44: A femme fatale's trap, Aunt's request

After learning from Su Muyue that Shangguan Xue had settled in,

Qin Lang's hanging heart finally settled back into his chest.

Once she arrived in the Capital City, she was on his turf.

As long as she continued to evolve, Qin Lang's cultivation would soar rapidly.

This feeling of reaping rewards without effort was simply too satisfying.

At the same time.

In the high-end apartment Shangguan Yan rented in the Capital City.

The crystal chandelier in the living room emitted a soft glow, and the air was filled with a faint scent of incense.

Shangguan Yan, wearing a silk nightgown, held two glasses of red wine and sat gracefully on the sofa.

"Xue'er, come, try this. This is a fine wine your Aunt has kept for several years."

She handed one of the glasses to Shangguan Xue, who was sitting opposite her.

Shangguan Xue took the glass but didn't drink, politely placing it on the coffee table.

"Aunt, is there something you need from me?"

She still maintained that cool and distant demeanor, as if keeping everyone at arm's length.

"Look at what you're saying. Can't I just chat with you if nothing's wrong?"

Shangguan Yan shot her a playful, reproachful look, then sighed, a look of reminiscence appearing on her Face.

"In the blink of an eye, you've grown so big."

"I remember when you were still in swaddling clothes, I even held you..."

She began to ramble through memories of childhood.

From the rise and fall of the Family to the hardships of the elders.

It had to be said that Shangguan Yan was an expert at manipulating hearts.

Under her deliberate guidance, the originally stiff atmosphere gradually became warm.

Shangguan Xue's expression softened considerably, and she occasionally chimed in, Awakening a sense of closeness toward this elder.

Seeing that the timing was right.

Shangguan Yan suddenly changed the subject, letting out a heavy sigh, her Face full of worry.

"Aunt, what's wrong?"

Shangguan Xue noticed her abnormality and couldn't help but ask.

"Is it because of... Muyue?"

"Sigh, you're the smart one; nothing escapes you."

Shangguan Yan shook her head with a bitter smile and drained her wine glass in one gulp.

"You have no idea, that girl is simply going to be the death of me!"

She set down the glass, her eyes slightly red as she began to vent her grievances.

"With so many excellent young men from noble families to choose from, she just had to set her sights on that Qin Lang!"

Hearing the name "Qin Lang," Shangguan Xue's hand tightened slightly on her glass, and her gaze flickered.

"Qin Lang... he's actually quite excellent."

She defended him in a low voice.

"Excellent? What use is excellence?"

Shangguan Yan snorted coldly, her tone full of disdain.

"All talent and no background! In this dog-eat-dog world, how far can he go without a Family as his backing?"

"Moreover, he chose that dead-end path!"

Shangguan Yan grew more agitated as she spoke, as if Qin Lang were the culprit who had ruined her daughter's life.

"Dual Mythic Gene? Hah, it sounds nice, but it's actually seeking one's own death!"

"Xue'er, you know how difficult the path of Dual Cultivation is. Throughout history, how many have had a good end?"

"He's joking with his own life! Following someone so reckless, Muyue will only waste her life!"

She even blurted out the news that Qin Lang had awakened an Elemental Mythical Gene to corroborate his "stupidity."

Shangguan Xue listened quietly, her brow slightly furrowed.

Although she also worried about the risks of Dual Cultivation, she remembered the boy who had triggered a celestial phenomenon in the small woods, and his confident, calm eyes.

"Aunt, perhaps... he has his own certainties?"

Shangguan Xue said softly.

"Young people have their own paths; we should respect their choices."

"Respect? I'd love to respect it!"

Shangguan Yan slammed her wine glass heavily onto the table in anger.

"You know the conditions the He Family offered—the support of their entire clan! And that 'Galaxy Resonance Art'!"

"As long as Muyue marries in, the future will be a smooth path!"

"Isn't that a hundred times better than following that Qin Lang, whose genes could collapse at any moment?"

She pleaded earnestly, trying to get Shangguan Xue on her side.

However.

Shangguan Xue only shook her head, her tone firm:

"Aunt, matters of the heart cannot be forced. If Muyue likes him, then he is the best for her."

Seeing that the soft approach failed and logic didn't work.

The light in Shangguan Yan's eyes gradually grew cold.

She took a deep breath, as if making a certain decision.

"Xue'er, since you don't believe my words, are you willing to do your Aunt a favor?"

"What favor?"

Shangguan Xue was somewhat puzzled.

Shangguan Yan suddenly leaned in closer, staring intently at Shangguan Xue's exquisite Face.

"Help me... test that Qin Lang."

"Test?"

"Exactly."

A strange curve hooked the corner of Shangguan Yan's mouth.

"Men are all animals that think with their lower bodies."

"I don't believe there's a cat in this world that won't steal a taste of fish."

She reached out and gently stroked Shangguan Xue's waterfall-like long hair, her tone becoming extremely seductive.

"Xue'er, you are the top beauty in the Heavens; no man can resist your looks."

"As long as you are willing to step forward and seduce that Qin Lang..."

"Once he takes the bait and shows his true colors, Muyue will naturally give up on him and see that scumbag for what he really is!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Shangguan Xue froze completely.

Her eyes widened, looking at this familiar yet strange elder in disbelief.

Seduce Qin Lang?

Seduce the man... with whom she had already shared the most intimate relationship?

An extremely absurd and somewhat shameful feeling instantly flooded her heart.

"No!"

Shangguan Xue stood up abruptly, her Face flushing crimson.

"Aunt, how could you make such a request? This is too..."

She wanted to say shameless, but for the sake of the elder's Face, she forced herself to swallow it back.

"Why wouldn't it work?"

Shangguan Yan didn't care; instead, she spoke with righteous conviction.

"What's wrong with using a few tricks for the sake of Muyue's happiness?"

"As long as it makes her return from her stray path, what does this little sacrifice matter?"

"This isn't a sacrifice!"

Shangguan Xue took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She looked directly into Shangguan Yan's eyes and pointed out sharply:

"Aunt, are you really doing this just for Muyue?"

"Or is it for the future of the Su Family? For yourself?"

These words were like a sharp knife, ruthlessly piercing through Shangguan Yan's disguise.

Her expression instantly turned ugly.

"Xue'er, how can you speak to your Aunt like that?"

"I'm telling the truth."

Shangguan Xue did not back down.

"Muyue's talent is obvious to everyone; even without the He Family, she can still become a powerhouse."

"You should give her more trust and give Qin Lang more time."

After saying that.

Shangguan Xue didn't want to stay any longer and turned to walk toward the guest room.

"I'm tired, I'm going to rest now."

"Xue'er! You!"

Shangguan Yan watched her resolute back, trembling with anger yet helpless.

With a "bang," the door closed.

The living room returned to a deathly silence.

Shangguan Yan slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at the empty wine glass in her hand.

Failed.

Failed again.

During this time, it wasn't that she hadn't tried other methods.

She had hired beautiful girls from Kunlun and Olympus to approach Qin Lang, trying to create a scandal.

But that Qin Lang was like a block of wood that wouldn't budge, or the Reincarnation of Liu Xia Hui.

He didn't even bother to spare a glance at those beauties, and even turned around to report them to the school security office.

He was simply an impenetrable bastard!

"Is there... really no other way?"

Shangguan Yan murmured to herself.

Her gaze flickered uncertainly in the dim light.

If she didn't kick Qin Lang out, the deal with the He Family would be completely dead.

The Su Family's hope of turning things around and returning to their Peak would be completely shattered.

"No..."

"I can't just give up like this."

She suddenly looked up, glancing at the closed door of the guest room, then at herself in the mirror—though no longer young, she still possessed lingering charm.

Since hiring people didn't work, and since Xue'er refused... then if... a crazy and bold idea quietly sprouted in her mind.

Her hands tightly gripped the collar of her silk nightgown, her knuckles turning white from the force.

A flash of resolute light crossed her eyes.

"Qin Lang... I don't believe you are truly a Saint."

It seemed she had already made a certain decision.