4: Chapter 4: To establish a friendly relationship between Qin and Jin

When Qin Zhan and Qin Long emerged from the room, both wore bitter expressions.

"Elder Brother! What should we do about this matter?"

Qin Long asked Qin Zhan, who stood beside him.

Qin Zhan furrowed his brow: "What else can we do? The Old Family Head has spoken. Could we possibly oppose him?"

Qin Long said with a wry smile: "But will the Ye Family agree to this?"

"That's not up to them. It would be best if they agreed. If they don't, then there will be no Ye Family left in Spiritwind City in the future!"

Qin Zhan said in an eerie tone, his voice filled with ice!

"Didn't the Old Family Head say not to take action?"

Qin Long asked, puzzled.

"That depends on whether the other side is sensible or not!"

Having said that, Qin Zhan strode purposefully towards the storeroom.

An hour later, the two Qin brothers, accompanied by a group of Qin Family clansmen, led several chests of betrothal gifts out of the Qin Family residence! They marched in a grand procession towards the Ye Family residence!

"What is the Qin Family up to?"

"They're heading in the direction of the Ye Family. Could they be going to cause trouble for the Ye Family?"

"It doesn't seem like it. Who goes to cause trouble dragging several chests along? This looks more like delivering gifts!"

"Delivering gifts? Impossible. Isn't it rumored that the Qin Family's Old Family Head achieved a Breakthrough to the Innate Realm? Shouldn't the Ye Family be the ones sending gifts to the Qin Family?"

..."

The procession of people from the Qin Family alarmed the pedestrians on the street, who began to discuss the matter amongst themselves!

Ye Family, Rear Courtyard!

"Family Head, trouble! A group from the Qin Family is heading towards our Ye Family, pulling several chests. We don't know what they intend to do!"

A Ye Family clansman rushed into the rear courtyard in a panic to report to Patriarch Ye Long!

"What are they here for?"

Upon hearing this, Patriarch Ye Long frowned, somewhat confused. His intuition told him the other party's visit was certainly not for anything good!

"Go and notify the other clansmen! We'll go to the gate to see what the Qin Family is up to."

Patriarch Ye Long instructed the clansman, then headed towards the main gate!

The laws of the Great Wei Dynasty forbade Martial Artists from fighting within city walls and strictly prohibited them from killing without cause in the city. What happened in the shadows, they lacked the energy to police thoroughly, but on the surface, few families dared to violate these rules!

Therefore, although Patriarch Ye Long felt the Qin Family's visit to his Ye Family harbored ill intentions, he wasn't overly worried. After all, the Qin Family wouldn't dare to openly attack his Ye Family.

By the time the Qin Family contingent arrived at the Ye Family, Patriarch Ye Long had already been waiting there with the Ye Family members for some time!

"Qin Family Head, what business brings you to my Ye Family?"

Patriarch Ye Long asked, looking at Qin Zhan, who was at the head of the group!

"Haha! Brother Ye, it's good news. Our Qin Family bears no ill will. We've come this time to discuss an important matter!"

Qin Zhan ignored the coldness in the other's tone and replied with a hearty laugh!

"Good news?"

Patriarch Ye Long frowned. What possible good news could the Qin Family bring?

"Brother Ye, this isn't the place to discuss matters. Aren't you going to invite us in?"

Qin Zhan gestured around them as he spoke!

"Very well! This place is indeed unsuitable for discussions. Brother Qin, please come in!"

After listening, Patriarch Ye Long thought for a moment and then said!

Patriarch Ye Long led the Qin Family contingent into the main hall of the Ye Family residence.

"Brother Qin! Now, can you explain the purpose of your visit to my Ye Family?"

No sooner had they taken their seats than Patriarch Ye Long asked!

"Haha! Brother Ye, don't be impatient. It is good news. My father wishes to take your younger sister, Ye Suxin, as his concubine, to forge a marriage alliance between our families. What does Brother Ye think?"

Qin Zhan slowly sipped his tea and said with a smile!

"What?"

Upon hearing this, the Ye Family members were inwardly shocked. They would never have imagined that the other party had come to propose a marriage, and on behalf of their Old Family Head! Their Old Family Head was already over eighty years old!

"I disagree! Qin Zhan, your father is over eighty years old. My sister is only in her thirties. How dare you come here to propose such a thing?"

The Ye Family's Third Master, Ye Bao, glared at Qin Zhan and said, his eyes filled with fury!

"Qin Family Head! Are you certain you're not joking?"

Patriarch Ye Long also looked at Qin Zhan and spoke coldly. Although he was very dissatisfied that his younger sister had borne a child out of wedlock, bringing shame to the Ye Family, he still cared deeply for this sister. How could he possibly let her marry an old wretch as a concubine?

"I'm not joking. My father has Broken Through to the Innate Realm, increasing his Lifespan by sixty years. His Lifespan is now longer than yours or mine. Your sister marrying my father as a concubine is actually her marrying above her station."

Qin Zhan was completely indifferent to the Ye Family's anger! After his father's Breakthrough to the Innate Realm, his status had instantly changed. Previously, he was an old wretch about to enter the earth. Now, he was an Innate Realm expert who could live another sixty years, with a Lifespan even longer than Qin Zhan's own, certainly capable of leading their Qin Family to greater heights.

Taking a woman who had already borne a child as a concubine was absolutely the other party marrying up.

"You!"

The Ye Family members wanted to retort after hearing this, but the words died in their throats. Given Qin Xiao's current Martial Arts Realm, it was indeed Ye Suxin marrying above her station to marry him. After all, an Innate Realm Martial Artist was a top-tier figure, not just in their small Spiritwind City, but even in the prefectural city!

Such a figure was more than sufficient to take even an unmarried Young Miss from a noble Family as a concubine, let alone a woman who had already borne a child!

"Brother Ye can consider it first. An alliance between our two families brings a hundred benefits and no harm. We could jointly develop Spiritwind City, making it more prosperous."

Qin Zhan said with a sincere expression! Spiritwind City was just a small city with a population of several hundred thousand, with relatively few resources, barely enough to sustain a limited number of Martial Artists. If their Qin Family wanted to grow stronger, they either had to plunder others' resources or make the 'pie' bigger.

If the Ye Family rejected his Qin Family's goodwill, then they couldn't blame the Qin Family for being ruthless!

"This!"

Hearing Qin Zhan's words, the Ye Family members fell silent. They naturally understood the implication: agree, and we become one Family, prospering together; disagree, and we become enemies. Either the Ye Family leaves Spiritwind City, or they die here!

"Brother Ye can discuss it amongst yourselves. Just give us your answer tomorrow!"

Seeing the Ye Family members momentarily unresponsive, Qin Zhan spoke up! Then he led the Qin Family contingent away from the Ye Family, leaving only the several chests of gifts behind.

After the Qin Family contingent left, the Ye Family main hall fell into silence. Everyone pondered Qin Zhan's parting words, each with their own thoughts!

"What are your views on this matter?"

Patriarch Ye Long was the first to break the silence, looking at the clansmen below as he asked!

"Family Head, this old man believes the Qin Family has come with sincerity in this matter. Forming a marriage alliance with the Qin Family would only bring benefits, no disadvantages, to our Ye Family! I believe our Ye Family should agree to this!"

The Ye Family's Second Elder, Ye Nantian, spoke up. He personally felt that marrying Ye Suxin to Qin Xiao and allying with the Qin Family was a good thing!

"Nonsense! Why don't you marry your own daughter to that old scoundrel Qin Xiao?"

Ye Bao glared at Ye Nantian and roared, wishing he could beat this old fellow senseless!

"If Qin Xiao had taken a liking to my daughter, I would certainly be willing to marry her to him!"

Ye Nantian glanced at the furious Ye Bao and spoke calmly.

He paid no heed to Ye Bao's words. A rash, hot-tempered brute with little brain—arguing with him was beneath his dignity.

"You!"

Ye Bao was about to say more!

"I also agree with Second Brother. I support forming a marriage alliance with the Qin Family!"

The Ye Family's Grand Elder, Ye Nanchang, spoke up! He was of the same generation as Qin Xiao and was now quite advanced in age. Within the Ye Family, his status and seniority were both very high!

"Second Uncle, you..."

Seeing Ye Nanchang speak, Ye Bao opened his mouth, wanting to say something!