A Great Family and a Sister-in-Law's Thoughts

"What exactly did we miss out on?"

In front of the Cao family's shelter, the four members of the Liu family watched the Caos head inside and saw the indifferent look their daughter gave them as she glanced back one last time.

Their expressions changed completely. They knew that some things, once missed, were gone for good.

They were filled with regret. If they had stood by the Cao family through thick and thin before, if they had stepped forward just now, then the Liu family could have shared in their glory.

The Cao family was a great family!

Cao Fengqi had mastered a Strongman's technique. If only...

Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

"Heh, let's go back."

Liu Fengshan suddenly gave a self-mocking laugh, then turned and walked away unhurriedly.

A sensation! It was a sensation!

Two days ago, the young Cao Fengqi of Team District 55 had made a name for himself throughout Liangmin County.

Today, the name Cao Fengqi spread rapidly to everyone's ears like a clap of thunder.

With a bow and a saber, he had easily taken an arm and a leg from Wang Long, a member of a great family.

He had made Ma Jiuxing, another member of a great family, fall to his knees and beg for mercy.

At just eighteen, he had established the Cao family among the ranks of the great families!

When people first heard the news, they found it hard to believe. Once they confirmed it, their faces filled with shock.

He was crowned the youngest great-family expert and the strongest young prodigy in Liangmin County.

"Fengqi, three level 4 treasures and one level 5 treasure: a saber, a suit of armor, an arcane necklace, and this level 5 treasure, a breastplate forged from level 5 metal."

At that moment, no one was happier than the Cao family.

Cao Jiancheng, his face full of delight, handed over the equipment stripped from Wang Long and pointed it out to him.

Cao Fengqi looked it over and smiled.

The three level 4 treasures weren't much use to him, and the breastplate forged from level 5 metal didn't count as equipment.

[Thousand-Refined Metal: level 5 quality]

[Effect: Two jin of Thousand-Refined Metal. It is relatively hard even among level 5 metal materials and can be used to forge equipment, weapons, and shelters.]

"Dad, I don't need these three pieces of level 4 equipment. You can use them."

Cao Fengqi fixed his gaze on the Thousand-Refined Metal and reached out to take it. "I need this."

"Heh, all right, all right."

Cao Jiancheng knew his son's equipment slots were already full, so he didn't stand on ceremony.

"Uncle, how are you so strong? You're amazing!"

Beside them, Dabao couldn't help looking up and asking him.

It was a question everyone in the Cao family wanted to ask.

Cao Fengqi was far, far stronger than they had imagined.

"I'm only a little strong, nothing special. Mostly, Wang Long was too weak. He couldn't even force me to use my full strength."

Cao Fengqi gave his answer with a modest expression.

"..."

"Fengqi, how did you become so proficient with those techniques?"

Cao Jiancheng pursed his lips and pressed him curiously.

"I've mastered all those techniques. They're easy. You just practice a little and learn them."

"..."

"..."

All right, then. Cao Jiancheng and the others were at a loss for words.

Fortunately, they were used to it by now.

"Go ahead and eat. I'm heading into the Lost Land first."

Cao Fengqi smiled and waved to them, then walked straight to his room.

He had something important to do today!

"Haha, I never thought our Cao family would become a great family so quickly."

Watching his son leave, Cao Jiancheng couldn't help breaking into a grin.

"He's brought glory to our family."

Liu Xiuxiu smiled, then frowned slightly and asked, "Old Cao, Wang Long is a distant relative of Spirit Forger Wang's family. Fengqi seriously injured him. Will Spirit Forger Wang's family come looking for trouble?"

"Probably not."

Cao Jiancheng shook his head. "Leaving aside how distant Wang Long's relationship with Spirit Forger Wang's family is, thousands of people witnessed what happened today. Everyone knows Wang Long was the one who wanted to attack our Cao Family. Fengqi only fought back. Spirit Forger Wang's family may be a bit unscrupulous in business, but they care a great deal about their reputation. Besides, Spirit Forger Wang's family isn't the only power in Liangmin County."

"That's good."

Liu Xiuxiu felt somewhat reassured. "Let's eat, then."

"Mom."

A little over ten minutes later, they finished eating.

In the Cao family's kitchen, Liu Chunying was washing the dishes when she looked over at Liu Xiuxiu and suddenly called out to her.

"Hmm? What is it, Chunying?"

Liu Xiuxiu glanced at her. Seeing the troubled look on her face, she frowned slightly and said slowly, "Chunying, you've seen what your family did. It's not that I want to criticize them..."

"Mom, it's not about my family. They're them, and I'm me."

Liu Chunying knew her mother-in-law had misunderstood her. Looking at her, she said seriously, "It's about Fengqi. Mom... do you think I could be with Fengqi in the future?"

"..."

Liu Xiuxiu stopped scrubbing the bowl in her hands, taken aback.

She hadn't expected her daughter-in-law to say something like that to her so openly.

"For Dabao and Xiaobao, and for myself too," Liu Chunying continued, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She felt she was being a little shameless.

But she had made up her mind about this last night.

Liu Xiuxiu fell silent for a moment.

She had had the same thought a long time ago, because she too thought it was the best choice.

Her daughter-in-law was only twenty-four. Before the Great Catastrophe, someone her age would have been out of college for less than two years. She was still very young.

Dabao and Xiaobao were both young too. Was her daughter-in-law supposed to remain a widow for the rest of her life?

At the same time, she understood what her daughter-in-law was thinking.

She wanted someone for her two children to rely on, and Fengqi was undoubtedly the best choice.

"We're family, so I'll speak frankly. Your father and I both want our whole family to live happily together."

Liu Xiuxiu went on, "But we can't make that decision for Fengqi."

"Mom, I know."

Liu Chunying smiled faintly. "In this day and age, Fengqi is already so outstanding at his age that he could marry several wives. I'm not asking for too much."

"Well... Chunying, as long as you don't feel you're being treated unfairly."

Liu Xiuxiu paused, then said, "As long as Fengqi agrees, your dad and I would be happy to see it happen."

Her son was precious to her, but so were her grandson and granddaughter.

Liu Xiuxiu and her husband naturally hoped their son would take good care of Dabao and Xiaobao in the future. If Chunying could be with Fengqi, they wouldn't object.

Besides, their son was so outstanding that he really could marry a couple more wives.

Never mind the current era of the Great Catastrophe-even ten years ago, weren't there plenty of great families and wealthy households with mistresses, second mistresses, and illegitimate children?

Liu Chunying smiled at her mother-in-law's words.

It was enough that her parents-in-law didn't object. She was very confident in her looks and figure.

Meanwhile, in Desolate Town in the Lost Land.

Cao Fengqi knew nothing of his sister-in-law's thoughts. Carrying the Evil-Attracting Music Box, the level 5 Thousand-Refined Metal, the Evil-Breaking Bow, and a collection of level 3 metal blocks, he had once again arrived at the edge of the Mystic Devouring Beast's territory west of Cangxuan Town.

He gazed into the distance in the direction of the Transcendent Sequence Rune and took a deep breath.

In his eyes, the conflict in the real world had been a minor affair. What came next was the real challenge.

"The Transcendent Sequence Rune will be mine! I, Cao Fengqi, am determined to get it!"