Ye Xuan had been hurt by love. It was his parents, as well as the couple Tang Long and his wife, who had shown him that true love still existed in this world. It was just incredibly hard to come by.
If he ever married in the future, his standards for a woman would undoubtedly be sky-high. In other words, not just any woman was qualified to be his wife! A man had to be a bit aloof and confident! Regardless, he would never be a simp again, mindlessly giving everything away. Play the lapdog, and you lose it all. This applied to everyone, regardless of gender. True love was about mutual respect and shared devotion.
"Brother, what are you and Uncle Xin whispering about?" Ye Ling’Er’s curious voice rang out.
"It’s not suitable for children," Ye Xuan replied flatly.
Ye Ling’Er pouted. "I’m not a child."
"Ye Xuan, do you really not want to marry her?" Gongsun Wenjin spoke up again.
"No, I don’t want to."
"Very well. Since you don’t want to marry her, we will pay them a formal visit in a couple of days to break off the engagement. This will also save Yongzhi from being put in a difficult position."
"Will they be willing if we take the initiative to break it off? I hinted at it earlier, but the old City Lord insisted it was absolutely impossible."
"Of course it’s impossible when you just casually mention it here. He probably thought you were joking," Gongsun Wenjin explained. "To break off an engagement, we naturally have to show sincerity and proper etiquette. Since we represent the groom’s side, we must personally travel to Chasing Moon City to discuss the matter face-to-face with the bride’s family. Besides, canceling the engagement doesn’t solely depend on your attitude; it also depends on your fiancée’s. If she doesn’t want to marry you either, the two of you will reach a mutual agreement, and the contract can be annulled. That way, it wouldn’t count as us breaking our promise."
Ye Xuan frowned. "What if my fiancée is willing to marry me?"
Hearing this, both Gongsun Wenjin and Gongsun Xin chuckled.
"You’re a bit full of yourself, kid," Gongsun Xin said. "I bet the young lady of the Liu Family is absolutely unwilling to marry you. Alright, you’ve just returned. Go back and get some good rest. In a couple of days, I’ll escort you to Chasing Moon City."
"Alright."
Shortly after, Ye Xuan and his group of three left the hall. After they were gone, Gongsun Wenjin turned to Gongsun Xin. "Xin, do you think what he said earlier is credible?"
"Father, are you referring to the matter of the Forbidden Area?"
"Yes. The Forbidden Area has existed for over two thousand years. I’ve never heard of anyone coming out of it and still keeping their sanity."
"Father, perhaps some sort of change really occurred inside the Forbidden Area, making it no longer dangerous?"
Gongsun Wenjin’s eyes shone with wisdom. "Do you know why, over all these years, knowing full well that entering means almost certain death, our Gongsun Family has never allowed outsiders in? We could have easily grabbed a couple of random people and thrown them inside."
"Because the more dangerous a place is, the greater the opportunities," Gongsun Xin replied. "Father, do you think Ye Xuan took away an opportunity?"
"Yes, it’s not impossible. But this kid hides himself very well, and we can’t detect anything from him."
"But Father, I haven’t noticed any significant change in his aura. Are you overthinking this? Perhaps he was just lucky?"
"Is that so? Perhaps. Pass down my orders. Tell everyone that from today onward, Ye Xuan and Ling’Er are members of the Gongsun Family, and no one is to cause them trouble. If Ye Xuan really did obtain some incredible fortune and grows into a powerhouse in the future, we can say we didn’t mistreat him."
In Lingxuan Courtyard.
"Xuan’Er, did you truly not encounter any danger in the Forbidden Area? Let Mother see if you’re hurt anywhere."
"Mom, didn’t I already tell you? I’m fine. There was absolutely no danger inside. If you don’t believe me, look."
Ye Xuan took off his shirt, revealing his robust and fit physique. There was not a single scar on his body. All of his past injuries had been completely healed by the Spirit Medicine.
"Mom, I told you my brother is someone who creates miracles and that he’d be perfectly fine," Ye Ling’Er chimed in. "By the way, Mom, when can my brother and I make a trip back to the Ye Family? We’ve been gone for a month. Everyone at home must be worried sick."
Gongsun Yanran spoke gently, "After we go to Chasing Moon City in a couple of days and cancel the engagement, I will personally accompany you back. It’s been so many years; I should also meet Yizhou."
As time passed, the news of Ye Xuan’s return from the Forbidden Area exploded like a heavy bomb, shocking the entire Gongsun Family.
"What? Ye Xuan came out of the Forbidden Area? His luck is way too good. But is he emaciated like a skeleton and craving blood?"
"No, he’s completely normal. He can talk, run, and even laugh."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"I have to go see for myself!"
That day, Lingxuan Courtyard saw a steady stream of guests. Various aunts and great-aunts, along with his second, third, and fourth uncles, all came to visit. Seeing that Ye Xuan was truly alive and kicking, completely unscathed, everyone found it unbelievable.
"He’s actually still alive!"
"To think this illegitimate child has such immense luck. Not even the Forbidden Area could kill him? It seems the heavens want us to acknowledge his status."
At this moment, Gongsun Fangru arrived as well. "This brat isn’t just eating fruit; he’s laughing!" she said through gritted teeth. "He’s completely fine. How is this possible?!"
Gongsun Fangru felt thoroughly unresigned, but no matter how she felt, it couldn’t change the fact that Ye Xuan was alive. Since he was alive, it meant that his and Ye Ling’Er’s identities were now officially acknowledged by Gongsun Wenjin. When the City Lord made a promise, he always kept his word. The matter of her younger sister secretly marrying an outsider had also finally been put to rest.
"Ms. Yanran, Jin Buhuan has arrived." Right then, a servant’s voice echoed from the doorway.
"Jin Buhuan is here?! He must have also caught wind of the fact that Yanran has illegitimate children."
"Now this is going to be a good show."
The eyes of the various aunts lit up with eager anticipation.
As the whispers faded, a burly middle-aged man strode into the courtyard. He was dressed in luxurious robes, his long hair flowing freely behind him. At first glance, he looked like a wandering rogue of the martial world. Embroidered on his chest was an Exotic Beast that resembled a white hound with a black head. Its eyes were like those of a serpent—sharp and ice-cold.
This was the Celestial Horse Beast, an Ancient Fierce Beast. It served as the totem of the Jin Family, and it was also the namesake of Celestial Horse City.
Jin Buhuan was the Young City Lord of Celestial Horse City. Handsome, charming, and effortlessly romantic, he was the Prince Charming in the hearts of countless young women in the city. He was considered a playboy because as long as a beautiful woman fancied him, he would never refuse her—but he would never take responsibility either.
Yet, this very same playboy had fallen in love with a woman who didn’t love him back. And for her sake, he had waited twenty-six years.
"You’re here," Gongsun Yanran said softly in the courtyard.
"Yes, I’m here." Jin Buhuan held a wine gourd in his hand, throwing his head back to take a swig as he replied. He gave off an air of untamed freedom, yet there was a faint trace of decadence mixed within.
"Wow, he’s so handsome!"
"The way he drinks is just too cool. Especially those blue eyes of his—they’re so full of vicissitudes and melancholy. He looks incredibly good..."
"Yanran really doesn’t know how lucky she is. If a man like that chased after me, I would’ve married him ages ago!"
As if finding these women thoroughly annoying, Jin Buhuan knitted his brows. "Leave. I have something to say to Yanran."
His tone made it sound as though he were giving orders in his own Jin Family home.