Staring at the two elderly men lying on the ground, pale as ghosts with their lives uncertain, Han Lin also paused. Upon recognizing them, a look of shock flashed across his face, and he exclaimed, "Hong Lei? Hong Mu? How could they have ended up in your hands?" "They came to intercept me and capture me," Han Xue said calmly. "Wait—this is what he did?" Han Lin's face trembled slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Xiao Yan, deeply skeptical. As a member of the Han family, he was well-acquainted with Hong Lei and Hong Mu—both were genuine Dust Emperor-level warriors. Together, their combined strength could rival a six-star Dust Emperor. Could it be that these two seasoned elders had fallen at the hands of a young man who looked even younger than himself? "Then, do you think any of the others in our party could have accomplished this?" Han Xue seemed somewhat unimpressed with Han Lin, and her tone carried no courtesy. Stiffened by Han Xue, Han Lin's complexion shifted between pale and ashen before he managed to forcibly suppress the lingering sense of jealousy. Should the family elders learn of his treatment of a clan-appointed senior, they would surely impose disciplinary measures upon him. "Ah, I was indeed impetuous earlier," Han Lin offered an awkward smile toward Xiao Yan, then quickly turned his gaze to Han Xue, saying, "Xue sister, let's go. The family head and others are genuinely worried about you." Han Xue nodded slightly, instructed the attendants to return the unconscious Hong Mu and Hong Mu to the carriage, then turned to Xiao Yan and whispered softly, "Mr. Xiao Yan, let's go. I'll introduce you to some of the family members." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brow—he had no intention of becoming deeply involved in the family's internal affairs—but upon seeing the earnest plea in Han Xue's eyes, he sighed and waved his hand, saying, "Then, please lead the way." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Han Xue's delicate face once again bloomed with a gentle, radiant smile. Her usual cold demeanor seemed to have completely melted before him, leaving Han Lin beside her feeling intensely jealous. For years, he had never seen his renowned reserved sister treat a man in such a warm and attentive manner—especially since the man’s age was nearly the same as hers, which only heightened his concern. However, upon learning of Xiao Yan’s strength, he dared not express these feelings openly, so he merely managed a forced, polite smile, then turned to walk ahead, his resentment clearly evident in his steps. In Tian Bei City, the Han family indeed held a strong presence and reputation—evident even in the fact that they were able to bypass the routine inspection upon entering the city. As the convoy gradually entered the city, the bustling, vibrant sounds and waves of activity surged toward them, momentarily overwhelming Xiao Yan, who had spent several days in the desert and found it difficult to adjust. The scale of Tianbei City was no smaller than any city that Xiao Yan had previously seen, and perhaps due to thoughtful planning, the entire city exuded a sense of grandeur. Wide streets bustled with people, reflecting the city's vibrant atmosphere and strong population. The Han family resided in the southern part of the city, while the Hong family occupied the northern region—these two families functioned as the city's two dominant powers, dividing the city into two distinct halves. Of course, there were other smaller factions within the city as well, though in comparison to the Han and Hong families, they were relatively insignificant, existing in a precarious position, much like drifting entities, gazing up at the two towering forces. After nearly half an hour of navigating the city's well-connected streets, Xiao Yan and his companions finally came to a stop outside a vast estate. As the team arrived at the estate gate, they noticed a number of carriages parked there, each bearing the same red emblem. Seeing this, both Han Xue and Han Lin's faces grew slightly pale, the latter's expression darkening as he said, "The Hong family? They dare to show their strength in our Han household?" "Enter!" Han Xue's face regained its composure. She first instructed Han Chong and the others to unload the team's cargo, then leapt off her horse and hurried toward the inner part of the estate. After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan followed suit. As Han Xue led the way through the estate, she encountered several maids along the way and inquired about the situation. It turned out that shortly after Han Lin had departed, the Hong family had stormed into the Han household, and the two families were now locked in ongoing negotiations in the hall. Knowing the location, Han Xue hurriedly sped up, leading Xiao Yan and Han Lin through a series of winding paths. Soon, a grand living hall came into view in Xiao Yan's sight. From a distance, he could already make out the gathering of figures outside the council chamber. As they drew nearer, Han Xue gently waved her hand and then stopped at a spot where they could clearly see inside the chamber, her eyes fixed intently on the hall. Xiao Yan followed her gaze, scanning the hall with his eyes, and then suddenly stopped, his face going utterly stunned. "Han Yue? How is that possible? She's one of the Han family members!" It's no wonder that Han Xue seemed familiar back then—she was actually a sister of mine... For this former senior from the Inner Courtyard, Xiao Yan had a rather clear memory. He had always felt a bit sorry for secretly taking away the earth-core body-nourishing milk that she had painstakingly searched for. However, after spending three years at the Heaven-Burning Qi Tower, Han Yue had already graduated and moved on—this had always been a lingering regret of his. Now, upon his arrival in Zhongzhou, the very first power group he encountered was none other than her family. The concept of fate truly defies comprehension. "Hong Chen, you've brought your people into our Han family today—doesn't that seem rather excessive? Don't think because you're a disciple of Fenglei Pavilion that you can act with impunity. Our Han family has stood strong in Tianbei City for so many years—not by being trampled upon!" A middle-aged man in a brocade robe spoke slowly in the hall, his voice not loud, yet carrying an inherent authority that didn't require anger. "Heard this, Hong Chen's expression grew slightly gloomy, and he coldly remarked, 'Even if our Han family falls short of yours, I can guarantee that if you wish to absorb us, your Hong family will surely suffer severe injuries!' The middle-aged man fixed his dark, penetrating gaze on Hong Chen and spoke slowly. Hong Chen then let out another cold laugh, rising to his feet and said casually, 'Perhaps Father Han hasn't yet heard, but recently, I have officially become a cabinet scholar of Fenglei North Pavilion.' This statement struck like a heavy bomb in the hall, causing everyone's faces to pale, even the usually composed Han Yue, whose long eyelashes trembled slightly." The middle-aged man's gaze grew increasingly somber, carrying a subtle bitterness beneath. He hadn't expected that Hong Chen would become a cabinet disciple of Fenglei North Pavilion—this development significantly strengthened his voice within the pavilion, further amplifying the influence of the Hong family. "Considering the past ties between the Han and Hong families, I can offer the Han family a path. In three days, at the Heavenly Stone Platform in the city, if you can find someone among your peers who defeats me—regardless of whether that person is from your family or not—then for the next ten years, the Hong family will no longer seek any trouble with you. Of course, should you fail, both Han Xue and Han Yue will become mine. How does that sound?" Seeing the stunned expressions of the Han family members, Hong Chen smiled warmly and continued. Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man and several senior elders from the Han family couldn't help but slightly pale. Though Hong Chen was known for his fiery temperament, his cultivation potential was truly outstanding—otherwise, the Fenglei Pavilion wouldn't have taken notice and appointed him to the Grand Council. His current strength likely reached the level of Seven- or Eight-Star Battle Sovereigns, making him unmatched among his peers throughout Tianbei City. Such a contest was nothing short of humiliating. Yet, if they refused, the Hong family might indeed be forced to resort to their final reserves of strength. With the Fenglei North Pavilion stepping in, the Han family would truly be in peril. Silence stretched on in the hall for a long time, until it was finally broken by a clear, composed voice. "Very well," said the Han family, "we accept. But should we lose, I shall marry you—my sister, however, shall not." Hong Chen suddenly lifted his gaze, his eyes blazing with intensity as they fixed upon the long silver hair of Han Yue. After a brief pause, he burst into laughter, "Excellent! I'll go with that. Even marrying your sister would be acceptable!" Then, with that, Hong Chen bid farewell and declared, "We'll meet again on the Heavenly Stone Platform in three days!" With those words, he waved his hand and, accompanied by a large group, burst out laughing and surged forward, quickly vanishing beyond the courtyard. "You've finally come back, young lady," the middle-aged man said, smiling fondly at Han Xue. Then, with a wave of his hand, he added, "But there's no need for you to interfere unnecessarily." Hong Chen could say this with such confidence because, among his peers in Tianbei City, he was nearly unbeatable. Within the Han family, who could possibly be a better match than Han Yue? Han Xue didn't need to elaborate further on his words. Instead, she turned toward the entrance and said, "Come in." The guests in the hall were surprised, lifting their heads in response, their eyes turning toward the interior. They murmured among themselves, wondering if perhaps this young lady truly had someone even better in mind.