Joining Cloud Heaven Palace as a live-in son-in-law?
This was supposed to be a trash annulment storyline, not some dragon king live-in son-in-law tale. There was nothing like this in the script!
While inwardly complaining to himself, Yan Zhen asked, “Grandfather, did you agree to it?”
Yan Lie gave a wry smile. “When the National Advisor makes the request, how could any of us refuse? Even old man Huangfu had to accept it.”
Normally, even if Yan Zhen were to become a live-in son-in-law, it would have been to the Huangfu family. But the National Advisor had explicitly stated that he should join Cloud Heaven Palace as one, which had little to do with the Huangfu family anymore.
This went against Huangfu Xiong’s original intentions.
However, Cloud Heaven Palace intended to groom Huangfu Wenqing as a successor, which was a tremendous boon for the Huangfu family. That was why he had made the compromise.
“Zhen’er, Grandfather knows it’s hard for you to accept becoming a live-in son-in-law right away. But whether for your sake or the family’s, joining Cloud Heaven Palace brings no harm. Besides, you’ll still end up together with the Wenqing girl—it won’t change that part.”
Yan Zhen didn’t particularly care about the live-in son-in-law bit. After all, he had come from the modern world, and his views weren’t all that conservative.
In his eyes, being able to unite with the person he liked was one of the greatest joys in life. Whether he married her or joined her household as a live-in son-in-law could depend on the circumstances.
The issue was that in the script, the National Advisor—also known as the Great Palace Lord of Cloud Heaven Palace—had never actively interfered in Huangfu Wenqing and Yan Zhen’s engagement. She had even tried to dissuade Huangfu Wenqing from calling off the wedding. So why was she doing this now…
Sure enough, the crappy script from the system wasn’t reliable?
First Yan Meng’er, and now Huangfu Wenqing.
【Please do not question the script, Host. The script is absolutely authentic and reliable.】
As if sensing Yan Zhen’s thoughts, the system immediately popped up to defend itself.
Yan Zhen snorted inwardly.
“I don’t believe you unless you show me the original novel.”
【The script is identical to the original novel.】
“Then explain why Yan Meng’er suddenly changed her mind.”
【Ah, well…】
“And explain why Huangfu Wenqing’s persona collapsed and she took the initiative to kiss me?”
【I-It was just a minor plot fluctuation because the system summoned the Host. The overall direction hasn’t changed.】
“You say that, but it always plays out differently from the script, and it’s frustrating. I’m just a novice actor.”
【The Host’s acting has already reached masterful perfection. You’ve brought the protagonist to life. Don’t be so modest.】
“Oh, come on, no, no. I was just improvising a bit. It’s hardly top-tier acting~”
【No, Host. Though you’re new to the scene, you already possess the skill of a seasoned veteran. You’re a little film emperor.】
“Haha, you’re such a jokester, System~”
The topic had successfully been derailed.
“—Zhen’er?”
Yan Lie’s call snapped Yan Zhen’s attention back to reality. The system’s flattery had gone to his head a bit, and he had nearly forgotten he was still in his grandfather’s study discussing the matter.
“Grandfather, don’t worry. I do have some reservations, but I understand the pros and cons. If it’s joining Cloud Heaven Palace, then so be it. After all, it’s one of the lofty National Guardian Divine Sects—even the Royal Family has to show it deference. To catch their eye is my good fortune.”
“I’m glad you see it that way.” Yan Lie smiled with relief. “Those who achieve great things don’t fuss over trifles. Whether live-in son-in-law or otherwise, as long as you grow strong yourself, you can stand tall and live with dignity.”
Yan Zhen bowed his head slightly and said respectfully, “Your grandson will keep Grandfather’s teachings in mind.”
After leaving Yan Lie’s study, Yan Zhen headed to the back mountain. With utmost professionalism, he put on a show of impotent rage after the annulment, then returned to his room. Exhausted, he flopped onto the bed and let out a long sigh.
No matter what, the engagement was annulled, the impotent rage was performed, and now it was time for the mysterious crystal stone hanging around his neck to activate.
He didn’t want to be a weakling anymore. He wanted to cultivate, to become a powerhouse under the guidance of his beautiful master, and take control of his own destiny!
According to the script, after Yan Zhen’s impotent rage, he would fall asleep exhausted. Then, in his dream, he would converse with the mysterious woman. Upon waking, he would notice the anomaly with the crystal stone. Her voice would emanate directly from it, guiding him to drip his blood onto the stone.
With the crystal stone’s activation, the mysterious woman would appear before Yan Zhen. Seeing his unique traits and understanding his plight—along with a touch of gratitude—she would take him as her disciple!
In other words, what he needed to do now was take a bath and go to sleep!
Yan Zhen thus ordered the servants to prepare hot water and thoroughly enjoyed the luxury of bathing like a wealthy household’s young master.
After his bath, he changed into sleepwear, dried his hair, climbed back into bed, wrapped himself in his favorite little quilt, suppressed his excitement, and drifted off to sleep.
Some time later, amid the hazy night, a beam of radiant light bloomed gracefully, illuminating Yan Zhen’s handsome face.
It was the crystal pendant around his neck, now glowing with a crystalline clarity like flawless glass, shining as brightly as the most brilliant star in the night sky.
Invisible waves of spatial distortion rippled outward from it, silently drawing the soundly sleeping Yan Zhen into the crystal stone below.
The room was left with only the mysterious crystal stone hovering quietly in midair.
【Ding! Key Plot Activation】
【Current Plot—Chapter Six: The Mysterious Woman Inside the Crystal Stone】
【Role-Playing Requirements: ① Fiercely berate the mysterious woman for secretly draining your mystic power; ② Beg the mysterious woman to take you as her disciple】
【Completion: 0%】
It was the system’s alert that jolted Yan Zhen awake. When he opened his eyes, the translucent pale-blue system interface was practically in his face, startling him into sitting bolt upright. He then realized his surroundings had completely changed—he was no longer in his room.
“Where is this?”
A vast and empty plaza stretched before him, with enormous pillars piercing the heavens at the edges of his vision, reminiscent of the five fingers of Buddha that had once suppressed Sun Wukong—except here there were far more than five.
Through the wide gaps between those sky-shattering pillars, he glimpsed countless blazing celestial bodies, some tiny, others terrifyingly massive. Even from this immense distance, they exuded an overwhelming pressure and scorching heat.
This place felt strangely familiar to Yan Zhen, though he couldn’t quite place it at first. Not until he spotted the beautiful figure seated in meditation upon the altar at the plaza’s center.
A spark of realization hit him. He knew where he was now: the inner space of the mysterious crystal stone, known as—
“Fire Refining Starry Sky”!
And the beautiful woman seated on that altar was undoubtedly his beautiful master!
The problem was, at the start of the script, Yan Zhen couldn’t enter the crystal stone’s space, the Fire Refining Starry Sky. It was the beautiful master who emerged from the stone to meet him.
Only midway through, after their master-disciple bond had deepened, did she permit him entry.
But now he was inside?
Had the plot thrown another unexpected twist?
This was why the system’s crappy script was so unreliable—it always dropped the ball at crucial moments.
Damn it. Since he was already here, he’d have to play along.
He needed to take her as his master, fast.
Just as Yan Zhen hesitated over how to broach the subject, a clear, cool voice like a mountain spring rang out slowly.
“Little one, since you’ve come inside, hurry over here.”
Another derailment, huh? Just when you think the story’s going West, it goes Southeast, instead.