With the death of the Demon Snake Xia Mang, the gathered poisonous snakes lost their leader and scattered in all directions.
After the disaster, the Han family's guards remained huddled together, still a bit stunned.
A Dou Emperor is gone?
"Miss."
"Sister."
As soon as she landed, Han Yue saw the steward Han Chong and her sister Han Xue rushing towards her.
She surveyed them, "Are you both alright?"
"Miss arrived just in time. I sustained minor injuries, nothing serious."
The middle-aged man shook his head, wiping the bloodstains from his mouth with the back of his hand, looking like he was not severely harmed.
"Sister, who is that person?"
Han Xue hugged her sister's arm and whispered in her ear, her gaze directed at Lin Xiu.
"He was a Junior Brother at Jia Nan Academy before, but he's been an elder for a long time. Don't overthink it; there's nothing special between us."
Seeing Han Xue's doubtful expression, Han Yue emphasized.
"Such a good-looking guy, Sister, aren't you moved?"
Han Xue didn't quite believe it.
So young and yet so strong; he would definitely be highly sought after even in the Central Plains.
"One hand cannot clap alone, you know?"
Han Yue poked her forehead with her finger. Seeing Lin Xiu approaching, she gave Han Xue a warning look.
However.
When Lin Xiu actually came over, Han Xue still blurted out, "Thank you, Brother-in-law," leaving Han Yue with a deep blush.
"Xue'er is quite mischievous."
Han Yue looked at her sister's retreating figure and said softly.
"Hmm."
Lin Xiu smiled and looked around, "Has the convoy been affected much? Can we still return to Tian Bei City?"
"Yes, but it will take a bit longer. Traveling with the convoy, it might take five or six days."
Mentioning the journey, Han Yue recalled how Lin Xiu had traveled with her and couldn't help but show a look of shock.
A journey that would normally take five or six days, even with Dou Qi Wings, would require two or three days. Yet Lin Xiu had only taken less than half an hour.
"Will it take that long?"
Lin Xiu frowned slightly.
"Junior Brother, are you in a hurry?"
Han Yue looked at him, recalling that he hadn't answered her earlier question.
Why did the Junior Brother suddenly come to Tian Bei City?
"I want to visit Burning Flame Valley. The sooner I can get there, the better."
Lin Xiu replied.
"There's no need to rush then."
Han Yue sighed in relief upon hearing his words. Seeing Lin Xiu's puzzled look, she smiled and explained, "The spatial wormhole in Tian Bei City is undergoing maintenance these days and won't be operational for a short time."
"Does maintenance usually take a long time?"
Lin Xiu asked, concerned that if it took months, he would have to choose another city.
"Junior Brother, you don't need to worry about that. Our Han family is one of the two major forces in Tian Bei City, so arranging for someone to enter the spatial wormhole is quite easy."
Han Yue's eyes were filled with anticipation as she looked at him.
"Then I'll trouble Senior Sister."
Lin Xiu agreed.
Afterward, the group followed the convoy and headed back to Tian Bei City.
Along the way, they encountered no trouble.
On the third day, Han Lin arrived with his team and joined the convoy.
Seeing that Han Yue and Han Xue were unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
On the way back to Tian Bei City, Han Lin found Han Chong to inquire about the news and learned that the Demon Snake Xia Mang had been killed by Lin Xiu with a single punch. His face turned pale.
Seeing this reaction, Han Chong felt it was odd. After some questioning, he found out that Han Lin had previously provoked Lin Xiu, so he grabbed Han Lin's ear and made him apologize to Lin Xiu in person.
During these two days, Lin Xiu hadn't done anything. Every meal time, it was Han Chong who personally served him, so Lin Xiu had a good impression of the middle-aged man.
Therefore, he didn't make any demands and agreed to the young man's apology.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the convoy was getting closer to Tian Bei City.
"Stop."
A commanding voice came from the roadside, and a group of people emerged. At the forefront were two elderly men dressed in light red robes, wearing a red badge on their chests.
This was the emblem of the Hong family.
"Miss Han Xue, please come out. We have come specifically for you."
An elder said.
The other elder scanned the convoy and frowned slightly, "Strange…"
How could these people be so unafraid? Is there some trick here?
It couldn't be. The information was clear: the Han family had not mobilized anyone else, only one young lady.
Although Han Yue is a Dou Emperor, with the combined strength of Hong Lie and himself, capturing her with two 4-Star Dou Emperors shouldn't be too difficult.
Inside the carriage.
Lin Xiu, leaning against the window, opened his eyes upon hearing the noise. "Senior Sister, are they enemies?"
The Han and Hong families have always had a competitive relationship, so calling them enemies is not an exaggeration.
Han Yue nodded slightly.
In the next moment, a wave of heat surged inside the carriage, followed by gasps from outside.
"Continue moving."
Lin Xiu closed his eyes again.
Seeing this, Han Yue gave her sister a look. The latter exited the carriage and found that the Han family guards looked terrified, as if they had seen a ghost.
"What happened?"
She walked up to Han Chong, frowning in inquiry, while scanning the surroundings with some confusion.
She had clearly heard the Hong family members speaking earlier, but she didn't see anyone.
"Second Miss, the Hong family's Elders Hong Lie and Hong Mu are dead. They turned to ashes in a burst of fire."
Han Chong answered tremulously. The two Dou Emperors didn't even have a chance to scream; they were gone instantly.
Those were Dou Emperors, and there were only a few in the entire Han family. Just like that, they were gone.
"Hiss…"
Han Xue felt goosebumps all over her body upon hearing this and hugged herself, rubbing her arms.
Is this the true strength of Lin Xiu?
He just asked a question, and two Dou Emperors, along with the other Hong family members, were gone?
Coming to her senses, she immediately said, "Uncle Han, have the convoy depart immediately. Also, make sure everyone keeps quiet about what happened just now. Pretend they didn't see anything, understood?"
Han Chong nodded repeatedly. In such a cursed place where even Dou Emperors could be evaporated, he, a peak Dou Spirit, had no desire to stay any longer.
Returning to the carriage, Han Xue shook her head slightly at her sister's gaze, indicating they would discuss it later.
Soon, voices began to rise around them.
Lin Xiu lifted the carriage curtain and saw the city's entrance he had seen before, with people coming and going through the gate.
"Lin Xiu, stay at my place. I'll handle the spatial wormhole issue and will accompany you around the city in the next few days," Han Yue extended an invitation.
"Alright."
Lin Xiu agreed.
The convoy continued, heading towards the southern district of Tian Bei City.
"Did the Hong family people arrive?"
Soon, Han Lin's surprised voice came from outside the carriage.
Hearing this, Han Yue and her sister exited the carriage, with Lin Xiu following behind them.
At the entrance of a luxurious estate, two carriages with red badge symbols were parked.
"What are the Hong family people doing here?"
Han Xue frowned deeply. The two families had been in conflict recently, and the Hong family had even sent people to capture her outside the city.
How dare they show up here?!
"Xue'er, take it slow."
Han Yue called out to her sister's retreating figure. Seeing no response, she made a helpless gesture toward Lin Xiu.
She said, "Junior Brother, I'll take you to your accommodations."
"Alright."
Lin Xiu nodded slightly and followed Han Yue as they got out of the carriage and walked towards the back of the Han family estate.
Along the way, servants who saw the young lady leading a strange man were full of curiosity.
Han Yue chose a quiet courtyard for Lin Xiu. They sat in a pavilion in the courtyard while servants came and went, preparing the room.
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