After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

The entire arena fell silent. The overwhelming power of this weapon rendered the Gu Masters, who had long lived in seclusion in the mountains, speechless.

Qu Lianhai's face turned ashen; he hadn't expected that his prized Gu formation would be broken in a single move.

"So what if she's strong!" Qu Lianhai forced a smile, turning to the elders on either side. "Gentlemen, I've reached an agreement with the three major pharmaceutical companies in the south. As long as I'm the head of the family, this year's medicinal herb purchase price will be increased by 20%! Follow me, and you'll have a good life! What can this young girl with her pretty boy who can fight offer you? Just empty words?"

In Miao areas, medicinal herbs are the economic lifeline of the thirty-six villages.

Upon hearing about the 20% price increase, the elders' expressions immediately changed. The scales tipped again, and several elders began to echo Qu Lianhai's sentiments.

"A 20% price increase? Is this little bit of money really worth all this shouting and yelling in the ancestral hall?"

The woman's voice was both delicate and powerfully assertive. The crisp sound of high heels echoed across the threshold, reverberating within the empty ancestral hall.

Xia Wanying swayed gracefully in her burgundy haute couture suit. Behind her followed six top legal professionals, each carrying a briefcase and dressed in a sharp suit.

She walked straight to Zhu Xun Chuan's side. Her right hand naturally rested on Zhu Xun Chuan's shoulder, and her eyes swept over Qu Fei Yan, who was sitting on his lap.

"Brother Chuan, your thighs are so thick that everyone's willing to sit on them." Xia Wanying leaned down and whispered in Zhu Xun Chuan's ear.

Qu Feiyan was about to retort when Xia Wanying straightened up and turned to face the elders' seat. Her aura as a tycoon queen instantly became full force.

She held out her hand. The chief legal counsel behind her immediately handed her a thick document with both hands.

"Smack."

Xia Wanying slammed the documents heavily onto the octagonal table next to the armchair.

"Dinghe Group's 15 billion RMB Southwest Chinese medicinal herb base Phase I construction contract, plus the subscription of initial public offering (IPO) shares of Dinghe's overseas pharmaceutical companies."

Xia Wanying rested her hands on the table, her phoenix eyes scanning the entire room.

"Dinghe holds more than 80% of the market share in medicinal herbs in Southwest China. Once this contract is signed, the Thirty-Six Villages will enjoy endless benefits for generations to come, and their descendants will be able to enter modern factories and schools."

She paused for a moment, then parted her red lips slightly and uttered the coldest threat.

"But Xia Wanting is selective in her business dealings. As for the legal representative, I only recognize Qu Feiyan. If my sister suffers even the slightest grievance here today, I guarantee that Dinghe will completely blacklist you. Starting tomorrow, not a single blade of grass will be transported out of the Thirty-Six Villages. Not a single grain of rice will be sent in from outside."

"Starve to death, or become rich overnight. Elders, the choice is yours."

A deathly silence.

Even their breathing stopped. The eldest elder, who had just been clamoring for family punishment, trembled as he opened the contract on the table. Seeing the string of zeros, his presbyopia-stricken eyes bloodshot.

A few seconds later, the Grand Elder closed the file.

He turned his head, his cane pointing directly at Qu Lianhai.

"Qu Lianhai is suspected of murdering the former head of the family; the evidence is conclusive, and he deserves to be executed!"

The Second Elder followed closely behind, roaring, "Qu Feiyan is the rightful young master, her claim is legitimate, who dares to disobey!"

The Third Elder immediately declared: "Kill the traitor and welcome the new master!"

They switched sides instantly. Loyalty is worthless in the face of billions in capital and a threat to survival.

Qu Lianhai's eyes were bloodshot. He knew he had lost completely. With a roar, he drew a poisoned curved blade from his waist and pounced on Zhu Xunchuan, who was sitting in the armchair, like a madman. He was determined to fight to the death.

"court death."

A dark shadow flashed by. Xiao Bai's figure blocked Zhu Xun Chuan's path.

The blade flashed, cutting through the air.

"ah--"

Qu Lianhai's screams pierced the roof.

The ceramic knife in Xiaobai's hand pierced through his palm, pinning his entire arm firmly to the thick, load-bearing wooden pillar of the ancestral hall. Blood flowed down the wood grain.

Qu Feiyan sat on Zhu Xunchuan's lap, watching this dramatic scene unfold. She turned to look at Xia Wanting beside her.

Xia Wanying raised an eyebrow: "No need to thank me. It's just a small favor for Brother Chuan."

Qu Feiyan got off Zhu Xunchuan's lap. She took a deep breath, raised her left hand, adorned with a bone ring, high, and walked step by step to the main seat in the ancestral hall. She turned and looked down at the crowd.

The elders of the thirty-six villages all knelt down, their foreheads touching the bluestone slabs.

"Greetings, Master!"

The situation was settled. Zhu Xun Chuan leaned back in his chair, took out a lighter from his trench coat pocket, and lit a cigarette.

Just then, the heavy mahogany gate of the ancestral hall was suddenly kicked open from the outside.

A man covered in blood collapsed on the threshold. His clothes were shredded by a knife, and a broken short arrow was stuck in his chest. He was a messenger from the Pei family.

The man raised his head, his gaze passing over the crowd to see Pei Yanrou standing outside the ancestral hall. He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Second Miss! Quickly, save the Master!" the man roared desperately, his fingers scratching bloody marks on the flagstones. "The Pei family... has betrayed us!"

"Second Miss! The First Elder, in league with outsiders, has trapped the Patriarch in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons!"

After shouting those words, the messenger collapsed onto the bluestone slab, exhausted.

Upon hearing the words "trapped to death," Pei Yanrou, who was standing outside the ancestral hall, turned deathly pale, her eyes lost focus, and her body fell straight backward.

Zhu Xun Chuan took a step forward. He wrapped his long arm around Pei Yan Rou's slender waist and pulled her into his embrace.

Pei Yanrou's deathly pale face regained a sliver of color. She gripped Zhu Xun Chuan's bespoke suit lapel tightly with both hands, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Brother Chuan, save my sister..." Pei Yanrou's voice trembled, and her whole body went limp.

"Why are you crying? I'm right here," Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly.

He lifted Pei Yanrou up in his arms and handed her to Su Mucheng beside him. Turning around, he looked at Qu Feiyan, who was sitting in the head seat of the family.

"Clean up the internal affairs tonight." Zhu Xun Chuan's voice was not loud, but it dominated the entire room. "Tomorrow morning, gather the Qu family's elite troops and come with me to the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons."

Qu Feiyan clenched her left hand, which was adorned with the bone ring, tightly. She looked at the strategist before her, her eyes filled with fervor and submission.

"Thirty-six strongholds' secret guards, listen to my command! Tonight, seal off the mountain roads, gather your forces, and march with me tomorrow morning!" Qu Feiyan shouted, issuing the order.