When word spread that Director Yang had arrived, the members of the Tian Hen Family were both flattered and anxious.
"Hurry and prepare the reception hall! Invite Director Yang in!"
Before the clan members had finished tidying up, a group of figures had already swept in from the distance, led by none other than Director Yang herself—curvaceous, radiating charm and poise. Though she was a woman, no one in the Tian Hen Family dared look down on her in the slightest. She was a being of overwhelming power, capable of single-handedly overshadowing the sun!
Director Yang strode forward, her gaze sweeping over the assembled faces. When it landed on
Apart from Nie Li, she simply couldn't think of anything the Tian Hen Family possessed that would attract the Dark Guild's attention. She feared those people had come to assassinate Nie Li. He was now the Alchemist Association's most important cooperative partner, and there was no telling how many more collaborations lay ahead—they absolutely could not afford to let anything happen to him!
Seeing Nie Li safe and sound, Director Yang's heart settled.
"Quick, serve Director Yang some tea!" Nie Hai hurriedly called over several maids.
"That won't be necessary!" Director Yang waved them off. She hadn't come here for tea—she had come to confirm Nie Li's safety. She exchanged a brief glance with Nie Li, their eyes conveying a silent understanding.
This exchange did not escape Nie Hai's notice. He immediately grasped the implication—so Nie Li did indeed have some kind of relationship with the Alchemist Association. What he couldn't fathom was why the Association valued Nie Li so highly.
Director Yang paused for a moment, then smiled faintly and addressed Nie Hai and the others. "Family Head Nie Hai, I hear you were attacked by members of the Dark Guild!"
"That's right, Director Yang. Both of these individuals were from the Dark Guild. Besides these two who are dead, one more escaped while wounded!" Nie Hai pointed to the two corpses on the ground.
"Please, Director Yang, speak freely," Nie Hai replied courteously, his demeanor respectful and deferential.
"I'm concerned that the Dark Guild, having failed in their objective, may return. I worry for the safety of the Tian Hen Family, and I'd like to assign several Gold-level Warriors and Demon Spirit Masters to help guard your estate. What do you think?" Yang Xin said. While she spoke of protecting the Tian Hen Family, in truth she simply wanted to send people to protect Nie Li—nothing more.
"Assign several Gold-level Warriors and Demon Spirit Masters?" Nie Hai was stunned. His suspicions deepened. What method had Nie Li used to earn such dedicated support from the Alchemist Association? Not only were they purchasing large quantities of herbs from the Tian Hen Family at premium prices, but now they were even offering to send Gold-level experts to help?
"That seems... somewhat inappropriate," said Great Elder
"Inappropriate how?" Nie Li looked at Nie Wei. "Could it be that the Great Elder suspects the Alchemist Association harbors ulterior motives toward our Tian Hen Family? That's quite the petty-minded way to view a magnanimous gesture!"
"Insolent! Who are you calling petty-minded?" Nie Wei snapped, his face darkening with anger. This Nie Li was growing more and more lawless—how dare he openly contradict him!
Seeing Nie Wei berating Nie Li from such a position of superiority, Yang Xin understood at once—it seemed Nie Li had not disclosed everything to his family. This Nie Wei clearly had a poor relationship with Nie Li. Yang Xin narrowed her eyes slightly. Nie Li's importance was self-evident, and this was precisely the moment to throw her support behind him.
"Family Head Nie Hai, it seems some members of the Nie family hold prejudices against the Alchemist Association. Perhaps the Association has no need to continue its cooperation with the Tian Hen Family?" Yang Xin's lovely face turned cold, and she let out a sharp huff. Having held positions of authority for years, she could shift her expression in an instant, and the air immediately grew thick with a biting chill.
Nie Wei hurried to explain: "Director Yang, that is not what I meant..." He absolutely could not afford to offend the Alchemist Association. He had merely found the offer to send Gold-level Warriors and Demon Spirit Masters suspicious and wanted to offer a word of caution to Nie Hai—but the way Nie Li had twisted his words, the entire nature of the situation had changed. If the Alchemist Association cut ties with the Tian Hen Family because of this, he would be branded a traitor to the family. He cursed Nie Li inwardly, half-dead with frustration. In a setting like this, the boy would say whatever he pleased, and to make matters worse, Nie Hai kept siding with him—it was enough to drive anyone mad.
Nie Hai, now fully aware of Nie Li's relationship with the Alchemist Association, would never dream of punishing him.
Yang Xin swept a cold glance over Nie Wei and let out a displeased huff. "I am speaking with Family Head Nie Hai. Since when did you have any right to interject?"
At those words, Nie Wei opened his mouth but no sound came. His face flushed a deep crimson. He seethed with resentment toward Yang Xin, but dared not show it—one word from her could decide the fate of the entire Tian Hen Family. How could he possibly act rashly? As the Great Elder of a noble family, being scolded by a woman twenty or thirty years his junior, and unable to so much as retort—the sheer humiliation was almost unbearable!