Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng was unaware of Jing Er's inner thoughts. She returned to her room and put the seclusion sign back up.

Jingchuan Guild Hall seemed to have entered a period of rest and recuperation. The cultivation in the backyard sect was like a competition, and Qian Chuan also began to get busy. The reason was that Liu Wei suddenly stepped on thin air and climbed onto the roof one day.

Secretary Wu also received a message from Jingyi: the old patriarch of the Hou family had been rescued, and Jing Ancheng's men had taken control of the second uncle of the Hou family. He sent a message asking if they wanted to take things further.

Secretary Wu told them impatiently not to mess around. Jingyi sent a string of smiley faces.

Secretary Wu came to see Yu Meng, but the glaringly obvious "closed-door" sign kept him out.

Having no other option, he went to Nangong again.

After hearing his words, Nangong's expression kept changing.

"You mean, we now have complete control of the Hou family, and we can do whatever we want?"

Secretary Wu coughed up a mouthful of tea. "It's not that I can do anything. What I mean is, should we take this opportunity to sign a subsidiary family?"

Nangong Tianshou reached out to touch Secretary Wu's forehead.

"What are you doing?" Secretary Wu asked, dodging the question.

"Check if you have a fever."

"Sir, calm down. There's still room for maneuver in this matter."

Nangong Tianshou sat back down in his chair. "You went to ask Yu Meng?"

Secretary Wu sighed, "If I see her, I won't come looking for you. Teacher Yu is in seclusion again."

His tone was so helpless!

Looking at Secretary Wu's expression, Nangong Tianshou realized something was off. His attitude made it seem as if signing a contract with a subsidiary family was perfectly normal.

So he tentatively asked, "Do you want to sign?"

Secretary Wu nodded without hesitation.

"The Hou family is a top-tier aristocratic family, and you dare to sign them?"

Secretary Wu looked at him in surprise, "In this situation, even top-tier families aren't a problem, are they?"

Nangong Tianshou leaned back in his chair. "You've signed it." It wasn't a question; it was a statement of fact.

Secretary Wu thought for a moment and nodded.

"Did you also sign with a top-tier family?"

"How could that be? This is a steal; such opportunities are rare and hard to come by."

Nangong Tianshou felt relieved. He had thought to himself, what top-tier family would sign such a contract? It would be putting their lifeline in someone else's hands.

"Then what do you mean by coming here?"

Secretary Wu chuckled. "I just wanted to ask, is it okay to sign this?"

"You really want to hear it?"

Secretary Wu nodded.

"Then I'll be blunt. Top-tier families have their pride. Taking advantage of someone's misfortune and kicking them when they're down—what do you think they'll think?"

Secretary Wu shuddered, but then he remembered the Jia family back then. They had forced the Jia family to sign the agreement, but now things are going well for them.

"Is it really as serious as you say?"

"Hating you is the least of my worries; I might have pushed you into a fire pit without your knowledge."

"You mean we won't sign?"

"No signing. We've essentially saved the entire Hou family. You should think about something tangible, like technology or cooperation. The friendship with a top-tier family is the greatest benefit."

"Sigh, then I'll send a message to Jingyi and tell them to treat her with courtesy and to return her when the time is right!" But I was still reluctant to let her go.

Nangong Tianshou found it amusing. He didn't even know how broad his own shoulders were, yet he wanted to sign with a top-tier family. Which family was a pushover?

Secretary Wu stood up. "I'll go find Hou Yulin, tell him all this, and see what he thinks."

"Be polite to others and don't act like you're their benefactor."

Secretary Wu left with regret. In fact, he knew that even if Yu Meng hadn't gone into seclusion, she might not have signed the agreement.

Hou Yulin learned that his grandfather had been rescued and was receiving treatment, and he said he wanted to return to Kyoto.

Secretary Wu nodded. "I'll send someone to escort you back. Although there may not be any danger now, it's better to be careful."

Hou Yulin agreed. He was very grateful to Secretary Wu, as the fact that Secretary Wu was able to bring him in under those circumstances proved that Secretary Wu was a good person.

He also promised that he would send a generous gift once his grandfather recovered.

Secretary Wu hurriedly declined, "These are all things we should do. You have already paid me. If you have any other requests, please feel free to make them."

Hou Yulin was in a better mood and spoke with more confidence, "I was safely delivered to Kyoto and brought back this gift; this is my way of showing my sincerity."

Secretary Wu declined a few times, but Hou Yulin insisted, so Secretary Wu reluctantly accepted.

He sighed inwardly. The first time Butler Han met Yu Meng, he knew to leave her the Hou family's token. But this young master wouldn't even open his mouth when food was offered to him. The difference was stark; no wonder Teacher Yu didn't think highly of him.

But he still sent Jing San out; the situation in Kyoto was complicated, and he needed to send a tough guy.

Jing San stared at Secretary Wu for a long time before asking, "You really won't accept this?"

Secretary Wu had no choice but to bring up Yu Meng, saying, "Teacher Yu doesn't think much of it."

With just one sentence, everything was resolved. Jing San selected a few people from her own group to take on this task.

Watching Hou Yulin leave with his guard captain, the cripple stood inside the gatehouse without coming out, only shaking his head.

Kyoto.

The old patriarch of the Hou family woke up in the hospital.

Hou Yulin rushed forward, lay on his body, and began to cry.

The old patriarch reached out and patted his head. "I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Why are you crying like a child?"

"Grandpa, I almost lost sight of you. My second uncle's men are chasing me."

"That beast, Grandpa won't let him get away with it."

"Grandpa, we can't let the Wang family members get away with this either."

"Alright, let's not let any of these people go." The old patriarch's face was pale. He was old and had been poisoned, so his body was completely ruined.

Hou Yulin sat beside him, holding his hand. "Grandpa, Uncle Han died protecting me. I want to make proper arrangements for his family."

"Alright, you decide these things. He's a loyal man." The old patriarch had just woken up, spoke for a while, but then, exhausted, he fell asleep again.

Seeing that the grandfather and grandson had met, Jing San took her leave.

Hou Yulin returned to the Hou family's old house and filled two carloads with things for Jing San to take back.

Jing San did not refuse. As she was leaving, Secretary Wu said, "Take back whatever they offer."

Neither Jingyi nor Jing Ancheng showed up; they simply followed Jingsan back to Jingchuan.

When Jingyi returned home, he saw many people walking in the air, and his eyes darkened. Liu Wei shoved a bottle into his hand, "This is for you, but you'd better practice on your own. If you really can't do it, then eat it."

Jing Ancheng went directly to Secretary Wu and explained the situation of the Jia family and the intelligence he had obtained. He even made a special mention of Jia Chengping.

Secretary Wu wasn't offended; that's true tact, and that's exactly the kind of person he needed. He also revealed that Teacher Yu planned to let the Jia family take over the primary battlefield, but they just needed a catalyst.

Jing Ancheng didn't quite understand what he meant, so he asked directly.

Secretary Wu chuckled, "You can do him a favor when the time is right."

Jing Ancheng was naturally delighted. He then inquired about Yu Meng and learned that she had gone into seclusion again. He could only sigh inwardly; there was a reason why Teacher Yu was so strong. At her age, who could endure the loneliness of cultivation?