10: Good news from heaven

Early the next morning, the atmosphere in Ninghai Town became somewhat unusual.

A team of people slowly rode into the town entrance, led by several guards on tall horses, each exuding a powerful Aura, with bulging temples, clearly skilled internal martial artists.

In the middle of the procession was a luxurious carriage pulled by four fine horses.

The townspeople stopped to watch, whispering amongst themselves.

"Whose important figure is this? This display, I'm afraid even the Prefect of the Prefecture City can't compare, can he?"

"Look at the character on that banner, it seems to be... Zhao?"

"The Zhao Family of Shangya Prefecture City! I've heard of them, they're one of the top wealthy families in the Prefecture City, with enormous business dealings, even the Prefecture Governor has to give them some face!"

Amidst the discussions of the crowd, this team went straight to the south of the town, finally stopping in front of Chen Xu's expanded courtyard.

A middle-aged man who looked like a butler dismounted, walked to the gate, and politely cupped his hands to a servant who was sweeping the ground.

"Excuse me, please inform Mr. Zhao Haiya of Shangya Prefecture that he has come to visit Mr. Chen Xu."

The servant dared not delay and quickly ran into the courtyard to report.

Chen Xu was instructing his daughters in Qi absorption and exhalation, and hearing the report, he also looked puzzled.

Zhao of Shangya Prefecture?

He didn't remember knowing such an important figure.

He walked to the entrance, looking at the display outside the gate, and frowned slightly.

"I am Chen Xu, may I ask who Your Excellency is?"

The butler named Zhao Haiya immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully: "Mr. Chen, I am Zhao Haiya, and I have come to visit by order of our Family Head."

He paused, a perfectly appropriate smile on his face: "I have come this time for a marriage arrangement that our Family Head made with you ten years ago."

Marriage arrangement?

Chen Xu stood frozen, thinking he had misheard.

He looked at the butler outside the gate who called himself Zhao Haiya; the other party was respectful, with sincere eyes, not faking it.

But these words left him completely baffled.

"Has Your Excellency made a mistake?"

Chen Xu frowned slightly: "My eldest son, Chen Ping, is only fifteen years old this year. Ten years ago, he was only five. How could there be talk of a marriage arrangement?"

Zhao Haiya quickly bowed, his smile becoming even more humble: "Mr. Chen has misunderstood, a huge misunderstanding. The marriage arrangement our Family Head wishes to make for you is not for your Young Master..."

He paused, carefully raising his eyes to look at Chen Xu's expression, then said word by word: "...but for you yourself, sir."

As his words fell, the entire courtyard entrance fell silent, with only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

Chen Xu's expression completely froze.

For me?

He had lived for over sixty years, had a wife and children, and would soon be able to hold his grandchildren, yet someone was coming to propose marriage to him?

This was utterly preposterous.

"Is Your Excellency perhaps making fun of me, Chen?"

Chen Xu's voice turned cold, and the pressure of an eleventh-level Qi Refining Cultivator inadvertently emanated, making the surrounding air feel a few degrees heavier.

Zhao Haiya felt an invisible mountain pressing down on him, his legs weakened, and he almost knelt to the ground.

The guards behind him turned pale, and even their hands holding their swords began to tremble.

What a powerful Aura!

Zhao Haiya was greatly alarmed, no longer doubting his Family Head's judgment in the slightest.

He endured the pressure, took out a jade pendant carved with auspicious cloud patterns from hisIn my arms, and presented it with both hands.

"Mr. Chen, please calm your anger! I speak no falsehood! Do you still recognize this item?"

Chen Xu's gaze fell on the jade pendant, his eyes moving slightly.

He had some impression of this jade pendant.

Ten years ago, he was returning home from a trip.

On the way, he encountered a group of mountain bandits who were ambushing a luxurious carriage.

At the time, he hadn't wanted to meddle.

But the bandits' cruelty and the sound of a girl crying from inside the carriage still stirred his compassion.

He intervened.

Dealing with a group of Mortal bandits was merely a trivial matter for him.

Afterward, a richly dressed middle-aged man from the carriage thanked him profusely, insisting on repaying him.

At the time, he was only focused on returning home and had no mood to bother, so he insisted on leaving.

In his haste, that person thrust this jade pendant into his hand, saying that if he ever encountered any difficulties in the future, he could use this jade pendant to find him at the Zhao Family in Shangya Prefecture City, and the Zhao Family would repay him generously.

Chen Xu casually accepted it at the time, then promptly forgot about the matter, never expecting that ten years later, this Zhao Family would actually come knocking on his door.

"So, it was you all."

Chen Xu withdrew his pressure, his expression softening somewhat.

Zhao Haiya finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling his back drenched in sweat.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and continued: "Precisely. If Mr. had not rescued them back then, our Family Head and Young Miss would have long since perished in the Yellow Springs. Our Family Head has not forgotten this kindness for ten years."

"Our Family Head often said that you, sir, are a true reclusive master. Although you were down on your luck at the time, your demeanor was extraordinary, and you would surely achieve great things in the future. He has always secretly kept an eye on your movements, not daring to disturb you easily. It was only recently, upon learning that you had settled down in Ninghai Town and that your Family was prospering, that he dared to visit, wishing to fulfill the promise made back then."

Just then, the curtain of the inner room was lifted, and Bu Yifan slowly walked out, supported by a woman.

She had only recently given birth, and her body was still somewhat weak.

Hearing the commotion outside, she was worried and came out to see.

As soon as she stepped out, she was startled by the display outside the door.

When her gaze fell on Zhao Haiya and she heard the words "promise" and "fulfill," a strong sense of unease immediately rose in her heart.

Zhao Haiya was a shrewd man and immediately noticed Bu Yifan.

He saw that although Bu Yifan's face was slightly pale, she still had her charm, with gentle brows and eyes. Seeing Chen Xu's concerned gaze towards her, he instantly understood.

He quickly bowed deeply to Bu Yifan, his attitude even more respectful than it had been towards Chen Xu.

"This must be Mrs. Chen; Zhao Haiya offers his regards."

He straightened up and said frankly: "Madam, please do not misunderstand. Our Zhao Family's visit this time is absolutely not to contend with you for any status. Our Family Head's intention is to betroth his daughter, Zhao Linger, to Mr. Chen as a concubine, to serve him and repay the life-saving grace from back then."

As a concubine!

Chen Xu's face darkened, and he was about to refuse.

Zhao Haiya, however, as if not seeing his expression, continued: "Our Young Miss Ling'er is just sixteen this year. While I wouldn't dare say her beauty is world-shattering, she is certainly one of the most beautiful in all of Shangya Prefecture City."

"Most importantly, our Young Miss possesses a Spiritual Root by birth. Although it is only Yellow Grade Low-Rank, she has still embarked on the path of cultivation."

"Our Family Head said that as long as you, sir, agree, the Zhao Family is willing to offer one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a betrothal gift, and also present a three-courtyard mansion in the Prefecture City, complete with servants and maids. Furthermore, we will respectfully offer two hundred Spirit Stones annually for your cultivation, sir!"

One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

A mansion in the Prefecture City!

An annual offering of two hundred Spirit Stones!

And a sixteen-year-old girl with a Spiritual Root as a concubine!

These conditions, let alone for a Loose Cultivator.

Even if placed within a Sect like Qingyun Sect.

They would be more than enough to recruit an outer Sect elder.

After Zhao Haiya finished speaking, he said no more, only quietly observing Chen Xu and Bu Yifan, awaiting their reply.

He believed that no one could refuse such terms.

Chen Xu's heart was indeed in turmoil.

His rationality told him that this was a great Opportunity for him.

His Dao was to propagate his Family, to expand his lineage.

The quality of his descendants' Bloodline determined his future achievements.

Bu Yifan's body had been significantly depleted after eight births, and whether she could bear high-quality Bloodline offspring in the future was an unknown.

And this Zhao Linger, sixteen years old, possessing a Spiritual Root, was at the optimal age for childbearing.

If he could unite with her, the possibility of giving birth to profound-grade, or even higher-quality descendants, would greatly increase.

Not to mention the one thousand Spirit Stones and the subsequent stable offerings.

These would be enough to completely free him from resource worries, allowing him to devote all his energy to raising descendants and his own cultivation.

But... he turned and looked at Bu Yifan beside him.

She just stood there quietly!

But in her eyes, there was panic, there was grievance, but there was no resentment.

She just looked at him, seemingly waiting for his decision.

Chen Xu's heart felt as if it was tightly clenched by a hand, aching painfully.

He remembered Bu Yifan giving birth to eight children for him.

He remembered her being severely injured trying to achieve Foundation Establishment for him, and he remembered her snuggling in his arms just a few days ago, saying she didn't mind if he found another... She had said those words sincerely, but he knew.

How much courage and grievance that required.

He took a deep breath, suppressing all the distracting thoughts and calculations in his heart.

He didn't look at Zhao Haiya, but instead walked to Bu Yifan's side and gently held her cold hand.

"This matter is of great importance and concerns my wife. I cannot give you an immediate answer."

He turned, looking at Zhao Haiya, his voice calm but allowing no room for doubt: "Please return. In three days, I will give the Zhao Family Head an answer."

Zhao Haiya looked at Chen Xu's actions, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He hadn't expected that in the face of such immense temptation, this man's first consideration would actually be his wife's feelings.

He was also a clever man and knew that saying more at this point would be useless and would only cause annoyance.

"Good."

Zhao Haiya readily agreed, "I await your esteemed presence, sir. This small gift is a token of our Family Head's regard; please do accept it."

As he spoke, he waved his hand behind him, and immediately two guards carried a heavy redwood box forward, gently placing it at the courtyard entrance.

Having completed all this, Zhao Haiya bowed once more.

Then he led the procession away in a grand manner.

On the streets of Ninghai Town, chaos instantly erupted.

"Oh my goodness! One thousand Spirit Stones! I didn't mishear, did I?"

"The Zhao Family truly has a grand gesture! They're practically sending their daughter to his door!"

"Mr. Chen truly has good fortune! Quietly, he has gained such an immortal Opportunity!"

Chen Xu was deaf to the surrounding discussions.

He closed the courtyard gate, cutting off all the external noise.

In the courtyard, only he and Bu Yifan remained, along with the redwood box placed on the stone table, exuding an enticing Aura.

Bu Yifan's body was still trembling slightly.

She looked at the box, then at Chen Xu, her lips moving, but she couldn't say anything.

"Yifan..."

Chen Xu pulled her into his arms, saying softly, "Don't overthink it, I..."

"I'm not overthinking."

Bu Yifan interrupted him, burying her head in her husband's chest, her voice muffled, with a hint of a sob: "Chen Xu, I... I remember you telling me that ten years ago when you returned, you encountered some trouble on the way..."

She looked up, her eyes already red, but she forced a smile that was uglier than crying onto her face.

"I... I already said I don't mind. Really."

"For this Family, for your Dao... I know, I alone am not enough."

She reached out and gently stroked Chen Xu's face, which showed no signs of aging.

Her eyes held an unyielding love and a deep trace of helplessness.

"That Young Miss Zhao, she has a Spiritual Root and is young... she can bear children with better Aptitude for you. This... is a good thing."

"Stop talking!"

Chen Xu couldn't bear to listen anymore. He embraced his wife, his voice hoarse as he said, "Yifan, don't say that..."

Bu Yifan stopped speaking, just leaning quietly in his arms, feeling his heartbeat.

After a long time, she softly uttered a barely audible sentence.

"Chen Xu, accept it."

"We... need those Spirit Stones."

"The children, too, need a better future."