The Second World in Ancient Times

Si Qing's fleet finally appeared on the horizon of the family harbor. The familiar silhouette brought tears to her eyes. The flags on the bows fluttered in the wind, as if announcing her return to her homeland. When the ships docked, a large number of clan members had already gathered on the shore, their eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity.

Si Qing stepped off the boat, her figure erect and her demeanor distinguished, a stark contrast to when she left. She glanced at the tribesmen, smiling and nodding in greeting.

"Look, Miss Siqing is back!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"Miss, you are finally back. We were all worried to death!" An old butler came forward excitedly.

Si Qing smiled and said, "I'm back, and I brought back a lot of good things."

"Miss, you don't know that everyone has been talking about you every day since you left. You must have experienced a lot of wonderful stories outside, right?" A young tribesman asked excitedly.

Si Qing smiled mysteriously: "Of course, my experiences could not be fully described in three days and three nights."

At this time, the elders of the family also rushed over. Si Qing's father looked at his daughter, his eyes full of relief: "Daughter, it's great that you can return safely."

Si Qing stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Father, I have gained a lot from this trip."

Si Qing didn't immediately recount his experiences. Instead, he had the precious cargo brought back from overseas brought ashore. As the boxes were opened, dazzling jewels, exquisite silks, mysterious potions, and ancient books were revealed to the crowd. The tribesmen gasped in amazement.

"These jewels are so beautiful! I have never seen gems of such color!" exclaimed a female member of the family.

"The texture and pattern of this silk are simply the work of nature!" A tribesman engaged in the textile business looked at it carefully.

Si Qing picked up a bottle of potion and said, "This is no ordinary potion. It has magical effects and may bring new research directions to our family's doctors."

She picked up another ancient book. “And these books, which record lost knowledge and skills, are of immeasurable value to the development of our family.”

An elder of the family stepped forward and said, "Si Qing, you have truly accomplished a great feat this time. These resources will give our family a greater advantage in trade competition."

Si Qing smiled and said, "This is just part of it. I have something more important to share with everyone."

In the family hall, Si Qing began to recount her overseas travels, from her initial success in subduing bullies in a port city and earning a reputation, to her encountering cargo seizures and itinerary disruptions in a foreign country, only to be helped by the mysterious figure Ling Feng.

"The appearance of Ling Feng is really amazing. He always appears at the critical moment, like a mysterious guardian. I once guessed his identity, but it remains a mystery to this day." Si Qing's eyes flashed.

She then talked about the thrilling journey of exploring ancient ruins.

"The puzzles in the ruins are so bizarre. There is a huge puzzle in front of us. Every time a piece is placed wrong, it will trigger a mechanism. Darts will shoot out from the wall. We almost died there." Si Qing described it vividly, and the tribesmen were all fascinated.

"And then there was the primeval forest, with its ferocious panthers and wolves, swamps, poisonous spiders, and endless dangers. But we didn't retreat. We found precious herbs and wood, and discovered caves hidden behind waterfalls. The murals and ancient objects inside gave us a deeper understanding of the history of that land."

The atmosphere in the hall became even more tense when they talked about their experiences in the desert.

"We were lost in the desert, running out of water, and everyone thought we were going to die. But I noticed a change in the color of the sand and finally found a source of water. But before we could breathe a sigh of relief, the bandits arrived. They were so numerous and powerful that we were in a tough fight."

"In the battle with the bandits, we were beaten badly at first, and our companions were all injured. But I observed their weaknesses, and we pretended to retreat, lured them deep into our territory, and then attacked them from behind. This gradually turned the tide of the battle, but the bandit leader was very ferocious. I fought with him for dozens of rounds before I finally repelled him." Si Qing clenched his fists, as if he were back in the battle scene.

"Later, we encountered a flood caused by heavy rain in the desert. The flood swept in like a demon. We had to avoid the flood and clear the obstacles that were washed down. After finally escaping the disaster, we discovered a mysterious desert relic."

"The ruins are filled with dangers, and complex puzzles are one after another. Once, we triggered the ruins' self-destruct mechanism, and the entire ruins collapsed. We shuttled among gold, silver, jewelry, and ancient books, desperately trying to collect the most valuable items while also dodging falling rocks. It was a life-or-death moment!"

The tribesmen's hearts fluctuated with Si Qing's narration, sometimes nervous, sometimes relieved.

"We thought we would be safe once we returned to a familiar place, but we didn't expect to encounter a new crisis in a small border town." Si Qing's eyes became sharp.

"A mysterious merchant group learned we had made some gains in the desert ruins and wanted to rob us. Their men attacked us in the tavern. They were no ordinary thugs; they were well-trained and well-armed. We were caught in a tough fight and even lost a comrade."

The tribesmen cried out in surprise.

"But we won't be defeated easily. We took advantage of the tavern and used fire to temporarily get rid of them, then launched a guerrilla war against them in the town. But this was just the beginning. I discovered that they have a bigger conspiracy behind it."

Si Qing then recounted her journey into the tiger's den, searching for evidence in the enemy's warehouse.

"I sneaked into the warehouse through the ventilation duct and was almost discovered by the enemy. Inside the warehouse, I overheard their conspiracy. They wanted to manipulate trade across the entire region and suppress all competitors. I found the key evidence and successfully escaped."

"I returned to the town square with the evidence and revealed the conspiracy to the residents. They didn't believe it at first, but when they saw the evidence, they were furious. We united and headed towards the headquarters of that business power."

"The war broke out, and the scene was truly tragic. But we had justice on our side, and everyone fought bravely. I found the leader of that business force and had a peak showdown with him. He was very powerful, and I was almost hit by him several times. But I didn't give up, I found his flaw, and finally defeated him." Si Qing's voice was full of passion.

The tribesmen cheered: "Miss, you are so amazing!"

"This is not the credit of me alone, but the result of everyone's joint efforts. Without the support of my partners and the help of the residents of the town, we would not have been able to succeed," Si Qing said modestly.

Si Qing's father stood up and said, "Daughter, your experience is invaluable to our family. We can use this knowledge and experience to expand our trade routes and develop new products."

A tribesman engaged in business planning said, "Indeed, the knowledge contained in those ancient books may allow us to produce unique products, and these new trade resources will allow us to establish cooperation with more regions."

Si Qing nodded and said, "We can also cultivate more talents and let all family members learn these new knowledge and skills. For example, we can study the efficacy of those medicines and improve the silk production process."

A doctor in the family asked, "Miss Siqing, do you have any clues about the potion you brought back?"

Si Qing took out a bottle of medicine and said, "I've done some preliminary research on this medicine. It seems to have special effects on some difficult diseases. We can start with this and conduct in-depth research."

Just when everyone was excited about the new development of the family, a member of a branch of the family suddenly stood up.

"Si Qing, you have indeed made a contribution this time, but have you ever considered that your reckless expansion will arouse the jealousy and hostility of other families? We may face more competition and attacks."

Si Qing looked at him and said, "Of course I know there are risks, but we can't let fear hold us back. We have these advantages, so we should use them to strengthen our capabilities so we can meet future challenges."

"Hmph, it's easy for you to say that. But if your decision puts the family in crisis, can you afford it?" said the branch member disdainfully.

Si Qing's father frowned. "That's enough! Si Qing's decision is for the long-term development of the family. We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Of course, we will also be prepared to deal with risks."

But Si Qing knew that this conflict was just the beginning. Some people in the family were jealous of her success and might cause trouble for her and the family in the future.

Si Qing looked at the branch member and stepped forward. "I know you're worried about the safety of the family. I share that concern. But we can't miss this great opportunity for development. We can discuss this together and develop a more comprehensive plan to minimize risks during the family's development."

The side branch member was a little surprised by Si Qing's attitude, but he still snorted: "I hope you really have a way to deal with it."

Si Qing smiled and said, "We are a family. Only by uniting can we make our family stronger. We can start by training our members, improving their abilities while strengthening our family's defenses. Furthermore, we can form alliances with some friendly families to jointly deal with any crises that may arise."

The other members of the clan nodded in agreement, and the family atmosphere became harmonious again.

Si Qing looked at his family members, his heart filled with hope. "Our family has unlimited potential, and this journey is just the beginning. We must expand into a wider world and let our family name spread to every corner."

At this time, a family intelligence officer hurried over and said, "Miss Siqing, there is news that the palace is currently selecting maids. It is said that this selection is somewhat unusual and may have an impact on our family."

Si Qing's heart moved. She had a premonition that this might be a new opportunity or challenge: "Pay close attention to the news from the palace. We must be prepared."

Although the tribesmen had some doubts, they believed in Si Qing's judgment.