to have little actual power, but their hidden strength is immeasurable.

  "Monster, I don't want them to get involved either."

  In Leng Ruoxue's heart, her impression of the Instrument Masters' Guild was much better than that of the Alchemy Masters' Guild and the Beast Tamer Masters' Guild. Moreover, she was very clear that as long as she said a word, Guo Yong and Guo Qiang would definitely not hesitate to stand on her side. However, she felt that as an Instrument Master, it was enough to just focus on refining instruments, there was no need to get involved in these troubles. Besides, she also feared that this matter might leak out, so she didn't want too many people to know about it either.

  "Xue Er, not all masters of instruments, alchemy and beast taming are as noble as you think. Most of them still value fame and wealth." The demon explained that in this world, people live for fame, wealth and status, so wanting to transcend the world is impossible, and very few can achieve it.

  "Alright then, let's go to the imperial palace!" Leng Ruoxue said, she had to go and see how that old man was doing.

  The demon nodded and sat on Yu's back with Leng Ruxue, flying towards the direction of the imperial palace.

  As soon as they arrived at the imperial palace, Yu had just landed in that secluded palace when a hoarse voice came over.

  "Little doll, you've arrived."

  "Old man, how's your preparation going?" asked Leng Ruoxue as she jumped down from Yu's back.

  "Is it almost done on your side?" The old man asked with concern. Everything is ready here, just waiting for the east wind.

  "Old man, I have something important to tell you." Leng Ruoxue said cautiously, looking around vigilantly in a low voice.

  "Little girl, don't scare me, okay? I'm old and can't take the fright." Seeing Leng Ruo Xue's cautious appearance, the old man said with some impatience, what's so important that you're being so careful?

  "Let's go inside and talk!" Ling Ruo Xue reminded, humph! Old stinker, after hearing this, you'll definitely be scared to death!

  "Let's go!" The old man led Leng Ruoxue and Yao Jiao into the inner hall.

  "Little girl, can you say it now?" The old man said somewhat anxiously. This little girl was really too naughty, deliberately teasing him, how detestable!

  Leng Ruo Xue saw that the old man was anxious, so he didn't bother to repeat himself and told the old man in detail about the news he had heard from Nan Xi country again.

  "Little doll, is this news accurate?" The old man's face showed a shocked expression, his eyes wide with incredulity as he stared at Leng Ruoxue.

  Leng Ruo Xue nodded, when the Emperor of Nan Xi Guo told them about these things, he was afraid they wouldn't believe him, so he made a contract with them. The binding power of contracts in this world is extremely terrifying, so those messages are absolutely trustworthy. Moreover, she believed that other royal families or aristocratic families would also have heard something.

  "I really didn't expect that Xu's family ambition is even bigger than I imagined." The old man said with some indignation and helplessness.

  The Xus have ambition, which is no secret among these top powers. Which power doesn't have a bit of ambition? That's unrealistic. So, as long as the Xus don't provoke them, there isn't any aristocratic family or royal family willing to take the lead in dealing with the Xus. After all, if they themselves end up suffering losses along with the Xus, the ones who will reap the benefits can only be others.

  "Didn't the signs already exist?" Leng Ruoxue said calmly, the Xu family's hands had long been stretched into various imperial families and aristocratic families, and even the universities were not spared. This time was also because of her that he exposed his ambition ahead of time.

  "What to do now?" The old man couldn't help but ask, yes, they had long known about the Xu family's unrest, but no one had ever thought of dealing with the Xu family, fearing that the Xu family's wings had already hardened. Alas! What a miscalculation!

  "It's not too late to deal with him now." Ling Ruo Xue lightly laughed and comforted, to be honest, she didn't expect that the Xu family would accidentally expose all of their power in order to get the quota for the secret realm, I don't know if this counts as losing a chicken but gaining rice.

  "Girl, does this matter... know about the other four major families?" The old man asked with some curiosity, his face full of expectation.

  "They should know something, but definitely not as clear as the Nanxi country's investigation. However, I've already sent someone to inform those few families. As for whether they believe it or not, that's not something I can decide." Leng Ruo Xue said nonchalantly. The Feng and Huo families would definitely believe her, but she couldn't guarantee the same for the Ye and Shui families. After all, both of those families had people who didn't get along with her, and they were also eager to obtain a spot in the secret realm, so it was likely that their judgment would be clouded by self-interest.

  "I'm relieved then, as long as the five major families don't join forces." The old man said with a slight touch of his chest, seeming to let out a sigh of relief.

  "It's hard to say, after all, they're targeting me now, not you guys for the time being." Leng Ruoxue said, pouring oil on the fire, also giving the old man a preventive warning, lest he take it lightly.

  "Little girl, can't you let this poor old man catch his breath?" The old man complained, staring at her with a cold gaze.

  "Old man, don't you want a spot in the Secret Realm?" Leng Ruoxue suddenly said.

  "I certainly want to, but..."

  "But you're not reassured about these descendants, are you?" Cold Snow said calmly. This old man was already at the peak of Spiritual Sovereign, so she didn't believe he stayed in the imperial palace because he couldn't break through.

  "Little girl, if there's anyone as clever as you among my descendants, I'd have retired long ago!" The old man's face was full of helplessness. This Dongchi country was the Li family's stronghold, and they couldn't afford to lose it!

  "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, can't you just let go? Do you want to control everything for the rest of your life?" Leng Ruoxue said disapprovingly. If the younger generation doesn't make an effort, no matter how much the older generation leaves behind, it will eventually be squandered.

  "Little girl, I'm not as carefree as you think." The old man sighed and said.

  "So that's why you look so old." Cold-as-Snow suddenly said.

  "What does it have to do with me being old?" The old man was stunned and asked in confusion.

  "You're worrying too much."

  “……”

  This girl is talking nonsense and making fun of him! The old man was speechless.

  "Old man, we're leaving. We'll start acting in three days," said Leng Ruoxue as she finished speaking, pulling Yao Jiao to sit on Yu's back, and with a 'whoosh', they vanished into thin air.

  Leng Ruo Xue and Yao Jiao quickly returned to Jiang Jun Fu.

  "Monster, get some rest early today!" Cold-as-Snow said to the monster at the entrance of Xue Xuan Courtyard. For the past few days, they had hardly gotten a good rest.

  "Xue Er, I will miss you." The demon nodded and said with deep feeling.

  "Go back to your room and sleep." Leng Ruo Xue said as she walked towards the room, the door closing immediately after her words fell.

  Xue Er, Xue Er, why are you so unromantic? Looking at the tightly closed door, the rogue couldn't help but curse in his heart.

  The three days passed quickly.

  In the dead of night, Leng Ruoxue and Yao Jie arrived at the imperial palace to meet with the old man.

  "Old man, you and the Emperor go one way, I'll go with Mo sister another way. We must catch them all in one net, don't let any fish slip through." Leng Ruoxue reminded, and handed them a bottle of Dan medicine, which was her new concoction, its effect far surpassing the one she gave to Fu Mingzhu before.

  Tonight, their goal is to eliminate the Xu family's claws inserted in Dongchi country. Moreover, Grandpa Lin will also take action at the same time, and his grandfather has gone to Fengtian Academy to assist them.

  "Don't worry, I won't let a single fish go." Li Yuan guaranteed, threatening the person who threatened his rule, how could he possibly let him live in this world.

  After assigning tasks, Leng Ruo Xue and others split into two groups and rushed straight to the Mo and Fu families.

  Leng Ruo Xue and Yao Jiao, along with Mo Ying Yue, soon arrived at the Mo residence.

  Under Mo Yingyue's lead, the three of them soon arrived at the main house where the master of the Mo family resided.

  "Sister Mo, how are you planning to deal with them?" asked Leng Ruoxue in a soft voice before entering the house. She had arranged for Mo Yingyue to come to the Mo residence precisely because she hoped that Mo Yingyue would handle the family matters herself.

  "I want to make them wish they were dead." Mo Yingyue said with a tone full of hatred. In fact, in the Mo family, she hated the most was the master grandfather, and secondly, her uncle who thought he was superior and arrogant. However, she knew that now was not the time to kill them, their purpose tonight was just to control them.

  "Let's go in now." Leng Ruo Xue nodded and said, she liked it better than life or death.

  "Good." Mo Yingyue took the lead in pushing open the door and was the first to walk into the house.

  "You... how did you come?" Mo's master, who was just about to go to bed, said with some surprise. His queen's granddaughter had returned, and yet no one had reported it to him. Hmph! These servants were truly too incompetent.

  "What? Grandfather, can't I come?" Mo Yingyue said lightly, with a sweet smile still on her face.

  "Of course not, my intention is, how could I let someone spread the news." Mo Jia Zhuang suppressed his anger and said, humph! If it weren't for the master wanting him to avoid conflict with the imperial family for now, would he be speaking so politely?

  "It's too late for the report." Mo Yingyue explained that the guards and servants in the courtyard were probably all asleep by now.

  "So what brings you to see Grandfather?" asked Mo Jia Zhu, sitting up straight in his chair with an air of importance.

  "It's something."

  "Oh, and who are these two?" Mo's gaze suddenly shifted to Leng Ruxue and Yao Jiao, these two people's cultivation he couldn't see through? It was really too strange, he was after all a Spirit Emperor! So, he would never believe that these two seemingly under 20 years old beautiful youngsters' strength could surpass his.

  "Grandfather wanted to see Leng Ruoxue, didn't he? I've brought her here." Mo Yingyue said with a hint of a smile.

  "Are you Cold-as-Snow?" Mo's master was shocked in his heart, had Cold-as-Snow's strength already become so powerful that even he couldn't see through it?

  "Yes." Leng Ruoxue nodded lightly and casually glanced at the master of the Mo family.

  This Mo family master was about seventy years old, with an ordinary appearance, but a pair of extremely sharp eyes. His strength was also decent, being a high-ranking Spiritual Emperor. However, her impression of this Mo family master wasn't very good, and she really disliked the calculating gaze in his eyes that seemed to be constantly scheming.

  "It's actually Miss Leng, I apologize for my mistake. I've long admired your great name, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to meet you yet." Mr. Mo said with a flattering face.

  "Let's get down to business, Sister Mo!" Leng Ruoxue said, without even bothering to glance at Mo Jiazheng, and instead spoke directly to Mo Yingyue.

  "Grandfather, I've come today in the hope that you'll relinquish your position as head of the household." Mo Yingyue nodded slightly, her tone very calm, as if what she said was an extremely ordinary matter.

  "What...what did you say?" Mo's master was so angry that his old face turned iron-green, shouting loudly, it was really unfilial, how could he have such a granddaughter.

  "I want Grandfather to step down as the head of the family." Mo Yingyue repeated patiently, knowing that Old Ancestor and Ruo Xue had decided not to kill anyone from the Mo family because of her face, so she couldn't let them down. The Mo family, she must take control of it herself.

  "You unfilial grandson, come! Get her out of here, from now on, the Mo family does not welcome her!" The master of the Mo family shouted directly outside, his whole body trembling with rage, still panting heavily.

  "Grandpa, calm down." Mo Yingyue said with concern, directly walking forward and pinching her grandfather's mouth shut, tossing a pellet of medicine into it.

  "Cough! What did you feed me?" Mo's master panicked, clutching his throat and trying to spit out the medicine, but the elixir had already dissolved as soon as it entered his mouth and was gone.

  "Don't worry, it's not poison, you won't die." Mo Yingyue said casually, unaware of how long Yu Xue's medicine could last and whether she should take a few more pills.

  "Sister Mo, one pill is enough." Cold-as-Snow saw through Mo Yingyue's thoughts and said with some amusement. Her newly refined Soul-Confusing Pill, unless there was an antidote, would render the person completely unconscious.

  "Oh, Grandfather, now you're going to pass on the position of head of the household to me!" Mo Yingyue said with a hint of curiosity.

  "Alright, I'll pass it on." Mo's master said obediently.

  "Announce this news early tomorrow morning. If there are any objections, eliminate them all." Mo Yingyue ordered before leaving the main room of the Mo family.

  "Alright, opponents, kill without pardon!" Mo's master cruelly agreed.

  The three of them immediately left Mo Jia Zhu's room, and afterwards, Mo Ying Yue separately used the same method on her uncle and several elderly members of the family. In less than an hour, the entire Mo family was under Mo Ying Yue's control.

  "Sister Mo, I didn't expect you to be so black-bellied." On the way out of the Mo's house, Leng Ruo Xue laughed and teased, Sister Mo was really too evil, actually ordering Mo Chang He to never touch any woman for the rest of his life.

  "Hmph! For him, there's no punishment worse than this." Mo Yingyue explained with a smile, her uncle's greatest hobby was women, and to not let him touch women for the rest of his life would be absolutely more unbearable than killing him, however...

  "Will they really listen to me all the time?" Mo Yingyue couldn't help but ask, was Yueshan exaggerating about this medicine?

  "Of course! Eldest sister Mo, you have to trust me. I'm an honest and good girl, I won't deceive or cheat anyone, absolutely not!" Cold Snow patted her chest in guarantee.

  The demon beside quietly listened to the conversation between the two women, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, and his heart was even more restless. Women are really too scary, in the future, he must not let these two women meet often, otherwise men will be in danger!

  After arriving at the gathering point, Leng Ruo Xue only then discovered that her team was actually the fastest. Would Grandfather and Old Man be alright? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

  After waiting for a while, Leng Qingtian and Lin Liang also arrived.

  "Grandfather, Lin Grandfather, why are you so slow?" asked Leng Ruo Xue with some puzzlement.

  "Xue Er, we encountered a group of black-clad men at the Chen's house. If it wasn't for me and Old Man Lin joining forces, we wouldn't have made it out," Leng Qing Tian explained.

  "Black-clad man?" At the mention of black-clad man, Leng Ruoxue couldn't help but think of the black-clad man they had encountered before the academy's trial.

  "Something's wrong, let's go to the Fu's house quickly!" Leng Ruo Xue suddenly said. Grandfather and the others have encountered black-clothed men, and it's possible that the old man's team has also encountered them. Moreover, the strength of the old man's team is far inferior to that of grandfather and the others!

  "What if something happens to Ruo Xue and Yuan He Lao Zu Zong?" Mo Ying Yue asked somewhat anxiously.

  "We'll hurry over, it's urgent." Leng Ruo Xue comforted, as Mo Ying Yue's tense hands and feet felt somewhat chilly.

  When Leng Ruoxue and the others arrived at the Fu residence, it was just as they had thought. The old man was indeed fighting with several black-clothed men. The old man's few spiritual beasts were also released, one of which was protecting Li Yuan who had already been injured, while the others were entangled in battle with the other black-clothed men...

  "I'm telling you, old man, how come you're so unlucky? You've encountered even more black-clothed men than we have!" Seeing the high-and-mighty ancestor looking so wretched, Cold Wind Heaven's good mood couldn't help but tease, this old man has actually encountered twice as many black-clothed men as they have!

  "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and help!" The old man, dodging the black-clad attackers from left to right, shouted angrily. He couldn't let any of these people get away, otherwise tonight's plan would be a failure. However, seeing Leng Qingtian and the others arrive, his hanging heart finally put down.

  "I'm here!" Leng Qingtian jumped high into the air, floating in mid-air, and casually released Lei Xiao.

  "Lei Xiao, go help those few beasts!" Leng Qing Tian ordered, and directly joined the battle. His participation instantly alleviated the old man's pressure.

  "Yes, master." Lei Xiao replied, lightly flapping his wings and directly pouncing towards a man in black clothes.

  "Yuan, how are you?" At this time, Mo Yingyue had already forgotten about the danger and was worriedly running to Li Yuan's side, with tears in her eyes, anxiously asking.

  "Dear, I'm fine, don't worry." Li Yuan hugged his beloved wife tightly and comforted her.

  "After losing so much blood, how can nothing be wrong." Mo Yingyue didn't believe Li Yuan's words at all, and tears streamed down her face.

  "It's not all my blood, really, trust me." Li Yuan said with some helplessness.

  Suddenly, Li Yuan only felt a flash of cold light in front of his eyes, and without thinking, he tightly wrapped Mo Yingyue into his arms, and stood in front of her...

  Digression

  Thank you, dear 1181589825, for the diamond.