From the moment he first saw the Xia Qingtian sisters at the auction, Nie Qingkong knew Xia Qingtian was there to stir up trouble.
Caught off guard by being singled out like this, Nie Qingkong's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
"What do you think you are? How dare you meddle in the Tang family's affairs!"
Before Nie Qingkong could speak, a junior from the Tang family, who had been trying to impress, immediately retorted, "How dare you question our Tang family's new patriarch! Apologize on your knees, and we might spare your life!"
"What's that barking? So noisy," Bai Yuqi said, digging at her ear. "Lei family's security isn't up to par. They let all sorts of trash in."
"Spare my life? Your Tang family is worthy of that now?" Xia Qingtian sneered, crossing her arms. "Nie Qingkong, I know you're here for the treasure map. Stop hiding. What's the point of staying in your shell? Come out and bid, let your sister see if you've improved at all since we last met."
"You!" The young Tang family member who had tried to impress was interrupted by Nie Qingkong raising his hand.
He stood up, adjusted his high-end custom suit, and was about to walk out.
"Patriarch, there's no need to pay attention to her," the Tang family elder who had previously accused Nie Qingkong of being too soft-hearted said with renewed displeasure.
"Didn't you want me to make a name for myself in front of the major families and solidify my identity?" Nie Qingkong shot him a cold glance. "Is there a better moment than this?"
The elder hesitated for a moment before dutifully falling silent and walking out with the other Tang family members.
Seeing Nie Qingkong emerge with several Tang family members behind him, Xia Qingtian first looked back in Da Ya's direction.
Da Ya's eyes were now cold and full of murderous intent, her hand being firmly held by Xia Qingyu.
Seeing Da Ya like this, Xia Qingtian knew that the person who had injured the Tang family's Bright Master back then was among them.
Or perhaps, even more so, all of them had participated in that despicable act of assassinating the Tang family's Bright Master.
"Qingtian sister, long time no see," Nie Qingkong said, offering his usual gentle smile to Xia Qingtian.
"Nie Qingkong, if you're being kidnapped, blink your eyes," Xia Qingtian shifted her gaze from observing the Tang family to Nie Qingkong's face. "If you blink, I'll take you with me."
Hearing Xia Qingtian's words, Nie Qingkong seemed to be suddenly transported back to that night at the harbor.
Xia Qingyu had also been like this, extending her hand to him, wanting to take him away.
But where could he go?
He hadn't left then, and he had even less right to leave now.
"Sister Qingtian, you're joking," Nie Qingkong said, resuming his gentle smile. "I've finally found my family and returned to my ancestors. How could I possibly leave like this?"
"Return to ancestors?" Xia Qingtian murmured the four words and smiled. "Alright, if you want to acknowledge more ancestors, I won't stop you. But, the ancestors of the Tang family aren't so easily acknowledged."
"Does it fall to you to spout nonsense and make decisions about my Tang family's affairs?" The elder behind Nie Qingkong's eyes widened, as if he had had enough of Xia Qingtian's unreasonable behavior.
"She doesn't have the right to decide, but what about me?" Da Ya stepped forward, exuding a solemn killing intent that clashed severely with her round, babyish face, yet she possessed an imposing aura that made people afraid to look directly at her, as if it were an innate suppression. The moment she appeared, the Tang family members immediately showed signs of fear.
"No, impossible!" Someone immediately tried to guess Da Ya's identity. The younger Tang family members, with their weaker resolve, trembled, unable to believe that the Tang family's Bright Master, who had been poisoned and was near death, would appear before them in such a situation.
It was impossible!
The Tang family's Bright Master should have died long ago!
She had been poisoned and besieged by everyone, it was impossible...
"What's impossible about it?" Da Ya smiled. "You dare to disregard the law and围攻 me, dare to disrespect our ancestors and claim false lineage, dare to recklessly hire assassins. What's impossible?"
"Sister..." Xia Qingyu followed out with a distressed look. "I couldn't stop her..."
She had tried her best.
Seeing Xia Qingyu, Nie Qingkong's gaze sharpened, and as if deliberately suppressing some emotion, he clenched his fist at his side.
"It's alright, you go back first," Xia Qingtian waved her hand. It was understandable that Da Ya couldn't hold back her resentment for such deep-seated hatred.
Xia Qingyu still lacked the experience to stop the Tang family's Bright Master, who had been trained with a comprehensive elite education for family succession since childhood.
Xia Qingyu then turned and returned to her seat.
Meanwhile, Xi Fu, who had been watching the commotion with great interest on the first floor, suddenly changed her expression upon seeing Xia Qingyu and immediately looked at Xiang Xueyuan, who had also disguised himself and was beside her.
Xiang Xueyuan's gaze indeed fell on Xia Qingyu. His deep eyes were unfathomable to Xi Fu, but they also made Xi Fu feel a sense of unease.
Seeing Xia Qingyu return, Xiang Xueyuan hooked the corner of his lips and murmured, "Tonight is much more interesting than I anticipated."
Upstairs, the Tang family members had panicked and looked uniformly towards the elder.
The Tang family elder's eyelids twitched. He knew in his heart that even if the Bright Master had survived, she was far from her peak condition.
Killing her would not be difficult.
Today, they absolutely could not acknowledge the Bright Master's identity.
The Tang family now had only one patriarch, and that was Tang Qingkong!
His recently found [biological] grandson!
"Who are you? How dare you speak such nonsense here!" The Tang family elder said with a stern face, indicating that he did not recognize Da Ya.
Hearing the Tang family elder say this, the other Tang family members immediately understood and all claimed not to recognize Da Ya, questioning what she meant by causing trouble here.
The lively scene upstairs captivated those downstairs, who watched with curiosity.
The various influential families were well aware of how chaotic the Tang family was, but to witness such an open display was unprecedented.
At this moment, they observed that the Tang family's new patriarch appeared quite distinguished.
Some also recognized Xia Qingtian and wondered why this young lady seemed to be confronting everyone.
Were all celebrities this hot-tempered?
After previously offending Gu Yaoqing and causing the Gu family to lose face, she was now causing trouble for the Tang family?
This Xia Qingtian... she was a beautiful young girl, why was she so troublesome?
What did she want to achieve?
Her personality, which seemed to provoke everyone she met, was not endearing, and some people had already started whispering, mocking Xia Qingtian for biting off more than she could chew this time, perhaps not even knowing how she would die.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Xia Qingtian paid no mind to what others were saying about her. She was more concerned with the Tang family's current stance.
Xia Qingtian and Da Ya were not surprised by the Tang family's denial.
"I have to say, your Tang family is truly disgusting," Miao Tong said lazily, leaning against the railing and scoffing. "The smell of the Tang family is irritating. You can pretend not to recognize her? I don't even want to say it, but have some shame, alright? She's clearly..."
Miao Tong's gaze fell on Da Ya's face, and he froze.
Then he looked back at the unknown creature hanging on his elder brother and, after repeated comparisons, his eyes widened.
Holy crap, no way!