Mr. Cheng's Bad Luck

"You got Leng Tianjiao pregnant?"

At the words, Zhu Ping'an forgot all about his injuries and sprang to his feet.

He had gotten Leng Tianjiao pregnant? What was that supposed to mean? He hadn't even held her hand.

"That's right! My daughter told me herself. Do you think she'd lie?" Leng Yuanting said gravely.

"Little Ping'an, you've got some explaining to do. A real man owns up to what he's done. You can't pull out and then pretend you've lost your memory!" Old Yin chimed in, clearly enjoying the show.

Zhu Ping'an thought it over for a moment, then immediately understood what was going on. The act he'd put on outside the city that day must have worked, prompting Leng Tianjiao to ask Leng Yuanting to save him.

As for getting Leng Tianjiao pregnant, she must have come up with that flimsy excuse on the spot.

Well, it wasn't exactly flimsy. In a way, it was perfect. After all, it was guaranteed to make Leng Yuanting come to his aid.

Once he'd figured out what was going on, Zhu Ping'an's expression turned solemn. Slowly, he admitted, "That's right. We have a child."

The moment he finished speaking, Leng Yuanting kicked him to the ground.

"You little bastard! If I weren't worried the child would be born without a father, I'd kick you to death right now! You dared to get my daughter pregnant before marriage? You've got some nerve!"

Leng Yuanting's eyes and brows brimmed with fury. He'd spent more than a decade carefully tending a tender cabbage, only for someone to pluck it up, pot and all, in the blink of an eye. Of course he was furious.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Leng. I'll definitely wear one next time," Zhu Ping'an said obediently.

"You think there's going to be a next time? I'll—!" Leng Yuanting nearly blew a fuse and raised his foot to kick Zhu Ping'an again.

"Dad, stop!"

Leng Tianjiao's voice rang out just then. She hurried over and stopped Leng Yuanting, then blushingly explained, "Dad, I was lying to you just now. I'm not pregnant."

"What did you say?!" Leng Yuanting's reaction was even more intense than before. "So I went through all that for nothing? No! You're a young woman. I can't let anyone tarnish your reputation. Whether this child exists or not, it has to exist!"

Leng Yuanting had no intention of letting Zhu Ping'an slip away as his future son-in-law. The boy was all but guaranteed to be this year's Top Scholar in Green City, and on top of that, he'd inherited the Starry Sky Ancient Saint's legacy. His future was limitless.

If Leng Yuanting didn't bind Zhu Ping'an to the Leng Family while he was still weak, he might never get another chance.

"Zhu Ping'an, listen up. Starting today, you're my Leng Family's son-in-law. Once I'm back at the Leng Family and have everything ready, I'll come to your house to formally propose. We'll pick an auspicious day in the next few days and bring you into my family!" Leng Yuanting declared with a grand wave of his hand.

"Huh? So soon?" Zhu Ping'an's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Leng Yuanting to actually offer Leng Tianjiao's hand in marriage. She was the famous ice queen of Green City, admired by countless people who could only dream of getting close to her.

"Of course! My daughter went so far as to say she was carrying your child. If you don't marry her, won't her reputation be ruined?" Leng Yuanting said, glaring at him.

"Dad! What are you even saying? Go home already!" Leng Tianjiao's face turned scarlet. She hurriedly pushed Leng Yuanting away.

"Zhu Ping'an, remember! I'll bring people over in the next few days!" Leng Yuanting called as he left.

Leng Tianjiao walked up to Zhu Ping'an and explained, "Zhu Ping'an, don't take what my dad said to heart. I know you already like someone. I only said I was carrying your child as a temporary measure. You don't have to feel pressured."

With that, Leng Tianjiao left with Leng Yuanting.

Zhu Ping'an stayed silent. Lin Zhao stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

"Little Ping'an, I've heard from your principal about how you played the simp at Qingcheng High School. Sometimes, you don't have to get hung up on one thing. Simps never get happy endings."

Zhu Ping'an: "..."

"Little Lin's got a point. I think Leng Tianjiao's a fine girl. Don't miss your chance and regret it later," Old Yin added.

"Follow your heart," Old Yang said, leaving him with those final words.

A trace of confusion crept into Zhu Ping'an's eyes. When he'd first approached Leng Tianjiao, his goal had been clear: he'd been interested in the Leng Family behind her. He'd never even considered that anything might actually happen between him and Leng Tianjiao...

Outside Green City.

Mr. Cheng headed back with a dark look on his face. After taking such a huge loss in Green City, there was no way he'd let it go.

"Yin and Yang Elders, Lin Zhao, the Leng Family, and that damned Zhu Ping'an... Don't worry. This is far from over!"

Mr. Cheng ground his teeth, his youthful face twisting out of shape.

As he plotted his revenge, a figure in a loose black robe appeared in front of him out of nowhere, blocking his path.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?" Mr. Cheng tamped down his resentment and asked politely.

This was already a desolate stretch outside the city, where powerful demons or Mutant Beasts could appear at any moment. Any human who dared travel alone in a place like this was bound to be formidable.

The black-robed figure ignored Mr. Cheng and launched an attack!

"Do you know who I am? I'm Cheng Fengzhong, sent from Kyoto to investigate the upheaval in the Secret Realm of Star Gazing in Green City. You dare attack me? Are you trying to betray the Ancient Great Xia Kingdom?" Mr. Cheng shouted, his voice betraying his fear.

Terror welled up inside him. The mysterious figure in black had appeared out of nowhere, and was actually stronger than he was!

The black-robed figure paid no heed to Mr. Cheng's threat and pressed on with the attack.

Seeing this, Mr. Cheng didn't dare let his guard down. He hurriedly circulated the Heavenly Sha Child Skill and unleashed his full strength at once.

But then the black-robed figure suddenly vanished from before him, as if they'd evaporated into thin air.

"Not good!"

Mr. Cheng had barely turned his head when a massive iron fist came hurtling toward his face.

With one punch, Mr. Cheng's nose was instantly smashed inward, and dark-red blood gushed out.

Once he lost the first move, he lost every move. Mr. Cheng was completely powerless to fight back as the black-robed figure pummeled him like a punching bag. All he could do was curl up and shield the vital parts of his body as fists rained down like a storm.

By the time the black-robed figure stopped, Mr. Cheng had gone from a skinny little boy to a round, chubby one. His face had swollen into a complete pig's head.

"Let what happened in Green City end here. If you keep pursuing this, I'll take your life next time."

The black-robed figure's voice was icy. Then, with a flash, they vanished from the spot, leaving Mr. Cheng alone on the ground, staring blankly into space and questioning his existence.

How long had it been since he'd taken a beating like this, ever since he'd become a Seventh Rank Martial Artist?

Even more terrifying, what kind of strength did the mysterious black-robed figure possess to treat a Seventh Rank Martial Artist like a punching bag? An Eighth Rank Martial Artist? Or even the legendary and most terrifying Ninth-Rank Warrior?

The Ancient Great Xia Kingdom was vast, with countless cities. Green City was just a remote borderland among them. How could a place like this have such a terrifying martial artist?

And the black-robed figure had clearly been sticking up for someone. The only person he'd bullied recently was... Zhu Ping'an!

At the thought, Mr. Cheng shuddered. Terror filled his eyes.

Damn it, kid! You've got such terrifying backing, and you didn't say a word? If you'd told me, why would I have messed with you?

Mr. Cheng was thoroughly scared out of his wits. He didn't dare think about revenge anymore. He turned and ran, vanishing in a flash.