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"Brother Guan!" Jun Wu Yi greeted with a composed grace, his aged voice steady but warm, cupping his hands in a traditional and dignified manner even as he remained seated in his wheelchair.Ā
"Brother Jun, there's truly no need for such formalities between old friends," Guan Dong Liu replied with a radiant smile, equally elegant in his movements. His words were gentle, but every syllable carried a sense of worldly poise that made it impossible to discern the true thoughts hidden beneath.
He returned the greeting with flawless etiquette, a model of refined diplomacy. Then, with a flick of his hand, he signaled to his two sons.
As the two young men stepped forward, Guan Dong Liu turned toward Jun Mo Xie and offered a complimentāone that was as polished as it was subtly barbed. "The third generation of the Jun family is indeed very handsome, graceful, and bears extraordinary talents. Brother Jun, the future of your family is indeed in very secure hands."
The words, spoken with such earnest admiration, held the precise mixture of praise and veiled challenge that only an experienced noble could manage. A less discerning man might have swelled with pride.
But Jun Mo Xie, with his mind sharper than a blade hidden beneath silk robes, immediately caught the flavor of irony laced into the honeyed compliment.
This wasn't praiseāit was a test, a provocation cloaked in social propriety.
What a cunning old fox!
Jun Mo Xie thought, his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smirk. This one has been playing the game for decades. I'll have to be twice as sly to keep up.
But his amusement was quickly diverted. His sharp eyes caught a flicker of movementāso quick, so subtle, that a lesser observer would've missed it entirely.
Guan Qing Yue, the younger of the two brothers, had involuntarily flinched the moment he laid eyes on Jun Mo Xie. The fleeting expression on his faceāfirst a flash of anger, followed immediately by wide-eyed surpriseālasted less than a heartbeat before vanishing behind a mask of indifference.
Yet, that micro-expression had already revealed too much.
To the average person, it would have been nothing. But Jun Mo Xie was no ordinary observer. He was a Hitman and now a powerhouse of a cultivator; reading the finest twitches of a man's soul from the tiniest movement of his eyes was just childish play to him.Ā
So, you didn't expect me to be here... were you hoping I'd be six feet under, Qing Yue? You look like you've seen a ghost. Heh... your eyes just confessed what your mouth never will.
Still, Jun Mo Xie's expression remained as serene and unassuming as before, his inner amusement kept under careful lock and key. He chuckled lightly to himself, not exposing the young man... not yet waiting for the right time.
He stepped forward, displaying every bit of warmth and courtesy expected of the Jun Family's young master, greeting the two brothers with polite deference.
"I've heard much of the Guan brothers' refined temperament and brilliant talents," He said with a pleasant tone, eyes gleaming with silent mischief. "To finally meet you is a true honor."
The two brothers cupped their hands in return, but their words revealed more than they intended.
"Third Young Master," They greeted.
It was a formal address, stiff and distant. To anyone else, it might seem appropriate. But to Jun Mo Xie, it was a deliberate slight.
They should have called him brother. He was, after all, the brother-in-law of their sister. The protocol demanded they refer to him with familial warmth. But instead, they had chosen the cold, noble title of 'Third Young Master'ādeliberately setting a boundary, stripping away the recognition that should have come naturally with their sister's marriage.
So, you don't acknowledge me as family, huh?
Jun Mo Xie's smile grew wider, but his eyes narrowed a fraction. You're still seeing me as just another pampered heir of a powerful family... interesting.
But instead of confronting it, he welcomed it.
Good. Let's keep it this way. Makes it easier to act when no one's watching too closely.
With an easy, almost playful motion, Jun Mo Xie stepped closer and hooked his arm around Guan Qing Yue's shoulder. His movements were smooth, natural, and friendly to the untrained eyeābut Guan Qing Yue flinched. Ever so slightly, his arm trembled in Jun Mo Xie's grasp. It was a tremble that betrayed fear, that screamed guilt.
Jun Mo Xie noticed it immediately, and he almost laughed aloud. You're terrified. You thought I'd be dead. And now that I'm not, you're afraid I know exactly what you did. Smart boy. Because I do.
Still smiling, he guided the younger Guan away from the group toward a slightly more secluded corner of the hall, leaving Guan Qing Bo to fill the air with pleasant small talk.
"You've traveled thousands of miles to reach Tian Xiang city," Jun Mo Xie said softly, his voice laced with subtle meaning. "And I've failed to entertain you for the first two days. How neglectful of me, brothersā¦"
"There's no need for any formalities," Guan Qing Bo quickly replied with a smile that mirrored his father'sāelegant and polished. "Our first two days in the capital have been truly wonderful. We've met many interesting people and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. This place really does live up to its reputation as the heart of the Empire. So please, brother, no need to apologize."
Everything about the elder brother was refined, graceful, and dignified. Not a single crack showed in his decorum. And yet, Jun Mo Xie knew that this same man was rumored to have indulgences just as lascivious and reckless as the former Jun Mo Xie.
Looks like you've learned to wear a mask well, Brother Guan. Let's see how you react when I poke at it a little.
With a conspiratorial grin, Jun Mo Xie leaned in, dropping his voice into a confidential whisper.
"Oh? Then allow me to suggest a place," He said, his tone turning sly. "A place that will bring you more joy than anything else in Tian Xiang..."
Guan Qing Bo raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Oh? What place is that?"
Jun Mo Xie chuckled darkly and swept a quick glance toward Guan Qing Han, ensuring she was nowhere close enough to overhear.
"Spirit Fog Lake," He whispered.
It was a name that made most men's eyes widen with either curiosity or fond memories. A place shrouded in mystery and lust, known among nobles and wanderers alike as a playground of indulgence and desire.
A man's paradise.
And the effect was immediate.
Guan Qing Bo's refined composure barely falteredāhe was practiced, after allābut a flicker of heat lit in his eyes for just a second, betraying interest.
But the real reaction came from Guan Qing Yue.
The younger brother's entire body gave a sudden, violent twitch. His face spasmed as though someone had slapped him, and a cold sweat broke out at his temples. Though he tried to hide it by turning away and covering his mouth with his hand, Jun Mo Xie caught every detail with crystal clarity.
Bingo!
Jun Mo Xie continued smiling innocently, as though he'd said nothing more than a common suggestion.
But inside, he was already placing the pieces together. All he needed to do now... was patience.
---- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ----
Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 101: Sudden Outburst
Chapter 102: Qing Yue's Fury
Chapter 103: A Tragic Man
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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