“This was actually my idea.” Yan Yining took a sip of the juice she had grabbed from the fridge. “I think Changyuan needs another Yan family. A new Yan family, different from the current one.”

“What’s laughable is that the Patriarch and the Council of Elders never stopped to think about why we’d want to establish our own faction. They just assumed we were messing around. Truly disappointing,” Yan Yuhuai said.

“Maybe it’s because you’re both still around,” Mo Ying replied. On the surface, neither Yan Yuhuai nor Yan Yining had joined the reformists.

Yan Yining merely smiled, then turned to Yan Luowei. “Teacher, you raised three rebellious students. Not only did we split the family, we even think about dragging down the Patriarch and the Council of Elders every single day. What a failure.”

“I don’t see it that way. Rebellion isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Yan Luowei said, a nostalgic look appearing on her face. “It’s been four years since the three of you gathered in the same place again. It reminds me of when you were called the ‘Three Giants’ back in high school.”

“Don’t use that name.”

All three spoke in unison.

“That title is embarrassing,” Yan Yining shook her head.

Members of the Yan family attended the same school from middle school through high school.

Yan Yuhuai and Yan Yining had been classmates since elementary school. Both were hailed as prodigies within the family—exceptional in both intellect and ability—and had long heard of each other’s reputations.

Their first real clash came with the first exam in third grade. Yan Yining lost by five points and reluctantly placed second. After that, Yan Yuhuai remained firmly in first place, and Yan Yining became the eternal runner-up. She felt unwilling to accept it, but could only console herself—second place was already impressive, and she was still the top among the girls.

When they entered middle school, they were placed in the same class again. Yan Yining still failed to surpass Yan Yuhuai in exams. Just when everyone thought nothing had changed, someone appeared and broke the balance.

That person was Mo Ying. Of course, she didn’t go by that name back then.

Mo Ying’s parents had been living abroad. When they heard the family needed them, they returned to Changyuan and transferred her into the same school as Yan Yining and Yan Yuhuai—into the class next door.

At first, the two only heard that a beautiful new student had transferred in next door, also from the Yan family. They went over to greet her and introduce themselves.

Then the next exam results were posted.

Yan Yining and Yan Yuhuai stared at the name ranked first in the entire grade, then glanced at Mo Ying beside them in slight astonishment.

Mo Ying smiled in return. “I suppose this means we’re truly acquainted now, right?”

The other students whispered, “Looks like the throne of first place has changed hands.”

Having his first place taken, Yan Yuhuai didn’t feel anger. Instead, he grew interested in Mo Ying. He wanted to know more about this future rival—and companion.

Yan Yining said nothing and walked back to the classroom.

At first, she felt a trace of schadenfreude. Finally, someone had defeated the towering mountain that had always stood before her.

Then another emotion rose within her.

Resentment.

“Because of her, I fell to third place. I’m not even first anymore… Why did she have to appear?”

After that, their rankings rarely changed. The three of them were the immovable top three, so their classmates gave them the nickname “Three Giants.”

“Sounds cool,” the middle-school-aged Yan Yuhuai had said.

“You really think so? Seriously?” Mo Ying felt that such a title only worked in anime. In real life, it was just awkward.

“Who wants to be called the Three Giants with the two of you?” Yan Yining rolled her eyes, let out a cold snort, and walked away.

Eventually, the nickname spread within the Yan family as well.

Time returned to the present. Yan Luowei smiled faintly. “I was only reminiscing. No one mentions that name anymore.”

With one person missing, could they still be called the Three Giants?

“That’s for the best,” Mo Ying said.

Silence lingered for a few seconds. What had happened four years ago was far from a pleasant memory, and Yan Yuhuai still felt a trace of guilt.

“Alright, let’s change the subject. I just received news—the attackers targeted the Three Great Families, and the Haruwa family had the highest number of assailants,” Yan Luowei said, breaking the silence.

Indeed, Mo Ying had noticed that there were more people attacking Kagumo and the others than those targeting Yan Yuhuai and Yan Yining.

“The Haruwa family? A personal grudge?” Yan Yining asked. That was her first guess.

“The Haruwa family specializes in medicine and agriculture. Compared to the Hayes family, which focuses on commerce, and the Yan family, known for military industries, they should be the least likely to make enemies,” Yan Yuhuai said.

“That’s hard to say. Rather than speculate here, we might as well wait for the investigation results,” Mo Ying said. Or perhaps she could ask Kagumo later. They had exchanged contact information.

“We rushed over in a hurry and went too hard. We should’ve left a few conscious for questioning,” Yan Yining said with some regret.

“No need to worry. We’re already investigating on our end. But I estimate there will be more trouble soon. No—there definitely will be,” Yan Luowei said.

“This came from Poker, didn’t it? That fortune-teller’s prediction. Any more specific clues?” Yan Yining asked.

“No,” Yan Luowei shook her head.

“As expected,” Yan Yuhuai nodded.

Everyone was familiar with Sylvina’s style of prophecy.

“Still, their operation felt sloppy,” Mo Ying said. “A squad of about a dozen people, charging in with guns and no real tactics—aside from the ambush on Kagumo. Could it have been a spur-of-the-moment decision? Or someone from the organization acting without higher approval?”

“That possibility can’t be ruled out. We’ll wait for the investigation,” Yan Luowei said.

Yan Yuhuai quietly reached out and began toying with a strand of Mo Ying’s hair. She glanced at him and silently permitted it.

Yan Yining looked at him with an indescribable expression and decided to ignore him.

“Mo Ying, I have two questions for you,” she said.

“What is it?”

“Before the Three Great Families Conference, there are two preliminary events. Will you participate?” Yan Yining asked.

The conference was held only once every ten years. Ten years ago, Mo Ying, Yan Yining, and Yan Yuhuai had merely been inexperienced middle schoolers and hadn’t attended—though they all knew the procedures.

The events Yan Yining referred to were a competition between various factions and a masquerade ball.

The masquerade was held slightly earlier than the competition. It was an occasion for everyone to get acquainted—men and women dressed in elegant attire, wearing masks as they danced and drank together.

Why the masks?

Long ago, or perhaps it wasn't actually that long ago, a couple had existed— the man belonged to a non-Affinity organization, and the woman was a member of the Hayes family. At the time, tensions between non-Affinity groups and Affinity Users were escalating. Their relationship was opposed. The organizer of the ball happened to be the woman’s friend, and she decided to hold a masquerade so the two could share a dance.

Unexpectedly, many people loved the format. Since then, every Three Great Families Conference included a masquerade ball.

“I’ll attend both,” Mo Ying said.

“In what capacity?” Yan Yining asked. Mo Ying had already lost her status within the Yan family—what organization could she represent?

“Poker?” Yan Yuhuai guessed.

“No. Though I’m on good terms with them,” Mo Ying replied. “The Bounty Hunters Association. Otherwise, how do you think I survived these four years?”

The Bounty Hunters Association consisted of Affinity Users, ranked S, A, B, and C. Compared to Poker, which operated in the gray areas, the Bounty Hunters Association leaned more toward the lawful side. They accepted all kinds of missions—so long as the pay was sufficient, someone would take it. However, every mission underwent review before being issued.

“I see. If you were chosen as a representative, you must be at least A-rank,” Yan Yining said.

“S-rank.”

Yan Yining stared at her for several seconds and clicked her tongue. “You reached S-rank in four years. You’re still as irritating as ever.”

“Impressive,” Yan Yuhuai applauded—only to stop abruptly as a sharp pain shot from the collar around his neck.

“Clapping isn’t allowed either?” he asked helplessly.

“Normally, when it comes to enemies, I’d think even their breathing is wrong,” Mo Ying replied coldly. “By the way, do you have the list? The competition roster.”

“Send it to you,” Yan Yining said.

Mo Ying scanned it quickly. Just as she had expected. The Yan family’s available manpower was truly limited.

“Not a single reformist on it. As expected. Heh—perfect. Several of them happen to hold grudges against me. I can take this chance for a little revenge.” Her icy gaze drifted toward Yan Yuhuai.

Yan Yuhuai sighed. Both he and Yan Yining were on the list. “Do I count as one of those enemies?”

“What do you think?” Mo Ying looked at him meaningfully.

“That’s the main reason you’re joining the competition, isn’t it?” Yan Yining said. “To beat certain people senseless.”

“Not only that. But we’ll talk about that later. Besides, if I want to beat Yan Yuhuai senselessly, I don’t really need to wait for the competition…” Mo Ying looked toward him.

“Should I say I’m lucky I’m not on the list?” Yan Luowei said with a smile.

“Teacher, don’t say it like Yan Yuhuai and I are facing impending doom,” Yan Yining paused, then looked at Yan Yuhuai with interest. “Actually, I might be fine. But you… I sincerely hope you won’t need to seek a doctor’s help after the competition. Though I doubt that’s likely. In fact, you might need a doctor very soon.”