Chapter 102: Putting Out the Fire

Yin Family Manor.

Yin Gong hurried into the flower hall and asked, “Father, why did you summon me?”

His father, Yin Qiao, said, “A few days ago, Su Dalang from Mount Shenwu came to pay his respects and mentioned the divine incense—he said that last January, the hundred jin of divine incense you gave the Su family went missing again?”

Yin Gong laughed: “Only now do you come? You’ve certainly got patience.”

Yin Qiao asked, “What’s your reasoning?”

Yin Gong said, “Since Master Jingzhao broke through to Golden Core, our sect’s demand for incense has surged. Over the past two years, our household’s production has struggled to keep up. Second, I sent word to propose marriage, but the Su family still hasn’t answered. If I don’t give them a taste of consequences, they’ll never take Yin family seriously.”

Yin Qiao frowned: “I already told you before the New Year—there are plenty of good families. Why are you fixated on Su’s Ninth Daughter? The Su family says she’s under someone else’s care, not their own child—they can’t decide for her.”

Yin Gong said, “Throughout history, foster care outweighs birth. Can’t they decide? That’s just nonsense. Then let them tell me—who are her real parents? Once they name them, I’ll go propose to her birth family myself.”

Yin Qiao said, “We’re all high families—we’ll meet again someday. Don’t push things too far. You’re past thirty; marry soon. If they won’t wed her to you, find another!”

Yin Gong sneered: “The Su family has long declined—only two Golden Cores left, and they’re looked down upon even in Danxia Sect. I’ve heard that Mao Gong Altar and Xunxi families have been eyeing them for years. What’s wrong with me wanting one woman? I’ve never married—I’ve been waiting for her to be my wife! They don’t even show gratitude. It’s outrageous. If another few years pass, she’ll be lucky to become a concubine.”

Yin Qiao rebuked: “How dare you speak such nonsense? Even if they’ve truly declined, that’s Danxia Sect’s own affair—not yours to gossip about, let alone meddle in!”

Yin Gong smiled apologetically: “Yes, yes, Father, rest assured—I know. I won’t meddle. I only ask for a wife. You know well her beauty and talent—she’d never bring shame to the Yin name.”

Yin Qiao waved his hand: “I’ve said my piece—know when to stop. Excess is worse than deficiency. If you can’t marry her, find another. Go!”

After taking his leave, Yin Gong clenched his teeth. You good-for-nothing Su Dalang—can’t come talk to me yourself, so you go tattling. Fine, wait and see—I’ll cut your incense supply in half this month. See if you bow your head!

As he seethed, a servant rushed up, panting: “Young Master, disaster! Lady Li’s courtyard is on fire! The steward has taken men to put it out—I came straight to report!”

Lady Li came from low birth and was never formally wed—she lived secluded in a separate villa. Yet among Yin Gong’s eight concubines, she was his favorite. Hearing this, he froze, hurrying outward as he asked, “Is she hurt?”

Lady Li was no cultivator—she couldn’t protect herself in fire. The guards assigned to her were mere martial masters; they might not save her. Of course, if she died, those guards would all be executed—but that was after the fact. No amount of punishment could bring back her delicate, boneless beauty.

Rushing out of the manor, he gazed southeast toward the creek mouth. Beneath the setting sun, thick smoke rose violently. Yin Gong channeled his true qi and shot toward the smoke. Along the way, he saw farmers and manor servants pointing and whispering, others rushing toward the blaze.

He was Yin’s second son; three years ago he reached Foundation Establishment, far surpassing his elder brother and fifth younger brother. Long ago, he was named heir apparent. With such cultivation, five li vanished in an instant.

Arriving at the scene, smoke still rose—but not from Lady Li’s villa. The fire had been a giant willow tree five to six zhang ahead of her residence. The steward and over a dozen servants had just arrived, useless—the flames were already out, leaving only thick smoke.

Yin Gong relaxed. “What happened?”

Lady Li flung herself into his arms: “My lord, I was terrified! I don’t know how it happened—the tree just caught fire, grew fiercer, and Liu Master and the others couldn’t put it out. Then two Immortals passed by and casually extinguished the flames.”

“Immortals?” Yin Gong turned to Liu Master.

Liu Master bowed: “Young Master, two Immortals—one man, one woman, both very young. I asked their names—the female Immortal only said her surname was Su. The male Immortal stopped her, saying it was nothing, no need for thanks. They’ve already left.”

Hearing the surname Su, Yin Gong immediately took notice. He demanded detailed descriptions of their appearances—and the more he heard, the more astonished he became: if Lady Li and Liu Master weren’t mistaken, the woman was almost certainly Su’s Ninth Daughter, Su Wan—he’d longed for her so deeply. And the man…

Filled with suspicion, Yin Gong followed the direction Liu Master indicated and caught up to them before sunset.

Studying the two walking side by side, Yin Gong’s heart lurched. If he’d been fifty percent suspicious before, now he was seventy percent certain. Though dusk blurred their forms, the woman’s familiar silhouette and the man’s occasional profile made him quicken his pace.

When he drew within thirty zhang, the woman idly linked arms with the man, then seemed to sense him and turned back. Yin Gong confirmed—it was Su Jiuniang!

The man whispered something, ignored Yin Gong entirely, and quickened his pace into the dense forest ahead.

Su Jiuniang waited where she stood, asking: “Why are you chasing me, Lord Yin?”

Yin Gong glanced at the forest, then smiled at Su Jiuniang: “Thank you for your help earlier.”

Su Jiuniang frowned: “Help?”

Yin Gong said, “The fire was near my Yin family’s villa.”

Su Jiuniang realized: “Oh… Lord Yin, no need to thank me. We merely passed by and did what we could.”

Yin Gong glanced again at the forest: “That man… is Master Jing?”

Su Jiuniang shook her head: “No, Lord Yin, you’re mistaken.”

Yin Gong laughed bitterly: “Why deny it?”

Su Jiuniang coldly replied: “Is it any of your business?”

Yin Gong slowly nodded: “No wonder you refused me—you’ve climbed a higher branch. But tell me, how long will you cling to it? How long will you hold your ground?”

Su Jiuniang said: “Let me give you one piece of advice: don’t speak recklessly—it brings harm, not benefit. That’s all. Goodbye.”

Yin Gong’s face darkened. He watched her vanish into the forest, stomping his foot in fury: “I thought she was a good woman—turns out she’s just a vulgar, scheming jade seeking a powerful house!”

He wanted to let go—but Su Jiuniang’s cold, stunning face and the graceful curve of her back as she turned kept haunting his mind, driving him to near madness.

On the way back, bitterness filled every step.