It was just a small interlude, and the few of them didn't pay much attention.
"Are you doing this to intimidate Gu Xiao and Lu Li?"
Xiao Bai and the other three weren't the type to be slow-witted; they soon understood Jing Yuan's intention.
Leaving other matters aside, Old Guan's cultivation is at the imperial peak, and a single sweep of his divine sense can blanket the entire Yun Hai Mountain.
The moment Gu Xiao and Lu Li emerged from the Cloud Sea Sect ruins, Old Guan could locate them and appear by their side.
How could there be any chance for Tang Zhi to approach them and issue a threat?
Under normal circumstances, the moment Tang Zhi showed hostility and tried to move toward Gu Xiao, Old Guan would have slapped him away.
There wouldn't be all that follows.
Moreover, even if Old Guan were delayed for some reason, they don't believe that, given Jing Yuan's temperament, he would withhold a forbidden weapon from Gu Xiao and Lu Li.
He's just a mid‑tier king‑level guy; it's impressive to smash him with a forbidden weapon.
Of course, knowledge is knowledge; after they grasped Jing Yuan's intent, they naturally played along.
"Not bad. With us around, Gu Xiao and Lu Li have backing, but if the backing isn't exposed, it's almost the same as having none."
Gu Xiao is the daughter of an old friend of the City Lord of Tianyuan City; this can be investigated, but not just anyone can.
After all, it involves the Tianyuan City Lord, and not everyone is qualified to meddle.
Of course, part of the reason is the lackeys surrounding the powerful.
As the saying goes, the king of hell is easy to meet, but the little devils are hard to deal with.
Many times people think the little devils act foolishly, unaware of their own limits, but honestly, they have no other choice.
Someone who can lower themselves to be a lackey for others likely has no talent or background of their own.
And there are dozens of lackeys around the scions of the powerful; why should yours stand out?
No talent, no background—frankly, if you're absent for a few days, people probably won't even notice one missing.
After racking their brains, they could only resort to playing the leaping clown to attract attention.
Because it has no technical substance and easily draws notice.
Both hateful and tragic.
His move this time serves both to make an example of Gu Xiao's status in the Jing Family and to broadcast Gu Xiao's identity.
In the future, anyone who wants to investigate Gu Xiao will naturally learn of today's events and then know that behind Gu Xiao stands the Tianyuan City Jing Family.
Before moving against Gu Xiao, consider whether you can withstand retaliation from Tianyuan City.
Whether you're a noble or a lackey, first check if your own neck is hard enough.
"Fishing enforcement, you're really insidious,"
Yan Lin grabbed a piece of pastry, tossed it into his mouth, and joked.
"No matter how devious my methods or tactics are, if they don't develop the thoughts they shouldn't, it's none of their business."
Why is choice more important than anything else? Because people must be accountable for each of their choices.
Moreover, the ill intent of that grandparent‑grandchild duo was practically on his face; any ordinary outsider would meet a bad end.
What more is there to say?
"The bait is tasty, but it depends on whether the fish bites the hook."
"I'm not saying this, but are you implying something?"
Yan Lin paused mid‑bite, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Jing Yuan.
"You're too sensitive," Jing Yuan said, pushing the fruit platter toward Yan Lin. "Here, have a peach."
"The Tang side has been exploring the tech field lately, pouring massive funds. I can spread the word—no company would dare approach them."
On the way to the Jing Family, Xiao Bai also gathered information about the Tang Family.
In recent years, the Tang Family's original business has underperformed, prompting an active transformation; they've actually achieved some results in the tech sector.
But those achievements are mere child's play before the Xiao Family; the five major arms dealers of Azure Star crushing the Tang Family is like flattening an ant.
"Why make it so complicated? Isn't Tang Shaoqing aiming to trample the four major families? We just need to show some attitude, and plenty of people will rush forward to crush the Tang Family for us."
Ye Tianying thought such matters didn't require getting his hands dirty; a simple statement would be enough, and many would gladly risk everything for them.
"That's true, but don't you think taking action yourself feels better?"
Yan Lin bit into the spirit peach in his hand; in his view, pulling strings or acting personally is the most exhilarating.
"I don't think so. Compared to dirtying my own hands, I find it more satisfying to achieve the goal without direct action while making the other party aware of the disparity."
It makes it crystal clear to the opponent that, in front of me, they're nothing but a leaping clown.
"Liu Zhen, what do you think?"
Yan Lin turned his head, asking the ever‑silent Liu Zhen.
"I follow Brother Yuan; whatever he tells me to do, I do."
Usually with such questions, Liu Zhen always does exactly what Jing Yuan says.
"This matter was originally to publicize Gu Xiao's background, so naturally the Jing Family should take the lead."
Jing Yuan doesn't intend to fake using someone else's hand for this.
That's the advantage of status: a second‑tier noble family with three king‑level pillars in its house, a lineage that can be passed down for millennia, whose rise and fall can hinge on the words of five youths.
Wutong Courtyard, inside Gu Xiao's bedroom.
"Xiao Xiao, are you angry?"
Lu Li emerged from the bathroom, saw Gu Xiao's stern expression, and cautiously asked.
"Huh? What? I'm not angry."
Gu Xiao's expression froze, not understanding why Lu Li asked that.
"But your expression just now wasn't good—did I go too far? How about I let you catch me back?"
Lu Li, while speaking, lifted her jade‑like peak, and beneath the white towel a surge of waves roared.
"No, I'm thinking about those two people outside the ruins."
Hearing Lu Li's words, Gu Xiao's mind cleared.
Her body isn't like those web‑novel depictions that split into two separate consciences that never interfere.
She truly has one consciousness controlling two bodies, and now she can fully multitask.
However, when she doesn't deliberately maintain that state, the two bodies still synchronize.
"I see."
Lu Li exhaled, having thought Gu Xiao was angry at her joke.
But honestly, Xiao Xiao's feeling is bouncy.
"Once you're done washing, change clothes; let's go eat at Piaomiao Residence."
Gu Xiao led Lu Li to the dressing mirror, picked up a hair dryer, and blew her hair.