The Arrival of Major Forces, Xiao Lin's Junior Sister

In the grand mansion of the Gu Family, the living room on the first floor was bustling with activity.

The high vaulted ceiling was adorned with a magnificent chandelier, each crystal shimmering with golden light, illuminating the room in a warm and radiant glow.

The walls were adorned with oil paintings, each a masterpiece crafted by renowned artists.

The furnishings in the living room were both luxurious and elegant, with exquisite carpets spread across the floor, soft and opulent, resembling a deep pool of flowing water.

The intricately carved furniture was arranged in perfect order, each piece exuding an air of tradition and solemnity.

On one of the sofas sat a group of people with diverse temperaments—men and women, young and old.

Some were suave and dignified, exuding an air of nobility. Others sat quietly, their sharp eyes scanning the room.

Some sat in the corner, gentle and refined, chatting amiably with acquaintances.

One person had their feet propped up on the coffee table, a bold smile on their face, with no one daring to sit near them.

Each person in the room occupied their own space, their unique auras and identities creating a subtle tension in the air.

Servants of the Gu Family bustled about, serving tea, water, and snacks to these guests, whom the family elders had instructed to be treated with utmost care.

Among the younger generation from smaller factions, some already knew each other.

A group of young men and women huddled together in a corner, whispering among themselves:

"Wow, this is impressive. Look at those two sitting over there—they're from Fire Cloud Mountain and Carefree Mountain. Two of the Four Great Mountains are represented here."

"And people from Unity Sect and Water Cloud Sect are here too."

"Not to mention representatives from all the major martial arts families."

"Is the Gu Family of Jianghai really that influential? How do they command such respect from all these big shots?"

At this remark, a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat standing nearby chuckled softly.

"Young ones, you underestimate the Gu Family too much," he said.

"The Gu Family is a powerful local force in Jianghai, a well-known martial arts family in the ancient martial world. It's only natural that so many factions would come here."

"Of course... the most surprising attendees, in my opinion, are those two over there."

As he spoke, the man shifted his gaze toward two women sitting in the corner.

The others followed his line of sight.

In the corner sat two stunning women.

One had long, flowing hair, her brows carrying a blend of gentleness and resilience.

She wore a simple yet elegant green dress, her demeanor graceful, like a flower about to bloom, exuding a fresh and intelligent aura.

However, what was strange was that her eyes were slightly closed.

The other girl was entirely different. She wore a black robe, her expression cold, with a faint hint of killing intent in her brow.

Her beauty was tinged with aloofness, like an orchid blooming in the darkness, making her seem unapproachable.

The presence of these two women here was, frankly, a surprise to all the major factions present.

The younger generation, captivated by their beauty, couldn't help but feel a stir in their hearts.

They eagerly asked their elders:

"Master, who are they?"

However, the response they received was a stern rebuke.

Instantly, everyone who didn't know their identities understood that these were not people to be trifled with.

The woman in green was none other than Shangguan Miaoyin.

She was both the most talented young member of the Shangguan Family and a member of the [Night] organization.

Having been ordered by Leng Qingqiu to investigate the forces entering Jianghai—their numbers and strength—Shangguan Miaoyin had come to the Gu Family.

First, she knew that these factions had agreed to gather at the Gu Family today. Second... she wanted to meet the husband her master had chosen from the mundane world.

She wanted to see what made him special enough to be chosen by her master.

Listening to the murmurs around her, Shangguan Miaoyin smiled gently and turned to the cold-faced girl beside her.

"Ning Qian, what brings you to a place like this?" she asked softly.

"Is it also for... the Night?"

The girl, who appeared to be around 15 or 16 years old, showed a slight reaction to Shangguan Miaoyin's words.

She glanced at Shangguan Miaoyin before looking away, her voice icy.

"Of course not. I'm here to find my senior brother."

At this, Shangguan Miaoyin gained a valuable piece of information.

She probed casually, "Senior brother? Oh, you mean Xiao Lin, the young master of the Dragon King Palace?"

Hearing the name "Xiao Lin," Ning Qian's cold expression softened slightly, and a hint of shyness appeared in her eyes.

Her movements stiffened, and she refused to elaborate, simply nodding. "Yes."

In truth, besides Xiao Lin, there was another person training on Dragon King Mountain—Ning Qian herself!

She was Xiao Lin's junior sister on Dragon King Mountain!

She had come down the mountain to find Xiao Lin because their master, Lin, had said that the divination signs had changed. With the reappearance of the Night organization, Xiao Lin was bound to encounter trouble during this time.

Therefore, she had been sent down the mountain to assist him.

Shangguan Miaoyin fell silent, a faint smile playing on her lips. She planned to report this information to her master after the gathering.

But before that...

She narrowed her eyes and scanned the room. Boring... so boring.

A bunch of insignificant people.

If it weren't for her master's orders, these nobodies wouldn't even be worthy of sharing the same space with her.

She assumed that Gu Yan, the man her master had chosen, was just as dull as the rest of them.

Just as she was thinking this, a voice filled with apology rang out.

"Sorry, sorry. I was held up at the company, so I'm a bit late."

"I hope you haven't been waiting too long?"

At these words, the living room quieted down, and everyone turned to look.

Gu Tianming, the head of the Gu Family, walked in with an apologetic expression.

Behind him was a man with a gentle, amiable smile—Gu Yan himself.

Following his father's instructions, Gu Yan maintained his smile and spoke sparingly.

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.

The main event—Gu Tianming—had finally arrived.

Gu Tianming had deliberately waited for Gu Yan to return before making his appearance, intending to help his son acclimate to the serious atmosphere of having so many martial artists present.

He also wanted Gu Yan to get to know the representatives of the major factions in the martial world.

It would be beneficial for future interactions.

As Gu Yan walked in, his eyes quickly scanned the room, dismissing the insignificant figures.

When his gaze landed on the black-robed figure in the corner, a faint smile appeared in his heart.

Good, Xiao Lin's junior sister is here.

Now... everyone is accounted for.

Shangguan Miaoyin noticed Gu Yan looking in her direction and felt a surge of disdain.

Another man easily swayed by beauty.

Sigh, she really couldn't understand why her master had chosen such a man as a pawn.

Ah, she realized—it was precisely because Gu Yan was so useless that he could be discarded without a second thought.

Of course!

Her master was truly wise.

Shangguan Miaoyin inwardly praised her master. Well then, let's see just how pathetic this man really is.

She narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Gu Yan, ready to report his flaws to her master later.

Gu Yan, on the other hand, felt a strange sensation, as if an intense gaze was fixed on him.

He couldn't help but sigh. There were too many people easily swayed by looks these days.

Being handsome was truly a curse... men really needed to protect themselves in this day and age.