Heart's Content

What would sisters meeting face to face for the first time in nearly 10 years talk about?

One thing was certain: these sisters were far from presenting an exemplary appearance.

"Sister, my master is completely different from what you said."

Jingya's words resembled the cold, dry north wind.

"...Is that really so?"

No emotion could be found in the woman sitting opposite.

"You know too. The Luoyang Sword Clan has now fallen into complete political chaos. The heirs' power grows increasingly, and there are even those openly supporting their ascension."

Her single remaining eye fixed on Jingya.

"Many analyze that the reclusive Retired Clan Leader's influence has now ended. Even the poisoning theory about the Retired Clan Leader, which was once mere conspiracy, is rising again among people in this field."

Jingya showed no reaction to the word 'poisoning theory' and gave a low snort.

"All nonsense."

The woman who had been briefly observing Jingya's reaction shrugged.

"...Seems you haven't earned the First Young Master's trust yet."

Jingya wasn't naive enough to fall for such obvious provocation.

Whether her sister was speaking from certainty or trying to gain certainty through Jingya wasn't important.

Either way, her sister's goal would be to dig out information about the clan's internal secrets in some way.

Jingya set down her teacup on the table.

"That wasn't the subject in the first place, was it? Whether I have trust or not."

Though her provocative intent was read, her counterpart also lifted her teacup with an unbothered expression.

"Right. The subject was that the Luoyang Sword Clan, called the world's greatest family, has fallen into such chaos entirely due to the First Young Master's responsibility."

Then she calmly thrust 'words' into the most painful spot on Yuan Zhaoxian's side.

"The First Young Master is just the First Young Master after all. Since he's not the Acting Clan Leader fully acting on behalf of the Clan Leader, placing full responsibility on my master..."

Her sister drew her mouth into an arc and drove in the wedge to Jingya.

"He still hasn't become Acting Clan Leader, has he?"

Though in the form of a question, it was a query that needed no answer.

"..."

Jingya's mouth closed and her gaze narrowed.

"..."

Then her opponent also slightly raised her chin and sent a sharp gaze.

If Jingya boasted elegant beauty in splendid clothing, along with composure and natural intuition,

Her sister, Xiya, boasted rough and wild beauty in restrained clothing, along with coolness and thoroughness.

"...I was so shocked when I heard yesterday that you changed your affiliation to the First Young Master's Wang Pavilion."

At the word 'yesterday,' Jingya swallowed a hum internally.

It meant her sister had received information about her at about the same speed as the Second and Third Young Masters' subordinates.

"I can't know what calculations you made to rely on the First Young Master. And you won't tell me, an outsider, those reasons."

Her sister, Xiya, had no talent for handling qi.

She was merely someone who had built her own independent information organization even in this massive city of Luoyang, alone.

She took out a long pipe and sighed softly.

"Of all people, that 'Swordless One.' Just what are you..."

Her words cut off.

"Do not speak that title."

"...!"

Xiya looked at Jingya with slight surprise.

For the first time, strong emotion was too clearly revealed on Jingya's face.

The steam rising from the two teacups before the sisters scattered light as it met the sunlight coming through the window.

"...I'm sorry."

Jingya silently accepted Xiya's apology with a slight bow of her head.

"Hmm."

Some tired color also appeared on Xiya's face.

The emotional drain had been large.

No one would think they were sisters meeting face to face after 10 years.

"As someone working in intelligence, I know at least that the First Young Master isn't just an ordinary person."

She smirked softly, lit her pipe, and blew a long stream of smoke toward the ceiling.

"But the situation has already tilted beyond recovery. Ten years have passed since he went into seclusion."

Her gaze turned toward the sunlight coming through the window.

"His competitors have secured tremendous power during that time. What can the First Young Master do now?"

"You'll know if you watch."

Jingya had returned to a calm demeanor and just leisurely enjoyed her tea.

She was hiding her surprise internally.

The high-grade tea leaves that could be seen in the Sword Clan's reception hall.

The diverse and beautiful tea implements.

The location overlooking the street from Luoyang's commercial center.

The heavily and calmly decorated interior.

The reputation that could be heard even within the Luoyang Sword Clan.

All of these were great achievements her sister had accomplished alone.

'Sister really is amazing.'

Then Jingya's 'Eyes' flashed a strange light.

"...Sister. Seems something's happening from the first floor."

"Hmm?"

At that moment the door burst open and Xiya's subordinate rushed in breathlessly.

"Madam! It's the Black Bone Faction! They've suddenly invaded!"

Xiya rose from her seat.

"How dare you burst open doors when I'm with a guest?!"

"S-sorry!"

Xiya waved her pipe at her subordinate with an unconcerned expression.

"Fine, report."

"Unarmed, about forty in number, no martial artists detected. They're breaking furniture and causing chaos while pushing in without any response. No casualties on either side, currently defending against them coming upstairs!"

Jingya didn't miss Xiya's eyebrow twitching despite her composed appearance.

"Alright, go and report if the situation changes."

"Yes!"

The subordinate withdrew swiftly.

The moment the door closed, Jingya opened her mouth.

"The situation isn't good."

Xiya frowned and nodded.

"It's fortunate they're unarmed, but our main force of martial artists is temporarily absent. Even my personal guards."

A troubled look appeared on Jingya's face at those words.

"What situation would require even personal guards..."

She wouldn't answer anyway.

Jingya shook her head and asked again.

"How long do we need to hold?"

Xiya roughly bit her pipe.

"Maximum one hour. The safety measures I've prepared will move within that time."

Jingya nodded.

"That should be enough for me."

Xiya's eyes widened at those words.

"What are you saying? You..."

Then Jingya pulled her toward the window.

CRASH!

Simultaneously, the windows shattered and men in black clothes appeared through them.

Jingya's eyes quickly assessed them.

Seeing the dozens of black skull tattoos all over their bodies, they were clearly Black Bone Faction elites.

But they weren't martial artists.

"If it isn't the beautiful Madam of the famous Crescent Moon Pavilion!"

The man at the front of the four spread his arms exaggeratedly and shouted.

"Hey, you're much prettier than we heard. Let's have a hug!"

At those words, Xiya snorted with her pipe in her mouth.

"How absurd, invading a neutral information organization in broad daylight."

Though the Black Bone Faction might run wild in back alleys, there were limits.

Touching a neutral information organization protected between various interests was tantamount to suicide for an organization of the Black Bone Faction's size.

"When they say jump, we jump, we don't know about all that complicated stuff..."

The men behind began moving, approaching them.

"We'd like it if you'd be tied up quietly, but you won't cooperate so easily, will you?"

Xiya's eyes flashed blue.

"Just try and touch me. I, the Crescent Moon Pavilion Master, have remembered all your faces."

The men hesitated slightly at those words.

Not just her fierce pressure, but the meaning contained in her words was too savage.

"Hah."

But the men didn't stop their steps.

They had clearly received some kind of confirmation about compensation in advance.

'These guys being unarmed suggests it's not the worst situation. But if we're captured like this, we'll have no choice but to be at a complete disadvantage in later negotiations...'

Even if the opponents showed no intention of taking lives, there was potential for assault or even rape.

To worry about future negotiating power in such a situation, that was who Xiya was.

"Hey."

Xiya pointed at Jingya and spoke to the leader.

"If any harm comes to that person, remember that both you and I will all die."

The leader shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't know who that person is either, but if she stays still we'll let her go without incident. Our business is only with the Crescent Moon Pavilion Master."

Given that she was having a private audience with the Crescent Moon Pavilion Master, and her attire alone didn't look like an ordinary woman's, that's what they meant.

"Come on, step back."

One man approached Jingya with a somewhat polite attitude, wiggling his fingers asking her to step back to the wall.

Xiya signaled Jingya with her eyes to cooperate, but Jingya wasn't looking at her.

Standing with a modest posture, Jingya looked so nonchalant as if nothing had happened.

At that composed attitude, Xiya recalled Jingya's words: "That should be enough for me."

"Ah, won't you cooperate?!"

The man took another step forward.

"...!"

Jingya grabbed one of the man's fingers and snapped it.

That wasn't the end.

Jingya's body dug into the man's inside, then grabbed his broken finger and arm and slammed him to the floor.

"...Huk!"

Smashed into the floor with a huge sound, the man felt his breath stop.

And in the man's vision that was seeing yellow, Jingya's swinging fire poker filled his view.

THWACK!

With that magnificent swing, the man's consciousness flew away.

All movements until then were accurate, natural, and perfect as if drawn in a picture.

"Huh...?"

Everyone's eyes grew round.

***

"Oh my, Young Master. Just where have you been?!"

The gatekeeper shouted at Yuan Zhaoxian while dripping with sweat.

"What, are you yelling at me right now?"

When Yuan Zhaoxian, who had been calmly eating skewers, turned his gaze to look, the gatekeeper immediately shrank back.

"No, that's not it. It's just that the attendant maid is going around alone, and I was worried..."

Yuan Zhaoxian smiled mockingly.

"Her? In danger?"

The gatekeeper was bewildered by that response.

"What do you mean?"

Yuan Zhaoxian just shrugged his shoulders without answering and continued eating his skewers.

***

The leader kicked his unconscious subordinate.

"Stupid bastard!"

The surrounding subordinates watched that sight while snickering.

Jingya's move was surprising, but it was only in the realm of self-defense arts, and also a surprise attack.

Moreover, thanks to the technique she showed, she clearly revealed that she had no inner power, that she wasn't a martial artist.

A woman who wasn't even a martial artist had clear limits, no matter how trained she was.

"Hey, miss. I was going to let it slide since you seemed to be of great status, but that's becoming difficult now?"

The remaining men passed their leader and approached Jingya.

"It's not a good idea to act up when you're not even a martial artist, miss. Won't you cooperate quietly while we're asking nicely?"

Jingya gave no answer.

Before the men emitting a savage pressure, Black Bone Faction elites at that, she showed not the slightest trembling.

Her light irises seemed to hold a mysterious golden light.