Chapter Five: The Woman Who Arrived Unannounced

Chen Hongxu cared not in the least about how Situ Shan would handle things next; just looking at the strange expression on the old man’s face, he could tell there was some tangled connection with that Xue Baishu, whom he had never met. Running home under the sidelong glances of passersby, he didn’t even have time to change out of his tattered clothes before he hurriedly summoned Bingling. “I have something to ask you.”

“Hm?” Bingling wore a knowing look and, without waiting for Chen Hongxu’s question, began muttering, “You must be wondering why, after only a month of training, you’ve become so formidable? This question touches on many aspects…”

Chen Hongxu felt a headache coming on, rolled his eyes, and quickly interrupted Bingling’s self-assured monologue, speaking seriously, “That’s not my question. I feel that I’ve changed. I can’t quite explain how, but something is different.”

“It’s quite rude to interrupt someone,” Bingling shot Chen Hongxu a look, then continued, “Besides altering your constitution, the Martial Embryo can change a person’s essence. It gives you courage, a fighting spirit—there are many benefits.”

Her eyes were truly captivating. Chen Hongxu glanced at Bingling but then grew despondent. “After being changed so passively, am I still myself?”

“Of course you are. Everyone acts from their heart; you think a certain way, so you act a certain way. Not the other way around. It’s a matter of principle. As long as your heart remains unchanged, you’re still you. And, as I see it, the Martial Embryo only improves your flaws. It’s a good thing.”

Though Chen Hongxu didn’t fully grasp Bingling’s explanation, the outcome was at least what he wanted to hear.

He let out a breath and headed toward the bathroom. After a morning spent running and climbing, his undershirt was soaked with sweat, sticking unpleasantly to his skin.

“Eh?” Just as he reached the door, a thought struck him. Turning in surprise to Bingling, who was lost in thought, he asked, “I can see you now?”

“Yes, as the inheritor, you’re supposed to be able to see me! You’ve only just noticed since coming home?” Bingling’s face darkened, clearly annoyed.

It was the first time Chen Hongxu had seen Bingling irritated, but he persisted with his question. “Why was your face so blurred at first?”

Bingling tilted her chin slightly, pride flickering in her eyes. “You wouldn’t train in the Martial Canon back then, your willpower was weak, and who knows what thoughts would arise if you saw my beauty. Besides, haven’t you heard of ‘beauty brings disaster’? I feared you’d get hurt before you had the means to protect yourself.”

“You’re very beautiful?” Chen Hongxu murmured in disbelief, completely ignoring the part about self-preservation.

“I am beautiful.” Bingling stood her ground, as if ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

“You win~” Chen Hongxu chuckled helplessly, deciding not to press the matter further.

Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, Bingling, as though pondering a long-held question, asked, “If that man hadn’t backed down, would you really have ignored the woman’s fate?”

“Yes!” Chen Hongxu paused, turned, and flashed Bingling a bright smile, his eyes narrowing as he nodded.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

That afternoon, Chen Hongxu sat bored on the floor, watching martial arts films he’d rented, trying to learn the moves. Bingling had said they were nothing but fancy poses, but Chen Hongxu felt it was better than nothing.

As for why he was sitting on the floor—well, it was because a woman, dressed in crimson robes with features so refined she barely seemed human, was lounging sideways on the chair.

“Knock knock knock.”

Three brief, courteous taps on the door pulled Chen Hongxu from his daydreams.

“Huh? Who could it be?” He frowned in confusion. He had no friends, and as for relatives, there’d been no contact for generations.

He opened the door casually, and froze. Though he’d recently achieved some martial prowess, the corridor and stairs were packed with men in suits—what was going on?

“Are you Mr. Chen Hongxu?” The burly man in front seemed puzzled; according to the intel from Miss Xue and Elder Situ, the one they were seeking was a formidable scoundrel.

Chen Hongxu shook off his confusion and nodded, feeling even more bewildered.

“Good, then. Please step aside.” The bald leader gently moved Chen Hongxu out of the doorway, then gave a signal. The crowd behind him, carrying various household items, filed in one after another.

“Wait…” Chen Hongxu watched as the suited men made themselves at home, arranging appliances and furniture. He meekly asked, “Is this a big promotion from Suning? Or some sudden poverty alleviation policy?”

The bald man paid him no mind and didn’t answer a single question. As he left, he cast a meaningful glance at Bingling, who was now sitting upright, one hand on her hip, the other twirling a toothpick, looking utterly disdainful—a female ruffian, arrogant and proud.

The group came and went swiftly. Gazing at the suddenly furnished living room, Chen Hongxu looked at Bingling, who was still playing her part, and asked suspiciously, “Did you do some TV shopping while I was out? And why did it seem like the bald guy could see you?”

“It wasn’t me.” Bingling dropped her act, shrugged innocently, and said, “I’m so beautiful—I wouldn’t embarrass you if seen. What’s there to worry about?”

Chen Hongxu had long sworn never to discuss anything related to beauty with this spirit, so upon hearing her bring it up, he naturally turned away and went back to studying the martial arts film.

What’s meant to come will always come. There aren’t so many generous souls in the world; just the home theater in the living room alone was worth tens of thousands.

“These people seem to be the same group as the men in suits from Lotus Mountain last time,” Bingling said, propping her chin in her hand and feigning depth as she analyzed.

“I know. Otherwise, how do you think they got in?” Chen Hongxu turned and squinted at Bingling with a smile.

Seeing his aura, Bingling shivered involuntarily, lowered her head, and fell back into thought.

Chen Hongxu loved this recent introspective streak of Bingling. Since the shadow on her face had been removed, she’d started acting like the mistress of the house—a busybody, and a chatty one at that.

And so, the hands of the clock turned, and soon it was six in the evening.

Chen Hongxu got up, turned off the TV, and headed to the kitchen, planning to reward himself with a fried egg dish.

Just then, the knocking sounded again, the same rhythmic, courteous three taps.

He opened the door and stood blocking the entrance, determined not to let anyone in unless they could explain themselves.

But—

“It’s you. What are you doing here?” Chen Hongxu’s voice was curt.

At the door stood a woman with slightly wavy hair, a princess hairpin, skin pale as snow, and mischievous, sparkling eyes.

Xue Xi shot him a glance and said sweetly, “I’ve come to stay. Didn’t my family’s bodyguards move the furniture over this afternoon? You didn’t know?”

“We don’t seem that close, do we?” Chen Hongxu laughed dryly, cursing inwardly—so it was premeditated. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

“I can pay rent. Besides, if we spend time together, we’ll become friends,” Xue Xi said, looking helpless and a little sad.

“Friends?” That simplest, yet sacred word touched Chen Hongxu’s heart, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Xue Xi, no fool, seized the opportunity, slipped under his arm, and entered, surveying the place.

Chen Hongxu regained his composure, shut the door, and turned to see the two women in the living room, each practically branded with “I am trouble” on their foreheads. He felt a headache coming on.

Meanwhile, in the flowerbeds of the residential complex, a group of men in black suits with earpieces began to withdraw in an orderly fashion as soon as Xue Xi entered Chen Hongxu’s home.