Chapter 427: Giving You a Sense of Participation
Hearing him call her “Sister Qin” so familiarly, Qin Shutong rolled her eyes inwardly. Who’s your sister?
He was only sucking up to her because of her father’s influence, she thought. If it weren’t for her father, He Wenshu wouldn’t even give her a polite smile.
Qin Shutong, annoyed by his persistence, waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s settle this on stage. See you there.”
With that, she grabbed Xu Sanyan’s arm and turned to leave. He Wenshu, displeased, stepped forward to block their path, his gaze sweeping Xu Sanyan up and down with a scrutinizing look. His eyes lingered on Qin Shutong’s hand, which was still holding Xu Sanyan’s arm.
Seeing their intimate gesture, He Wenshu’s jealousy flared. He forced a strained smile and asked, “Sister Qin, won’t you introduce me? Who is this young talent?”
Xu Sanyan saw through his act immediately. This guy probably already considers Qin Shutong his property and can’t stand anyone else touching her.
As Xu Sanyan suspected, He Wenshu did indeed see Qin Shutong as his future wife. Marrying her would give him access to Associate Prefect Qin’s influence, and with his own father’s support, his path to officialdom would be smoother than ever.
Qin Shutong’s expression darkened, her anger simmering. With Xu Sanyan at her side, she felt compelled to distance herself from He Wenshu, her tone turning sharp. “Who I associate with is none of your concern, Brother He. Mind your own affairs.”
She turned to leave, her fingers still tugging at Xu Sanyan’s sleeve.
He Wenshu, publicly humiliated, flushed crimson, his face alternating between pale and red like a furnace about to explode.
Passersby at the prefectural office paid little attention to the trio’s brief exchange, but He Wenshu felt as if everyone were mocking him. His humiliation gradually morphed into resentment. He snarled, “Hmph! You’d better not cross paths with me on the arena stage, or you’ll regret it!”
Xu Sanyan found this threat amusing. Is he actually trying to intimidate me?
Too bad for He Wenshu, they’d never meet on the arena. Xu Sanyan had no intention of participating in the competition. If he were to compete personally, all the other contestants combined wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
Qin Shutong also heard He Wenshu’s venomous words. She curled her lip in disdain, not bothering to turn around.
While others might underestimate Xu Sanyan’s capabilities, she knew better. He was a Peak Stage Perfected Soul Refinement cultivator, his realm matching her father’s. Forget He Wenshu—even his father would have to offer him a respectful toast.
Qin Shutong led Xu Sanyan into the prefectural office, bypassing the main hall to reveal a vast Martial Arena. Many had already arrived, making them relatively latecomers.
Xu Sanyan surveyed the scene. Five fighting platforms stood in a row at the center of the arena, with a tiered platform erected to one side. The platform held over a dozen chairs arranged in three tiers: three at the top, six in the middle, and nine at the bottom. All the seats were currently empty, likely reserved for dignitaries.
Hundreds of tables and chairs flanked the platform, most already occupied by the city’s powerful and influential figures. These individuals, accustomed to being at the top of the social hierarchy, now found themselves relegated to the lower ranks.
Qin Shutong tugged Xu Sanyan’s sleeve, pointing to one side. “Brother Liang, let’s go over there. That’s where the Qin Family’s seats are.”
Xu Sanyan glanced at a corner beneath the tiered platform where a dozen people were leisurely sipping tea and chatting. One of them noticed Qin Shutong, casually glanced at her, and then fixed his gaze on Xu Sanyan. A smile immediately spread across his face as he raised his cup in a distant toast, refraining from approaching to avoid disturbing them—a display of remarkable restraint.
Xu Sanyan nodded with a smile in acknowledgment, but politely declined. “Thank you, but I prefer solitude. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Qin Shutong considered for a moment and didn’t press the matter. A Soul Refining Realm expert like Xu Sanyan hardly needed her concern. She simply reminded him, “Alright then. The competition is about to start, and we need to draw lots beforehand. I’ll see you later.”
“Mm, go ahead,” Xu Sanyan replied with a smile and a wave.
After Qin Shutong left, He Wenshu, who had been watching them from afar, smirked and slowly approached. Sensing his presence, Xu Sanyan turned to look at him, but remained silent, simply observing him calmly.
“Listen, kid,” He Wenshu said, his voice dripping with menace. “No matter what family you’re from, you’d better stay away from Qin Shutong. This is for your own good. Understand?”
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, finding the situation amusing. He chuckled and countered, “You like her?”
He Wenshu paused, searching for a response, but Xu Sanyan cut him off. “But she likes me. I bet you’ll be drinking our wedding wine soon enough. At the very least, I’ll have her call out your name a couple of times during our wedding night. That way, you can feel like you’re part of it too. How’s that?”
“You’re asking for death!” He Wenshu roared, his eyes turning feral like a cornered hyena. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. If they weren’t in the prefectural office, he likely would have attacked already.
“Hehe, don’t get so worked up,” Xu Sanyan said with mock concern. “You’ll ruin your health.”
He Wenshu forcibly suppressed his rage, his eyes burning into Xu Sanyan as if trying to memorize his face.
“Very well! I’ll remember you. Let’s see if you’re still so tough in a few days!”
He Wenshu secretly vowed that once this matter was settled, regardless of Xu Sanyan’s status, he would make him regret ever being born!
Absolutely!
“Hahahaha… Good, I’ll be waiting.”
Xu Sanyan laughed heartily as he strode away, leaving He Wenshu grinding his teeth in fury. With a malevolent glare, He Wenshu turned and stalked off to draw his lot for the Prefectural Examination.
The Martial Arena gradually buzzed with activity as more and more people gathered, signaling the imminent start of the examination.
Xu Sanyan stood alone in a corner, observing the diverse crowd with a perpetual smile playing on his lips.
“Junior Nephew Liang? What are you doing here?”
A voice called out from beside him. Xu Sanyan turned to see the Shan Clan father and son approaching from a distance, accompanied by an elderly man.
The old man wore a simple black robe and his hair was tied in a Daoist bun, his attire utterly plain. Yet the aura of authority cultivated over years in high office was impossible to ignore.
The old man gazed at Xu Sanyan with a warm smile, his eyes sweeping up and down with undisguised admiration.
Xu Sanyan stepped forward to offer a formal greeting. “Greetings, Martial Uncle, Senior Brother.” He then glanced at the old man beside them, waiting for Shan Zhoushan to introduce him.
“This is Associate Prefect Qin of Qianzhou City,” Dan Zhoushan said. “You two have a connection—your Senior Brother Yu Huisheng is the Associate Prefect’s son-in-law.”
Xu Sanyan’s face lit up with realization. He approached Associate Magistrate Qin warmly, “So you’re Uncle Qin! I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly for the house you gifted me. I wanted to express my gratitude in person, but I assumed you were busy with official duties and didn’t dare intrude. Please forgive my delay.”
Associate Magistrate Qin stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his smile full of paternal affection for the younger man. “Haha, no need for apologies, virtuous nephew! You truly are a remarkable talent, a dragon among men. No wonder Tong’er keeps running off to see you every day—I can’t stop her!”
The more he looked at Xu Sanyan, the more he admired him. The young man possessed not only exceptional talent but also strikingly handsome features. If only he were my own son, he thought.
But no matter. Marrying Tong’er to him would be just as good. As the saying goes, a son-in-law is half a son. Their affection will grow with time.
(End of the Chapter)