However, Liu Tianfeng was unaware of how fortunate he would eventually feel about his choice. If he were to refuse this marriage, he would lose everything. He insisted on this union for two reasons: first, for the Liu family, and second, to repay a debt of gratitude. Qin Ruomeng had given the Liu family a second chance at life, and as Liu Tianfeng often recalled, without Qin Ruomeng, there would be no Liu family today. He, too, was committed to this belief, which made the marriage indisputable, even at the cost of his daughter’s happiness.
“Thank you, Uncle Liu! Rest assured, I will ensure that Qingcheng and I have a good life together,” Chu Yan said politely, having resolved to assist the Liu family whenever the opportunity presented itself.
“I’m glad to hear that, Yan’er. Although I don’t know what has transpired in your life, I firmly believe that the descendant of that individual cannot be a mere wastrel. Since you choose not to share your story, I will respect that. However, remember that in three days, you and Qingcheng will be wed. You will be a member of the Liu family, and at that time, you must call me father. If you encounter any difficulties, come to me. I will spare no resource from the Liu family to help you regain your strength.”
Chu Yan smiled appreciatively. Indeed, how could he be a wastrel, being the son of Qin Ruomeng?
After a lighthearted conversation, Liu Tianfeng intended to send someone to repair a large hole in Chu Yan’s house, but Chu Yan declined, stating he would be moving out in three days anyway and didn’t want to trouble anyone. Seeing Chu Yan’s insistence, Liu Tianfeng refrained from pushing the matter further, though he did have someone hang a curtain over the hole to block the wind, which touched Chu Yan.
After bidding farewell to Liu Tianfeng, Chu Yan resumed his training. Despite his mischievous and slightly charming demeanor, he was remarkably diligent in his cultivation. Even during the past decade, when he knew he was essentially a wastrel unable to break through to the first layer of the Mortal Realm, he never ceased his efforts for a single day. He understood clearly what he desired and that to reach that place, he would have to exert effort a hundred or even a thousand times greater than the average person.
As the wedding date approached, the Liu family’s servants were bustling about. However, there were those who wished to see the union thwarted.
Meanwhile, at the Qin family, Qin Feng nursed a grudge after the events of the previous day. He could hardly wait to eliminate Chu Yan, but the words of Qin Poshun reminded him that he could not act rashly and bring immense trouble upon the Qin family.
“Chu Yan! Liu Qingcheng! I, Qin Feng, will ensure you both meet a miserable end!”
As he plotted, laughter suddenly echoed from outside.
“Ha ha, Third Young Master Qin, why the long face? Were you frightened by the new son-in-law of the Liu family yesterday?” The youth spoke without any decorum.
“Ye Xun, don’t talk nonsense. How could I, the distinguished Third Young Master Qin, be scared by that wastrel?” Qin Feng shot a fierce glare at the boy.
“Don’t be so angry. While I’m reluctant to collaborate with you, I’m willing to help since we share a common enemy.”
Ye Xun, the second son of the prominent Ye family in Tianyong City, was quite different from Qin Feng. With exceptional talent, he was a true genius, having awakened a four-star fate physique without any aid from the Ye family, and he had since reached a five-star fate physique, placing him at the seventh layer of the Mortal Realm, one level above Qin Feng.
“You can help me?” Qin Feng’s eyes brightened at Ye Xun’s words.
“Of course. You’ve long desired Liu Qingcheng, haven’t you? Here, take this.” Ye Xun waved his wrist, tossing a small jade vial to Qin Feng.
“What is this?”
“Have your maid try it and you’ll find out,” Ye Xun replied with a mischievous smile.
Without wasting time, Qin Feng called for his maid, then took out a pill from the vial. “Take this.”
“Master…”
“Take it!” Qin Feng’s tone was commanding.
The maid was terrified. Though she wished to refuse, as a servant, she had no rights. To save her life, she complied reluctantly and swallowed the pill.
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As soon as she did, her porcelain face flushed, and she began to writhe. “Hot, so hot!”
“Master, I want you!”
The maid lost all willpower, her delicate hands reaching for Qin Feng, her demeanor turning sultry as she began to explore his body, soon tearing her clothes off and discarding them on the floor.
Seeing this, Qin Feng’s eyes lit up, reveling in the maid’s submission while nodding in satisfaction.
“The Spring Heart Pill from the Ye family?”
“Exactly. I trust you know what to do next, Third Young Master Qin?” Ye Xun grinned.
Filled with excitement, Qin Feng’s eyes gleamed coldly. “Chu Yan, Liu Qingcheng, you will pay dearly for this!”
Ye Xun, with a cold smirk, glanced at the maid catering to Qin Feng. “Since that’s the case, I won’t disturb your pleasures. Just a word of caution: this maid has no cultivation, and the effects will last twelve hours. Take it easy.”
“I won’t need your concern!”
Ye Xun shrugged with a smile before turning to leave the Qin estate.
Just outside, two of Ye Xun’s subordinates approached him.
“Master, is Liu Qingcheng really going to end up with Qin Feng?” one of them complained. “That woman is stunning, the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”
“Beauty is a fleeting notion. Liu Qingcheng is remarkable, but she must be sacrificed for the sake of eliminating the Qin family,” Ye Xun replied coldly.
“However, Master, do you really think Chu Yan possesses such a background that he could destroy the Qin family?”
“I don’t know. My family hasn’t provided much information about Chu Yan, only that he’s someone we shouldn’t provoke. But it’s irrelevant. Whether he’s a dragon or a tiger, we’ll find out soon enough. If he helps us take down the Qin family, that’s great. If not, and the Qin and Liu families retaliate, then the only power left in Tianyong City will be the Ye family!” Ye Xun’s eyes sparkled with ambition.
“Master is wise!” both subordinates chimed in, grinning.
“Now, let’s see just how much commotion our new son-in-law of the Liu family can stir up in Tianyong City.”
----------------------------------------
Meanwhile, at the Liu family, Chu Yan was still oblivious to the schemes of Ye Xun and Qin Feng. After parting ways with Liu Tianfeng, he had focused entirely on his cultivation. By evening, he was drenched in sweat, his long robe soaked through, and his body resonated with clicking sounds as bones cracked. Suddenly, a surge of energy rushed toward his dantian, causing him to rejoice as four halos appeared within.
“Is it the fourth layer of the Mortal Realm?”
Chu Yan nodded in satisfaction; after so much hard work, he had finally broken through again.
“My mother said I should not open the second layer of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Tower until I reach the Mortal Realm. I must break through quickly to train in the second layer,” he thought.
At that moment, Bao’er pushed the door open. “Young Master, someone at the door claims to be your friend and wishes to deliver a message!”
“A friend?”
Chu Yan furrowed his brow. He had no friends in Tianyong City; who would send him a message?
“Open it and read it to me.”
Bao’er complied, carefully opening the envelope. However, upon reading its contents, her face paled.
“Master, this is bad! This is really bad!”
“What’s with all the fuss? The sky isn’t falling!”
“The sky isn’t falling, but the letter says that Miss is in trouble and urges you to come quickly!”
“Qingcheng is in trouble?” Chu Yan frowned and leapt from his bed. “Let me see!”
Bao’er handed the letter to Chu Yan, and indeed, it read:
“Liu Qingcheng is in trouble. Hurry to save her!”
“First, go summon Zhao Wu and Zhao Liu for me!”
Chu Yan instructed Bao’er, then began to ponder. Logically, if Liu Qingcheng were truly in danger, the notice would have gone directly to the Liu family. The fact that it reached him meant that someone was targeting him specifically.
“Son-in-law!”
Before long, Zhao Wu and Zhao Liu arrived.
“Where’s Qingcheng?”
“Miss? She was just here in the manor. By the way, why are you so anxious, son-in-law?”
“Don’t ask questions. Take me to her!”
Since the message was directed at him, he would confront whoever had sent it.
Zhao Wu and Zhao Liu led Chu Yan to Liu Qingcheng’s chamber, but after knocking, they found her absent.
“This is strange; she was just here,” Zhao Wu remarked.
“Forget it. You two go back; I’ll search for her myself.”
Chu Yan sighed. Initially a bit anxious, he was now calmer. If the message was indeed aimed at him, then as long as they didn’t find him, they wouldn’t harm Liu Qingcheng. Besides, Liu Qingcheng was at the ninth layer of the Mortal Realm, the top talent in Tianyong City. Who could threaten her?
“Have me go save her? It would be more fitting if she saved me!” Chu Yan couldn’t help but think the sender of the letter might have lost their mind.
“Master, someone just saw Miss outside the door. It seems she left with Third Young Master Qin,” Bao’er reported, running over.
“Qin Feng?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Yan felt a wave of unease. He understood that whoever sent the message was not Qin Feng, which meant the person targeting Liu Qingcheng was not affiliated with him.
“Damn it! Bao’er, which direction did they go?”
Realizing this, Chu Yan hurriedly inquired.
“To the north of the city!”
Without further ado, Chu Yan sprang into action, racing toward the northern part of the city.
Fortunately, Liu Qingcheng and Qin Feng hadn’t gone far. As Chu Yan left the Liu family, he spotted the two not far ahead.
Having known each other for years, Liu Qingcheng and Qin Feng had a long-standing relationship. Although Liu Qingcheng had never been interested in Qin Feng, after meeting Chu Yan, she found herself more willing to stroll out and clear her head.
“Qingcheng, after all these years, do you still not understand my feelings?” Qin Feng said, walking alongside her.
“Qin Feng, I am about to be married. You know very well that we are impossible,” Liu Qingcheng maintained her distance from him. Though she despised Chu Yan, it didn’t mean she would favor Qin Feng.
“Is it all for that wastrel?”
Qin Feng clenched his fists. He had intended to give Liu Qingcheng one last chance. If she chose him, he would have someone assassinate Chu Yan that very night. However, Liu Qingcheng’s continued rejection ignited his fury.