Vol. 1 - Ch. 274 - The Three Major Families and the Fuse
Transmigrated as the fake young master, I'll beat up the scumbags and b*tchesThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
“After I heard about what Han ShuYi did to you, and the choices you made afterwards, I realized maybe we’ve all been wrong about you. Maybe you’ve always been someone who thinks for himself.”
In truth, Xia GaoWu felt the word “calculating” would be more accurate when describing HuMing. After all, the things HuMing had pulled off—without careful planning, it would’ve been impossible.
You could say, Han ShuYi’s downfall started exactly like this, step by step, deeper and deeper into the abyss.
At first, Xia GaoWu didn’t pay much attention. After all, a kid—how far could he get, even if he was scheming?
But later, when he heard from his own son that HuMing was actually connected to the Gu family—
Everything changed.
Not because HuMing was from the Gu family, but because he was able to find someone from the Gu family.
Starting from nothing, no leads, and ending up appearing right inside the Gu household… Xia GaoWu felt maybe HuMing’s arrival could really shift something.
That’s why he had his son bring HuMing home today. He wanted to see for himself—what kind of person HuMing really was.
“Uncle, let’s cut to the point. I doubt you asked me here just to talk about this, right?”
HuMing had already noticed—someone in the Xia household had been keeping an eye on him. More importantly, the person clearly didn’t intend to show themselves. Even when they left, they made no sound at all.
As for how HuMing noticed, it was simple. By the pillar at the corner of the hallway, there was a metal disc embedded in the ground. He’d caught a glimpse of something flashing across its surface.
HuMing didn’t think whoever it was had been staying in the Xia household openly. Maybe, without them realizing, other families’ people had already slipped in long ago.
It reminded him of the Gu family. Their internal strife had started with so-called relatives too. Those “relatives” were nothing more than branch family members, circling like wolves, waiting to carve up the Gu family’s flesh.
Even the servants lurking in the dark had already been bought out by others.
Looking at the Xia household now, HuMing felt something was off.
Everything seemed… too easy.
Instead of being upset, Xia GaoWu seemed rather amused by HuMing’s directness.
“HuMing, after coming to the Xia family, what do you feel?”
“Not much,” HuMing replied calmly. “Same as the Gu family. Everyone’s doing their own thing. No difference on the surface.”
But of course, he wanted to hear the real answer from Xia GaoWu.
“You’re right. On the surface, the Xia family is no different. But what I’m about to tell you now—I hope once you’ve heard it, you can pretend you never did.”
This was the first time HuMing had heard such a strange request. He wasn’t sure what Xia GaoWu meant. But the next words he spoke could very well shake the capital’s future.
“All these years, the Xia family has spent a long time establishing itself in JingDu. Whether we’ve done things behind the scenes that others don’t know about… I think plenty of people have a good idea. No one survives cleanly in JingDu. But HuMing, do you understand the forces at play here?”
Xia GaoWu fixed his gaze on HuMing, clearly expecting an answer.
HuMing nodded lightly, and said:
“There are three major families in JingDu—Gu, Bai, and Shi. Each with deep roots stretching back generations. No one knows how far their influence really extends. But in recent years, the Xia family’s rise has been rapid, even taking over some industries from the three families. At first, there was backlash, but it was quickly suppressed—thanks to your methods.”
HuMing paused naturally at this point. Everyone knew—those methods hadn’t exactly been above board.
What puzzled him was: why was Xia GaoWu telling him all this?
Was it to confess that the Xia family wasn’t as spotless as it seemed?
Or was he unsure how to face his own children, hoping HuMing might help explain away his years of actions?
HuMing didn’t think it was either. Xia GaoWu didn’t strike him as that kind of person.
“You’re right. And because of that, the Xia family has made its share of enemies. Sometimes, I don’t even want Xiao Xi to reveal her identity. For her, it’s safer without the Xia name. But Xia Chen is different. He’s my son. He’s destined to inherit the Xia family. And as you’ve probably seen… he’s not quite the type for that. So all of this—it’s crueler on him than anyone.”
Xia GaoWu glanced toward the estate subconsciously, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
“You mean…”
“I want Xia Chen to follow you for a while. He’s a playful kid, but one day, the Xia family will need him.”
That sentence made HuMing feel like Xia GaoWu was handing over his final request—entrusting someone precious to him.
And yet, as far as anyone could see, the Xia family was thriving. On track to becoming the capital’s fourth great family.
“Uncle, do you know what you’re asking?”
For once, HuMing didn’t dare agree lightly. He had no idea what Xia GaoWu was really planning—but clearly, it was dangerous.
“HuMing, have you ever heard of ‘Blizzard’?”
Xia GaoWu stared at HuMing intently, like the next thing he was about to say was what he truly called HuMing here for.
HuMing froze when he heard the name.
It wasn’t the first time he’d come across it. Ever since he arrived in the capital, that assassin organization had been lurking on the edges of his world, like a shadow that never left.
If he ever got the chance, he wanted to dig deep—find out exactly who those people were.
But now, looking at Xia GaoWu, realization hit him like a punch.
This man was speaking like someone delivering his last words.
“Uncle, what exactly are you planning?”
“I’m not planning anything. I just want my children to get through the days ahead safely. So there are some things I must do.”
HuMing couldn’t make sense of it. What did that have to do with ‘Blizzard’?
His eyelids twitched involuntarily. He was about to glance back toward a certain spot behind him, but Xia GaoWu grabbed his arm tightly, locking eyes with him.
HuMing’s lips pressed together, brows drawn into a sharp crease.
“HuMing, I believe you’re someone I can trust. So I’m leaving it to you.”
Xia GaoWu slowly released HuMing’s arm and straightened up.
HuMing spoke evenly:
“Uncle, that person is already gone. If you want, I can drag them out right now.”
Xia GaoWu chuckled, but there was no humor in it.
"Hu Ming, the current Xia family isn’t all that different from how the Gu family used to be. I’m afraid there aren’t many people left in the Xia family that can be trusted. But before we get into that, there’s something else I want to tell you— the owner of 'Blizzard' is a woman named Bai XingQi. And Bai XingQi happens to be the eldest daughter of the Bai family, one of the three major families in the capital."