Chapter 65: The Chu Family

Xie Peiling did not return that evening. Instead, he stayed at a nearby inn. Since it was a property of the Ye family, he enjoyed a sumptuous meal completely free of charge.

As soon as he finished his late-night snack, he walked back to his room.

An exceptionally stunning young woman stood inside. Hearing the movement, she quickly turned her head, revealing a gaze of absolute detachment.

Xie Peiling's expression turned stern. Instinctively placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword, he demanded, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

The young woman let out a yawn, glanced at him sideways, and smiled mockingly.

"I heard that the fiancé of the eldest Miss Chu is staying right here, and that he even carries the Cangfeng Sword with him. So, I came to take a look to see what kind of person he actually is."

Her voice was calm.

*This person is strong.*

That was the first thought that flashed through Xie Peiling's mind upon seeing her. He said coldly, "You are from the Chu family."

The young woman's hand twitched slightly, surprised at how quickly her identity had been seen through. Deciding to drop the act, she gave a soft chuckle.

"My name is Chu Yingzhen. Strictly speaking, I am quite a bit older than you, though you may call me older sister if you wish. As for this older sister of yours, I returned to Yuan'an Prefecture only recently; before that, I had always remained within the sect."

Xie Peiling watched the person before him, so serene and unbothered, while his entire body remained taut like a drawn bowstring.

Chu Yingzhen leaned forward slightly, looking at him with a playful glint in her eyes as she spoke softly.

"Don't you even want to know what my uncle and aunt intend to do?"

Xie Peiling knew that the uncle and aunt she mentioned were none other than the biological parents of his fiancée from the Qionglin Banquet.

He still said nothing, remaining poised for action, as if he might draw the sword from its scabbard at any second.

"Aunt said that you children really understand nothing and only know how to cause trouble. Do you have any idea how much bloodshed and chaos this single Cangfeng Sword alone has already stirred up?"

Chu Yingzhen turned her head, looking at the pensive Xie Peiling, and continued.

"I remember you are about the same age as my cousin, making you a child as well. However, the children Aunt referred to do not include you; after all, you are merely a fiancé, holding only a marriage contract signed by that long-dead ancestor of my Chu family."

Xie Peiling understood.

"Miss Chu Xianlü is Aunt's niece, not the biological younger sister of Chu Linghe as Aunt claimed. This year, she was sent to Huming Prefecture and came to our Chu family in Yuan'an Prefecture. Then, as you know, Aunt wanted nothing to do with it, but you people made such a huge commotion that she had no choice but to intervene."

Chu Yingzhen walked over to the window and pushed it open. A sliver of moonlight spilled in, frosting the floorboards with a pale, white hue. She continued, "What you are all doing is pure folly."

Xie Peiling remained silent.

"Who do you think you are? What standing do you possess in Yuan'an Prefecture? I know your background, Qionglin Banquet, oh Qionglin Banquet—you are nothing more than a pathetic child who studied in a mountain temple. How could you ever be worthy of a young lady of the Chu family? Such a future does not belong to her. If things continue this way, everything in this Yuan'an Prefecture that you cherish will vanish."

Xie Peiling immediately retorted, "I do not believe there is anything I cherish. But if, as you say, the Chu family is what I cherish, then please, destroy it and let it vanish."

Chu Yingzhen was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered and let out a light laugh.

"And what about your own life? What ability do you think you have to protect it? I recall that the young master of the Ye family seems to be on good terms with you. According to my investigation, you also know a young man who, just like you, likes to wear a bamboo hat, as well as that martial artist from the medicine shop. I suppose that even if you are not afraid to die yourself, what about theirs?"

From beginning to end, Xie Peiling remained utterly calm. His face was like a mirror, reflecting only the distortion twisting across Chu Yingzhen's exquisite features.

He spoke up. "It seems to me that your aunt might not have a very pleasant temper. Of course, that is not important. What I want to say is that both you and your aunt are quite foolish. Even now, you still have no idea what is actually going on?"

Without giving Chu Yingzhen a chance to speak, Xie Peiling continued, "Since you investigated me, you should also know that one of your generation from the Chu family was defeated by my hands, and another, named Chu Yizhuo, even died by my sword."

Chu Yingzhen was naturally aware of this. What she could not comprehend was why Chu Xianlü would help an outsider kill members of her own clan.

Upon hearing those words, even she herself was unaware that the faint, elusive smile on her face had vanished.

"Right, do you... do you know? Just a short while ago, the rumor that I am holding the Cangfeng Sword is about to spread. When that happens, it won't just be Yuan'an Prefecture; it will reach the entire Huming Prefecture. And I have heard that Chu Linghe, who is far away in the supreme sects between heaven and earth, has no shortage of suitors. If that is the case, I wonder if this news will fly everywhere, gradually spreading across the entire land of Great Jin."

At some point, Chu Yingzhen's fists had clenched tightly.

"According to my investigation, you are a man of few words."

Xie Peiling sneered.

"How could you possibly know whether I am truly a man of few words, or simply unwilling to speak to you? You merely investigated me for a few days, and already you think you have me all figured out? What about my past? Surely the mighty Chu family couldn't have failed to investigate that?"

Chu Yingzhen shook her head and said, "As I said before, you spent your childhood studying in a mountain temple, and your future would likely have continued along that same path. Yet this scrap of a marriage contract shattered your peaceful life. I imagine your master did not send you here just for you to become entangled in this mess."

She could not understand why this was happening. Clearly, when he first entered the Chu family, he was merely someone with no trace of cultivation. Yet somehow, he had suddenly acquired cultivation, and a terrifyingly powerful one at that—members of the Chu family of the same realm were no match for him.

At the very least, this qualified him as a true genius in Yuan'an Prefecture; even in Huming Prefecture, he could have entered a somewhat formidable sect. Yet this was still not enough, far from enough. At the bare minimum, one had to be among the absolute top talents of Huming Prefecture to even have a chance.

Of course, aside from all this, Chu Yingzhen had other doubts.

"What on earth did you say to Aunt? Given her personality, I cannot fathom why she would let you leave the Chu family. It makes no sense. Given her disposition, let alone a prospective son-in-law with nothing more than a marriage contract, she wouldn't even care about a son-in-law bound by true mutual affection. You are just a cultivator who has only recently begun to rise—what ability do you have to walk away from the Chu family?"

Yet the reality of the matter was far more dangerous than anything Chu Yingzhen had described.