Chapter 44

At this moment, inside the Yan family residence, the city lord and his wife were in Yan Shifei's inner chambers.

"Shifei, the poison is already starting to take effect. If you don't take the antidote, your life will be in danger!" Lady Yan's face was full of worry as she called out to the room, "Listen to your mother and come out quickly. Your life is the most important thing!"

Unfortunately, the young girl inside had locked the door and refused to meet them, causing great concern.

"I would rather die than take his medicine," came the cold voice from inside the room.

From the tone of her voice, it was clear that the girl's energy was somewhat weak, but she was still trying to show her determination.

"Shifei, what's wrong with Young Master Yuchen?" Lady Yan's brows furrowed as she tried to persuade her, "Regardless of his status, he traveled a great distance to bring you the antidote. This kind of kindness is rare. Besides, Young Master Yuchen is handsome and a young hero, a perfect match for you. Why refuse this marriage?"

"Traveling a great distance to bring the antidote?" The girl's voice from inside the room was slightly cold, "If he were really that good, why would he demand marriage from the start? Humph, in the end, he just wants me for himself, and the antidote is just a transaction."

"Shifei, you're wrong. Young Master Yuchen didn't insist on you marrying him. He just mentioned it casually at first," the city lord said helplessly, "Even if you don't marry him, you should take the antidote first!"

"I would rather die than take his medicine," Yan Shifei's voice was cold and stubborn, "Don't treat me like a child. If I take the antidote, and Qiu Yuchen brings up the marriage again, you won't be able to refuse, and I will have no choice but to comply."

"How can I marry someone who seeks to take advantage of me?" Yan Shifei's emotions grew more agitated, "I would rather die from the poison than be coerced into marriage. If I have to marry, I want to marry someone I love or someone who truly loves me, not be part of a transaction. If I have to live like this, I would rather die from the poison."

Although the girl's words were somewhat extreme, they were heartfelt, and the people in the courtyard couldn't help but feel for her. It seemed that changing her mind would not be easy, and this matter would be difficult to resolve.

"Ah, you child," Lady Yan shook her head, not expecting her daughter to be so stubborn.

"Lord, what should we do now?" Lady Yan's face was full of anxiety. They had only mentioned the marriage casually, but they didn't expect their daughter to react so strongly, refusing to even see Qiu Yuchen after meeting him once.

As for the antidote, she hadn't even touched it.

The city lord had considered forcing his daughter to take the antidote, but with the door locked and her threat to end her life if forced, the two elders didn't dare act rashly, fearing she might do something foolish.

"Sister, I've brought Xiao Yun," a clear and pleasant voice suddenly rang out as the two elders frowned.

"Xiao Yun?" The Yan couple's eyes turned to the entrance of the courtyard.

There, a young man and a young woman were running towards them.

Xiao Yun and Yan Shiyin looked quite anxious, almost running, and were out of breath.

Seeing the young man, the city lord's frown eased. With him here, his daughter's life could be temporarily saved, alleviating the immediate crisis. As for the antidote, he could try to persuade her slowly; there was still a chance.

However, Lady Yan's frown deepened, and a look of disgust appeared in her eyes.

"If it weren't for him, Shifei wouldn't be so defiant about refusing Young Master Yuchen's antidote."

Thinking of this, Lady Yan's face darkened.

"Father, Mother, how is Sister now?" Yan Shiyin asked as she entered the courtyard and saw her parents.

"Your sister is locked in her room. Go and try to persuade her," the city lord sighed.

"Okay," Yan Shiyin nodded, her long lashes fluttering.

"Lord Yan, Lady Yan, greetings," Xiao Yun approached and bowed to the two elders.

"Shifei is in your hands," the city lord said, his expression weary, glancing at Xiao Yun.

"Lord, rest assured. I will stabilize the poison in Shifei's body," Xiao Yun said.

"Is just stabilizing the poison enough?" Lady Yan's face was cold, "Do you expect Shifei to need you to detoxify her every day? She is grown up, and such frequent visits will affect her future life."

"What do you mean, Lady?" Xiao Yun's face darkened at Lady Yan's sharp words, sensing the underlying criticism.

"Nothing much," Lady Yan said indifferently, "I just hope you can persuade Shifei to take the antidote. Then you won't have to keep coming to detoxify her, which would be good for both of you. I'm sure you won't refuse, right?"

"Ha, are you saying that I, Xiao Yun, am of low status, and my frequent visits to Shifei's inner chambers will damage her reputation?" Xiao Yun sneered, remembering how he had saved Shifei when even the alchemists of Ziyun City were helpless. At that time, the Yan family treated him with great respect.

It was only after his conflict with Fang Hao two months ago that Lady Yan's attitude changed.

"Exactly," Lady Yan's brows lifted, her face cold and proud, "Now that Young Master Yuchen is infatuated with Shifei and wants to marry her, I don't want you to have too much involvement. So, you should let Shifei make a decision."

"How do you expect me to make her decide?" Xiao Yun's lips curled into a bitter smile.

"Just tell her you can no longer detoxify her, to break her resolve. This way, she will gradually come to agree to marry Young Master Yuchen," Lady Yan said, "I can promise you a先天丹 (Xiantian Dan) on behalf of Young Master Yuchen. After the matter is settled, he will give you one, giving you a chance to reach the Xiantian realm. This is a rare opportunity, so think about it."

"Xiantian Dan?" Xiao Yun sneered, "Sorry, I don't need it. As for Shifei's matter, I can't make the decision. If you want to persuade her, do it yourself. I need to detoxify her now, so I'll take my leave."

With that, Xiao Yun turned and left.

"Ungrateful," Lady Yan gritted her teeth, coldly thinking, "A toad dreaming of eating a swan, what a delusion."

Xiao Yun's aura was concealed, and Lady Yan, being only at the Xiantian realm, couldn't detect his true strength.

"Ah," the city lord, preoccupied with his daughter's situation, didn't pay much attention to Xiao Yun and sighed.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Yan Shiyin's eyes narrowed, glaring at her mother, "Xiao Yun is here to help Sister. How can you treat him like that? Humph, a petty person, you must want Sister to marry Qiu Yuchen right away."

"Shiyin, how can you speak like that?" Lady Yan's eyes flashed with anger.

"Humph, I won't talk to you. Xiao Yun, let's go," Yan Shiyin pouted, pulling Xiao Yun forward.

"Are you defying me?" Lady Yan's face was full of anger.

"Lady," the city lord shook his head, signaling Lady Yan to stop, focusing on stabilizing his daughter's condition first.

"Sister, open the door. I've brought Xiao Yun," Yan Shiyin pulled Xiao Yun to the inner chambers.

"Only you two can come in," Shifei's voice was low, warning them.

"Okay," Yan Shiyin nodded, "Sister, I know what to do."

The door creaked open, revealing a girl with a haggard face and a greenish complexion.

Seeing the girl, Xiao Yun felt a sharp pain in his heart.

"Come in," Shifei's eyes were dull, her voice weak, but when she saw the pain in the young man's eyes, she felt a strange warmth and her mood improved.

Xiao Yun didn't hesitate and entered the room with Shifei.

"Shiyin, go out first," Shifei said to the girl who followed closely.

"Humph, you're sending me out again," Yan Shiyin's eyes sparkled with indignation, "Sister, how can you be so ungrateful?"

I just brought Xiao Yun for you, and now you're sending me out.

What kind of thing is this?

Are they going to have a private moment?

Thinking of this, Yan Shiyin's cheeks puffed up in anger.

"You little girl," seeing her sister's adorable but angry face, Shifei felt both amused and exasperated, "Listen to your sister. Wait outside to prevent Father and Mother from coming in. I don't trust them!"

"Uh," Yan Shiyin pouted, looking unhappy, her eyes darting between her sister and Xiao Yun, as if a young wife defending her lover, afraid of losing him to her sister.

Xiao Yun remained calm, as if it didn't concern him, used to the girl's behavior.

Seeing her sister's haggard face, Yan Shiyin finally gave in and left.

Now, only Xiao Yun and Shifei were left in the room.

Xiao Yun looked at the haggard girl, feeling a deep pain.

"Since you have the antidote, why don't you take it?" Xiao Yun gazed at the girl, his voice low.

"Do you want me to marry him?" Shifei, who had intended to explain more, felt a stir in her heart at the young man's deep gaze, and blurted out the question. After saying it, she felt her heart racing, nervous.

"Shifei, you are so beautiful and charming, who would want you to marry someone else?" Xiao Yun shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he looked at the girl seriously, "Do you want to marry him?"

The moment he spoke, the atmosphere in the room became strange, as if time had frozen for a moment.

"If I wanted to marry him, would I be in this state now?" Shifei paused, as if seeing something in the young man's eyes that confirmed her suspicions, but she still maintained a calm face, a bitter smile on her lips, "But now, my parents are eager for me to marry Qiu Yuchen. What can I do if I don't want to?"