"Young Master, can you still attend the family banquet now?" Old Pang took an umbrella handed to him by a guard behind him and held it over Jun Moxie's head. "No problem! I'm not hurt." Jun Mo Wu replied with great bravado, "This small skirmish is nothing new to me; it’s trivial!"

Old Pang's mouth twitched, but he said nothing. In his heart, however, he conceded that saying he was used to it wasn't entirely false. The scale of the princess's assassination attempt last time was similar to this ambush; last time, one injury left him bedridden, but now he could run and jump, so this was indeed trivial. "Then please return to the manor first, Young Master. Marshal and Master Guan have been waiting for quite some time," Old Pang stated. "Wait a moment, I need to go back and check on my sedan chair; there should still be something inside," Jun Moxie took the umbrella and turned back the way they came.

The sedan chair had been struck by hidden weapons, then burned, and now soaked by the rain, reduced almost entirely to filthy black ash. What could possibly remain? Old Pang wondered, but for safety’s sake, he followed.

Jun Moxie circled the wreckage of the sedan chair like a headless fly, actually managing to pick up a few items from the ground. He peered at them, looked around, then completed a wide arc before returning with measured steps to Old Pang, holding the umbrella. "All done. Let's go."

"I refuse to believe those few hidden weapons you picked up belong to you." Old Pang, possessing Earth Profound strength himself, had eyes like torches and certainly knew what Jun Mo Wu had retrieved. He muttered inwardly, rushing out in the downpour to pick up common enemy darts—there wouldn't be any clues based on common sense. This Young Master was truly overthinking things...

However, he failed to notice that when Jun Mo Wu turned near a certain wall, his eyes quietly brightened, and the corner of his mouth revealed a faint, knowing smile.

Even though the rain poured down and the wind howled, traces always remained after a person had passed through a spot, provided the searcher knew how to look.

Like here, a faint, lingering fragrance that was dissipating in the wind... Though so subtle it was almost undetectable, with the nose of Jun the Great Assassin, strengthened by the Hongjun Tower, even fainter scents could be perceived.

Yes, a very familiar scent, and that single shout of "Retreat" was also an interesting sound. That was quite enough! Jun Moxie smiled somewhat slyly.

When Jun Moxie arrived home, Old Master Jun stood tall at the entrance to the main hall. His eyes swept over his grandson a few times, and upon confirming he was unharmed, he frowned and scolded, "When will you ever stop making me worry?! Hurry up and change your clothes!" Jun Mo Wu meekly nodded and vanished in a flash.

In truth, Young Master Jun had much to complain about inwardly. Grandfather, the intent of the assassins this time seems to have little to do with me. The root cause is actually your actions back then. But that’s not something I can explain in a few words; I’ll settle scores with you later!

By the time he changed and arrived at the front hall, dishes were already being brought in continuously. Jun Wuyi remained seated in his wheelchair, a thin blanket draped over his legs, watching Jun Moxie with a half-smile. He lowered his voice, "I wonder what kind of master could kill so cleanly? Moxie, your Third Uncle is exceedingly curious. That highly mysterious expert—do you think I might know him!" "Uh... Third Uncle, the world is vast, wonders abound, and extraordinary individuals emerge endlessly. This..." Jun Moxie replied with a playful grin.

"Stop! I'm not discussing that with you." Jun Wuyi glared, cutting off his chatter. "Do you have any idea about the people involved this time?" "I certainly have some direction; I'm about thirty percent certain," Jun Moxie winked. "Shall I dispatch some men to assist?" Jun Wuyi's expression instantly turned cold. These people dared to assassinate Jun Mo Wu, which ignited a terrifying killing intent in Third Master Jun! "The time is not yet right," Jun Moxie chuckled. "The things they made for me haven't arrived yet. It’s not too late to finish them off once they get here. We mustn't startle the snake now." "You mean... that batch of repeating crossbows you mentioned earlier?" Jun Wuyi's eyes lit up. "Third Uncle is truly far-sighted, seeing things clearly, planning victory thousands of miles away within the strategy..." Jun Mo Wu showered him with flattery. Jun Wuyi was left amused and exasperated. "What about Butler Guan's people?" Jun Moxie asked curiously. "Aren't we welcoming them today? Why don't we see any sign of them?" "They are currently in your sister-in-law's small courtyard; Qinghan seems to be throwing a tantrum." Jun Wuyi smiled subtly. "After all, it’s a family matter for the Butler; a few more moments' wait won't matter."

As he finished that last sentence, Jun Mo Wu had already turned his head. Through the storm outside the door, several figures slowly approached. Speak of the devil, it was the Butler and his entourage!

The Butler had brought five people to the banquet. Sister-in-law Guan Qinghan, her pretty face like ice, walked at the rear. Leading the group was a man in his forties, thin-faced and tall, dressed in a flowing green robe, walking as if the torrential rain didn't dare touch him in the slightest. This was Guan Dongliu, the current head of the Guan family and Guan Qinghan's biological father.

Behind him was an exceedingly stout old man, his hair and beard white, yet possessing the broad back and muscular build of a tiger. His eyes were like a leopard's, and divine light flashed when they opened and closed. He walked with the imposing bearing of a fierce tiger, truly an iron tower—this was Guan Rushan, the foremost expert of the Guan family.

Following Guan Rushan were two tall, graceful youths, with jade-like complexions and rosy lips, handsome and distinguished; these were Guan Qinghan's elder brother and younger brother: Eldest Young Master Guan Qingbo and Second Young Master Guan Qingyue.

Look at how they are bred, Jun Moxie thought with a hint of malice. The sister-in-law is gracefully alluring, and her two brothers are refined and charmingly handsome youths. The Guan family's genes are truly excellent. I wonder if these two are just gilded showpieces?! "Brother Guan!" Jun Wuyi, seated in his wheelchair, bowed with a smile and extended a hand to welcome them. "No need for formalities, Jun Wuyi." Guan Dongliu laughed heartily and returned the salute, then motioned for his two sons to pay respects to Jun Wuyi.

"This must be Third Young Master Jun? Truly a handsome youth, of remarkable bearing and extraordinary demeanor. Third Brother Jun, the Jun family has worthy successors; this is truly cause for celebration," Guan Dongliu said, looking towards Jun Moxie and laughing heartily, showing great warmth.

Truly worthy of being a family head; he can speak such hypocritical pleasantries so sincerely and naturally. Truly remarkable! Young Master Jun instantly judged this head of the Guan family, a relative by a thin thread, with this assessment. And at that very moment, Jun Moxie suddenly and clearly sensed that the gaze Guan Qingbo directed at him first held anger, which then shifted to sheer shock and astonishment, as if Jun Mo Wu should not have been present at all. Although the strange look vanished instantly, perhaps unnoticed by nearly everyone present, it could not escape the sharp senses of the Great Assassin Jun.

Jun Moxie's heart stirred. Why is that? Does he have some connection to me? He searched his memory thoroughly, certain that neither he nor the former Mo Wu had any contact, not even seeing each other before. So, what was Second Young Master Guan shocked or surprised about?! Jun Moxie's mind raced, but his expression remained perfectly calm. He stepped forward, smiled cheerfully, offered a salute, and greeted Guan Qingbo and Guan Qingyue. Since these two were his elder sister's full brothers, he couldn't afford to fully indulge his usual dissolute nature at this juncture.

After the initial introductions customary between powerful families, the elders naturally attended to the elders, and the juniors to the juniors. With no other descendants in the Jun family besides Jun Moxie, the duty of hosting the two young masters of the Guan family fell squarely, and unavoidably, upon the not-so-broad shoulders of the Great Young Master.

"Greetings, Third Young Master Jun," the two said in unison. Originally, both were older than Jun Moxie; if they were reckoning by Guan Qinghan, they should address the Great Young Master as Third Brother. However, although the Guan family was also a Xuan Qi lineage family, dominating one region in the martial world and holding considerable status, their wealth and power still fell somewhat short of the Jun family's. Therefore, the two brothers first offered the proper respectful address to Jun Mo Wu.

This form of address, in turn, indicated that they did not regard Jun Moxie as their elder sister's brother-in-law. These two were young and lacked true composure; otherwise, they would have followed their father's example and warmly addressed the Great Young Master as Third Brother.

With just that single address, "Third Young Master Jun," Jun Moxie instantly understood many things. An extraordinarily enthusiastic smile bloomed on his face as he quickly returned the salute, taking one by each arm, and led them intimately into the main hall. When Jun Moxie took his hand, Guan Qingyue trembled slightly. Though the tremor was slight, Jun Moxie sensed his inner panic clearly.

His heart stirred again. Without changing his expression, he pondered certain specific matters inwardly. Could it be?

The Great Assassin calculated internally while casually saying, "For the two Guan brothers to travel a thousand miles to Tianxiang City, it is my failing that I have been too busy these past two days to accompany my worthy brothers. Truly inexcusable."

Guan Qingbo smiled elegantly. "Young Master Jun is too polite. We are relatives by marriage, truly one family; how can there be any question of offense? Moreover, my brother and I have truly enjoyed visiting many places in Tianxiang City these past two days. Tianxiang City is indeed worthy of being the Imperial Capital—exceptionally prosperous. We both almost forgot to leave, haha."

Guan Qingbo's temperament was somewhat like his father's, and his words were very proper. This Eldest Young Master Guan was wondering: Rumor had it that Third Young Master Jun of the family was irredeemable trash, the worst kind of profligate. Yet, meeting him today, his speech was quite cultured, not as awful as the rumors suggested! "Oh?" Jun Mo Wu put on a furtive look, his face like a toad's, and whispered conspiratorially, "Then I guarantee one place, a place absolutely fun, that my worthy brothers definitely haven't been to."

"What place?" Guan Qingbo cooperated by lowering his voice.

Jun Mo Wu revealed a sly smile only men understood, his eyes darting quickly toward Guan Qinghan before he moved slightly away, then whispered stealthily, "Lingwu Lake! That is a man's paradise! You haven't been there, have you, ga-ga..."

The moment he uttered the words "Lingwu Lake," Guan Qingyue beside him convulsed violently.