After two days, Xie Qing and Xie Meiling finally arrived at their hometown. As they passed through the gates, they noticed something strange.


    "It seems... rather gloomy. And there are fewer people, even though it used to be crowded," Xie Qing muttered, raising his eyebrows in surprise and looking around. "Did someone die here? Maybe the old man from the Si family?"


    "If that greedy bastard had died, we wouldn''t be seeing this gloomy atmosphere, but fireworks instead," Xie Meiling denied, narrowing her eyes. "I wonder what happened?"


    Xie Qing shrugged and, together with Xie Meiling, began making their way to the Xie family estate. The path was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Each step seemed toe with an eerie lightness as if their hearts were whispering that revenge was just around the corner.


    Xie Meiling''s hands clenched into fists, her gaze filled with a thirst for vengeance. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking towards the estate where he could sense more than fifty auras. He remained silent.


    ***


    Today, despite its long decline, the Xie family was once again in motion. Traditionally, it was on this day that most families decided who would be the rightful heir. Huang Jing and Fang Lan had arrived in town the day before, and Xie Qing had personally received food aid and two letters. One was official, to confirm his close rtionship with Lu Yin, and the other was informal.


    The official letter was to be opened only during the grand meeting of heirs, but the letter addressed to Xie Qing was read as soon as he stored all the provisions in his spatial ring.


    "Let''s go have a drink and then head to the estate. We need to make an appearance and participate in the meeting," Xie Qing said with a light smile, looking at his two friends. "I''m counting on your help, guys. Of course, I''ll help you in return."


    "What are you saying, Brother Xie? It''s my pleasure to help you. Don''t worry, I''ll do my best," Huang Jing replied, patting himself on the chest and smiling confidently. "I brought a little spiritual wine with me. Although I''m ashamed to show such a small amount of wine, I hope Brother Xie won''t be offended."


    "Of course not. What''s the big deal about some wine among friends, Brother Huang?" Xie Qing replied with a pleasantugh.


    "Then I''m relieved!"


    Huang Jing alsoughed, while Fang Lan, who was watching them, could only roll her eyes.


    "Then I''ll go discuss some things with Auntie," Fang Lan said, approaching the young man with Xie Meiling.


    "Huh? Lan, aren''t youing with us?" Xie Qing asked in surprise, then smiled at his mother. "Of course, no problem. Have a good time."


    "Th-thank you..."


    Fang Lan felt awkward under his smile and quickly left with Xie Meiling, who didn''t understand the young woman''s agitation. But Xie Qing just smiled and waved, ignoring Huang Jing''s envious gaze.


    ***


    Huang Jing and Xie Qing sat down at a table in a bar and ordered some snacks. They had brought their wine, even though it was against the establishment''s rules. But how could the poor waitress refuse them? Even the owner wagged his tail like a puppy before them, not daring to object.


    "Ah, Brother Xie, I raise this ss to your health. Know that Huang Jing will stand by your side, even in the face of a tiger''s jaws!" Huang Jing raised his ss and made a toast, smiling as he drank the wine and mmed the ss on the table.


    "Your words touch me, Brother Huang! From this moment on, we are brothers, and nothing else!" Xie Qing added with a smile, raising his ss. "I''ll punish myself with this ss for lying to Brother Huang before! I hope my brother will forgive me generously!"


    "May you have it!"


    Huang Jingughed heartily but still did not refuse. Xie Qing drank the wine and sighed contentedly, feeling a pleasant and refreshing chill run through his body. The wine that Huang Jing had brought was of high quality and had been stored for thousands of years, nourished by abundant spiritual energy.


    After several sses, the conversation took a somewhat strange turn.


    "Ah, Brother Xie, you''re popr with thedies, even to the point of envy sometimes! White envy, of course!" Huang Jing said with a gloomy expression, then added dejectedly, clutching his head. "But I only end up with hypocritical women who want my wealth and status. Although it''s easier to deal with them in a way, I want a sincere and loving woman!"


    "I understand you, Brother Huang. But don''t despair, with your character, you''ll find a girl who suits you and you''ll bepanions on the path of Dao!" Xie Qing said with a bright smile, patting his friend on the back. "You''re quite the handsome guy, and your character is worthy of special respect. Who wouldn''t want to be with Brother Huang?"


    "Ah... Brother Xie, your words give me hope. Let''s drink to your health!"


    "Let''s drink!"


    And they drank until evening. Many drunkards even lost the power of speech, so much had these two drunk. It was already seven in the evening, and Xie Qing''s face was slightly flushed from the alcohol.


    "Damn, I got some good wine. It''s not easy to get rid of the drunkenness effect, even with my cultivation technique. Brother Huang is so good!" he thought, then looked at Huang Jing, who had long since fallen asleep. "Strangely, his face is redder than mine, even though he drank less than I did."


    Xie Qing shook his head and, helping Huang Jing to lean on his shoulder, they left the bar together. The bar''s patrons watched them leave and shook their heads, sighing bitterly.


    "Rich men! They drank such first-ss wine like it was nothing! You can get drunk just from the smell!"


    Many collectors of wealthy backgrounds also couldn''t help but shed their crocodile tears when they saw how easily these two drank such a rare wine!


    "Ah, my heart... call a doctor!"


    ***


    Xie Qing returned to the estate they had rented for a week. Since neither he nor Xie Meiling wanted to live in the Xie family estate, they harbored a clear animosity towards them and wanted to be cautious.


    "Young Master Xie Qing... oh, I''m sorry for bothering you!" eximed Huang Jing''s subordinates when they saw the young man approaching the gates, helping a drunken man.


    "It''s all right, Brother Huang drank a little too much and I would appreciate it if you took care of him," the young man said, carefully handing Huang Jing over to his subordinates.


    "Don''t worry! And you should rest too!"


    "Yah, take care," Xie Qing said, waving his hand.


    Dragging his body, he began to climb to the second floor. It must be said that he had underestimated the effect of the spiritual wine, and now he felt like he was about to fall asleep.


    "What strong wine!" thought Xie Qing and sighed. His mind was turned off, so he entered the first room he came across and, ignoring the strange noise, flopped down on the bed and fell asleep.


    ***


    "Um..."


    Fang Lan blushed and held her breath as Xie Qing''s somewhat heavy body pressed against her slender and beautiful form. She was sitting on the bed, lost in thought when Xie Qing entered with a red face and drunken gaze. He then knocked her down onto the bed, pressing his nose against her corbone.


    "I-I-I..."


    The girl was embarrassed and excited at the same time, feeling Xie Qing''s firm muscles and how possessively he pressed against her. But...


    "How do I... get out of this?"


    The girl was in a difficult situation. Just a few hours earlier, she had been persistently trying to win over Xie Qing''s mother, wanting to show her intentions and secure a wedding. But then she met Xie Meiling''s strange gaze.


    "Was she jealous?" Fang Lan wondered.


    Fang Lan was not a foolish girl, and although her romantic experience was limited, she had dealt with Bai Bai for a long time. The look of jealousy in Xie Meiling''s eyes was simr to the way that disgusting guy had looked at her, although the woman''s jealousy was much calmer and did not cause revulsion.


    "But... they''re mother and son... is that allowed? It''s taboo..." Fang Lan thought, and her gaze becameplicated as she looked at Xie Qing. "This guy didn''t even spare his mother? Oh..."


    However, Fang Lan did not feel disgusted or anything simr. In the cultivation world, incest was not unheard of; it was just practiced in closed families. So although she was a little taken aback, her first reaction was to win over Xie Meiling''s recognition first, and then solve the problem of her betrothal to Xie Qing - an easy task.


    "Although... now that I think about it, this guy probably has a hundred girls..." Fang Lan thought and snorted. "Thepetition is probably even more aggressive than in the cultivation world."


    But...


    "What a pleasant scent he has... it makes you rx," Fang Lan said in surprise, raising an eyebrow. And while he slept, she gently kissed him on the top of his head. Then, hugging him from behind, the girl pressed against him and fell asleep with a satisfied smile.


    The next morning...


    "Hah..."


    Xie Qing felt a chill run down his spine and then turned his head towards the door.


    "Um... Mom?" he mumbled through his drowsiness and asked, "What time is it? Did I oversleep?"


    "..."


    Xie Meiling narrowed her eyes and pointed her chin at Fang Lan, who had long since woken up and was hiding her face in a pillow.


    "Now I understand why she was trying so hard to please me!" Xie Meiling thought and snorted. "This girl has her sights set on my son! Why do I feel like it''s not him seducing them, but them seducing him?!"


    ...Well, you''re not far from the truth.