Hearing Chen Zheng's words, Li Yi Tong was overjoyed. At this moment, Chen Zheng was still her good friend, not some high and mighty Grandmaster.

"You're really something else, Chen Zheng. To think you were hiding your Grandmaster-level strength all this time. When we sparred last time, were you going easy on me on purpose?"

Chen Zheng smiled and waved his hand. "I just find it all troublesome!"

"If the Su Family Head hadn't suddenly started making trouble, I never would have revealed it!"

Li Yi Tong pursed her lips, seeming to agree.

"Oh, right!" Chen Zheng asked curiously, "So, what happened today with the Su Family... is it just over?"

He truly hadn't known that Su Baiyu's silver needle was a Devouring Sky Needle. He had just felt the threat of death and subconsciously developed the intent to kill Su Baiyu.

"Of course, it's over!" Li Yi Tong waved her hand dismissively. "Matters in the world of traditional martial arts are resolved within it. Su Baiyu brought death upon himself by provoking a Grandmaster. No one else is to blame."

"Besides, the Su Family doesn't have a Grandmaster anymore. Who knows where their ancestral Grandmaster went? How could they possibly come looking for trouble now? They might even show up in a couple of days to beg for forgiveness!"

Hearing this, Chen Zheng couldn't help but nod. The world of traditional martial arts was indeed a cruel one.

"There's no need for them to beg for forgiveness. Their Family Head already crippled his own cultivation, so I don't need to be utterly ruthless!"

The two of them walked to the front hall, casually found a table, and sat down to drink tea and chat.

About an hour later, Li Cangyun and the others finally arrived. Upon entering, a somewhat reserved Li Cangyun called out to Li Yi Tong, "Yi Tong! How can you sit side-by-side with Grandmaster Chen? Show some respect!"

Li Yi Tong pursed her lips and stood up, preparing to move to a lower seat.

Just then, Chen Zheng spoke up helplessly, "Family Head Li, there's no need for this. Just act like you did a few days ago!"

Chen Zheng was actually getting quite frustrated. He had been comfortable staying with the Li Family, but now that they were acting so subservient, it made him feel incredibly awkward. This was also a good opportunity to check out the villa the system had rewarded him, find out where that wasteland was, and test out the system's newly updated features.

System Space... just from the name, it's obviously a place for storing things! Truly miraculous!

Chen Zheng was already planning to leave. But at that moment, Li Cangmu and Li Yiyu suddenly approached.

BANG! BANG!

The two of them dropped to their knees directly in front of Chen Zheng and kowtowed.

"Grandmaster Chen, we were blind not to recognize you. Please forgive our ignorance and spare us!"

Chen Zheng's eye twitched. To be honest, I much preferred your old, defiant selves.

He waved his hand. "Alright, alright, stop kneeling! One of you is my peer, and I should be calling the other 'Uncle'. I don't mind what happened!"

"Thank you, Grandmaster Chen!"

The father and son scrambled up from the floor, so happy they nearly burst into tears.

"Okay, okay. I've competed for you in the tournament, and now I have some things to attend to... Yi Tong, how about you see me off in a bit?"

Chen Zheng simply couldn't stand all the fuss; it made his skin crawl. Besides, while those in the know were calling him 'Grandmaster Chen,' he was worried that to anyone who didn't, it sounded uncomfortably like a different name entirely. It was just awkward!

Li Yi Tong nodded from her seat. "Alright!"

Li Cangyun wanted to ask him to stay, but when he saw the weary expression on Chen Zheng's face, he swallowed his words.

Amidst the reluctant gazes of the Li family, Chen Zheng finally left the Li Family estate with Li Yi Tong.

"Big brother, Yi Tong seems to get along well with Grandmaster Chen. If possible, perhaps we should let Yi Tong..." Li Canghai had little talent for cultivation, but he had a quick mind and immediately started making suggestions to his older brother.

Li Cangyun, however, was more simple-minded. He waved his hand dismissively. "That should be Yi Tong's choice. We can't be the kind of people who force their children into things!"

Li Cangmu was speechless. Sometimes he wondered if he was even born into a major clan. His own brother wouldn't even consider an arranged marriage, insisting his daughter should be free to find her own love. It was... as if he'd trained his muscles so hard they'd replaced his brain!

Our parents should have made me the Family Head! Li Cangmu huffed to himself.

The reason major clans are major clans is their immense network of connections. And how are those connections maintained? Through arranged marriages! Sometimes, even arranged marriages aren't enough; they have to be supplemented with more complex exchanges of benefits! Free love?! That's just something to stabilize the marriages of common people. It has no place in a major clan! It's only because the world of traditional martial arts values cultivation that this clan hasn't fallen apart under Li Cangyun's leadership.

Li Cangmu thought bitterly, If I were the Family Head, the Li Family certainly wouldn't still be stuck in a century-old competition with just two other families! We could have allied with several clans to hold a massive tournament! We've been losing for the past few years anyway. Losing to two families versus losing to several—the network of connections you could build wouldn't even be in the same league!

As he thought this, Li Cangmu heaved a deep sigh.

Standing nearby, Li Cangyun knew his younger brother was far better at managing the clan's affairs than he was. If it weren't for his own superior cultivation, the Li Family might be thriving if his brother were the Family Head. So, he gently patted Li Cangmu's shoulder. "Let's wait for Yi Tong to return. We'll ask her. If she doesn't object, and Grandmaster Chen seems to have feelings for her, then we'll give it our best shot!"

Hearing this, Li Cangmu looked at his brother in shock. In that moment, his eyes welled up with tears. The animosity between the two brothers had unexpectedly dissolved, all thanks to the arrival of a Grandmaster.

"Alright... alright!"

However, Li Yifeng, standing to the side, looked melancholic. As an overprotective brother, the thought of watching his sister leave was truly painful.

Heh... she has to get married someday, I suppose!

…

Li Yi Tong had no idea that in such a short time, her family had already begun planning the rest of her life. At that moment, she was driving her car, taking Chen Zheng away.

"Chen Zheng, where do you want to go? Should I find you a hotel?"

Hearing this, Chen Zheng looked down and chuckled. "Captain Li, you're quite direct, aren't you!"

Li Yi Tong froze for a second before her face flushed red. "Why did you suddenly take things there? Don't get the wrong idea; I was just joking before!"

Chen Zheng laughed. "I was just kidding, too. You really can't take a joke, can you!"

"Let's go to Tianxi Bay!"

Li Yi Tong nodded, forcing herself to focus on driving, not daring to even glance at Chen Zheng.

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