Things quieted down, everyone waiting for someone to speak. Sure enough, someone asked, "Yellow Envoy, why is the Huang Clan reorganizing and taking charge of all these families and sects this time?"
Everyone reacted differently—after all, everyone present was either a family head or a sect leader.
The Yellow Envoy saw their reactions and spoke up: "You all know about the four small families near White Slope City, right?"
Of course they knew. Many exchanged looks, and some even glanced at the heads of those families.
"Now there are only three left. The Wang Clan is gone." The Yellow Envoy spoke with a hint of sorrow.
After the Yellow Envoy finished, the room stayed silent for a while. He took the chance to continue: "That's why the higher-ups decided to manage things more strictly. Any sect or family without potential will be abandoned and lose the Huang Clan's protection."
After the Yellow Envoy's words, everyone stayed quiet for a while. He took the chance to go on: "That's why the higher-ups decided to manage things properly. Any sect or family without potential will be abandoned, meaning they'll lose the Huang Clan's protection."
Everyone seemed to have heard this news before, but some still protested: "Yellow Envoy, can't you talk to the Huang Clan head about this?"
"Yellow Envoy, there are hundreds of families and sects in the Foundation-Building group. Does that mean more than half will be abandoned?" Some weaker sects started complaining.
"There's no choice. The higher-ups have ordered it. Either keep the top fifty families and sects, or merge the rest," the Yellow Envoy finally stated his purpose.
Everyone knew what 'merging' meant—several families or sects would be combined into a bigger one. Sure, their overall strength would go up, but everything they had before would be thrown into chaos. Especially for hereditary clans, the idea of their family ending in their hands was unbearable.
The crowd of hundreds grew restless again. Some didn't care, but those worried their families or sects would be destroyed crowded around the Yellow Envoy to complain.
Faced with this situation, the Yellow Envoy couldn't do anything either. He found an excuse to leave, leaving the crowd exchanging anxious looks.
After leaving, the Yellow Envoy found a quiet spot to rest. A nearby attendant said, "Yellow Envoy, those people want to see you!"
"Seriously, can't I get a moment's peace?" the Yellow Envoy grumbled.
"No kidding. So what do we do now?" the attendant asked.
"Just send them away. Tell them I'm resting," the Yellow Envoy said. Then he sat alone, quietly amused: "This time, those guys will have to show what they're really made of. Wang Clan, your timing couldn't have been better."
"Aotian, do you really think your daughter can change the Chu Family's fate?" Not long after Chu Tianlan's father stepped out of the gambling house, another man's voice rang out.
Chu Tianlan's father, Aiden Chu, turned and said, "Big brother, can you really bear to see the Chu Family split apart?"
"So what? Ever since Dad handed all the power over to you, I've been waiting for the day the Chu Family dissolves," the man said coldly, as if the clan's fate meant nothing to him.
"Big brother, Dad made things clear back then—why are you still like this?" Aiden Chu asked sadly, seeing his brother acting like a man possessed.
"Made things clear? Everything was for you. Now I want to see how you'll hold the Chu Family together!" The man snorted and left.
Watching his brother leave, Aiden Chu felt deeply frustrated and could only return to the inn in resignation.
Because of the Huang Clan's decree, Skyline City became even more chaotic. Some even took the extreme route—killing the key talents of rival families and sects, making everyone anxious. Some called it a 'purge' before the Hundred-Year Grand Festival; in the past, big clans often did this to consolidate their subordinate families and sects.
On a riverboat, another group was also paying attention to the turmoil outside. Lynn Snowmoon sat there, troubled, gazing out the window.
Soon a young woman entered and said, "Junior Sister, before the Hundred-Year Grand Festival arrives, Master might hold another Viewing Flowers Festival."
"What?" Lynn Snowmoon blurted, shocked that there might be another Viewing Flowers Festival.
"Master was furious after learning about this, so she wants you to pick someone from among the outstanding young talents before the Hundred-Year Grand Festival," the woman sighed helplessly.
"Why?" Lynn Snowmoon demanded, her face darkening.
"Junior Sister, maybe you should just leave." The woman, who had watched Lynn Snowmoon grow up, replied helplessly after seeing her situation.
"No way. If I leave and Master blames me, none of you will get away either." Lynn Snowmoon understood her senior sister's meaning, but she couldn't leave—otherwise, everyone close to her would suffer. Her sect rarely showed mercy.
"But—" The woman wanted to say more, but Lynn Snowmoon stopped her, wanting to be alone.
After the woman left, Lynn Snowmoon sighed, "Why do I have to be in a sect like this?" She remembered a girl who once tried to escape, only to end up with all her followers killed and herself imprisoned deep in the mountains, unable to leave.
She didn't want those close to her to suffer, so she could only stay on the boat. Sometimes, thinking about that wild night with Evan Yang made her feel a little better.
"Who are you, really? Why is there still no news?" Lynn Snowmoon sighed, frustrated.
These days, she's sent many people to search for Evan Yang, but it's as if he vanished. The only clue is that last time, he was summoned by the Wu Family.
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"Did the Wu Family do something to him?" Lynn Snowmoon felt guilty, remembering how Evan Yang had offended Gavin Wu and the others that day.
Just then, another voice sounded from outside: "Junior Sister, there's an invitation letter."
"Bring it in," Lynn Snowmoon said curiously. After her attendant explained, she realized the invitation was from those four clan heirs, who wanted her to join them in discussing the Hundred-Year Grand Festival.
"Junior Sister, what do you think?" The attendant asked, noticing Lynn Snowmoon's odd expression.
"You come with me tonight," Lynn Snowmoon replied, agreeing to the invitation, which surprised the attendant beside her.
"What's wrong?" Lynn Snowmoon asked, seeing her attendant's puzzled look.
"Junior Sister, you usually turn down things like this," the attendant finally voiced her doubts.
"Is Ghost-Hand Wu going to be there?" Lynn Snowmoon asked calmly.
"You're doing this for him, aren't you?" The attendant finally understood why Lynn accepted the invitation.
Lynn Snowmoon nodded, acknowledging her senior sister's guess.
"You..." The attendant didn't know what else to say, and eventually Lynn sent her off to prepare for the banquet.
"I hope I can find out where Evan ended up," Lynn Snowmoon thought. She didn't know Evan Yang had already left the Wu Family; accepting the invitation was just a way to probe for news, especially from Ghost-Hand Wu.
When Wu Family members heard Lynn Snowmoon had accepted, they were first surprised, then delighted. They immediately started preparing, booking the best inn in Skyline City and rushing to get everything ready.
"Wu, are you sure Lynn will come tonight?" The four young elites, already at the venue, discussed among themselves.
The speaker was Brandon Tang. Wu Ghost-Hand smiled at the other three, "Yeah, it was just a casual invite, but since we all have some reputation, she agreed to come."
"Looks like we owe it to Wu's reputation," Brandon Tang laughed.
Wu Ghost-Hand felt secretly pleased, but facing these three, any of whom might become Lynn's partner, he kept up a modest front: "It's all thanks to everyone's reputation. Otherwise, how could we have invited Lynn Snowmoon over?"
The three knew Wu Ghost-Hand's personality, so his sudden humility felt odd. But Brandon Tang, used to it, just replied, "Wu, last time we lost to that beggar. This time, we need to team up—no more letting chances slip by."
"Yeah, it was just a beggar," Wu Ghost-Hand said with a cold smile, though Grandpa Wu's words still weighed on his mind.
The other three felt the same. Last time, a beggar stole their thunder; this time, no matter what, Lynn Snowmoon would have to pick one of them—whoever it was, they'd prove their strength.
So the four sat together, each quietly thinking about how to win Lynn Snowmoon's favor.
A clear voice rang out from the doorway: "Didn't expect you four to arrive so early, did I?"
The four immediately turned and greeted Lynn Snowmoon with smiles as she entered.
Under everyone's gaze, Lynn Snowmoon and her senior sister walked in and found a seat. Seeing the four young men smiling at her, Lynn wondered what these ambitious youths were really thinking. She said, "It's been a while. You all seem much more energetic these days."
"If it weren't for hearing you were coming tonight, we'd still be training," Wu Ghost-Hand joked.
Brandon Tang and the others quickly chimed in, saying they'd all been preparing for the Hundred-Year Grand Festival lately.
"Such hypocrites," Lynn Snowmoon thought after hearing their excuses. She didn't care much for these clan heirs and sect disciples.
Seeing Lynn Snowmoon silent, Wu Ghost-Hand asked, "What do you think about the Hundred-Year Grand Festival, Lynn?"
"It's the same every century. What's so different this time?" Lynn Snowmoon replied.
Her answer instantly dampened their enthusiasm, but Wu Ghost-Hand pressed on, "All four of us are participating in the Festival. Why did you pick a beggar instead of one of us?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Lynn Snowmoon again, eager to hear her explanation.
Lynn Snowmoon hadn't expected Wu Ghost-Hand to bring this up so quickly, so she forced a smile. "I know all four of you are exceptional, but Evan was already chosen. He's my friend now, and he'll be my friend in the future. I hope you'll give me some face and look out for him if you run into him again."