55: Chapter 55 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Part 3)

He paused, then lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of gravity: "You must be careful tonight. Although Canglan State is in the heartland of my Great Sun Holy Land, and there is basically no danger, one can never be too sure that someone might take a desperate risk. If anything happens, crush the communication talisman inside the jade tablet, and I will be there in an instant."

Chu Shi took the jade tablet, his fingertips pausing slightly, then he bowed respectfully in thanks: "Thank you for your concern, Elder Zhang."

Zhang Lie laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder, becoming more satisfied the more he looked at him: "No need to be so polite. Once you enter the Holy Land, you and I will be family. If there is anything you don't understand, or any difficulties in your cultivation, come find me at any time."

Chu Shi was personally escorted down the altar by Elder Zhang, receiving gazes of awe and envy from the entire crowd along the way, and walked straight out of the plaza.

He did not notice that after he left, Li Hao was stunned for a long time before coming back to his senses and turning to look at Yun Mengyao beside him.

He still remembered what Yun Mengyao had said before: as long as he was stronger than Chu Shi, she would be willing to be with him. Now that Chu Shi had risen to the top in one step, although he felt disappointed, he thought that without Chu Shi as a rival, Yun Mengyao should finally agree to be with him.

"Mengyao," Li Hao scratched his head, his tone filled with the anticipation of a youth. "Chu Shi... although his aptitude is better than mine, I will definitely work hard in my cultivation to catch up. Does what you said before still count?"

Yun Mengyao came back to her senses, the panic in her eyes instantly fading away, and she put on that pitiful look once again.

She reached out and took Li Hao's arm, her voice so soft it could drip water: "Brother Li Hao, what are you saying? I am naturally on your side. It's just that, you saw it too, Brother Chu Shi is angry with me, and I am very panicked."

Her eyes turned red, and she leaned into Li Hao's embrace, sobbing as she spoke: "I am a weak woman with no one to rely on. My family cannot be counted on either. If I don't enter a good sect, I am afraid I won't have a place to stand in this Canglan State in the future. Brother Li Hao, please help me, okay? Can you help me speak to them so I can enter the Great Sun Holy Land? As long as I can get in, I will definitely stay by your side and take good care of you."

Li Hao had no resistance to her at all, and hearing her cry like this, his heart softened long ago, and he immediately patted his chest and agreed.

Relying on his own Innate Sword Bone aptitude, he managed to get an Elder of the Lingxiao Sword Sect to do him a favor and paved the way for Yun Mengyao. He made her barely pass the assessment of the Great Sun Holy Land and obtained a spot as an Outer Sect Disciple.

But he never expected that just after helping Yun Mengyao secure the spot, he turned around and saw Yun Mengyao quickly chasing after Chu Shi, who was about to return to his mansion, and spreading her arms to block his path.

The young girl's eyes were slightly red, and her face wore just the right amount of grievance and fragility. Her voice was soft and weak, enough to make one's bones melt: "Brother Chu Shi, I was ignorant before, and I was obsessed. Please don't be angry with me, okay? Can I go with you? We will both be in the Great Sun Holy Land in the future, and we can look out for each other..."

Such manipulative, insincere words; her level was disgustingly low.

Chu Shi smiled instantly. He didn't even have the heart to deal with her. He frowned and spat out only one word: "Get lost."

The expression on Yun Mengyao's face froze instantly, and she widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at the cold young man in front of her.

"Don't bother me." Chu Shi swept a cold glance at her, his tone devoid of any warmth. "Whose coattails you want to ride is your business, but don't come near me. I find it dirty."

After speaking, he walked straight around her and turned to leave, without a moment's hesitation.

Yun Mengyao stood in place, watching Chu Shi's back. The fragility on her face faded away completely, leaving only deep resentment and unwillingness. Her fingernails dug fiercely into her palms, and she didn't even notice the blood seeping out.

At a street corner not far away, Li Hao stood there, his whole body icy cold. He watched this scene, and then recalled how Yun Mengyao had cried in his arms begging for his help just moments ago, feeling like a clown.

It turned out that from beginning to end, he was just a pawn in this woman's hands, a tool used to climb higher and pave her way. All that talk about love, about spending their lives together, was all nonsense to deceive him.

Li Hao laughed at himself, tightened his grip on the scabbard at his waist, the innocence in his eyes fading away, leaving only clarity and coldness.

On the other side, Chu Shi had just walked to the gate of the Chu Mansion when he was startled by the scene before him.

The doorman, who usually treated him with indifference, was now standing at the gate with a hunched back, his face full of fawning smiles.

The main gate of the Chu Mansion was wide open. The old steward of the Chu family, leading a group of servants, stood neatly on both sides of the walkway. Seeing him enter, they all bowed in unison: "Welcome back, Third Young Master!"

The head of the Chu family, his father Patriarch Chu Hongyuan, was actually standing at the door of the main hall waiting for him personally. This treatment was worlds apart from his previous status as a concubine's son who couldn't even see his father a few times a year.

"Shi'er, you're back. Come in and sit." Patriarch Chu Hongyuan's face was full of kind smiles. He stepped forward, affectionately took his wrist, and led him into the main hall. "Quick, serve tea! Serve the best Spirit Mist Tea!"

Chu Shi calmly withdrew his hand and sat down on a chair. His expression was calm, without any sign of being flattered.

Patriarch Chu Hongyuan looked at his composed demeanor and was even more satisfied. He had talent and could stay calm; this child would surely be able to lead the Chu family to a higher level in the future.

"Shi'er, you have really brought honor to our Chu family this time!" Patriarch Chu Hongyuan said with a smile, waving his hand, and a storage bag landed on the table in front of Chu Shi.

"Inside this are ten thousand taels of silver, three bottles of Body Tempering Pills, and three bottles of Bone Tempering Pills. Consider it a small token from your father. Once you go to the Holy Land, you cannot lack resources for your cultivation. If it's not enough, send a message to the family at any time. The family is your greatest backing."

Chu Shi glanced at the storage bag, did not move, and just said indifferently: "Thank you, Patriarch."

This address of "Patriarch" made the smile on Patriarch Chu Hongyuan's face stiffen for a moment, then it returned to normal. He knew that he had neglected this mother and son too much in the past, and now, wanting to close the distance just by using things would have to be done slowly.

He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of genuine guilt: "Shi'er, it was my fault as a father in the past. I neglected to take care of you and your mother. Rest assured, from now on, it will never be like this again."

"I have already given the order. From today on, your mother, Madam Liu, will be promoted from concubine to equal wife, entered into the Chu family genealogy, and will enjoy the same treatment as the matriarch."

Patriarch Chu Hongyuan looked into Chu Shi's eyes and said word by word, "From now on, the second wing of the Chu family will be your mother's courtyard. Any servant in the mansion who dares to slight her in the slightest will be sold off immediately."

Chu Shi's fingertips moved slightly, and he looked up at Patriarch Chu Hongyuan. He didn't care about the Chu family's resources or this so-called equal wife status. But after all, he had reincarnated, and this was his biological mother.

His mother had been trapped in the backyard her whole life, and because he was not favored, she had suffered cold eyes and grievances. Now that she could be elevated in status and no longer have to look at others' expressions, it was a good thing after all.

He nodded slightly, his tone softening a little: "Thank you, Father."

This address of "Father" made Patriarch Chu Hongyuan instantly breathe a sigh of relief, and the smile on his face became much more genuine.

He continued: "By the way, Shi'er, our Chu family also has quite a few disciples cultivating in the Great Sun Holy Land. The one with the highest seniority among them is your paternal cousin, Deacon Chu Feng, who is currently an Outer Sect Disciple deacon in the Holy Land and is already at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm."

"I have already sent him a message. When you arrive at the Holy Land, go visit him. We are all family. He has been in the Holy Land for many years and has wide connections. He can give you a lot of support and can also protect you."

Chu Shi casually agreed: "Alright, I understand."

He knew clearly in his heart that everything Patriarch Chu Hongyuan did was nothing more than valuing his talent and wanting to bind him and the Chu family firmly together. But he didn't care about these things. As long as his mother could live a little better, he didn't mind doing these small things.

As they were speaking, a rush of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.