18: Lin Wan'er's decision

Qingyang City, Hundred Herbs Hall.

In a quiet room in the backyard, Lin Waner was facing a half-man-tall Pill Furnace, her brows tightly furrowed.

The furnace fire blazed, and the fragrance of pills filled the air.

But her mind was not on Alchemy at all.

For these past three days, she had barely been able to sleep.

The proposal Chu He had given her was like a pebble thrown into her originally calm heart, stirring up massive waves.

Marry him?

Become his woman?

Merge the entire Hundred Herbs Hall into the Chu Family?

This thought made her feel both ridiculous and an indescribable... temptation.

Lin Waner had shown extraordinary Alchemy talent since childhood. Possessing the Yimu Body, she had a natural affinity for the Spiritual Qi of various plants and herbs. Her dream was to become a legendary Dao Grandmaster and refine Divine Pills that could change one's fate against heaven.

For this reason, she had rejected countless young talents who came to propose marriage.

In her view, men would only slow down her Alchemy speed.

However, reality had dealt her a resounding slap.

Talent alone without resources or a backer was all empty talk.

Over the years, under the joint suppression of the Li Family and the Pill Treasure Pavilion, the Hundred Herbs Hall had struggled. It had become difficult for her even to collect herbs for refining basic pills, let alone pursue the ethereal ultimate of the Dao of Alchemy.

More than once, she had felt powerless and despairing.

And now, a monumental opportunity lay before her.

Chu He.

A powerhouse at the Foundation Establishment Stage who had appeared out of nowhere.

He was like a ray of light, tearing through the darkness that shrouded her.

As long as she nodded, she could have everything she dreamed of.

Powerful protection, so she would no longer have to worry about harassment from the Pill Treasure Pavilion.

Inexhaustible resources—the wealth paid by the Li Family and Zhao Family as compensation was enough for her to treat Medicinal Pills like regular meals.

Most importantly, a living "Innate Spiritual Body" would allow her to observe and study him up close, which would provide immeasurable benefits to her progress in the Dao of Alchemy.

Logic told her this was her only chance, the only way out for the Hundred Herbs Hall.

She should agree without hesitation.

However, her pride and reserve made it impossible for her to easily entrust the rest of her life to a man she had only met once.

"Sigh..."

Lin Waner sighed and extinguished the furnace fire in agitation.

A batch of high-quality qi condensation pills was ruined because her mind was unsettled and she failed to control the heat.

Just then, an old man walked in hurriedly.

It was the head steward of the Hundred Herbs Hall, Uncle Fu, who had watched Lin Waner grow up.

"Young Miss! Young Miss! Something big has happened!" Uncle Fu's face was full of shock and excitement.

"Uncle Fu, what is it that makes you so flustered?" Lin Waner frowned.

"The Li Family! The Li Family is finished!" Uncle Fu said, panting. "Just now, Senior Chu broke into the Li Family single-handedly! Li Zhentian set up a grand array to besiege him, but Senior Chu broke the array in one move! Finally, Li Zhentian brought out the City Lord's Mansion's 'spirit-breaking divine crossbow', but with just a thought, Senior Chu... he took his head!"

"What?!" Lin Waner stood up abruptly, her face filled with disbelief.

Single-handedly breaking an array and killing?

Taking the head of Li Zhentian, who held a weapon of mass destruction, with just a thought?

This... what kind of terrifying strength was this?!

She had thought that although Chu He was in the Foundation Establishment Stage, dealing with the deep-rooted Li Family would still take some effort.

She never expected it to be such an overwhelming, crushing victory!

"There's more! There's more!" Seeing his Young Miss stunned, Uncle Fu said even more excitedly, "After Senior Chu killed Li Zhentian, he didn't go on a killing spree. Instead, he forced the Li Family to return all the properties they had seized over the years to their original owners! Now, the small families who received their land deeds are almost ready to build a shrine for Senior Chu while he's still alive!"

"Then, the people of the Zhao Family got scared too! The head of the Family, Zhao Wuji, personally carried thorns on his back and led dozens of people to kneel outside the Chu Family gates to beg for forgiveness! I heard they knelt for over two hours, and Senior Chu didn't even show his face. Finally, that Lady Qing'er came out, set three rules, gave the Zhao Family a scolding, and then let them scram!"

Uncle Fu recounted the events outside vividly, adding a bit of color to the story.

After hearing this, Lin Waner was completely dazed.

Her brain was rapidly analyzing this information.

Chu He's strength was far greater than she had imagined!

His way of doing things made her look at him in a new light.

To his enemies, he was ruthless and merciless, killing them and crushing their spirits, leaving no future troubles.

To the common people, he had his own bottom line and principles; he didn't kill innocents and was even willing to share the spoils to win people's hearts.

This was a hero with both courage and strategy, strength, and means!

Such a man was definitely not someone who would stay in a small pond.

Qingyang City was just a stepping stone for him.

His future would surely be the sea of stars!

And if she missed this giant ship that was about to set sail, she would likely regret it for the rest of her life!

"Young Miss, today is the last day of the three-day deadline Senior Chu gave you," Uncle Fu reminded her cautiously. "Do you think... we should..."

After experiencing shock, struggle, and hesitation, Lin Waner's gaze finally became incredibly firm.

Her pride and reserve were completely shattered in the face of absolute reality and a beautiful future.

She had figured it out.

This wasn't just entrusting herself or becoming a subordinate.

This was an investment!

Using herself and the entire Hundred Herbs Hall to invest in a future with infinite potential!

"Uncle Fu." Lin Waner took a deep breath, her voice clear and decisive.

"Go, prepare all the land deeds, account books, warehouse keys, and the registry of all core Alchemists and workers of our Hundred Herbs Hall."

"Additionally, prepare my best set of clothes. I want to... bathe and change."

Uncle Fu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed!

"Young Miss! You... you've made up your mind?"

A charming blush appeared on Lin Waner's face, but her eyes were startlingly bright.

"I haven't just made up my mind."

"I'm taking a gamble."

"Gambling that my, Lin Waner's, judgment won't be wrong!"

...Half an hour later.

Another carriage stopped outside the Chu Family gates.

This time, the person who stepped off the carriage was Lin Waner.

She had changed into a light purple long dress with exquisite orchids embroidered on the hem. Her long hair was pinned up high with a green jade hairpin.

Most importantly, her signature veil was gone.

A peerlessly beautiful face, enough to make a hundred flowers pale in comparison, was thus revealed to the air without reservation.

When the guards at the door saw this face, they were momentarily dazed.

Lin Waner ignored their gazes. She held a red sandalwood tray in her hands, upon which lay a thick stack of documents.

She walked to the gate and bowed slightly to the guards.

"This humble girl, Lin Waner, seeks an audience with Senior Chu."

This time, she still used the title "Senior".

But she knew that when she came out of this door, that title would have to change.

The guard quickly went inside to report and returned just as fast, respectfully inviting her in.

It was the same courtyard, the same pavilion.

Chu He was sitting there sipping tea. When he saw Lin Waner enter, especially seeing her face without the veil, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

An appearance score of 92; she truly lived up to her reputation.

"It seems Young Miss Lin has made a decision," Chu He said calmly, putting down his teacup.

Lin Waner walked up to him without saying a word.

She simply, slowly, knelt down.

Then, she held the tray in her hands high above her head.

"Senior Chu..."

Her voice carried a hint of nervousness and shyness, but more than that, it was a kind of resolute determination.

"No."

She shook her head and corrected herself.

"Husband."

"Waner has thought it through."

"From this day forward, everyone in the Hundred Herbs Hall, as well as Waner herself, belongs to my husband. You may dispose of us as you wish, without any complaints."

Chu He looked at the face kneeling before him—shy and timid, yet breathtakingly beautiful—and smiled.

He knew that the wings for his Family's ascent were now in his hands.

Just then, the System's notification sound boomed in his mind!

[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully taken a concubine, expanding the Family's territory!]

[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: Blueprint for the Family building 'Spirit-Gathering Pill Refining Room' *1!]

[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: Cultivation Empowerment! The Host's cultivation has been raised to—Mid Foundation Establishment stage!]

Boom!

A surge of spiritual energy, even more massive than before, flooded into Chu He's entire body from thin air!"}],