Chapter 20

"Father, is the second brother extorting Shang Hongchen?"

In a certain corner of Longshe Shan, Chen Chusheng turned back and asked his father Chen Yuan standing beside him; the two had arrived earlier, slightly later than Shang Hongchen's group, taking in the scene, Chen Yuan stroked his clean-shaven chin and nodded.

"Your second son hasn't let me down; he won't be dazzled by Shang Hongchen's looks, I was afraid he'd be manipulated by Shang Hongchen, but it looks like he won't be."

Chen Yuan worried in vain; his second son is clearly not a simple person, nor a sycophant.

Shang Hongchen is indeed pretty, with a somewhat fiery temperament, excellent in all aspects, but she cannot utterly bewitch Chen Chuyang, and Chen Chuyang won't be a sycophant; naturally he won't do that—when it's time to extort, he will extort, he'll extort to the bitter end, and won't be polite about it; this pleases Chen Yuan greatly, for such a son is his good son.

Looking at the eldest son, he is inferior to the youngest in this respect.

"This point, Chen Chusheng, you ought to study it well."

Chen Chusheng didn't expect the topic to fall on him; he quickly nodded, not daring to rebut his father.

Looking at the second brother, Chen Chusheng was also speechless; this brother is surprisingly sly and deceitful, something not noticed before.

They knew too little about this brother, still trapped in memories from a few years ago, unable to move beyond them.

"Father, you said Shang Hongchen will give?"

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, then nodded: "Yes."

To settle matters peacefully, Shang Hongchen doesn't want too much entanglement with Chen Chuyang; being able to clear things up in one go is naturally best.

She also wants to sever all ties; from now on she won't be bound in Longshe Cheng, able to spread her wings and fly freely, pursuing whatever she desires.

Such a woman could never stay in Longshe Cheng for life.

Leaving would be quite good.

"Father, are you that certain?"

"Shang Hongchen will give."

Chen Yuan understands Shang Hongchen; truly making her kill Chen Chuyang is impossible, and she wouldn't do it—first, the Shang Clan wouldn't allow it; Shang Yingnian would not dare offend the Chen Clan to death, nor does he want to totally break face with the Chen Clan; otherwise this engagement break wouldn't be so... mild.

Secondly, Longshe Cheng must not fall into chaos; if Chen Chuyang died, the Chen Clan would not be courteous to the Shang Clan, resulting in countless casualties, even Shang Hongchen's parents would follow... death; such consequences are not what she wants to see, and after weighing pros and cons, she will certainly choose to settle everything with compensation—this is the simplest and least troublesome way.

Everyone present is not foolish; each has their own plans and bottom line.

"Hope you keep your word."

Shang Hongchen compromised.

Another batch of compensation was given.

Chen Chuyang received the compensation, very pleased: "As expected of the Shang Clan's eldest daughter, straightforward."

Chen Chuyang's net worth pales in comparison to hers.

Shang Hongchen is indeed the power holder of the Shang Clan; the resources she controls are beyond Chen Chuyang's comparison.

These compensations exceed what Chen Chuyang could obtain in a lifetime.

A distinction emerged.

Suddenly, a feeling of bitterness arose.

"Now it's okay, right, Chen Chuyang?"

Shang Hongchen really wanted to act, but she knew it was impossible; this matter is merely a misunderstanding.

Shang Yingnian was thus able to break free, went to his daughter's side, pressed down his hot-tempered daughter, whispered a few words in her ear; Shang Hongchen gave Chen Chuyang a deep glance, let out a cold snort: "Hmph."

"Chen Chuyang, this matter isn't over."

Afterward, she turned and left.

Today's humiliation, she will remember.

Before leaving, she gave Chen Chuyang a deep look.

That fierce gaze is quite frightening.

Before leaving, Shang Yingnian glanced toward a certain corner and waved his hand.

Shang Hongxue was reluctant to leave, looking back with each step.

"Hongxue, go back."

Shang Hongxue was unwilling to go back, being pulled away by Thus we have Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue.

"Brother Chuyang."

Reaching out to seek support, Chen Chuyang waved his hand, seeing them off.

The Shang Clan people left Longshe Shan; Chen Chuyang looked at his gains and smiled.

"The Shang Clan is indeed rich, far richer than this poor me; all these good things are perfect for Pill Refining, and my cultivation can then rise quickly."

Relying on cultivation to raise one's realm is too slow; Chen Chuyang doesn't know how long the next breakthrough will take.

The accumulated time is far too long, the conversion efficiency of heavenly-earthly spiritual qi is too poor, or rather, his mixed primordial true qi is too high-grade, requiring an enormous amount of heavenly-earthly spiritual qi—about a hundred strands to form one strand of mixed primordial true qi—and as his cultivation rises, this conversion efficiency will only worsen.

Medicinal pills play a very important role therein.

But Pill Refining is not that easy.

Having gathered his things, Chen Chuyang turned and smiled: "Father, elder brother, come out already; how long must you keep hiding?"

"Haha, I said earlier, we came to Longshe Shan and couldn't hide it from your younger brother; you just refuse to believe."

Chen Chusheng, walking out, looked bewildered at his father; he had never said such words.

Clearly it was you who said it, Father; how did the blame fall on me?

"Chen Chusheng, you're the elder brother; next time you must not doubt your younger brother."

Chen Chusheng: "......"

No, I didn't; Father, don't slander good people.

"Elder brother, this is your fault; let's do this: you compensate me, and the matter will be over."

Chen Chusheng: "???"

What?

Even I'm being swindled; are you a cheat saint?

Even my own big brother doesn't let it go; you really are my good second brother.

"Big brother, if you have no money, just stamp it; you can give it next time, the younger brother isn't in a hurry."

Looking at the IOU thrust before his eyes, Chen Chusheng fell silent again.

He certainly doesn't want to inexplicably owe a mountain of debt.

Chen Chuyang couldn't let him, grabbed his hand, stamped a seal on the IOU, quickly put the IOU away, giving no chance for big brother to backtrack. After finishing all this, he clapped his hands with satisfaction: "Big brother, next time remember to bring everything, don't forget."

Chen Chusheng looked toward his father Chen Yuan, seeking help.

Chen Yuan ignored his gaze, patted Chen Chuyang's shoulder, and said with satisfaction, "Good kid, this time you performed well; the Shang father and daughter should give them a good beating, otherwise they really wouldn't know who the ruler of Longshe Cheng is?"

"What a pity for that girl Shang Hongchen, her spirit is too high; a woman like that cannot be a member of the Chen Clan."

"But that girl Shang Hongxue is quite good, Chuyang, do you want her?"

Chen Chuyang was speechless; his father spoke again.

Shang Hongxue is good, but too young.

In a few years, when such matters are discussed again, his thoughts will all be on cultivation; before he has self‑protection ability, he won't think about these.

According to his prediction, at least the Hunyuan Dao Scripture must be cultivated to the fourth level before he can be said to have a certain self‑protection ability.

Longshe Cheng is far too dangerous.

He, however, does not want his rare quiet life to be shattered, nor does he want his family slaughtered.

"Father, this time you all have come just to say that, right?"

"Haha, of course not. Your big brother and I are mainly worried about you, fearing you'll be bullied. It seems we worried for nothing; it's your big brother who insisted on dragging me here. I have great confidence in Chuyang's strength; your big brother lacks this, doesn't trust you. After we return, I will definitely have your mother harshly condemn him."

Chen Chusheng: "…" I said nothing, and the pot was on my head.

Indeed, it's a biological one.