The dishes on the table were exceedingly simple, far from anything meant to entertain guests. They resembled a casual meal among sisters instead, making Yan Zhen feel less like a visitor and more like someone shamelessly crashing the party for a free bite.
Where was Mentor Yu Xuan, anyway? Hadn’t they said she had emerged from seclusion? Why not call her out to join them for the meal?
A seed of doubt took root in Yan Zhen’s heart. He ate the snack-like fare with reserved bites, not uttering a single word.
The five women chatted lightly from time to time, casting occasional glances at Yan Zhen. The atmosphere felt remarkably harmonious, which only made him feel more like a complete blockhead.
The meal wrapped up swiftly. As his mother-in-law and the others elegantly dabbed at their mouths and sipped their tea, Yan Zhen finally mustered the courage to speak.
“Um, Mother-in-Law…”
His words drew the attention of all five women. Aside from the stern-faced Family Head Mother-in-Law, their gazes carried peculiar undertones.
Yan Zhen flushed with embarrassment, his face turning a faint pink, but he pressed on.
“Has Mentor Yu Xuan come out of seclusion? I’d like to see her.”
The Family Head Mother-in-Law set her teacup down and dabbed at the moisture on her lips with a napkin. In a flat tone, she replied, “Xuan’er has indeed emerged from seclusion. But if you wish to see her, you’ll need to answer a few questions first.”
—I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
Yan Zhen’s expression remained steady as he replied respectfully, “Please ask away, Mother-in-Law.”
“It’s a bit premature to call me Mother-in-Law.” The Family Head Yu Lu spoke without a flicker of emotion. “You are undoubtedly a young man brimming with potential, fitting our Yu Family’s standards for a son-in-law perfectly. And since Xuan’er takes a liking to you, your entry into the family as a live-in son-in-law would bring joy to all involved—provided, of course, that you truly intend to do so!”
—Uh… have I been found out?
A light sheen of sweat beaded on Yan Zhen’s brow. He blinked, then thickened his skin and asked, “What do you mean by that, Mother-in-Law?”
“The Yu Family has always selected the finest candidates for sons-in-law, but you… you’re a touch too exceptional.” The Family Head Mother-in-Law continued, “At merely sixteen years old, you’ve made notable progress in Body Realm, Mystic Power, and Divine Soul cultivation—testament to your extraordinary talent. Moreover, while still in the Mystic Master Realm, you’ve mastered a Body Movement Mystic Technique that grants flight, showcasing remarkable insight. In battle, you can even surpass your realm to defeat a Four-Star Mystic General, speaking to your wealth of combat experience. And the most alarming part? You’ve refined three Extreme Flames. As a mere Mystic Master, you possess the means to intimidate even a Mystic Ancestor expert… A talent like yours would shine brightly even in the Holy Land. I’m not sure the Yu Family could hold onto you.”
Under the Family Head Mother-in-Law’s effusive praise, Yan Zhen felt a twinge of sheepishness. He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. “You’re too generous, Mother-in-Law. I’m not that exceptional—just ordinarily outstanding, hehe~”
His smug little grin drew an eye-roll and a scoff from Dean Yu Qing.
Shui Bailan glanced at her adorably endearing nephew-in-law, then at her best friend—who looked utterly unimpressed—and a daring thought bubbled up in her mind: Could Yu Qing actually harbor a soft spot for boys like Yan Zhen, the sort with a youthful, almost shota-like face blended with hints of maturity?
Elder Yu Yan maintained her perpetual smile, content to stay silent.
Cousin Yu Die eyed Yan Zhen up and down with open curiosity. The revelation of his three Extreme Flames left her inwardly stunned.
She knew little about Extreme Flames herself, but for a Mystic Master to threaten a Mystic Ancestor expert? That terrifying?
The Family Head Yu Lu remained utterly unmoved by Yan Zhen’s attempt at cuteness.
“Men hold little status in our Yu Family. No matter your excellence, upon entering, you become a live-in son-in-law—expected to toil diligently for the family, enduring hardship without complaint. Do you truly believe you could stomach that?”
Yan Zhen fell silent.
The Yu Family was a matrilineal clan, where live-in sons-in-law occupied the lowest rungs. Take that deceased father-in-law, for instance—his standing had been even beneath Shui Bailan, his wife’s attached younger sister.
The Family Head Mother-in-law shared no affection with him, and he rarely saw Mentor Yu Xuan, spending most of his days laboring outside. Only by racking up merits could he secure resources from the family—little better than a vassal. In the end, he had perished in the Demon Extermination Operation.
It wasn’t uncommon for live-in sons-in-law to flee once their wings grew strong enough, defecting to other powers for greater gains.
The Yu Family took such departures in stride, never bothering to hunt down deserters. After all, live-in sons-in-law never accessed core secrets or wielded any authority; they were essentially breeding tools, discarded once they produced heirs.
Yan Zhen couldn’t voice objections, though. The Yu Family had its reasons.
First, their bloodline only produced daughters. Second, their core technique, the Timely Rain Scripture, could only be cultivated by women. And third—a deeply guarded secret—was that women practicing the Timely Rain Scripture were best off remaining virgins. Once deflowered, a Vital Gate would emerge, leaving them vulnerable during dual cultivation, utterly at their partner’s mercy.
Procreation inevitably involved intimacy, so to avoid such vulnerabilities, the family had instituted these warped rules.
Live-in sons-in-law needed only superior genes: sow the seed, then ship them off to work. The loyal ones were kept; the disloyal were shown the door.
Under these customs had arisen even more twisted practices—like Technique-Refined Embryos.
Using the Technique Refining Art, they extracted a man’s bloodline essence and implanted it into a woman without breaking her chastity, nurturing the fetus within. Delivery came via cesarean to preserve everything intact—no Vital Gate exposed, no damage to cultivation.
It was through this method that the aloof Family Head Mother-in-Law had borne Mentor Yu Xuan.
In the story’s script, Yu Xuan had confided this to Yan Zhen herself. Unwilling to submit to the family’s arrangements and wed some stranger, she had asked him to compete in the son-in-law selection tournament and claim victory, buying her time to grow strong enough to break free.
Moved by her plea, he had agreed.
—Cough, getting off track.
Yan Zhen snapped back to the present and looked up at the Family Head Mother-in-Law, dead serious. “To be honest, no normal man could endure it—unless he had ulterior motives.”
The Family Head Yu Lu fixed him with a piercing stare. “So, you do intend to take Xuan’er away with you, don’t you?”
Dean Yu Qing’s eyes widened in sudden realization. She shot to her feet like a bristling cat. “He wouldn’t dare!”
Shui Bailan, seated beside her, quickly tugged her back down. “Yu Qing, calm down. Let’s hear what Yan Zhen has to say first.”
“Cough, I never said that,” Yan Zhen replied, feeling exposed. “All I mean is that I’ll do everything in my power to make Mentor Yu Xuan happy. Nothing else matters.”
Elder Yu Yan nodded slightly, her smile warm. “Now that’s the kind of talk I like to hear.”
The Family Head Yu Lu narrowed her eyes. “So, you’re willing to humble yourself for Xuan’er?”
“Of course.” Yan Zhen puffed out his chest. “I’d give everything for Mentor Yu Xuan.”
—For now, resistance isn’t an option. Words are cheap until my fists pack enough punch, and then words won’t be necessary.
Yet the Family Head Mother-in-Law continued to bore into him, suspicion thick in her gaze. “Even so, I can’t feel at ease. If you decide to leave, Xuan’er will surely follow.”
Previous live-in sons-in-law had been arranged matches, devoid of true emotion—they could leave without taking any Yu Family women. But Yan Zhen and Mentor Yu Xuan were different. Their mutual affection might lead them to elope.
Yan Zhen pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands in a fist. “Then please, Mother-in-Law, give me a reason to stay.”
