148 The Mother-in-Law’s Instructions
Yan Zhen nervously followed Clan Head Yu Lu out of the dining hall. They walked aimlessly along the covered walkway, the atmosphere silent as neither spoke.
After a while, Clan Head Yu Lu finally said, “Co-cultivating with a Mystic Ancestor… it must be very tiring.”
Yan Zhen replied respectfully, “It’s alright. Aunt helped replenish my Mystic Power, and I also benefited greatly. After a few days of recuperation, I should be able to advance to seven-star Mystic Master.”
“Mm-hmm.” Clan Head Yu Lu nodded slightly, then added, “Don’t worry about what happened earlier. It was just an accident. And last night, with Yu Qing and your Elder Aunt… that was also an accident.”
“I understand, Mother-in-law,” Yan Zhen said, a bit nervously. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You’ve helped us so much. As the Yu family Clan Head, and your future mother-in-law, I can’t not show my gratitude—take this.”
Clan Head Yu Lu took out a jade slip from her storage ring and offered it to Yan Zhen.
Yan Zhen walked around the table to her side and accepted the jade slip. A dragon head with its mouth open was carved on its surface, a familiar image.
Clan Head Yu Lu explained, “This is the Heavenly Dragon’s Eight Tones, a rare soul skill. If you master it, combined with the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, it can cause severe mental interference to those below Mystic Ancestor. It’s a powerful technique for surprising and subduing your opponents in battle.”
Yan Zhen was taken aback. Wasn’t the Heavenly Dragon’s Eight Tones supposed to be given to him by Grand Elder Great Aunt? Why was his mother-in-law giving it to him now?
“What? You don’t like it? We can exchange it for something else.”
“No, I like it.” Yan Zhen quickly replied. This was a crucial skill for defeating Wen Canglan; he couldn’t refuse it. “I like anything Mother-in-law gives me.”
A hint of a smile softened Clan Head Yu Lu’s stern expression. “Save those sweet words for Xuan’er. There’s no need to flatter me.”
Yan Zhen blushed slightly and scratched his cheek, putting away the jade slip.
“I was also planning to give you some Mystic Pills and Mystic Tools, but since you’re Alchemist Saint Chen Xi’s disciple, you shouldn’t lack such things. I won’t insult you with such trivial gifts.” As they walked, Clan Head Yu Lu took out a token. “This is your identity token. It grants you free access to Yu Tian Island and the highest level of courtesy at all Yu family establishments. Keep it safe.”
“Thank you, Mother-in-law.”
Yan Zhen accepted the token obediently.
“And this. This is a VIP black card from the Merchant Alliance, with a hundred million gold coins. You can use it at any Merchant Alliance branch or store.” Clan Head Yu Lu handed him the black card. “You’re Alchemist Saint Chen Xi’s disciple, and Xuan’er also said you’re skilled in alchemy. You can use this to buy materials for practice.”
Yan Zhen blinked. He already had Beautiful Master’s Supreme Elder level black card, also with a hundred million gold coins, which he hadn’t even used, as the system practically covered all his expenses.
“Mother-in-law, I can’t accept such a generous gift without having earned it. I can’t take the black card.”
“Take it. I said I would treat you as the second heir and provide you with full support.”
“Oh, okay.”
“As for a high-tier Inner Academy card, I won’t be giving you that. You’ll have to earn it yourself.”
“Oh.”
As they talked, they arrived at the back garden, crossed a lotus pond, and entered a stone pavilion at its center.
Clan Head Yu Lu stopped and turned to face Yan Zhen, her expression serious. “I heard from Yu Qing that you have another fiancée in the Inner Academy, the Young Sect Master of Cloud Heaven Palace, the Gallo Kingdom’s protector sect. Is that true?”
Yan Zhen froze, blinked rapidly, and replied, “Wenqing is my fiancée through a childhood engagement arranged by our grandfathers.”
“You don’t like that Huangfu girl and want to break off the engagement?”
“Uh… because we’re not compatible.”
The main reason was that the script demanded it. It was a key plot point; he had no choice.
Honestly, he liked Huangfu Wenqing well enough, but they were “incompatible.” He would go to Cloud Heaven Palace, be intimate with Yun Xiu right in front of her, and force her to break off the engagement.
Sigh~ Hurting such a good girl… Yan Zhen felt a twinge of guilt.
Clan Head Yu Lu stared at Yan Zhen intently, then asked, “Then what about your two cousins, and the two senior sisters you lived with at the Mystic Academy?”
Although he had anticipated this question, hearing her ask so directly still made Yan Zhen nervous. He said, choosing his words carefully, “I’ll do whatever Mother-in-law asks of me.”
“Oh? Are you truly willing to… separate from them?”
“If Mother-in-law wishes it, then I’m willing.”
“Then break off your relationships with them as soon as possible.”
“Of course, as long as Mother-in-law is happy, even if I become a heartless scumbag, ridiculed by everyone, it will be worth it.”
“…”
“Hehe~”
Clan Head Yu Lu had intended to interrogate him further, but this sly boy had cleverly shifted the responsibility onto her.
Looking at his harmless smile, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry.
“Forget it. Since they’re all Xuan’er’s former students, I’ll make an exception. Bring them to the Yu family residence. They can be your concubines.”
She agreed? Yan Zhen was surprised. He had just been flattering her, trying to appease her. How did she suddenly agree?
Confused, he quickly straightened up and said respectfully, “Thank you for your generosity, Mother-in-law.”
Clan Head Yu Lu sighed softly. “Yan Zhen, you’re the first son-in-law our Yu family has ever valued so highly. Don’t disappoint me, and don’t disappoint Xuan’er’s devotion to you.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhen felt a pang of guilt.
The real Clan Head Mother-in-law was much more reasonable than the domineering ice queen in the script. Deceiving her like this and stealing her daughter… was he going too far?
But he truly couldn’t marry into the Yu family.
—Should he do something to… compensate Mother-in-law?
Suddenly, he caught a familiar sweet scent. He looked closely and saw that Mother-in-law’s… condition was acting up again.
Clan Head Yu Lu, noticing his gaze, asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Yan Zhen blinked and asked softly, “Are you… feeling uncomfortable, Mother-in-law?”
“Uncomfortable…? ” Clan Head Yu Lu paused, then her cheeks flushed, and she said, trying to maintain her composure, “I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek, feeling incredibly awkward, and said, “But Mother-in-law, if you… look down…”
Clan Head Yu Lu followed his gaze, and her indifferent expression instantly turned to panic.
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