Journey to the Leng Family

"Really? You won't forget about me once you find someone new, will you? You're not going to abandon Bingbing, are you?"

Yan Shubing lifted her tearful eyes to stare at Zhu Ping'an, like a pitiful little dog begging for affection.

Yan Shubing was beautiful, and with that expression, she could make countless men's hearts ache for her. No wonder the original owner had been willing to die for her in the end.

"Don't worry! My sincerity is as clear as the sun and moon!" Zhu Ping'an gazed at her with deep affection.

After saying a bunch more sweet words to soothe Yan Shubing, Zhu Ping'an finally left and headed for the Leng Family.

Leng Yuanting had made it clear—if he didn't come to visit soon, he'd bring people straight to his doorstep.

After Zhu Ping'an left, a man with an extremely gloomy expression stepped out from behind a tree. It was Ye Qingxian.

"Shubing, what were you just doing with Zhu Ping'an?" Ye Qingxian clenched his fists tightly.

"Qingxian Ge, you saw everything?" Yan Shubing's eyes reddened.

Ye Qingxian punched the tree in fury, shaking loose a flurry of leaves.

"What do you think?"

Being defeated by Zhu Ping'an in the Secret Realm of Star Gazing still gnawed at him, and seeing Yan Shubing throw herself into Zhu Ping'an's arms only fueled his rage.

"Qingxian Ge, let me ask you one thing. You got into Great Xia Academy yourself—can you get me in too?" Yan Shubing said softly.

"No!" Ye Qingxian's fists tightened even more. Even though he'd passed the exam to enter Great Xia Academy, the academy obviously wouldn't open a back door for him.

"So you see, Qingxian Ge, coming to Zhu Ping'an was my only choice. With my own grades, the best I could manage is a second-rate school." Yan Shubing's eyes reddened as she turned away in grievance.

Ye Qingxian, who had been burning with anger, immediately softened his tone.

"Shubing, I'm sorry... It's my fault for being useless." Ye Qingxian gritted his teeth, a determined glint flashing in his eyes. "Don't worry! I'll never let you suffer like this again!"

"As long as you understand my predicament, Qingxian Ge. Don't worry, I'm just using Zhu Ping'an. There's no future between him and me. Don't you already know my feelings?" Yan Shubing said with a hint of reproach.

Ye Qingxian pulled Yan Shubing into his arms, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Don't worry. I'll use my spear to carve out a bright world for you! A new secret realm has been discovered near Green City. Do you want to come with me?"

"A new secret realm? Would we even get a chance? Won't all the good stuff be snatched up by the stronger fighters?" Yan Shubing asked doubtfully.

"This realm is different. The magnetic field inside is extremely chaotic. A martial artist's aura triggers lightning storms, and the stronger the martial artist, the more terrifying the storm." Ye Qingxian nodded with a smile.

"Really? Then when do we set out?" Yan Shubing's eyes lit up.

"One week from now. The major powers in Green City are still dividing up the entry slots."

Green City center.

Zhu Ping'an looked at the dazzling, golden gate before him and understood the weight behind the name "Leng Family."

Though Green City was just a small city, building a courtyard of this size in the city center clearly meant they had no shortage of money or connections.

As he stepped forward, two guards—one fat, one thin—blocked his way.

"Stop. Private residence. No entry without an invitation."

"Your family head invited me," Zhu Ping'an said.

"Impossible!" The thin guard eyed him suspiciously. "Do you even know who our family head is? Why would he know some young punk like you?"

"Exactly, exactly. Wait, don't you look familiar?" The fat guard squinted at Zhu Ping'an, then his eyes lit up. "Oh! It's you! I saw you on the trending searches—you're Zhu Ping'an! This year's Green City Champion!"

Zhu Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief. If the guy recognized him, things would be easier. He really didn't want any trouble.

"That's me. Now do you believe the Leng family head invited me?"

"Yeah, yeah. Wait here, I'll go report."

The fat guard scurried inside to report, and before long, he came back with an even fatter man.

From a distance, the guy looked like a Michelin tire man made of stacked layers of fat. Zhu Ping'an was half-afraid the guy would keel over from exhaustion if he walked a few more steps.

"Zhu Ping'an?" the fat man asked.

"That's me."

"I'm Leng Tianyan! Tianjiao's sixth brother!" The fat man cheerfully extended his hand to shake Zhu Ping'an's. Zhu Ping'an felt like his hand was being wrapped in a greasy lump of lard.

He'd heard that Leng Yuanting had seven sons but only one daughter, Leng Tianjiao. This fat man must be the sixth son.

"Come in, come in. That Old Thing has been waiting for you."

"Old Thing?" Zhu Ping'an blinked. A son calling his father an old thing?

"Ah, don't sweat the details. Come in and sit."

Leng Tianyan enthusiastically pulled Zhu Ping'an into the Leng residence. The vast compound was eerily quiet, with only a few cleaning ladies and gardeners in sight.

"Your family's supposed to be thriving, isn't it? Where are your other brothers?" Zhu Ping'an asked curiously.

"Some of my brothers are managing the family's businesses outside, others joined the City Guard and hold high positions—they're all busy. My younger brother joined the city defense force last year too; we only gather for New Year's. I'm the useless one—can't do anything right, not even a First-Rank Warrior—so most days, I'm the only one home." Leng Tianyan panted as he spoke.

Zhu Ping'an's mouth twitched. Calling himself useless so openly—Leng Tianyan might not have much else going for him, but his attitude was solid.

"Old Thing! Your son-in-law is here!"

Leng Tianyan brought Zhu Ping'an into the reception hall and immediately shouted.

"Whelp!"

A roar erupted from the depths of the Leng Family, followed by a large foot that landed directly on Leng Tianyan's plump backside, sending him rolling out like a ball.

Zhu Ping'an: "..."

The son called his father an Old Thing, and the father called his son a Whelp—this father-son relationship was quite complicated.

"Get lost, now! The sight of you pisses me off!" Leng Yuanting rolled his eyes.

"Hmph!" Leng Tianyan snorted coldly. "Fine, I'll get lost!"

After Leng Tianyan left, Leng Tianjiao also walked out and sat quietly beside Leng Yuanting. Only then did Leng Yuanting turn his gaze to Zhu Ping'an.

"You little brat, you finally decided to show up. I thought I'd have to come fetch you myself."

"Uncle Leng is joking. It's just that I've been stuck at the door these past two days by the Admissions Teachers and couldn't get out," Zhu Ping'an said with a smile.

"True enough, the Top Scholar. Which school did you apply to? Great Xia Academy?" Leng Yuanting took a sip of tea and asked.

"No, Cangqiong."

"Pfft!"

Leng Yuanting spat out a mouthful of tea. Without even bothering to wipe it off, he grabbed Zhu Ping'an by the collar and lifted him up.

"Have you lost your mind? You're a goddamn Top Scholar, and you applied to Cangqiong? Wait! Don't tell me you're going after the Cangqiong Ancient Saint's inheritance?"

Zhu Ping'an nodded, directly admitting it.

"Do you have any idea how many geniuses have thrown themselves at that over the past ten thousand years, like moths to a flame, without even a trace of the inheritance? Cangqiong Academy might not even have an inheritance at all!" Leng Yuanting fumed. In his eyes, Zhu Ping'an's decision was a sure way to ruin his future.

Zhu Ping'an didn't rush to argue. Instead, he smiled and asked back.

"Uncle Leng, when I entered the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, did anyone think I would obtain the Starry Sky Ancient Saint's inheritance?"