Firmament Sword

”How do we solve it?” Xiaen asked, looking at him.

”It’s simple. We just announce to the public that Xia Muyao is already a daughter-in-law of the Xu Family. Then, we have her leave Hongcheng with Xu Luo and head for the Imperial Capital. That way, those people will have no reason to retaliate against our Xia Family,” Xia Bao said with a smug look. ”If they want to cause trouble, the Xu Family will be the one to face them. What do we have to fear?”

”Hmm, that’s one way to do it,” Xia Hu nodded. He then looked at the perpetually silent Xia Long and asked, ”What do you think, Big Brother?”

Xia Long observed the various expressions on everyone’s faces and sighed internally. He knew that his brothers had always wanted to push Xia Muyao out of the Xia Family and couldn’t wait for her to be married off.

’It’s all because of greed!’ Xia Long lamented to himself. He recalled the words of the old patriarch, who lived a reclusive life at the mountain villa and had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs. A bitter smile touched Xia Long’s lips. ’Father’s prediction was spot-on.’

Years ago, the Xia family patriarch, Xia Dade, had gone against everyone’s objections and allowed Xia Muyao to gradually take over the family business. He had said at the time, ”Muyao has an extraordinary gift for business. Let her take over, and within a few years, the Xia Family will surely prosper. But the downside is that many within the family will grow deeply resentful and fearful. They’ll be afraid that Xia Muyao will one day take the Xia Family’s business with her to the Xu Family.”

After all, even ten Xia Families combined would be no match for the Xu Family.

At the time, Xia Long hadn’t thought it would become a serious issue even if it did happen. After all, the Xia Family had been in decline. If you were to divide the clan’s peak wealth into ten parts, the family at that time had only two or three left. But now, the Xia Family’s enterprise was dozens of times larger than it had been back then!

Xia Long had believed that people were capable of gratitude. His daughter had brought about such a monumental change for the Xia Family. Even if they didn’t acknowledge her merits, they had to recognize her hard work. He hadn’t thought the family members would do anything too outrageous.

But the old patriarch had said, ”The chasms of the human heart are the hardest to fill, and desire knows no bounds. One day, this matter will cause a conflict within the Xia Family.”

And just as predicted, after the Xia Family’s resurgence, dissenting voices began to emerge. At first, it was manageable—just some of the women and juniors gossiping behind her back. But gradually, even the core members of the Xia Family began to openly express their discontent.

It had now reached the point of outright ostracism, especially from the likes of Xia Hu and Xia Bao, who saw Xia Muyao as a thorn in their side!

This made Xia Long feel angry, hurt, and, at the same time, find the situation utterly absurd. In terms of pure financial assets, the Xu Family was certainly not as wealthy as the current Xia Family. But if the Xu Family truly wanted to amass wealth, even ten Xia Families combined couldn’t hope to match them!

’What a bunch of short-sighted fools!’ Xia Long cursed internally. ’They only see the piddling profits right in front of them. They don’t stop to think that if we had a good relationship with the Xu Family, who would ever dare to challenge the Xia Family again?’

”Big Brother, say something!” Seeing Xia Long’s continued silence, Xia Hu grew impatient. He once held a degree of reverence for his elder brother, but as the Xia Family’s fortunes rose in recent years, so did their own status. That reverence had gradually faded.

When it came down to it, it was because the Xia Family’s current prosperity hadn’t been brought about by Xia Long.

It was Xia Muyao!

And many within the Xia Family stubbornly believed that the only reason Xia Muyao had been so successful was because she was engaged to a man from a powerful family!

The sentiment that ’her job is done, and the Xia Family doesn’t need her anymore, so she should just hurry up and marry into the Xu Family—the Xia Family can even send her off with a huge dowry!’ was now, subtly, becoming the dominant opinion within the clan.

”Reporting to the Patriarch! The Young Miss has returned! She’s with the Second Young Master of the Xu Family and Vice City Lord Li Hong, Lord Li!” a voice announced from outside as someone entered the room.

Xia Long glanced at the others in the room and said in a low voice, ”Let’s wait until we’ve spoken with Muyao before we decide anything. The Deputy City Lord and the second young master of the Xu Family are here to visit. We should go out and welcome them.”

”So what if he’s the Xu Family’s second young master? He’s just a junior. Why do we have to go out and greet him...” Xia Bao muttered under his breath, clearly displeased.

Xia Long shot him an icy glare. ”If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

”I never said I wasn’t going...” Xia Bao grumbled, trailing behind them with a sullen expression.

...

”When we get inside, if my uncles are disrespectful in any way, please don’t take it to heart...” Xia Muyao said to Xu Luo and Li Hong as she stepped out of the carriage at her family’s entrance.

Xu Luo nodded. ”Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. We’re only here as juniors paying a visit.”

Li Hong also nodded. ”I’m just tagging along for a free meal. Don’t mind me or my title as Deputy City Lord.”

Xia Muyao managed a faint smile, but her eyes betrayed a hint of worry. Unwilling to let anyone see her vulnerability, she put on a brave face and led the two men into the Xia Mansion.

They hadn’t gone far before they saw Xia Long and a group of people striding quickly toward them.

From a distance, Xia Long’s hearty laughter rang out. ”Is that the Second Young Master of the Xu Family and Vice City Lord Li up ahead? Forgive me for not coming out sooner to welcome you!”

Xu Luo hurried forward a few steps and bowed. ”Uncle Xia, you’re too kind. I was just passing through and decided to pay a visit on a whim. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.”

Li Hong, standing beside Xu Luo, also offered a bow befitting a junior and smiled. ”Li Hong greets Patriarch Xia.”

Although Xia Hu, Xia Bao, and the others were reluctant to come out and greet two young men, they were all slightly taken aback to see a man of Vice City Lord Li’s stature acting with such deference. Their faces showed their surprise.

”Vice City Lord Li, you are too kind. We will be relying on your support in the future,” Xia Long said. As a businessman, he was well aware of the potential and power of such a young Vice City Lord. Even though Li Hong was showing him the courtesy of a junior, he knew it was entirely out of respect for Xu Luo.

’Otherwise, why would a dignified Viscount and Deputy City Lord go out of his way to be so humble in establishing ties with you?’

’Does he need anything from you?’

Li Hong just smiled, understanding Xia Long’s thoughts, and said nothing more.

Despite their reluctance, Xia Hu, Xia Bao, and the others came forward to greet Xu Luo and Li Hong. Then, Xia Long personally led the two guests toward the reception hall.

Xu Luo covertly observed the members of the Xia Family, confirming that there were indeed many problems. He sighed to himself. ’Greed. It truly is the root of all evil.’ But this was ultimately another family’s internal affair, and it wasn’t his place to interfere.

If his mother were home, Xu Luo would have even considered suggesting his brother and sister-in-law marry as soon as the fighting in the north calmed down, just so his sister-in-law could finally be free of this family.

’She wants to run a business? That’s the easy part.’ The treasures piled up in Xu Luo’s own storage ring, all plundered by Master Mao from the great families in the Imperial Capital, were mountainous. The largest portion of it had come from the Wei Family.

’That fortune alone is probably worth ten Xia Families!’

Once they reached the reception hall and everyone had taken their seats, Xu Luo cut straight to the chase. ”Uncle Xia, I’m sure you’ve already heard about what happened today. I’m sorry for causing you trouble, but—”

Before Xu Luo could finish, Xia Bao cut in coldly, ”Since this is trouble that Young Master Xu caused himself, then we’ll have to ask Young Master Xu to handle it himself. What does this have to do with the Xia Family?”

”Xia Bao, get out!” Xia Long’s face turned to ice as his anger flared.

’This Xia Bao is just utterly shameless!’

’Even if Xu Luo is just a kid, he represents the honor of the Xu Family when he’s out in public. To put it bluntly, even if he were only representing himself, he’s still the Seven-Colored Marquis, the Seven-Colored Grand General, and a Third-Grade Official of the court!’

’And what is Xia Bao in comparison?’

Xia Bao snorted, stood up, and said, ”Fine, I’ll leave. You all cower before the powerful, but I, Xia Bao, am not afraid. Am I wrong? Whoever starts the trouble should be the one to end it. What does this have to do with the Xia Family?”

With the man repeating himself, Xu Luo could no longer remain silent. He slowly rose to his feet, looked at Xia Bao, and said calmly, ”You’re right. It’s just that you interrupted me before I could finish. I came here today as a junior to pay my respects. As an elder of the Xia Family, you shouldn’t be speaking to me this way. What I was trying to say is that I will resolve today’s incident. I won’t let it involve the Xia Family. So, you can rest easy.”

”Fine words, but you’re standing in the Xia Mansion right now. You can claim this has nothing to do with the Xia Family, but you need others to believe it!” Xia Bao had already gone this far; he might as well say everything on his mind.

”Xia Bao!” Xia Long’s face was as dark as a sky before a storm. Veins bulged on his forehead as he fumed with rage.

”Heh, no need to yell at me. I’m leaving!” Xia Bao let out a cold laugh and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

”That was... utterly out of line!” Xia Long sat there, panting with rage, his face flushed beet red. ”What a disgrace to the family... what a disgrace!”

Xia Muyao’s eyes were rimmed with red, but she said nothing. She simply stood by her father’s side, gently patting his back to help him calm down.

Li Hong sat there, filled with regret. ’If I’d known the Xia family was like this,’ he thought, ’I never would have let Boss come here to put up with this crap!’

Xu Luo, however, glanced at Xia Muyao, then turned to Li Hong. ”Do you dare make a trip to the Wei Family with me?”

Li Hong grinned. ”I’d follow you through hell and back, Boss. You think I’m afraid of the Wei Family?”

”Young Master Xu, Vice City Lord Li, you mustn’t!” Xiaen rushed forward to stop them. ”The Wei Family is teeming with experts, and they’re notoriously arrogant. If you go there like this, you’ll be at a disadvantage!”

Xu Luo waved his hand dismissively. ”I wish they had the guts.”

With that, he stood up, gave Xia Long a cupped-fist salute, nodded to Xia Muyao, and turned to leave.

Li Hong stood up without a second word and followed him out.

Once they were outside the Xia Mansion, Li Hong let out a long breath. ”Boss, some of those people in the Xia Family are really out of line.”

Xu Luo gave a bitter smile. ”I’m the one who started this, after all. They know how terrifying the sects can be. It’s only natural they’d want to distance themselves from it.”

Li Hong was silent for a moment. ”If we’re really going to the Wei Family, I think we should make some preparations beforehand.”

Xu Luo shook his head. ”There’s no need. If they know what’s good for them, this ends here. If they don’t, then I don’t mind stirring up some trouble.”

As he spoke, a strange smile played on Xu Luo’s lips as he thought to himself, ’Your Majesty, I wonder... are you also having a headache over how to properly reward me?’