Chương 24: Cang Lian's Excitement, Cang Xiong's Return and the Conspiracy

Three days later, at dawn.

As dawn broke, even, deep breathing could be heard from Canglian's room.

He got up early and was practicing the breathing techniques in "Kai Tian Jin" (a martial arts manual), feeling the flow of "blood" and "qi" in his body.

Just then, a whisper, deliberately lowered yet still clear, drifted over on the breeze.

Although they were separated by several rooms and he did not probe out with his spiritual thoughts, he was still able to hear every word clearly thanks to the keen hearing honed by the Heaven and Earth Pearl.

The sound came from the maid's room at the end of the corridor. He recognized one of the maids; she was the one who served him—Lai Xiang.

"Hey, Sister Lai Xiang, have you heard? The young master is coming back to China this afternoon to celebrate the New Year!" A younger maid's voice was full of envy.

"Indeed, the front yard is bustling with activity." Lai Xiang's voice carried a hint of pride, as if the young master were family.

"Speaking of which, our young master is truly an exceptional individual. He possesses profound martial arts skills, is handsome, and his competence is beyond reproach. A few years ago, he even went to Japan to study; his vision was truly remarkable..."

"Yes, in the entire Shenghai, who doesn't know the name of Cang Xiong, the eldest son of the Cang family?"

Has Cang Xiong returned?

Cang Lian frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Fragments of memory surfaced, revealing that this so-called "elder brother" had always treated him with a condescending and indifferent attitude since childhood, and was not very friendly to him.

In Canglian's cowardly memories, she was even filled with fear of this older brother.

Just then, he heard the two people's conversation turn to him.

"But to be honest, Sister Lai Xiang, when I was pouring tea yesterday, I heard Fifth Madam say that... Young Master Lian might be sent to the New Army's barracks, some kind of Imperial Guard."

"The Royal Guard Battalion?" Lai Xiang gasped in surprise.

"That's backed by the New Army! If they're lucky enough to become a battalion commander or regimental commander, wouldn't that be a meteoric rise? How can this good-for-nothing be so lucky?"

"Good fortune?" Another maid scoffed, her voice filled with disdain and schadenfreude.

"You've got to be kidding! Judging from Fifth Concubine's expression, it doesn't seem like a good job. Think about it, what kind of place is the New Army? It's a battlefield of gunfire! I've heard that the Imperial Guard sounds impressive, but it's really just cannon fodder, the front-line targets! In my opinion, she's probably destined to be cannon fodder!"

"That's true. He's a useless piece of trash; going there would be a waste of his time. He probably won't even last three days... It's ridiculous!"

Send me to the Imperial Guard Battalion?

Upon hearing this, Cang Lian was not angry at all; instead, she was overjoyed!

If this is true, it would undoubtedly be a golden opportunity to break free from the Cang family's surveillance and escape this cage!

Once he's free from the Cang family's surveillance, he can completely unleash his potential, cultivate martial arts as he pleases, seek resources, and even... see the wider world!

This is truly a fantastic thing!

His face was filled with barely suppressed excitement, but the words uttered by the two maids, Lai Xiang, were like buzzing flies, full of vicious curses and contempt.

"He deserves it!" Lai Xiang's voice was sharp and sarcastic.

"A good-for-nothing, occupying the title of young master, he's like a wandering ghost all day long, not even as good as a servant. Sending him to be cannon fodder is making the best use of him, and it's not a waste of our Cang family's rice and grain."

"Exactly, it's good that you went, so you won't be an eyesore."

Upon hearing this, the excitement on Cang Lian's face slowly faded, replaced by an icy chill.

There was no longer a trace of a smile in his eyes, only a chilling coldness.

He immediately stopped his attack and left without saying a word.

He went straight to the maid's room at the end of the corridor, where people were still chattering amongst themselves.

"Bang!"

He kicked the door open.

Lai Xiang and another maid, who were talking enthusiastically, trembled in fright and turned around in terror, only to see Cang Lian standing at the door, with his cold eyes.

"Slap! Slap!"

Two crisp, loud slaps, swift as lightning, stunned the two maids, knocking them to the ground.

"You, you, you..." The two covered their faces, which had suddenly swelled up and were burning with pain. They stared at each other, their eyes filled with anger and grievance.

They had no idea what had gotten into Cang Lian, who was whipping them for no reason.

Cang Lian didn't even bother to look at them again, as if he had just swatted two flies.

He turned around in high spirits, humming an off-key tune, and went downstairs with light steps.

Only two maids were left in the room, covering their faces, both shocked and frightened, daring not to speak out.

……

As dusk fell, golden sunlight shone through the clouds, turning the glazed tiles of the Cang Mansion into a dazzling spectacle.

The once quiet courtyard suddenly became lively.

The servants hurried back and forth, and the side door, which was usually closed, was now open. Pots of precious orchids were brought out and placed on both sides of the path leading to the main hall.

Cang Lian, who was resting with his eyes closed by the artificial hill, was suddenly summoned by a servant who looked like a steward. He was instructed to stand in two rows with the other members of the Cang family to greet the newcomer.

Even Cang Hong, and his concubines who usually kept to themselves, attended the event in their finest attire, adorned with jewels.

Cang Lian couldn't help but sigh inwardly, what a grand spectacle!

This Cang Xiong holds such a revered position in the Cang family that his entire family is mobilized to give him such a grand welcome, even for a single trip back to China for the Chinese New Year.

Just then, a steady and rhythmic engine sound came from afar.

A gleaming black Western-style sedan slowly drove in and finally stopped in front of the crowd.

The car body was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight, creating a unique fusion with the antique mansion.

The driver respectfully jogged forward and opened the back door of the carriage.

A gleaming black leather boot stepped out first.

Immediately afterwards, a man wearing a well-tailored dark Western-style trench coat bent down and stepped out of the car.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his short hair was neatly combed, his face was handsome, his nose was high and straight, and he had a few carefully trimmed mustaches on his lips, which added to his maturity and elegance.

Upon seeing this man, the smiles on the faces of the Cang family members instantly became incredibly sincere and fervent, as if a hundred flowers were blooming.

This man was none other than Cang Xiong.

As he appeared, memories flooded Cang Lian's mind, and she instantly recognized him.

Cang Xiong is indeed extraordinary.

He is not only a martial arts genius that the Cang family has only seen once in a century, having cultivated to an extremely high level at a young age, but also a graduate of the Japanese Army Academy. He possesses both the composure and restraint of a traditional martial artist and the rigor and sharpness of a military academy, forming a unique and undeniably powerful aura.

Before Cang Hong and Shen Peiyu could speak, the concubines who usually competed for attention all rushed forward with great enthusiasm, showing concern and care, as if he were their most beloved son.

"Xiong'er, are you cold in Japan? Look at you, you've gotten so thin!" Third Concubine scolded, but her eyes seemed glued to him.

"Big brother, I knitted you a sweater, try it on!" A young girl from the Cang family blushed and handed over an exquisite package.

Cang Xiong wore an impeccable smile and calmly dealt with the situation.

He spoke clearly and enthusiastically, calling out "Third Aunt" and "Fifth Aunt" as he took out beautifully packaged gift boxes from the car and distributed them to everyone.

"These are fine cigars for my father."

"This is a pearl necklace from Japan for my mother."

"These are silks and cosmetics for all my aunts..."

He brought out a series of exquisite gift boxes, filled with all sorts of novelties brought from Japan.

Porcelain with cherry blossom patterns, exquisitely crafted pocket watches, and beautifully packaged silks—each item drew gasps of admiration from the concubines.

He was well-mannered and sincere, handling every detail flawlessly, making everyone feel like they were the closest person to him.

Cang Hong looked at all this and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Shen Peiyu stood gracefully to the side, her eyes filled with the pride of being the legal mother.

The large group of people, surrounding Cang Xiong like stars surrounding the moon, entered the brightly lit main hall, thus beginning a grand welcome banquet.

Canglian was naturally not qualified to be served at the table.

He was left abandoned outside the noisy doorway, like a spectator unrelated to the grand feast.

If it were the "Cang Lian" of the past, her heart would surely be filled with loss, jealousy, and inferiority at this moment.

But for him, a transmigrator from another world, there was no ripple in his heart.

That's good, I'm finally able to relax.

……

After the banquet, the main hall, littered with dishes and glasses, gradually returned to calm.

But inside the Western-style building at the deepest part of the mansion, another, more secretive "banquet" has just begun.

The flames in the fireplace flickered quietly, illuminating the faces of Cang Hong, Shen Peiyu, and Cang Xiong.

"Xiong'er!" Cang Hong sat upright on the sofa, his voice deep and powerful, "Have you brought the person?"

Cang Xiong smiled confidently and clapped his hands lightly.

With that crisp snap of his fingers, a figure emerged silently from the shadows behind him, like a ghost.

She was an Eastern woman dressed in a white kimono. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a slender figure and skin so white it was almost translucent.

Her face was expressionless, and her dark eyes were unfathomable, as if they could suck in one's soul.

She walked silently, like a cat patrolling at night.

"Father, Mother!" Cang Xiong introduced, "This is Miss Yukiko. She is a disciple of the Kyuuki school of Japanese magic and is proficient in 'Mind Charm Techniques,' capable of unlocking the deepest secrets hidden in people's hearts, even fragments of long-forgotten memories. With her handling the investigation to determine whether A-Lian knows any clues about the treasure map, there will be absolutely no chance of failure!"

"Alright, let her go!" A hint of ruthlessness and anticipation flashed in Shen Peiyu's eyes.

She had been talking about this mysterious treasure map for a long time.

……

That night, the moonlight was cool and clear.

Cang Lian sat cross-legged on the bed, performing her daily ritual—breathing in the moonlight.

The Heaven and Earth Pearl slowly rotated within his brow, like a miniature moon, absorbing all the clear light streaming in from the window and transforming it into the purest energy to nourish his spirit.

Just as he was getting into the zone and his mind was in perfect harmony with his surroundings, a very subtle "tick-tock" sound, like the ticking of a pendulum, rang in his ears without warning.

In that instant, a sudden sense of alarm struck him!

As if he were being watched by some kind of cold, venomous snake, an indescribable chill ran up his spine and straight to the top of his head.

He immediately stopped cultivating, slowly lay down, slowed his breathing, and calmed his heartbeat, pretending to be fast asleep.

But his spirit was concentrated to its fullest extent at this moment, like a polished bronze mirror, quietly waiting.

The door was pushed open silently.

A light, ethereal figure, like a weightless leaf, glided in silently.

It was that Japanese woman named Yukiko.

Wearing a white kimono in the darkness, she looked like a ghost.

She walked to the bedside and looked down at Cang Lian. In her empty eyes, there seemed to be countless tiny black threads moving around.