Celestial Capital.

After Liu Zixuan left the Celestial Capital, quite a few things happened here, neither big nor small.

Due to Liu Zixuan’s previous major reshuffle, the original top ten influential figures were reduced to three: Master Xiao Liu, the retreated Diwu Clan, and An Sanjie whose relationship with Liu Zixuan was ambiguous.

After those events, Master Xiao Liu withdrew to a second-tier role, giving up quite a few business ventures, mostly handing over family dealings to his daughter, Bei Meiyin.

Bei Meiyin proved to be capable, not only preventing the family antique business from declining but subtly rising as the biggest antique dealer in Celestial Capital, gaining significant prominence, with the nickname Celestial Capital’s Rich Sister Bei spread far and wide.

Of course, in the antique business circle, Zhou the Madcap’s presence is indispensable.

Originally, he intended to take over all the antique businesses in the Celestial Capital at once, relying on his title as Liu Zixuan’s father-in-law, which gave him the capital to do so, but that was merely to continue opposing Master Xiao Liu.

He didn’t foresee that Master Xiao Liu pushed his daughter to the forefront while he retreated to a second-tier role.

Despite their regular squabbles, Zhou the Madcap and Master Xiao Liu would never trouble a junior, considering the amicable relationship between Bei Meiyin and Zhou Nian.

Reluctantly, Zhou the Madcap refrained from competing and opened a branch of his Treasure Hall in Celestial Capital, while he returned to Ghost Wood City.

Indeed, part of his return to Ghost Wood City was due to Zhou Nian, whose medical college position and hospital duties kept her from coming to Celestial Capital.

Overall, Zhou the Madcap remained busy after returning to Ghost Wood City, seizing any opportunity to engage in love-hate interactions with Master Xiao Liu, as old friends do, with no deep animosity, just for fun in their old age.

As for the Diwu Clan, they’ve genuinely retreated, leaving only the business necessary to sustain the family, giving the rest to others, living princely in this City of Four and Nine, without worrying about food, money, living the carefree life.

And An Sanjie, since Liu Zixuan left, seemed even more low-key, spending ninety percent of the time in her bar, only appearing for special events or matters related to Liu Zixuan, occasionally having tea with the Diwu Clan and Master Xiao Liu.

Due to her low profile, there’s a misconception outside that there’s a gap between her and Liu Zixuan, the one who turned Celestial Capital upside down; external rumors say Liu Zixuan no longer favours her and has lost interest, thus the bar business gradually declines, leading to increased speculation about An Sanjie.

Liu Zixuan once said that the collapse of any force provides opportunities for other forces to rise.

Like spring grass, one batch after another will emerge.

The demise, injury, departure, and retreat of the top ten influential figures naturally spurred some small forces to grow secretly, leading to a rise of power struggles within the Celestial Capital.

It can’t simply be encapsulated by the word chaos.

Oh, and there’s another person, Luo Xi, in Celestial Capital, who rose from obscurity to Peak alongside Liu Zixuan, that mischievous girl who caused both headaches and joy for him.

After Liu Zixuan left, she stayed at An Sanjie’s bar for a short while before disappearing.

No one knows where she went, what she’s been doing, only that no one has seen her for a long time, as if she vanished into thin air.

...

A Mercedes stopped at the busiest bridge in the Celestial Capital city center, Liu Zixuan and a group of beauties got out.

"Snap!"

A lighter ignited a cigarette, Liu Zixuan exhaled a cloud of smoke and laughed, "It’s only a thousand miles, yet I didn’t expect the Celestial Capital to be this cold."

"Yeah, no wonder many people head south in winter," Liu Ruyan shrugged her neck, murmuring, "The sky looks gloomy, like it’s about to snow."

"I especially enjoy snow views, heard the snowy scenery in Celestial Capital is quite something," Ying Qingning chuckled, "Growing up in the south, I rarely saw expansive snow. So it’s a bit novel."

"You’re in for a treat this year," Bai Jingjing hugged Ying Qingning’s arm, "When we return north, I’ll take you skiing."

"Zixuan, where shall we go first?" Liu Ruyan rubbed her frozen red hands and asked.

Liu Zixuan finished his cigarette and smiled, "I don’t wish to be flashy this time, let’s just visit An Sanjie. If we run into anyone else, we’ll chat; if not, then forget it."

"Let’s hurry then, before it really starts snowing." Saying so, they returned to the car and headed straight for West City.

...

During Liu Zixuan’s drive, an unpleasant incident occurred at An Sanjie’s Yuquan Bar in West City.

In that unique office.

A brawny man stood furiously in front, gritting his teeth and said, "Sister San, they’re too excessive, first causing trouble here, and now trying every method to cut our water and power. If this continues, we’ll have to close the bar."

An Sanjie held a slender finger on the wine glass filled with red wine, with a self-deprecating laugh, "As they say, people leave and tea cools. When Zixuan was here, even those Celestial Capital big shots wouldn’t dare treat me like this. Now he’s in the south, the small fry dare bully me."

"Sister San, those folks have been rampant lately since the deterrent forces are gone from Celestial Capital, they stride openly and even brought many outsiders, also obtaining a large sum of money from somewhere, their power increasingly strong,"

The man paused, probing, "So, should we contact Master Xiao Liu? If we allow them to grow unchecked, we might get replaced."

"Master Liu has stepped back to the second line; asking him to come forward now wouldn’t be appropriate," An Sanjie frowned.

"Then... the people Brother Xuan secretly trained back then? I believe if you ask, they’ll surely help. Combined with ours, we could compete with those guys," suggested the muscular man.

An Sanjie sipped her wine lightly, slowly walked to the window, gazing at the traffic outside, her expression turning cold, radiating the queenly aura unmistakably.

Word by word she said, "In those days, with Celestial Capital in such a state, I, An Sanjie never relied on anyone. Now, after being quiet for too long, they seem to have forgotten how I reached this position. Don’t call anyone, notify that all of ours should return—I want to see who dares flatten my Yuquan Bar today!"