23: The wind is coming, an uninvited guest

"Re-… re-do the wedding night?"

When Lin Waner heard Chu He's words, her exquisite face instantly flushed crimson.

She looked at Chu He with some confusion, thinking, *Haven't we been... for the past three months? Why do we need to re-do it?*

But seeing Chu He's extremely serious, almost eager gaze, her sharp mind immediately guessed that there was likely another hidden meaning.

Perhaps, it was related to her husband's secrets?

She didn't ask further, merely nodded shyly, her voice as faint as a mosquito: "Everything... will be as husband arranges."

"Good!" Chu He's heart settled.

He immediately went to find the head maid, Qing'er, and gave her the instructions.

Although Qing'er also found it strange, she unconditionally supported any decision made by her master.

Soon, the entire Chu Family became busy again.

Although it was only a "re-do" of the wedding night, Chu He gave strict orders that everything must be done according to the highest standards.

Red lanterns, red silk, red paper-cuts...

The entire main courtyard of the Chu Family was decorated festively, even livelier than the grand banquet for guests three days prior.

Lin Waner was also surrounded by a group of maids, changing back into that purple equal wife ceremonial dress, donning the red veil, and being led into the newly arranged bridal chamber.

When Chu He entered the bridal chamber that evening, seeing Lin Waner gracefully seated by the bed with her veil on, his heart burned with passion.

He knew this wasn't a simple repetition.

This was for the more glorious future of the Chu Family! It was for the upcoming SSS-Rank Divine Child!

"Waner."

He stepped forward and gently lifted the red veil.

Beneath the veil was a breathtakingly beautiful face. Under the candlelight, it gained an extra touch of shyness and charm.

"Husband." Lin Waner looked up, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

Chu He didn't waste any more words.

He leaned down and kissed those delicate red lips.

The night passed without a word.

The next day, as the first ray of sunlight entered the room, the System's notification sound arrived in Chu He's mind as promised.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the special mission: Righteous and Proper!]

[Mission rewards have been distributed!]

[The Bloodline Rank of your offspring (in gestation) has been forcibly elevated by one stage!]

It worked!

Chu He suddenly sat up from the bed, his fists clenched tightly!

He could clearly feel that the nascent life in Lin Waner's womb, the Bloodline Aura it contained, had suddenly surged several times over!

If before, that Aura was like a Flood Dragon lurking in the abyss.

Then now, it was a true Dragon about to break through the clouds and soar among the Nine Heavens!

SS-Rank!

It was definitely SS-Rank! Perhaps even higher!

"Husband, what's wrong?" Lin Waner was startled awake by his movement and asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Nothing, nothing!" Chu He turned back to her, his face filled with uncontrollable ecstasy. "Waner, you rest well! From today onwards, you don't have to do anything! Leave the matters of the Pill Hall to the subordinates! Your mission is to peacefully and calmly give birth to our precious little one!"

Lin Waner looked at his excited, childlike expression, and her heart was filled with sweetness.

She knew that this time, she had truly bet correctly.

...

While the Chu Family was immersed in joy, outside Qingyang City, three magnificent "Snow-Treading Raven Steeds" were galloping at an extremely fast speed towards the city gate.

The leader was a young man around thirty, dressed in brocade robes, with a handsome face, but his brows carried an unconcealed arrogance. His Aura was profound and powerful, revealing him to be a Peak Ninth-Layer Qi Gathering Realm expert!

Behind him followed two stern-faced middle-aged guards, both skilled practitioners at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Second Young Master, that's Qingyang City ahead," one of the guards respectfully said.

"Mm." The young man reined in his horse, looking at the somewhat dilapidated city in the distance under the morning light, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"What a desolate place. I really don't know how a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could emerge from such a place."

He was none other than Wang Teng, the son of the City Lord of Black Stone City!

And Zhao Yanran's "former fiancé," whom she had long forgotten.

Three months ago, news of the Li Family's destruction and Chu He's powerful rise naturally reached Black Stone City.

Wang Teng's first reaction upon hearing this news was fury!

Not because Chu He was strong, but because Zhao Yanran, whom he considered his possession, had actually been the fiancée of such a "waste"! To him, this was an utter humiliation!

What angered him even more was that the Zhao Family had actually sent people to try and cancel their engagement!

Although the Zhao Family's excuse was very subtle, saying that Zhao Yanran had "contracted a serious illness and was unsuitable for marriage," Wang Teng knew exactly what was going on without even thinking.

It must be that Zhao Yanran, seeing her former waste fiancé soar to prominence, regretted it and wanted to get back together!

"Bitch!" Wang Teng was so angry he smashed his cup on the spot.

Any woman Wang Teng fancied, even if she were a dog, could only be a dog of his Wang Family! Want to run? No way!

However, he didn't immediately act out.

A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator who could rise in a small place like Qingyang City must have a formidable background.

His father, the City Lord of Black Stone City, also thought so.

So, they remained inactive, sending people to observe secretly for three months.

It wasn't until recently, when news arrived of the Chu Family hosting a grand banquet, establishing a Chamber of Commerce, and integrating the entire Qingyang City, that they finally couldn't sit still.

This Chu He had no small ambitions!

He wasn't content with just being a local tyrant; he even wanted to develop the economy and integrate forces!

This had already touched upon the interests of Black Stone City.

One must know that Qingyang City annually "paid tribute" a large amount of taxes and resources to Black Stone City. Once Qingyang City developed itself and united, would it still be so obedient?

Therefore, Wang Teng came.

He had two objectives for this visit.

First, to give this arrogant Chu He a warning, making him understand who was the boss of this region. Preferably, he could force him to submit and serve Black Stone City in the future.

Second, to go to the Zhao Family and forcibly take that bitch Zhao Yanran back to Black Stone City! He wanted that woman to know the consequences of betraying Wang Teng!

"Let's go, into the city!" Wang Teng cracked his horsewhip and was the first to charge towards the city gate.

At the city gate, the guards saw the three riders approaching menacingly and initially intended to question them.

But when they saw the token engraved with the characters "Black Stone" that Wang Teng displayed, their legs went weak with fear, and they quickly cleared the way.

Black Stone City! That was their superior main city!

Wang Teng and his two companions thus entered Qingyang City unimpeded.

He didn't go directly to the Chu Family but first found the best restaurant in the city, intending to gather information.

Inside the restaurant, it was bustling with people and extremely lively.

The waiter, seeing Wang Teng and his two companions' extraordinary attire and impressive demeanor, immediately greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Three esteemed guests, please come in! What would you like to eat?"

Wang Teng ignored him, simply found a window seat, and casually tossed out a silver ingot.

"Waiter, I have a few questions for you," he said indifferently.

"Oh my! You're too kind, esteemed guest!" The waiter's eyes lit up at the sight of the silver. "What would you like to know? I, your humble servant, am known as 'Mr. Know-It-All' in Qingyang City; there's nothing I don't know!"

"Tell me, what's the background of that Chu Family, that Chu He, in your city?" Wang Teng took a sip of tea, asking as if casually.

"The Chu Family? Senior Chu?" The waiter's expression instantly changed upon hearing that name, filled with reverence and admiration.

"Esteemed guest, you must be from out of town, right?" He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously. "Senior Chu is no ordinary person! He is our Qingyang City's once-in-a-century... Immortal-like figure!"

Next, the waiter embellished Chu He's "glorious deeds" of the past few months, such as instantly killing a Qi Gathering Realm expert, shattering the Li Family's grand formation with a single palm, and slaying Li Zhentian with a mere thought, recounting them all.

The more Wang Teng and the two guards behind him listened, the graver their expressions became.

Especially when he heard "slaying Li Zhentian with a mere thought," Wang Teng's eyelid couldn't help but twitch.

He had also heard of the power of the Li Family's "spirit-breaking divine crossbow." Even his father, the City Lord of Black Stone City, wouldn't dare to face that thing head-on!

This Chu He could actually destroy it with a single thought and kill the person as well?

This strength... was probably more than just Early Stage Foundation Establishment!

"Could it be... Mid Foundation Establishment stage?" Wang Teng thought to himself, his face turning somewhat grim.

If the opponent was truly at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, then his visit this time would likely not be a warning, but a delivery of his own head.

"Then what... what is his background? Is he a Disciple of some major Sect?" Wang Teng asked unwillingly.

"I don't know!" The waiter shook his head. "Senior Chu seemed to have appeared out of thin air! Some say he's an Immortal from the Upper Realm reincarnated, others say he obtained an ancient Legacy. Anyway, there are all sorts of rumors. But all the common folk in Qingyang City know that Senior Chu is our great savior! If it weren't for him, we'd still be bullied by those bastards from the Li Family and Zhao Family!"

The waiter spoke with great enthusiasm.

Wang Teng's heart, however, sank little by little.

The situation was far more complex than he had imagined.

This Chu He was not only unfathomably strong, but his prestige in Qingyang City was also incredibly high.

If he rashly made a move against him, it would likely incite public anger.

"Second Young Master, what... what do we do now?" a guard leaned over and whispered.

Wang Teng's expression was constantly changing.

To go back so shamefully? He couldn't afford to lose face!

But to force his way into the Chu Family... he didn't have the guts.

"First... first go to the Zhao Family!" Wang Teng gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"First, get that bitch Zhao Yanran! I don't believe that Chu He would break ties with our Black Stone City for a discarded woman he doesn't want!"

He felt that he could first use Zhao Yanran to test Chu He's reaction and bottom line.

Having made up his mind, Wang Teng threw down the tea money and, with his two guards, full of Killing Intent, headed straight for the Zhao Family mansion.