"How do you feel?"
"Ah!"
Chu Yanran, completely absorbed in watching the light screen, suddenly heard Su Chen's voice and nearly jumped out of her skin.
She turned around, rolled her eyes at him, and playfully scolded, "Young Master, if you're going to sneak up on me like that, could you at least give me a little warning?"
"Heh, heh, so… what do you think of your disciple?" Su Chen seized the moment to tease her, his hands reaching to press against her elevated curves.
"Sigh."
Chu Yanran let out a soft sigh. "I never expected him to hide so many secrets."
"And all this time, he's been scheming to take advantage of me, even plotting to drug me and take me by force! I'm his master, for heaven's sake—how could he…?"
Her eyes reddened, and a thin mist of tears appeared in her beautiful gaze.
She had placed so much trust in Ye Fan, nurturing him with patience and sparing no resources in helping him cultivate. Yet, she hadn't seen his true nature.
After all her efforts, she had unknowingly raised an ungrateful traitor.
Chu Yanran shook her head repeatedly, her heart aching deeply. Compared to Ye Fan's vile character, Su Chen might be domineering, but he was straightforward and honest. He'd never stoop to using something like a love-dispelling potion to claim her.
"Young Master, I was wrong. From now on, I will sever all ties with that unworthy disciple!" Chu Yanran lifted her head, looking at Su Chen with resolve in her eyes.
She silently vowed to follow him loyally from this day forth.
Watching her delicate figure weeping in his arms, Su Chen's gaze softened. His heart stirred, and he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Don't worry. By my side, you will stand atop the entire continent."
A hard stick, followed by a sweet reward.
To sow discord between master and disciple while winning over Chu Yanran's heart—this was certainly a satisfying outcome for Su Chen.
Before taking Chu Yanran away from the Immortal Sword Sect, he had secretly left Third Elder behind in disguise. The Elder had used a recording stone to capture every sordid moment of Ye Fan's disgraceful display in the prison.
Having read the original story, Su Chen knew Ye Fan's vengeful nature all too well. There was no way he'd just endure the humiliation after having his face slapped like that.
Sure enough, the rift Su Chen had sown was growing far beyond his expectations.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Chu Yanran nestled into Su Chen's embrace, nuzzling against his chest a few times. "I will follow you forever, ready to charge through fire and water without hesitation!"
"Charge through fire and water?"
Su Chen shook his head, the corners of his mouth lifting in a sly smile. "This young master has no need for you to charge into battles. Just do what a woman should do."
"You know what I mean, don't you?"
"Yes, I understand."
Slowly, Chu Yanran lowered her head.
---
The next morning.
Su Chen awoke well into the day, only rising after Chu Yanran had helped him dress.
As newlyweds, Chu Yanran was expected to formally pay respects to her parents-in-law—Su Chen's father and mother.
Although Chu Yanran's position was that of a concubine, the necessary rites could not be skipped.
---
In the Su Family's main hall.
"Father, please have some tea."
"Mother, please have some tea."
Chu Yanran received two cups of tea from a maid and presented them respectfully to Su Hao and Qin Xinran, who were seated on the chairs.
"Mm."
Su Hao accepted the tea with a stoic expression, betraying no hint of his thoughts.
He harbored reservations about having such a older concubine for his son, but his son's choice was ultimately beyond his control.
Chu Yanran was only a concubine, not a legitimate wife; otherwise, her presence could impact the Su family's reputation.
"Ha, ha."
Qin Xinran, on the other hand, gave a gentle smile as she accepted the tea. She teased, "Yanran, I only have one wish—that you quickly bless our Su family with heirs."
As a mother, she had long been looking forward to grandchildren.
The woman before her, though a bit older than her son, possessed an undeniable beauty and figure, not to mention excellent cultivation potential.
Qin Xinran's gaze shifted to Chu Yanran's ample curves, a gleam flashing in her eyes. Impressive. She should be more than capable of giving us a healthy son.
Hearing her mother-in-law's remark, Chu Yanran's cheeks flushed bright red. She bit her lip gently, casting her gaze downward. "Mother, I understand..."
At that moment.
From the sidelines, a pair of lecherous eyes among the Su family's branch members was sizing up Chu Yanran's appearance and figure. This man, unable to contain himself, let out a low chuckle.
His gaze didn't go unnoticed by Su Chen.
Su Chen's eyes narrowed, and an intense killing intent began to brew within him.
Now that he had awakened his bloodline, it was time to settle some old scores with those who had wronged him.
This man was Su Yong, Su Chen's cousin from a side branch of the family.
Su Yong's father, Su Jian, was Su Chen's uncle. Originally, the Su family patriarch had planned to pass the family leadership to Su Jian. However, Su Jian had perished unexpectedly on a foreign battlefield, and most of his faction had fallen with him in that tragic battle.
Naturally, Qin's family influence was involved in the outcome.
With Su Jian gone, the Su family patriarch had no choice but to pass the leadership to his only remaining son—Su Hao.
Every powerful family endures its own blood-soaked power struggles, and the Su family was no exception.
As the son of a failed contender, Su Yong had long harbored a grudge against Su Hao's family.
In his youth, Su Yong had often bullied Su Chen whenever they were alone, making Su Chen suffer greatly. When he learned Su Chen couldn't cultivate, he was overjoyed, thinking, Karma really is impartial.
In his mind, Su Chen's family was utterly finished, and Su Yong himself was already envisioning a future where he took control.
Yet today, seeing a so-called "waste" like Su Chen take a stunning woman as his concubine filled Su Yong with envy.
This "waste" could marry a beauty, while he, a martial prodigy of the Su family, was denied the same fortune.
It seems blood really is thicker than water.
Thinking this, Su Yong felt a surge of resentment that he couldn't vent. Although he dared not act up in front of Su Hao and Qin Xinran, he kept plotting how to ruin this pair of "disgraces."
"Ke-ke-ke..."
Suddenly, a wicked thought crossed his mind. 'If they want a grandchild so badly, their son looks entirely incapable… Perhaps this older brother could lend a hand.'
With that thought, he shot a suggestive smile in Chu Yanran's direction.
"Tch… With that face and body, she should be grateful I'm willing."
Su Chen, however, caught the perverse look on Su Yong's face instantly.
In the original story, Su Yong had conspired with Ye Fan to betray the family, going so far as to sabotage the Su family's protective array during a critical moment. This betrayal allowed Ye Fan to infiltrate the Su family's residence, leading to the massacre of Su Chen's entire family and supporters.
With Ye Fan's support, Su Yong eventually claimed the Su family's leadership.
But the Su Chen who now stood in this world had no intention of allowing the story to play out as it did in the original.
He would become the ruler of this era, seizing every opportunity that once belonged to the protagonist and claiming every heroine for himself!
A cruel smile spread across Su Chen's lips as he looked at Su Yong, his gaze sharp as if staring at a dead man.
Has he noticed me?
Su Yong felt a chill run down his spine as he noticed Su Chen's piercing gaze. A sense of foreboding rose within him.
But he quickly steadied himself.
Su Chen may have been the Su family's young master, but without the ability to cultivate, he was nothing but a "waste." No matter how he pretended otherwise, he could never pose a threat to Su Yong.
With this thought, Su Yong's courage returned, and he glared back at Su Chen defiantly, muttering to himself, A waste will always be a waste. No matter how much you pretend, you're destined to be a waste for life, and I—
Before he could finish, Su Chen strode forward in large steps.
Slap!
A sharp crack echoed through the hall.
Su Yong's cheek burned, and five bright red fingerprints marred his face.
"Su Chen, how dare you hit me!"
Clutching his stinging cheek, Su Yong's eyes bulged as he stared at Su Chen, looking as though he'd just seen a ghost.
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