Chapter Two: Affection

Liu Wenxiang and Su Yang entered the thatched hut. The resentment in Zhang Hu’s eyes was hard to dispel; as he stared at Su Yang’s back, he pondered, “How could the young lady fancy such a spineless fellow? In what way am I inferior to him?”

“No matter, once this boy marries in, I’ll find a way to make him vanish without a trace. Then, the young lady will still be mine.”

Liu Wenxiang glanced around the shabby hut. The bed, the furniture, and some books were all old and worn. She was afraid to soil her clothes on the rickety chairs, so she remained standing and spoke, “I’ve already sent people to pay off your father’s gambling debt to Wei Xiong at the casino. If there are any other difficulties, just say so.”

“For now, there are none.”

“Time is short, so take a look at this.” She tossed a spring-themed booklet aside and hastily made her way out. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. With this, consider the betrothal sealed.”

Su Yang escorted Liu Wenxiang to the door. Watching her graceful figure depart, he couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—who would have thought his mother-in-law would still possess such charm?

Zhang Hu’s gaze remained fierce and venomous. What, exactly, had he done to offend the man?

Aside from that, the courtyard was piled high with betrothal gifts: a pair of wild geese, wedding pastries, bolts of cloth, and other items. Later, he planned to sell them all at a shop in town and exchange them for silver—far more practical than the goods themselves.

Outside, the neighbors whispered and pointed, their voices thick with mockery and schadenfreude. Such a marriage—where a man marries into the wife’s family—was universally despised, but Su Yang cared not at all.

If his stomach couldn’t handle hardship, what was wrong with living a comfortable life?

From now on, he’d stroll through the Wang family’s back garden, flirt with the little maids, and feast on the finest food and drink—while the others could go on eating pickled vegetables and thin gruel.

Name: Su Yang (Prospective Immortal)
Incense Merit Points: 10
Cultivation Level: None
Techniques: Incense Merit Department
Lifespan: 18+
Family Progress: You are officially engaged, taking the first step toward establishing your family. After the wedding, you will receive 10 Incense Merit Points and the art of Qi Observation!
Daily Reminder: The greater your offspring’s achievements, the more Incense Merit Points you will receive each day.

His panel showed the Incense Merit Points had indeed climbed to 10, but his lifespan had dropped by a day once more. However, a plus sign had appeared next to his lifespan, indicating he could use Merit Points to extend his life.

As for the cultivation level, there was no movement—10 points clearly weren’t enough to make progress. Su Yang allocated all 10 points to lifespan, and in an instant, his days increased from 18 to 118.

He let out a long breath—finally, he was no longer a doomed man.

At noon, Su Yang found several merchants and sold off all the betrothal gifts, pocketing about fifty taels of silver—enough to support an ordinary family of three for more than a decade. This was now his private savings.

The Xiongnu were invading from the north, and the border was in peril. Conscription officers had already appeared on the streets. For commoners, it meant sending their sons to war; the wealthy either sent servants or paid bribes to avoid service.

With this draft, who knew how many young widows Yanggu County would see!

Clanging and drumming echoed from the other end of the street. Amid the excitement, a burly man—over two meters tall, his skin dark, his beard wild—was paraded through the crowd atop an open sedan, cheered by the masses.

Behind him, several officers carried a dead tiger. Onlookers pointed and chattered, their eyes brimming with admiration for the hero.

A true tiger-slayer!

Back at home, Su Yang cooked the mutton he’d bought on the way. In the Da Qian dynasty, most dishes were still boiled or roasted—there was no stir-frying yet. Culinary progress lagged behind, largely due to backward metallurgy.

Still, sliced mutton cooked in broth was quite enjoyable.

Satisfied at last, his stomach—long deprived—felt content, even if he suffered a bout of indigestion. The simple pleasure of a full meal brought peace of mind.

Most importantly, the more he ate, the more he could build his vitality. Perhaps, with enough food and his own insights, he could achieve the rank of Ninth-Grade Warrior through internal cultivation—saving himself a fortune in Merit Points.

The Ninth-Grade Warrior was also called the Blood-Burning Realm!

It required tempering one’s vitality until, in battle, it boiled like hot water, granting strength beyond the ordinary and warding off all manner of illness.

The Blood-Burning Manual explained: one must find the “Sea of Consciousness,” and use its power to direct the body’s blood and energy to collide and temper each other—a slow and difficult process, easier if one’s vitality was ample.

A night passed.

Su Yang had found his Sea of Consciousness and could direct his blood and qi to collide and temper, but his body was too frail and his vitality too meager; the results were unimpressive. Still, it gave him hope.

At dawn, the door to the hut was thrown open. Madam Wang bustled in with two Wang family maids. “Oh, my dear scholar, today is your big day! Why haven’t you changed into your new clothes yet?”

“Hurry up—bring the young master’s new clothes and help him change.”

“Come with me to greet the guests. Peach Blossom, help the young master dress. The auspicious hour is nearly upon us.”

Madam Wang and one maid left, leaving behind a girl called Peach Blossom. Her smile was radiant, her eyes like blooming flowers.

“Young master, let’s get you changed,” she said, picking up the new garments. As Su Yang removed his inner shirt, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Sold to the Wang family as a child, she’d overheard the old maids tease about men and women, but had never actually seen a man’s body. The unexpected sight made her heart flutter wildly.

Su Yang was handsome, his scholar’s pallor unmarred by the sun—more refined and gentle than most.

“Hand me the undergarment,” Su Yang said, noticing Peach Blossom’s downcast eyes and understanding the thoughts of a girl her age.

“Oh! Yes...” she stammered, snapping out of her daze and handing him the garment. She helped him dress from top to bottom, and by the time he’d pulled on his boots, her cheeks were still red—making her all the more charming.

“What do you do in the Wang household? Whom do you serve?” Su Yang asked, his gaze lingering on her bright eyes.

Blushing deeper, Peach Blossom replied, “I’m a servant girl to the second young lady, mostly doing rough work.”

“When I move into the Wang family, I’ll ask Mother-in-law to transfer you to my rooms. How about that?” As he spoke, he teasingly pinched her soft, plump hand.

Her budding figure, delicate skin, and the roundness of youth made her all the more adorable and innocent—the perfect target for gentle teasing.

“Ah!” Peach Blossom gasped, looking up at him in confusion, her heart pounding even faster.

“Peach Blossom, are you done dressing the young master?” Madam Wang burst in. Peach Blossom quickly withdrew her hand and stood aside, head lowered. “All done.”

As she watched Su Yang’s back, Peach Blossom breathed a silent sigh of relief. If the young lady ever found out, she’d surely be punished!

She told herself to be more careful in the future.

But... it seemed the young master really liked her!