A Twenty-Year Promise with a Bastard!

Mu Chengkun walked straight up to Mu Qingyan.

He didn't even bother to say another word to his daughter, and went straight to the point. "Qingyan, I've found you a good marriage!"

Upon hearing her father's words, Mu Qingyan's expression changed slightly, but she still smiled and said, "Father, are you joking with me? These aristocratic families in Tan City aren't blind, are they? They wouldn't choose a daughter?"

Mu Qingyan smiled. In fact, given Mu Qingyan's age, she was already of marriageable age. Back when Mu Qingyan was a peerless genius, the Mu Clan would definitely not allow such a daughter to get married. Even if she were to get married, they would find a son-in-law to live with Mu Qingyan!

But later, Mu Qingyan went blind and became a cripple. As everyone knows, there are only two types of noble ladies from aristocratic families. The first type is that you are a true genius, in which case the Lineage will find a husband for you!

The second type, whose abilities are mediocre, are basically sent to form alliances with other powerful families through marriage.

Mu Qingyan to the first category back then, but now she doesn't even qualify as the second.

After all, what powerful family would choose a blind woman as a wife for their son?

As the eldest daughter of the Mu Clan, Mu Qingyan couldn't possibly become someone's concubine. Besides, even if she were to become a concubine, who would choose a blind woman?

So for so many years, the Mu Clan has tried to arrange marriages between Mu Qingyan and other weapon-refining families, but as soon as they hear the Mu Qingyan, the other party turns around and leaves!

"Not from our Tan City aristocratic family... it's... it's from outside!"

"Outside? Father, you need to make it clear to them that I am blind. If you deceive them, they might not agree!" Mu Qingyan still had a smile on her face.

"Don't worry, I've already explained things to Master Yan Hua. Master Yan Hua is a renowned weapon-refining master across the Three Continents. If you marry Master Yan Hua, our Mu Clan will surely regain its former glory!"

Upon hearing Mu Chengkun's words, Mu Qingyan's expression changed drastically from her previous smile!

"Father, is that Master Yan Hua of Pine Mountain?"

"Good..."

"Father, are you joking with your daughter? Even Grandpa would address Master Yan Hua as a senior! How could I marry him?"

"Nonsense! Why not? Master Yan Hua came to Tan City this time. Do you know how much your father paid to get him to agree to marry you? Age doesn't matter... Do you know that our Mu Clan is not what it used to the Mu Clan? In Tan City today, our Mu Clan is no longer what it once was. Now that you can marry Master Yan Hua, do you know that this is an opportunity for our Mu Clan!"

As Mu Chengkun finished speaking, Mu Qingyan gave a bitter smile.

During the years she was blind, although her father rarely visited her, Mu Qingyan always told herself that her father was the head of the family and had many things to do, so he was too busy to visit her.

But today, Mu Qingyan knows that a dream is just a dream, and she has to wake up...

In her father's eyes, or rather the entire Mu Clan's eyes, she was reduced to a tool for marriage, even if the person she was to marry was older than her grandfather.

None of them cared about their own lives; they only cared about the interests of their Lineage.

And I am nothing more than a pitiful wretch being sacrificed.

"Father... does the life and death of your daughter not matter at all for the sake of the Lineage's interests?" Mu Qingyan asked calmly.

"Qingyan! You must understand that you were born a Mu Clan. For the sake of the Lineage's interests, you must make sacrifices. Alright, the Lineage elders have already discussed this matter, and the date is set for the fifth day of next month. You should get some rest!"

After Mu Chengkun finished speaking, he didn't look at Mu Qingyan again and turned away.

"Miss... Waaah..." Watching the departing master of the family, the maid Huan'er buried her face in Mu Qingyan's lap and began to cry.

Gently patting the weeping Huan'er, Mu Qingyan's face didn't show much despair; instead, a slight smile appeared on Mu Qingyan face.

"Alright, Huan'er... we're not in dire straits yet, why are you crying..."

"Miss... I've met that Master Yan Hua before. He... he looks older than my great-grandfather... Isn't this... isn't this a desperate situation?"

Huan'er was at a loss... Huan'er knew that her young lady was a cheerful person. Even though she was blind, even though the whole Lineage mocked her for being a cripple, even though Huan'er knew that in the eyes of the head of the family, her young lady was not important at all, she always chose to be happy. No matter what she encountered, she was never defeated.

But this time, Huan'er knew that if her mistress really married Master Yan Hua, then it would truly be the end for her...

"Alright... that Master Yan Hua said he wants to marry me, does that mean I have to? I don't want to marry him, what can he do to me?"

"Miss... that's Master Yan Hua of Pine Mountain, a figure ranked among the top weapon refiners today. Even the family head and elders have to bow and scrape before Master Yan Hua. There's no way we can resist him..."

"One of those on the rankings? He can just marry someone even better!" Mu Qingyan said with a smile.

"Find someone better than him? This... how do you find someone like that?" Huan'er was completely bewildered. She began to doubt whether her young mistress was talking nonsense.

Just as Huan'er was bewildered, she saw Mu Qingyan gently stand up, walk to her bedside, and then take out a wooden box from under her pillow.

Upon seeing the wooden box, Huan'er paused for a moment. Huan'er knew that over the years, because her mistress had lost her sight, people had taken all her belongings by force. In the face of their robbery, her mistress would simply smile and let them take everything, but this wooden box was the one she would not allow anyone to touch!

Even Huan'er didn't know what was inside the wooden box!

While Huan'er was in a daze, Mu Qingyan slowly opened the wooden box. When the box was opened, there were no precious treasures inside, only a small hammer that looked ugly!

Huan'er was stunned when she saw this little hammer...

As a maid from a family of weapon refiners, Huan'er knew a thing or two, but this little hammer... seemed to have no Spiritual Qi fluctuations whatsoever, and couldn't even be considered a spiritual treasure...

This is a complete failure... and a total failure at that. So why has Miss kept this little hammer so treasured for so many years, forbidding anyone from touching it?

Just as Huan'er was bewildered, Mu Qingyan picked up the small hammer from the wooden box and handed it to Huan'er.

"Huan'er, take this little hammer to the Vast Heaven Holy Land, find that bastard named Ouyang Ming, and tell him that I can't wait for him for twenty years. If he doesn't come soon, I'll marry that Master Yan Hua!"

As soon as Mu Qingyan finished speaking, Huan'er was so startled that she almost dropped the small hammer in her hand.

At this moment, Huan'er finally saw the two characters engraved on the small hammer— Ouyang!

Huan'er was truly stunned when she saw the two characters "Ouyang" on the small hammer... Ouyang... This little hammer was made by Ouyang Ming?

And what did the young lady say? That she can't wait for Ouyang Ming for twenty years?

In that instant, Huan'er finally understood why her young mistress could be so calm!

Forget Master Yan Hua! All this talk of masters and grandmasters, in the world of weapon crafting, the name Ouyang Ming is invincible!

Ouyang Ming, the head of the Artifact Refining Palace of the Vast Heaven Holy Land, is a legendary figure!

When he was at his lowest point, he was ridiculed by the whole world. But it was this very Ouyang Ming who was chosen by Chu Xinghe and entered the Vast Heaven Holy Land. After that, he rose rapidly through the ranks.

Ouyang Ming's courtesy name Pixiu!

It is said that the name Pixiu was bestowed upon him by Chu Xinghe. Chu Xinghe had countless powerful subordinates, but among all of them, only Ouyang Ming was able to receive the name bestowed by Chu Xinghe!

In the world of weapon crafting, Ouyang Pixiu's name is absolutely legendary.

Huan'er was completely terrified...

Miss and Ouyang Ming... were they secretly engaged?

And there was a twenty-year agreement?

If this is true, then without a doubt, Master Yan Hua is nothing but a kneeling figure in front of Ouyang Ming!

Huan'er often heard her mistress say that someone told her that no matter what setbacks one faces in life, one must be happy. Huan'er had asked her mistress countless times who had said such outrageous things.

Can one be happy even if they fall on hard times and become a beggar?

But today Huan'er found out... that it was Ouyang Ming who said those words!

No wonder the young lady seemed so nonchalant...

In front of Ouyang Ming, a super god, let alone Master Yan Hua, even the Clan Head Hua could not dream of marrying the young lady!

After all, Ouyang Ming wasn't just representing himself; he also had Chu Xinghe behind him!

Go ask the Clan Head Hua, does he dare to steal Ouyang Ming's wife?

What? The Hua Clan is no longer worth your time? Stealing Ouyang Ming's people is tantamount to directly offending Chu Xinghe!

Offending Chu Xinghe... are you even fit to live?

Without the slightest hesitation, Huan'er grabbed the hammer and set off immediately... heading towards the Vast Heaven Holy Land!

Hearing Huan'er's departing footsteps, Mu Qingyan's face revealed a slight smile.

Huan'er had never told anyone about Ouyang Ming.

In the years after Mu Qingyan lost her sight, Mu Qingyan was initially in despair. After all, going from a peerless genius to a cripple, a cripple ridiculed by everyone, was something Mu Qingyan simply couldn't accept.

But just when Mu Qingyan was at her most desperate, she encountered that bastard...

One thief stealing is bad enough... but he even took his sister and almost moved the entire kitchen!

Besides, thieves usually stealthily, right? Who's ever seen someone get caught stealing and then immediately declare themselves the former head of the powerful Ouyang Lineage?

Ouyang Ming has successfully redefined Mu Qingyan's understanding of what constitutes a "lower limit"!

What could possibly drive someone to such a wretched state, yet still dare to introduce themselves?

That was the first time in Mu Qingyan's life that she had felt curious about someone. Although she had never seen Ouyang Ming's face, she still wanted to find out more about him.

In the days that followed, Ouyang Ming told Mu Qingyan that life is only temporary when one is down on one's luck, but happiness lasts a lifetime... So no matter what happens, one must always stay happy...

What left Mu Qingyan speechless was that after hearing her Mu Qingyan, this shameless guy actually said on the spot, "You're that blind genius... You must have learned a lot of weapon-refining techniques, right? Come on... You don't need them anymore, so why don't you just teach them to me..."

Mu Qingyan was stunned with anger; she had never seen such a shameless person before... Naturally, Mu Qingyan refused Ouyang Ming on the spot, stating that the Mu Clan's weapon-forging techniques could not be passed on to outsiders.

"That way, once I've achieved success and fame, I'll marry you, and then we'll be family, no longer outsiders, right...?"

Ouyang Ming's actions once again shattered Mu Qingyan's understanding of what constitutes a "lower limit"...

Although Ouyang Ming was shameless, he brought Mu Qingyan a joy she had never experienced before during that time. In the end, Mu Qingyan secretly taught Ouyang Ming the art of weapon forging, and that little hammer was the first failed attempt Ouyang Ming made under Mu Qingyan's guidance.

At that time, Mu Qingyan wanted Ouyang Ming to become her apprentice, but Ouyang Ming refused. When Ouyang Ming finally left, he gave Mu Qingyan a small hammer engraved with the characters "Ouyang" that he had made while learning weapon crafting from Mu Qingyan!

"Little Qingyan, it's unlikely I'll become your apprentice. However, you can wait for me for twenty years. In twenty years, I, Ouyang Ming, will surely be renowned throughout the world. Keep this little hammer safe; consider it an advance on my betrothal gift. Twenty years later, I, Ouyang Ming, will return with the most precious betrothal gifts in the world to exchange for this little hammer, and I will also marry you into my Ouyang Aristocratic Lineage, and make you the matriarch!"

"Qingyan, little girl! Remember, for the next twenty years, no matter what happens, live each day happily!"

That year, Mu Qingyan was sixteen years old. Although she had never seen Ouyang Ming's face, she still accepted the little hammer and silently kept her twenty-year promise to a scoundrel...