Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng watched Mi Ying from the air with satisfaction, pleased that she had handled things very well.

Everyone retreated into the shadows, and the entire street was quiet.

As dawn broke, pedestrians slowly began to appear on the street. The person lying on the ground also stirred; he didn't get up immediately, but shook his head, looked around, and then slowly crawled to his feet.

He froze for a moment when he saw what was in his arms. Then he quickly wrapped it up with his tattered clothes, got up, and trudged forward.

A hidden shadowy figure quietly followed behind him.

The man carried the item into a dilapidated house. A moment later, he changed into clean clothes and reappeared in the middle of the street, but the item was gone.

Secret Shadow searched every corner of the room but found no trace of the small package.

He stood in the shadows, his teeth clenched. First, he was being watched, and he couldn't find an opportunity to strike. Now, the item had disappeared right under his nose. He felt like he'd had the worst night ever.

Yu Meng, on the other hand, was in a good mood. Her original purpose in coming to the Jing family was to hide the alien mother body well, to prevent it from dying easily. Otherwise, the cripple and the long-haired man would easily suspect her.

Now things are really messed up; someone has stolen the Alien Mother. Anyone who dares to try and steal the Alien Mother from the Jing family at this time must know its purpose.

In this way, no matter what happens to the alien mother in the future, she will not be suspected.

Yu Meng left the Jing family in a good mood.

However, Secret Shadow's mood had deteriorated to the extreme, as he had once again botched the task assigned by the Palace Master.

Yu Meng learned a name she had never heard before from that person—Guihong Pavilion.

Based on the long-haired man's description of the specific conditions for the alien mother's survival, she felt that the Jing family's land was about to change hands.

She was thinking, should she get involved too? She figured she wouldn't lose money.

Jing Ancheng was quite frustrated lately. His training in the family focused entirely on battlefield survival, guarding, reconnaissance, and improving his combat skills. He had absolutely no idea how to manage family affairs.

But the old steward put him in the position of head of the family. Wasn't that making things difficult for him?

"Young Master, the Jing family is such a large family, you can't just watch it fall apart, can you? With us old folks here, we'll definitely get through this crisis." The old butler was still trying to persuade Jing Ancheng.

Jing Ancheng shook his head. "I cannot take this position. My Jing family has always had a high-level spirit master as the head of the family. I cannot break this precedent. Besides, I currently have a bone painter who follows me. The Jing family's ancient rule is: one cannot betray a bone painter who follows one halfway."

He nearly pulled the old butler's hair out. "But where am I supposed to find a spirit medium now? There aren't even any from the collateral bloodline."

Jing Ancheng didn't know what to do either. His aunt, the head of the family, had no descendants, and there were no outstanding bone painters among the younger generation.

"Young Master, please hold on here for a while. The Jing family can't function without a leader." The old butler pleaded desperately.

Jing Ancheng was in a dilemma, "But I don't understand anything, and I can't handle the Jing family's affairs either."

"You don't need to worry about any of this yourself; we'll take care of it. Just sit there and reassure everyone."

Jing Ancheng nodded helplessly, then asked a question that had been on his mind for a long time, "Why did all my uncles leave? Is there something I don't know?"

The old steward just sighed. He had always been worried that since these people fought so fiercely over this old man, the Jing family would be in complete chaos if he were to pass away one day.

Now that the patriarch is really gone, these people have all run away so easily. He still doesn't understand how this happened.

Jing Ancheng was still waiting for his answer when he saw him standing there in a daze, so he couldn't help but call out again, "Uncle?"

The old butler snapped out of his reverie. "These should all be Jing family secrets. If the young master accepts the position of head of the family, he can enter the secret room to investigate the information."

Jing Ancheng shook his head. "Let's not talk about this anymore. It's against the rules. I've been out for many days now, and I should have returned to the team long ago."

Jing Ancheng was puzzled. Other aristocratic families would fight to the death for a position. The situation in the Jing family was definitely abnormal.

In the Jing family's headquarters, besides his aunt, he had no one else he was close to. Now that the family head aunt was gone, to be honest, he didn't have much attachment to this place.

Knowing that things here were definitely not simple, he began to consider leaving.

But the old steward insisted that he stay, and he softened a little, so he agreed to let him stay for ten days.

He reported this to Yu Meng, who of course did not object. In fact, she actively said that if he had any difficulties, he should just ask, and she would arrange for someone to help him.

Jing Ancheng didn't know why Yu Meng had changed her personality, but he still told her about his worries.

"According to you, your Jing family must have a secret. And your elders probably ran away because they were afraid that this secret would implicate them."

Jing Ancheng asked, "Then what should I do?"

Yu Meng was stunned by his words. "Are you asking me what to do?" Yu Meng asked again to confirm.

"Yes," Jing Ancheng replied readily. "I know that Teacher Yu is no ordinary person. There are some things I can't see through, but Teacher Yu will definitely understand them."

Yu Meng's lips curled up. What a clever person. "Then let me share my opinion. In the eyes of certain powerful forces, the fact that the Jing family has secrets must mean that they have already reached some kind of tacit understanding."

Now that the head of the Jing family has suddenly died, the Jing family's secrets will undoubtedly become something that certain forces will desperately want to seize. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Yu Meng didn't spell it out explicitly, but she did point out the key: the Jing family's secret is likely about to change hands.

"Will they take action against the Jing family?" Jing Ancheng's eyebrows were furrowed in worry.

"The Jing family's secrets are attractive to those people, and the Jing family's location is a natural feng shui treasure land," Yu Meng further explained.

"Is there no way to turn it back?" Jing Ancheng asked again, unwilling to give up.

"Unless your Jing family produces another person as exceptionally talented as the old patriarch."

Jing Ancheng smiled bitterly. Let alone a great talent like the family head, there wasn't even anyone with a slightly higher level of talent.

He still finds these things a bit strange. He remembers that when he was a child, he had many aunts and sisters who were very talented and progressed rapidly. His father also told him that he was born in a good era, and with these bone-drawing masters, the Jing family could prosper for another fifty years.

But at some point, these people disappeared without anyone noticing.

Knowing the final outcome for the Jing family, Jing Ancheng felt relieved.

These things were beyond the control of a mere Jing Ancheng. He walked alone on the streets of the Jing family estate, a place still bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and children playing.

They lived a peaceful and happy life under the protection of the Jing family. They were unaware of the Jing family's crisis, and the Jing family's sorrow had little to do with them.

But who knows if all of this will change someday.

Jing Ancheng walked slowly down the street until it got dark before returning to his residence.