Chapter Sixteen: Assembling Troops to Demand Justice

Qin Feng had escaped! He truly had fled!

And he hadn’t even chosen his path carefully, rushing straight back to the Qin family estate, leaving behind Huo Zhengxiong, Huo Siyen, and the entire assembly of Qin family members, staring wide-eyed at one another, utterly bewildered, stupefied where they stood!

“Qin Feng was actually frightened away by the beauty of the Huo family’s young lady?”

This absurd notion suddenly rose in everyone’s mind, but none could make sense of it.

Such beauty—like that of a fairy—one could gaze upon daily, year after year, and never tire of her, not even for an instant. How could anyone be scared off by her looks?

Yet, this strange event had truly occurred! And it had happened before the eyes of all, in broad daylight!

The instigator of all this was none other than the Qin family’s young master—once dismissed as a wastrel, now suddenly dazzling and legendary—Qin Feng.

What an extraordinary twist of fate!

“What the devil—what kind of nonsense is this?”

Huo Zhengxiong was first to react, his aged face flushed crimson, nearly dripping blood, gasping for breath—though this was from anger. The fact he hadn’t fainted outright was testament to his remarkable fortitude.

Huo Siyen’s beautiful eyes were misted with tears, yet in her gaze lingered a trace of confusion—why did Qin Feng treat her this way?

After all, the feeling of being publicly abandoned was more agonizing than death itself.

“To flee the marriage in public? Has Qin Feng gone mad? Where are the Huo family’s sons?” Huo Zhengxiong waved his hand commandingly, summoning his family’s strength.

“We’re here!”

“Come! Follow me to the Qin family—I will demand an answer from Qin Tianzheng himself. How did he raise such a promising grandson?”

Qin Siming, still lingering to handle the aftermath, wore a face of awkwardness. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, he stepped forward, clasping his hands, saying, “Master Huo, please calm your anger. I believe there must be some misunderstanding here.”

“Misunderstanding? To hell with misunderstandings. Let Qin Tianzheng explain himself to me, face to face!”

Huo Zhengxiong was furious, and nothing could reach him. The old man’s beard bristled as he led Huo Siyen and the Huo family sons in a grand procession toward the Qin estate.

Qin Siming and the Qin family disciples watched as the Huo delegation faded into the distance, sighed helplessly, and could only follow.

“What on earth is happening here?”

…

Qin Feng, upon returning home, first slipped into his own courtyard, ignoring even the little girl Qin Yuyan, and locked himself in his room.

Qin Feng wasn’t afraid of Huo Siyen, but of another woman—Yan!

The female corpse who had shattered his happiness in his previous life!

In his last life, it was because of her that he died, that he crossed into this world, bringing with him a host of strange ailments, ending up in such a predicament!

Clearly, she had not let him go.

Qin Feng knew Yan would come for him eventually, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

Huo Siyen looked exactly like Yan! As if they had been cast from the same mold—the eyes, the voice, every detail was eerily similar. At that moment, Qin Feng felt his heart nearly stop. After all the hardships in this foreign world, just as he had finally grasped a way to cultivate and carve out his own freedom, Yan appeared before him again.

“Haunted by her spirit? Did she transmigrate, too?”

As his mind cooled, Qin Feng thought rapidly. Soon, he dismissed the notion. In his past life, Yan had been merely a corpse, without a soul.

And afterwards, certain events made Qin Feng suspect it had all been a dream—a dream conjured by Yan herself, making him sense her presence, see her living form, even hear her voice.

But then, who was Huo Siyen? Why did she resemble Yan so precisely?

“That’s it—I need to find Old He, ask him about Huo Siyen’s origins.”

Having made up his mind, Qin Feng unlocked his door and leapt from the courtyard, hurrying straight to the steward Old He’s quarters. His furtive comings and goings left Qin Yuyan bewildered, wondering what strange fit had seized him today.

Just then, the Qin family’s front gate was kicked open—by none other than Huo Zhengxiong, come to seek justice.

Ordinarily, not even a hundredfold courage would prompt Huo Zhengxiong to kick open the Qin family’s gate—unless he wished for death. But today was different: he had the justification, and his rage fueled his boldness.

Once the gate was breached, the Huo contingent poured in, only to be blocked by the Qin family at the martial training ground inside the main courtyard.

“Huo Zhengxiong, do you realize whose house you’re in? How dare you behave so wildly?”

Qin Xiaolian, who had already learned the details from the disciples dispatched by Qin Siming, awaited Huo Zhengxiong at the training ground. While the Huo family had reason, Huo Zhengxiong’s act of kicking open the gate greatly infuriated Qin Xiaolian, prompting him to rebuke the visitor.

Most of Huo Zhengxiong’s anger had faded. Seeing the crowd in the training ground outnumbered his own by more than double, his bluster diminished.

“Hmph, no more nonsense—bring out Qin Tianzheng. I must speak with him directly.”

His tone was much calmer as he said this.

…

“My father is in seclusion for cultivation. All matters of the Qin family, great or small, are under my authority. Master Huo, you may speak with me.”

Seeing Huo Zhengxiong’s anger had cooled, Qin Xiaolian grew more courteous, even changing his address to “Master Huo.” He already understood the situation’s causes and consequences. Now, it was all for appearances—and since Qin Feng had won the challenge, the families might well become joined. Qin Xiaolian did not wish to provoke Huo Zhengxiong further.

“You’re not enough. Go fetch your father. I can’t sort this out with a younger generation.”

Huo Zhengxiong wagged his finger before Qin Xiaolian, assuming the airs of an elder, leaving Qin Xiaolian somewhat helpless.

After all, they were separated by a generation, and though the Huo family’s influence was merely average, its master’s cultivation far surpassed Qin Xiaolian’s. Thus, his confidence faltered.

Just as Qin Xiaolian stood awkwardly, a hearty laugh sounded from behind.

“Old Huo, you’ve come! Xiaolian, you’re in the wrong—invite my old friend inside and serve him tea!”

The resonant voice spread throughout the training ground. Huo Zhengxiong, hearing it, stepped forward, shouting, “Qin Tianzheng, you old rascal, you’ve raised quite a grandson!”

“Haha, indeed I have! Otherwise, why would you bring your granddaughter here? Your Siyen, my grandson Qin Feng will certainly marry her, haha!”

Huo Siyen, following behind Huo Zhengxiong, blushed deeply at Qin Tianzheng’s teasing.

Huo Zhengxiong strode into the hall, cursing, “Hmph, shameless old man—pour me some tea! And bring that brat Qin Feng here! Damn it, today I’ll ask him myself—what about my Siyen could possibly be ugly enough to scare him off? Fleeing the marriage in public—how could you raise such a grandson?”

After greeting the main figures of the Huo family, Qin Tianzheng finally fixed his gaze on Huo Siyen, carefully scrutinizing her.

At this moment, Huo Siyen had removed her veil, allowing her beauty to be seen in full.

“She is indeed a rare natural beauty—such a gem, not only in Luoyang Town, but in all of Yunqi Kingdom, few can compare. What could my grandson be thinking?”

Qin Tianzheng stared at Huo Siyen, lost in thought, his expression troubled.

“Could it be? Does Qin Feng dislike women and prefer men?”

This wild idea suddenly sprang forth, startling Qin Tianzheng. If that were true, the Qin family’s reputation would suffer greatly.

With this thought, Qin Tianzheng grew anxious.

“Someone, quick! Bring that rascal Qin Feng here!”

“Yes, sir!”

…