Outside Tianyuan City, three figures arrived with light steps.

To avoid alerting the enemy, the three disguised themselves and quietly slipped into the city gate with the convoy transporting medicinal herbs.

As soon as Qin Xin stepped into the city, he felt that Tianyuan City had undergone tremendous changes. Compared with the bustling Tianyuan City in his memory, the current Tianyuan City had become unusually quiet.

Although they often saw warriors dressed in Ironblood Mercenary Group uniforms patrolling back and forth along the way, some sordid things kept happening in the corners of the streets, including murder and robbery, and even some obscene scenes. Shui Qingxi lowered her head in embarrassment, pulled down the brim of her straw hat, and made a soft murmur at the corner of her mouth.

The three of them found a small tavern not far from the Qin Clan Manor and sat down, intending to inquire about news from the clan.

After the waiter brought the wine and dishes to the table, Qin Xin asked in a low voice, "Uncle Tie Niu, why do the Qian and Zhao clans in Tianyuan City allow the Iron Blood Mercenary Group to run rampant?"

"Alas! Young master, you are unaware of the fact that the Qian clan has now become a vassal of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group. As for the Zhao clan, not a single member survived; they were all slaughtered by the Iron Blood Mercenary Group." Tie Niu deliberately lowered his voice, glancing around at his surroundings as he spoke.

"Qin Xin, what are your plans?" Shui Qingxi traced a jade-like finger along the rim of her wine glass, looking at Qin Xin with a somewhat indifferent expression, as if she were already used to this situation, and spoke softly.

After a moment's hesitation, Qin Xin slowly said, "Let's first confirm the safety of our clansmen. You will come with me to a place later."

Seeing Qin Xin's deliberately mysterious demeanor, Shui Qingxi picked up her wine glass, took a small sip, and then put it back on the table.

"Have you heard? Last night, quite a few members of the Qin clan escaped from the Qin clan's manor."

"They've already started their escape! The city is now full of Ironblood Mercenaries; escaping will be as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

"You know what, look, aren't those the people who escaped from the Qin Clan Manor!"

Hearing the discussion among the martial artists around him, Qin Xin immediately turned to look.

At this moment, several warriors dressed in Qin clan uniforms with the Qin clan emblem on their chests were being escorted by a group of Ironblood Mercenaries. Judging from their staggering steps and the weakness in their gait, it was not hard to tell that their dantian had been shattered.

"Young Master, don't be impulsive!" Sensing Qin Xin's rising anger, Tie Niu quickly pressed down on Qin Xin's shoulder and whispered.

"Those Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group members deserve to die!" Qin Xin looked at his clansmen, his eyes filled with anger.

To avoid being noticed, Shui Qingxi paid the bill and then left the tavern with Qin Xin.

After his anger subsided, Qin Xin regained some of his composure. He knew that if he had acted then and there, it might have implicated Shui Qingxi and Tie Niu, and he felt a pang of guilt.

Led by Qin Xin, the three headed towards the center of Tianyuan City, avoiding the Iron Blood Mercenary Group's checks along the way.

Upon entering the Wanbaoge area, it was as noisy as ever, and all the members of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group had disappeared.

Looking at the enormous pavilion, Qin Xin paused for a moment before stepping inside.

"What do you three need?" As soon as they entered the pavilion, a servant came over.

Seeing the servant's appearance, Qin Xin recalled how he had been harassed when he entered Wanbaoge. He smiled calmly and said, "Please go and tell Miss Xia Tong that an old friend has come to visit."

Upon hearing that the group was looking for a young lady, the servant hesitated for a moment. After assessing the three men's unfathomable strength, he dared not be negligent and said, "Please wait a moment!"

The servant turned and walked towards the backyard of Wanbaoge.

Before long, a maidservant followed the servant and muttered incantations.

"My young lady doesn't meet just anyone!"

"Why didn't you even ask who the other person was?"

After a series of complaints, the maidservant approached Qin Xin and said arrogantly, "So you're looking for my young lady, right? Speak up, what's the matter?"

"Qiu Shui, it's been a long time." Qin Xin smiled calmly as he looked at the girl in front of him.

Upon hearing this somewhat familiar figure, Qiu Shui suddenly stared at Qin Xin's face, which she found somewhat familiar.

Although Qin Xin's features had matured considerably since he left Tianyuan City, his demeanor remained largely unchanged, and Qiu Shui quickly recognized him.

"Come with me to the backyard!" Qiu Shui paused for a moment, then led Qin Xin directly to the backyard without making a sound.

The servant standing to the side looked puzzled, but he didn't worry too much about it, since it wasn't his place to concern himself with the affairs of Miss Wanbaoge.

Led by Qiu Shui, the three of them conveniently arrived at the backyard of Wanbaoge.

As soon as he entered, Qin Xin smelled a very familiar fragrance.

A woman in a purple dress was sitting in the pavilion. When she saw someone arrive, she slowly got up. Her alluring figure exuded mature charm with every step and gesture as she walked towards Qin Xin and his companions.

"You're back?" Xia Tong said softly, her eyes scanning Qin Xin up and down. "It's been over a year since I last saw you, little brother, you've grown quite a bit."

"Ahem, Miss Xia Tong is becoming more and more charming," Qin Xin said with a smile.

Standing before Qin Xin, Shui Qingxi felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing Xia Tong's flippant words.

Only then did Xia Tong notice Shui Qingxi, whose face was veiled. Her eyes were full of doubt. "Your aura feels very familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

"I never expected that the princess would condescend to be in Tianyuan City. I'm afraid even King Xia doesn't know this." As she spoke, Shui Qingxi pulled off the veil in front of her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.

"Princess?" Qin Xin was also a little puzzled when he heard this title. After thinking about Xia Tong's surname, he guessed what it meant.

When Xia Tong saw that Shui Qingxi recognized her identity directly, she was a little surprised. She looked Shui Qingxi up and down, feeling that she was very familiar, but she couldn't figure it out. "Since you know me, you must be a member of the Great Xia royal family."

“No, that’s not it.” Shui Qingxi shook her head and said softly, “My father is the Prince of Zhennan of the Great Xia Dynasty, Shui Sheng.”

"You are Shui Sheng's daughter, no wonder you feel so familiar to me." Upon hearing Shui Qingxi's identity, Xia Tong's face immediately lit up with joy, and she stepped forward to grasp Shui Qingxi's hand. "How is your father? Is everything alright?"

Shui Qingxi did not refuse Xia Tong. She smiled slightly and said softly, like a girl next door, "My father is doing well."

"That's good, that's good. When I left the Great Xia royal family, you were just a little girl. I didn't expect you to be so grown up now." Xia Tong patted Shui Qingxi's hand and said gently, "You look a lot like your mother."

Shui Qingxi's expression changed slightly after hearing her mother's voice, but she did not answer Xia Tong.

Xia Tong seemed to notice Shui Qingxi's change as well, and the words she was about to say suddenly stopped.

At this moment, Qin Xin was completely bewildered by the conversation between the two women in front of him. "Can anyone tell me what's going on? If Miss Xia Tong is a princess, why is she in Tianyuan City?"

"It's a long story. Come with me to the room; this isn't the place to talk." Xia Tong looked at Qin Xin, who looked puzzled, and chuckled softly. She then pulled Shui Qingxi directly into the room.