As the Second Young Lady, Tang Yuxin, entered the hall, the atmosphere became a little more serious.
Unlike her elder sister, Tang Xiuying, Yuxin carried herself with a quiet and restrained demeanor. She walked into the grand dining hall and calmly took the chair directly opposite Tang Xiuying.
Tang Yuxin glanced around the table.
"It's been a while since our entire family gathered together."
She settled gracefully into her chair before turning toward her elder sister.
"Well, Sister, did you complete your mission?"
Before Tang Xiuying could answer, the Patriarch interrupted.
"Yuxin, do you not see that we have guests? You should greet them first."
Tang Yuxin finally looked toward Rin, Lianzhen, and Yu Meixian.
"Oh, forgive me, Father. I didn't see them."
She stood from her chair and offered a proper greeting.
"Oh, it's been a while, Yu Meixian."
Yu Meixian returned the greeting.
Tang Yuxin then looked toward the two brothers.
"I don't know what to call these gentlemen."
Yu Meixian smiled.
"They are my companions for a trip to the Kunlun Sect."
"Oh, Kunlun."
Tang Yuxin smiled.
Strangely, however, her gaze lingered on Rin.
There was something strange about the way she looked at him.
Rin shifted slightly in his seat.
Why is she looking at me like that?
Her gaze was making him uncomfortable.
Tang Xiuying noticed it as well.
She quickly turned toward her younger sister.
"Yuxin, how have you been? You never came to meet me when I returned to the clan. I was worried about you."
Tang Yuxin calmly replied, "Oh, I apologize, Sister. It's just that I've been busy managing clan meetings, meeting branch family heads, and dealing with other affiliated clans, sects, and merchants."
Tang Xiuying raised an eyebrow.
"It looks tiring."
Tang Yuxin smirked.
"It's tiring, but someone has to do it."
She paused deliberately.
"But it is less tiring when they treat me like…"
Her eyes briefly met Tang Xiuying's.
"…the Young Matriarch."
Tang Xiuying's expression immediately became serious.
The playful light disappeared from her eyes.
"I see."
The tension between the two sisters became noticeable.
Before either could continue, the Poison Queen spoke.
"Enough. We have guests, and the food is ready too. Let's eat."
The conversation ended.
Everyone began eating.
For a while, the dining hall became peaceful again.
Then—
Rin suddenly noticed something strange.
Yu Meixian froze.
So did both Tang sisters.
Tang Xiuying's chopsticks stopped halfway toward her mouth.
Tang Yuxin's fingers tightened against the edge of the table.
Their bodies began trembling.
The three women immediately started circulating their Qi.
Lianzhen panicked.
He moved toward Yu Meixian and began checking her condition.
Rin stared at her face.
Something was wrong.
"She's poisoned."
The Poison Queen immediately stopped eating.
She slowly looked toward the head of the table.
"Mother… are you seriously testing them at the dining table?"
Rin followed her gaze.
The Poison Empress was smiling.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
She suddenly laughed.
"I just wanted to see the results of the youngsters' training."
The Poison Queen sighed.
"I see my daughter is fine."
Tang Xiuying continued circulating her Qi, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
"I think you've grasped the nature of poison."
"Mother, even though I became Matriarch, I still train every day."
The Poison Empress looked between the three poisoned women.
"Oh? Both of your daughters are fighting the poison, and even Yu Meixian…"
Her smile deepened.
"I see. That is impressive."
She watched them struggle.
"This poison can kill ten bulls in a minute, but they are still fighting it."
A minute passed.
All three remained conscious.
Their Qi continued surging through their bodies as they resisted the poison.
The Poison Empress finally raised her hand.
"It's good."
With a wave of her hand, several pills flew through the air.
The pills entered the mouths of Tang Xiuying, Tang Yuxin, and Yu Meixian.
Almost immediately, relief appeared on their faces.
Another minute passed.
Tang Xiuying returned to normal.
Yu Meixian also recovered.
But Tang Yuxin was still struggling.
Her breathing remained heavy, and sweat rolled down her face.
The Poison Queen immediately grabbed Yuxin's hand and examined her condition.
"It looks like she absorbed all the poison."
Tang Yuxin finally took a deep breath.
The Poison Queen looked at her.
"You still need more training, Yuxin. I don't see much improvement."
Tang Xiuying immediately smirked.
Tang Yuxin noticed her elder sister's expression.
Her face darkened further.
The meal continued.
───
After a while, everyone finished eating and gradually began leaving the dining hall.
As Rin prepared to leave, Tang Yuxin approached him.
"Your name is Rin, right?"
Rin looked at her.
She was smiling.
"Yes."
Tang Yuxin stopped before him.
"Do you like our Tang Clan?"
"Yes. It's good."
"Good, ha."
Her smile remained.
"Well, my plan is to bring this clan to a much higher peak."
Rin laughed lightly.
Tang Yuxin continued, "But you know, it's hard to achieve this alone."
"Yeah, but you have other clan members."
"Yes."
She stepped closer.
"But you know, we need more members, and I need someone close to me."
Rin instinctively took a step backward.
"I'm sure you'll find someone reliable, Young Lady."
Tang Yuxin's smile stiffened slightly.
"I think you're not understanding me."
Before she could continue—
Tang Xiuying appeared.
"Oh, Yuxin. Sorry for interrupting your conversation, but I need to discuss something with Rin."
Tang Yuxin's expression showed clear frustration.
"Of course, Sister."
She looked at Rin again.
"We'll continue our conversation later."
She turned and left.
Rin watched her disappear before looking toward Tang Xiuying.
"Both you and your sister are weird."
Tang Xiuying frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"One is a perverted playgirl freak who is direct, and the other is a quiet and vicious freak who is not direct."
Tang Xiuying's eyebrow twitched.
"Your sister was trying to ask me out with an indirect conversation, which is also kind of direct."
"Rin, make sure you stay away from my sister."
Rin looked at her sarcastically.
"Stay away from your sister… or from you?"
Tang Xiuying stiffened.
"That time, I was young."
"Oh, so now you're old?"
"No! I mean to say I was at the start of my teenage years!"
Rin stared at her.
"Teenage, ha."
He turned and started leaving.
Tang Xiuying watched him for a moment.
"Can we talk?"
Rin stopped.
He looked at her for a moment.
"Okay."
Tang Xiuying led Rin toward a balcony.
Rin followed her.
Outside, the Tang Clan estate stretched beneath the night sky. Lanterns glowed throughout the courtyards, while the distant mountains stood beneath the moonlight.
Tang Xiuying stopped beside the railing.
"Rin, you must stay away from Yuxin."
Rin looked at her.
"You already said that to me."
"It's not a joke."
Rin sighed.
"You don't need to worry. I'm not interested in your sister, okay?"
Tang Xiuying hesitated.
"The thing is… there's a high chance that she's not interested in you."
Rin frowned.
"What do you mean? She just tried to ask me out."
"It's because of me."
Rin looked even more confused.
"Because of you?"
Tang Xiuying looked directly at him.
"You know that I'm interested in you, Rin."
"Yes, I know."
Tang Xiuying stared at him.
"I just said I'm interested in you."
"I know."
"It means I like you."
Again, Rin replied, "I know."
Tang Xiuying's composure finally cracked.
"For Heaven's sake, give me an answer, Rin!"
Rin looked directly at her.
"No."
Tang Xiuying froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"You don't like me?"
"Like you, so I can become your next victim?"
Tang Xiuying's face flushed.
"It's not like that! I said it was a mistake when I was a teenager!"
Rin raised an eyebrow.
"Quite a mistake—to get pregnant."
"You—!"
The two stared at each other.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then—
They both started laughing.