Chapter 93 Stealing the Betrothal Gifts - Great-Grandmother? You are my mother's...grandmother...

Third floor, outside the private room.

Liu Xianyue couldn't help but burst out laughing, leaning on Zhong Jiuli's shoulder with a swaying gait. "I admit you're right. These young geniuses are indeed no match for our little tiger."

Her voice was filled with laughter as she wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. "I used to think our tiger was a bit silly, but now I realize I was too narrow-minded. There are many people in this world who are even more foolish than her."

Zhong Jiuli didn't reply; her gaze followed the figure downstairs who was wearing a straw hat and raincoat as he walked out of the restaurant.

"Idiot, it's not even raining anymore, why didn't you take off that raincoat?" she muttered to herself. Only when the figure was completely out of sight did she slowly turn her gaze away and look towards the private room on the second floor.

The group of young geniuses who had been strategizing just moments before now had pale faces, especially Qin Yanjing, who was leading the group. Her face was ashen, and her red lips were tightly pressed together, clearly indicating that she was trying her best to suppress her anger.

That astronomical bill of one million spirit stones was no small sum even for the eldest daughter of the Qin family.

Zhong Jiuli chuckled and said, "They tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead. I imagine these people will be quite frustrated for a while."

"The show's over, let's go get something to eat. I was so envious watching Stinky Tiger and Little Darling eat so heartily."

Liu Xianyue turned and went back to the private room, saying, "Oh, by the way, you're paying the bill today."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Jiuli shook her head and chuckled, then stepped into the private room with the door open.

......

After Bai Ye came out of the restaurant, it was completely dark. She didn't rush to the Bai family to look for someone, but instead found an inn and booked a room to rest.

The next morning, Bai got up early and left the inn. Like a tourist, he strolled leisurely through the wide streets of Baidi City.

Occasionally, I'd stop at a roadside stall, buy some inconspicuous little things, and chat with the stall owner for a bit. Or I'd wander into those shops that looked quite old, buy a few items, and chat idly with the owner.

She asked her questions skillfully and naturally. The shopkeepers saw that although she was dressed plainly, she spoke eloquently and asked questions that were common knowledge in Baidi City. So they were willing to chat with her for a while longer.

In this way, Bai, like a jigsaw puzzle, gradually pieced together a complete picture of the Bai family by obtaining various fragmented information from different people.

The Bai family is now headed by the reclusive Old Madam Bai, who enjoys immense prestige in Baidi City.

Sadly, the old lady's legitimate daughter had already passed away. Her granddaughter, whom she had raised with countless efforts, also died young.

From then on, Old Madam Bai became disheartened and stopped managing affairs. The actual power in the Bai family now falls into the hands of the second branch of the family.

Currently, the person in charge of all affairs of the Bai family is Second Master Bai, and the current young master of the Bai family, Bai Qingji, is Second Master Bai's only daughter.

As for the other extended family members, there were too many of them and their relationships were too complicated for Bai to inquire about in detail.

"The Bai family seems to be rife with trouble. I wonder which branch of the family Mother belongs to, and why she was kidnapped," Bai thought to himself.

She rubbed her temples, looking a bit of a headache, and asked, "Xiao Wang, can you help me analyze what happened at the restaurant yesterday? What do you think of the show those people put on?"

[From what I can see, those people are trying to win you over or manipulate you into doing something. My suggestion is that you might as well accept their goodwill and get to know them better to see what their true intentions are.]

Bai also asked in his mind, "Xiao Wang, do you know how to play badminton?"

[...]

Xiao Wang remained silent for a few seconds.

Badminton is a net-based competitive sport; Xiao Wang doesn't have a physical counterpart, so he's never played it.

"In badminton, the most important thing is to control the rhythm and drag your opponent into your rhythm."

"I have only just set foot in Baidi City and know nothing about it. If I follow their script and accept their kindness, it would be like handing over the reins to them."

“No matter what they want to do next, I can only react passively and easily fall into a passive position, being led by the nose. But now, I directly jump out of the court and don’t receive the ball they hit. Their carefully laid plans naturally fall apart.”

"If that Miss Qin really has ulterior motives, then they should be the ones who are anxious. They will definitely come looking for me again, and I am the one who holds the initiative," Bai concluded.

"You're so great, kid! Your analysis is so clear." Xiao Wang praised him enthusiastically.

"No, I just figured it out myself," Bai said with a smile.

Should we infiltrate the Bai family's residence next?

"Hmm, is the map scan almost complete?"

This city is too large; only a small portion has been scanned so far.

"Other places aren't important for now. Let's focus on exploring the Bai family's main residence." After saying that, Bai Ye flashed into a quiet, deserted alley.

A moment later, a young cultivator of about twenty years old emerged from the alley. He had an ordinary appearance and a plain demeanor; he was the kind of person who would be easily lost in a crowd.

Bai also changed his appearance and headed straight for the Bai family's ancestral home. After traveling through Baidi City for several hours, he finally found the place where the Bai family members lived, as the city's residents had told him.

She hid in a corner, gazing at the endless cluster of buildings before her, and sighed softly, "This isn't just an ancestral home, it's practically a city!"

With glazed tiles, white jade steps, upturned eaves, and palaces in clusters, the entire complex is magnificent and undulating, as if a celestial palace has fallen to earth, hidden in a misty haze, stretching as far as the eye can see.

"The Bai family named their city Baidi City and built their houses like palaces. How much do they want to be emperors?" Bai Ye muttered to himself.

"Jiaojiao thinks so grand!" came Jiaojiao's voice from her lapel. "My mother's family is really rich."

Bai nodded, deeply agreeing.

If she hadn't already inquired and known that this was the Bai family's ancestral home, no one who came here for the first time would have imagined that such a massive complex of buildings would be the ancestral home of a family.

It is said that all the Bai family members live in this ancestral home, with collateral relatives living on the outer perimeter and direct descendants residing in the innermost palace, according to their blood ties.

【Hey kid, the map has been scanned.】

"Hmm." Bai responded, focusing intently on the map in his mind. In a flash, he disappeared from the spot.

......

Chengwang Hall is the residence of Bai Qingji, the young master of the Bai family.

Its status can be discerned from its name. Apart from the Taiwang Palace where the head of the family resided, this palace was the most magnificent in scale, the highest in position, and the closest to the center of power.

Inside the study, Bai Qingji sat upright behind his desk, one hand casually supporting his chin, the other hand playing with a white jade phoenix-tail hairpin, listening intently as the guards reported on everything that had happened at the Bai family restaurant the previous day.

Her gaze was lowered, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes. The study fell silent once the guard finished speaking.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, her tone unreadable, "That little bastard that Auntie raised outside isn't too stupid."

"Young Master," the guard standing nearby asked in a low voice, "Should I take action and...?"

Before he could finish speaking, his murderous intent was already evident.

Bai Qingji raised her eyes to look at the confidant who had protected her since childhood, a slight smile playing on her lips, "A Liang, you don't understand how terrifying Great-Grandmother is."

She murmured, "If I dare to touch that bastard even a little bit, my great-grandmother would probably drag the entire second branch of the family down with her."

"Otherwise, why do you think my father was so eager to bring my aunt back as soon as he received news of her?"

Ah Liang understood the meaning behind the young master's words. If Second Master Bai dared to conceal the truth, the seemingly indifferent Old Madam Bai would not care about blood ties once she lost her temper.

The patriarch's iron-fisted methods were feared by everyone in the Bai family.

“But…it seems that the eldest daughter of the Qin family suffered a loss at the hands of that bastard.” A Liang said hesitantly.

Bai Qingji's eyes were full of laughter, "It's alright, Qin Yanjing's personality... she definitely won't swallow this insult."

After she finished speaking, she handed over the hairpin she was holding in her palm, "Take this to Yan Jing. Tell her that she has worked hard and that I will make time to visit her another day."

"Yes, young master." A Liang bowed and replied, stepped forward, took the warm jade hairpin with both hands, and carefully put it into her bosom. The next moment, her figure gradually turned transparent and disappeared into the study.

......

Meanwhile, Bai also secretly infiltrated the Bai family's territory.

Guided by Xiao Wang's voice, she traversed a maze of corridors, avoiding countless patrolling guards, until she finally made her way into the heart of the tribe's territory as dusk fell.

"Taiwang Hall... Chengwang Hall, Chaotian Pavilion, Tingfeng Garden... Which one should I choose?" Bai muttered to himself.

【Listening to the Wind Garden, what a gentle name. Perhaps my mother lives here.】

"Alright, I'll listen to you." Bai made his decision and immediately put Xiao Jiaojiao into his space. He activated the Formless Technique, instantly concealing his aura and shrinking his body rapidly into an inconspicuous little flying insect, which quietly flew towards Tingfeng Garden.

Under the cover of night, Tingfeng Garden was brightly lit. Maids dressed in light dresses carried various jade platters filled with delicacies. They moved gracefully among the pavilions and towers, creating a lively scene of entertaining guests.

The little insect that Bai Ye had transformed into quietly landed on a flower branch and, by the light of the lamp, looked towards the people drinking inside the hall.

Her gaze was drawn to the man sitting in the main seat. With just one glance, she was certain that this man must have a very deep connection with her mother.

There was no other reason than that the two women looked at least five or six points alike. However, compared to the other woman, the mother was more refined and elegant, and the natural nobility and composure between her brows was something the other woman could not match.

“No wonder…” Bai suddenly realized, “I always thought my mother didn’t grow up in the mountains. Her demeanor was something that was cultivated in her family.”

A loud laugh suddenly broke out in the hall, interrupting Bai Ye's thoughts.

The laughing middle-aged man, holding a wine cup, raised it to Master Bai, who was seated in the main seat, and said with a ruddy face, "Master Bai, you would never guess how lucky I was a few days ago and what a treasure I acquired!"

With a smile playing on his lips, Master Bai feigned curiosity and leaned forward slightly to ask, "Oh? What made Brother Qin so happy? Tell me about it."

The Qin family patriarch downed the spirit wine in his cup in one gulp, then clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "I have long heard that my niece Qingji is exceptionally talented, and her cultivation has already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just one step away from the Tribulation Transcending stage! Truly, like father, like daughter!"

He paused deliberately at this point, and Master Bai immediately laughed and scolded, "Brother Qin, why keep me in suspense?"

The Qin family head then said with a smile, "It's quite a coincidence. Some time ago, I happened to be in an ancient secret realm and obtained an ancient pill."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant in black standing behind him immediately stepped forward, holding an antique wooden box engraved with cloud patterns, and respectfully presented it to Master Bai on the table in front of him.

"What kind of elixir is it? Why is it so mysterious?" Master Bai asked curiously.

"Supreme Creation Pill!" The Qin family head uttered these five words with resounding force.

A hint of undisguised surprise and excitement flashed across Master Bai's eyes. He had always cherished his only daughter, who had inherited the Bai family bloodline, and placed high hopes on her.

If there is any shortcoming, it is that the bloodline concentration inherited by Qingji is ultimately a bit low, making her slightly inferior to the two exceptionally talented daughters of Old Madam Bai.

With the help of this legendary Supreme Creation Pill, supplemented by the bloodline power of the family's inheritance pool, her foundation will be reshaped and her bloodline purified. How could Qingji not undergo a complete transformation, firmly securing her position as the young master, with no one daring to question her anymore?

As for his cousin whom he had personally brought back, Second Master Bai didn't take her seriously. Decades ago, she was able to abandon everything in the Bai family and run away; given the chance, she would make the same choice again.

She never belonged here, and she was never a threat to Qingji.

"Brother Qin... you're actually willing to give me such a miraculous medicine?" Master Bai asked with a smile, his gaze falling on the ancient wooden box.

Upon hearing this, the head of the Qin family shook his head and laughed heartily, "Second Master, you misunderstand. This is not a gift; it is a dowry I specially prepared for my daughter, Yan Jing!"

Master Bai smiled knowingly and said meaningfully, "I see. But brother, I'm afraid I really can't make the decision on this matter. As you know, matters between the younger generation ultimately come down to mutual consent."

"If we were to force things, the happy occasion might not turn out well, and instead, it would only lead to resentment. Wouldn't that be a pity?"

Upon hearing this, the Qin family head sighed with deep sympathy, "Indeed! If it weren't for your matriarch's forceful intervention back then, that exceptionally talented young master wouldn't have ended up like this..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized his slip of the tongue. He quickly stopped talking, raised his hand to lightly pat his lips, and said with a forced smile, "Brother, please don't be offended. Look at me, I just become so outspoken after drinking."

Master Bai chuckled and waved his hand, a hint of slyness flashing in his eyes. “It’s alright. The Bai family has never been afraid of people talking about its past.”

Hidden in the shadows, Bai was completely confused. The two kept only saying half of what they were saying, but she caught the key point: the father of Miss Qin was delivering a dowry to Master Bai.

Miss Qin is an enemy, not a friend. Her father is naturally an enemy as well, and the Second Master Bai, to whom her father gave gifts, must also be an enemy on the opposite side.

Since it belongs to the enemy, is there any need to be polite?

Just steal it!

Bai flapped its wings and, under the cover of night, slowly approached the brightly lit main hall.

Upon entering the hall, the rich aroma of wine and various spiritual dishes filled the air. At this moment, Bai was only glad that the foodie Jiaojiao was locked in the space, otherwise they definitely wouldn't have been able to hide.

Bai also secretly hid on the beam, watching the banquet below where wine was being exchanged and people were drinking. The graceful maids in light gauze dresses accompanied the old men at the table, constantly pouring wine for them.

She couldn't help but think to herself, "A bunch of old guys, they really know how to enjoy themselves. They just want to have a drink, but they need so many people to serve them."

Yes, even our kids have never been treated like this.

"No, don't slander me, I didn't mean that," Bai retorted.

The banquet in the main hall continued until late into the night before the guests, having enjoyed themselves to the fullest, finally dispersed.

Bai Ye flapped his wings and followed behind Second Master Bai, his gaze fixed on the storage ring on his finger.

She quickly calculated in her mind how to snatch the ring from a highly skilled cultivator without alerting anyone.

She racked her brains, and various plans emerged only to be rejected one by one. Robbing would inevitably expose her and delay her important business, but she was also reluctant to not steal.

Just as she was in a dilemma, Xiao Lü spoke up: "I have a way, but I have to choose the spoils first."

"Okay!" Bai agreed without hesitation.

She hadn't come to steal anything; her most important goal was to find her mother and rescue her. Stealing the item was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Since those people had caused her trouble, she naturally had to retaliate.

"Go back to his room with him first, and once he's asleep, fly closer to him," Little Green instructed.

Bai did as instructed, flapping his wings and following Second Master Bai back into the house.

She couldn't help but marvel once again at the wonder of the Formless Technique. This technique allowed her to change her form without any fluctuation of spiritual energy around her, as if she were truly a tiny insect.

If it were a normal illusion technique, let alone following the person back to their room, the fluctuations of her spiritual energy would probably be detected before she even flew into the main hall.

Bai waited patiently in the room for a while until the old man finished washing up and fell into a deep sleep on the bed. Only then did she flap her wings and slowly land on the bed curtains.

"Little Green, what's the next step?"

"Watch me." Little Green said, as she extended an extremely slender bud, which spread down the bed curtains with such gentleness that it didn't even cause a ripple in the air.

The tender bud slowly approached Master Bai's hand, which was draped over the brocade quilt. Just as it got close, Little Green suddenly exerted its strength, wrapping Master Bai's entire body into a green cocoon, with only his hand, which wore a storage ring, still exposed.

"Quick, take off his ring," Xiao Lü urged.

In fact, Bai had already taken flight the moment she made her move, without her needing to remind him.

The flying insect she transformed into landed in Master Bai's hand, its tiny claws gripping the storage ring and pulling it outwards with force.

The Second Master Bai inside the green cocoon has been awakened and is struggling frantically. A powerful aura keeps surging out from the cocoon, but he can't break free from the cage created by Little Green.

As soon as Bai succeeded, he immediately shouted in his mind, "Little Green, retreat."

She didn't dare use the Void Escape Technique, as that would easily reveal spatial fluctuations. Instead, she maintained her insect form, flapped her wings, and flew out through the window crack, instantly disappearing into the night.

Almost the instant her figure disappeared, a loud "bang" came from the bed, and the emerald green vines were shattered. Master Bai sat up abruptly and immediately touched his fingers.

It's completely empty!

His face was so dark it could drip water, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable rage. He had ruled the Bai family for decades, yet a petty thief had managed to sneak up to his bedside.

"Guards!" Master Bai shouted coldly, "A thief has infiltrated. Immediately seal off the entire mansion and activate the clan's protective formation."

"Yes, Second Master." The guard's response came immediately from outside the door.

In the dead of night, the entire Bai family ancestral home was awakened by the sudden appearance of this petty thief.

Countless palaces lit up one after another, illuminating this magnificent architectural complex as bright as day.

On the ground, on the roof, and even in the air, the figures of the guards swarmed out from all directions like cockroaches, almost filling every corner of the Bai family's residence.

Bai, disguised as a tiny insect, flew around aimlessly right under everyone's noses. She thought to herself with a hint of helplessness, "Little Green, you're really unreliable. You said you had a way, but you still just tried to steal it by force."

"Then let me ask you, did we get anything?" Little Green replied unhurriedly.

“We’ve got it,” Bai retorted irritably, “but now their guards are searching for us like madmen. How am I supposed to find my mother now?”

“Mother isn’t here,” Xiao Lü said.

"What?" Bai Ye exclaimed in surprise, "Wasn't Mother kidnapped by the Bai family? She's not in Baidi City? Then I must have gone to the wrong place and wasted my time?"

"You'll find out when you get to the Taiwang Palace. You stinking tiger, do you really think no one noticed you sneaking in? It's just that someone... didn't bother with you." Xiao Lü finished speaking and said no more.

Bai was shocked; she truly hadn't expected that she had been discovered so early on.

After pondering for a moment, she finally flapped her wings and flew towards the only magnificent palace that remained silent in the darkness amidst the bright lights.

The Taiwang Hall was dark and quiet. After Bai sneaked in, he wandered around the hall but didn't see anyone.

A soft chuckle came from above, followed by a large, dry, and warm hand that reached out and grasped her in its palm.

"Little fellow, you've got some nerve. You've only just arrived in Baidi City and you've already caused such a commotion." The woman's voice, tinged with a hint of authority, rang out again.

Bai flapped its wings and broke free from between the fingers of that hand, looking up at the owner of the palm.

This was a woman with a full head of silver hair, but her face was very young, and her eyebrows and eyes... bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to her mother.

The woman was also looking at her, her gaze deep, as if she could see Bai Ye's soul through the tiny insect's body. "Little one, you should call me great-grandmother."

Bai stared wide-eyed at the woman before him, whose aura was deep and imposing yet tinged with a touch of kindness, and asked softly, "Great-grandmother? You are my mother's...grandmother?"

“That’s right.” The Bai family head nodded slightly, giving an affirmative answer.

"Are you the Bai family head everyone's talking about?" Bai couldn't help but ask again to confirm.

"Yes, it's me." Her answer was still concise, and there was no hint of impatience in her voice.

"Master!"

A low shout from a guard outside the door interrupted the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, who were meeting for the first time.

The head of the Bai family asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Reporting to the patriarch, the Second Master has sent word that thieves have infiltrated the manor and stolen important items. He requests that you order the immediate activation of the clan's protective formation." The guard's voice came through the tightly closed palace doors.

"Is a mere petty thief worth Bai Lao Er making such a fuss about?"