My little husband

Inside the main room.

Wisps of smoke curled from the incense burner.

The sisters sat facing each other, and Su Wan listened attentively as her younger sister recounted everything she had experienced over the past days.

Naturally, she glossed over the matter of dual cultivation in the Dragon-Phoenix Hall.

After listening, Su Wan sighed softly. "Since things have come to this, the two of you can only stay in the Yin-Yang Sect and cultivate for now."

She looked at Su Yao and cautioned her, "The demonic sects are dangerous, and human hearts are treacherous. Be more watchful in your daily life. Hong was pampered growing up, so he's bound to be naive and careless at times. You must help him and look after him."

Su Yao nodded gently, then unconsciously offered Fang Hong a word of praise. "He's matured a great deal after everything that happened."

"Yes. Without hardship, people cannot be stirred to action; without apprehension and deep reflection, they cannot attain understanding. Fortune and misfortune lean on one another. This ordeal has tempered him, so it hasn't been entirely bad."

Su Wan's voice was soft and airy, pleasing to the ear.

Recalling Fang Hong's decisiveness in killing within the secret realm, Su Yao wholeheartedly agreed.

Su Wan's gaze shifted, and she asked, "You and he have registered as dual cultivation partners. How have you been getting along? Has he been bullying you?"

Su Yao's pretty face flushed faintly as many scenes unsuitable for children flashed through her mind. She gave her sister a bashful glance, then lowered her head. "He treats me quite well."

A trace of loss flickered deep in Su Wan's eyes. She said gently, "Then will you take over my betrothal to him?"

Su Yao murmured her assent, looking somewhat shy. "I'm fine with it, anyway. I'm just afraid Aunt Fang... won't agree so easily."

"I'll persuade Aunt Fang." As she spoke, Su Wan took out three jade bottles and handed them to Su Yao.

"I have thirty Nurturing Origin Pills here, enough for you and Hong to cultivate for a year. He probably also has quite a few spiritual pills sent by the Fang Household. Focus on your cultivation and strive to reach Foundation Establishment soon. Only then will you have a chance to leave the demonic sect."

Su Yao picked up a jade bottle and toyed with it absentmindedly. "Even if we leave the Yin-Yang Sect, where could we go?"

Su Wan's dark brows knitted slightly as she looked into Su Yao's eyes. "Isn't Yunchuan Island better than this place?"

Su Yao pursed her lips. "Aunt Fang has never liked me. I finally managed to get out. I don't want to go back."

"What if Hong wants to go back someday? Will you go with him? After all, if he reaches Foundation Establishment, he's certain to become the next head of the Fang Household."

Su Wan spoke earnestly.

"He..." For a moment, Su Yao was uncertain, and her voice grew quieter. "I don't know either. We can only take one step and see what comes next."

Su Wan said softly, "Aunt Fang is actually a very good person. She may seem cold toward you, but her heart is warm. Spend more time getting close to her, and the knot in your heart will naturally unravel."

"My betrothal to Hong was three parts the affection of siblings who grew up together, and seven parts repayment for Aunt Fang's kindness in raising me. Now that you've taken this karmic bond upon yourself in my place, I'll naturally find a way to smooth things over with Aunt Fang."

Su Yao remained silent. She seemed not entirely convinced by her sister's words, but could not bear to contradict her.

Inside the west wing.

Fang Hong slowly opened the jade case. Inside lay three Thunder Pellets, two large and one small, with purple and green threads of electricity dancing over them, giving off a hair-raising aura of fierce baleful intent.

"Kui Water Yin Thunder."

Fang Hong recognized the three Thunder Pellets at a glance and could not help being startled.

These Thunder Pellets were among the foremost offensive treasure arts of the Fang Household's Azure Sea Mysterious Art, and were exceedingly difficult to refine.

If his guess was correct, the one before him, the size of a teacup, was actually a third-tier Thunder Pellet!

The other two, each the size of a walnut, were upper-grade second-tier pellets.

A third-tier Thunder Pellet required a Golden Core cultivator to painstakingly refine it within a thunderstorm at sea for eighty-one days before it could take shape. Afterward, it still had to be nurtured with magical power for three years before it was fit for use.

These were trump cards belonging to Fang Jian, the original owner's father, and he had only a few in total. Fang Hong had never expected him to send one along.

There was also a letter inside the jade case. Fang Hong opened it and found only two short lines, their strokes like silver hooks and iron brushwork.

The first line read: do not rejoice recklessly in favorable circumstances, nor panic and lose heart in adversity.

The second line read: give an enemy an inch, and calamity will spread a thousand miles.

Fang Hong naturally understood the meaning of Fang Jian's letter.

Heaven and earth were like a furnace. No one dared claim they could rest their head without worry and enjoy peace every day.

Not just the legitimate son of a Golden Core cultivator-even the legitimate son of a Nascent Soul cultivator could fall victim to schemes and face mortal danger.

However powerful one's elders were, they could not offer protection for a lifetime.

In the end, he had to rely on himself!

These two lines were precisely the way to survive within a demonic sect.

Fang Hong put away the jade case, and Fang Jian's resolute, domineering face flashed through his mind.

Once detonated, the Kui Water Yin Thunder would automatically form a protective barrier around the person who activated the Thunder Pellet, granting immunity to the lightning's might. Any other being within roughly a li, however, would find it difficult to escape the fate of ten thousand thunderbolts crashing down upon their head.

"How is the collection of the items on the list coming along?"

Fang Hong turned to ask.

Steward Mu took out a storage pouch and said, "Everything the External Affairs Hall can currently find has been brought here. We've gathered less than a third. The rest will take some time."

Fang Hong took the storage pouch and briefly probed its contents with his Divine Sense, then nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Just keep an eye out for me."

For the medicinal ingredients and spiritual materials still missing, he could find a way to exchange for them at the Yin-Yang Sect's Myriad Treasures Hall.

He had already looked through the Myriad Treasures Hall's treasure catalog, which contained quite a few ingredients for preparing the Seven Great Medicines.

Just then, Su Yao came and knocked at the west wing's door. Once it opened, she said softly to Fang Hong, "My sister wants you to come over. She has something she wants to say to you alone."

Fang Hong smiled faintly and rose. "What does she have to say that you can't hear?"

Su Yao rolled her eyes at him, entered the room, pulled him outside, and pushed him toward the main room. "You'll know when you get there."

Fang Hong entered the main room and closed the door. Su Wan sat elegantly in a chair, a tranquil, peaceful grace about her.

"Sister Wan, it's been a long time. You've grown even more graceful and ethereal."

Fang Hong sat down with a smile as he spoke.

The original owner and Su Wan had shared a deep bond since childhood, their feelings more like those of a brother and sister.

Su Wan had always been dignified and proper. All through their childhood, she had treated him as her own younger brother. Besides taking great care of him, she had often disciplined and lectured him, sometimes stern, sometimes gentle and approachable.

Later, even after their betrothal, this relationship had not changed. Su Wan had merely gradually adopted an attitude more akin to that of a wife guiding her husband and raising children, hoping her husband would become a dragon.

Su Wan's beautiful eyes studied him from head to toe, and she sighed inwardly before saying, "I already know about you and Yaoyao. I can tell she has you in her heart. You must treat her well from now on. You must never bully her."

Fang Hong's expression turned solemn, and he nodded. "Don't worry, Sister Wan. I'll treat Yao well."

Su Wan sighed softly. "Fate truly toys with people. As for our betrothal... what do you intend to do?"

Hm?

Something stirred in Fang Hong's heart. From Su Wan's tone, she seemed somewhat reluctant to let go. Was there even a hint of resentment toward Su Yao for stealing him away?

An idea struck him, and he said, "I'll listen to you, Sister Wan. Whatever you arrange, I'll do."

This also fit the original owner's usual role as an obedient younger brother.

Su Wan glanced at him and said frankly, "If it were any other woman, I certainly wouldn't give you up so easily. But for Yaoyao's sake, we can only dissolve the betrothal. Once you and I return to Yunchuan Island someday, we can explain our wishes to Aunt and Uncle together."

Fang Hong nodded. "That works."

Su Wan rolled her eyes at him, her expression poised between a smile and something else. "You agreed so readily. It seems you never had me in your heart at all. Do you think I'm not as young and beautiful as Yaoyao?"

Fang Hong hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no. Sister Wan, you're so beautiful, and your cultivation is so high. How could I not be moved? It's just that now I have Yao, I should devote myself to her alone. How could I let my heart wander in three directions at once?"

How could he fail to see that Su Wan was testing him?

Su Wan let out a little laugh. A trace of reluctance showed in her eyes and brows, and her tone was somewhat complicated. "Ever since Aunt and Uncle arranged our betrothal, I've always treated you as my little husband. Having someone suddenly snatch you away really does leave me feeling a little empty inside."

"You think too highly of me, Sister Wan. I'm nothing but a wastrel. What virtue or ability do I have to deserve such favor from you?" Fang Hong offered words of comfort.

He vaguely sensed that Su Wan's feelings toward the original owner were more like a possessiveness born of having raised him.

It seems the original owner's understanding of both sisters was only skin-deep, not nearly deep enough.