7: Zhao Yanran, heartbroken with regret

The Zhao Family, back garden.

A hundred flowers bloomed, each competing for beauty and brilliance.

Zhao Yanran sat in the pavilion, holding a volume of ancient texts in her hand, yet her mind was completely elsewhere.

In her mind, she was fantasizing about her beautiful future life.

Ten months ago, at the Chu Family's testing ceremony, she had publicly torn up the marriage contract and made a clean break with that trash Chu He. Since then, far from being damaged, her reputation had actually attracted the pursuit of even more young talents.

After all, Zhao Yanran was the acknowledged number one beauty of Qingyang City, possessed decent talent, and now that she was single again, she naturally became a prize in the eyes of countless people.

After careful selection by her Family, a new marriage alliance was finally settled for her.

The other party was Wang Teng, the Second Young Master of the neighboring city, Black Stone City's, city lord.

It was said that Wang Teng was already at the sixth level of the Qi Gathering Realm at a young age; he was exceptionally gifted, and his future prospects were limitless.

Zhao Yanran had met him once. Although he looked ordinary, the arrogance of a noble Young Master and the powerful strength he possessed made her very satisfied.

She believed that before long, she would marry into the Black Stone City Lord's Mansion and become a high and mighty young mistress.

By then, she would be able to completely escape this small place called Qingyang City and see the wider world.

As for that trash Chu He, she had long since forgotten him.

In her view, for a guy like that—whose Bloodline was depleted and who couldn't even be a man—the best end would be to grow old and die alone in that dilapidated Chu Family courtyard, after which the Li Family and her Zhao Family would divide the last bit of his Family property.

"A fine bird chooses its tree to perch on; my choice, Zhao Yanran's choice, is absolutely correct."

She told herself this more than once.

Just as she was filled with longing for the future, a maidservant ran over with a panicked expression, forgetting even her manners.

"Miss... Young Miss! It's bad! Something huge has happened!"

Zhao Yanran's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she put down her book with some displeasure: "Running around in such a panic, where is your sense of decorum? What is there to be so surprised about?"

The maidservant panted heavily, her face filled with horror and disbelief.

"It's... it's the Chu Family! That Chu He of the Chu Family... he... he..."

"Chu He?" Hearing this name, a flash of disgust crossed Zhao Yanran's eyes. "What's wrong with that trash now? Did he finally starve to death, or was he beaten to death by the Li Family? Is such a trivial matter worth you coming to report?"

"No! No, Young Miss!" The maidservant was so anxious she was almost in tears, finally getting the words out smoothly. "That Chu He... he... he has become a Foundation Establishment Stage Master!"

"What did you say?"

The elegance and calm on Zhao Yanran's face vanished without a trace instantly. She stood up abruptly, her voice changing pitch.

She suspected she had heard wrong.

"Say that again! What happened to Chu He?"

"Young Miss!" The maidservant was startled by her reaction but still recounted the news she had just heard from outside in full detail. "The whole city is going crazy! This morning, the Li Family Young Lord Li Wei took people to the Chu Family to cause trouble, but Chu He crippled every single one of them by himself! Li Wei's limbs were broken, and the Li Family's Attendant Wu, that Qi Gathering Realm expert, was slapped to death by Chu He with a single blow!"

"Now everyone is saying that Chu He is a Foundation Establishment Stage Immortal figure! He even told the Li Family Clan Chief to come and offer all their Family assets on his knees within three days, or he'll exterminate their entire clan!"

Boom!

Every word from the maidservant was like a bolt of heavenly thunder, striking Zhao Yanran's mind ruthlessly.

Foundation Establishment Stage... slapping a Qi Gathering Realm expert to death... making the Li Family Clan Chief kneel to offer his assets... how... how is this possible?!

Zhao Yanran's body swayed, nearly failing to keep her balance. She leaned against the pavilion pillar, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

In her mind, the scene from ten months ago on the Chu Family high platform involuntarily surfaced.

The youth had kept his head down, his bangs covering his eyes. Amidst everyone's ridicule and humiliation, he slowly crouched down and picked up the two halves of the marriage contract.

Then, he stood up and looked at her with eyes that were terrifyingly calm.

"Zhao Yanran, remember the words you said today."

"This marriage wasn't ended by your rejection. It is I, Chu He, who has divorced you."

At the time, she only thought it was laughable, thinking it was just the final deathbed struggle of a piece of trash.

But now, those words and that look were like the sharpest of knives, stabbing ruthlessly into her heart.

As it turned out, it wasn't a bluff.

As it turned out, behind those calm eyes was hidden a terrifying power that she couldn't even begin to imagine!

"Foundation Establishment Stage... how could he be at the Foundation Establishment Stage..."

Zhao Yanran murmured to herself, her soul seemingly lost.

She couldn't figure it out, she simply couldn't!

How could a piece of trash with a depleted Bloodline, someone who couldn't even perform cultivation, someone she called a "eunuch," leap to become a legendary Foundation Establishment Stage Master in just ten short months?

This wasn't scientific! This wasn't how cultivation worked!

Could it be... he had been hiding his strength all along?

As soon as this thought appeared, she dismissed it herself.

Impossible! If he had this kind of strength, he wouldn't have allowed his cultivation to regress three years ago and endured all those cold looks. He certainly wouldn't have remained indifferent while being humiliated by her like that at the testing ceremony.

Then why on earth?

Zhao Yanran racked her brains but couldn't understand it.

But she knew one thing for certain.

That was, she, Zhao Yanran, had made a decision that would cause her life-long regret.

She had personally pushed away a massive Opportunity!

To be the Dao Companion of a Foundation Establishment Stage Master!

This status—never mind in Qingyang City—even in Black Stone City or even larger provincial cities, was something countless people dreamed of!

With such a husband, she would truly have the possibility of realizing her dream of "Ascension to the Upper Realm"!

It was ten thousand times better than that Wang Teng guy!

But what about now?

In front of the whole city, she had torn up the marriage contract and humiliated him with the most vicious language.

Between them, there was no longer even a shred of possibility.

"No... not necessarily..."

A glimmer of hope suddenly flashed in Zhao Yanran's eyes.

"We did have a marriage contract after all... he might not be completely heartless toward me... otherwise, why did he say 'It is I who has divorced you' back then? He still has me in his heart!"

"Right! He must be acting out of spite against me!"

"Now that he's become a master, he must be very proud and really wants to see me regretful. As long as... as long as I'm willing to lower myself and go soften him up, maybe... maybe there's still a chance!"

Once this thought arose, it grew wildly in her heart like weeds.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it made sense.

Don't men all love to see women who once looked down on them come back and fawn over them?

As long as she lowered her posture enough and given how beautiful she was, Chu He... it was impossible for him not to be tempted!

Thinking of this, Zhao Yanran's heart became lively again.

She immediately turned around and walked quickly toward her bedroom.

She was going to change into her most beautiful clothes and apply her most exquisite makeup. She wanted Chu He to see that she, Zhao Yanran, was still the most beautiful woman in Qingyang City! She wanted him to know that only she was worthy of a Foundation Establishment Stage Master like him!

Just then, a middle-aged man walked hurriedly from the front yard and happened to run right into her.

"Yanran! Where are you going?"

The newcomer was the head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Wuji.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji no longer had his usual composure; his face was written with panic and anxiety.

"Father!" Seeing her father, Zhao Yanran quickly said, "I was just about to look for you! About Chu He..."

"I know everything!" Zhao Wuji interrupted her with a grim expression. "Li Zhenwu of the Li Family was just here and told me everything! This Chu He is simply a madman! Our Zhao Family has been miserably harmed by you this time!"

Zhao Wuji was fuming with rage.

Back when they divided the Chu Family's assets, his Zhao Family was a main force. When the marriage was called off and Chu He was humiliated, his daughter was the vanguard.

Now that Chu He had returned with overwhelming power and taken the first strike against the Li Family, the next one would one hundred percent be his Zhao Family!

At the thought of facing the wrath of a Foundation Establishment Stage Master, Zhao Wuji felt his scalp tingle and his legs go weak.

"Father! Don't be in such a hurry!" Zhao Yanran said quickly. "I think there's still a turn for the better! Chu He... he was my fiancé before after all, he must still have old feelings for me. I... I plan to go to the Chu Family to visit him and explain the misunderstanding from back then..."

"Visit? Explain?" Zhao Wuji looked at his daughter as if she were a fool. "Is there something wrong with your head? You called the man a eunuch in front of the whole city! Now you're going to explain? Do you think he'll believe you? If he doesn't slap you to death, it'll be considered a mercy for old times' sake!"

"But..."

"No buts!" Zhao Wuji waved his hand irritably. "That old fox Li Zhenwu wants to drag our Zhao Family down with them to resist Chu He together. But in my view, it's hopeless! Against a Foundation Establishment expert, what is there to resist with? Now the only way is to take the initiative to show goodwill before he comes to our door, and see if we can pay our way out of this disaster!"

As Zhao Wuji spoke, a flash of heartache over the potential loss of wealth crossed his eyes.

"I've already had a generous gift prepared. In a moment, I'll personally go to the Chu Family to offer a humble apology! I hope he can show some mercy for the sake of my old face!"

"Father! You can't go!" Zhao Yanran grew anxious. "You are the head of the Family, how can you go bow your head to him? Let me go instead! I'm a girl, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to be too harsh with me. As long as he's willing to see me, I'm confident I can persuade him!"

Zhao Yanran was playing her own little game in her heart.

If her father went, then at most it would be a matter of paying money to settle it, and she and Chu He would be completely finished.

Only if she went personally would there be a chance to salvage this relationship!

Zhao Wuji looked at his daughter's self-confident appearance and felt a wave of hesitation.

He knew that his daughter, from childhood to adulthood, had relied on her beauty and talent to play those young men like fiddles; she indeed had quite a few tricks.

Perhaps... letting her go try would really have a miraculous effect?

"Then... fine." Zhao Wuji finally nodded. "But when you go, you must keep your posture low! No matter what unpleasant things he says, you have to endure it! Understand? The lives and property of our Zhao Family are all tied to you!"

"Father, don't worry! Your daughter knows what to do!"

A flash of joy crossed Zhao Yanran's eyes as she turned and walked away quickly.

Watching his daughter's departing back, Zhao Wuji's heart was in turmoil, always feeling a bit uneasy.

He didn't know whether this decision to let his daughter go was right or wrong.