At the border, in a certain forest, a fierce battle raged.
"Kill! Invaders of Central Earth, though distant, shall be executed!" The President of the True Martial Association, Huangfu Zhan, led a group of his followers against a troop of enemies dressed as ninja.
In the end, he punched the enemy leader to death but was struck by the man's hidden weapon.
SPURT—
He spat out black blood as his internal organs went numb.
"This is bad. The weapon is poisoned! That fragrance… it's likely 'Snow Flower,' one of the most feared ten poisons of the Sakura Nation. It's over!"
Huangfu Zhan's heart sank. Outwardly, however, he appeared unfazed and continued to aid his followers.
After annihilating the enemy and cleaning up the battlefield, they returned to the nearest stronghold.
"Good news! Vice President Wei has made a breakthrough to the Innate realm!"
"Really?"
"That's wonderful!"
They were all overjoyed. Huangfu Zhan also looked relieved. Even if I die, the True Martial Association will still have Old Wei to support it, preventing other powers from carving it up and swallowing it whole.
He immediately called Wei Shanhe, insisting that a banquet must be held, first to celebrate the breakthrough, and second to deter any troublemakers. Wei Shanhe had wanted to keep a low profile, but he couldn't refuse the President's persistence and had to agree.
"By the way, President, I met a Divine Doctor this time..." he began, describing how Lin Tang had saved him.
"A Divine Doctor?!" Huangfu Zhan's eyes lit up. If his medical skills are that profound, could he possibly cure my poison? Even if the chances are slim, it's worth a try!
"You host the celebration banquet in Jiangbei. I will personally attend!" he said eagerly.
「On the other side.」
Wei Shanhe hung up the phone, announced the banquet, and had his subordinates begin preparations. He then personally wrote out the invitations. The very first one was for Lin Tang, his greatest benefactor.
Wei Zichu tilted her head, waiting for him to finish. "Since I'm free, let me deliver the invitation to Brother Lin," she chimed sweetly. She then snatched the invitation and eagerly dialed Lin Tang's number.
"Oh, you..." Wei Shanhe smiled indulgently but also felt a pang of regret. Why did Master Lin have to have just gotten married? I suppose it just wasn't meant to be.
After Wei Zichu left, he continued to write invitations, sending them to major families like the Wang, Li, and Zhou Families, as well as other large organizations.
"I almost forgot, I have to send one to the Shen Family." He had frightened them before, so an invitation would serve as compensation. Normally, a family of the Shen Family's standing wouldn't be qualified to attend. It was a favor for Lin Tang, which was why he was making an exception.
Lin Tang was still looking for wealthy "clients" when he suddenly received a call from Wei Zichu.
A celebration banquet? Just for breaking through to the Innate realm… is that really necessary? he thought, feeling it was a bit of an overreaction. He didn't say it out loud, though. If they wanted to hold a banquet, that was their business.
"Okay, let's meet at Villa No. 1. I'll be right over," Lin Tang agreed readily and set off.
Villa No. 1 was located across a river from a private garden, with a long bridge spanning the water like a natural moat, blocking the path of all of Jiangbei's local dignitaries. From its inception, Villa No. 1 was never intended for them; they simply weren't qualified.
Wang Shouzhen, the second son of the Wang Family, gazed at it from afar, finding the villa exceptionally solemn and grand. If I could just stay there for one night, what a boost to my prestige that would be!
"Shouzhen, I apologize for making you wait!" Shen Jiayue appeared with a fawning expression. She nudged Shen Youling forward, signaling her to greet him.
Shen Youling glanced at Wang Shouzhen, who was as ugly as a monkey, and her mind subconsciously drifted to the handsome Lin Tang. It was true what they say: comparison is the thief of joy.
Sigh, does Lin Tang know our family is okay now? Will he come back for me? she wondered.
The moment Wang Shouzhen's gaze landed on her, he was captivated. She was beautiful! So incredibly beautiful! Though they were sisters, Shen Jiayue looked like a plain handmaiden in comparison, utterly unremarkable.
"Youling, I'm so happy you agreed to go on a date with me!" he exclaimed, stepping forward, desperate to embrace her.
Shen Youling deftly stepped aside. "Mr. Wang, please restrain yourself. I'm already married."
"Married? You're married?" Wang Shouzhen looked stunned, his expression turning sour as he stared at Shen Jiayue. Are you fucking kidding me?
Shen Jiayue quickly waved her hands. "Brother Shouzhen, my sister is just joking with you, haha."
"I wasn't joking," Shen Youling said, shaking her head.
"You—" Shen Jiayue was about to burst with anger.
Wang Shouzhen silently cursed his bad luck. He couldn't believe someone else had gotten the first taste. Well, it didn't matter. He hadn't intended to marry her anyway, just to have some fun. But it still feels like I've swallowed a fly...
"Hehe, let's sit down and chat over some tea," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Jiayue, tell me exactly what happened."
"It's really just a misunderstanding..." Shen Jiayue carefully recounted the events of the previous day.
"So he's just a country bumpkin? Has old man Shen gone mad, arranging such a ridiculous marriage!" Wang Shouzhen was utterly baffled.
Shen Youling tentatively asked, "Mr. Wang, does your family happen to have any tonic herbs over a hundred years old? Would you be willing to sell them to us?"
If you weren't married, I might have considered it. But now you're just damaged goods, and you dare to dream of getting your hands on my family's treasured herbs? Wang Shouzhen sneered inwardly, but his outward response was magnanimous. "It's just some herbs. I'll look for them when I get home and have them sent over."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Wang!" Shen Youling's face lit up with a delighted smile. Her smile was utterly captivating, making Wang Shouzhen's heart itch with desire.
Just then, his phone rang. He answered it.
"Really? Okay, I got it." A smug look crept across Wang Shouzhen's face as he hung up.
Shen Jiayue asked curiously, "Brother Shouzhen, what's the good news?"
"Oh, it's nothing much. President Wei has broken through to the Innate realm and decided to hold a celebration banquet. And the very first invitation he sent was to our Wang Family!" Wang Shouzhen feigned calmness, but his tone was thick with arrogance.
"WOW!" Shen Jiayue immediately began to clap. Though she didn't understand what "Innate" meant, she knew that attending President Wei's banquet was the perfect opportunity to enter his social circle. If only the Shen Family could receive such an invitation, what an honor that would be.
"Brother Shouzhen, your influence is so great! You got President Wei to spare our Shen Family with just a word. Could you please do us another favor and get us an invitation too? I'm begging you!" she pleaded, eagerly moving behind him to massage his shoulders.
"Well—" Wang Shouzhen had no confidence at all, but that didn't stop him from bragging. "Don't make a big deal out of it. I'll ask for one for you later."
As long as I can get my hands on Shen Youling, what can they do to me later even if I can't produce the invitation?
Shen Jiayue was overjoyed, wishing she could plant a kiss on him then and there. She repeatedly urged Shen Youling to thank him as well.
Resigned, Shen Youling poured a cup of tea and raised it. "Thank you, Mr. Wang."
"Hey, we're practically family, why be so formal? Come, come, let me hear you call me 'Brother Wang'!" Wang Shouzhen grinned, reaching out to touch her hand.
Shen Youling dodged his touch and turned to leave. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
"HMPH!" Wang Shouzhen's expression turned ugly.
Anxious, Shen Jiayue quickly sat in his lap, trying to placate him. "Brother Shouzhen, please don't be angry. My sister is still young and doesn't know any better..."
Wang Shouzhen pushed her away in disgust and said coldly, "My patience is limited. If I can't sleep with your sister today, you can forget about the herbs and the invitation. On top of that, you will have to face my wrath!"
"What?" Shen Jiayue trembled, almost falling to her knees. "Please, don't! I... I promise! I'll do my best to persuade her."
She gritted her teeth and added, "Worst case, during lunch, I'll get my sister drunk. Then you can do whatever you want with her..."
In her view, since her sister is already married and stayed out all night, she must have already slept with someone. So what's the harm in being with Wang Shouzhen once more? If she can get pregnant with a child of the Wang Family and use it as an opportunity to marry in, it would be a dream come true! No matter how you look at it, it's a massive win!
"What a shameless pair!"
Just then, a calm voice drifted over.
"Who? Who the fuck dares to insult me?!" Wang Shouzhen, who had been quite satisfied with Shen Jiayue's promise, was instantly enraged.
Shen Jiayue first felt a pang of guilt, shocked that someone had been eavesdropping. But when she saw who it was, she, too, exploded with fury. "Isn't that the country bumpkin husband my sister found? That damned menace almost got me killed yesterday, and he still has the audacity to show his face again today?"
She had seen Shen Youling's marriage certificate photo and instantly recognized the man strolling toward them as Lin Tang.
Lin Tang, however, didn't recognize her. The mark he had left on Shen Youling was temporary and had long since faded. Therefore, he hadn't sensed that Shen Youling had gone to the restroom. He had just been passing by when he overheard snippets of Wang Shouzhen and Shen Jiayue's conversation and found them utterly shameless.
"Who do you think you are, stepping foot in such a high-end private garden?" Wang Shouzhen slammed his hand on the table. "Guards! Get this dog out of here!"
"Yes, Young Master Wang!" A group of security guards hurried over. They first bowed obsequiously to Wang Shouzhen, then turned to Lin Tang with hostile expressions.
"Where did you pop out from, you trespasser? Who let you in?"
"Scram now, or do you want us to break your legs?"
Facing their threats, Lin Tang frowned. "You're kicking someone out without even understanding the situation? As a homeowner here, I'm very disappointed in you."
"What?"
"A homeowner?"
"You?"
"Hahaha—" The guards all sneered. They knew what every homeowner in this area looked like, and they had never seen Lin Tang before. It was a pathetic lie.
Shen Jiayue also thought Lin Tang was delusional. Although the villas adjacent to the private garden weren't as prestigious as Villa No. 1 across the bridge, their proximity had made them extremely sought-after, despite their inflated market value. Even the Shen Family couldn't afford one. Lin Tang? A kept man from the countryside? How could he possibly afford it?
The next moment, Lin Tang took out the gold-inlaid black card Wei Shanhe had given him. "Does this prove my identity?"
The security guards, who had been dismissive, took a closer look. Their expressions changed drastically.
"That card... it looks like the key card for Villa No. 1 across the river..."
"How is that possible?!"