After an evening of reminiscence, Yang Yi finally understood the saying, 'One woman, two stoves; two women, three streets; three women, a thriving market town!' Now, with four women involved, he could only shake his head, feeling an unprecedented weight of pressure.

He took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled slowly. His expression was utterly dejected, as if he desperately wished to numb himself with the smoke—not because of the women gathered around him, but because of the multitude of external and internal troubles that plagued him.

External: The persistent headaches caused by the Holy See and the Dark Council in America; the Eight Blood Clan Princes, Long Yi, and the Five Elements Death Gods and Death Soldiers had all been deployed, yet the situation remained unrecovered, indicating the sheer difficulty of the matter.

Internal: While the Eight Great Families of Huaxia were definitively finished, the conflict involving the Four Great Sects, Ye Han, and the subsequent entanglement with the Tianlong and Tiangui lineages was still simmering, threatening to erupt into widespread warfare—a prospect that gave Yang Yi a serious headache.

Of the Four Great Sects of Huaxia, three had become central pillars supporting Ye Han, making the Tiangui lineage undoubtedly his greatest backer. As for Yang Yi, despite his formidable influence spanning various regions, his current strength was simply not on the same level. It was like comparing a middle-aged man to a three-year-old child; the disparity was obvious.

“There must be a way to resolve this, the Tiangui lineage then?” Yang Yi seemed to have made a decision, gazing out at the scenery with eyes full of cold resolve.

“Yi!” Xia Shiyun appeared beside him at some unknown time, calling out softly.

“What is it? Are you still worried about Xia Yu?” Yang Yi opened the window and flicked the cigarette butt out, smiling as he asked.

Xia Shiyun nodded. “That child doesn’t know how treacherous people can be, and besides…!”

“Didn't I just say it? The legs are his own; the path he walks is his choice. Moreover, you needn’t worry. I’ve already asked Yanran to go see him. I trust nothing serious will happen,” Yang Yi replied calmly.

“Sigh, I just don’t know how to explain this to my mother and father.”

Suddenly, Yang Yi drew Xia Shiyun close with one arm, pulling her entire body into his embrace. He gently tilted her chin up with both hands. Though the gesture appeared slightly flirtatious, it was imbued with a captivating allure that sent a blush deep into the cheeks of the beauty in his arms. “Sweetheart, you know I hate seeing you sigh. So, promise me you’ll never sigh like that again. Nothing in this world is so monumental, understand?”

“Mm!”

Just as Xia Shiyun finished speaking, a sofa cushion suddenly sailed towards Yang Yi. He shifted his hands, using his right to casually catch the cushion on his forearm, and looked with a playful smile at the visibly annoyed Li Qian. “What’s wrong, Qian’er? Are you jealous?”

“Shameless flirt, horrible flirt! Who’s jealous? I… I just can’t stand seeing you bully Sister Shiyun!” Li Qian retorted, her face flushing slightly.

“Heh, then ask Shiyun. Have I been bullying her?”

“Yes!” Xia Shiyun didn't rush to Yang Yi’s defense, instead nodding shyly.

“See that?”

“Wronged! More wronged than Dou E!” Yang Yi adopted a pitiable expression, attempting to garner sympathy from the ladies, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Li Qian appeared to be leaning into the act even more, smiling sweetly. “Horrible flirt, since you bullied Sister Shiyun, then I must punish you.”

“Punish me?” Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Yang Yi’s eyes; he seemed to have seen right through Li Qian’s intentions, chuckling suggestively. “So, you have an agenda. Tell me, how exactly will you punish me?”

“What are you talking about?” Li Qian rolled her eyes at Yang Yi. “Since it’s summer vacation and you have a chance to return to A City, we’re having a high school reunion, and I need you to come with us!”

“High school reunion?” Yang Yi shook his head. “Not interested!”

Not only was he uninterested, but Yang Yi felt he currently had no spare time for such trivial matters. His return to A City was only supposed to be for three or four days before he had to head back to the Xuanmen sect; after all, some things needed to be handled in person to be effective. Furthermore, within the Xuanmen, aside from his own direct commands, no one else’s orders were truly heeded.

“Shameless flirt, it’s a rare opportunity!” Li Qian stomped her foot, pouting as she began to sulk.

Seeing this, Xia Shiyun also seemed eager for Yang Yi to attend and persuaded him gently. “Yi!”

Hearing her voice, Yang Yi sighed in resignation and asked, “Do you both really want me to accompany you that badly?”

“Yes! Although this reunion includes people from different classes, there will be many familiar faces and old friends there. And Qingqing should be showing up too,” Xia Shiyun added.

“Speaking of which, where’s that fellow Xu Ming?” Li Qian inquired.

“They should be arriving tomorrow afternoon. I needed them to handle a few things in Shanghai first!”

“That’s perfect then! Yi, the party doesn't start until seven tomorrow evening. It’s going to be lively,” Li Qian said cheerfully.

Yang Yi shook his head more times than he could count. He glanced at Xuanyuan Bing, his helplessness deepening as he finally conceded, “Fine, I'll accompany you to this reunion tomorrow night.”

“Brother Yi, I want to come too!” Murong Lianxue suddenly exclaimed.

“Mm!”

“Yay!” Hearing Yang Yi’s assent, Murong Lianxue bounced up and down excitedly, looking utterly like an unrestrained child.

#################################################### By noon the next day, only Yang Yi, Feng Shi, and Murong Lianxue were present at the Black God Gang’s A City headquarters. Xuanyuan Bing, Xia Shiyun, and Li Qian had gone out, seemingly to prepare things for the evening’s gathering. Having Xuanyuan Bing accompany them was also practical; one more person meant one more layer of support. However, when three women go out together, the primary enjoyment, as everyone knows, is shopping. While goods in A City weren’t as outrageously expensive as in some other places, fine and precious items were certainly plentiful.

“How is the situation?” Yang Yi asked, slowly combing Murong Lianxue’s hair while she sat on the sofa, displaying an air of absolute indulgence. He hadn't brewed tea for a long time, but today he sat there with an unusual elegance, slowly sipping his brew.

Feng Shi replied immediately upon hearing the question, “I believe there shouldn’t be a problem. He has already returned home.”

“Is that so?” Yang Yi smiled faintly, looking down at Murong Lianxue, who was fast asleep on his lap, his face full of paternal affection. “Yanran, what kind of person do you think Xia Yu is?”

“Young Master!” Feng Shi looked at Yang Yi with surprise at the address.

“Heh, of course, set aside all external factors and focus purely on his potential strength!”

Feng Shi pondered for a moment before sitting down as well. “Young Master, I see a shadow of yourself in him. I’d say he has the makings of a powerful figure, though he still needs considerable tempering.”

“Oh? How so?” Yang Yi asked with a knowing smile.

“I reviewed his operational records and all his accomplishments within the Black God Gang. While his methods are somewhat naive, they are often precise enough to deliver a fatal blow to his enemies.”

“Xia Yu is indeed excellent material, lacking that quality of being utterly irredeemable,” Yang Yi stated, seeming to have made up his mind. “Go and prepare the car!”

“Yes!” Feng Shi smiled faintly.

Coincidentally, at that moment, Murong Lianxue, who had been resting on Yang Yi’s lap, woke up. She opened her eyes sleepily and murmured, “Brother Yi, are we going out?”

“Mm,” Yang Yi nodded. “Let’s go; I’ll take you to change.”

“Okay!”

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Xia Shiyun’s house.

To the older generation, mixing in the Heidao (underground world) was distinct from mixing in the Heishehui (mafia/gangs). Some people believed that Heidao meant preying on one’s own, dealing in drugs, and engaging in illicit businesses and transactions. Others thought Heishehui meant forming factions to openly struggle against the state and the police.

In Xia Tian’s mind, although he knew Yang Yi was involved in the Heidao, having come to terms with it earlier, he hadn't said much to Xia Shiyun. However, Xia Yu was different; no matter how one viewed the situation, the probability of Xia Tian approving of Xia Yu joining the Heidao was slim.

“Tell me, what exactly is going on?” Xia Tian asked, looking at Xia Yu, who sat with his head bowed in silence.

“What else is there to say? It is what it is. I have decided to walk this path, and I hope you will support me, Father!” Xia Yu looked at his father with unwavering determination. He knew his mother and father were already aware of the situation.

Seeing the firm look on Xia Yu’s face, his mother, as a mother, felt a surge of emotion. Moreover, as an ordinary law-abiding citizen, she didn't fully grasp the implications. Thus, she offered hesitant support. “Xia Tian, since Xia Yu is so determined to join the Heidao, just let him be. And Xia Yu, you really should have told us sooner if you were getting into this line of work!”

“Wife, you’re—” Xia Tian was speechless. His wife interjecting at this critical moment only made things more difficult for him.

In truth, Xia Tian wasn't fundamentally opposed, especially after Xia Shiyun had spoken with him previously. The interrogative tone he adopted today was primarily because the boy hadn’t been direct with the family. And one had to remember, in the Heidao, one wrong step could lead to eternal ruin.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing! If our son likes it, what’s wrong with that? Hmm?” As soon as his mother finished speaking, Xia Yu was instantly filled with excitement. He knew that if his mother agreed, his father, no matter how much he opposed, wouldn’t take any rigid action.

However, at that very moment, the doorbell rang outside.

“I’ll get it!” Xia Yu said, seizing the chance to slip out for some fresh air.

“In any case, I am against Xia Yu joining any sort of Heidao!” Xia Tian said seriously to his wife. “You know, we are only small capitalists. If this child were to…”

“Uncle, Auntie!” Before Xia Tian could finish his sentence, a voice interrupted them.