"An ancestor from six hundred years ago..."
"Dad, do you approve of what that ancestor did?" Yu Fan asked, looking puzzled.
"As a junior, it's really not my place to comment too much on that ancestor. All I can say is that everyone walks their own path. As a member of the Yu Family, I know that if Yu Xian had brought back all his wealth, the Yu Family today would be a colossal superpower across the entire Cangling Continent, rather than what we are now."
"Having said that, I don't feel that Ancestor Yu Xian did anything wrong either. Perhaps some unpleasantness occurred between the Yu Family and Ancestor Yu Xian at the time—that's entirely possible. After all, nobody knows the exact details of what happened back then."
"Mom, do you also want me to go to Bihai Academy?" Yu Fan asked, turning to Bai Ling.
Bai Ling nodded slightly. "Fan'er, these past eighteen years haven't been easy for you. Even if you don't say it, Mom knows how much pain you've been carrying in your heart. Since this opportunity has come up, you might as well go out and see the outside world," she said softly, stroking Yu Fan's cheek.
Her eyes were filled with sorrow and helplessness. As parents, even as the Patriarch and Patriarch's wife, they had failed to protect their son well enough, leaving him to suffer so many psychological wounds. They felt truly guilty.
Rather than staying within the clan all day and enduring cold stares, it would be far better to try Bihai Academy—perhaps he would find a fresh start there! "Son, this is an opportunity. Since Shuying went out of her way to secure it for you, you should make the most of it," Yu Cheng patted Yu Fan's shoulder.
*(How infuriating! I really don't want to go! I'm not suffering at all, I'm perfectly happy and free right here! I just want to stay in Qingshan City—this is all her fault!)*
*(Why blame me? I'm doing this for your own good, you'll understand later.)* Liu Shuying was already chuckling inwardly.
Through everything that had happened, Uncle Jiang had not chimed in. He was secretly wondering to himself: Was that chunk of iron really a Seven-Star Spirit Artifact? Right now, he himself only possessed a One-Star Spirit Artifact. Because spirit artifacts were functional and had low wear and tear, they were extremely expensive. Even the current Yu Family didn't own a single spirit artifact—though they used to have one.
Later on, however, the family ran into some trouble, and the Patriarch and elders collectively decided to sell it.
A single One-Star Spirit Artifact was worth fifty thousand taels of silver, which amounted to two whole years of revenue for the Yu Family. The price of spirit artifacts far exceeded that of gold.
If that really was a Seven-Star Spirit Artifact, it would represent an unimaginable fortune for the Yu Family. That meant the young man before him was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface. Shuying must have seen this, which explained why she had acted so strangely. Viewed in this light, everything Liu Shuying was doing now made complete sense.
Therefore, he chose not to voice his opinion on the matter. Liu Shuying had already made up her mind.
No matter how Yu Fan tried to explain, he still couldn't win against his parents. Their mind was made up that going to Bihai Academy would give Yu Fan a good future.
Yet Yu Fan genuinely looked down on it. What did Bihai Academy amount to? He couldn't even be bothered to look at it properly.
He wouldn't even necessarily care for the Hao-Lan Academy, ranked number one on the Cangling Continent, let alone some minor place like Bihai Academy. His current strength was already formidable. After all, as long as he had the system, playing the fool meant he would eventually become invincible under heaven.
Furthermore, he didn't even need to undergo grueling cultivation. With such a time-saving and effortless path laid out for him, why on earth would he go to Bihai Academy to study?
"Right, Shuying, are you certain Fan'er can really enter Bihai Academy?" Yu Cheng asked for confirmation, still finding it hard to believe, as if he were dreaming.
Bihai Academy was not somewhere just anyone could enter, and Yu Fan's natural talent was simply too poor.
"Well, as it happens, I am a direct disciple of Bihai Academy, and I have a direct quota to take on a disciple. Yu Fan only needs to take me as his master," Liu Shuying said with a beaming smile.
*(Master!)*
*(Good grief, you stinky woman, what makes you think you're qualified to be my master? Your own master isn't even worthy of carrying my shoes, let alone you.)*
"I see. Splendid, splendid." In Yu Cheng's heart, he had no objections to Liu Shuying becoming Yu Fan's master. Since Liu Shuying could enter Bihai Academy, her strength and talent were exceptional; she was thoroughly qualified to be Yu Fan's master.
"Fan'er, you must be a good boy and listen to Shuying from now on. Don't talk back to your master, or I won't go easy on you if I find out," Yu Cheng instructed.
"That's right, Fan'er, your father is right. You cannot bully Shuying just because she's a girl."
"Uncle Yu, Aunt Yu, I am still Yu Fan's fiancée, and in the future, I'll even be your daughter-in-law. You don't need to worry," Liu Shuying reassured Yu Cheng and Bai Ling.
"Ah, good, wonderful!" Yu Cheng was overjoyed. Although he didn't understand why Liu Shuying, who had originally wanted to break off the engagement, had undergone such a complete attitude shift, he knew this was a wonderful development. Liu Shuying was more than qualified to be their daughter-in-law.
*(What on earth is this woman up to? Why is she calling off the cancellation of the engagement? Could she really have been swept off her feet and mesmerized by my dashing looks?)*
*(Hah, women—as expected, women only care about looks.)*
Liu Shuying inwardly cursed Yu Fan for his shamelessness, but when she turned to look at him, she had to admit he truly was blessed with good looks. His features were peerlessly handsome, matching the image of a dashing and elegant young master—especially his peach-blossom eyes, shimmering and deeply affectionate, capable of making countless young maidens' hearts flutter with just a single glance.
*(This fellow really isn't bad-looking, I hadn't noticed before.)* The closer she looked, the more pleasing he became, and imperceptibly, Liu Shuying felt a tiny ripple of genuine attraction.
"Yu Fan, you should get your things ready. I'll come back in three days to take you with me to Bihai Academy. You have plenty of time to prepare before we leave," Liu Shuying smiled slightly.
"Fine, got it, got it."
No sooner had Liu Shuying left than Yu Tong and Yu He came looking for him.
"Young Patriarch, someone outside is looking for you!" Yu Tong reported.
With the Patriarch right before them, naturally they wouldn't dare openly call Yu Fan trash. No matter how much of a good-for-nothing Yu Fan was, he was still the Young Patriarch, and with a Patriarch for a father, he wasn't someone they could afford to offend—they were merely gatekeepers.
Yu Fan frowned. "Who's looking for me?"
He hardly ever left the Yu Family estate, so nobody should even know him. How could someone be looking for him?
*(Could there be someone else who knows me besides that stinky woman?)*
Hearing this, Liu Shuying unconsciously paused her steps. Could this brat have been out flirting and stirring up romantic debts?
No, I can't leave yet. I have to see which vixen has captivated his eyes. Trying to snatch someone from me? Hah, let's see you try! "It's Luo Jiu."