Chapter 18: Certainly

They say you must never readily agree to Su Chen; you should know how to test and probe a man's sincerity—if it's too easy to obtain, it won't be cherished.

In the end they simply couldn't wait for Ye Xuan to return, so they had the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect offer its Seal‑Securing Technique as a betrothal gift, then ten miles of dowry, countless mystic troops and elixirs as the bride price, and finally, with a reluctant expression, agree to this marriage—so that the other sects of the Eastern Wasteland would look highly upon them and the Lin family.

Then—

However, Ye Xuan has now arrived, but he is not the principal wife—only a concubine—and Su Chen seems to have messed things up again on his side.

Now Su Chen simply stops being a sycophant.

Not only does he no longer painstakingly pursue her with every possible scheme, he actually turns back to seek Liu Liyan.

At first, Lin Jianran, who believed she would be Ye Xuan's principal wife, remained composed, thinking that mere Su Chen could never compare to her Ye Xuan elder brother.

She even firmly believed this was Su Chen forcing her to lower her head and admit fault, but after several days she finally realized something was off.

Furthermore, having been humiliated by Su Chen just the day before, she also learned that her long‑yearned‑for Ye Xuan elder brother had already allied through marriage with the Central State imperial princess, becoming her prince consort.

How could an imperial princess possibly share her husband with another?

Now Lin Jianran is already a little panicked.

"Mother, what do you mean by my own doing? I'm not doing this just for the Lin family's future development,"

"The great sects of the Eastern Wasteland look down on the Lin family, despising you as merely a woman whose cultivation is only at the first layer of the Martial King Realm; our daughter wants to smack them in the face, to let them see my methods firsthand—even the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect, the foremost of the four great sects of the Eastern Wasteland, would have to kneel and beg for me to join their sect."

Lin Jianran, her face grim as water, bent down and sat, her fingers clutching the handkerchief tightly.

After a while, she finally released the pent‑up resentment in her chest.

After careful reconsideration, she regained confidence, snorted coldly, and continued: "Ye Xuan elder brother is still around, the Heavenly Mystery Dao Art remains in the Dao Sect, Mother, we still have a chance! Even if I can't become the principal wife, I will certainly secure the status of a concubine."

"Moreover, over these years Su Chen's attitude toward me—don't you see it clearly?"

"Last year I was scolded by the Blazing Sun Sect's holy maiden with a single remark about being fickle; I turned and told Su Chen a sentence, whereupon he led the Dao Protectors charging into the Blazing Sun Sect, slapped that woman across the face, and with a palm strike damaged her meridians, causing that holy maiden to thereafter avoid me."

"Moreover, there's nothing I want that I can't get—whenever the Eastern Wasteland holds an auction and some treasure appears, I merely need to glance at it, and within two days Su Chen will surely have it delivered to me."

"If he leaves me, he simply cannot survive."

Lin Mother listened to these examples, remaining silent and taciturn.

Indeed.

These years Su Chen has bent over backward to please Lin Jianran, losing all face of the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect—if it weren't for Sect Master Su being the top figure of the Eastern Wasteland, with extremely high cultivation and deep sect foundations, otherwise Su Chen's grave would already be overgrown with grass taller than a person.

His status and background are so superior;

his love for Lin Jianran runs deep to the marrow;

he maintains self‑respect and self‑love, taking no concubines;

he feels no stir for the holy maidens of any sect in the Eastern Wasteland; marrying Ye Xuan would be fine, but now his partner is an imperial prince consort, while she is merely a second‑rate clan and must still fight for even a concubine's status.

Yet marrying the devoted Su Chen would allow her to enjoy lifelong peace.

"Three years ago Su Chen made a bet with Ye Xuan: if Ye Xuan returns, Su Chen will surely die a miserable death; if I side with the wrong party at this moment……"

"But if Ye Xuan's side, the imperial princess won't allow him to take a concubine—what then? For now Su Chen is still the best choice, though we need to resolve their enmity, so let's wait a bit longer."

"If Su Chen can survive, he is undoubtedly your perfect match; the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect in the Eastern Wasteland is already quite good, and among those who pursue you as assistant young sect masters, he is the finest." Lin Mother thought it over, decided to first give her daughter a preventive shot, then with a solemn face said: "Daughter, your chance with Su Chen far outweighs that with Ye Xuan—otherwise you might as well lower your head like Su Chen."

"Just say you can accept the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect's marriage proposal, but use the Seal‑Securing Technique as the betrothal gift—give him a little sweetener first, then dangle it and see."

If Su Chen were standing here right now, hearing the Lin mother‑daughter conversation, he would surely laugh himself sick.

Until now——

The Lin family still naively believes Su Chen is playing hard to get, trying to force Lin Jianran to agree to the marriage.

As long as Lin Jianran gives him even a tiny bit of sweetness, no matter how battered and bruised she becomes, Su Chen will still turn back at once and come crawling back like a fawning lapdog.

Heh!

This can't be a daytime daydream, can it?

Lin Jianran, truly someone made oblivious by Su Chen's fawning, upon hearing Mother's suggestion instantly grew proud as a white swan and refused: "Mother! You want me to lower my head like Su Chen's abject mongrel—absolutely impossible!".

"If I bow my head to him today, who knows how much grievance I'll suffer later upon entering the sect."

"Moreover, the one who likes me is him—he's the one kneeling to ask me to like him; why should I debase myself to curry favor with him, when he's not even worthy?"

The words fell.

Lin Jianran paused slightly, a flash of firm confidence flickering in the depths of her eyes—something no one could overlook.

She sprang to her feet.

The corners of her mouth twitched, her face brimming with utter confidence—this is her affirmation of her own looks and charm: "Mother, just wait and see, Su Chen will certainly not give up so easily; he cannot do without me."

"He must be feeling awful right now—probably secretly wiping tears somewhere."

"And he still dares to dream I'll be jealous? His little bit can't compare to Ye Xuan elder brother—if not for that Central State lady… humph, I'd rather see who can't hold out first!"

Lin Mother's heart pounded upon hearing this, her eyelids twitching involuntarily: "Yanran, you must never do something you'll regret."

"Mother, I'm not one to suffer a loss—since Su Chen has hooked up with that vile woman Liu Liyan, I'll go find the Young Sect Master of the Blazing Sun Sect, meet him alone right now, drive Su Chen mad, and make him regret bitterly."

"Then he will surely come crawling back on his knees begging for my forgiveness, desperately trying to win me back."

"If I can't even handle him, yet he dares to threaten Miss—this is really giving him face."

Lin Jianran puffed her cheeks, spat out those words angrily, then turned and left, lifting her skirt.

She is utterly certain, positively sure, willing to bet ten thousand to one that once Su Chen learns she's gone out with the holy sons of other sects, he will certainly appear before her at the fastest speed, then kneel, weep, and beg for forgiveness.

Hahahaha!!!!

Hearing Lin Jianran's loud laughter, Lin Mother's face showed no smile at all, only heaviness, as she sat in her chair deep in thought.

An hour later.

Lin Mother furrowed her brows, turned to look at the steward beside her, pondered carefully, and finally asked: "Fu Bo, what do you think?"

"You say—is Su Chen really blackmailing the Lin family into lowering their heads and agreeing to the marriage?"

"Family Head." Fu Bo sipped his lips, thought a while, then dared to voice his true opinion: "In the past, Young Sect Master Su also threw tantrums, but each time lasted no more than a day."

"This time it's been over three days, I'm afraid..." Wait need correct: "This time it's been over three days, I'm afraid..." Include comma. Let's output exactly.

【60】 "This time it's been over three days, I'm afraid..."

It's almost been four days.

Su Chen not only showed no sign of apologizing in person, but instead, his visits to the Ziyang Sect grew increasingly frequent—does this really look like he's throwing a tantrum?

However, there is still a chance; if it's the Ye family, Ye Xuan's side really can't accept any more concubines, and when that happens, the Ye family targeting the Tianxuan Dao Sect, our Lin family can step forward and say a few good words.

The Tianxuan Dao Sect will surely be moved to tears by gratitude toward our Lin family.

Thinking of these, Lin's mother steadied herself a little.

After all, how deeply Su Chen loves her daughter—everyone in the Eastern Wasteland knows, he pursued her daughter for three years, how could he possibly give up easily?

What a pity.

Lin's mother overthought.

The reason Su Chen threw away his dignity, shamelessly pursuing Lin Jianran and willingly being her lapdog for three years, isn't because of how deeply he loves her, but because he received the system's capture mission.

Now the mission has changed, the bound target was mistaken, and he isn't into masochism—how could he possibly turn back?

What the hell does Lin Jianran matter?

Isn't it wonderful that his heart and eyes are full of his childhood sweetheart, Liu Liyan?