Back when Yang Kai had told the Xiang and Nan families that he wanted to see their sincerity in the capital within three months, the Nan family had sent four crates of supplies, which was a fair bit of blood money on their part. But the Xiang family had shown up in person, led by none other than the second young master himself — and that left Yang Kai scratching his head.
After a brief exchange, however, he'd pieced together a few guesses, which was why he'd asked Qiu Yimeng to fill him in.
Unlike him, this young lady Qiu had lived in the capital for years and had a solid grasp of the world's power plays. Given the Qiu family's resources and connections, she'd surely picked up some rumors about what was going on inside the Xiang family.
Hearing Yang Kai lay it all out, Qiu Yimeng couldn't help but smile bitterly — this man's sharpness was really something she found hard to keep up with.
"You've met Xiang Chu before. He's the eldest son of the Xiang family and the future heir. The second young master is said to be born of a concubine, so his status within the clan naturally doesn't compare to his big brother. But he's extraordinarily gifted — a cultivation prodigy, the most talented genius the Xiang family has produced in decades. You fought him just now, so you must've noticed: a youngster at the ninth level of the Zhenyuan Realm is no common sight."
"Mm." Yang Kai nodded. In the Yang family's younger generation, not many had reached the ninth level of the Zhenyuan Realm either, though that was mainly because the clan's juniors lacked resources while training outside.
But Xiang Tianxiao's talent was beyond question.
Even among first-rate forces, there were geniuses. Take Wu Chengyi from the Nine Star Sword Sect, whom Yang Kai had crossed paths with during that strange trial — Wu had already been at the seventh or eighth level of the Zhenyuan Realm back then. Had he lived, he might well have broken through to the Shenyou Realm by now. Though when you really counted, Wu Chengyi was a few years older than Xiang Tianxiao.
"Xiang Chu is calculating and deep, but his younger brother Xiang Tianxiao is the exact opposite. This Xiang Tianxiao is straightforward and candid, and with his outstanding talent, he's won the affection of quite a few elders in the Xiang family." Qiu Yimeng smiled faintly. "And that, of course, is where the problem begins."
"The issue of succession?" Yang Kai furrowed his brow slightly.
"Exactly. Among all the great powers, only your Yang family resolves its succession through a battle of heirs. The other seven great families of the capital — and first-rate forces across the whole world, for that matter — all follow the tradition of the eldest legitimate son taking the seat." There was a brief flicker of bitterness in Qiu Yimeng's expression as she spoke, but she recovered quickly. "As long as the eldest son isn't completely useless, the position is generally secure. The heir doesn't need overwhelming cultivation — they just need to manage the family well. Like Lü Liang of the Lü family, whom you've met. He's only at the seventh level of the Shenyou Realm. In the Lü family, there are people stronger than him, but he's still the patriarch. First, he has the ability; second, he was the legitimate eldest son. My Qiu family will be the same down the road..."
"But in the Xiang family, Xiang Chu is the rightful heir. Yet Xiang Tianxiao's brilliance has made him realize he might be in danger. I've heard — well, it's only hearsay — that Xiang Chu has frequently resorted to schemes against his own brother, and Xiang Tianxiao has never fought back. It seems like he has no interest in competing for power."
Yang Kai absorbed every word, confirming the judgment he'd already formed in his mind. He nodded. "Given Xiang Chu's personality, it's entirely plausible he'd do something like that."
"Now you can understand why Xiang Tianxiao showed up at your residence?" Qiu Yimeng asked with a smile.
"I get it." Understanding dawned on Yang Kai's face.
Xiang Chu feared his brother's capabilities, and Yang Kai happened to be extorting him, so he'd sent his brother here to assist Yang Kai in the succession war.
For one thing, Yang Kai genuinely needed allies in the battle of heirs — this was exactly what he wanted, and such sincerity might prove more useful and practical than the Nan family's four crates of supplies.
For another, with Xiang Tianxiao stationed at Yang Kai's place, all Xiang Chu had to do was help the other Yang family heirs defeat Yang Kai in the war, and it would prove to the clan that he was superior to his younger brother. That would lock his position as heir tight.
Xiang Chu had pulled off a two-for-one strike, and he'd done it quite well.
There was even a good chance he intended to use the succession war to eliminate the people surrounding Xiang Tianxiao — after all, those were the faction within the clan that backed the second young master.
"You think he's worth using?" Yang Kai raised his eyes and glanced at Qiu Yimeng.
Yang Kai's gentle inquiry had Qiu Yimeng beaming like a blooming flower. In high spirits, she replied, "I do! But whether you actually use him or not is entirely your call."
"Let's put it aside for now." Yang Kai remained noncommittal. Whether this second young master of the Xiang family was genuinely here to help remained to be seen. Yang Kai was, as always, a cautious man — he wasn't about to trust a complete stranger based on secondhand information alone.
Time tells the truth of a heart, and distance tests a horse's strength. Only time would prove everything.
"Mm." Qiu Yimeng had expected him to say exactly that, and she gave a graceful nod. "But I did pick up a bit of news from Xiang Tianxiao that might not be great for you. Want to hear it?"
"What news?"
"His big brother and the Nan family's Nan Sheng are also in the war city!" Qiu Yimeng giggled.
Yang Kai showed not a shred of surprise, his expression perfectly calm. "Who did they choose?"
"Your second brother, Yang Zhao!"
"Good taste!" Yang Kai snorted softly. "Sounds like tonight's going to be quite lively."
Qiu Yimeng smiled too, but her expression had none of the earlier tension or confusion. If Yang Kai wanted her to watch the show tonight, she was more than happy to stop worrying about everything else.
"Is there anything else, Young Master Kai? If not, this servant will take her leave!" Qiu Yimeng asked with a grin.
Yang Kai shot her a look, his expression strange. "Don't tease me. I can't handle it."
Seeing the awkwardness on Yang Kai's face, Qiu Yimeng burst into laughter, more delighted than she'd ever been.
"Actually, there is one thing I need you to do." Yang Kai straightened up and spoke again.