Chapter 133: Fanning the Flames

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With a trembling hand, Xianyu Qing tapped the send button.

When she came to her senses, she quickly retracted the message.

On Jiang Mohe’s side, he stared at the small chat window that displayed: [77 retracted a message due to a typo].

A typo?

Jiang Mohe couldn’t quite explain why his heart felt oddly hollow.

After waiting for a long while, the small window finally showed: [Come back safely.]

[Yes.]

Upon receiving this reply, Xianyu Qing lay back on her hospital bed, pulling the blanket over her head, her mind a tangled mess.

She didn’t understand why she had sent that message impulsively, nor whether Jiang Mohe had even seen it…

Jiang Mohe pocketed his phone, stood up, and walked to the cave entrance, gazing out into the pitch-black night.

The entire mountain forest was damp, cold, and silent; occasionally, the hoots of owls echoed, mingling with the low moan of the wind.

Suddenly, a slender cigarette was held before his eyes. He glanced sideways at Aqi and took it.

Aqi also stuffed one into his mouth, pulled out a lighter, lit Jiang Mohe’s first, then his own.

Aqi wasn’t heavily addicted to smoking, but on rainy nights, old wounds that had never fully healed would ache faintly, making it hard to sleep without a couple of cigarettes.

Seeing Jiang Mohe take a puff but then holding the cigarette between his fingers without smoking more, Aqi smiled, “Not used to the taste? This is a special blend unique to Xiao City, a bit lighter.”

“It’s alright,” Jiang Mohe replied, taking another drag.

He was indifferent to flavors. In fact, he didn’t particularly enjoy smoking. It was just that the scent of smoke could mask their own unusual aura, making it harder for enemies to discern their identities.

Aqi didn’t understand this subtlety but, seeing Jiang Mohe didn’t mind, went on to explain the origin of the cigarette.

“The biggest family in Xiao City is the Nangong family, because more than four centuries ago, it was the fiefdom of a prince from the Nangong family, though with a different surname.

Now, the household is more complicated. It’s not just the Nangong family but also several related noble families connected by blood.

Due to some early turmoil, only the boss’s seventh uncle and his descendants remain alive in the Nangong family. Our mission this time, assigned by the boss, is to escort the eldest son of that seventh uncle’s branch to the imperial city.”

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Jiang Mohe was already well-informed about the background of the Nangong family; he even knew in detail how Madam Nangong had eliminated several other scheming uncles and aunts in earlier years.

Because this mission concerned Xianyu Qing’s safety, he had gone to gather intelligence before setting out.

The seventh uncle, Nangong Ao, had two sons and a daughter. The eldest son died in a plane crash along with Nangong Ao’s parents; the youngest daughter was estranged from her second brother and had married into another noble family in Xiao City, rarely returning to the Nangong household.

As for the second son, his two sons were not to be underestimated! Secretly building their own power bases back home and colluding with outsiders, they actively opposed their own family.

Even Nangong Ao, the current head, found it impossible to recruit people to escort them to the imperial city.

Of course, the seventh uncle surely interfered in these matters!

Before departure, Nangong Ao instructed Aqi and the other two to cooperate with other noble families loyal to Madam Nangong in Xiao City to pressure the seventh uncle and retrieve the family members quickly.

But to Jiang Mohe, Nangong Ao had only one sentence: “If you can’t bring them back, make sure they can’t do anything.”

Yet, before they had even approached Xiao City, those people eagerly came to block them, evidently well-prepared.

Jiang Mohe flicked the unfinished cigarette to the ground and stamped it out, then said to Aqi, “Before entering Xiao City, they will send more people to stop us. After that, I will split off and operate separately.”

Aqi nodded, “That’s better. When you enter Xiao City, just your identity alone will bring you a lot of trouble.”

In the territory of these otherworldly families, no outsider was allowed to enter freely. Those people disregarded even Nangong Ao’s orders, let alone recognizing Jiang Mohe.

———

At dawn, the Nangong mansion received an unexpected visitor.

Nangong Xin, having been confined at home for several days after being scolded by Madam Nangong over recent headlines, was finally allowed out when she received a call from Xiao Zhiying.

In a few days, it would be the anniversary of Xiao Zhiyun’s birth mother’s death. Usually, when her health permitted, Xiao Zhiyun would return home with her family to pay respects.

This year, her condition was poor, and she was staying at the Nangong mansion. The Xiao family couldn’t see her and had to contact her through Nangong Ao.

So, Xiao Zhiying came to see Nangong Xin, hoping she could take her to the mansion to meet Xiao Zhiyun.

Nangong Xin didn’t understand her elder brother’s actions. Just after photos of cohabitation with Xianyu Qing surfaced, he brought Xiao Zhiyun into the household.

Although she was displeased with Xianyu Qing, Xiao Zhiyun was at least less frail.

Of course, Nangong Xin had another motive: if Xianyu Qing was with her brother, Xi Junle wouldn’t be so obsessed with her.

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So Nangong Xin accepted Xiao Zhiying’s request and accompanied her to the Nangong mansion.

Xiao Gao stopped Xiao Zhiying at the door. “Sorry, the young master ordered that no one is allowed to visit Miss Xiao Er.”

Nangong Xin’s almond-shaped eyes flashed angrily. “Why can’t she enter? She’s Xiao Zhiyun’s sister. Is it not allowed to visit one’s own sister?”

“Well…” Xiao Gao was clearly troubled. “We dare not disobey the young master’s orders!”

“My brother wouldn’t be so unreasonable. If he blames anyone, say it was me who brought her in!” Nangong Xin declared and forcibly dragged Xiao Zhiying inside.

As soon as they stepped through the mansion gates, Xiao Gao immediately called Cui Hao to inform Nangong Ao.

Xiao Zhiyun was strolling in the garden, with Su Cha standing guard outside the flower beds. Upon seeing Nangong Xin and Xiao Zhiying, she felt a headache coming on.

Every time the third young lady came, it was never for good reasons!

Nangong Xin was displeased at Su Cha. “What, you’ve stopped serving Qingqing and started attending to Miss Xiao Er now?”

The tone implied that Su Cha was a traitor who abandoned her original mistress for personal gain.

Xiao Zhiying chuckled lightly beside her. “Now my sister is the young master’s beloved. Who doesn’t pamper her?”

Ignoring their sarcastic remarks, Su Cha replied calmly, “Third Miss, if you’re here to see Miss Xiao, I’m sorry! The young master has instructed that no one can disturb Miss Xiao without his permission.”

Nangong Xin was furious. “Don’t you want to stay in the Nangong family? Acting like you’ve got the authority! Get out of the way!”

Su Cha remained composed. “I only obey the young master. If he thinks I’m wrong and wants to expel me, I won’t argue.”

“You!” Nangong Xin nearly exploded with rage.

Xiao Zhiying fanned the flames. “You’re so stubborn! The young master said no one can disturb my sister, but that doesn’t mean no one is allowed to see her. Is it that my sister doesn’t want to see us, and that’s why you’re blocking us?”

Nangong Xin immediately shouted, “Does Xiao Zhiyun think she’s the one in charge of the Nangong family? Grandma hasn’t even agreed to this!”