Chapter 53 - 51: Matriarch Qin Makes Things Difficult, Incident at the Pill Storage Tower

Chapter 53: Chapter 51: Matriarch Qin Makes Things Difficult, Incident at the Pill Storage Tower

Amidst the seemingly endless, vast expanse of snow, a youth wielded his sword as lightly as a drifting swan feather. His blade moved with silken fluidity, executing the technique in one flawless breath.

His white robes blended seamlessly with the heaven and earth. Sword Qi swept across the blizzard, boundless and ethereal.

Qin Xiangyuan stood in the wind and snow. A few snowflakes landed in her hair, adding a touch of captivating charm to her appearance. Watching the elegant youth who looked like an Exiled Immortal descended to the mortal realm, Qin Xiangyuan’s beautiful eyes brimmed with endless admiration and intoxication.

"As warm and flawless as jade, a young gentleman unparalleled in this world. Who could possibly compare to my brother’s grace?"

The youth’s sword remained sheathed, hiding its edge in a return to natural simplicity. Yet, his every movement with the blade was peerless in its magnificence.

Unconsciously, Qin Xiangyuan broke into a radiant smile, her brows carrying a hint of joy.

"Brother Qin Fan, let Yuan’Er lend you a hand."

With that said, the young girl drew her sharp sword. Transforming into a startling flash of elegance, she pointed her blade at the white-robed youth.

In the midst of the blizzard, the youth glanced over slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. He immediately turned his blade to meet her attack.

In an instant, Sword Qi crisscrossed within the endless snowy mountain ridges. The youth’s white robes outshone the snow, and the young girl was as light and graceful as a fairy. The mountain scenery was as beautiful as a painting.

At a certain moment...

BUZZ!

The young girl slashed out with her sword. The two streaks of Sword Qi clashed, and the terrifying shockwave swept across a half-mile radius. The sky full of heavy snow violently trembled. Such was the sheer terror of the impact.

Both of them flew backward in succession, dodging the residual shockwave of the Sword Qi.

"Brother Qin Fan, you’ve mastered it?" Qin Xiangyuan’s beautiful eyes were filled with shock and delight, even mixed with a trace of worship.

Hearing her, Jiang Hao slowly put away his ancient sword and offered a knowing smile.

Sensing the fluctuations of Sword Qi that lingered in the surroundings, Qin Xiangyuan was thrilled. He had actually mastered it. In just three short years, not only had the youth learned the majority of the Qin Family’s treasured Sword Techniques, but he had also mastered the Clan’s Sword Technique—the Heavenly Spirit 72 Swords!

"Brother Qin Fan is the most talented, world-shocking genius in the Sword Dao that Yuan’Er has ever seen. You are amazing, Brother."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao chuckled. "Little Sister Xiangyuan’s talent in the Sword Dao also far exceeds imagination; it is not beneath mine."

Qin Xiangyuan’s attainments in the Sword Dao were indeed breathtaking. Even Jiang Hao had been shocked countless times.

At his words, the young girl’s heart immediately burst with joy. Although she knew she was far inferior compared to the youth, gaining his recognition seemed to make her even happier than when she had been named one of the top ten proud daughters of heaven in the Celestial City’s Earth Realm.

However, in the next second, a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes. "Brother Qin Fan, are you still unwilling to call me Yuan’Er?"

Qin Xiangyuan had always taken this to heart. She had asked Jiang Hao to change how he addressed her more than once, but from beginning to end, Jiang Hao always called her "Little Sister Xiangyuan." Ever since that battle on the streets of Qin City years ago, the young girl had truly treated him as her own biological brother. But Jiang Hao could not overcome the hurdle in his heart, always intentionally keeping a distance.

In his heart lived the beautiful silhouette who had protected him for three years. He could not accommodate any other woman. Perhaps addressing her as his little sister was a subconscious reminder to himself that he could not betray the deep affection of the person in his heart.

Faced with Qin Xiangyuan’s words, Jiang Hao did not respond directly. Instead, he smiled gently. "Silly sister, no matter what I call you, I am your brother forever. It’s getting late; we should head back to Qin City."

After the youth finished speaking, the young girl still felt a bit of disappointment, but her face was nonetheless brimming with happiness.

"Brother Qin Fan is Yuan’Er’s brother forever. No one can take you away."

With that said, the two of them soared into the sky. Transforming into two long rainbows, they disappeared into the vast expanse of wind and snow, flying toward the Qin Mansion.

An hour later, when Jiang Hao returned to the Upper Spirit Garden, a figure had already been waiting for a long time. However, this person only revealed themselves after Qin Xiangyuan had walked into her own courtyard, seemingly intentionally avoiding her.

"Young Master," the newcomer said after a brief moment of thought, bowing slightly to Jiang Hao.

"Uncle Fu, is there something the matter?" When he saw the visitor’s face clearly, Jiang Hao immediately returned the bow.

Hearing this, Uncle Fu hesitated before speaking. "Young Master, the Lady of the House has asked you to make a trip to the rear courtyard. She says she has some business with you."

Jiang Hao was slightly taken aback by this. It had been more than three years since he first came to the Qin Family, yet he had never met the current Lady of the House. He had previously taken the initiative to visit her, but he was turned away at the door every single time. For her to suddenly send a message today meant her intentions were likely hostile.

However, the other party was the Lady of the House of the Qin Family, after all. After pondering for a moment, Jiang Hao smiled faintly. "Uncle Fu, please trouble yourself to lead the way."

"After you, Young Master."

Jiang Hao strode forward, following Uncle Fu.

Fifteen minutes later, at the entrance to the inner courtyard, Uncle Fu watched Jiang Hao as he was about to step inside. After hesitating for a while, he suddenly spoke up.

"Young Master...?"

Jiang Hao turned around. "Uncle Fu, is there something else?"

Uncle Fu seemed caught in a dilemma, but ultimately offered a kind warning. "Young Master, the Patriarch is currently away. If the Lady of the House says anything out of line, I hope you won’t take it to heart."

Seeing this, Jiang Hao frowned slightly. Sensing the older man’s goodwill, he stopped in his tracks. "Uncle Fu, do you have something else you want to tell Fan’Er?"

Seeing Jiang Hao ask, Uncle Fu simply chose not to hide anything and immediately laid it all out.

"There is something you don’t know, Young Master. During the three years you spent in bitter cultivation, the Nalan Family reportedly became acquainted with a mysterious Pill Master. His reputation has skyrocketed recently. The grade of the pills sold in the Nalan Family’s Pill Storage Tower is unprecedented; even the Qin Family has begun replenishing many of its pills from the Pill Storage Tower.

"The rise of the Nalan Family has also caused the Lady of the House’s status within the Qin Family to soar. Now, the Lady of the House is one of the people who truly holds real power in the Qin Family.

"The Lady of the House summoned you this time while the Patriarch is out. This old servant is worried..."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao abruptly raised his eyes. It was obvious that he had already guessed who the mysterious Pill Master Uncle Fu spoke of was. However, Jiang Hao never expected that the Pill Storage Tower was actually a Pill Workshop established by the maiden family of Matriarch Qin.

Though astonished in his heart, Jiang Hao remained calm and collected. "Uncle Fu, what are you worried about?"

"This old servant is worried that the Lady of the House wants to take advantage of the Patriarch being away to force you to leave the Qin Mansion."

At these words, Jiang Hao couldn’t help but feel surprised, though he also understood the situation in an instant. He had entered the Qin Family under the identity of Qin Shiming’s illegitimate son. This Lady of the House had likely long viewed him as a thorn in her side. The fact that she had managed to tolerate it for three years was already a rare feat.

However, Uncle Fu informed Jiang Hao that the real reason the Lady of the House was moved to drive him out of the Qin Mansion was due to the endless stream of natural treasures Qin Shiming had been funneling into the Upper Spirit Garden over the past three years.

This matter traced back to two years ago. Qin Shiming, who had accidentally discovered Jiang Hao practicing Alchemy, began supplying him with the Qin Family’s Spirit Medicines. Initially, Jiang Hao had politely refused, but Qin Shiming’s attitude was resolute. Left with no choice, he accepted the Spirit Medicines for Alchemy, figuring he would just compensate the Qin Family in the future. He never expected that, being so busy with his bitter cultivation, he would completely forget about this matter.

But the continuous supply of Spirit Medicines for two years had caused the Qin Family to erupt in an uproar. Countless female experts in the Qin Mansion sought out Matriarch Qin, their voices full of complaints. Funneling the Qin Family’s natural treasures to Jiang Hao had undoubtedly encroached on their interests, causing the cultivation resources of these female experts’ children to sharply decline. And so, today’s situation had come to pass.

And Nalan Feiyan, who already found this illegitimate son, Jiang Hao, to be an eyesore, naturally would not let this opportunity slip by.

"Uncle Fu, thank you."

Bowing deeply to Uncle Fu, Jiang Hao took a deep breath and finally walked into the Qin Family’s inner courtyard.

Not long after, inside the grand and imposing inner hall of the Qin Mansion’s inner courtyard.

"Qin Fan greets the Lady of the House."

By the time Jiang Hao arrived at the inner hall, it was already packed with people, all of whom were female members of the Qin Family. Every one of them glared fixedly at the youth before them, their eyes filled with resentment.

Sitting formally in the master seat of the Qin Mansion’s inner courtyard was Nalan Feiyan. She showed neither joy nor sorrow, looking down from her high perch, yet she didn’t so much as cast a direct glance at Jiang Hao.

The current Nalan Feiyan’s status in the Qin Family was vastly different from before. She was no longer the Lady of the House who had to beg a Qin Family Elder for even a single Foundation Establishment Pill. And all of this was due to the mysterious Pill Master whom Nalan Lin had befriended. The entire Nalan Family shed tears of gratitude toward this mysterious Pill Master.

Slowly setting down her teacup, Nalan Feiyan gave Jiang Hao an indifferent glance, a flash of disdain crossing her eyes.

"Fan’Er, how long have you been in the Qin Mansion?"

"Almost three and a half years," Jiang Hao replied politely.

"It’s been three and a half years already?" Nalan Feiyan paused. "Time really does fly."

She looked at Jiang Hao again, abruptly changing the subject. "I heard from people in the mansion that two years ago, Shi Ming began funneling countless natural treasures to you. Fan’Er, is this true or false?"

"It is true," Jiang Hao said calmly.

Nalan Feiyan nodded slightly and continued, "Since that is the case, Fan’Er, what layer of cultivation have you reached now?"

Jiang Hao frowned slightly and said helplessly, "Unity Realm Second Layer."

At this moment, the cultivation Jiang Hao displayed to the outside world was only the Unity Realm Second Layer. In the entire Qin Family, only Qin Shiming and Qin Xiangyuan knew what had actually happened over these past three years.

Hearing that Jiang Hao was only at the Unity Realm Second Layer, a wave of sighs and scoffs rippled through the hall.

"Three years. Dumping so many natural treasures on him, and he’s only at the Second Realm. Even a dog could have been pushed into the Unity Realm Third Layer, right?"

One of the Qin Family’s daughters-in-law immediately spoke up, her tone full of mockery. The implication was that Jiang Hao was worse than a dog. However, aside from mockery, the faces of the crowd of women mostly displayed jealousy and indignation.

Jiang Hao furrowed his brows, though he did not argue back. Instead, he quietly looked at Nalan Feiyan.

The latter clearly had no intention of scolding the female experts. Instead, she spoke faintly, "Fan’Er, a person’s worth lies in knowing their own limitations. Shi Ming owes you and wants to make amends, which I can understand.

"But the Qin Family has more than one direct descendant, and the Qin Mansion’s resources are not endless. Furthermore, the Qin Race has never harbored freeloaders. The investments made in you all are in hopes that you can bring abundant returns and elevate the Qin Family to greater heights.

"However, the resources you’ve consumed over the years have already sparked dissatisfaction throughout the Qin Family. Fan’Er, what are your plans?"

After she finished speaking, Nalan Feiyan leveled a sharp gaze at Jiang Hao. Originally, she had planned to corner him with her words first, then use the opportunity to transfer him out of Qin City to one of the Qin Family’s external outposts.

However, right as Nalan Feiyan’s voice faded, Jiang Hao pondered for a brief moment before immediately saying, "Rest assured, Lady of the House. The natural treasures the Qin Family has expended over the past two years, Fan’Er will compensate you double."

As soon as these words left his mouth, the entire inner hall erupted in roars of laughter.

"I’m dying of laughter! Sisters, do you hear what this bastard is saying? He actually said he’s going to double the compensation?"

"What a shameless boast! He truly overestimates himself. With so many natural treasures used, what are you going to use to compensate us?"

Facing the mockery of a hall full of women, Jiang Hao slowly raised his head, silently looked at Nalan Feiyan, and said calmly, "Three days. Within three days, Fan’Er will compensate you double."

"Alright, then I will wait three days for you," Nalan Feiyan said. "And if you fail to do so in three days, then what?"

"I will be at your disposal."

Nalan Feiyan smiled knowingly. After all, Jiang Hao’s current identity was that of a direct descendant of the Qin Family, making it difficult for her to drive him out directly. Now that he had voluntarily taken the bait, she was more than happy to see things play out.

Jiang Hao, however, had other plans. He now possessed the strength to protect himself. With the Prodigy Battle about to begin, it was time for him to leave the Qin Family. After all, Qin Shiming had shown him great kindness. He wouldn’t actually wait until his identity was exposed and implicate Qin City before leaving.

But before leaving, he indeed needed to make another trip to the Pill Storage Tower. At the very least, he had to double the compensation for the natural treasures the Qin Family had spent on him over the years.

Watching Jiang Hao turn and leave, Nalan Feiyan felt very satisfied.

However, right at that moment, a graceful figure hurriedly stepped into the inner hall. Her face was fraught with anxiety as she whispered into Nalan Feiyan’s ear.

"Lady of the House, something has happened at the Pill Storage Tower."