Volume One, Chapter 20: An Unavoidable Departure

Returning to the bridal chamber, Chen Fei called out to Miao Yue as she was about to leave.

“What’s the situation with the Su family now? You’re Miss Su’s personal maid, yet even the guards don’t listen to you?” Chen Fei asked.

“Son-in-law, you’d better not get involved in this matter,” Miao Yue sighed, still harboring some lingering anger.

“You call me ‘son-in-law,’ and as a member of the Su family, even if I can’t help Miss Su directly, I should at least understand the situation to avoid causing her any trouble,” Chen Fei frowned.

In the past, he had the will but not the power. Now, everything was different. With the awakening of the Xu Tian Cauldron, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds each day, and he had become a Spirit Master.

With such strength, if he still stood by and watched his wife suffer, his conscience would never allow it.

“That’s true. Although you can’t help Miss Su directly, knowing the inside story will at least prevent you from causing her more trouble,” Miao Yue nodded.

Chen Fei smiled wryly to himself, choosing not to explain further.

Then, Miao Yue began to outline the general situation within the Su family.

As one of the three long-established great families, the Su family had a deep foundation, controlling as many as four mining sites.

The most famous among them was the Huangling Mine, known not only for its high yield of spirit stones but also for occasionally producing rare treasures.

Su Ran went there every day.

Although Su Ran was the eldest daughter of the Su family, she had grown up away from home and only recently returned, so very few within the family truly valued her.

Of course, this was not the main reason for her low standing within the Su family. The real cause was that her arrival threatened the dominant branch of the family’s power.

The Su family patriarch had four sons. According to tradition, the eldest legitimate son was supposed to succeed as the next clan leader.

Unfortunately, the eldest son’s talent was limited. Despite the patriarch’s devoted nurturing, he could never surpass his three younger brothers in cultivation strength.

Instead, the second son, blessed with exceptional talent, had become the strongest after the patriarch. Not only that, the second son had the favor of the elder council and his two younger brothers.

As the patriarch aged and his end approached, the issue of succession became increasingly uncertain.

Within the family, support for the second son to become the next clan leader grew louder. It was at this moment that the patriarch brought back the eldest daughter.

Although the eldest son’s talent was average, if his daughter became the strongest in the family, then by the tradition of the clan leader’s inheritance, the elder council would choose the eldest son as the next leader.

Su Ran’s return became the hope for the eldest son’s line to inherit leadership but also the obstacle preventing the second son from becoming clan leader.

Thus, subtle changes emerged within the Su family. Some sought to deal with Su Ran, others wanted to marry her off, but few truly supported her.

“Where is the patriarch now?” Chen Fei frowned.

“The patriarch naturally supports our young lady, but unfortunately, he is growing old and weak, his cultivation declining, and his influence within the family waning,” Miao Yue explained helplessly.

“When the patriarch moves, it will mark the final moment for the clan leadership to change,” she sighed.

“Son-in-law, if nothing urgent comes up, just stay within Miss Su’s courtyard. Don’t give others in the Su family a chance to cause trouble because of you,” Miao Yue cautioned.

Chen Fei nodded and asked, “What is the cultivation level of the second young master?”

“I can’t say for sure now, but years ago, he had already reached the ninth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm,” Miao Yue replied.

“And the other masters?” Chen Fei continued.

“They all reached the ninth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm within recent years,” she said.

Chen Fei nodded slightly. The ninth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm corresponded to the rank of Grand Spirit Master, placing their strength among the very top in Huangwu City.

Looking back, when Su Ran said Chen Yang’s cultivation at the fifth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm was insufficient to help her, it indeed seemed accurate.

“Seems my strength is still too weak. I can’t even stand against the small Su family now.”

“The young lord won’t give up on Su Ran, even resorting to concocting the Heart-Linked Gu poison. Soon, I might have to face off against the entire city lord’s mansion.”

“Though Su Ran is only my nominal wife, she saved my life. My awakening as a Spirit Master was also thanks to her favor.”

“Her matters mean I cannot stand idly by.”

After seeing Miao Yue off, Chen Fei felt a bitter resolve and redoubled his efforts in cultivation.

At dusk, Su Ran returned and was momentarily stunned upon seeing Chen Fei wearing sunglasses.

“What’s with that…” Su Ran was surprised. With the sunglasses, Chen Fei’s appearance was strikingly handsome; she almost failed to recognize him.

“Sunglasses!” Using the ability of the Spirit-Eye Serpent, Chen Fei could clearly perceive the unprecedented astonishment on Su Ran’s beautiful face.

“Miao Yue said that wearing sunglasses makes me worthy of Miss Su’s beauty,” Chen Fei said with a smile.

“Indeed, they look quite good!” Su Ran nodded approvingly. “Tomorrow, come with me to the city lord’s mansion for the founding city celebration. You’ll surely dazzle many people.”

“Do we have to go to the founding city celebration tomorrow?” Chen Fei asked cautiously, knowing that Young Lord Ye Bufan planned to use the ball during the celebration to secretly apply the Heart-Linked Gu poison onto Su Ran’s cloak.

This poison was vicious—once afflicted, the victim would obey the poisoner without question.

“There’s no way to refuse. We have to go,” Su Ran sighed. She clearly didn’t want to go either but had no choice but to comply.

“Young Lord won’t let you go easily. Going there might be like a lamb entering the tiger’s den, with little chance of survival,” Chen Fei said, not directly revealing that he had been ambushed and inadvertently discovered Ye Bufan’s poison scheme.

“Even with so many people from Huangwu City present, he wouldn’t dare to act out of line, even as the young lord.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there to protect you.”

Su Ran thought Chen Fei was worried about his own safety, fearing the young lord might take the opportunity to strike at him.

“If Miss Su says so, then I’ll risk my life to accompany you,” Chen Fei said quietly.

“By the way, on such an important day as the founding city celebration, the city lord’s mansion should have invited your brother Chen Yang,” Su Ran added.

“With your brother there, the city lord’s mansion wouldn’t dare to make a move against you.”

“Hopefully,” Chen Fei nodded slightly.

Chen Yang, his so-called elder brother, was just a fabricated identity to conceal himself. Since Chen Fei intended to accompany Su Ran to the celebration, Chen Yang would not appear there.