“Thank you, thank you.” Zu An had just earned a huge sum of money while learning of a new way to exploit Cheng Shouping’s unreliable nature, so his mood was pretty good.

Sang Qian and Zheng Dan chatted with him for a brief moment more, then took their leave. As soon as they were out of his line of sight, Sang Qian’s face immediately took on an ugly expression. “Damn it! Why did I foolishly change the bet back then?”

Zheng Dan wore a bitter smile. “Who could have expected a study companion to be so audacious as to defy his own master’s orders?”

Her words struck a chord with Sang Qian. “That is indeed illogical.” A thought suddenly arose in his mind, and he asked, “Could it be possible that Zu An had predicted our tampering, and so intentionally bet on him losing in order to deliver the wrong message to the Yuan clan?”

“He would be a truly terrifying person if he were able to think that far ahead.” Zheng Dan frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think that he’s able to predict our actions to such an extent. He likely intended to spend the ten thousand taels of silver to mislead the Yuan clan, but we mistakenly changed the bet for him.”

“Damn it!” Sang Qian cursed his recent stretch of terrible luck. Things just simply wouldn’t go his way.

You have successfully trolled Sang Qian for 999 Rage points!

“Our initial plan to swap out the betting slip failed. What should we do next?” Zheng Dan took out the betting slip that she had hurriedly prepared earlier and ripped it apart.

“It looks like it will be up to you,” Sang Qian said, looking meaningfully at Zheng Dan.

Zheng Dan’s face immediately turned cold. “You want me to seduce him again?”

Sang Qian smiled sheepishly as he replied, “You’re going to have to find the promissory note from the Silverhook Casino anyway. You’ll just need to look for an additional betting slip…”

Zheng Dan cut in sharply with a look that seemed carved from ice. “Sang Qian, why do you keep pushing your fiancée into the arms of another man? Do you have some sort of strange feitsh?”

Sang Qian immediately lost his temper. “I’m not asking you to really give in to him. Didn’t you say that he didn’t take advantage of you? Why do you make it seem like I’m asking you to sell your body to him?”

Zheng Dan’s eyes reddened tearfully. “Those who walk along the river will eventually get their feet wet. Zu An isn’t as weak as the rumors put him out to be. If he really tries to take advantage of me, I’ll never be able to face anyone in the future!”

In truth, she wasn’t really opposed to getting closer to Zu An. However, she couldn’t afford to appear too willing. She had to make Sang Qian feel guilty about forcing her into this against her will. Only then would he cherish her more and not pursue this matter after their marriage.

Looking at the pitiful look on Zheng Dan’s face, Sang Qian felt his heart shatter to pieces. He quickly consoled her, saying, “I know that I’m putting you in a tough spot here. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you well. If Zu An dares to bully you, you can be certain that I’ll take his life!”

“Really?” Zheng Dan looked at Sang Qian with large, watery eyes.

“Of course!” Sang Qian’s heart softened at the sight of his beautiful fiancée. “Forget it, let’s just give up on the promissory note that he has for seven-and-a-half million taels, and on the betting slip too. We shouldn’t risk it.”

However, Zheng Dan shook her head in apparent resignation. “No. That promissory note is important to your plans, and that betting slip is for a million taels of silver, too. For our future, I have no choice but to sacrifice myself.”

“I’ll make it up to you.” Looking at the beautiful, gentle woman before him, Sang Qian knew just how blessed he was to find such a virtuous fiancée.

Zheng Dan paid him no more heed. Her mind had already moved on to formulating the best way to approach Zu An.

… 

Zu An let out a grand sneeze. He rubbed his nose as he murmured, “Which beautiful lady is thinking of me now?”

Beside him, Cheng Shouping nodded fawningly at him. 

Earlier today, the young master showed his true worth and defeated a fifth rank cultivator. More importantly, he helped the Chu clan win the Clans Tournament. Without a doubt, his standing will rise greatly from this day onward, and the same goes for mine too!

At a moment like this, I must make sure to get into the young master’s good books!

“Aren’t you afraid of your own wife hearing those words?”

A teasing voice suddenly reached them, and Pei Mianman walked over, her fragrance wafting around her.

Zu An laughed softly and said, “My wife has already said that she doesn’t mind me looking for other women.”

Pei Mianman was taken aback by his unexpected response. “Chu Chuyan said those words?” 

“Why don’t you ask her then?” Zu An pointed to Chu Chuyan as he said. “So, what about it? Are you interested in becoming my woman? Chu Chuyan is your good friend anyway, so I bet the two of you will get along with one another.”

Cheng Shouping was stunned. The young master was surely a brave soul. 

It looks like I’ve really underestimated him in the past. To think that he would try to seduce his wife’s best friend right in front of her! T-this… When will the young master bestow on me the secrets of his success?

“You want to be my man?” Pei Mianman chuckled softly, not a trace of anger in her. “That’s not impossible, but you're far too weak as it is.”

Cheng Shouping’s eyes immediately reddened, and he quickly lowered his head. Just looking at Pei Mianman had set his heart thumping fast. 

She really is a temptress. Even her peach blossom eyes are more than enough to capture one’s soul. That the young master can chat with her so calmly is a testament to how truly amazing he is.

“How high does my cultivation have to be in order to be considered strong enough for you?” asked Zu An with a smile.

“You’ll know it when you reach it.” Noticing Chu Chuyan making her way over, Pei Mianman stopped her teasing. “All right, I’ll be leaving now. Don’t forget our promise.”

She turned and walked away, leaving behind a trail of fragrance behind her.

“What did you two agree on?” Chu Chuyan looked at Zu An suspiciously.

“We agreed that she would become my mistress in the future,” replied Zu An.

Cheng Shouping was awestruck. 

The young master is a true warrior!

Chu Chuyan, on the other hand, was rendered speechless. Clearly, she didn’t take Zu An’s words seriously. “Come with me. Everyone has much to say to you.”

As soon as Zu An walked over to where the other members of the Chu clan were, he found himself swarmed by a huge crowd.

“Young master, we didn’t expect you to be this formidable! This is a recovery medicine specially concocted by the Red Cloak Army…”

“Our young master defeated his enemy so easily that he didn’t sustain any injuries at all. Why would he need your medicine?”

“Our medicine isn’t just for healing injuries. It can hasten the recovery of one’s ki too. The two battles the young master fought earlier must have depleted his ki greatly.”

… 

“A bunch of bootlickers!” spat Hong Xingying coldly. He couldn’t stand how the others were rushing to fawn all over Zu An.

Quite a few of them had been showing concern for him earlier, but had left him immediately to rush to Zu An’s side. Zu An’s accomplishments today would surely secure him a higher standing within the Chu clan. Hong Xingying’s face turned livid. 

Tsk, the world sure is a mercenary place! What should I do from now on… 

A dark shadow was suddenly cast over him. He lifted his gaze and saw that two servants of the Chu clan had moved a table over. They were looking at him intently. He asked impatiently, “What are you doing?”

It looks like even a fallen tiger has to suffer the bullying of mere dogs. Even these weaklings dare to provoke me now, huh?

“I wonder who mentioned that he would eat a table if my brother-in-law wins!” a teasing voice rang out.

Chu Huanzhao was still lying on the stretcher in a tragic state. However, judging from the way she was shaking her fair legs leisurely in the air, it seemed she was in a good mood. 

Had it been any other occasion, Hong Xingying would have certainly had his heartstrings pulled along by the movements of those long, slender legs. However, the words she had spoken earlier had riled him up.

Chu Huanzhao patted the table and said, “Look, I’ve kindly prepared a superior redwood table just for you. It might be made of good material, but it’s already much softer than most other tables out there, so there’s no way you can say that I’m taking advantage of you. Oh right, I’ve also prepared a pot of water for you to aid your digestion. If it’s not enough, feel free to let me know. I can get the other servants to bring more over.”

“I…” Hong Xingying’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but no words came out. He was starting to regret not feigning unconsciousness earlier on. It would have spared him from this awkward situation.

It’s all that Zu An’s fault!

You have successfully trolled Hong Xingying for 999 Rage points!

Zu An was still happily accepting the crowd’s gifts when he noticed this inflow in Rage points. He turned to look in Hong Xingying’s direction, and caught sight of Chu Huanzhao ordering the servants to place a massive table right in front of him. 

Oh? It looks like my sister-in-law is helping me get even with him.

Just then, Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru noticed the awkward position Hong Xingying was in. Chu Zhongtian glared at his younger daughter and bellowed, “Ridiculous! What are you doing?”

Chu Huanzhao pouted unhappily as she replied, “He was the one who had declared earlier that he would gobble down a table on the spot if my brother-in-law won the duel. You should have heard him loud and clear. It’s not as if I’m forcing him into anything!”

“Enough! How can you take such jokes seriously?” Qin Wanru shot a glance at the servants, and they nervously retreated, carrying the table away with them. “We’re all one family here. It was out of concern that Xingying said those words earlier. Now, stop causing trouble.”

It was out of consideration for Butler Hong—and for Hong Xingying’s contributions toward the Chu clan over the last few years—that Qin Wanru was obliged to stand up for him. Despite that, it now occurred to her that Hong Xingying wasn’t as trustworthy as she had previously believed.

Chu Huanzhao was about to argue the matter further, but her older sister tugged on her arm to stop her. Unhappy with the outcome, she turned her head away and sulked.

“Thank you, Master and Madam.” Hong Xingying quickly bowed down to thank Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru. However, he was feeling incredibly bitter inside. He could feel the piercing stares coming from the others.

It’s all Zu An’s fault!

You have successfully trolled Hong Xingying for 999 Rage points!

Zu An was utterly flabbergasted. 

What the hell? You’re blaming me for that too?

It was obvious that there was no room for reconciliation between the two of them anyway, so Zu An decided to make use of this opportunity to squeeze out as many Rage points as he could. “Actually, it’s not that hard to eat a table. You can soak it in water for a few days to soften it first, before munching it down. You could also have it ground up and mixed in water before drinking it. If you find it flavorless, you can even coat it in flour before deep-frying it. Perhaps you might just become addicted to the taste!”

His statements were met by identically incredulous looks from Hong Xingying, Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru.

What in the world did I just hear? Who in the right mind would analyze how to eat a table?!

Qin Wanru said gruffly, “Men, bring the casualties back to the Chu Estate first!”

She was worried that a conflict might break out if the two of them were to remain in each other’s presence, so she quickly separated them.

Zu An looked at the massive inflow of Rage points coming in and smiled in delight. 

Oh well, I guess I should give it a rest for now. I have to think long-term. If I break Hong Xingying right now, it’ll be hard to earn anything from him in the future.

After Hong Xingying was escorted off as a ‘casualty’, the remaining members of the Chu clan swiftly packed up and returned to the Chu Estate.

Once they were back at the estate, Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru instructed the others to wait outside and called Zu An alone into the study room. 

Everyone thought that Zu An was going to rise through the ranks after this incident, and began thinking about how they could get close to him. Those who had offended him in the past were now full of regret, and racked their brains for ways to salvage their relationship with him.

As soon as the doors to the study room were closed, Zu An laughed heartily and said, “Really, there’s no need for you all to be so thankful to me. Chuyan is my wife, after all. It’s only right for me to do my part for the Chu clan. Of course, if you wish to reward me with a hundred thousand taels of silver or something, I’ll humbly accept your goodwill. If not, I’ll be fine with having a few beautiful maids to wait on me too.”

Chu Zhongtian and Chu Chuyan exchanged blank stares.

Qin Wanru’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment.

“Dream on!” Unable to take it anymore, Qin Wanru slammed her palm on the table and demanded, “Speak! Who sent you here?”