Martial arts have become extinct worldwide, yet I am forced to have a large family.

"You're asking about that...?"

Jiang Mengyun drawled out the word, a slightly playful smile playing on her lips.

Seeing this expression, Yang Xian immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly waved his hand: "Ahem, if this involves any secrets of your Jiang family, just pretend I didn't ask."

"It's not exactly a huge secret!" Jiang Mengyun suddenly moved closer to him.

"If you want me to tell you, it's not impossible..."

"But shouldn't you... offer some kind of gesture first?"

Yang Xian: "???"

This familiar recipe, this familiar taste...

isn't it?

Come again?

"Uh, suddenly I don't want to know anymore."

"That's not up to you!" Jiang Mengyun's smile became even more cunning.

The next second, before Yang Xian could react, she leaned in and pressed her soft lips precisely onto his.

Uncle Teng, sitting in front, didn't even blink, as if nothing had happened behind him.

After a long while, their lips parted.

"Since you're so 'sincere,' I'll tell you."

Jiang Mengyun licked her lips contentedly before sitting back down and slowly speaking:

"Actually, Ayu is not my biological brother."

"He is my father's adopted son."

"Adopted son?" Yang Xian was stunned.

This answer was both unexpected and seemingly reasonable.

"right."

Jiang Mengyun nodded, her gaze drifting out the window, seemingly lost in some kind of memory.

"Most of the direct descendants of martial arts families are destined to embark on the path of martial arts and fight bloody battles on the front lines."

"But before becoming a martial artist, one must first leave offspring to ensure the continuation of the bloodline."

"From reaching adulthood to having children, and then to beginning cultivation, the process is far too long."

Her words were calm, yet they revealed a cruel reality.

"Therefore, almost all martial arts families will adopt some orphans with exceptional martial arts talent."

"Use the family's resources to nurture them and help them become martial artists ahead of time."

"Go and carry out those dangerous missions for the family, explore those perilous places where death is a near certainty, go to the front lines... pave the way for the direct descendants."

"Even for the sake of the entire family...to die."

To put it bluntly, they're just tools.

They are pawns carefully cultivated by the family to protect the true bloodline heir.

They can become sworn brothers with the children of the Jiang family, enjoy a comfortable material life, and obtain powerful cultivation techniques.

But from the moment they were adopted, their lives no longer belonged to themselves, but to the entire family.

Yang Xian fell silent immediately.

He recalled Jiang Yu's handsome and respectful face, and the pure look in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Mengyun.

It turns out that beneath that respect and admiration lay such a heavy fate.

"Ah Yu is the same." Jiang Mengyun's words carried a hint of pity.

"He is the most hardworking person I have ever met, bar none."

"I cherish my younger brother very much, and I have long regarded him as my own brother."

"but……"

She sighed softly.

"No matter what I do, I can never bridge the gap between our identities."

"He only had one condition for joining the Jiang family back then."

"That is, to use the Jiang family's resources to help him find his sister who has been missing for many years..."

More than a decade ago, monsters launched a massive invasion, turning the three regions of DEF into a living hell, and countless families were torn apart in that disaster.

Jiang Yu's parents died under the claws of the demon.

He and his younger sister were also separated during that great chaos.

Later, the exceptionally talented Jiang Yu was discovered and favored by the Jiang family.

In order to find his only remaining relative, he resolutely chose to give up his name and his past, and chose to become a pawn of the Jiang family.

"However, it's a pity."

"His sister has still not been found."

Jiang Mengyun's voice pulled Yang Xian back to reality.

"What's his sister's name?" Yang Xian asked instinctively.

"Qin Si, the 'Si' in 'thought'."

Qin Si?

Then Jiang Yu's original name should be Qin Yu.

Yang Xian decided to pay more attention to the name "Qin Si" from now on, considering that Jiang Yu had once saved him.

but……

Given the Jiang family's status and power in the entire South China Sea City, wouldn't it be a piece of cake for them to find a missing little girl?

Could it be that the Jiang family deliberately didn't look for them?

Not right either.

From a self-interest perspective, helping Jiang Yu find his sister would only make him more devoted to serving the Jiang family.

Perhaps Qin Si had already died in that disaster years ago...

While Yang Xian was still deep in thought, the car slowly came to a stop.

"Second Miss, we've arrived."

Uncle Teng spoke, his voice steady and powerful.

Jiang Mengyun was the first to open the car door and get out with Yang Xian.

Before me stands a magnificent hotel, its design brimming with futuristic technology, a dazzling work of art in this prime location where every inch of land is precious.

"This is the best hotel in the core area, 'Dome of Light'," Jiang Mengyun introduced to him.

"I booked a room for you last night. It's for a month, which is plenty of time for your competition."

Yang Xian looked up at the building, his mouth slightly open.

"This... must be very expensive, right?"

"You don't need to worry about the money. All you need to do now is focus on the game."

As she spoke, Jiang Mengyun took out a human skin mask from the box.

She had Jiang Yu prepare the mask; she had only intended for him to send someone to deliver it.

I didn't expect them to come and deliver it in person, and to make such a big fuss.

"Still wearing it?"

Yang Xian's lips twitched. "This is an officially organized selection competition. Am I really sure it'll be okay to go in wearing this mask?"

"No problem." Jiang Mengyun put the mask into his hand.

"The official explanation is that this ensures the safety of martial artists and prevents anyone from being targeted by malicious individuals after leaving the secret realm."

"There was an unfortunate guy who was murdered and robbed before."

"Since then, the authorities have tacitly allowed contestants to conceal their identities."

Of course, Jiang Mengyun was more afraid that Yang Xian's handsome face would attract other girls.

After giving a few instructions, Jiang Mengyun briefly mentioned the matter of "avoiding suspicion" before turning around and getting into the car.

Good luck in the game.

The luxury car merged into the traffic and eventually disappeared from sight.

Watching Jiang Mengyun leave, Yang Xian reluctantly put on his mask.

This mask wasn't the old man's mask from before; it was a very ordinary young man's face.

With nothing else to do, Yang Xian didn't immediately enter the hotel, but instead wandered around the area to familiarize himself with the surroundings of the core district.

Just as he turned a street corner, he suddenly stopped.

A petite figure was seen huddled in the corner.

The moment she looked up, their eyes met.

"Big...big brother..."

"I'm so hungry, could you... take me to get something to eat?"