"Can't be classified as... that lineage?"

"Take care of the people below and let them know what to say and what not to say?"

"It seems that... this Xiao family, no, this Xiao clan, although it has declined, still has many secrets... It is really like a centipede that is still alive even after death!"

"Too bad they don't know the walls have ears!"

"I didn't even know that you, Mr. Ling, were a Dou Huang!"

night.

Wutan City.

In one of the Xiao family's villas.

Gu Xun'er, no, she should be called Xiao Xun'er now, was temporarily arranged to live here, because she had been included in the Xiao family's genealogy and was a disciple of a small lineage. However, because of her gender and identity, she needed to consider carefully where to live. No matter how young she was, she was a female and it was not easy to arrange her in anyone's home. And it was getting late, so Xiao Xun'er was placed in this secluded courtyard as a temporary guest and rested here for one night.

Worth to talk about.

Although there are not many guests in the Xiao family.

But it’s not like nothing.

In previous years, during the Chinese New Year, the owners of the manors below would come to the Xiao family in person, on the one hand to report on this year's income and expenditure, and on the other hand to wish the host a happy new year and good luck. In addition, some heads of small families would also come to the Xiao family to pay their respects. After all, no matter how poor the Xiao family is, it is still compared to its former glory. As one of the three major local tyrants in Wutan City, I might not remember you if you come, but if you don't come, just wait for me to knock you down from time to time in the next year!

After all, it is a family that controls more than one-fifth of the resources of Wutan City.

Even the local tyrants in the countryside.

That's not just any local tyrant.

Let’s put it this way: this is equivalent to a large family in a third-rate modern city that controls more than 20% of the city’s overall economy. Although it cannot be compared with the wealthy families in first-rate cities, its influence on the local area is still extremely terrifying. Even if you are a contractor with hundreds of millions in your hands and have a group of brothers who listen to you, facing a large family of this level, you can only bow your head and pretend to be a grandson. Otherwise, just wait for this big family to say a word and make you spend more than you earn!

Therefore, the Xiao family has guest rooms available.

Arrange a room for Xiao Xun'er.

Still temporary.

No matter which angle you look at it from, there's nothing wrong with it.

It's reasonable and logical.

However, although the arrangement was made in this way, it was only the Xiao family's arrangement. The arrangements made by the Gu family were obviously independent of the outside world.

Just like right now.

Under the dim and uncertain light.

Xiao Xun'er, who was only five years old, sat on the soft couch.

Listening to the story told by Ling Ying, the Douhuang guard.

the end.

Such a meaningful thought.

"Miss, you are so kind."

"I am unworthy of this."

"So far, we have not been able to find out which lineage the Xiao family elders are talking about, so the young lady's safety cannot be fully guaranteed... For this, I ask the young lady to punish me."

Under the light.

In the twisted shadow.

Ling Ying, wearing a black cloak, knelt on one knee.

Bow your fists and apologize respectfully.

Before coming to the Xiao family, he had dealt with this eldest lady.

I can't say I understand his thoughts 100%.

Because that's courting death.

It is impossible for any superior to have his subordinates know his thoughts 100%. If they do, it means that he has lost control over his subordinate. In this case, destroying the uncontrollable subordinate is a reasonable approach.

Therefore, if you want to survive, you must be more conscious.

Always remember who you are.

Try not to do anything that exceeds the authority of this identity.

This is what is called a dog trying to catch a rat and meddling in other people's business.

But the words came back again.

It is unrealistic to understand it 100%, but it is still possible to understand it 80% of the time.

For example, the name.

Xiao Xun'er is very emotionally stable and polite, but no matter how stable and polite she is, she is only a five-year-old child. In daily life, emotional fluctuations are normal. At this time, we have to judge her happiness and anger from the way she is addressed.

The Mr. Ling we are referring to now is Xi.

Even if it's not very happy.

But it is far from the point of launching an army to hold someone accountable.

When did I hear the name Ling Ying? It means calling him by his name.

That's anger.

It is a prelude to accountability.

In addition, there is an abnormal characteristic: under the premise of accountability, Xiao Xun'er does not need an explanation, but either to admit her mistakes or to save the situation in time. She has no intention of listening to any nonsense that is not related to the matter. Even if she suppresses her temper and listens, in the end, it is just like adding fuel to the fire. This is completely opposite to the characteristics of many girls, because most girls need emotions first.

So, I heard my young lady calling me Mr. Ling.

Ling Ying felt relieved immediately.

However, being spoiled and arrogant is not the right path.

Some modesty is necessary.

"You are too modest, Mr. Ling."

"It is said that a powerful dragon cannot defeat a local snake."

"I have to admit that for us, a dragon that has just arrived here, the Xiao family is indeed a bit difficult to deal with."

"So, we should take it step by step."

"There's no rush."

"Look, we have obtained several things now... the Xiao family's building layout plan, the Xiao family's sentry distribution map tonight, the Xiao family's recent intelligence, and the Xiao family's personnel list."

“This is good progress.”

Putting down the brush in her hand and pointing at the slightly messy drawings on the table, Xiao Xun'er said soothingly, but the consolation was just a small episode, just like Ling Ying's apology, it was to pave the way for the following content: "However, what I value most is not these two drawings, but the recent intelligence and personnel list of the Xiao family... First of all, the lineage of the patriarch Xiao Zhan can be ruled out, and the lines of the first elder, the second elder, and the third elder are also ruled out. Because if their respective lines have hidden some secrets known only to the top leaders, they will not speak out separately, and there is no need to speak out separately... Therefore, I suspect that the top leaders of the Xiao family should know the location of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, and even that there may be hidden veins!"

The meaning of hidden vein, as the name suggests, is the vein that is hidden.

This design would not be strange to any family.

Uncommon is true.

But it’s also true that it’s not rare.

This is also the reason why Xiao Xun'er insisted on getting the specific list of Xiao family members.

Because hidden veins are difficult to find.

Once five generations have passed.

It's almost impossible to find it in the family tree.

Let's put it this way: suppose the first-generation head of the family has the idea of ​​building a hidden vein, what needs to be paid attention to are all the uncertain real and fake deaths. Anyway, in the family tree, everyone except those who died of old age is listed, because the family tree can be falsified, and Xiao Xun'er has proved this with facts. In this way, filling in a result of death while going out for training in the family tree is actually hiding this person, changing his appearance, and starting a new life as a non-existent person. On the one hand, he is under the protection of the family and does not have to worry about danger. On the other hand, he is inconspicuous and has nothing to do with anything, so there is no need to worry about being targeted. This two-pronged approach allows him to keep some family secrets, which can be said to be the most appropriate arrangement.

Therefore, it is relatively easy to check within three generations.

Five generations passed.

There are too many suspects.

There is too much actionable content.

I simply don't have the energy to check.

Even if you check, you won’t find anything.

Because no one knows the seniority of the people who make up the Hidden Vein.

Is it the same generation as the old patriarch or the new patriarch?

How many generations has it been passed down?

There are some hidden veins that even the head of the family doesn't know about.

The identity is confirmed only by the token.

How to check?

In addition, those who are too weak can also be excluded.

They don't have the ability to keep secrets.

Besides, it is difficult to do anything to them.

You can't just make up a story about a cultivator in the Dou Qi realm going out for training and then dying without a complete body, and then use this fake dead cultivator as a hidden vein, right?

We are not fools!

You can tell whether it is strange or not at a glance!

However, regarding this matter, and also regarding his young lady's thoughts, after listening patiently, Ling Ying still expressed his views truthfully and advised: "Young lady, the Xiao family has only three generations since they fled here, from Xiao Lin to Xiao Zhan, and then to the younger generation such as Xiao Ding. I don't think the Xiao family has the time, energy, and manpower to create a hidden vein... But if the young lady wants to investigate, I will obey your orders. It's just that I think this may be the Xiao family deliberately creating confusion, true and false, real and fake, just to let us investigate, so as to share our energy, so that they can better hide the traces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, just like a fishing bait... Young lady, do you think you should be on guard against this?"

"A fake bait? That's a possibility."

“But now it’s the needle-in-the-haystack stage.”

"No possibility should be missed."

Xiao Xun'er rubbed her brows, a look of annoyance emerged on her delicate face. Looking at the messy intelligence, she sighed deeply: "No matter what, we still have to make preparations for both situations. You should first investigate whether these deaths that are not due to old age in the Xiao family tree are true. Then, we will make the next plan... In addition, there is another thing worth mentioning, that is the fight between these Xiao family members a few days ago... At this age, fighting is normal, but the two servants were beaten to death, and the matter was left unresolved, and no one spontaneously publicized who won and who lost. It is really a bit strange... I decided to start from this angle. After all, I am also a child!"

"clear."

"I wonder if the young lady needs the cooperation of this old slave?"

"Create some opportunities for intervention?"

"Miss, you are a stranger after all."

"It's not easy to gain trust!"

Ling Ying thought about it for a moment, and after confirming that it was feasible, he asked loyally.

Of course.

This loyalty is not for Xiao Xun'er.

But it’s for Gu Yuan.

It’s for the ancient people.

Because Xiao Xun'er is the eldest daughter of the Gu clan, and because Xiao Xun'er is Gu Yuan's legitimate daughter, Ling Ying will obey Xiao Xun'er's orders.

If Xiao Xun'er lost these identities.

In Ling Ying's eyes.

Xiao Xun'er is just a pretty little girl.

Therefore, Xiao Xun'er's safety is of paramount importance.

It doesn't even matter if it alerts the enemy.

It doesn’t matter if you can’t get the Tushe Ancient Emperor Jade.

Because the order Gu Yuan gave him was to protect Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er herself was also aware of this, and some worries surged in her heart, but she suppressed them in the blink of an eye. She waved her hand and said nonchalantly, "Old Ling, you are worrying too much. I am just asking about the situation. There is no need to bother to create an opportunity. Old Ling's mission is more important... It's just right. I can also see what the younger generation of the Xiao family is like, and how talented the so-called first genius of the Xiao family, Xiao Yan, is... and whether he has the potential to make a comeback!"