Chapter 15

Yexun said, as he glanced at Ye Tao and the others, he respectfully knelt down and bowed to the elders a few times: "Grandfathers, uncles, I am unfilial. It seems I won't be able to take care of you in your old age anymore!"

As he spoke, Yexun took out a dagger from his waist, raised his hand, and fiercely stabbed at his own throat.

"No!"

Ye Tao finally couldn't bear it anymore. His eyes were red, and he fell to his knees: "Young Master Chu, spare Xun'er's life. If you want revenge, kill me!"

"Grandfather, stand up! This is all my own fault!" Yexun, in a hurry, stabbed the dagger down.

"Clang!"

Just as the dagger was about to strike, Chu Yan threw a teacup from the table, knocking the dagger away. Then he looked at Yexun with interest: "What, do you really want to die?"

Hearing Chu Yan's words, Yexun was slightly taken aback, then he said resolutely: "I don't want to die, but I can't harm the Ye family."

Chu Yan sighed: "In gratitude for your kindness to one of my brothers, I won't kill you today. Put the dagger down."

"Your brother?"

"Master Ye, you may not remember me. When the Ye family guards were being evaluated, I had my leg broken, and you took good care of me and gave me some money to help me get into the Liu family. I, Zhao Liù, have always remembered this kindness." Zhao Liù said.

Yexun suddenly understood and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He hadn't expected that a casual act of kindness years ago would save his life today. If Zhao Liù hadn't told Chu Yan about Yexun's situation, Yexun would certainly have died today.

"Yexun, I've heard some things about you. I have a bit of admiration for you, but it's not out of sympathy. It's because we've had similar experiences, and I understand you. So I'll spare your life today, but some things, once done, are sins. The punishment must be given. This next palm strike, if you survive, our business is settled. If you die, that's your fate."

Chu Yan said: "Using me comes at a cost."

"Soul Seizing Technique!"

Chu Yan raised his hand, and yuan qi instantly gathered on his palm, forming a light circle. This palm strike left no room for mercy; he mobilized all the yuan qi in his body.

Facing Chu Yan's palm strike, Yexun gritted his teeth, smiled at Chu Yan, and his gaze towards Chu Yan changed. Though he was a young master of the Ye family, he was not a spoiled brat, so this incident made him look at Chu Yan differently.

"Bang!"

Chu Yan's palm struck, and Yexun crossed his arms. The yuan qi hit him like a cannonball, turning his arms to charcoal. He staggered a few steps, spitting blood, but fortunately, he didn't die.

Seeing this, Ye Tao and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Young Master Chu!"

Chu Yan smiled but said nothing, waved his sleeve to gather the yuan qi, and then stood up, saying to Zhao Wu and Zhao Liù: "Let's go."

Just as Chu Yan was about to leave the Ye family's gate, Yexun suddenly turned around and looked at Chu Yan seriously: "Chu Yan, I misjudged you, and so did everyone in Tianyong City. The Liu family is proud to have you as a son-in-law. I admire you."

"Admiration is good. I was planning to destroy the Qin family, but since you have a grudge against Qin Hao, I'll give you three months to take your revenge personally. If you can't, I'll do it, and you'll never have the chance to avenge yourself again."

Chu Yan said calmly, having heard everything Qin Hao and Qin Li said today. Just because it was his wedding, he didn't go on a killing spree, but that doesn't mean he would tolerate a time bomb by his side.

Chu Yan knew that if you don't cut the grass at the root, it will grow back.

Yexun was stunned, then a faint smile appeared on his pale face: "Thank you!"

Chu Yan waved his hand without turning back and left the Ye family with Zhao Wu and Zhao Liù.

That night, first the Qin family, then the Ye family, Chu Yan had made a name for himself. Zhao Wu and Zhao Liù, following him, witnessed what true power looked like, and they were both excited.

However, as Chu Yan left the Ye family, the Ye family breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Ye Tao sighed and looked at Yexun: "Xun'er, you've suffered. I know you were eager to avenge your mother, but remember, never provoke Chu Yan again. He's not someone our Ye family can oppose."

"Grandfather, who is this Chu Yan?" Yexun was curious about Chu Yan.

"Ah... just remember, the strongest person in this world is his father. That's enough."

"The strongest person in this world?"

Yexun's eyes widened, and a name flashed in his mind: Manhuang.

"Could he be the son of the Lord of Manhuang?"

The name Manhuang was taboo in this world, and even in the entire universe, it was a name that could make many stars tremble.

Most importantly, the Lord of Manhuang had ruled for thousands of years, and no one in the mortal world could challenge his authority. Compared to Manhuang, the Changlong Kingdom was nothing, just a grain of sand. Manhuang was the most powerful and mysterious force in the mortal world.

And Chu Yan was the son of the Lord of Manhuang?

Yexun shuddered, filled with both fear and relief.

Yexun was relieved that Chu Yan was not the kind of person who would hold grudges or be unreasonable, and he was also relieved that they had similar experiences. Otherwise, he would have been dead by now, not just seriously injured.

"So remember, never provoke this person again. Even the royal family of the Changlong Kingdom would bow to him." Ye Tao sighed and patted Yexun's shoulder three times: "Xun'er, you are the hope of the Ye family. The burden of the Ye family will fall on your shoulders in the future, so you must be careful."

Yexun nodded, and his eyes shone brightly. A new thought, one that would change his life, formed in his mind.

Chu Yan, unaware of the impact of his mercy, returned to the Liu family with Zhao Wu and Zhao Liù.

Surprisingly, when Chu Yan returned to the Liu family, a beautiful figure stood outside the door. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her features were flawless, her skin was smooth, and her long, slender legs were mesmerizing.

"Qingcheng, you're still waiting for me this late?" Chu Yan looked at Liu Qingcheng with admiration.

Liu Qingcheng frowned. She found herself increasingly unable to read Chu Yan. Though his eyes held the same greed as any other man's when they looked at her, it wasn't disrespectful, but rather gentle.

"Was it you who dealt with the Qin family?" Liu Qingcheng asked coolly.

"What? Oh, you mean making the Qin family leave Tianyong City? What, do you think the punishment was too light? Should I destroy them now?"

"Do you realize how many enemies you're making? The Qin family has countless allies in the Changlong Kingdom, carefully cultivated over the years. Many high-ranking officials are Qin Hao's close friends. Now that you've driven the Qin family out of Tianyong City and killed Qin Li, they won't let you off!" Liu Qingcheng was a bit worried and reproachful, but Chu Yan remained playful, which made her angry.

"What, are you worried about me?"

"Can you be serious for once?" Liu Qingcheng's eyes were cold.

"Uh... okay, okay."

Chu Yan became more serious: "Actually, it's not my fault. Think about it, you're my fiancée, and Qin Feng did such a terrible thing to you. Driving the Qin family out of Tianyong City was a great act of mercy. If it were anyone else, they would have slaughtered three generations of the Qin family. See, your husband is kind."

"You..." Liu Qingcheng couldn't argue with Chu Yan and sighed: "Forget it. Just don't wander around for the next few days. I've told my father, and he said he'll send people to protect you."

Chu Yan nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, my dear. Our wedding is coming up, and I wouldn't dare wander around."

"Chu Yan, do you really want to marry me?" At this moment, Liu Qingcheng's expression changed, and her gaze towards Chu Yan was different, though she couldn't quite pinpoint how.

Chu Yan nodded seriously: "Of course. You're my wife, and I want to marry you."

"I understand. I'll do as you wish. I'll marry you the day after tomorrow."

Liu Qingcheng left a small jade bottle at Chu Yan's door and then left.

Looking at the jade bottle, Chu Yan was slightly surprised. From the fragrance, he could tell it contained a Yuan Qi replenishing pill, which was valuable to the Liu family, though not to the major sects or powerful families.

"Master, is this the Yuan Qi replenishing pill from Miss Qingcheng?" Bao'er came out of the room, surprised. "This pill was a special gift from the old master to Miss Qingcheng on her coming-of-age ceremony. I didn't expect her to give it to you. It seems she's quite pleased with you, despite her words."

My coming-of-age gift? Chu Yan sighed, looking at the oddly shaped pill in his hand.

This pill was very precious to anyone in Tianyong City, but to Chu Yan, it was worthless, not because of his background, but because of his own abilities. Over the past ten years, unable to cultivate, he had focused on medicine and alchemy, developing exceptional skills.

Though he couldn't control fire to refine pills due to the lack of yuan qi, his theoretical knowledge of alchemy was extraordinary, and his medical skills were superb. When he cured Liu Qingcheng, he used a rare and difficult acupuncture technique.

"Though the pill is a bit damaged, it's your heartfelt gift, so I'll accept it. I'll modify it and give it back to you later." Chu Yan smiled, thinking of the young girl from ten years ago.

"Qingcheng, perhaps this is fate. I will protect you." Chu Yan made a silent vow, then asked Bao'er to prepare warm water for him to continue his medicinal bath.