Jun Mo Xie, standing at his uncle's side, suddenly spoke. His tone was courteous, his posture flawless, yet his eyes shimmered with a hidden edge. "Elder, may I have the liberty to ask your honored name? I have heard of the Elders of Silver Blizzard City since childhood, but to meet you in person is a rare fortune."
The Sixth Elder's eyes ducked momentarily, a faint shadow passing through them before he smiled again, calm and unhurried. "This old man's surname is Xiao. Xiao Han is my nephew."
"Ah."
For the briefest of moments, a terrifying aura flickered in Jun Mo Xie's eyes, sharp as the draw of a blade, suffocating enough to freeze blood. Murderous intent surged like a silent tide.
It was so quick, so brief, that it was gone before even the wind could catch it.
In the very next instant, his expression was perfectly composed once more, his lips curving in a polite smile.
"I see… Elder Xiao." Jun Mo Xie's voice was respectful, layered with faint admiration. "I truly envy Elder's Spirit Xuan strength. To stand at such a height is to be counted among the most powerful under heaven. For my Jun Family to be graced by Elder's presence today... this is truly a blessing."
The Sixth Elder's eyes lingered on the young man for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing within them. Then, he chuckled warmly. "He speaks with dignity and manners even at such a young age. Indeed, a promising child."
Their smiles seemed gentle, their words harmonious, yet beneath the surface the currents ran deep, tugging at hidden underworlds of intent.
The four men walked toward the inner hall together.
Mu Xue Tong remained at the side, quietly observing. His heart, however, was anything but calm.
The Sixth Elder, Xiao, had long been closely allied with the Third, the Eighth, and the now dead Ninth Elders within Silver Blizzard City. For years he had acted in tandem with them, and his surname had fallen into the background, seldom mentioned.
Over time, most had almost forgotten that he, too, hailed from the Xiao Family.
But today, that name 'Xiao' resurfaced within the Jun residence. And the air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Though their lips exchanged pleasantries and their faces carried beaming smiles, the atmosphere between the two parties thickened with an invisible pressure.
The courtyard, filled with sunlight, somehow felt like a battlefield veiled in shadows, where one wrong move could ignite the storm.
Mu Xue Tong's mind stirred with unease. 'Could it be… that the Sixth Elder had not personally taken part in those events of the past?'
The thought startled him. For years, he had assumed Xiao Elder's complicity, yet now he wavered. And if this visit was not one of reconciliation, but the quiet unfolding of a scheme…
His heart grew heavier.
'If the Sixth Elder has truly come with hidden intent, then today might well mark the beginning of a new calamity for the Jun Family.'
------
Jun Wu Yi's courtyard was quiet that afternoon. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant calls of sparrows created an almost idyllic stillness.
Jun Wu Yi, however, had no intention of disturbing the Solitary Falcon, who was still in deep meditation within the study. Thus, he ordered his servants to set up a few elegant seats beneath a flourishing tree in the courtyard.
The dappled sunlight filtered through the branches, spilling a warm glow over the stone table where tea was being served.
The fragrance of the freshly brewed tea rose gently with the steam, lingering in the air like a silent host.
"This tea is excellent!" The Sixth Elder lifted the porcelain cup, inhaled deeply, and allowed a thin smile to crease his aged face. Tilting his head back, he took a slow, deliberate sip.
Then, leaning against the chair, he closed his eyes as if savoring every note of the aftertaste. His tone, though light, carried a weight of authority as he spoke again.
"Third Master Jun, I don't know if you have come across our Silver Blizzard City's Xiao Family's young master of late?"
Jun Wu Yi's brows furrowed slightly. He set down his cup with calm deliberation, his voice measured. "The Xiao Family's young master? I fear I have never met him. My ailment has only begun to show signs of improvement, and I still cannot move about freely. After being crippled for so many years, I've nearly forgotten the act of walking itself. Thus, my exposure to the world outside the Jun residence has been… rather limited. May I ask why the Sixth Elder inquires? What is the Xiao Family's son called? His age and appearance?"
"Oh?" The Sixth Elder's posture did not change; his body still leaned lazily against the chair, eyes half-shut as if too lofty to regard those before him fully. His tone, however, carried an edge. "So the Third Master Jun truly has not met him?"
"My grandnephew accompanied the Little Princess to Tian Xiang City today… yet he was attacked, beaten down by a group of arrogant bandits. His injuries are not light. This old man cannot think of any Tian Xiang Family, other than the Jun, who would dare show such audacity toward us."
The words, though wrapped in calmness, dropped like heavy stones into the courtyard.
Jun Wu Yi's expression did not waver, but Jun Mo Xie, standing behind him, narrowed his eyes as a cold light flashed briefly in the depths of his gaze.
Before his uncle could respond, Jun Mo Xie stepped forward, his tone smooth yet faintly sharp. "The Sixth Elder seems quite certain. But what evidence exists that the Jun Family was behind such an act? Since the Sixth Elder is one of the most experienced men under the heavens, I trust he would not cast accusations lightly without conclusive proof."
The Sixth Elder's half-lidded eyes cracked open slightly. His face remained calm, but a ripple of irritation stirred in his voice. "It is against proper decorum for a mere youth to interrupt when two elders are speaking. Do you mean to mock your family's name with such arrogance? This Jun boy… truly requires a lesson."
His tone was mild, almost casual, but the action that followed was anything but.
Without the slightest movement of his body, a muffled vibration suddenly surged forth.
The Spirit Xuan expert had condensed his vast Xuan Qi into a focused sound wave, so fine and sharp that it shot directly into Jun Mo Xie's ear like an invisible spear.
A Spirit Xuan's attack was never a trifling matter.
For Jun Wu Yi and Mu Xue Tong, both Sky Xuans seated close by, it was nothing more than a ripple, a faint tremor in the air.
But for Jun Mo Xie, the attack was aimed with surgical precision, its intent undeniable.
In an instant, it felt as if a needle forged from pure steel had pierced his eardrum, drilling ruthlessly inward.
Jun Mo Xie's brows arched. 'In my own house… this old dog dares to strike?'
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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