Although Chen Nan didn't know why Leng Qingmei wanted to see him, he returned to the backyard.
Song Ziwei had prepared a large bucket of hot water. Chen Nan seized the opportunity to take the pill given to him by the old man earlier. After taking it, he immediately felt a significant relief from the pain in his body.
"It seems that wherever there are people, there are pills."
"I need to find a way to get a pill furnace and refine pills."
"This is the only way to grow quickly."
"Otherwise, I might die one day."
Chen Nan wasn't afraid of death. But if he died, the immortal realm would be annihilated along with him. His family, lovers, and friends would also suffer a tragic end. Therefore, he needed to increase his strength, at least to the point where he could protect himself. As for becoming a ghost messenger and entering the eighteenth level of hell to find Empress Houtu, that wasn't the immediate priority.
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, Chen Nan sat in front of the bronze mirror. Song Ziwei was combing his hair behind him. Looking at his handsome face, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, in the bronze mirror, Chen Nan felt a little bit of relief. Although the host was a sycophant and a coward with no presence, one thing was undeniable: this guy was incredibly handsome. Chen Nan from Earth was also handsome, but truthfully, he was nowhere near a third as handsome as the host.
(Looking across the Three Realms, only the lovely readers of this book can rival his handsomeness.)
After tidying himself up, Chen Nan went to Leng Qingmei's courtyard. Night had already fallen, but under the pavilion in the courtyard, there was a beautiful figure. She wore a sky-blue long dress, her long hair flowing, her skin as smooth as suet. She was like a goddess from above, exuding an otherworldly aura. She held a book, concentrating on reading by the light of a green lamp. Standing beside her were four personal maids: Chunmei, Xialan, Qiuzhu, and Dongju. Their eyes were indifferent as they looked at Chen Nan, seemingly displeased that their young lady had married this good-for-nothing. In the past, the host would have been exceptionally polite to these four servants. But now, in Chen Nan's eyes, they were just four pretty objects. He didn't even look at them properly.
Stopping in front of the pavilion, Chen Nan politely asked, "May I know why my wife summoned me?"
"How dare you!" Chunmei was the first to lash out. "Can't the young lady ask you to come over when she has nothing to do? Chen, you need to understand your identity; you are my Leng family's son-in-law!" "As long as the young lady commands, you must appear at the first instant, no matter what." "It doesn't matter if there's anything or not."
Chen Nan looked at Chunmei, a hint of coldness flashing in his deep eyes. "Even if I am the Leng family's son-in-law, you are merely a servant. How can you speak to the son-in-law like this?" "The Leng family is one of the six great noble families; how could they raise someone like you, who disobeys elders and bullies the weak?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the four maids were incredulous. After all, Chen Nan had been married into the family for over a year. During all this time, he had been timid and fearful, not even daring to look them in the eye. But who would have thought that he would say something like this now?
Under the pavilion, Leng Qingmei's cold voice rang out, "Slap her!"
Chunmei's eyes lit up, and she respectfully said, "Yes, Young Lady. I will slap him right away!" With that, she rolled up her sleeves, rubbed her hands, and walked towards Chen Nan.
Leng Qingmei: "Slap yourself!" Her voice was indifferent, but it carried an irresistible tone. Chunmei was greatly shocked, her eyes filled with terror. She hadn't expected the young lady to order her to slap herself.
Leng Qingmei: "Dongju, you carry out the punishment." "Yes, Young Lady." Dongju didn't dare to disobey Leng Qingmei's words. She walked up to her good sister and fiercely slapped Chunmei across the face. Left slap, right slap, the sound was crisp and loud. Chen Nan watched with a pounding heart. He felt that Dongju had a bit of personal vendetta mixed in. As Dongju slapped Chunmei, Leng Qingmei's voice sounded again, "No matter what, Chen Nan is the son-in-law of my Leng family. If anyone disrespects him in the future, don't blame me for not showing leniency."
The maids all wore expressions of sincere fear and trepidation, not understanding why their young lady was protecting Chen Nan. Although they were husband and wife, their union was only in name.
"The new City Lord Yuan Zun has arrived in Tongcheng. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for noon tomorrow," Leng Qingmei's voice rang out again. "All six major families will send representatives to attend the ceremony. As you know, my branch of the Leng family has no male heirs." "Therefore, I will trouble my husband to accompany me to attend Lord Yuan Zun's inauguration ceremony tomorrow."
"Alright." Chen Nan did not refuse. As Leng Qingmei said, this branch of the Leng family had three daughters but no male heirs. It was precisely because of this that the Leng family took in sons-in-law, hoping that at critical moments, a man could step forward, at least to uphold the dignity of the Leng family.
"My wife, it's cold outside. You should go back to your room and rest early to avoid catching a cold," Chen Nan said. "I'll go back first. Call me if you need anything." With that, he turned and left Leng Qingmei's courtyard.
After Chen Nan left, Leng Qingmei finally put down the book in her hand. A hint of confusion appeared on her stunning face. Why had this fellow changed so much?
Back in the backyard, Song Ziwei had already prepared dinner. Although Chen Nan was not well-received in the Leng family, his meals were still guaranteed. Every meal had meat, and there were fine grains. Coupled with Song Ziwei's excellent cooking skills, he ate with great relish. After dinner, he returned to the bedroom and sat down cross-legged to cultivate the Yin Gathering Art.
At the same time, an old man leaning on a cane, wearing a white robe, with white hair and beard, appeared in the City Lord's mansion.
"Greetings, Lord Prefect!" The officials and constables of the City Lord's mansion bowed deeply. Yuan Zun grunted indifferently and casually asked, "In the past few days, have any suspicious individuals entered Tongcheng?" Wei Chong, the patrol inspector of the City Lord's mansion, hesitated and replied, "Reporting to the Lord Prefect, there have been some unfamiliar faces appearing in Tongcheng recently." Yuan Zun frowned. He had asked casually, but he hadn't expected unfamiliar faces to actually appear. "Could it be that that little fellow can really foresee things?" A big question mark appeared in Yuan Zun's mind. Ten thousand years ago, the Underworld was in chaos. A cult called the Anti-Heaven Cult emerged. No one knew the origin of the Anti-Heaven Cult, but they were fierce. As a result, the high and mighty Ten Yama Kings and the Great Emperor of Fengdu successively met their deaths. For a long time afterward, the Underworld was plunged into war until a thousand years ago when the Underworld elected a new Great Emperor of Fengdu and Ten Yama Kings, thus pacifying the war. The common people were able to live in peace. However, the Anti-Heaven Cult was not completely eradicated. They would appear from time to time, killing important court officials. Thinking of Chen Nan's advice to him and the actions of the Anti-Heaven Cult, a meaningful smile appeared on Yuan Zun's face. "Things seem to be getting more and more interesting."