Chapter 2

The conference hall was deathly silent. Liu Tianfeng coughed a few times. Although he placed great importance on this marriage, as a father, who wouldn't hope for their daughter to marry a man of great promise, a reliable man? But now, Chu Yan was nothing but a good-for-nothing.

"Father, is this the man of great promise you want me to marry? This good-for-nothing?" Liu Qingcheng said coldly from the side.

Liu Tianfeng's old face began to lose its composure. He sighed deeply, but this marriage must not be broken. He knew better than anyone that this marriage was the only chance to save the Liu family.

"Alas, Qingcheng, it's hard for you, but for the sake of the Liu family, you must make this sacrifice. This marriage will proceed as planned!"

"Father!" Liu Qingcheng's eyes reddened. She couldn't understand what had happened in the past that made it necessary for her to marry this good-for-nothing.

Seeing Liu Qingcheng's unwillingness, Chu Yan smiled calmly. "Wife, don't worry. Although I'm a good-for-nothing, I'm very obedient. You can handle the outside, and I'll handle the inside, right? Don't worry, I have very low self-esteem, so I won't be afraid of others laughing at me."

"You..." Liu Qingcheng stomped her feet in anger, but she had no way out. She could only glare at Chu Yan fiercely before turning to leave the conference hall.

Watching Liu Qingcheng leave, Liu Tianfeng sighed. He then looked at Chu Yan, puzzled. How could this be? That man's son, with a Heavenly King mark on his foot, shouldn't he be a man of great promise? Why is he a good-for-nothing?

Liu Tianfeng shook his head. "Nephew Chu Yan, don't take it to heart. I've watched Qingcheng grow up since she was little. Although she speaks harshly, she has a kind heart. She won't refuse this marriage. Prepare yourself these few days. I'll arrange for you and Qingcheng to get married soon."

"Thank you, Uncle Liu!"

Chu Yan smiled slyly. Was he really a good-for-nothing? He didn't explain.

Leaving the conference hall, Chu Yan was arranged to stay in one of the Liu family's best guest rooms.

In the guest room, Chu Yan's eyes showed a noticeable change. They were no longer as mischievous as they were in the conference hall. Instead, they had a deep, calm look, as if they had seen through the world. If Liu Tianfeng saw Chu Yan now, he would be pleasantly surprised, because even many cultivators who had practiced for a hundred years didn't possess such a calm and composed demeanor.

"Phew!" Chu Yan propped his head on one arm, looking up at the ceiling, a relaxed smile on his lips.

"Endured for so long, finally, it's almost over."

Perhaps in everyone's eyes, Chu Yan's smile was because he was about to marry a woman of great promise, the most beautiful woman in Tianyong City, Liu Qingcheng.

But only Chu Yan knew that what truly excited him was that soon, he would finally be able to break free from the first level of the Mortal Realm, the one-star Life Body, and the so-called ordinary body.

When the time comes, all the labels of being a good-for-nothing will soon disappear from him, and in their place will be a king who will shake the heavens and the earth.

Because in the Liu family, there was a secret that even Liu Tianfeng didn't know.

...

In the evening, after a discussion with the elders, Liu Tianfeng finally set the wedding date for Chu Yan and Liu Qingcheng three days later.

This news quickly spread throughout Tianyong City. When people learned that Liu Qingcheng was getting married, all the men in Tianyong City sighed in regret. She was their dream goddess.

"Did you hear? Liu Qingcheng is getting married, and the groom seems to be a good-for-nothing!"

"Good-for-nothing? I heard he's a beggar, stinking all over. Haha, I wonder what that old man Liu Tianfeng was thinking. Does he have a fetish for torturing women? Why would he let his daughter marry a good-for-nothing instead of one of the many young masters from wealthy families?"

"Who knows? It's just a pity. I won't even have someone to fantasize about at night anymore."

"Idiot, just because she's getting married doesn't mean you can't fantasize. A married woman is even more tempting, especially a beggar's wife!"

"Haha! That's true."

In just one night, the news of Liu Qingcheng's wedding spread throughout the streets and alleys of Tianyong City.

"Bang!"

In the southeastern corner of Tianyong City, a top-tier mansion, which was even more luxurious than the Liu residence, suddenly echoed with a loud noise.

This was the Qin family's residence, one of the three major families in Tianyong City, along with the Liu and Tan families.

In one of the guest rooms of the Qin family, a young man with a stern face stood. His name was Qin Feng, the third young master of the Qin family.

Because Qin Feng was the only son of the Qin family's Great Elder, he held a high position in the family. Additionally, he was the only one in the past three years to awaken a four-star Life Body, making him a highly favored genius, even with the potential to succeed the Great Elder.

Most importantly, Qin Feng had been pursuing Liu Qingcheng for years, but she had always been indifferent to him. This had long made him furious, but he had been somewhat calmed by the fact that she treated all other men the same way. However, today, the Liu family suddenly announced that Liu Qingcheng was getting married, which filled Qin Feng with intense killing intent.

"Explain to me clearly, what is going on?"

Qin Feng's angry voice made the servants on the ground tremble.

"Master Feng, it's an old matter from eighteen years ago. The Liu family had already arranged this marriage long ago!"

"Who is the groom?"

"We don't know much, just that his name is Chu Yan, and he's a good-for-nothing."

"Good-for-nothing? Good-for-nothing? Do you mean to say that I am even worse than a good-for-nothing?" The evil in Qin Feng's eyes grew darker.

"Calm down, Master, calm down! This old servant thinks the Liu family is blind. Master, you are a man of great promise, but they rejected you. Now, for a worthless marriage, they are making Liu Qingcheng marry a good-for-nothing. So, Master, there's no need to hold back. Why not just take Liu Qingcheng by force? The Liu family now wouldn't dare to provoke us."

"Yes! Liu Qingcheng, this is your fault. You'd rather marry a good-for-nothing than me. If I can't have you, I'll destroy you myself!" Qin Feng's eyes flashed with a cold light, filled with intense killing intent.

---

In the Liu family, Chu Yan was unaware that his arrival in Tianyong City had already made him countless enemies, but he didn't care.

Because it was just a matter of time. As long as he endured a little longer, everything would change.

As night deepened, Chu Yan jumped off the bed. At that moment, a shadow flashed past the oiled paper window, making him frown.

Chu Yan smacked his lips and smiled at the shadow. "Miss Liu, coming to see me so late at night. Are you so eager that you can't even wait three more days?"

The door opened, and Liu Qingcheng's tall figure entered the room. She was wearing a loose black robe, making her figure appear even more delicate. Hearing Chu Yan's words, her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes turned cold as she glared at him. A jade sword flew out of her hand and pressed against Chu Yan's neck.

"Speak one more word, and I'll kill you!"

Chu Yan was not intimidated by Liu Qingcheng's threat. He smiled lazily. "Go ahead, I know you are a woman of great promise, who transcended the mortal body at the age of three, awakened a three-star Life Body, and then strengthened it to five stars at the age of five. With the Liu family's full resources, you are now a six-star Life Body and have reached the ninth level of the Mortal Realm, right?"

"Since you know, speak more politely!"

"Let me finish first." Chu Yan smiled, then his eyes turned sharp. "But so what if you are a woman of great promise? Do you have the ability to kill me? Don't worry, I'll stand here and not move. But if you kill me, what do you think Uncle Liu will do? Of course, he might forgive you out of great fatherly love, but what do you think will happen to the Liu family?"

"Are you threatening me?" Liu Qingcheng's hand tightened, and she glared at Chu Yan fiercely.

"Yes, I am threatening you. You know very well that the Liu family can only survive because of me, Chu Yan. Although I am a good-for-nothing, I can protect the Liu family. You are a woman of great promise, but can you? If you can, then go ahead and kill me." Chu Yan spread his hands.

Seeing Chu Yan's submissive appearance, Liu Qingcheng gritted her teeth in frustration. But she had no choice because she knew Chu Yan was telling the truth. The Liu family was like a willow in the wind, unstable, and Chu Yan was the only one who could stabilize it.

"Tell me, what do you want to let me go?" Liu Qingcheng's voice softened.

"Let you go? What do you mean? I don't understand." Chu Yan blinked his eyes in confusion, but his smile grew wider.

"Don't pretend to be confused. You know I don't want to marry you. Of course, it's not because you are a good-for-nothing. On the contrary, because you have done a lot for the Liu family, I want to repay you, but this repayment doesn't mean sacrificing my happiness."

"Do you have someone you like?" Chu Yan smiled.

Liu Qingcheng lowered her head sadly, recalling a scene from ten years ago.

Ten years ago, she was part of a Liu family trade convoy. They were attacked by beasts, and the entire convoy was destroyed. Only she was saved by a little boy. The boy was dirty and looked like a wild child, but when the beasts saw him, they all felt fear and dared not approach.

Later, Liu Tianfeng and his men came, and she was finally rescued. Liu Qingcheng had always thought that if it weren't for that little boy, she might have accepted her fate and married Chu Yan. But... he had appeared, and how could she forget him?

"Yes, I have someone I like, so I don't want to marry you! Can you let me go?"

Chu Yan frowned slightly but quickly smiled. "That's not possible. This marriage was arranged by the elders, and I am also in a difficult position. Why don't you talk to Uncle Liu? If he agrees, I don't mind."

"You..."

Liu Qingcheng clenched her fists. If it were that easy, she would have succeeded in the past ten years. Why wait until now?

"Chu Yan! Don't force me. If I have to marry you, I'd rather die!"

"Go ahead and die. But don't worry, if you die, I'll take care of your parents for you!"

"Rogue!"

Liu Qingcheng clenched her fists, trembling with anger, but she had no choice but to leave.

However, she didn't notice the gentle look in Chu Yan's eyes as she turned to leave.