On the hotel rooftop, three generations of the Jiang family—Jiang Yuan, Jiang Hai, and Jiang He—stood with faces full of sorrow.

"We were crushed in the night raid on the Long Family Manor, as was the Long Family. Ye Xiu was the real winner," Jiang Yuan broke the silence, his voice hoarse and thick with anger.

Jiang Hai and Jiang He stared at him, stunned. "What does Ye Xiu have to do with our raid on the Long Family Manor?" Jiang Hai asked.

"Ye Liangchen is Ye Xiu!" Jiang Yuan said through clenched teeth.

Bewildered, Jiang Hai asked, "How do you know that Ye Liangchen is Ye Xiu?"

"After we fought our way out of the Long Family Manor, do you know where I went?" Jiang Yuan asked.

Jiang Hai and Jiang He shook their heads. After the three had escaped, Jiang Yuan told them to return to the hotel while he went off alone.

"I went to the unfinished housing complex," Jiang Yuan said. "I originally wanted to slaughter some Long Family members to vent my anger. But when I arrived, I found that every Long Family member there had already been stripped of their martial prowess. The people from the thirteen external families were gone without a trace.

"According to the Long Family survivors, it was Ye Liangchen who sent people to cripple them and to escort the thirteen external families back to Hundred Flowers Valley.

"Ye Liangchen successfully clipped the Long Family’s strongest wings—the thirteen external families!"

The explanation only confused Jiang Hai and Jiang He further. "Weren’t Ye Liangchen and the Long Family on good terms?" Jiang Hai asked. "Why would he cripple their members and take away the thirteen families?"

Jiang Yuan ignored the question, continuing as if talking to himself. "Ever since Ye Liangchen appeared in Han Jin City, both our family and the Long Family have been plagued by misfortune. Let me start with the Long Family.

"According to the members at the unfinished complex, Ye Xiu first came to their attention as the disciple of the Evil Doctor Nangong Lie and as an experimental subject of the Fire Seed Company. This drew the interest of the Fire Seed Company, the Han Jin City Xu Family, and the Guoyang Long Family.

"At the Xu Family estate, he severely injured Jiao Fuping with the Traveling Dragon Sword Technique, only to then heal him with the Traveling Dragon Moxibustion Technique. This made him the darling of the higher-ups in all three organizations. To curry his favor, they pulled him into their decision-making circles.

"Soon after, the elite forces from the Guoyang Long Family went to Jin Ye City to capture Ye Xiu’s family, and they were completely annihilated. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Then, the Fire Seed Company suddenly betrayed and raided the Xu Family. The attack resulted in the gruesome deaths of the Fire Seed Company’s leader and most of their test subjects, the annihilation of the Xu Family’s elites, and Long Xiaoyun being the sole survivor from the Guoyang Long Family.

"Just like that, Ye Liangchen became the biggest winner. He openly took over the Fire Seed Company and, through Long Xiaoyun, contacted Long Tianba to become a partner of the Long Family. That very same day, he had Ming Yue kill Long Xiaoyun.

"At that time, the Long Family was on the Huang Quan Death List. Ye Liangchen arranged to meet Long Tianba in Guoyang, but Long Tianba, fearing for his life, sent his sixth brother, Long Tianhao, to impersonate him. Ye Liangchen saw through the ruse immediately.

"That night, a fleet of planes flew over the Long Family’s territory, dropping more than two hundred mysterious figures. A dud bomb inscribed with a handwritten note from Huang Quan also landed on their property. This terrified the Long Family into moving their entire clan to Hexia Road.

"Isn’t it obvious? When Ye Liangchen’s meeting with Long Tianba failed, he posed as Huang Quan to scare him out of hiding.

"When the Long Family first arrived in Guoyang, they dispersed their thirty thousand members across the cities, counties, and townships of Hexia Road. But strangely, all the cash, gold, silver, and jewelry they brought were stolen. The funds in all of their branch and company accounts in Hexia Road were also completely transferred away. Forced into a corner, the entire Long Family had to gather in Guoyang, where Ye Liangchen finally got his meeting with Long Tianba.

"Afterward, for some unknown reason, Long Tianhao suddenly rallied all the War Gods and stronger masters under his command for some mission. They never returned, diminishing the Long Family’s strength by one-sixth.

"Then, last night, Ye Liangchen severed the ties between the Long Family and the thirteen external families.

"As for our night raid, they were well-prepared. Consequently, only the three of us survived. The Long Family also suffered heavy losses, but throughout the entire battle, I never once saw Ye Liangchen.

"In conclusion, Ye Liangchen only got close to the Long Family to destroy them. Meanwhile, Ye Xiu came to Guoyang specifically to deal with the Long Family, yet he never showed his face. Therefore, I conclude that Ye Liangchen is Ye Xiu!"

After hearing the detailed analysis, Jiang Hai and Jiang He still felt their grandfather’s judgment was a bit of a stretch.

Jiang He said timidly, "Grandfather, your analysis doesn’t seem to be enough to prove that Ye Liangchen is Ye Xiu."

"Are you an idiot?" Jiang Yuan snapped. "There are things I didn’t spell out. Can’t you think for yourself?"

Seeing Jiang He lower his head in silence, Jiang Yuan took a deep breath. "First, since returning to the country for his revenge, Ye Xiu has used the tactic of draining his enemies’ bank accounts many times.

"Second, think about it. When dealing with the Long Family, why did he also involve Medicine King Valley and not some other group? Because we are his enemies too! I was the one who sold him to the Xipoloya training camp all those years ago."

Now, it finally clicked for Jiang Hai and Jiang He.

Jiang Hai gritted his teeth. "That bastard Ye Xiu! He cost me my wife, my daughter and son-in-law, and all of my grandchildren! I will skin him alive!"

"Now that Ye Xiu has the support of the thirteen external families, his strength is far greater than before. We won’t gain much by confronting him head-on," Jiang Yuan said, his eyes narrowing shrewdly. "The three of us will return to Medicine King Valley today. Tonight, we will pose as members of the Long Family and attack the thirteen external families. I want to make Ye Xiu and the Long Family destroy each other, while we play the fisherman and reap the rewards."

Jiang Hai and Jiang He’s eyes lit up.

What a brilliant plan!

***

While Ye Xiu was making breakfast for Qin Qing, he received a call from An Dongye.

"Little brother, my master is taking us to visit Medicine King Valley. Are you coming?"

"I’m in!" Ye Xiu made the decision without a second thought.

I have to go to Medicine King Valley myself to confirm the stances of the conservative and neutral factions. If they also want to be my enemies, then I’ll just flatten the entire valley. Besides, I’m very interested in what Medicine King Valley and the Long Family are guarding.

Just then, Mo Luo walked in with five hooded individuals. The usually cold and unsmiling Mo Luo was grinning so widely his smile almost reached the back of his head.

"Qin Qing has been acting crazy these past two days. What about you, Mo Luo? Did you get your head caught in a door? Come here, let me take your pulse. If it’s serious, you can go check into a mental hospital for a few days," Ye Xiu chuckled.

"I don’t want to laugh either, but I just can’t help it." Mo Luo tried to stifle his laughter but failed again. He said, "Young Master, look! All five of them are Totem Inheritors from Medicine King Valley! Heh, well... you see..."

Ah, so that’s it! Mo Luo wants the Medicine King Valley Totem! Ye Xiu realized.

"Ye Liangchen, is that you?" one of the hooded figures asked. It was Jiang Linglong, who had recognized Ye Xiu’s voice.