Jiang Yao

Night in Fang City.

"Our Yao Yao is truly making us proud!" Jiang Yunshu couldn't help but rub her younger daughter's soft black hair, as if holding a rare treasure.

Tang Zhou, driving, also felt honored. "Yes, Yao Yao mastered 'Cold Pond Sinking Jade' in just two years. What did Master Xie say earlier? He said our Yao Yao has the makings of a Master! Hahaha!"

"Mom, Dad~" The little girl, embarrassed by the praise, had a soft and sweet voice. "Grandpa Xie was just being polite. You really believe him?"

"This isn't politeness!" Jiang Yunshu pretended to put on a stern face, but the pride and joy in her eyes were almost overflowing.

"Your brother, he started practicing at sixteen and still hasn't even touched the door. You did it in two years, faster than even your Grandmother did at your age!"

Tang Zhou immediately chimed in, his coordination with his wife flawless. "Your mother is right, Yao Yao. Humility is good, but don't overdo it! We martial artists need to have our spirit, you know?"

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

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

Jiang Yunshu felt incredibly pleased. Her free hand gently patted her daughter's back and she turned to her husband. "Honey, who do you think among Qingyun's new students this year can compare to our Yao Yao? With the Minor Perfection Realm and Cold Pond Sinking Jade, do you think she can get a ranking in this year's Martial Arts University freshman competition?"

Tang Zhou answered with certainty. "I won't say first place, but I think top three is definitely possible! It's a shame that the Yun family's little monster is also starting this year..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Yao became displeased.

"Dad! Don't talk about Brother Zheng like that! He's not a little monster! He's a really good person!"

Tang Zhou's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Recalling Yun Zheng's "glorious deeds," he thought, only his own foolish daughter would think he's good.

"Alright, alright, Dad misspoke. It's Dad's fault." He admitted fault verbally, but his eyes quickly met Jiang Yunshu's through the rearview mirror, both of them sharing knowing smiles.

The Yun family in the Imperial Capital, that was a behemoth that firmly held one of the top three positions in China, boasting two Martial Immortals in their lineage and suppressing the nation's fortune for two hundred years!

Although Yun Zheng was from a distant branch, he had a close relationship with the Yun family's eldest daughter, Yun Xi.

Coupled with his own monstrous talent...

If their youngest daughter could develop something with Yun Zheng, they, as parents, would naturally be happy to see it happen.

The Jiang family was a dominant force in Fang City, but on a national level, they were merely an ordinary Master family.

With the old matriarch injured, the couple had long been planning for the family's future.

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

Thinking of her eldest daughter, Jiang Yunshu suddenly seemed to remember and asked, "Has Jiang Han picked up the person?"

"I'm not sure..." Tang Zhou shook his head. "That kid didn't tell me."

Jiang Yunshu habitually frowned. "He's becoming more and more unruly!"

Tang Zhou tried to smooth things over. "It's fine, the two kids are already twenty. Besides, there are still servants at home; they won't starve or freeze."

Jiang Yao, nestled in her mother's arms, heard this, and a fleeting shadow crossed her eyes, too quick to catch.

Then, she looked up, her face showing a hint of worry and regret, and whispered, "Dad, Mom... I..."

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

"I, I'm sorry..." Jiang Yao was on the verge of tears, looking incredibly pitiable. "I, I forgot that Sister was coming back today... Y-yesterday, thinking about meeting Grandpa Xie today, I, I let Butler Grandma give everyone at home the day off... I'm sorry..."

"Everyone got the day off?" Tang Zhou was surprised.

"Mhm..." Jiang Yao's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

Seeing her younger daughter so scared, Jiang Yunshu felt immense heartache. "Yao Yao, it's okay, it's no big deal! They have hands and feet, they won't starve to death, will they? You're about to become a formal martial artist, why are you still so timid?"

Jiang Yao raised her large, tear-filled eyes. "Mom, will Sister be angry?"

Jiang Yunshu's reaction, however, was a little subtle. She didn't, as usual, immediately scold "Jiang Xue" to comfort Jiang Yao.

After all, she was in the know and understood the background of this "Jiang Xue." However, she had an agreement with Liang Qiushi not to tell her younger daughter the truth.

Her gaze flickered evasively. "I know you're afraid of her, but... she won't be home for many days... Yao Yao... just... try to avoid her as much as possible."

Jiang Yao lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling, looking extremely wronged.

But from an angle Jiang Yunshu couldn't see, the hatred in her eyes was almost tangible.

Why! Why on earth!

If she thought this book was good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

How could that waste, Jiang Xue, marry Brother Jinzhi?

Just because she was born two years earlier?

She didn't believe a single word of those rumors about her being a scapegoat!

How could someone like Brother Jinzhi let his woman die for him?

As for the Zhang family trying to harm Brother Jinzhi? That was even more laughable!

It was just a ghost story parents told children!

Brother Jinzhi was the darling of the Gu family, a top genius. Who would dare touch him?

No matter how bold the Zhang family was, would they dare provoke Old Master Gu?

Before Gu Xunzhang, the "Mian Mian," was injured, he was fifth on the Martial Immortal rankings!

Who was Zhang Luye, the newly promoted "Overlord Saber" of the Zhang family?

Nineteenth place, just at the bottom!

But no matter how much she threw a tantrum or begged, her parents hadn't budged in the past six months!

She hated it!

She hated Jiang Xue for stealing the engagement that should have been hers!

She hated Jiang Han, that idiot only ever had eyes for Jiang Xue!

She hated Grandmother! She could have helped her directly, but instead, she forced her to train for two years to learn "Cold Pond Sinking Jade"! And she was always so cold, never showing her any affection!

She also hated her parents! Hated them for giving such a good marriage to Jiang Xue! Hated them for being such wastes in martial arts, embarrassing her!

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

Would she need to be Yun Xi's follower every day?

[Jiang Xue...]

Jiang Yao's hand, hidden at her side, clenched tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her flesh, bringing a sharp sting.

[Since you dare to come back, don't blame me for being ruthless!]

[I wonder, if Yun Zheng cripples you, will the Gu family still want you...]

As she thought of her triumph, the corner of her mouth curled into a cold smile. Seizing the moment her parents started talking about other topics, she quickly took out her phone and sent a message.

To "Meeting You Under the Moon at Yaotai": Brother Zheng, Sister is back, I'm so scared...

Fang City, the Beast-Fighting Arena.

"Go home?!" Li Wei's beautiful eyes widened, as if looking at an idiot. That look almost choked Jiang Han.

"You've been hanging out here all day! Aren't you going home?" Jiang Han felt his sister was truly acting strange.

Li Wei put her hands on her hips, legs spread apart. That posture meant her seven days of etiquette lessons were completely wasted.

"Go home my foot! If you want to go home, you go! Wait until they're... killing Sixth-Tier Abyssal Monsters, then you can 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 glanced at Jiang Han sideways, with a rogue swagger. "Mind your own business about social matters."

Jiang Han trembled with anger.

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

He plopped back onto the sofa, stubbornly saying, "I'm not leaving either! I'll see how long you can last! Let me tell you, this place is open twenty-four hours! If you have the guts, don't sleep!"

"Oh really?" Li Wei chuckled. "There's such a good thing?"