"Don't even get me started—I really did run away from home," Chai Yanyan said, biting her straw. "There’s a mountain of nonsense going on back there. It’s a headache."
They were currently in a café after a full afternoon of shopping. The table was surrounded by bags of all sizes. Chai Yanyan, exhausted from walking, had kicked off her shoes under the table and was sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
Zhu Yinxiao clearly had better stamina. Despite walking for hours in high heels, his feet didn't seem to ache at all.
Ever since they sat down, people nearby had been casting frequent glances their way. It wasn't surprising; with two beauties—one pure and the other glamorous—sitting together, they were bound to attract attention. However, Anping’s only feeling at the moment was that his arms were about to fall off. These two had spent the entire afternoon on a shopping spree, not only blowing through Chai Yanyan’s New Year’s money but also maxing out Zhu Yinxiao’s credit card. And he was the one who had to carry every single bag.
Zhu Yinxiao flatly refused to help. "I just got my nails done. Be a man and help a girl out."
Anping looked at Zhu Yinxiao, who was more than a head taller than him, and thought to himself: *Aren't you also a six-foot-tall man? And you're the one wearing heels!*
Fortunately, Zhu Yinxiao bought clothes based on size charts; otherwise, Anping really wouldn't have known which gender's fitting room the man should enter.
"I only received the letter from Fengdu yesterday and gave it to my brother this morning. You showed up right on his heels," Zhu Yinxiao said, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Chai Yanyan. "Where did you get your intel, kiddo?"
Chai Yanyan took a large gulp of milk tea. "The Old Ancestor sent me a message. He said once the Lantern Festival is over, I should come over to scrounge a meal if I’m free. I didn't dare delay, so I hopped the wall and ran away overnight."
Zhu Yinxiao paused, then started laughing. "No wonder. It seems Fourth Brother predicted Fengdu would pull a stunt like this."
Anping more or less understood their conversation. A few days ago, the Yin-Yang Ladder had fluctuated, and Chai Shuxin had brought out the Mountain Ghost Coin that had been used as a seal. Because of this, Mu Gesheng had recovered a portion of his lost memories. With his calculating mind, it would have been easy to piece together the cause and effect and predict Fengdu’s next move.
The ghost soldier riot of the past had cast a massive shadow over everyone. Now that the Yin-Yang Ladder was acting up again, there was no way Fengdu could sit still. Sure enough, at the teahouse yesterday, Cui Ziyu had asked Zhu Yinxiao to deliver a letter, requesting a gathering of the Seven Houses in the name of the Tiansuanzi.
However, there was still one thing Anping couldn't figure out: even if they gathered the Seven Houses again, what could they actually do?
Were they going to make Mu Gesheng die all over again?
Zhu Yinxiao briefly recounted the events. Chai Yanyan slammed the table as she listened. "Gather the Seven Houses again? Fengdu actually has the nerve to say that? Are they looking for a death wish?" She then frowned slightly, voicing Anping’s doubt: "What exactly is Fengdu trying to do?"
"Hard to say," Zhu Yinxiao shook his head. "Fengdu’s objective is one thing, but we also have to see the attitudes of the Seven Houses."
"The Yin-Yang House goes without saying. Fengdu is powerful now, and the entire Wu clan is under the thumb of the Ten Yama Kings. That coward Wu Biyou can’t do anything except talk back to his dad; he has no say in critical matters." Mentioning Wu Biyou, Chai Yanyan’s face was full of disdain. "Once the Seven Houses gather, the Yin-Yang House will definitely just be Fengdu’s mouthpiece. We can't count on them."
She then looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "What about you, Sis? What does the Zhu family say?"
"Same here," Zhu Yinxiao shrugged. "We’re in the same boat, sister."
Chai Yanyan couldn't help but sigh.
Anping didn't quite follow. Looking at the gloomy atmosphere, he asked, "What’s wrong?" Both of them were heads of their respective families, and the Yao and Zhu families weren't under external control like the Yin-Yang House. Could they really not make their own decisions?
"I have a say in the family now, but there are too many elders," Zhu Yinxiao smiled. "I still have to wear them down."
Anping immediately thought of Zhu Baizhi.
"I ran away from home," Chai Yanyan looked at Anping, emphasizing the point. "Ran. Away."
Anping began to understand a little. "Is your relationship with your family... not very harmonious?"
"It’s more than just 'not harmonious,'" Chai Yanyan said. "My father was adopted by my grandmother; he doesn't have the Yao family bloodline. Originally, he had no right to inherit the family. It was my grandmother who pushed through all opposition to let my father take the position of Clan Head."
She bit her lip. "Do you know about the current factions within the Yao family?"
Anping blinked and shook his head.
Chai Yanyan turned to Zhu Yinxiao. "Sis, you said this guy is the Old Ancestor’s disciple, so why does he know absolutely nothing?"
"Wu Biyou is his 'daughter,' and he’s still as clueless as a total idiot," Zhu Yinxiao waved a hand. "Anping isn't stupid; he just hasn't been told much. Just tell him what he needs to know."
"Tsk, the men of the Seven Houses," Chai Yanyan muttered. "Each generation is worse than the last."
Anping thought to himself: *I can hear you, young lady.* Also, was the fact that he was Mu Gesheng’s disciple already common knowledge among the Seven Houses?
Mu Gesheng hadn't told him anything. Anping guessed this was likely a smokescreen. After all, the waters of the Seven Houses were too deep; being under the Tiansuan lineage served as a layer of protection.
Chai Yanyan thought for a moment before explaining to Anping, "Back then, my Great-Uncle requested to leave the Yao family, and my grandmother took over as Clan Head. She struggled to maintain things for decades, facing many hardships. Although she held it together, many long-standing conflicts and grievances couldn't be resolved; she could only suppress them."
It wasn't hard to understand. Back then, when Chai Shuxin held that position, it hadn't been easy for him either.
"Later, in her final years, Grandmother decided to pass the position of Clan Head to my father. It was a difficult decision for her, but she truly couldn't find anyone else she could trust," Chai Yanyan sighed. "Many people opposed it at the time, but Grandmother insisted. The conflicts that had been building up for years exploded all at once."
"In the end, a group of people left the Yao family, taking many things from our heritage with them. They started their own business and spent years building a new family." She looked at Anping. "Have you heard of the Yao Corporation?"
Anping was startled. He had heard of that company; it was massive and very famous both domestically and overseas.
"The people behind the Yao Corporation are the ones who broke away from the Yao family back then. They call themselves the 'New Yao Family,'" Chai Yanyan said. "The current Yao family is divided into three factions. It’s not like I, the Clan Head, have the final say. The people from the Yao Corporation have been hounding us since New Year’s Eve—like a weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken. Who could stand that? As soon as the Old Ancestor’s message arrived, I bolted."
"Divided into three factions?" Anping asked. "What’s the third one?"
"My brother still has a group of people under him," Zhu Yinxiao took over. "He slowly trained them after he left the family. There aren't many of them, but their strength is terrifying."
"Every generation of the Luoshazi is a 'one-man house,' but my brother has practically built up a 'House of Rakshasa' on his own." Chai Yanyan shuddered. "Anyway, I’m certainly not the leader of *that* group, and the Yao Corporation wouldn't dare provoke them."
Zhu Yinxiao said, "So, looking at it this way: I’ll handle the Zhu family, and my brother will deal with the Yao Corporation. If only the Yin-Yang House and Fengdu stand together, it shouldn't be too bad."
He paused. "The most critical factor now is the attitude of Penglai."
Chai Yanyan asked, "Who is the current Sect Master of Penglai? I think his name is Lin Juansheng?" She looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "What is this generation’s Changshengzi like as a person?"
Anping realized that Chai Yanyan wasn't clear on certain events from the past.
"Hard to say." Zhu Yinxiao’s tone shifted, becoming earnest. "Kiddo, take it easy when you drink your milk tea. You’ve eaten all your lipstick."
While Chai Yanyan went to touch up her makeup, Zhu Yinxiao said to Anping, "I remember you met the Changshengzi a while back?"
Anping nodded. "Yes."
"What was your impression?"
"Refined and elegant." Anping thought for a moment and added, "Unfathomable."
"He and Fourth Brother are fellow disciples; it would be a miracle if you could see through him." Zhu Yinxiao sighed. "He stood by and watched Fourth Brother die back then, but Fourth Brother doesn't blame him."
"...Why?"
"There were two disciples under the Tiansuan lineage back then. I remember the Master once evaluated them: Fourth Brother is a man of extreme passion and nature, impulsive and pure-hearted, while Lin Juansheng has the big picture in mind, calm and composed." Zhu Yinxiao said, "Regarding the events of the past, although he disregarded the life and death of his fellow disciple, from the standpoint of the Seven Houses, he didn't do anything wrong."
"Sometimes I think that maybe that’s why the Master sent him to Penglai in the first place." Zhu Yinxiao smiled. "The previous generation of the Seven Houses grew up together and were too close. They often acted recklessly for the sake of friendship. There always needed to be someone to hold the line."
"He failed Fourth Brother, but he did right by the Seven Houses."
The three of them shopped all afternoon. In winter, night falls early; by the time they returned to the City God Temple, the sky was already dark.
Wu Biyou’s "Urban Management" truck was parked in front of the gate, loaded with bags and boxes. Wu Biyou was busy moving things inside. Anping was stunned. "What are you doing?"
"Damn it, you guys are finally back." Wu Biyou shoved a bag into Anping’s hands. "Get over here and help move this."
The bag was filled with a stack of food containers, some still covered in ice from cold storage. "What is this?"
"It’s because *she* came," Wu Biyou glanced at Chai Yanyan with annoyance. "This woman loves spicy food. The old geezer wants to have hotpot in the courtyard and made me transport ingredients from the Yushui Zhuhua."
Chai Yanyan huffed, stepping out in her newly bought high heels. "We meet again, brat. You’re still not as tall as me this year."
"Have the guts to take off those heels before you talk trash." Wu Biyou sneered. "You must have gained at least ten pounds this year, right?"
The two of them started bickering within three sentences, trading cold mocks and glares. Anping looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "Aren't you going to stop them?"
"You don't understand." Zhu Yinxiao stood aside with his arms crossed. "This is called 'family bliss.'"
Anping: "..."
The two argued for a long time. Once Zhu Yinxiao had finally seen enough of the show, he pulled Wu Biyou over. "Stop fighting. Come and tell me, what did you guys do in Fengdu today?"
Wu Biyou, who had been in the heat of the argument, suddenly shivered at the question. He glanced at Zhu Yinxiao and said, "The Luoshazi went to have tea with the Ten Yama Kings."
"That tea couldn't have been easy to swallow." Zhu Yinxiao raised an eyebrow. "And then?"
"They hadn't been sitting for fifteen minutes before three of them used the 'bathroom excuse' to bolt, one ran off to pay the bill, two didn't even dare show up, and one fainted on the spot—the remaining two used the excuse of carrying him out to leave."
"There’s still one left," Zhu Yinxiao said. "Don't dawdle like a coward, give it to me straight."
Wu Biyou swallowed hard. "The Luoshazi told him that regarding the gathering of the Seven Houses... he agrees."
Zhu Yinxiao and Chai Yanyan were both dumbfounded. "He agreed?"
Anping also found it inconceivable. Fengdu’s proposal for the gathering was clearly malicious; why would Chai Shuxin agree?
"Why is everyone huddling at the door in the middle of the night?" Mu Gesheng’s voice drifted over. "Enjoying the breeze?"
Zhu Yinxiao took a stride forward. "Fourth Brother, you’ve been sold out."
"Don't worry, if I’m being sold, I’ll definitely take you with me—buy one, get one free." Mu Gesheng patted his shoulder. "The matter of the gathering was discussed with me by Sanjiu before today. We agree."
Zhu Yinxiao was bewildered. "What kind of play are you two putting on?"
Mu Gesheng looked at him and said leisurely, "If you want to know the plot, you have to wait for the curtain to rise."
"On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month, the Seven Houses will gather. You’ll find out then."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 药氏集团 | Yao Corporation | The corporate faction that split from the traditional Yao family. |
| 新药家 | New Yao Family | The name the Yao Corporation uses for themselves. |
| 罗刹家 | House of Rakshasa | A term used to describe the faction/power built by Chai Shuxin. |
| 林眷生 | Lin Juansheng | The current Sect Master of Penglai and the current Changshengzi. |
| 长生子 | Changshengzi | Master of Longevity; the title for the head of the Penglai lineage. |
| 邺水朱华 | Yushui Zhuhua | Likely the name of a high-end restaurant or establishment owned by the Zhu family. |
| 正月廿八 | 28th day of the first lunar month | The date set for the gathering of the Seven Houses. |
| 柴忍冬 | Chai Rendong | Chai Yanyan's grandmother and the previous head of the Yao family. |
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