First update,

...

Li Jun's matters had been settled, and others had helped him with the aftermath, so Qin Fang's attention naturally shifted back to Capital City.

The visit to the Lei Family was imminent. Cai Qing had already made contact with the Lei Family and arranged a meeting time. Qin Fang was to accompany Cai Qing on this appointment.

Lei Peng and his uncle Shangguan Tianling were the biggest challenges of this visit. Qin Fang had already prepared to confront them head-on, even preparing some preemptive measures as his trump card.

A day passed quickly, and today was the day to visit the Lei Family.

"Master, rest assured, I will handle this matter well..."

Before departing, Qin Fang's master Cai Pingyuan called to give him several instructions, emphasizing the safety of the two above all else, and mentioned that other matters could be discussed at a later time.

Qin Fang did not want to say much in response; the methods he had prepared were somewhat unsavory, and he did not wish for his master to worry, so he naturally chose not to speak of them.

"Let's go..."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Fang looked at Cai Qing beside him, who appeared rather tense and nervous, and said.

Cai Qing nodded and obediently got into Qin Fang's car.

The usually fierce Cai Qing was exceptionally calm today, like a gentle girl next door, giving Qin Fang a very unusual feeling.

Qin Fang really wanted to tease Cai Qing a few words, to bring back her naturally aggressive nature where she would curse when upset, but after some thought, he ultimately didn't have the heart to say it aloud, understanding her feelings at the moment.

The Lei Family was among the Martial Arts Clans with a particularly prosperous lineage, having suffered little loss even during turbulent times, with most of their members surviving and continuing to flourish.

The Lei Family was considered one of the local powerhouses of Capital City, with roots extending over a hundred years, making them a veritable Serpent of the land. It was said that the Lei Family had contributed significantly to the peaceful liberation of Capital City. Perhaps this was why the Lei Family had been able to preserve so many of its members.

Over the past century, as the Lei Family's descendants thrived, many outstanding individuals had emerged, such as the Seven Tigers of the Lei Family, whom Qin Fang was aware of.

Of course, there were other equally extraordinary descendants who entered politics, business, the military, or special departments of the country, extending the Lei Family's connections widely.

However, only descendants practicing Martial Arts were eligible to become the Family Head, as per the Lei Family's ancestral teachings of passing on the martial legacy.

Therefore, within the Lei Family, descendants who practiced Martial Arts had more say, and even though an issue like the marriage arrangement stirred up by a remarkable descendant like Lei Peng caused dissatisfaction among many family members, they could not really object.

Old Master Lei was advanced in years, nearly a decade older than the nearly seventy-year-old Cai Pingyuan, but because he had cultivated his Martial Arts to such a superb level, he didn't look particularly old.

Starting from the age of fifty, he rarely ventured out, mostly residing in the ancestral home to cultivate and seek further advancement in Martial Arts. It was at this ancestral home that Qin Fang and the others were to negotiate the marriage arrangement and meet Old Master Lei.

The Lei Family's ancestral home had a history of over a hundred years; it was said to have been built when the ancestors of the Lei Family moved to Capital City, and despite the trials and tribulations of the times, it had stood firm.

It was located in Houhai, a unique area in Capital City where ordinary people did not have the privilege to reside; the Lei Family was fortunate to bask in the glory of their ancestors.

A Thousand Gate expert skilled in Feng Shui had once appraised the area, proclaiming Houhai to be the most flourishing area of Dragon Country's energy...

Capital City had now become an international metropolis with skyscrapers at every turn, causing ancient architecture to become increasingly scarce.

Older architectures could at least be treasured as ancient cultural relics, but buildings from the past hundred years didn't hold as much value. Ironically, the Lei Family's tenure in Capital City fell right into this timeframe.

However, this was not to say that the Lei Family's ancestral home was not valuable, quite the opposite... If the Lei Family were willing to sell it, no less than ten billion would be conceivable.

The Lei Family's ancestral home was a Siheyuan, a distinctive architectural feature of Capital City, yet such courtyards were increasingly rare, with wealthy individuals no longer pursuing skyscrapers. Instead, the peaceful Siheyuan was much sought after, with its value on the rise.

It was said that Qing Dynasty buildings of moderate to slightly small size were valued at a billion or more, and Siheyuans the size of the Lei Family's, which were few and far between in Capital City, would start at several billion.

Not to mention that this particular Siheyuan was located in a place like Houhai. It was needless to discuss its value; one just had to look at the caliber of the residents nearby to understand.

Capital City was the imperial capital, and the energy flow of Houhai was the most prosperous in the entire Capital City. In terms of Feng Shui, this meant that ancestral homes and graves in such a place could bless descendants for generations to come.

Of course, this notion of fortune is a bit too mystical. It cannot be said to be entirely unreliable, but also not entirely certain. At least in Houhai, there are quite a few old houses that have been sold by families who have fallen on hard times, and such splendid energy did not benefit their descendants.

This also goes to show that such luck is not so easily enjoyed. If one does not have a sufficiently powerful destiny to suppress such great energy, it can end up causing harm instead.

Qin Fang was not very clear about whether the Lei Family's long-standing prosperity was related to this ancestral home. He did not research it, nor did he care to delve into these matters.

Since it was arranged in advance, as soon as Qin Fang's car arrived in Houhai, he was met by people from the Lei Family who had been waiting there. They guided him directly to the Lei Family's ancestral home.

The house looked quite ordinary. Besides being larger than the average courtyard house, there was nothing particularly special about it.

The main gate was the kind of red lacquered gate commonly seen in ancient times, with a stone lion on each side. Hanging above the door was a gold-lettered plaque whose paint had peeled off, making the inscriptions hard to read.

"The old master has been waiting inside for a long time now, please..."

Almost as soon as Qin Fang and his companion approached the gate, a man in his fifties emerged from the house, addressing Qin Fang and Cai Qing very politely.

"Level 6 Expert!"

Qin Fang was somewhat surprised by the elder's strength. He was a Level 6 Grandmaster, a level that was incredibly difficult for martial artists to reach. Such an expert would absolutely be a hero in his own right if outside, yet he seemed to be only a servant of the Lei Family...

"Thank you..."

However, Qin Fang did not shrink back due to the elder's strength. He immediately clasped his fists in a salute and began to step towards the house.

But Cai Qing, who was next to him, suddenly stopped in her tracks, hesitation apparent on her face, as if unable to take the next step.

"What's the matter, Senior Sister?"

Qin Fang looked at Cai Qing curiously. They were already at the doorstep of the Lei Family, and yet Cai Qing seemed suddenly hesitant, which he found strange.

"Qin Fang, I'm a bit scared..."

Even a strong woman like Cai Qing had her moments of vulnerability, which she normally kept deeply buried within her. Only when faced with such situations would this tenderness inadvertently reveal itself.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you!"

Qin Fang reached out and took Cai Qing's hand, sincerely saying, "Leave the following matters to me. You just need to wait for this marriage arrangement to be dissolved..."

Since he had promised Cai Qing to handle this matter, and promised his master that he would not let her come to harm, Qin Fang would not back down, even when facing the Lei Family, which was renowned for its numerous experts.

If the Lei Family were to provoke Qin Fang and make things difficult for him, he would undoubtedly not let the Lei Family off easily. To put it bluntly — would he, Qin Fang, who was barefoot, be afraid of the Lei Family who wore shoes?

Cai Qing looked into Qin Fang's eyes and saw no panic, just confidence and comfort. Her heart steadied, and she nodded gently. Without withdrawing her hand held by Qin Fang, she let him lead her as they both walked into the house together.

The elder who was guiding them acted as if he saw nothing, maintaining his demeanor with eyes downcast as though he did not exist at all.

Yet, the moment Qin Fang and Cai Qing walked together through the Lei Family's gate, a glint of sharpness flashed in the elder's eyes... It's just that he was behind the pair, and they could not see such a subtle change.

And so, Qin Fang and Cai Qing officially entered the Lei Family's territory and stepped into the ancestral home that had sustained the Lei Family's prosperity for over a hundred years. They slowly made their way toward the Zhongting, where Old Master Lei would meet with them.

This ancestral home had nothing particularly special about it; it was just an ordinary house. However, as Qin Fang walked, he looked around with great interest, seemingly very curious about the place.

Today's Capital City has turned into a forest of reinforced concrete structures, bustling and noisy everywhere. In contrast, an old house like this one exuded a certain serenity and elegance, making it a good place for cultivating the mind and character. No wonder great men preferred to reside in such places.

As far as Qin Fang knew, Elder Tang who lived on Qingzhu Mountain and Old Master Qiao who resided at Yuquan Mountain both dwelled in such old houses, as they were more suitable places for their self-cultivation.

Of course, these older masters had different purposes for their cultivation... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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