"Thank you for your magnanimity, Elder Liu," Chen Yuan said, cupping his hands with a faint smile.
People like him just needed a good beating to fall in line.
Zheng Suifeng’s expression shifted as well, replacing his previous look with an even more enthusiastic smile. "Chen Xiaoyou, I believe we can still have a proper discussion regarding the Gu family’s situation. Come, right this way."
The strength Chen Yuan had just displayed left him deeply apprehensive. To be able to clash head-on with the long-established Liu Man right after entering the Muscle Pass—given a little more time, he might even trample Wang Ta underfoot. A talent like this had to be either befriended or completely eradicated. However, Chen Yuan had already come into his own. The risk of trying to eliminate him was too great; one wrong move and the entire game would be lost. Befriending him was the only viable option.
Chen Yuan nodded slightly. "Of course."
The group returned to the room, but the atmosphere was entirely different. The younger generation of the Zheng family now looked at Chen Yuan with eyes full of awe and reverence.
Zheng Suifeng pondered for a moment before saying, "Chen Xiaoyou, I, Zheng, can give you face and negotiate peace with the Gu family. However, I will not compromise on the interests that rightfully belong to the Zheng family. I hope you can understand." Inviting Liu Ha Ma to the Zheng family had cost him a considerable sum. If he had to bear the manpower and material costs of suppressing the Gu family all by himself, the financial impact would be significant.
Chen Yuan nodded. "Naturally." He wasn’t taking the Gu family’s side anyway; ensuring their survival was good enough. Demanding too much would only risk making an enemy of the Zheng family, which would outweigh any potential gains.
Zheng Suifeng nodded in approval. "I am endlessly grateful for your profound understanding, Chen Xiaoyou. As for the marriage between Tributor Liu and Gu Wantong, we truly had no idea she had a prior relationship with you. We will drop the matter entirely. I hope you won’t take offense."
As he spoke, he shot a glance at Liu Ha Ma.
Liu Ha Ma glared back. He thought, "Why is this old geezer bringing up the one thing he shouldn’t? Is he trying to draw that kid’s hostility toward me?" He hurriedly added, "This is just a huge misunderstanding between allies. Please don’t take offense, Brother Chen." He had no desire to be held in contempt by a prodigy with a limitless future.
Chen Yuan nodded. "Thank you, Patriarch Zheng and Elder Liu, for giving Chen Mou this face. I am deeply grateful." With that, this trip could be considered a complete success.
Zheng Suifeng looked at the dignified Chen Yuan, still unwilling to give up. He said, "Chen Xiaoyou, you really should consider our Zheng family. If you are willing to become a Tributor for us, I will definitely offer you better terms than the Li family and appoint you as an Upper Minister. What do you say?" In his mind, let alone Liu Ha Ma, even Wang Ta couldn’t compare to Chen Yuan in the slightest.
Chen Yuan smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch Zheng, but I have no such plans for the time being. I hope you can forgive me." He had to be joking. Joining the Zheng family would lock his potential ceiling in place; it simply wasn’t worth it. Without a doubt, the Li family was a much better place for his development and could provide him with a protective umbrella in the future.
Zheng Suifeng sighed, no longer pressing the issue. "Very well. If you ever change your mind, Chen Xiaoyou, the doors of the Zheng family will always be open to you."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Yuan took his leave. The Zheng family group escorted him all the way to the courtyard gates, showing just how highly they valued him. At that moment, Wang Ta murmured softly, "Given time, Chen Yuan will definitely secure a place for himself in Qingyuan County."
In the West Courtyard of the Li family, the residence of the female family members.
"I am so mad! Mo Wan, do you know? This Chen Yuan is an absolute coward hiding in his shell! I sent someone to the Huo Courtyard to ask about his movements, and guess what? That guy isn’t even participating in the Spring Hunt! Didn’t they say he wasn’t even eighteen yet? Where is his youthful spirit?" Li Lingshu vented her frustrations angrily to Li Mowan. The more she learned about Chen Yuan, the more she found him incomprehensible—he was completely different from the other young men around them. To put it nicely, he was mature and steady. To put it bluntly, how was he any different from a dead man?
Li Mowan chuckled softly. "Don’t be anxious, Ling Shu. Even if he doesn’t participate in the Spring Hunt, he will surely join the Martial Examination. Perhaps the Medicinal Garden is short-handed?" Given the precedent of Chen Yuan sitting out the Li Family Tournament, she didn’t find his absence from the Spring Hunt surprising.
Li Lingshu scoffed. "What nonsense are you saying? The Spring Hunt clears the mountains, which greatly relieves the defensive pressure on the Medicinal Garden. Why would they need extra hands? Cowardice is cowardice; there’s nothing more to it."
Li Mowan smiled meaningfully. "Oh my, if he’s a coward, he’s a coward. I already said I’m not considering him anymore. What’s gotten into my dear Ling Shu? Why are you paying so much attention to a complete nobody? Could it be..."
She left the sentence unfinished, but her implication was clear. Li Lingshu froze, realizing that her behavior did seem a bit unusual, but she replied with feigned indifference. "Don’t talk nonsense! I just found him unusual, so I paid a little extra attention. That’s all. Don’t you think it’s strange too?"
The main reason was that she had once considered Chen Yuan as a potential husband. She wanted to see his strength, but her expectations were dashed when he opted out of the tournament. Because of that, her anticipation had actually grown, leaving her desperate to see him in the Spring Hunt to find out what he was truly capable of. Yet her expectations fell through once again, leading to an even greater sense of anticipation. In this cycle, she had developed a stubborn obsession with figuring out exactly what kind of person Chen Yuan was.
Li Mowan giggled. "Alright, alright. Just curious, right? I understand."
In the rear courtyard of the Li Family Chamber of Commerce, a robust man was practicing martial arts, his movements agile and radiating fierce, tiger-like vigor.
Footsteps sounded as a person hurried over, stopping to stand to the side without making a sound to interrupt. Only when the man finished his routine, withdrawing his energy and standing upright, did the newcomer speak respectfully. "Lord Tang."
Tang Chuan glanced at him and asked evenly, "Do you have the results of the investigation?" He was the prodigy from a minor family who had beautifully defeated his opponent in the Li Family Tournament and publicly confessed his feelings to Li Lingshu on the spot. Currently at the Muscle Pass of the Hidden Force Stage, he served as a squad captain for the guards in the Li Family Chamber of Commerce. After being rejected by Li Lingshu, he refused to give up. He secretly sent men to find out the identity of the man she had claimed to be interested in, desperate to know where he fell short.
The subordinate replied:
"Reporting to you, my lord: Miss Ling Shu has not had much contact with any particular man recently.
"However, Steward Li Changfu of the Treasure Tower did introduce her to a young man named Chen Yuan. He comes from a poor background but has good talent. Despite his young age, he is already at the Bone Pass of the Hidden Force Stage, and he recently made a name for himself during the conflict between the Fang family and the He family.
"He currently works under General Manager Li Song in the Medicinal Garden and is said to be highly valued. But he chose not to participate in the Li Family Tournament, nor the Spring Hunt mountain sweep. Furthermore, he hasn’t even met Miss Ling Shu face-to-face, so it’s highly unlikely to be him.
"On another note, Miss Ling Shu is good friends with Miss Zhao, Zhao Qingyan. She was recently invited to a banquet at the Zhao family estate to admire flowers and compose poetry. It’s said that a young master of the Zhao family, Zhao Qingchen, took the initiative to join them. As for how well they got along, I was unable to find out."
After the subordinate relayed all the information and deductions he had gathered, Tang Chuan raised an eyebrow. This Chen Yuan was clearly a coward. What woman would be interested in a turtle hiding in its shell? He could be ruled out immediately. It was most likely this Zhao Qingchen, who was also one of Li Lingshu’s suitors. However, the man was a notorious playboy, and Li Lingshu had explicitly rejected him before. Given that bastard’s personality, he probably hadn’t given up. With his vast experience, he was a formidable rival. When it came to the art of using sweet words to capture a woman’s heart, Tang Chuan knew he couldn’t compare.
Admiring flowers and reciting poetry? Could that guy have prepared some excellent poem that changed Li Lingshu’s opinion of him? If that were the case, things were getting dangerous. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, he was barely literate and knew absolutely nothing about composing poetry. But what kind of bullshit was a martial artist writing poetry?! A bare-knuckle brawl was the only proper way for men to compete! He would trample Zhao Qingchen underfoot during the Spring Hunt and the upcoming Martial Examination! At this thought, a vicious glint flashed in Tang Chuan’s eyes.