The Qiao Clan was the same Shanxi merchant clan that Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling had encountered in the north long ago. At the time, they had been preoccupied with other matters and had let the clan be, eventually almost forgetting about them.0

However, Lady Three knew about their dealings, and anything she knew inevitably reached Vermillion Bird. Naturally, Vermillion Bird made the Qiao Clan her first target in her latest operation. Since the Rankings of Troubled Times no longer updated automatically, it had become harder to learn of battles through shifts in the rankings. Still, the jianghu had its own ways of spreading news, and an event of this scale was impossible to keep under wraps.0

While Vermillion Bird’s victory sounded like another instance of her wreaking havoc in her usual dazzling fashion, Zhao Changhe frowned as he listened. “She took out a Jin merchant clan—why would that lead to a Profound Control Realm manifestation and flames blazing across the southern skies?”0

A thought struck him: Even if the rankings don’t report it, the blind woman must have seen what happened. Maybe I should try buttering her up to quietly...0