When mentioning the Jun family, Xue Shuangqing’s expression immediately tightened, and she instinctively gripped her husband's hand a little harder.

“That is absolutely out of the question!” Han Zhanmeng’s eyebrows shot up, his sword-like brows angling sharply, as if two spears had suddenly been unsheathed! “I can agree to the first two points, and we shall proceed according to the Elder’s suggestion, but as for annihilating the Jun family, say no more! Must we relive the events of ten years ago?”

Han Zhanmeng looked sternly at the elders before him and spoke with solemnity, “Ten years ago, several of your Xiao family’s Shen Xuan experts acted against the Jun family without my knowledge, and furthermore, they rashly intervened in the great war between the secular nations. This led to the decimation of the Jun family’s talents, bringing them to the brink of ruin, a disaster from which they could never recover. Although I ultimately stopped it, the Jun family suffered three major blows. The second generation of descendants is left with only one crippled soul, and the third generation barely amounts to a single dissolute boy. No matter how you look at it, this was already far too excessive.”

“No matter what, the Jun family is a lineage of loyal officials and capable generals, while the feud between your two families is merely a private grievance! I still cannot comprehend the Elder’s words just now—when did the Jun family repeatedly challenge the authority of our Silver City? It seems they only offended the Xiao Sect, right? This matter is closed! If anyone dares to act rashly again, I, as the City Lord, will enforce the law of this territory and punish them without mercy!”

“But the Jun family now has two formidable experts—one is already a looming threat to the heart of Silver City! Even if we do not actively move against them, once their wings are fully grown, they will certainly descend upon Silver City to exact revenge for past grievances! City Lord, regardless of who was right or wrong in the past, the fact remains that we killed four important figures of the Jun family and crippled Jun Wuyi. This fact cannot be overlooked; I believe this hatred and resentment will be impossible to resolve for generations.”

“Are you asking the Xiao family to simply offer our necks to let the Jun family vent their anger, City Lord?” the Great Elder appeared quite indignant.

“The root of this matter lies entirely with the Xiao family. Must the Great Elder compound error upon error? To slaughter hundreds of thousands across five steps over the mere romantic affairs of a pair of young lovers was fundamentally a colossal mistake! Therefore, to kill good people because of this is a taboo that Silver City will absolutely not tolerate!”

“We have argued this matter for ten years! And we have been at a stalemate for ten years. I truly have no interest in continuing this debate,” Han Zhanmeng’s eyes grew chillingly cold. “Great Elder, if the Jun family truly intends to march on Silver City to seek revenge, then do as you wish; I will not inquire further. But until the Jun family marches on Silver City, this matter is not to be mentioned again!”

“Wait for the Jun family to attack Silver City? What a massive joke! With the meager capabilities of a mere secular family, wouldn’t that be pure suicide? Even if another century passes, the Jun family will never possess that kind of strength!” another elder snorted. This man was tall and slender; he was the Second Elder, Xiao Buyu.

“Since the Jun family’s strength is so insufficient, why are you so determined?” Han Zhanmeng glared.

“The crucial element is that the Eldest Young Lady is not young anymore… and Han’er is still unmarried. If we keep dragging this out…” Seeing Han Zhanmeng’s opposition, the Great Elder tactfully retreated, changing his line of argument.

“This matter requires careful, long-term planning,” Han Zhanmeng showed a look of distress. “Great Elder, have you forgotten what happened ten years ago? Do you truly want to let Yao’er drink herself to death? Yao’er has always been your most beloved granddaughter; can you really bear it?”

The Great Elder fell silent for a long time, then sighed mournfully, saying no more.

Sixty years ago, when Han Yanyao returned to Silver City and heard that the Xiao family was moving against the Jun family, she went into a frenzy, threatening death. In front of Han Zhanmeng and the Great Elder, she severed her own meridians, vowing to live and die with the Jun family. The sight of all that blood still remained vividly in memory, and this incident was the primary reason Han Zhanmeng absolutely forbade the Xiao family from dealing with the Jun family.

He had not forgotten that after painstakingly persuading the Old City Lord to save Han Yanyao, the Xiao family assumed the matter was settled and moved against the Jun family again. At that time, Han Yanyao was weak, unable to sever her meridians again. But that stubborn woman plunged two long swords into her own body, then stood before the Great Elder, covered in blood, begging him to revoke his order.

The Great Elder, having no other choice, canceled the secret plan against the Jun family. However, Han Yanyao’s two life-risking, fierce acts shocked the Old City Lord and also enraged Han Zhanmeng and his wife against the Xiao family! The rift within Silver City began at that very moment.

Of course, these matters were known only to a tiny fraction of people within Silver City; outsiders knew nothing.

“Even taking a step back, if we just teach the Lin family a lesson and strike the related forces, wouldn’t that be another heavy blow to the Jun family? Whether the Jun family can withstand it is uncertain. Let us not mention destroying the entire family again,” Han Zhanmeng sighed inwardly, his gaze sweeping past the hall entrance toward a solitary, snow-covered peak in the distance. He thought, Yao’er, this is all your father can do for you. I only hope that you…

“Since that is the case, perhaps we should settle for this arrangement,” the Great Elder was unwilling to give up but had no choice but to yield. He proposed, “This time, let Second Brother lead the Fifth and Eighth Brothers down the mountain. And for added security, let us also invite the Old City Lord’s Seven Swords of Ice and Snow to accompany them.” He continued, “If that mysterious person is truly peerlessly powerful, having the Seven Swords of Ice and Snow will give us greater certainty.”

“Good! It is decided! Let Tianchang handle all remaining matters entirely,” Han Zhanmeng rubbed his forehead and stood up, walking out with his wife. As he reached the great hall’s threshold, he suddenly turned back, his voice firm: “No matter what, these matters must not involve the Jun family! Anyone who disobeys will be reported to my father, and they will be exiled from Silver City! I will show no mercy!” With that, the two slowly walked out.

The Great Elder’s expression did not change, but a flash of cold anger crossed his eyes. He stood silently for a long time before abruptly turning and facing Xiao Buyu, his gaze piercing. “Prepare yourself. You will descend the mountain immediately this afternoon. There can be no delay!”

“Big Brother, then… the Jun family matter?” Xiao Buyu frowned slightly.

“There will be plenty of opportunities. We will plan for the long term!” Xiao Xingyun took a deep breath. “After descending the mountain, manage your own judgment and act accordingly.”

“Yes!”

Outside the hall, Xue Shuangqing finally relaxed, patting her chest with a lingering sense of fear. “Thank you, my husband, for standing firm. If you hadn't insisted, the Jun family would have likely perished this time. And if anything unfortunate happened to the Jun family, Yao’er would probably…”

“Although I stopped this incident in time, Yao’er’s troubled heart remains unresolved. We can only take things one step at a time,” Han Zhanmeng sighed deeply, looking up at the snowflakes falling from the sky. He murmured softly, “Yao’er, over these ten years… she has suffered too much. How could I, her father, completely discard her only hope?”

“No one can harm my daughter! My family!” Han Zhanmeng whispered coldly, waving his sleeve. A large boulder obscured by snow by the roadside suddenly shattered without a sound, dissolving into a flurry of snow!

Xue Shuangqing clung tightly to her husband, suddenly feeling a profound sense of peace and security. She felt that with his broad shoulders supporting her, nothing in the world could harm her or their two precious daughters, and she smiled with contentment.

On the solitary, snow-covered peak not far from the great hall, inside a cave carved from ice and snow, an elegant woman in white, her face veiled, unfolded a letter. The moment she glanced at it, her fingers trembled, and tears burst from her eyes.

“It’s really him! His injury is truly healed, Heaven bless him…” The white-robed woman wept with joy, collapsing onto the desk, her delicate body trembling like a leaf in the wind. This woman, ice-cold for the past decade, had her long-frozen heart shattered by this single piece of correspondence, revealing the fragility and helplessness buried deep within her heart.

Tears streamed down the white-robed woman’s face as she sobbed softly. Suddenly, she stood up and walked to the cave entrance, kneeling down devoutly. She looked up at the dark, overcast sky, clasped her hands in prayer, and whispered: “Thank you, Heavens, for his recovery; thank you, Heavens, for ending his pain. I beg the Heavens to grant him happiness; I, this humble woman, would willingly subtract ten or twenty years from my life in exchange for his safety and joy…”

“Even if we cannot be together, I will still be your Yao’er…” Shui Yuan’er prayed softly, her voice dissolving quietly into the wind and snow. Suddenly, a fierce wind rose in the sky, and the never-ceasing snowfall grew heavier and denser, fluttering down to completely envelop the lonely, fragile figure on the snow peak, hiding her entirely in the storm.

But the white-robed woman remained kneeling motionlessly, praying earnestly, her tears freezing over.

Not long after, ten figures leaped out of Silver City like shooting stars, disappearing into the wind and snow as they descended the mountain.

Young Master Jun was dragged out of his bed early that morning by the wailing and howling Fatty. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Fatty, clad in his dark blue robes, looked unusually refreshed. He appeared somewhat thinner, and his face was clean-shaven. Even his hair seemed to carry the faint scent of soap. It turned out the Fatty had even applied powder—and quite thickly at that…

“Ugh…” Jun Wuxie gagged. “Fatty, do you have any idea how terrifying you look when you cake yourself in cosmetics? And you put on so much! Are you trying to scare people like a ghost? Why did you drag me up so early?” He glanced out the window; it was barely dawn.

“Third Young Master, Big Brother…” Tang Fatty acted coyly. “Didn’t you promise to accompany me to see Miss Sun today…”

“Miss Sun… that Miss Sun… hmm…” Jun Moye suddenly recalled, “The fiancée you once gambled away?”

“Damn it!” Fatty grumbled, a little annoyed. “Can you not bring up that embarrassing incident? It was just one stupid mistake!” He then admired himself with some self-satisfaction. “I look pretty good now, don’t I? Haven’t I become quite slender?”

“En, you are certainly much thinner. This is actually starting to resemble a human being,” Jun Moye’s mouth twitched. “You are truly so slender, you’re simply mesmerizing…”

Tang Yuan grinned broadly, turning around proudly, feeling exceptionally buoyant about himself.

But this single turn was disastrous. His soft, dangling belly, which he had just managed to flatten, began to spin wildly like a giant sandbag attached to a rubber band, possessing surprising elasticity. It whipped around in a full circle with a swoosh, then landed with a thwack against his thigh and knee.

“The first meeting must leave a good impression on Miss Sun,” Tang Fatty’s small eyes were filled with yearning, twinkling red with happiness.

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