The Immortal Path Is Not Smooth

The word "but" is the most dreaded word in any situation!

Chen Bao's face was filled with bitterness and regret. "The outsider once said that to cultivate this technique, one must be under twenty years old, and it must be a male body. Women absolutely cannot practice it!"

"Father was in his early twenties then, but he didn't believe such nonsense and practiced it forcefully, which damaged his vital yang... After you, we had no other children!"

Chen Qianyu...

No wonder Father and Mother had been so loving for years, yet she was their only daughter!

This Yang Tian Jue was like a chicken's rib to Chen Bao.

But he still held onto a sliver of hope, that one day he might find a way to break it, so he had always been reluctant to show it to anyone.

He was also afraid that his daughter would learn of it and, like him, foolishly try to cultivate it. He had even kept it a secret from her.

Now that Su Mo was a valuable commodity, after much thought, he decided to reveal it and forge a karmic connection with Su Mo.

Not to mention that Chen Family Village could rely on the power of the Imperial Guard to grow rapidly.

Once Su Mo became an official and came into contact with the high-level Immortal Path cultivators of the imperial court, he might even indirectly obtain the method to break Yang Tian Jue from Su Mo!

Of course, it would be even better if his daughter could marry Su Mo.

Even being a concubine would be much better than being a private salt smuggler in Chen Family Village!

Born in Chen Family Village and liking to wield knives and guns, what else could she do besides being a private salt smuggler?

Become a hero?

Hmph!

Just a naive fantasy of a little brat.

Don't heroes need to eat?

If they're constantly doing good deeds, where does the money come from if they don't work?

Isn't it just stolen!

What's the difference from a private salt smuggler?

Chen Bao opened the brocade box with a complex expression.

Chen Qianyu also leaned over curiously.

Inside the brocade box was a jade scroll threaded with golden silk. It exuded an ancient and mysterious aura, clearly not an ordinary item.

Chen Bao gazed at it reluctantly for a long time before finally closing the brocade box and handing it to his daughter. He then added, "Give this brocade box to Su Mo!"

"Remember to remind him of the cultivation taboos. And you absolutely must not secretly practice it, or you will regret it for the rest of your life!"

Chen Qianyu nodded heavily.

Women feared not being able to have children the most!

Her father was a living example, she wouldn't dare to joke about that!

Afterward, Chen Bao took his daughter and headed straight for the residence where Madam Qian and the others were staying.

Eagle Ravine Dock was actually not far from the county town.

Madam Qian was overjoyed to learn that her husband and nephew were safe and naturally wouldn't stay in Chen Family Village any longer.

Someone else's home, no matter how good the hospitality, was never as comfortable as one's own.

She would just consider it a spring outing in the countryside.

Chen Qianyu volunteered to escort Madam Qian and the others back.

However, Chen Bao also accompanied them to the county town.

This was a good opportunity to get closer to Su Mo, and the old fox would not let it pass.

Moreover, the journey back to the city might not be peaceful.

Outside the county town, there were many mountain bandits and robbers, and perhaps even mountain spirits and monsters that harmed people. He was afraid that Chen Qianyu, this inexperienced young girl, wouldn't be able to handle them.

Chen Bao drove the carriage escorting Madam Qian.

Another carriage was driven by Chen Hu, with Chen Qianyu, Qin Bi'er, and Dian Dian sharing the ride.

Chen Qianyu looked at Qin Bi'er's fair and pretty face and had to admit that although the other woman wasn't as tall as her.

She had a gentle temperament, possessing the delicate charm of a young lady from a humble family, as well as the scholarly air of a lady from a prominent family. She would undoubtedly be very attractive to men.

Her large eyes darted around.

As the art of war stated, know yourself and know your enemy, and you can win a hundred battles.

Chen Qianyu decided to try some indirect questioning to probe Su Mo's background.

This Sister Qin didn't seem to have many schemes. As long as she employed a little strategy, she wouldn't be afraid that she wouldn't say what she wanted her to say!

"Sister Qin, my father mentioned that you were bullied by subordinate clerks before, and an yamen runner saved you?"

Chen Qianyu thought for a moment, then said, "Um... that yamen runner's name seemed to be Su Mo?"

Qin Bi'er looked at Chen Qianyu with some surprise.

Although this girl is a bit naive and innocent, she has a good heart.

She had already learned that Zhou Meng had been brought to justice, so there was no need to hide anything for Su Mo anymore.

She smiled and said, "Qianyu, why are you suddenly asking this question?"

Chen Qianyu quickly replied, "It's nothing!"

"Just a little curious!"

"Aren't those yamen runners and subordinate clerks all bad people? How could they have saved you?"

She blinked her eyes, "Could it be that he likes Sister Qin?"

Qin Bi'er's pretty face flushed slightly. She looked at Dian Dian, who was already asleep in her arms, and didn't deny it. She replied in a low voice, "Mm... I guess so... but..."

Chen Gan had decided to let her become Su Mo's concubine, and she might be marrying into the Su family in a few days, so there was nothing to hide.

After all, she was an experienced woman. She usually made a living selling pancakes in public, unlike sheltered young ladies who were shy and reserved.

Chen Qianyu immediately pressed, "But what?"

Qin Bi'er hesitated, "But his character is also very good. He's not like those subordinate clerks who like to bully common people."

"If other women were bullied, he definitely wouldn't stand by and do nothing."

Chen Qianyu thought to herself, did her father lie to her?

Is Su Mo really a good person?

She couldn't help but ask again, "Sister Qin, you must like Su Mo too, right?"

"Is he very handsome?"

Qin Bi'er was speechless...

Were these questions a young lady should ask?

But she grew up in a mountain stronghold, so she probably developed a straightforward personality, somewhat different from women in the city.

Her pretty face turned even redder, and she gently nodded, "He's... okay, I guess."

As she spoke, Su Mo's slightly youthful yet resolute face, like that of a scholar, uncontrollably appeared in her mind.

She always felt that Su Mo had a different aura from other men, though she couldn't quite pinpoint it.

Well, it must be his composure!

Qin Bi'er had never seen this in anyone else.

Others, even other women, would look at her strangely.

They thought that as a widow who made a living in public, she was losing her dignity as a woman.

Qin Bi'er disagreed wholeheartedly.

She earned her own living, didn't steal or rob, so why should they look down on her?

Just because she was a widow and a woman?

Would her daughter and herself have to starve to death to be considered virtuous and respectable women?

The current Emperor was also a woman.

Why didn't they say the Empress had lost her virtue?

It was precisely because she felt that Su Mo didn't discriminate against her, nor against her daughter Dian Dian.

When Chen Gan told her to marry Su Mo as a concubine, Qin Bi'er tacitly agreed. If it were anyone else, she would have absolutely refused.

Meanwhile, Su Mo's side was very lively.

After the yamen dismissed, his wife and daughter had not yet returned from Chen Family Village.

Chen Gan returned home to get fifty taels of silver and then came to Su Mo's place immediately.

Seeing the hall filled with congratulatory gifts, Chen Gan's old face twitched, and he couldn't help but curse, "Damn it!"

Su Mo was sorting the gifts when he saw Chen Gan's reaction and asked, "Third Uncle, what's wrong?"

Chen Gan said grumpily, "What's wrong?"

"You brat, you've made quite a fortune, haven't you?"

"How much is it worth?"

He glanced around and chuckled, "Probably five or six taels of silver!"

While speaking, he started thinking about how much congratulatory money he would receive if he were promoted to a regular yamen runner.

It better not be less than his nephew's.

That would be too embarrassing!

Didn't Captain Lin say that those who made contributions at the Locust God Temple could be promoted from assistant to regular yamen runners?

If his nephew pulled some strings, becoming a regular yamen runner would be a sure thing, right?

Su Mo didn't hide anything from his uncle. "These miscellaneous items are probably worth about ten to twenty taels."

Chen Gan nodded, about to say that it was already quite good.

Su Mo immediately added, "Also, I received quite a bit of silver and cash, totaling around thirty taels!"

Chen Gan...

He really wanted to curse!

It's better not to compare himself to this nephew, lest he embarrass himself!

Besides, if his nephew was doing well, didn't that mean he, the uncle, was also doing well?

Su Mo was a little confused and couldn't help but ask again, "Third Uncle, what do you think is going on here?"

"Twenty taels of silver can buy a regular position."

"But I've already received dozens of taels of silver in congratulatory gifts!"

Chen Gan...

Can I curse?

If I don't curse, my mind won't feel clear!

I'll be constipated every time I poop from now on!