"True, I suppose. You’ve never even been to school, so how could you possibly have a job? Why, even the security guards at all of my family's companies have at least a university degree!"
Chen Xiaoran’s smile grew even wider.
"Then what *can* you do? You’re a grown man, surely you have some sort of trade?"
...
Chen Xiaoran’s questions were sharp and pointed. After a round of questioning, the three of them had a rough idea of who Ye Lingtian was. He had nothing and knew how to do nothing. He was useless—useless to the extreme!
Chen Guiyuan had always kept a close eye on the young men around his daughter, and Ye Lingtian didn't compare to any of them. Once he realized this, Chen Xiaoran lost all interest in him. He was easily the worst of any man she had ever been around, not to mention how he paled in comparison to the peerless hero in her heart: the Kunlun God of War.
Irritated, she couldn't focus on her documents, so she aimlessly scrolled through her phone. Suddenly, she said, "I know why the Kunlun God of War and the others came to the airport!"
"Oh?" Chen Guiyuan and his wife leaned in.
"The four Great Guardians were there to welcome a VIP!"
Chen Guiyuan was stunned. "What kind of VIP requires all four War Gods to show up together?"
"According to the reports, the four War Gods are hosting a grand ceremony tonight to welcome this guest!"
Chen Xiaoran cast a sharp look at Ye Lingtian. "Heh, didn't you say you were blocked from entering Dragon Country? Looks like your lie has been easily exposed!"
He Wenqian’s expression turned awkward. Her godson’s lie had been laid bare so quickly. She felt foolish for having harbored a fleeting thought that Ye Lingtian might be someone of importance.
Chen Guiyuan added in a tone of heavy admonition, "Young man, it’s fine to lack skills or an education, but you must be down to earth."
"Oh, they’re just afraid I’ll get angry, so they’re holding the ceremony to curry favor with me," Ye Lingtian replied calmly. He had already received a message from the Black Emperor.
"You..." Chen Xiaoran couldn't fathom how Ye Lingtian had the gall to say such things after his lie had been exposed to his face. In Chen Guiyuan’s eyes, Ye Lingtian was simply unreasonable.
***
Before long, they arrived at Junting Villas, a famous residential area in Jiangcheng. There were only eight standalone villas, each with its own private garden.
"Hm?" Ye Lingtian paused. "Is this... an ice vein?"
He was surprised to discover that underneath the Lin family villa lay an ice vein. This was exactly what he needed to suppress his Innate Fire Poison! He had already ordered the Black Emperor to search for a location with such a ley line—what a coincidence!
Looking closer at the villa, he saw various fire stones placed around to neutralize the cold energy rising from the ground; otherwise, anyone living there for a few months would have perished. It seemed someone here knew their stuff.
However, the look of surprise on his face was interpreted by Chen Xiaoran as the reaction of a hick who had never seen the world. That made her even more determined to keep him out of her home.
"Tian'er, from now on, this is your home! Your room is already prepared. Stay here and make yourself at home!"
As soon as He Wenqian said this, Chen Xiaoran shouted, "Mom! I don't want him living here!"
Chen Guiyuan immediately chimed in, "Wenqian, it’s very inconvenient to have a strange man move into the house so suddenly! Especially since our daughter is grown!" He looked at Ye Lingtian and said, "How about this: I’ll buy you a villa and arrange for housekeepers and staff to look after you."
Ye Lingtian smiled. "No need for all that trouble, Godfather. I’ll just stay here."
He had finally found a place that could suppress his Innate Fire Poison; there was no way he was going to walk away from it.
"This..." Both father and daughter were stunned. They hadn't expected Ye Lingtian to be so shameless—clinging to the idea of living in their home! It was obvious he had designs on her!
He Wenqian ignored them and said, "That’s settled, Tian'er will stay here."
"Mom, you guys!" Chen Xiaoran was furious, but she had more important matters to attend to. She would get rid of Ye Lingtian sooner or later.
From then on, Chen Guiyuan and his daughter ignored Ye Lingtian, focusing instead on the ceremony.
"If I could attend that ceremony, wouldn't I be able to see my beloved Kunlun God of War?" Chen Xiaoran’s eyes lit up. She grabbed her father’s arm and shook it. "Dad! You have to find a way! I want to attend!"
Chen Guiyuan frowned. "To attend a ceremony held by the four War Gods would be an supreme honor! It would be a massive boost to the Chen family’s reputation! But an event of this caliber? Few people in all of Jiangcheng are qualified to attend, let alone us."
"Dad, please, you must have a way!" Chen Xiaoran pleaded.
Ye Lingtian found this amusing. As for who could go—wasn't that just a matter of him saying the word? He couldn't help but interject, "If you want to go, I..."
Before he could finish, Chen Xiaoran interrupted: "Stop daydreaming. There’s no place for you!"
"Fine, I’ll pull some strings," Chen Guiyuan said, immediately stepping away to make calls.
A few minutes later, he returned, laughing. "The ceremony is being held at the Longjing Manor!"
"Isn't that Uncle Wei’s manor?" Chen Xiaoran asked, surprised.
"That’s right! Old Wei is in charge of everything! He’s agreed to give us invitations, but only three!" Chen Guiyuan glanced at Ye Lingtian. "There’s no spot for you."
"Why don't I give my spot to Tian'er?" He Wenqian suggested.
Chen Guiyuan immediately refused. "Absolutely not! For safety reasons at a ceremony of this level, the invitations are strictly non-transferable!"
Ye Lingtian smiled. "Don't worry, Godmother. It’s fine! I can still get in. You’ll see me there."
Chen Xiaoran was reaching her boiling point. *Still bragging? Who do you think you are? You have no qualifications to attend a ceremony of this rank!* They had only managed to get in because of a connection; otherwise, even with her father’s status as the Medicine King of Jiangcheng, it would have been impossible.
***
That evening, the three of them excitedly headed to Longjing Manor. The place was bustling, packed with luxury cars and legendary figures engaged in conversation.
"I’m about to meet my hero!" Chen Xiaoran was filled with anticipation.
"Hm? Ye Lingtian, what are you doing here?"
Ye Lingtian walked over. "I’m here to attend the ceremony, of course."
"Attend? Do you even have the qualifications? Do you have an invitation?" Chen Xiaoran sneered.
Ye Lingtian shook his head. "I don't. But the ceremony can't begin without me."
"Pfft!" Everyone nearby burst into laughter. They all looked at Ye Lingtian like he was a complete fool. This ceremony was so formidable that even the four Great Guardians were merely supporting actors! *Can't begin without you? Do you think you’re the King of Heaven?*
"Old Chen, is this someone your family brought?"
"You shouldn't let him talk like that! It’s not just embarrassing, it could offend the wrong people!"
"This is hilarious!"
The crowd began pointing fingers at Chen Guiyuan, who felt utterly humiliated. Chen Xiaoran wished the ground would swallow her up. She had never been so ashamed.
"The ceremony is about to start! Let’s head in!" someone urged.
Chen Xiaoran stared at Ye Lingtian. "Fine! Today I’ll see how you plan to get in without an invitation. If you can get in, I, Chen Xiaoran, will marry you! I keep my word!"
She had to cure him of his habit of boasting.
"Fine! Where is the special entrance?" Ye Lingtian asked. The Black Emperor had told him to take the special entrance where the four War Gods were waiting.
"Will you stop the nonsense? A special entrance? Who do you think you are? Only the four Great Guardians are allowed to use that!" Chen Guiyuan, having reached his limit, exploded. "You wanted to prove you could get in without an invitation? You can’t even get through the regular entrance, let alone the special one!"
He marched Ye Lingtian to the entrance where invitations were being verified and facial recognition was being performed.
"Excuse me, can one enter without an invitation?" Chen Guiyuan asked.
The staff member was stunned. "Mr. Chen, are you joking? How could that be possible for a ceremony of this level?"
Chen Guiyuan pulled Ye Lingtian to the front. "Do you recognize him? He claims he can get in without an invitation!"
Ten or so staff members looked at Ye Lingtian, scrutinized him, and shook their heads. "We don't recognize him. And we have received no notice of any special guests arriving."
"Hahahaha..." Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Chen Xiaoran was on the verge of tears from frustration. "I have a reputation to maintain in Jiangcheng! You’ve completely disgraced me!"
"You claim you can get in, right? Go on then, let’s see you do it!"
Ye Lingtian sighed. "I told you, I’m taking the special entrance."
"Stop bragging!"
Everyone found it impossible to believe, whether through logic or the evidence before their eyes. If he were actually a big shot, he wouldn't be stuck at the regular entrance.
He Wenqian couldn't bear it anymore. "Tian'er, it’s alright. Just head back home. We’ll leave this be."
"Fine," Ye Lingtian nodded. He took out his phone and dialed a number. "I’m annoyed. Cancel the ceremony."
Chen Xiaoran and the others were even more furious. *He’s acting like a petulant child! So stubborn and unreasonable! Who do you think you are? You think you can cancel the ceremony with one phone call?*
"Enough, ignore him! Let's go in!" Chen Guiyuan said, verifying his invitation.
The three of them entered, but just as they did, chaos erupted inside.
"What’s happening? What’s going on?" Chen Guiyuan grabbed a staff member to ask.
"We just received word! The ceremony is canceled! The VIP is angry!"
"Boom!"
Chen Xiaoran stood frozen, struck by lightning. Everyone around them was in disbelief; their jaws were practically hitting the floor. *Could Ye Lingtian actually be the VIP whom the four War Gods were waiting for? Was everything he said true? Did he really just cancel the ceremony with one phone call?*
Chen Xiaoran’s mind went blank. Suddenly, gasps rose from the crowd. "The four War Gods are here!"
People rushed toward them. Everyone had come to the ceremony not just for the status, but for a glimpse of the four legendary figures.
"The Kunlun God of War?" The three of them snapped out of their daze. In the distance, the four War Gods were walking briskly. Chen Xiaoran caught a fleeting glimpse of the hero she admired so much and almost jumped for joy.
"Hm? Who is that?" She noticed the four War Gods surrounding someone else, acting subserviently as they apologized to the Black Emperor.
"That must be the VIP," Chen Guiyuan speculated.
Chen Xiaoran nodded firmly. "With the four War Gods surrounding him like that, acting so humble? Who else could it be?"
Even from a distance, they could see the Black Emperor’s face. He clearly had European features. That meant this had nothing to do with Ye Lingtian; it was just a coincidence. They breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hmph! As if Ye Lingtian could be someone of importance! He’s nothing but a bag of lies!" Chen Xiaoran’s disgust for him deepened.
With the ceremony canceled, everyone had to leave. Back home, seeing Ye Lingtian made Chen Xiaoran’s blood boil.
"Mom, are you really going to let him keep living here?" she asked.
"Of course," He Wenqian replied. "Tian'er is my godson! It’s only reasonable for him to live here. Furthermore, I will be responsible for him from now on."
Chen Xiaoran felt like she might faint. But to her delight, her grandparents had found out about the situation and immediately called for a Chen family meeting to banish Ye Lingtian from their house.
***
At the Chen family mansion, seated at a large table that could accommodate twenty people, Chen Guiyuan’s father, Chen Guofeng, sat at the head, radiating authority.
"I hear he’s just the son of one of Wenqian’s old friends, with no background and no status."
"And now he’s come here to recognize a godmother? His intentions are too obvious!"
"The worst part is, I hear Wenqian actually wants to marry Xiaoran off to him!"
"How can an outsider with no talent and no status be allowed into our family?"
Chen Guofeng roared, "Quiet!"
"Xiaoran is the most outstanding of the younger generation of the Chen family! Tomorrow, she’ll likely land a job at the Black Gold Consortium! You think it’s that easy to marry her?"
Before long, Ye Lingtian arrived with the three of them. Everyone’s eyes landed on him.
"He certainly has a good face, but other than that? Useless!"
"What good is a face? In our social circle, looks are the cheapest thing there is."
"Exactly! You need both background and capability!"
"Hurry, hurry, Uncle, have a seat!" Chen Xiaoran’s cousin, Chen Shihao, enthusiastically ushered Chen Guiyuan’s family to the table and pulled out chairs for them.
Ye Lingtian followed, but as he reached for the only empty seat, Chen Shihao sat down on it first. There were no chairs left. The only remaining spot was occupied by a dog.
A dog could sit at the table, but Ye Lingtian could not!
***
Ye Lingtian’s expression shifted. *Intentionally making things difficult?*
He Wenqian couldn't take it anymore. "Father, Mother, what is the meaning of this? A dog can sit at the table, but my godson can't?"
It was an blatant insult.
Chen Xiaoran’s grandmother, Wang Lixiu, sneered, "What do you mean, a dog? Meimei is a member of the Chen family! This is a family meeting, so Meimei belongs at the table."
Chen Shihao added, "That’s what this circle is all about! If you aren't one of us, you aren't even worth as much as a dog!"
"Some people should stop dreaming about entering our circle. Wanting to marry Xiaoran? That’s even more impossible!"
"What qualifications do you have to sit here? You don't even have the background of one of our dogs!"
Ye Lingtian looked at Chen Shihao and said coldly, "Get up."
"What?"
"I said, get up."
"Do you know who you’re talking to? You..."
Before Chen Shihao could finish, he was lifted into the air, his legs flailing. Everyone present was stunned. They hadn't expected Ye Lingtian to resort to violence. But that was only the beginning.
"Slap!"
Ye Lingtian struck Chen Shihao across the face—a crisp, resounding sound.
"What are you doing?!" the room exploded in fury.
Even Chen Xiaoran was shocked. She hadn't realized that while Ye Lingtian had no talent, he had quite the temper.
"You’re intentionally making things difficult for me—unacceptable. Showing no respect to my godmother—even more unacceptable!" Ye Lingtian said coldly. He tossed Chen Shihao aside. "Besides, I am a guest. Is this how the Chen family treats guests?"
Ye Lingtian sat down, looking at the assembled Chens.
"Insolent! Chen Guiyuan! He Wenqian! Is this your godson? He’s arrogant and lacks all manners!"
"Everything just now was a test I designed to see his character and ability to handle pressure," Chen Guofeng roared. "And the result? Useless! If he lacked status and background, that would be one thing, but he has nothing else to offer either! How could he possibly enter the Chen family like this?"
"Father, Mother," He Wenqian stood up, confronting the family for Ye Lingtian’s sake. "Regardless of everything, Tian'er is my godson. If he has flaws, I can teach him. But for you to act like this the moment you meet him is going too far!"
This moved Ye Lingtian deeply.
...
After much arguing, they reached a consensus: "You can let him stay in your house, but marrying Xiaoran is impossible—unless he at least reaches the level of an executive at the Black Gold Consortium."
He Wenqian felt her scalp tingle. *An executive at the Black Gold Consortium? That’s pure sabotage!*
The dinner ended on a sour note. Chen Xiaoran and Chen Guiyuan were disappointed in Ye Lingtian to the extreme. He had no redeeming qualities; he was full of flaws.
"I have to find a way to kick him out," Chen Xiaoran thought, her resolve hardened. "Mom, Dad, I’m going to sleep. I have an interview at the Black Gold Consortium tomorrow."
Back in her room, thinking of Ye Lingtian in the room next door, she felt nauseous. She began venting to her best friend.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingtian looked at his godparents. "Godmother, Godfather, I can't stay here for nothing. Is there anything you want? Just tell me."
Chen Guiyuan scoffed, "What I want is something you can't provide." He wanted cooperation and investment from the Black Gold Consortium. Did Ye Lingtian have that capability? No one in all of Jiangcheng had that kind of power!
He Wenqian, of course, wanted nothing. "What are you talking about, child? This is your home! Don't worry about other things, just go to sleep!"
Back in his room, the Black Emperor appeared on the balcony to report. "Master, I have already arranged the search for your mother’s whereabouts and the list of your enemies."
Ye Lingtian nodded. "Invest 50 billion into my godmother’s company." He had checked; her company had been struggling for years and was on the verge of bankruptcy.
"Understood, Master."
The next day, Chen Xiaoran and her best friend, Zhou Xinyi, went to the Black Gold Consortium for their interview.