Ye Tian, his wives, and Ling Feng departed the tavern, the night's tense revelations still lingering in their minds. As they stepped onto the quiet street, the lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, Xiuying appeared from the shadows, leaning casually against the wall, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Xiuying…" Ye Tian's voice was calm but curious. "When did you get here?"
"I've been around," she replied lightly, her gaze scanning the group. "Curious about the commotion inside. Seems quite the spectacle."
Lan Yuhua and Mu Qingyao exchanged subtle glances, each quietly noting the effortless composure of Ye Tian's sister.
Ye Tian shook his head lightly, suppressing a smile. "And here I thought I was alone in dealing with… complications."
Xiuying laughed softly. "Complications? Perhaps. But I see your kind of complications—precise, controlled, inevitable. Quite entertaining to observe."
As they walked together toward their temporary residence, conversation flowed naturally, teasing, light humor punctuating the tense atmosphere of the past few days. Then, mid-step, Xiuying tilted her head, eyes glinting mischievously.
"So… is she the third one now?"
Ye Tian's gaze instinctively flicked toward Ling Feng, and without hesitation, he said, "Yes."
Both wives let out audible gulps. Ye Tian chuckled quietly, a low, knowing sound. Xiuying grinned knowingly. "I knew it since childhood. A brother like you… too high-maintenance for a single woman to handle. Cannot be contained, cannot be controlled."
The group fell into a brief, shared silence, each processing the familial observation, a light-hearted tension threading through the air.
Once inside their temporary residence, Ye Tian turned his focus back to the matter at hand: Ling Feng's mother. The commotion of the banquet and the city's intrigue faded to the background as strategy and justice took precedence.
"Begin gathering all intelligence," Ye Tian instructed his disciples and operatives, his tone calm yet authoritative. "Discreetly. No stone unturned. Every ally, every servant, every distant relation—we leave no thread unexamined. Understand?"
"Yes, Master Ye Tian," came the chorus of obedient replies.
System notifications appeared in a crisp, transparent overlay beside him:
[System Activated – Target Analysis: Ling Feng's Mother Incident – On]
[Suspect Status – Awareness: High / Threat Level: Moderate / Influence: Partial]
[Operative Status – Efficiency: Excellent / Loyalty: High / Field Reports: Updating…]
Ye Tian scanned the updates, tilting his head slightly. "Every clue matters. Every detail, every hesitation, every word they spoke. The truth hides in the smallest gestures."
For the next two days, his operatives moved like shadows across the city: surveying, interrogating, recording, and analyzing. Household staff, distant relatives, and minor allies of the stepmother were quietly neutralized or turned into sources of information.
At strategic intervals, Ye Tian posed questions, drawing connections that only his unique foresight could reveal.
"Was the servant's sudden absence on that day… a coincidence, or orchestrated?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
"The servant was likely coerced by the stepmother's allies," an operative reported.
"Good. Record every response, every hesitation. Nothing escapes this network."
System notifications confirmed efficiency, operatives' status, and the integrity of the information gathering:
[System Update – Evidence Collected: 64% / Accuracy: 97% / Operative Efficiency: Excellent]
By the third day, Ye Tian had pinpointed the culprits: the stepmother, her children, and two distant relatives who had facilitated the poisoning. He analyzed their potential as future threats and instruments, calculating outcomes with cold precision.
"Some must face justice immediately. Others…" he mused aloud, "can serve as instruments of influence. Precision above all."
Operatives moved under his command like extensions of his own will. The stepmother and her co-conspirators were captured with silent efficiency, restrained without collateral harm.
System notification:
[System Activated – Target Capture: Complete / Threat Neutralization: High / Operational Integrity: Optimal]
On the third day, Ye Tian arranged a meeting in a secure room. Ling Feng's eyes widened as the captured culprits were presented before her. Shock, relief, and awe battled across her face.
"You… you solved everything. There is nothing left hidden from you," she whispered, voice trembling slightly.
Ye Tian's gaze was steady. "Every action leaves a trace. Every detail, every hesitation, every pattern speaks. These marks guided me to this conclusion. Your mother's enemies… now face justice."
Ling Feng exhaled slowly, a mixture of gratitude and admiration. Her trust in Ye Tian deepened, solidifying in that quiet, intense moment.
[System Update – Target Assessment: Complete / Ling Feng Trust Level: Elevated / Potential Ally Integration: High]
Ye Tian looked at his wives. Lan Yuhua and Mu Qingyao observed the subtle chemistry growing between him and Ling Feng, a faint tension threading through their expressions, tempered by understanding. Ye Tian's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"The continent will hear of this," he murmured. "Even my own clan will not remain untouched. Every thread moves as I intended. Every ripple builds the tide."
Ling Feng, now reassured and impressed, allowed herself a small, genuine smile. The bond of trust and respect was cemented, a quiet promise of allegiance and shared purpose.