"Sis, when are you and brother-in-law going to have your wedding?" Seeing Qin Qiu's tender expression as she stared at Chen Yang trying on clothes, Qin Mo sidled up and asked with a chuckle.

"Huh?" Qin Qiu was taken aback, her gaze darting away as she said irritably, "The company is at a critical stage right now. Who has time to think about that?"

"So what you mean is, you'll marry my brother-in-law after the company gets through this period?" Qin Mo pressed, blinking her eyes.

"Oh, just stop asking!"

Qin Qiu snatched the small gift box back, put it into Chen Yang's pocket again, and turned around, covering her slightly warm face with both hands.

Marry that guy? Under the blessings of all our friends and relatives, clad in a pure white wedding dress, making a lifelong promise with him? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to never be parted and always be together? To hold his hand and grow old with him?

Just the thought of it made Qin Qiu's face grow hotter, her heart pounding in her chest like a frightened deer. Before today, she had never even considered it. She had always been scheming of ways to divorce him and drive him out of the Qin Family, but now… she was actually looking forward to a future wedding.

"Honey, what do you think?" Chen Yang asked, walking over to Qin Qiu after changing.

Qin Qiu hurriedly turned around. She gave him a once-over, and her eyes brightened. "It's very nice. You look handsome."

"Hehe…" Chen Yang scratched his head, laughing sheepishly. "Then I'll take this one."

"Alright!"

After they picked out another suit for Chen Yang, the family left the men's section. Once they paid, they walked out of the mall, carrying bags of all sizes.

On the square outside the mall, an old man was sitting on a round stone bollard, speaking eloquently and with great enthusiasm. He was recounting the great battle between Sword Cultivators that had just taken place in the square. A crowd surrounded him; some stood while others sat on the ground, all listening with rapt attention.

A cardboard box sat in front of the old man, and people would occasionally walk over to drop in some money. Although it was all small change, a conservative estimate would put the total at seven or eight hundred yuan.

"After my extensive inquiries, I can confirm that the strength of these two young Sword Cultivators was at least Tenth-Rank! Folks, do you understand what Tenth-Rank means? And these were Sword Cultivators, who specialize in combat and slaughter!"

"Then there was the man who arrived later. The moment he held his sword, the mere aura emanating from him was unbearable for us common folk. It felt like the tip of a knife was pressed against our backs."

The old man's voice was clear and resonant, his facial expressions were rich, and his timing was perfect. He was a former storyteller now revisiting his old trade, improvising on the spot to make a quick buck.

He took a sip of water and continued, "But the other sword-wielding fellow was even more incredible! He held his longsword inverted and, with a single chop—guess what happened?"

"Although the newcomer descended like a divine warrior, his aura magnificent and sweeping, he was nearly cleaved in two by his opponent's single strike."

"The wound stretched from his right shoulder down to his lower left abdomen. His flesh was torn open, blood gushed like a fountain, and his stark white bones were exposed to the air. It was a truly gruesome and spine-chilling sight."

"But the most terrifying part was yet to come…"

At this point, the old man deliberately picked up his water bottle and took tiny sips, not continuing until a steady stream of people came to drop money into his cardboard box.

"Wow, there's an old gentleman telling stories over there!" Upon exiting the mall, Qin Mo was captivated by the scene and started to skip over for a closer look.

Chen Yang's face darkened, and he quickly pulled her back. "He's just an old swindler from the Martial World, nothing to see. It's getting late; let's go home."

"Right, let's go home." Qin Qiu wasn't interested in such things and chimed in, "If you want to listen to stories, you can do it online at home. Isn't it more comfortable lying in bed?"

Qin Mo thought about it and had to agree. On such a cold day, what could possibly be more comfortable than being tucked into a warm bed?

However, Chen Yang's comment about an "old swindler from the Martial World" drew many surprised glances, especially from the old man himself. The storyteller turned his head abruptly, his expression simmering with anger. Wasn't this guy trying to ruin his livelihood?

But when he saw Chen Yang's face clearly, the anger instantly froze, and his old face turned visibly pale.

THUMP.

He slid right off the stone bollard and landed on his bottom on the ground, fine beads of cold sweat popping out on his forehead. Having stood at the very front of the crowd, he had witnessed the entire battle. How could he not recognize Chen Yang?

This guy… that look in his eyes… it's terrifying!

The way he was staring at him right now was an unmistakable warning.

Chen Yang retracted his gaze and called to Qin Qiu and Qin Mo, "Let's go. We're heading home."

The old man let out a long sigh of relief. Only after Chen Yang had been gone for a while did he manage to scramble back to his feet, repeatedly wiping the cold sweat from his brow. For a moment there, he had been terrified that the man would slice down with his sword and cleave him in two. He tossed his water bottle aside, grabbed his cardboard box, and bolted.

"Why'd he run off? He didn't even finish the story!"

"See? He really is an old swindler."

Without looking back, the old man just tossed a single sentence over his shoulder. "To know what happens next, you must wait for the next installment!"

"You damn swindler!"

…

「Yuelan Grand Hotel.」

Within a luxurious suite, Liu Ruyan stood before an enormous floor-to-ceiling window and asked coolly, "Elder Wu, the other party hasn't issued a public apology to our Martial Association through any of Lingjin City's mainstream media, correct?"

"Miss, he has not," the black-robed old woman, Wu Lan, replied in an eerie voice. "Miss, since you've already found him, why not just deal with him directly?"

"Killing is easy. Killing him would be even easier!"

Liu Ruyan gazed down at the myriad city lights outside the window and said dispassionately, "To fully restore the face our Martial Association lost in Lingjin City, having him apologize publicly is naturally the best way."

"But this man clearly hasn't taken your words to heart, Miss," Wu Lan said, a cold glint flashing in her deep-set, amber eyes.

Liu Ruyan waved her hand dismissively. "The man is certainly proud. He is a Sixth Grade Military General, after all. However, I believe he will eventually do as I say."

"Make arrangements for a trip to Feiyang Martial Arts School tomorrow."

Wu Lan was somewhat puzzled but didn't press further, simply nodding. "As you wish, Miss."

Just as she finished speaking, a series of urgent knocks suddenly echoed from the door.

KNOCK, KNOCK…

Liu Ruyan frowned. Wu Lan, however, strode directly to the door and demanded, "Who is it?"

"It's… it's me, Chen Ke!" the voice replied, weak and panting heavily. "Miss Ruyan, quick, save me!"

Liu Ruyan's brow tightened as she walked toward the entrance. "Open the door!"

Wu Lan pulled the door open. Chen Ke stumbled a few steps before collapsing inside the room, blood rapidly staining the floor.

"This…" Wu Lan was startled. If not for recognizing his voice, she wouldn't have known this was Chen Ke based on his appearance alone. Beyond his deathly pale complexion, his entire face was as withered as chaff, and his eye sockets were so deeply sunken he looked utterly terrifying.

"What… what happened to you?" Liu Ruyan asked in bewilderment, gesturing for someone to help him up.

Wu Lan helped him to a nearby sofa, revealing the horrific wound on his chest. The flesh was torn open, exposing the stark white bone beneath…

Even Wu Lan, who had seen much in her life, couldn't help but feel her mouth twitch as she sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

"There… there's a top-tier expert in Lingjin City!" Chen Ke exclaimed, his voice fraught with pain.

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