Absolute Resonance

Inside the palace of the northern royal court, everyone, including Gong Yuan, felt a deep sense of foreboding as a myriad of complex emotions buffeted them. As a result, Si Qing's loss of composure went completely ignored. As the spy continued to disclose what had happened in the City of Southwind, gasps echoed one after another in the hall.

Si Qing had the most magnificent expression among them. His face was a mix of green and white while his eyes flashed with both anger and regret. He had never imagined that the young man who had been forced out of the Xia Kingdom like a stray dog would return in such shocking fashion. He had learned from the reports that Li Luo not only possessed immense strength of his own, but was backed by a peak power. Compared to that, the entire royal court under Gong Yuan, much less House Jinque, was no more than an ant.

"How could this..."

Si Qing was simmering with regret. He wished he could take back what he had done. Before the Housemeet, House Jinque and House Luolan enjoyed quite a good relationship. Many had assumed that they were close allies and that Si Qing would come to House Luolan’s aid during the crucial Housemeet. But contrary to expectations, the supposed ally of House Luolan ended up stabbing them in the back. Si Qing had personally taken action to pillage them.

Ironically, it was House Duze, which had always been at loggerheads with House Luolan, that had stepped in to assist them in their time of need. Duze Yan had personally obstructed Si Qing.

At the time, Si Qing had thought that Duze Yan was a fool, unable to see the forest for the trees. It was clear that House Luolan was being eyed by all of the major factions of the Xia Kingdom. Furthermore, with Li Taixuan and Tantai Lan missing, the two juniors would be unable to protect their interests and businesses.

Thus, Si Qing had decided to stab them in the back to get what he could from the figurative dead body of House Luolan. That decision had made his children distance themselves from him, almost to the point that they were strangers. But he didn't mind. All that mattered was the prosperity of House Jinque.

When the news about Li Luo reached him, Si Qing felt like his mind was shattering. He had made the wrong decision all those years ago and underestimated Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e... and now, he might pay the heaviest price of all.

Gong Yuan frowned when he looked at the dazed Si Qing. He could easily guess what the man was thinking, and this left him dissatisfied. However, he was a shrewd leader, so he wouldn't express his displeasure at such a critical time, especially since Si Qing was one of their powerhouses.