Chapter 20

Liu Qingcheng heard Chu Yan's words and covered her face with a light laugh.

"I don't care. If you're a good-for-nothing, I'll protect you. Don't worry, Brother Chu Yan. I'm very capable. I've already awakened the Seven-Star Life Body and am now at the first level of the Dust-Moving Realm. In the future, whoever dares to bully you, I'll beat them up," Su Muyan said.

Chu Yan was speechless. It was over... He was already quite unscrupulous, but why did he encounter someone even more unscrupulous today?

Su Muyan's words made everyone in the Liu family gasp. At her age, with a Seven-Star Life Body and the first level of the Dust-Moving Realm... she was truly a pride of heaven. What about Liu Qingcheng? The first talented woman of Tianyong City, nurtured with all the resources of the Liu family, but she was still only at the sixth star of the Life Body and the ninth level of the Mortal Dust Realm, unable to enter the Dust-Moving Realm.

Everyone praised, "No wonder she's the princess of our Changlong Kingdom!"

"Yes, at her age, with such achievements, she will likely enter the Absolute Dust Realm in a few years."

"She is the pride of Changlong, a blessing for Changlong's prosperity."

Hearing the flattery from the sycophants, Chu Yan rolled his eyes. Su Muyan's talent was indeed good, but to him, it was nothing. Su Muyan, backed by the Changlong Kingdom and enjoying the resources of a nation, was only one star and one level higher than Liu Qingcheng. If all this were given to Liu Qingcheng, she would probably be even stronger.

But now, Chu Yan didn't care about these things. His marriage was no joke.

"You protect me? How can that be? This is a man's dignity!"

Chu Yan said with righteous indignation, but he immediately received countless eye rolls. Who said Liu Qingcheng would handle external affairs while he handled internal affairs?

Su Muyan blinked her large, silver-bell-like eyes and smiled meaningfully, "Is that so...? Then, Brother Chu Yan, if you marry Liu Qingcheng, aren't you asking her to protect you?"

"Uh..."

Chu Yan couldn't find a rebuttal for a moment, but he definitely couldn't marry Su Muyan. Not only was it his mother's command, but he also had feelings for Liu Qingcheng. The scene from ten years ago was the reason he had survived in the pile of corpses all these years.

"Anyway, Muyan, you're still young. Marriage is a serious matter, not a game. You haven't thought it through. Don't worry, if you tell me what kind of person you want, I'll introduce you to someone."

Chu Yan refused this time more decisively, and many people frowned. She was the princess of the Changlong Kingdom, and he dared to refuse?

Hearing Chu Yan's words, Su Muyan's eyebrows furrowed, sensing an unfriendly aura. At this moment, A San glared and reached out to grab Chu Yan, "Boy, you're very bold. My princess wants to marry you, and you dare to refuse?"

Swish!

But just as A San was about to act, Chu Yan's expression changed. The usual mischief was gone, replaced by a lack of courtesy.

"I advise you to retract your hand. Otherwise, you might not leave Tianyong City today," Chu Yan said calmly and coldly.

A San was startled, and his hand, suspended in the air, froze.

He looked at Chu Yan and saw a hint of danger in his eyes. Being stared at by Chu Yan was like being stared at by a ferocious beast, making him dare not move an inch forward.

Su Muyan quickly shouted, "A San, stop! Are you crazy?"

Hearing Su Muyan's words, A San found a way out and retracted his fist, but he was filled with shock... guessing who Chu Yan really was.

The force that suppressed him just now was neither killing intent nor elemental energy, but rather a disdainful gaze from a king, as if Chu Yan was a born king.

"Brother Chu Yan, you're not angry, A San didn't know who you are..."

"Enough!"

Chu Yan suddenly turned cold and looked at Su Muyan, "Liu Qingcheng is my wife. The only person I will marry in this life is her. If you're here to bless us, I welcome you. If not, I won't see you off. Also, take back this imperial edict. Don't use such things to manipulate me in the future. Otherwise, I won't mind replacing the ruler of the Changlong Kingdom with someone more reasonable."

"Scary..."

Hearing Chu Yan's words, everyone in the Liu family broke out in a cold sweat.

What did Chu Yan just say?

Replace the ruler of the Changlong Kingdom? Could such words be said casually? But everyone could see that Chu Yan wasn't joking. Could he really have that kind of power? Who is Chu Yan?

This question grew heavier in everyone's minds.

Hearing Chu Yan's words, Su Muyan's eyes turned red, but she held back her tears and looked at Liu Qingcheng with a hint of anger.

"Filthy woman, it's all because of you. If it weren't for the marriage contract, Brother Chu Yan wouldn't treat me like this. I'll kill you!"

Swish!

Su Muyan's hand flicked, and a red diamond suddenly appeared. The red diamond, like a phoenix, vibrated in the air and fiercely wrapped around Liu Qingcheng.

No one expected Su Muyan to suddenly attack, not even Chu Yan or Liu Tianfeng. The red diamond was extremely fast, the air splitting as it fiercely lashed at Liu Qingcheng.

Liu Qingcheng's eyebrows furrowed. The red diamond was too fast, and even she couldn't dodge it.

Just as the red diamond was about to strike Liu Qingcheng, Chu Yan's eyes turned cold.

Bang!

Just as everyone was sure Liu Qingcheng would be hit, a ripple appeared in the air, forming a purple light that repelled the red diamond.

"Ah!"

The force was so great that Su Muyan's wrist ached. Her eyes flashed with defiance, "Who is it? How dare you ruin my plans! Show yourself!"

"The princess of the Changlong Kingdom is becoming increasingly ill-mannered. If you continue, I won't mind teaching you a lesson for your father," a voice said calmly.

In the crowd, a woman in a red robe, sitting in a corner, sipped her tea and spoke calmly.

Seeing this woman, the guests frowned. Who was this important person who dared to scold the princess of the Changlong Kingdom?

A San, seeing Lu Xueting, became serious and whispered in Su Muyan's ear, "Princess, this person is not simple. Her strength is even greater than mine."

"Greater than yours?"

Su Muyan was startled. She knew A San's strength very well—fifth level of the Dust-Moving Realm, capable of fighting any of the Changlong Kingdom's national generals. But now A San said Lu Xueting was even stronger?

Liu Tianfeng glanced at Lu Xueting and showed gratitude.

"Enough!"

Chu Yan suddenly spoke, then looked at Lu Xueting and smiled meaningfully before turning to Su Muyan seriously, "I'll say it again. If you stay to bless us, the Liu family welcomes you. If not, I won't see you off. Don't try to provoke me again."

"I... I'll stay! Humph, but don't expect me to bless you!"

Su Muyan pouted, but now that things had come to this, she didn't dare do anything to Chu Yan. So, she puffed out her cheeks and found a place to sit where no one was.

Seeing the princess's behavior, Chu Yan found it amusing. The princess was quite interesting, just a bit spoiled. But regardless, the farce was over.

The master of ceremonies was stunned. Due to the farce, the final couple's bow was canceled, and he hurriedly laughed dryly.

"Ha ha, the newlyweds will now enter the bridal chamber! Guests, please enjoy the feast."

The hall regained some of its liveliness, but when they heard Chu Yan and Liu Qingcheng were entering the bridal chamber, Su Muyan panicked again. Not knowing what to do, she quietly slipped out and followed Chu Yan and Liu Qingcheng.

---

The bridal chamber was the mansion Liu Tianfeng had promised to Chu Yan. It was now decorated, with large red "double happiness" characters on the doors and windows, a red carpet with dragon and phoenix patterns starting ten meters from the entrance, and red quilts embroidered by skilled artisans.

Red candles burned in the room, their flames flickering in the wind, casting a romantic glow.

Liu Qingcheng was escorted to the bridal chamber by the maids and sat quietly on the bed, dignified and graceful.

But Chu Yan didn't rush to approach Liu Qingcheng. Instead, he stood alone at the door, playing with a very sharp dagger.

"Are you satisfied now?" Liu Qingcheng's cold voice echoed.

Chu Yan laughed as if he was used to it, "Hehe, of course. But what I really want to do next... hehe, wife, can we enter the bridal chamber now?"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Liu Qingcheng, but Liu Qingcheng's face suddenly turned cold, and she waved her sleeve, sending a gust of wind.

"Slap!"

The gust of wind struck Chu Yan, causing him great pain and slamming him into the wall, making him howl in pain.

"Isn't... you're my lawful wife, is it really necessary?"

"Chu Yan, I only agreed to marry you, not to anything else. Don't have any delusions, or the next time I strike you, it won't just be a gust of wind. It might be..."

"The dagger hidden at your waist, right?"

Before Liu Qingcheng could finish, Chu Yan directly said.

Hearing Chu Yan's words, Liu Qingcheng's eyebrows furrowed. Before the wedding, she had indeed hidden a dagger at her waist. She was prepared. If Chu Yan dared to misbehave, she wouldn't kill him, but she would kill herself. Now that she was married to Chu Yan, everyone knew she was his wife. When the time came, even if she died, Chu Yan would still be the Liu family's son-in-law, and as long as this identity remained, the Liu family would be safe.

"I won't kill you, but I will kill myself," Liu Qingcheng said softly.

Chu Yan was speechless... but seeing Liu Qingcheng's determined look to defend her chastity, he was helpless. He couldn't really force his wife to die on their wedding night, could he?

But thinking about marrying a beautiful woman and only being able to look at her, Chu Yan felt helpless.

If he had known this would be the result, should he have broken off the engagement and married Su Muyan instead?