Yan Zhen followed nervously behind the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law as they left the dining hall. They strolled aimlessly along the covered walkway. She said nothing, and he didn’t dare ask. The atmosphere hung unusually quiet between them.
After a long while, the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law finally spoke.
“Dual cultivating with a Mystic Ancestor expert must have been exhausting, right?”
Yan Zhen replied stiffly.
“It’s not too bad. With Aunt helping me replenish my mystic power, I gained quite a bit from it too. A few days of consolidation back home, and I should advance to Seven-Star Mystic Master.”
“Mm.” The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law nodded slightly. She paused for a moment before continuing. “Don’t dwell on what happened earlier. It was just an accident, that’s all. The same goes for last night with Yu Qing and the others.”
“I understand, Mother-in-Law.” Yan Zhen broke into a slight sweat. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You’ve done so much for us, child. As head of the Yu Family—and as your mother-in-law—I can’t very well let that go without some gesture of thanks. Here, take this.”
With that, the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law retrieved a jade slip from her storage ring and beckoned Yan Zhen forward to receive it.
Yan Zhen stepped around from behind her to her side and took the jade slip. Etched upon it was a dragon head with its jaws stretched wide—a sight that felt oddly familiar.
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law explained proactively.
“This is the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Technique, a rare soul technique. Master it, and combined with the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame, it’ll wreak havoc on the minds of anyone below Mystic Ancestor level. In battle, you can catch foes off guard and take them down with a single strike.”
Yan Zhen froze at her words. Wasn’t the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Technique supposed to come from Elder Great-Aunt? How had it ended up in the hands of the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law?
“What’s the matter? Don’t like it? We can always swap it out.”
“No, I love it.” Yan Zhen responded at once. This was the key skill for taking down Wen Canglan—how could he turn it down? “Anything you give me, Mother-in-Law, I’d love.”
A faint, gentle curve softened the tight line of the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law’s mouth.
“Save the sweet talk for Xuan’er. You don’t need to win me over.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek bashfully and tucked away the jade slip containing the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Technique.
“I’d prepared some Mystic pills and Mystic artifacts for you at first,” the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law said as they walked, “but as the disciple of the Technique Saint Lord, you likely have no shortage of those. No need for me to bother. Here—this is your identity token.” She drew a plaque from her storage ring. “It grants you free access to Rain Heaven Island and the highest courtesies at every Yu Family enterprise. Keep it safe.”
“Thank you, Mother-in-Law.”
Yan Zhen accepted the identity token with the demeanor of an obedient lackey.
“And this—a VIP Black Card from the Merchant Alliance, loaded with one hundred million crystal coins. Valid at any of their chambers or shops.” She handed the black card to Yan Zhen. “You’re the Technique Saint Lord’s disciple, and Xuan’er says you know pill refining. Use it for materials to practice.”
Yan Zhen blinked. He still had his beautiful master’s supreme black card, also untouched with one hundred million crystal coins inside. After all, System-chan had him pretty well taken care of.
“Mother-in-Law, I can’t accept unearned rewards. Maybe pass on the black card?”
“Take it. I told you I’d raise you like a second heir—I won’t stint on you.”
“Oh.”
“I’m not giving you an Inner Academy Senior Courtyard Card, though. Earn that one yourself, through strength.”
“Oh.”
They chatted as they wandered, eventually reaching the rear garden without realizing it. Crossing the lotus pond, they arrived at the stone pavilion in its center.
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law came to a halt. She turned to face Yan Zhen and spoke in a low, somber tone.
“Yu Qing says you have another fiancée in the Inner Academy—the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Heaven Palace under Garo Kingdom’s National Guardian Divine Sect. Is that right?”
Yan Zhen nearly choked. He blinked rapidly a couple of times before replying.
“Wenqing is from a betrothal my grandfather arranged right after I was born.”
“You don’t like the Huangfu girl? You want to call off the engagement?”
“Uh, we’re just… not compatible.”
It was mostly because the script demanded a breakup, and it was a pivotal plot point. Yan Zhen had no say in it.
Truth be told, he actually liked Huangfu Wenqing a lot. But they simply weren’t “compatible.” Once he reached Cloud Heaven Palace, he’d get intimate with Yun Xiu right in front of her, forcing Wenqing to break it off herself.
Sigh. The thought of hurting such a fine girl soon left Yan Zhen uneasy.
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law watched Yan Zhen in silence for a long moment before speaking again.
“And what of those two cousins from your clan? Or the two senior sisters you cohabited with back at Mystic Academy?”
He’d braced himself for this, but her blunt question still sent his heart lurching. Steel himself though he did, Yan Zhen replied.
“Whatever you want me to do, Mother-in-Law, I’ll do it.”
“Oh? You’d really give them up?”
“If you say let go, Mother-in-Law, then I let go.”
“Cut ties with all of them. Sooner rather than later.”
“Understood. As long as it makes you happy, Mother-in-Law—even if I end up the scumbag who toys with hearts and draws every pointing finger—it’s worth it.”
“…”
“Heh heh~”
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law had meant to press Yan Zhen harder, but this sly little operator turned shamelessly slippery, shoving all the blame squarely onto her shoulders.
Gazing at her philandering son-in-law’s utterly harmless smile, she found anger hard to summon.
“Fine then. Since they’re all Xuan’er’s former students, I’ll bend the rules this once. Bring them into the Yu Family—as your concubines.”
She’d agreed? Yan Zhen blinked in surprise. He’d only been flattering her, tossing out honeyed words to deflect—how had she caved?
Puzzled, he straightened up at once and bowed with utmost respect.
“My deepest thanks for your leniency, Mother-in-Law.”
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law let out a faint sigh.
“Son-in-Law Yan Zhen, you’re the first in Yu Family history to earn such favor from us. Don’t let down my expectations. And don’t betray Xuan’er’s unwavering devotion to you.”
Her words stirred a sudden guilt in Yan Zhen.
This real-life Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law was far more reasonable than the script’s domineering ice-queen crone. Deceiving her with lies, worming into her trust just to abscond with her daughter—was that going too far?
Yet he truly couldn’t join the family as a live-in son-in-law.
—Maybe he should do something to make it up to her?
Abruptly, his nose twitched. That distinctive sweet fragrance wafted toward him. Peering closer, he saw the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law’s condition acting up again.
She noticed her son-in-law’s strange look and asked, puzzled.
“What’s wrong?”
Yan Zhen blinked and whispered.
“Are you still feeling unwell, Mother-in-Law?”
“What unwellness…” The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law faltered. Heat rushed to her cheeks. Composing herself, she insisted, “I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek, his face a mask of awkwardness.
“But Mother-in-Law… have a look down.”
She glanced downward as bidden. In an instant, the calm indifference on her face gave way—visibly—to panic.
