When Su Ding arrived at the Jin residence, she saw Old Master Jin waiting at the main entrance.
She was surprised. "Old Master Jin?"
Old Master Jin scrutinized her with a meaningful gaze, then turned to look at A’Da and A’Xia behind Su Ding. "And who are these two?"
"They are the bodyguards I hired," Su Ding stated directly. "You must be aware of what happened before."
Old Master Jin understood she was referring to the incident where Miao Miao had kidnapped her. He smiled. "It's understandable. Miao Miao was indeed acting out. Please, come in."
Su Ding entered the gates with A’Da and A’Xia.
Along the way, Old Master Jin was very kind to her, inquiring about her current well-being. "Is your injury feeling better?"
Su Ding replied politely, "Mm."
"Little Xi misses you dearly. You two have a special bond, it's quite a connection," Old Master Jin chuckled.
Su Ding also smiled and nodded. "Little Xi is indeed very sensible and lovable."
Old Master Jin walked slowly, his expression shifting subtly, which Su Ding, beside him, did not notice.
As they neared the main house, Old Master Jin suddenly stopped.
"What is it?"
Su Ding looked at the elder beside her, puzzled, and only then noticed the hostility in his eyes.
Her heart sank in alarm!
Soon, she realized something was amiss, a sense of danger creeping into her mind.
In an instant, dozens of men in suits appeared from nowhere, all pointing handguns directly at the three of them.
"What are you doing!" A’Da and A’Xia exclaimed simultaneously, their hands swiftly reaching for their own pistols.
Both sides fell into a tense standoff.
Su Ding immediately looked at Old Master Jin.
"Old Master Jin, what is the meaning of this?" Her voice turned cold and sharp, carrying a deep chill.
"This old man wishes to invite you as a guest, but your two bodyguards… they seem to have an unknown origin…"
Even with A’Da and A’Xia pointing guns at him, Old Master Jin remained unfazed.
Seeing Old Master Jin still evading her question, Su Ding said with a stern face, "An unknown origin warrants drawing a gun, Old Master? If you have something to say, just say it."
"Heh heh, you don't need to be afraid. This old man simply needs you to stay with us for a few days. Once I confirm your identity, I will let you go," Old Master Jin narrowed his eyes, appraising Su Ding.
Su Ding clenched her fists tightly, her body rigid. She had no idea how things had come to this.
"Confirm my identity? I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Su Ding, you're still playing dumb when the matter is at hand?" Old Master Jin raised his cane and pointed at A’Da and A’Xia. "If I'm not mistaken, these two are from the Ouyang family."
A’Da and A’Xia immediately retorted, "What business is it of yours!"
Old Master Jin stared at them coldly, his voice chilling. "Then let me tell you directly, your objective will not be achieved. A mere woman cannot possibly do anything to my Jin family!"
A’Da, A’Xia, and Su Ding were all filled with confusion.
What objective?
"Guards, take Su Ding to the side courtyard and lock these two up!"
Old Master Jin did not waste any more words with them and gave the order.
A’Da and A’Xia instantly moved to block Su Ding, their eyes glinting with killing intent as they glared at the surrounding men in suits. "Don't move!"
Ultimately, the opposing side had too many men, all armed.
If there was any accidental discharge, whether Su Ding or Old Master Jin met with an accident, the consequences would be irreparable and severe.
"Don't make it difficult for them," Su Ding said coldly.
She also desperately wanted to know why Old Master Jin would capture her without any apparent reason? And why he mentioned checking her identity? What was the objective mentioned earlier?
Could the Ouyang family harbor a deep hatred for the Jin family? She had never heard her uncle mention anything like that.
"Don't worry, I just need to get the information I want…" Old Master Jin said in a deep voice.
However, A’Da and A’Xia held their guns pointed in Old Master Jin's direction, saying sternly, "Patriarch Jin, since you know our identity, are you sure you want to make an enemy of our Ouyang family?"
Their young master had instructed them to protect Miss, to be prepared for such dangerous situations. If they backed down now, they would be useless!
Unless they were dead, Miss had to remain under their watchful eyes.
"If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. It is you who have forced me to this point!"
Old Master Jin's face was grim, and he spoke with disdain, "I have already refused many times. No matter what methods you use, I will never agree!"
A’Da and A’Xia exchanged glances. "When did we ever deal with you? When did we force you? Don't slander us!"
Before they were assigned to track, no, to protect Miss Su Ding, they had been Ouyang Kai's personal bodyguards.
Although their young master had done many overbearing and forceful things, listening to this old man's tone, it seemed the matter was not insignificant. Even their young master couldn't easily force the Jin family to do anything.
And earlier, he mentioned them using a woman to scheme against the Jin family. But Su Ding was their Ouyang family's young lady, and also the Jin family's granddaughter-in-law. It couldn't be called a scheme, could it?
Old Master Jin's aged face was covered in frost, as if he was too lazy to waste any more words with them. He turned to leave.
Su Ding observed the confusion on A’Da and A’Xia's faces, coupled with Old Master Jin's cryptic words, she naturally needed to clarify things.
"Old Master Jin, do you have a feud with the Ouyang family?" she called out.
Seeing Old Master Jin not answer, she continued, "You suspect me of colluding with the Ouyang family to harm the Jin family?" This was what she had inferred from Old Master Jin's words.
Old Master Jin saw the three of them still feigning ignorance. Recalling an incident from many years ago, which he regretted for over twenty years, hatred and anger surged to the top of his head.
He snatched the gun from a bodyguard's hand and aimed it at Su Ding.
Having spent the past decades walking through a bloody storm and licking knives, Old Master Jin naturally possessed a powerful, deterrent aura. Now, with a gun in his hand, it was as if he had returned to years past.
He was decisive and swift; no one had dared to repeatedly play games with him!
In a near-instant, A’Da and A’Xia turned their guns towards Old Master Jin, ready for a mutual destruction.
Su Ding's heart also leaped into her throat, her expression becoming extremely grave.
She didn't even know what word had provoked this elder, who usually remained unflustered even when mountains collapsed upon him.
"You can kill me, but I just want to know, why?"
Su Ding suppressed her voice, her gaze fixed directly on Old Master Jin, her tone filled with determination.
Old Master Jin looked into her eyes, scrutinizing the resolve and sincerity within them, and finally spoke, "Why did you come to the Southern Territory? And what is your relationship with the Ouyang family? I only want the truth."
"Alright, I'll tell you."
Su Ding didn't know what Old Master Jin was truly thinking, but during the time she had loved Jin Ye, she had heard many stories about this elder.
Old Master Jin was definitely not a sinister or deceitful person.
Furthermore, if the Ouyang family truly had a deep feud with the Jin family, her uncle would not have accepted Jin Ye so quickly, let alone entrusted her to Jin Ye with such peace of mind.
There must be some misunderstanding involved.
"I came to the Southern Territory because my relationship with Jin Ye had encountered a crisis. I wanted to live in a different city, and to fulfill my mother's dying wish, I chose to come to the Southern Territory, my mother's homeland."
"And my mother was of Ouyang family blood, which I only recently discovered. A’Da and A’Xia are here to protect me, sent by my uncle, Ouyang Kai."
After speaking, Su Ding looked directly at Old Master Jin. "I don't understand, why are you so hostile towards me, Old Master Jin?"
Hearing this, Old Master Jin's brows furrowed deeper. His gaze shifted from anger to doubt as he looked at Su Ding. He murmured in a low voice, "Ouyang Kai..."
This individual didn't seem to be part of that organization.
But he couldn't be sure, so he continued to ask, "What branch of the Ouyang family is Ouyang Kai from? And who is his father?"