Chapter 138: Chapter 136: Take Her or Not?
The Seventh Layer of the Hua Family courtyards—the Clan Leader’s residence.
Jiang Jichen looked at the Hua Family Patriarch, whose face still bore a sickly pallor. "You did all this for the sake of the Hua Family," he began. "Right now, the Hua Family is in decline, on the verge of collapse. On the surface, the two most powerful figures in the family are the Grand Elder and yourself. If you two were to fight, even if you won, it would be a pyrrhic victory. Without experts like you and the Grand Elder to keep things stable, a family like ours would be swiftly annexed and destroyed. Therefore, there’s no benefit to fighting. What’s more, in your current condition, victory is not guaranteed. That’s why, a moment ago, the only option was to de-escalate—to turn a big problem into a small one, and a small one into nothing. At the very least, you must maintain a facade of peace to prevent outsiders from seizing an opportunity!"
Hua Xiaoling listened from the side, completely stunned. She had never imagined there were so many twists and turns to the situation. She looked hesitantly at her grandfather, the Clan Leader. "Grandfather, is that really true?"
However, just as Hua Xiaoling finished speaking, the Clan Leader suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.
The color drained from Hua Xiaoling’s face. She rushed forward to support the Clan Leader, crying out in alarm, "Grandfather, you...!"
But the Hua Family Patriarch nonchalantly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and cut Hua Xiaoling off. "It’s nothing, just a minor injury. The poison in my body was only just cured. It’s only natural I’d suffer a small injury after trading a palm strike with the Grand Elder. I was just holding it in. Now that I’ve spat out that mouthful of blood, I actually feel much better. But even the Grand Elder couldn’t tell I was injured, yet this young friend saw through it at a glance and even understood all the hidden complexities of the situation. Truly an extraordinary person!"
Jiang Jichen smiled. "Clan Leader, you flatter me. I’ll be staying in Fenggu Town for a month, so I’ll be in your care during this time!"
After spitting out the blood, the Hua Family Patriarch’s complexion did indeed improve quite a bit. His gaze toward Jiang Jichen filled with growing admiration. "Ling’Er told me everything that happened," he said. "You didn’t just save this old man and Ling’Er’s lives; you saved the entire Hua Family. You are our great benefactor. I, Hua Shanyue, am not one to receive a kindness and not repay it. But a debt for saving one’s life is the most difficult to repay. So, the Hua Family will remember this. Whatever you ask of us, we will grant it."
Jiang Jichen was secretly surprised. He hadn’t expected the Hua Family Patriarch to make such a grand promise. He could only say politely, "Hua Race Master, you are too generous!"
The Hua Family Patriarch, Hua Yueshan, however, just smiled and waved his hand. "Not generous at all. Besides, since Ling’Er has already announced to the entire city that you are her man, then from now on, Ling’Er is your woman. You don’t get to refuse this!"
Hua Xiaoling, who was standing to the side, was mortified, but her eyes were also beaming with joy. She pouted playfully, "Grandfather, what are you talking about?"
Jiang Jichen hadn’t expected the people here to be so direct. He had never experienced anything like this and was at a loss for words. "This...!"
However, the Hua Family Patriarch waved his hand grandly. "Don’t you try to weasel out of it with some crap excuse like you already have a sweetheart, or you’re already married, or you’re truly in love with someone else! I hate those excuses! A man should have many excellent women. That’s how you prove you’re powerful and charming! Otherwise, you’re not worth a damn. Take me, for example. When I was young..."
Hearing Hua Shanyue’s words, Hua Xiaoling was left speechless for a moment before cutting him off. "Grandfather, you..."
Hua Shanyue knew he had almost let something slip. He quickly changed the subject, asking loudly, "Alright, you brat, stop being so wishy-washy! You won’t even take a woman who’s throwing herself at you? I’ll just ask you one thing: Hua Xiaoling is the number one beauty in Fenggu City. Are you taking her or not?"
Jiang Jichen was dumbfounded. He had never met someone so aggressive they would force their own granddaughter on him!
On top of that, Hua Xiaoling was staring at him with wide, expectant eyes.
’Damn, what kind of grandfather and granddaughter are these? But am I, Jiang Jichen, the type of person who bows to coercion?’
’Hmph, an awesome life needs no explanation! To prove I’m a real man, I must accept Hua Xiaoling!’
Jiang Jichen then declared resolutely, "Hua Xiaoling, from this day forward, I am your man!"
Hua Xiaoling replied shyly, "I already promised you. Even if you didn’t agree, I would have followed you from now on."
’Alright, so this little minx had already planned on sticking with him!’
The Hua Family Patriarch, Hua Shanyue, said, "Alright, it’s settled then. I have something here. Consider it part of her dowry!"
As he spoke, Hua Shanyue took a Black Token from his waist. "This is the access token for the Hua Family’s forbidden ground. Only by holding this Black Token can one enter without being harmed by the Restriction Residual Force there. However, even with the Black Token, generations of our Hua Family have only been able to reach the middle of the forbidden ground; no one has ever been able to go deeper. So, we don’t know what lies in its depths. But there is one immense benefit: cultivating there is ten times faster than normal. In that environment, your Spiritual Power can be tempered again, becoming even purer. Furthermore, it is a land of ancient remnants. If you can comprehend even a sliver of its principles, the benefits will be endless. There’s a catch, though. Throughout our family’s history, no one has been able to stay inside for more than three days. The lingering aura of death there is terrifying and can extinguish one’s life force. So, once you reach your limit, don’t push yourself. Retreat immediately."
Jiang Jichen was having a little trouble keeping up with the Hua Clan Leader’s train of thought, but he still took the Black Token.
What he lacked most right now was strength. Therefore, he wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to improve his power.
Finally, Hua Shanyue added, "Alright, I need to go into seclusion for a while, starting now. You two be careful here in the Hua Family!"
After speaking, Hua Shanyue entered the seclusion chamber, leaving Jiang Jichen and Hua Xiaoling alone.
Jiang Jichen knew, of course, that with the Thousand Poisons just cured, Hua Shanyue would need a period of rest to recover fully.
Toying with the Black Token in his hand, he asked, "Sister Xiaoling, who was the last person to enter this Hua Family forbidden ground?"
Hua Xiaoling gave him a shocking answer: "Throughout history, only the Hua Clan Leader has ever held the Black Token. So, naturally, the last person to go in was my grandfather."
Hearing Hua Xiaoling’s words, he instantly understood. The Black Token was supposed to have been for her to use. But now that Jiang Jichen was her man, it was naturally given to him. Clearly, Hua Shanyue intended to entrust the Hua Family to him.
But then Jiang Jichen suddenly asked, "Can’t this Black Token get two people in?"
Hua Xiaoling’s eyes lit up. "No one’s ever tried, but no one ever said you can’t, either!"
"In that case, let’s go together!"
And so, Jiang Jichen took Hua Xiaoling by the hand, and together they walked toward the Ninth Layer of the Hua Family courtyards.
However, to enter the Ninth Layer courtyard, one first had to pass through the 8th Layer courtyard—the place where the Hua Family’s Old Ancestor cultivated!
