"Su Zhe said, 'For your own good, get a divorce!'"
"Brother!" Su Nian bit her lip, just as she wanted to say something, Su Zhe turned his head, stared right at her, and said, "Shut up!"
Then, he looked back at Chu Hao and said, "I hope you know what's good for you."
"I used to be blind," Chu Hao said suddenly.
"So what?" Su Zhe's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So I really don't know what's good for me," Chu Hao grinned at Su Zhe.
Hearing this, Su Zhe took off his glasses, revealing a strikingly handsome face.
Chu Hao had to admit that Su Nian's parents had strong genes; the children they produced were exceptionally good-looking.
"You think you have a say in this matter?" Su Zhe huffed on his glasses.
Behind him, several men suddenly closed in on Chu Hao.
"Su Zhe!" Right at that moment, Su Nian's cold voice rang out. "If you dare lay a hand on him, I will make you lose your chance to ever take charge of the Su family!"
Hearing this, Su Zhe froze. He turned his head and glared intently at Su Nian.
Meeting her resolute gaze, he gritted his teeth and said, "What makes you think some bumpkin country boy can save you? Su Nian, you're ruining the Su family, and you're driving this kid to his grave! Let me tell you... someone from the Ye family has already arrived in Jiangcheng!"
"I... trust Grandpa!" Su Nian said in a calm voice. "And I trust Chu Hao!"
Su Zhe gritted his teeth, then turned and glared at Chu Hao. "I'll settle accounts with you another day!"
With that, he glared at Su Nian. "You're coming back with me!"
Su Nian gave Chu Hao a bitter smile and said, "I'm going home first. Tomorrow at noon, I'll come pick you up for lunch!"
Chu Hao nodded.
Hearing the two of them openly discussing this right in front of him, Su Zhe was so furious his nose felt crooked. He shoved Su Nian into the car, and a moment later, the two cars sped away.
Chu Hao watched the cars leave, a smile then appearing on his face. "This little Jiangcheng is getting livelier by the day."
***
Meanwhile, at the First People's Hospital of Donghai City—the best hospital in Donghai City, a province known for its advanced economy and equally exceptional medical care—Lin Teng looked anxiously at the doctor before him.
"How is it, Doctor?"
"After all our tests, Miss Lin Qinyi's body shows no signs of illness at all. It's truly bizarre!" One doctor adjusted his glasses and said, "Her condition doesn't look like an illness. It's more like... she's been cursed."
***
Chapter 23: A Test?
When Chu Hao returned to the guesthouse, Mu Qingqing was dozing off behind the counter. Her parents had presumably gone out to take care of some business.
Without waking Mu Qingqing, Chu Hao tiptoed upstairs.
He sat down in his room and began to organize his thoughts.
Marrying Su Nian felt a bit like an accident.
Yet Chu Hao didn't regret it. Su Nian came from a good family, and her figure, appearance, and temperament were top-tier—she was fully worthy of him.
Chu Hao's primary objective next was still to find Luo Qing.
Back then, Luo Qing's attempt to assassinate him was definitely not simple; it might even be connected to the disappearance of his grandfather.
As for Su Nian's trouble, he would just solve it along the way.
He didn't take Su Zhe's threats very much to heart. He had already reached the Aperture Opening Stage, the second stage of immortal cultivation. Although he wasn't well-versed in combat, ordinary people had no way of posing a threat to his life.
He planned to make a nocturnal visit to the Luo family estate that evening to see whether Luo Qing was actually inside.
Just as Chu Hao was pondering this, a knock sounded at the door.
Chu Hao opened it to find a sleep-eyed Mu Qingqing standing outside. Rubbing her eyes, she said, "Big brother, there's an old grandfather downstairs looking for you."
Then she muttered under her breath, "It feels like so many people are looking for you."
"An old man?" Chu Hao frowned. He walked over to the window and looked down, spotting Lin Kefu standing by the side of the road, supported by someone.
As Chu Hao looked down at him through the window, Lin Kefu looked up and spotted him, giving him a slight nod.
Chu Hao frowned faintly. The last time he saw Lin Kefu, he noticed the man's health was poor—the kind of poor where a person's lifespan was nearing its end.
That was something even Chu Hao's miraculous medical skills couldn't reverse.
Lin Kefu coming here was obviously on account of his granddaughter.
Chu Hao let out a long sigh. Even though he had no wish to associate with the Lin family anymore, the old man was, after all, his grandfather's closest friend. He decided to go downstairs anyway. Cupping his hands at Lin Kefu, he greeted, "Elder Lin!"
"Chu Hao!" Lin Kefu let out a long sigh. "Shuyu has already told me the whole story from beginning to end. This matter is indeed the Lin family's fault."
"It's in the past, and I haven't taken it to heart," Chu Hao replied, shaking his head. "Elder Lin, your health isn't good; you didn't need to make a special trip out here."
Lin Kefu said with a trace of melancholy, "Ah, back then your grandfather and I were the closest of friends. I never expected that you and our Lin family would reach this point. The children at home don't know any better, but I must express my apologies. That's why I've prepared a family banquet for tonight. Firstly, since you've come to Jiangcheng, we ought to play the proper hosts; secondly, I want Shuyu to apologize to you in person!"
Chu Hao shook his head. "Elder Lin, marriage is a matter for both parties. Her apology isn't sincere, and besides, I already have a wife. It's impossible for me to share a bed with Lin Qinyi again, so this dinner..."
Lin Kefu quickly interrupted, "I know. Yiyi has only herself to blame for ending up like this. But you must come to this dinner, otherwise, even when I die, I won't have the face to face your grandfather."
Hearing this, Chu Hao's pupils constricted slightly. "What do you mean, Elder Lin? Do you know something about my grandfather?"
Lin Kefu looked up. "Could it be that what happened six years ago... Never mind, since your grandfather didn't tell you, I shouldn't say too much..."
Panic suddenly welled up inside Chu Hao. He quickly urged, "Elder Lin, if you know anything, please tell me! This is extremely important to me!"
Six years ago, his grandfather had told him that there was a battle he had to fight and a rendez-vous he had to keep. But ever since that day, his grandfather had never returned, and his life or death remained unknown.
"I can tell you," the old man said, "but you must come to my house. Once you've eaten this dinner, I will tell you everything."
Chu Hao's expression shifted slightly.
Although Lin Kefu hadn't mentioned Lin Qinyi once during the conversation, Chu Hao knew very well that the old man's real purpose in coming here was still Lin Qinyi's illness.
This dinner wasn't pure hospitality; Lin Kefu or the Lin family would definitely resort to some trick to force him and Lin Qinyi together!
He could already guess some of the tactics they might use—drugging his food, or outright kidnapping him...
Yet none of this worried Chu Hao. As a practitioner of medicine, ordinary mortal drugs would have virtually no effect on him.
"Then give me a moment," Chu Hao exhaled slowly. "I'll go back to my room to grab something."
He returned to his room, retrieved a small bamboo tube from his backpack, and tipped out a thumb-sized black pill.
He swallowed the pill, paused to think, and then took out the leather pouch containing his silver needles.
Though he had no intention of saving Lin Qinyi, for the sake of his grandfather, he could help adjust Lin Kefu's constitution. While he couldn't cure the old man completely, Chu Hao was fully capable of sparing him some pain and allowing him to live out his remaining years in peace.
He grabbed his pouch of silver needles and went downstairs.
"Get in the car," Lin Kefu said.
***
In Jiangcheng, at Biqing Garden, inside Su Nian's villa.
In the first-floor living room, Su Zhe was lounging on the sofa, gently swirling a glass of red wine.
"Niannian," Su Zhe said in a calm tone, "your marriage to Chu Hao was much too rash."
"You know what kind of person Ye Hao is better than anyone else. Do you think I'd be happy marrying him?" Su Nian sat to one side, her voice calm.
"Sigh!" Su Zhe let out a long sigh. "Born into families like ours, many things are beyond our control. Being with that kid is only going to bring him massive trouble."
"He's not an ordinary person," Su Nian said.
"You really believe what Grandpa said?" Su Zhe retorted. "Grandpa... has already lost his mind!"
Su Nian did not answer; a look of stubborn determination flickered in her eyes.
"I'm telling you," Su Zhe continued, "that kid used your phone to provoke Ye Hao on WeChat and even deleted Ye Hao from your contacts. Ye Hao already knows he exists, and... the people he sent are already on their way to Jiangcheng. If he finds out you married that kid, the boy is dead for sure!"
Su Nian's expression changed slightly, and she stood up.
"Sit... down!" Su Zhe commanded with unchallengeable firmness. "Don't you believe in that kid? Perfect. We'll use this situation to test him."
"If he manages to survive Ye Hao's hunt," Su Zhe swirled his wine glass, "then I won't oppose your relationship with him, and in fact, I'll give you my absolute, full support."
***
Chapter 24: Welcoming a Man's Springtime
At the villa's entrance, a car slowly drove into the estate and finally came to a halt right in front of the grand doorway.
Chu Hao and Lin Kefu stepped out of the vehicle, and someone helped support Lin Kefu as they walked inside.
The villa was massive, its interior decorated with the utmost luxury!
With the Lin family's assets worth tens of billions, such a property was naturally nothing worth mentioning.
Lin Kefu led Chu Hao toward the dining room.
A long dining table was already laden with numerous dishes.
"Please, have a seat," Lin Kefu said to Chu Hao.
"Are we the only two?" Chu Hao asked with surprise.
"Ah!" Lin Kefu let out a wry chuckle. "As for that girl Shuyu, President Su slapped her the other day, and she's holding a grudge. As for Lin Teng, he's currently staying at the hospital to watch over Yiyi!"
Chu Hao hadn't had a good impression of them to begin with, so with them absent, he was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet!
After he sat down, Lin Kefu took a seat across from him. A household servant brought out a few more dishes, and with a wave of Lin Kefu's hand, the servant said, "You may all leave!"
The rest of the staff retreated from the dining room.
Chu Hao still felt a bit strange; in this day and age, he wasn't quite used to the idea of having servants cater to him.
"Elder Lin, what on earth happened to my grandfather six years ago? Do you know who he went to fight?" Chu Hao asked urgently.
Lin Kefu nodded, seeming to drift back into his memories.
"Let's eat and talk at the same time!" Lin Kefu picked up some food with his chopsticks and placed it in Chu Hao's bowl.
Chu Hao wasn't too worried. Before coming, he had already taken an antidote pill—one he had refined himself. Once ingested, it could neutralize virtually all ordinary poisons!
Therefore, he had no fear at all as he popped the food Lin Kefu had given him into his mouth.
Seeing Chu Hao eat, the corners of Lin Kefu's mouth curved upward in an imperceptible smile.
He began to speak: "Six years ago, your grandfather came to Jiangcheng once."
Chu Hao's expression shifted slightly. "The person he wanted to fight was here in Jiangcheng?"
"As for who he was going to fight, I actually don't know!" Lin Kefu said. "Though he and I were close friends, your... your grandfather was very mysterious. He never talked to me about his adventures in the martial world."
With that, he looked at Chu Hao. "Your grandfather came to see me and told me three things, making me promise to pass them on to you!"
Chu Hao swallowed hard and said, "Please speak!"
"Eat a bit more!" Lin Kefu added more food to Chu Hao's bowl.
Unfazed, Chu Hao shoveled down large bites, eager to get the old man to spill the beans as quickly as possible.
"The first thing: your grandfather asked me to tell you that if... if he didn't return from that duel, you must not go looking for him, and you must not try to avenge him!"
Hearing this, Chu Hao's heart sank heavily.
"The second thing," Lin Kefu continued. "If—and only if—a man named Chu Xiu comes looking for you, and he is carrying a piece of Yin-Yang fish jade pendant, you may leave with him."
At this, Chu Hao's expression flickered. Chu Xiu—he had never heard that name before.
Yet sharing the surname Chu with him, he figured it must be someone from his grandfather's own clan.
Chu Hao nodded and asked, "And the third thing?"
"Have a bowl of soup!" Lin Kefu picked up a ladle and served Chu Hao a bowl of soup.
Lin Kefu was acting entirely too obvious. The old man hadn't touched a single bite of the food himself, spending the entire time dishing things out to Chu Hao.
However, Chu Hao was single-mindedly fixated on whatever message his grandfather had left behind.
Without exposing Lin Kefu's intentions, he picked up the bowl without a second thought and drank the soup down in one go. "Elder Lin, can you tell me now?"
A flash of triumphant joy darted across Lin Kefu's eyes before he offered a faint smile and said, "As for the third thing..."
Chu Hao stared intently at Lin Kefu.
He failed to notice a rising wave of intense heat beginning to surge through his body.
His face also started to flush red.
"The third thing!" Lin Kefu said. "Your grandfather left you with a message: your parents... are still alive!"
Chu Hao's pupils suddenly contracted.
His parents... were still alive?
Chu Hao didn't have a single memory of his parents.
Ever since he could remember, he had depended entirely on his grandfather for survival. He had no concept of what parents were, though he had envied the other kids in the village when he was little.
Fortunately, his grandfather had treated him wonderfully, largely making up for that absence.
He never imagined that his grandfather would leave him such a revelation at the very end.
By this point, Chu Hao's face was growing redder and redder. A fiery, burning sensation gripped him from within, and he noticed his mind starting to feel dizzy and unclear.
Only then did he finally realize something was horribly wrong.
He glared at Lin Kefu. "What kind of drug did you give me?!"
Seeing Chu Hao's condition, Lin Kefu looked thoroughly satisfied. He let out a long sigh and said, "Chu Hao, don't blame me. Your grandfather and I were best friends. You were originally supposed to marry Yiyi and walk down life's path together—that way, Yiyi's condition would naturally have been cured as well!"
"But during the time you were here, I was stuck at the hospital, and I never expected things to spiral out of control like this," Lin Kefu said. "Yiyi is my granddaughter; I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
"Ordinary aphrodisiacs have no effect on me! You..." Chu Hao pointed a trembling finger at Lin Kefu as he forced himself to his feet, trying to clear his head.
"This... was left to me by your grandfather six years ago. He said it was Spring-Welcoming Powder, and told me to use it on you on your wedding night!" Lin Kefu said. "But since things have come to this, I had no other choice..."
Chu Hao felt his scalp go numb!
Spring-Welcoming Powder was a formula his grandfather had concocted. It was completely colorless and odorless, and consuming even the tiniest speck would ignite an overwhelming surge of desire!
In his grandfather's own words, it was called... welcoming a man's springtime!
He had assumed that ordinary drugs wouldn't work on him, but he never, in his wildest dreams, imagined that his own grandfather would actually leave a stash of Spring-Welcoming Powder with Elder Lin!
"Someone come!" At that moment, Elder Lin chuckled.
A person pushed a wheelchair forward, scooped up the old man, and settled him into it.
"Elder Lin, you..." Chu Hao felt his throat burning with unbearable dryness as he violently tore at his clothes.
By then, however, Lin Kefu had already been wheeled away, and everyone else in the house had retreated as well.
Chu Hao glanced around frantically. He rushed into the bathroom and splashed cold water over his face, but... it seemed to have zero effect.
He staggered back into the living room, intending to escape.
Yet the moment he stepped back into the room, he caught sight of Lin Qinyi on the stairs, weakly gripping the banister as she took one unsteady step down. Seeing that sight, Chu Hao's legs locked up, unable to move another step.
Lin Qinyi wore nothing at all. Although she was frail and weak, her voluptuous, well-defined curves were laid bare before Chu Hao's eyes in all their vividness.
"A woman!"
Chu Hao's mind completely shattered. Driven like a wild beast, he lunged straight toward Lin Qinyi.
***
Chapter 25: Either Beg Me, or Die
The instant he laid eyes on Lin Qinyi's body, every shred of reason vanished from Chu Hao's mind, leaving room for only a single, overwhelming drive.
He lunged directly at Lin Qinyi.
Looking at the wild-eyed Chu Hao dressed in plain cloth, Lin Qinyi's eyes were filled with profound conflict.
She had never looked down on Chu Hao—she had despised him from the very beginning, right up until this exact moment.
Yet her illness... she had already visited several hospitals, including the Donghai People's Hospital, and consulted the country's top medical experts.
Yet none of them could make heads or tails of her condition.
Aside from severe blood loss, the tests showed nothing wrong whatsoever.
And this affliction truly seemed to strike right around her twenty-eighth year.
This forced her to consider the possibility that it was all real—that just as her grandfather had claimed, there was only one person in the entire world who could save her: Chu Hao.
The situation went far beyond her understanding. But no matter how absurd it seemed, she had made up her mind to go through with it and sleep with Chu Hao.
Letting Chu Hao take her would mean feeling disgusted for a while, but she refused to die.
*Whoosh!*
Almost in a flash, she felt Chu Hao arrive right in front of her. Before she could react, she felt a scorching wave of heat radiating from his body.
Her feet left the floor as Chu Hao scooped her up into his arms.
The world spun violently before her eyes. When her vision finally cleared, she realized she had been laid down upon the sofa.
Like a tiger breaking out of its cage, Chu Hao stared down at her with ravenous eyes.
The disgust and aversion in her eyes deepened. The thought of being possessed by this bumpkin—and worse, having to cooperate and endure it—stirred an endless tide of grief within her heart!
Feeling Chu Hao's burning gaze, her face flushed crimson. Gritting her teeth, she spat out, "Do it!"
Chu Hao's hands had already found their way onto her body.
Reason told Chu Hao that he shouldn't do this, but... by now, Chu Hao had completely lost his sanity. He only wanted to completely possess the woman beneath him.