Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang had people investigate Horn. Naturally, they had seen photos of him.
When they saw Jiang Wan walking over with Horn, holding his hand intimately, their faces turned grim. This was the first time they had seen Jiang Wan take the initiative to be so close to a man. Despite her fiery exterior, Jiang Wan had always been cold and aloof. How could such a proud woman fall for the abandoned son of the Su family?
"Grandfather. Dad," Jiang Wan greeted them with a charming smile. "This is Horn," she introduced. "You must help him this time. Brother Horn has suffered so much, and the people of the Tianhai Su family are nothing but beasts."
Jiang Zhan's eyes turned cold. Could it be that his eldest daughter truly had feelings for the Su family's discarded son? Mr. Jiang's face darkened with anger, and he snapped, "Xiao Wan, from this moment on, you must sever all ties with this Su family outcast. Do you understand?"
Jiang Wan's smile faltered, while Horn remained calm, his expression unreadable. Mr. Wei and Mr. Qiao, who held Senior Su in high regard, looked displeased. They would never tolerate anyone showing disrespect towards him.
Jiang Zhan, noticing the anger brewing in Jiang Wan, tried to reason with her. "Xiao Wan, listen to your grandfather. We would never lead you astray."
Mr. Jiang, his tone harsh, added, "Xiao Wan, go home and prepare. Later, you will accompany us to the Su family's birthday banquet. We've already chosen a gift for you. At the banquet, we will announce your engagement to Su Wu."
Jiang Wan stared at her father in disbelief. "Dad, is what Grandpa said true?" After seeing Jiang Zhan nod, Jiang Wan's anger erupted. "Grandpa, are you out of your mind? I don't like Su Wu. The very sight of him makes me sick. There's not a single decent person left in the Su family."
Mr. Jiang's eyes flashed with fury. "Enough!" he barked. "Xiao Wan, while your father and I love you dearly, that does not give you the right to behave arrogantly. Su Wu possesses immortal bones and is destined for greatness. What about him is unworthy of you?"
Without hesitation, Jiang Wan retorted, "Those immortal bones don't even belong to Su Wu! They belong to Brother Horn. The Su family's methods were cruel beyond belief, and they deserve every bit of retribution coming their way."
She paused to collect herself before continuing. "Tell me, what did the Su family offer you?"
Mr. Jiang opened the car door, gesturing for her to get in. "Let's discuss this inside. This is a matter for the Jiang family alone."
He believed that once Jiang Wan knew the Su family's offer, she would agree to the engagement.
"Brother Horn, wait here for a moment," Jiang Wan assured him. "No matter what decision the Jiang family makes, I will always be on your side." Horn nodded calmly as Mr. Wei and Mr. Qiao watched Jiang Wan, Jiang Zhan, and Mr. Jiang get into the car.
"Senior Su, shouldn't we intervene?" Mr. Wei asked.
Horn shook his head. "There's no need." He had asked Mr. Wei, Mr. Qiao, and Jiang Wan to accompany him to ease Tang Yuxin and the others' concerns. Dealing with the Tianhai Su family on his own was more than sufficient.
Inside the car, Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang fixed their gazes on Jiang Wan. After a moment, Jiang Zhan sighed. "Xiao Wan, in every era, the victors write history. To obtain the immortal bones, Su Wu and his family committed unspeakable acts. But now that Su Wu has those bones, he will rise to the top of the Xia Kingdom, and no one will dare challenge him."
Jiang Wan bit her lip, her voice trembling with anger. "Dad, you're like a stranger to me. You and Grandpa raised me to be righteous and just. Yet, you're telling me that because Su Wu's family was stronger, they were justified in their cruelty? Are the weak automatically guilty?"
Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang were momentarily speechless. Mr. Jiang glanced at Horn through the car window. "Xiao Wan, we've heard about what happened in Linzhou. If you continue to involve yourself, our family will be dragged into this mess. It's not too late to pull out now. If you get engaged to Su Wu, you can walk away from all of this."
Before Jiang Wan could respond, he added, "Old Man Su promised that if you and Su Wu get engaged today, the Su family will arrange for the president of the Alchemist Association to refine seven-star elixirs for our family three times. How could I refuse such an offer?"
Mr. Jiang saw the shock on Jiang Wan's face and thought she was finally convinced. "Xiao Wan, you know how difficult it is to secure the services of a seven-star alchemist. Right now, the Jiang family simply cannot hire the president of the Alchemist Federation."
Jiang Zhan nodded. "Alchemists are notoriously proud, especially those at the apex level in Xia. I once encountered the president of the Alchemist Federation while working in the imperial capital. I introduced myself, but he completely ignored me."
Jiang Wan, having regained her composure, nearly laughed. "That's it? You want me to get engaged to Su Wu just so the president of the Alchemist Federation will refine seven-star elixirs for our family three times?"
She had witnessed Horn's astonishing alchemy skills firsthand. When Nie Jiuxuan asked Horn about the current president of the Alchemist Association, Horn had merely replied, "I am better than him."
This simple statement implied that Horn was likely an eight-star alchemist, or at the very least, a seven-star alchemist like the president of the Alchemist Federation.
Mr. Jiang narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Wan, what are you implying? Do you even understand the significance of what you're saying?"
Jiang Wan didn't hesitate. "Isn't it obvious? Horn is a seven-star alchemist."
She deliberately understated Horn's abilities to avoid causing too much of a shock.
Jiang Zhan was about to speak, but her words left him frozen in place. Father and son stared at Jiang Wan in disbelief, unable to process what they were hearing.
"Xiao Wan, do you think your grandfather and I have lost our minds?" Mr. Jiang scoffed. "How could the abandoned son of the Su family be a seven-star alchemist?"
Jiang Wan's eyes blazed with determination. She released the energy of her early-stage Creation Realm cultivation. "You know that when I left the Open Heaven Sea, I was only at the peak of the Sky Control Realm. In a short period, I advanced beyond Sky Control, surpassed the half-step Creation Realm, and became a true early-stage Creation Realm cultivator. How do you think I managed that? I witnessed Brother Horn's alchemy myself."
She then added with a challenging tone, "So, are we ready to play for real?"