Changyang Gushuo, however, was pleasantly surprised to see the stunningly beautiful young woman he had encountered in the courtyard sitting among the guests.
He was so excited that his eyes were practically glued to her.
"I didn't get a good look at her in the courtyard. From here, sitting quietly, her figure is so graceful and perfect. My gaze is involuntarily drawn to her. Truly a captivating and lovely creature," Changyang Gushuo mused to himself.
If Xin Ci knew Changyang Gushuo's thoughts at this moment, he would likely be disgusted and lose his appetite.
However, Xin Ci's attention was entirely on Xin Huanyan. As for Changyang Gushuo, he completely ignored him.
"Young Master, Young Master...!"
Chen Si, standing beside Changyang Gushuo, noticed his Young Master's distraction and cautiously reminded him.
Prompted by Chen Si, Changyang Gushuo snapped back to attention and quickly turned his gaze to Xin Huanyan, who was adorned in resplendent red attire.
This Miss Xin was indeed exceptionally beautiful, but ever since he had seen the woman in the courtyard, his pursuit and desire for Xin Huanyan had diminished significantly.
However, Changyang Gushuo was not one to shy away from having too many wives. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken in so many concubines.
Therefore, whether it was Xin Huanyan or the woman in the banquet hall, he wouldn't let either of them go.
Seeing his sister about to fall into the clutches of that Changyang Gushuo, Xin Ci became anxious.
At this moment, there were no less than twenty Saints present in the banquet hall, including Xin Li, a one-star Great Emperor.
Even if he and Mu Qingqing managed to rescue Xin Huanyan, they weren't confident they could escape the Xin family.
"Xin Ci, you go ahead and do what you must. I am confident I can help you escape," Mu Qingqing transmitted to him.
Hearing Mu Qingqing's words, Xin Ci felt a little more at ease.
Just as he was about to stand up, another maid beside Xin Huanyan suddenly produced a slave collar and, catching everyone off guard, fastened it around Xin Huanyan's fair neck.
She then swiftly kicked the maid Yuxiu away and took Xin Huanyan hostage.
"Miss!" the injured Yuxiu cried out in fear.
This sudden turn of events shocked everyone present, and all their bodies stiffened.
Changyang Gushuo, being the closest, could not tolerate his soon-to-be bride being taken away by someone else. He immediately channeled his true essence and struck the maid with a powerful palm.
But at this moment, a white-haired puppet suddenly appeared before him and, with a similar palm strike, met his attack.
*Bang!*
The two forces collided, but the white-haired puppet's strength was clearly superior. It sent Changyang Gushuo flying back with overwhelming power.
Changyang Gushuo's body crashed through several tables, spitting up large mouthfuls of blood before he managed to stand up again, pale-faced.
"Young Master!"
"Are you alright? Young Master!"
Chen Si and other servants rushed forward to help Changyang Gushuo.
As the top genius of the Holy City, Changyang Gushuo could not tolerate such humiliation. Enraged, he gritted his teeth and roared, "Seize that bitch for me!!!"
This mysterious woman, disguised as a maid, had appeared in the Xin family's banquet hall and captured Xin Huanyan.
This enraged the Xin family patriarch, Xin Li. His carefully laid plans had been disrupted by this mysterious woman, and her actions were a blatant provocation to the authority of an ancient aristocratic family!
She absolutely could not be let go!
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and capture that damned thief!" Xin Li roared.
The Xin family guards surged forward, surrounding the mysterious woman, leaving no room for escape.
Xin Li also intended to personally strike and kill the woman on the spot. His Great Emperor-level power surged forth, emitting a destructive aura with a mere raise of his hand.
The Saints present were awestruck by this power. The might of a Great Emperor could dim the heavens and collapse space!
However, the mysterious woman was not one to surrender easily. She used the true essence-sealed Xin Huanyan as a shield.
Seeing this, Xin Li quickly retracted his Great Emperor-level power.
Damn it!
This detestable thief!
Xin Huanyan was now his bargaining chip for an alliance with the Changyang family, and she absolutely could not suffer any harm.
Therefore, he dared not act rashly.
The Saints and Xin family guards present also dared not make any rash moves due to Xin Huanyan being held hostage.
The mysterious woman holding Xin Huanyan hostage scanned everyone present with hatred: "The Four Great Families, today is merely the beginning. You owe the Puppet Sect, and I will repay you twofold sooner or later!"
With that, the woman grabbed Xin Huanyan and flew out of the banquet hall, leaving behind a warning: "If you dare to chase after me, I will kill this woman!"
With those words, the Xin family members dared not pursue.
But Xin Li was not one to let things go so easily. He used his vast true essence to seal off the entire Xin family, preventing the mysterious woman from leaving.
Under this barrier of true essence, even ten peak Saints could not break through.
However, another white-haired puppet appeared beside the mysterious woman.
With a single punch, this puppet shattered Xin Li's true essence barrier, and the mysterious woman finally escaped with Xin Huanyan.
"That's an Emperor-grade puppet!"
Xin Li exclaimed, his face instantly turning ashen.
He had never expected this thief to possess an Emperor-grade puppet!
However, that thief was only at the Heavenly Sovereign realm. Forcing the use of an Emperor-grade puppet would likely deplete her true essence and spirit stones.
Thus, Xin Li ordered his guards: "That thief has expended too much energy. Hurry and capture her. Especially that Emperor-grade puppet, bring it back to me as well."
The precious Emperor-grade puppet naturally sparked greed in Xin Li's heart.
After the mysterious woman fled, the Xin family banquet hall was in disarray.
The invited guests were all whispering and discussing the incident.
Xin Li felt his face was utterly disgraced. An ancient aristocratic family had been so humiliated by a mysterious woman.
He feared that his Xin family would be the subject of endless gossip in the Holy City from now on.
Xin Ci and Mu Qingqing had also not expected such a scene to unfold.
Liu Muming, appearing to enjoy the spectacle without any concern, sat in his seat, unhurriedly peeling a banana and chuckling, "Today was truly not a wasted trip. What a good show, hehe."
Just as he was about to put the peeled banana into his mouth, Bai Ting shot him a reproachful glance.
Liu Muming, knowing better, picked up the peeled banana and offered it to her.
Bai Ting took the banana and ate it without hesitation, saying, "Consider it good behavior."
Liu Muming knew she was still upset about their previous encounter. He quickly coaxed, "Big sister, have you calmed down yet?"
"Who are you calling old?! Don't call me big sister."
"Then what should I call you, little sister?"
Bai Ting was truly exasperated with Liu Muming. How could this nuisance be so obtuse and unable to understand her feelings?
Unable to forgive him, she put on a spoiled act and said, "Hurry and come rub my shoulders. Serve me well, and perhaps I won't forgive you."