Chapter 24: The brother‑in‑law has come too, let's get into the pot

Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue followed his sister here; he was ordered by the eldest sister to keep an eye on the second sister, and having already received his reward, he naturally had to satisfy the eldest sister. Who would have thought the second sister would sneak out while the eldest sister was cultivating? Fortunately he had been hiding and watching her all along, not daring to leave even for meals or bathroom breaks, and sure enough, the second sister still found a chance to slip away.

All the way following the second sister, he didn't know why that formation neither confused nor blocked him, which was strange. He followed her up the familiar Longshe Shan; this second visit gave him a different feeling, as if everything had changed, yet also as if everything remained the same.

He kept feeling odd, as if someone were watching him, but he saw no one lurking in the dark, constantly telling himself he was just being overly sensitive, that nobody was watching him. He reached the summit and hid behind a bush, trying to conceal his figure as much as possible.

He looked up and saw the second sister sitting inside the pot; the sight deeply shocked him.

"Is the second sister going into the pot? Is Chen Chuyang going to eat human flesh?"

Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue felt worried, wondering if the second sister had really been brainwashed, being thrown into the pot again; the pot gave off a nauseating smell, he took a whiff and almost suffocated.

He stared at the pot of green liquid constantly emitting a nauseating odor, unable to understand why the second sister had gone in there; that stuff was……

"The second sister's skin is tender and her meat would surely taste good; Chen Chuyang wouldn't really eat her, would he?"

"Or should I go rescue the second sister? Chen Chuyang is definitely no match for me, I……"

Shang Yue thought long and hard, weighing pros and cons, especially calculating Chen Chuyang's combat ability; a mere skin‑shedding nobody could not be his opponent. He knew he, Shang Yue, was a prodigy of the Shang Clan—though not as great as the eldest sister Shang Hongchen, he was far stronger than the second sister Shang Hongxue. With the Shang Clan's resources piled up and other experts personally instructing him, his strength was flawless.

Having cultivated to the fifth layer of Blood Refinement, facing a mere skin‑shedding Chen Chuyang, wasn't that as easy as catching something with his hand?

Shang Yue even deemed it beneath him to act, lowering his pride.

"Huh, is he looking at me?"

Shang Yue sensed Chen Chuyang glancing over here, a very subtle look.

"Impossible, how could he notice me? Chen Chuyang is just a petty skin‑shedding trash; he couldn't possibly notice me—it must be my illusion."

Chen Chuyang showed a smile; sure enough, his brother‑in‑law had also come.

This Xiao Pangzi has arrived—perfect for me to punish him a bit; I, Chen Chuyang, don't hold grudges, I'm very magnanimous.

I never take revenge on others.

"Since this Xiao Pangzi has come, not throwing him into the pot once would be letting him down."

"This is someone even tougher than Shang Hongxue."

Chen Chuyang decided he would thoroughly torment Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue, leaving a deep impression so he would never dare come to Longshe Shan again.

Having made up his mind, all that remained was to act—unbeknownst to him, his change of expression fell into Shang Hongxue's eyes, terrifying her; Elder Brother Chuyang's smile looked horrifying, as if he wanted to eat her.

"Elder Brother Chuyang, your smile is terrifying."

"No, you're mistaken."

Chen Chuyang said with a smile, "Hongxue, what do you think of your younger brother?"

Shang Hongxue frowned, not understanding.

At this moment Chen Chuyang brought up his own brother—something he never did; according to her knowledge, Elder Brother Chuyang never asks random questions or does pointless things.

The fact that he could ask and say this must have a reason.

"Elder Brother Chuyang, what's wrong with my younger brother? Did he offend you?"

"No, how could that be? I think your younger brother is a bit chubby and needs to lose weight."

Shang Hongxue closed her eyes, thought for a moment, then asked weakly, "Elder Brother Chuyang, is it Shang Yue who has come along?"

Sharp as she was, she instantly guessed the key.

Chen Chuyang smiled without speaking, gave no answer, his attitude making everything clear.

"Where is he?"

Shang Hongxue noticed Chen Chuyang's gaze sweep over the bushes, looked that way, and indeed saw Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue hiding inside; the bushes concealed his shape and his disguise was pretty good, but unfortunately his scent was quite different.

She found him instantly; Shang Hongxue was speechless—did this brother really think he hid himself well?

Nothing on Longshe Shan could be hidden from Elder Brother Chuyang; as soon as he set foot on the mountain, he was discovered.

"Shang Yue, come out."

The hiding Shang Yue reminded himself, "It must be the second sister trying to trick me; they couldn't possibly have found me—I hid myself so well."

"Right, that's how it is."

"I'm not coming out."

Hiding there, he made sure not to make a sound.

Shang Hongxue was speechless; this brother really seemed not very bright.

Chen Chuyang coughed and said, "We've already seen you—come out."

"……"

No movement.

Shang Yue still didn't come out; he didn't want to be fooled.

Chen Chuyang and Shang Hongxue exchanged a glance, both speechless—even at a time like this, you still think you hid yourself well.

Both of them were drunk.

"Shang Yue, I know you're hiding in the bushes—come out quickly, you've been found."

The hiding Shang Yue's heart jolted; the bushes, with both of their eyes looking this way, made it obvious he had been discovered.

Helpless, he could only walk out, his face full of bewilderment.

"Second sister, how did you find me?"

Full of confidence, he still believed his disguise and hiding skills were strong enough not to be found; that puzzling confidence left Shang Hongxue unsure what to say—this brother had been like that since birth, extremely self‑assured.

"Shang Yue, was it the eldest sister who told you to watch me?"

Shang Yue scratched his head: "No, I decided on my own to watch you."

"How much money did the eldest sister give you?"

"Not much, not much, just……" Realizing something was off, Shang Yue hurriedly corrected: "No, nothing of the sort—the eldest sister didn't give me money, nor did she tell me to watch you; all this is my personal doing, unrelated to the eldest sister."

Chen Chuyang couldn't help but glance again at his brother‑in‑law, sighing, "Wow, this sense of righteousness is truly impressive."

Even now he remains stubborn, refusing to betray the eldest sister—such a person is worthy of trust.

At least, in this respect, Chen Chuyang saw Shang Yue's strengths.

"Second sister, if you want to blame someone, blame me."

Shang Yue raised his head, showing no fear at all.

No matter what you say, these are all his personal actions.

Shang Hongxue pursed her lips: "You're still so stupid."

"Cough cough, second sister, you can say I'm honest, but you can't say I'm stupid." The anxious Shang Yue loudly reminded his second sister, he wasn't stupid, just adhering to his principles.

As a merchant, he must certainly uphold his reputation.

Integrity is fundamental; he could never betray his elder sister.