Chapter 363: The Hua Family Enters the Xuanyuan Manor

After flying some distance away from the Xuanyuan Manor, Hua Changxi's mood still had not improved.

Another person had called her heartless!

She simply could not understand; how was she heartless? Did not binding oneself to family equate to being heartless?

Hua Changxi felt that whether it was Jing or Qin Feng, they all held nearly harsh demands for the 'strong.' In their view, the strong should unconditionally support the 'weak'; otherwise, it was heartlessness.

"Sigh~"

Hua Changxi realized that even though spiritual energy had now revived in this world, she and the people here remained utterly incompatible.

"When worldviews differ, there is no need to force a merger."

Hua Changxi could only comfort herself with these words, casting Qin Feng's remarks out of her mind. After taking a deep breath, she swiftly flew toward Jingcheng.

At the same time, within the Dingyuan Count's Manor.

The Hua family had gathered in the guest courtyard; Hua Dalang and Hua Liulang had both been staying there these past two days to keep their relatives company.

Second Uncle Hua paced back and forth in the reception hall with a dissatisfied expression: "What is going on with Ninth Lady? She went to the Liang Duke Manor and then vanished without a trace, not even bothering to visit us at the Count's Manor?"

Hua Liulang said, "Ninth Lady likely has other urgent matters to attend to."

Second Uncle Hua retorted, "She is busy; she is truly so busy that our entire family cannot compare to the affairs in her hands." He paused, then glanced disdainfully at Hua Minghe and Lady Yao. "It is one thing for her to disregard us, but to not even care for the parents who gave her birth... Ninth Lady's heart... is truly heartless enough."

Seeing that the eldest couple's faces had changed color, Grandfather Hua felt compelled to scold Second Uncle Hua: "Second son, hold your tongue; if you do not speak, no one will mistake you for a mute."

Grandmother Hua added, "Regardless, the people from the Liang Duke Manor have finally withdrawn and are no longer keeping watch. Ninth Lady... still cares about the family."

Second Uncle Hua snorted, "Even if the Liang Duke Manor people have left, do we dare go out? The moment we step away from the Count's Manor, our lives might be lost."

Grandfather Hua was also deeply worried about this and looked toward his eldest grandson, who had remained silent: "Dalang, do you think the matter between our family and the Liang Duke Manor can truly be settled?"

Hua Dalang looked at his grandfather, then scanned the rest of the Hua family: "Grandfather, we must mentally prepare ourselves. Even if the Liang Duke Manor stops troubling us, we must remain twelve parts vigilant whenever we venture outside."

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle Hua immediately became anxious: "Dalang, what do you mean by this? Are we going to face other dangers?"

Hua Dalang replied, "...Let me put it this way: the current Jingcheng is like a chessboard. The Five Sacred Lands, the Xuanyuan Manor, the Imperial Court, and the noble families are all scrambling to place their pieces and set their formations."

"And our family, fortunately yet unfortunately, has already become a piece on that chessboard."

Grandfather Hua panicked: "How could it come to this?"

Second Uncle Hua began shouting, "Why else could it be? It must be because of Ninth Lady! Father, our family is truly going to be ruined by Ninth Lady!"

Hearing this, Hua Liulang could not help but speak up: "Second Uncle, you cannot blame everything on Ninth Lady the moment trouble arises. Cultivators are inherently defying heaven to fight for fate; if you wish to ascend, you will encounter danger."

Hua Dalang added, "Indeed, Second Uncle. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Our family has at least made it onto the chessboard; though we are not masters of our own destiny, we can still make some noise, unlike those who never make it onto the board and die in complete silence."

"Being within the chess game at least allows one to influence the direction of events. If we can seize the right opportunity to strengthen ourselves, a chess piece might one day become a player."

Second Uncle Hua's face turned dark and heavy: "I do not possess such grand ambitions as you two; I just want Fourth Son and the others to live well."

Hua Dalang chuckled coldly: "Second Uncle, you probably do not know how chaotic the regions outside Jingcheng have become. Without mentioning distant places, take Nanxiang County, once located in the southern suburbs of Jingcheng. Nowadays, the common people there are suffering in deep water and scorching fire; entire villages are being wiped out, one after another."

"In these chaotic times, unless your strength is sufficiently great, so-called 'living well' is nothing but a delusion."

Second Uncle Hua was instantly rendered speechless.

In the main courtyard of the Dingyuan Count's Manor.

The Count of Hua and the Heir of Hua were also discussing Hua Changxi.

The Heir of Hua asked, "What exactly is going on with Hua Ninth Lady? She has appeared, yet she does not come to visit her family immediately. Her conduct is truly baffling."

The Count of Hua also found it difficult to comprehend Hua Changxi's mindset.

However, one thing was certain: Hua Changxi indeed did not place much importance on the Hua family members.

After three years of separation, and having been forced to endure oppression from the Liang Duke Manor, if she truly cared, she would not have failed to show her face even if she had urgent matters to attend to.

The Heir of Hua said, "Father, our family has provided good food, drink, and shelter to the Hua family for three years. I feel our efforts are about to go to waste."

The Count of Hua looked at his son: "You are too fixated on immediate gains and losses. Even if we receive no return at all, as long as Hua Changxi is alive and still bears the surname Hua, it is beneficial for us and for the entire Hua clan."

Just as the Heir of Hua was about to argue back, he saw a servant from the gatehouse run in with an excited expression: "My Lord Count, My Lord Heir, Hua Changxi has arrived."

Upon hearing this, both the Count of Hua and the Heir of Hua stood up immediately.

The Heir of Hua asked urgently, "Where is she?"

The gatekeeper replied, "She is right behind me, accompanied personally by the Head Steward. The Head Steward sent me to ask: should we lead Hua Changxi directly to the guest courtyard, or bring her here to the main courtyard?"

The Count of Hua decided immediately: "Bring her to the main courtyard." If she went to the guest courtyard, Hua Bin's family would be reunited, but there would be nothing left in it for them.

The Count of Hua looked at the Heir of Hua: "Go personally to the guest courtyard and bring Hua Bin's family over."

The Heir of Hua agreed and departed, following closely behind the gatekeeper.

The guest courtyard where Hua Bin's family stayed was not far from the main courtyard; Hua Changxi happened to meet the Hua family right at the entrance of the main courtyard.

"Ninth Lady."

Lady Yao and Hua Minghe rushed to Hua Changxi's side immediately, grabbing her to inspect her thoroughly.

"Have your injuries healed? Three years without any news nearly worried your father and me to death."

Aside from the Hua men, the Hua women also stepped forward to offer Hua Changxi their warm greetings and concerns.

Seeing that the women would talk endlessly if not stopped, Grandfather Hua had to intervene: "Enough. The Count and the Heir are waiting. Let Ninth Lady enter first to pay her respects; you can chat in detail later."

The Hua women then fell silent. Led by Lady Yao, Hua Changxi and the rest of the group followed behind Grandfather Hua and the others, entering the main hall of the Count's Manor's main courtyard.

The Count of Hua did not lower his status to go out and welcome Hua Changxi, despite her being the most renowned junior member of the clan; instead, he sat steadily in the main hall waiting.

After entering the reception hall with her family, Hua Changxi proactively performed the rites of a junior toward the Count of Hua: "Thank you, My Lord Count, for taking care of my family."

With the Hua family being oppressed by the Liang Duke Manor, the Count's Manor had willingly stepped forward to shelter them; this favor had to be acknowledged.

Furthermore, the Hua family members all looked in good spirits, indicating that the Count's Manor had treated them with great care.

The Count of Hua smiled and said, "These words are too formal. You are all members of the Hua clan, and clan members ought to watch over and assist one another."

Watch over and assist one another...

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered with light. She looked at her family, then at the Count of Hua. She could not deny that, this time, the Count's Manor had indeed helped the Hua family overcome a difficult crisis.

Perhaps, the members of the Hua clan were not entirely unusable?

Hua Dalang looked at Hua Changxi and couldn't help but ask, "Ninth Sister, where have you been these past two days?"

Hua Changxi looked at him, took out a list of the Hua family members, stood up, and handed it to Old Master Hua before saying, "I went to the Xuanyuan Prefecture. The five generals agreed and are willing to accept everyone from the Hua family."

"After entering the Xuanyuan Prefecture, you will serve under General Lu Zhenting. He will assign duties based on your talents and aptitude."

At these words, everyone present froze in shock.

Second Uncle Hua was the first to jump up, asking with a mix of shock and joy, "Ninth Sister, are you saying our entire family now belongs to the Xuanyuan Prefecture?"

Hua Changxi nodded. "The affairs of the Liang Duke Prefecture were my fault, which implicated the family. I cannot guarantee similar incidents won't happen again in the future, so I could only find a place capable of sheltering you all."

"The Xuanyuan Prefecture is the most suitable."