Jiang Yao

Night, Fang City.

"Our Yaoyao is truly so capable!" Jiang Yunshu lovingly rubbed her younger daughter's smooth black hair, as though she were holding a priceless treasure.

Tang Zhou, who was driving, felt proud as well. "That's right. Yaoyao mastered 'Cold Pond Sinking Jade' in just two years. What did Master Xie say just now? That our Yaoyao has the bearing of a master! Hahaha!"

"Mom and Dad~" The little girl, embarrassed by the praise, spoke in a soft, syrupy voice. "Grandpa Xie was just being polite. You two actually believed him?"

"How was that just politeness?" Jiang Yunshu pretended to pull a stern face, but the smugness and pride in her eyes nearly spilled over.

"Your brother started training at sixteen and has trained all the way until now, but he still hasn't even touched the threshold! You succeeded in just two years—faster than your grandmother was at your age!"

Tang Zhou immediately chimed in with perfect understanding. "Your mother's right. Yaoyao, humility is good, but taking it too far won't do either! As martial artists, we still need the sharp spirit we ought to have. Understand?"

A blush rose on Jiang Yao's plump, small round face. She hugged her mother's arm and buried her face in Jiang Yunshu's neck.

"Mm, I'll listen to Mom and Dad."

Jiang Yunshu was overjoyed. With her free hand, she gently patted her daughter's back before turning to her husband. "Honey, tell me, among this year's new students at Qingyun, who can compare to our Yaoyao? With the Minor Perfection Realm plus Cold Pond Sinking Jade, do you think she can place in this year's martial university freshman competition?"

Tang Zhou answered confidently, "I'm not saying first place, but I'm certain the top three won't be a problem! It's just a pity that the Yun Family's little monster is enrolling this year too..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Yao became displeased.

"Dad! You're not allowed to say that about Brother Zheng! He isn't some little monster! He's a really good person!"

The corner of Tang Zhou's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Recalling Yun Zheng's "glorious deeds," he thought, Only our silly daughter thinks he's good, I suppose.

"All right, all right. Dad misspoke. Dad was wrong." He admitted fault with his mouth, but his eyes quickly met Jiang Yunshu's in the rearview mirror. The two exchanged a knowing smile.

The Imperial Capital's Yun Family was an enormous force, firmly ranked among the top three in the Hua Nation. With two Martial Immortals from a single lineage, it had suppressed the nation's fortunes for two hundred years!

Although Yun Zheng was from a distant branch, he was close to the Yun Family's eldest daughter, Yun Xi.

And on top of that, he possessed monstrous talent...

If their younger daughter truly managed to develop a relationship with Yun Zheng, as her parents, they would naturally be delighted to see it happen.

The Jiang Family was a tyrant in Fang City, but across the nation, it was merely an ordinary master-level lineage.

Now that Old Madam was injured as well, the couple had long since begun planning for the family's future.

For example, "selling" their elder daughter for a good price...

Only when she thought of her elder daughter did Jiang Yunshu seem to remember something. She asked, "Did Jiang Han pick them up?"

"Not sure..." Tang Zhou shook his head. "That boy didn't tell me."

Jiang Yunshu frowned out of habit. "He's becoming more and more outrageous!"

Tang Zhou smoothed things over. "It's fine. The two children are both twenty already. Besides, don't we still have servants at home? They won't starve or freeze."

Nestled in her mother's arms, Jiang Yao heard this, and a trace of gloom flashed through her eyes—so quickly that no one could catch it.

Then she raised her head, worry and remorse showing on her face, and said softly, "Dad, Mom... I..."

Jiang Yunshu immediately hugged her daughter tighter. "What's wrong, Yaoyao? Tell Mom."

"I-I'm sorry..." Jiang Yao's eyes glistened with tears, and her pitiful appearance was simply too endearing. "I-I forgot that Big Sister was coming home today... Y-yesterday, I was thinking about going to see Grandpa Xie today, so I-I asked Grandma Butler to give everyone in the household the day off... I'm sorry..."

"Everyone got the day off?" Tang Zhou asked in astonishment.

"Mm..." Jiang Yao's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

Seeing her younger daughter so frightened, Jiang Yunshu's heart ached. "Yaoyao, it's fine. What's the big deal? The two of them have hands and feet. Could they really starve themselves to death? You're about to become an official martial artist, so why are you still so timid?"

Jiang Yao raised her large, moist eyes. "Mom, will Big Sister get angry?"

Jiang Yunshu's reaction was somewhat subtle. Unlike usual, she did not immediately berate "Jiang Xue" to comfort Jiang Yao.

After all, she knew the truth. She knew the background of this "Jiang Xue," but she had an agreement with Liang Qiushi and could not tell her younger daughter the truth.

Her gaze shifted evasively. "I know you're afraid of her, but... she won't be staying at home for many days anyway... Yaoyao... just... try to avoid her as much as you can."

Jiang Yao lowered her head, and her eyelashes trembled. She looked utterly aggrieved.

But from the angle Jiang Yunshu could not see, the hatred in her eyes was almost solid enough to take shape.

Why? Why on earth?

If this book is any good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you can find it next time.

That good-for-nothing Jiang Xue—why did she get to marry Brother Jinzhi?

Just because she had been born two years earlier?

She did not believe a single word of those rumors about someone taking another's place in death!

What kind of person was Brother Jinzhi? How could he possibly let his woman die in his place?

And the idea that the Zhang Family wanted to harm Brother Jinzhi? That was even more laughable!

It was nothing but a ghost story parents told to deceive children!

Brother Jinzhi was the Gu Family's precious darling, a top-tier genius. Who would dare touch him?

Even if the Zhang Family had all the nerve in the world, would they dare provoke Old Master Gu?

Before his injury, "Scarlet Crown" Gu Xunzhang had ranked fifth on the Martial Immortal Rankings!

What did the Zhang Family's newly risen "Overlord Saber," Zhang Luye, amount to?

Nineteenth place—the very bottom, that was all!

Yet no matter how she caused a fuss or begged, her parents had refused to yield for the past six months!

She hated them!

She hated Jiang Xue for snatching the engagement that should have belonged to her!

She hated Jiang Han. That fool had only ever had eyes for Jiang Xue!

She hated Grandma! Grandma could clearly have empowered her through an infusion, yet she had insisted that Jiang Yao painstakingly train for two years before learning "Cold Pond Sinking Jade"! And she was always cold and distant, never showing Jiang Yao any affection!

She hated her parents too! She hated them for giving such a wonderful marriage to Jiang Xue! She hated them for being useless in the martial path and making her lose face along with them!

If she could marry Brother Jinzhi, would she still need to curry favor with that little madman Yun Zheng?

Would she still need to follow Yun Xi around every day like an attendant?

Jiang Xue...

Jiang Yao quietly clenched the hand hidden at her side. Her nails sank deep into her flesh, bringing a burst of pain.

Since you dared to come back, don't blame me for being ruthless!

I wonder, if Yun Zheng beat you into a cripple, would the Gu Family still want you...

At the thought, the corners of her mouth curled into a cold smile. While her parents began discussing other topics, she swiftly took out her phone, composed a message, and sent it.

Will Meet Beneath the Moon at Yaotai: Brother Zheng, Big Sister is back. I'm so scared...

Fang City, Beast Arena.

"Go home?!" Li Wei's beautiful eyes went wide. She looked at Jiang Han as though he were an idiot, and that gaze left him utterly speechless.

"You've been soaking here all day! Aren't you going home?" Jiang Han felt that his sister had truly lost her mind.

Li Wei planted both hands on her waist and spread her legs apart. With that posture, her seven days of etiquette lessons had been wasted.

"Go home yourself! I'm staying! When it's time to... kill that Sixth-Tier Abyssal Monster, come back and call me!"

Jiang Han's eyes widened. "Are you crazy?"

Li Wei secretly glanced at the system panel.

Abyss Essence: 352

Awesome! Keep going!

She shot Jiang Han a sideways glance and said in a roguish tone, "Don't stick your nose into society's business."

Jiang Han trembled with rage.

"Fine! Jiang Xue, you win! You're ruthless!"

He dropped back onto the sofa and said petulantly, "I'm not leaving either! I want to see how long you can hold out! I'm telling you, this place is open twenty-four hours a day! If you've got the nerve, don't sleep!"

"Oh my?" Li Wei burst out laughing. "There's such a good deal?"