Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official-Chapter 74: Damned Son-in-Law

Fenghuang Peak.

It was unusually quiet that afternoon.

Grand Elder Song Yan walked with her hands clasped behind her round and curvy rump.

Beside her, Patriarch Zhen moved like a slug.

His beard trembled slightly whenever he exhaled.

"That boy Gu Linyuan..."

Just the name gave him nightmares.

"He smiled the entire meeting like a fox watching its food dance for survival."

Song Yan kept her gaze on the distant pavilions.

A soft wind tugged at the crimson ribbons in her hair.

"He did..." she agreed neutrally.

"It pains me. I thought—perhaps the old friendship between our ancestors would give us an edge. Yan-jie, please tell me I’m not a senile fool for that. Tell me that young master might still reconsider."

Song Yan’s long lashes lowered.

She had received a jade slip from her Lower Heaven Realm eyes-and-ears seventeen days ago.

『Gu Linyuan signed the blood-oath alliance with Ye Family and Heavenly Moon City on the eleventh. He never had a chance at securing an alliance with Gu Family no matter how many meetings they had.』

She could still see the mocking little postscript the informant added.

『He wanted the old man to hope then despair.』

Classic Gu courtesy.

Song Yan exhaled through her nose.

"There is still a possibility."

The quietness in her voice said it all.

She hated lying to the old man but it was necessary.

Patriarch Zhen’s tensed shoulders finally dropped.

A relieved smile graced his tired face.

"That’s all this old man needed to hear."

Song Yan looked away and sighed as she bit her lip with a hint of unease.

They rounded the Nine-Dragon Juniper bend just as a long file of overworked Li Clan disciples appeared below on the spiraling white-jade steps. Each carried a bulging brown sack on one shoulder... some sacks squirmed faintly while others clinked like they carried porcelain.

Patriarch Zhen stopped dead.

"Are... we expelling disciples?"

His voice dropped dangerously low.

Song Yan tilted her head.

"Hm?"

She watched the procession snake toward the distant violet teleportation array that linked Fenghuang Peak to the Li Family lands.

"No..."

She kept her voice light.

"That is the Li Clan settlement moving house."

The old man’s fist clenched so hard the knuckles audibly cracked.

"That little bastard again!"

Song Yan’s rosy lips made a tender smile.

"So the dislike still burns hot, hm?"

"Always will!"

Patriarch Zhen snarled.

"No matter what he does!"

Song Yan raised one slender hand.

A young Li Clan disciple nearest them noticed the gesture and blanched bone-white.

"HUH!?"

He dropped his sack, sprinted over and slammed both knees onto the stone so hard chips flew.

"Th-, This lowly one greets Grand Elder Song and our great Patriarch Zhen!"

He didn’t dare lift his head.

Cold sweat already beaded on his neck.

Song Yan ignored the praise that automatically tumbled out of his mouth.

"Immortal beauty!"

"Eternal benevolence!"

Things like that.

"What is happening?"

The boy swallowed.

"Ch... Chief Li... ordered every able disciple to assist his honored concubines and their young ones in relocating into the main Li Family Palace."

Patriarch Zhen sucked in a deep breath.

"Scoundrel!"

The pressure of a late-stage King Realm cultivator flared for one heartbeat—

The disciple yelped and flattened himself completely against the ground.

Song Yan slapped the old man’s shoulder.

"Calm yourself, little brother. Qingmu was at least honest from the beginning about how many concubines decorate his courtyard. This is hardly new."

The old man exhaled through clenched teeth.

The trembling disciple stayed glued to the floor.

Then—very softly—the boy mumbled.

"...Th-, That’s not... not all."

Song Yan arched one perfect brow.

The disciple’s voice shrank to mosquito size.

"There are... also preparations... for Chief Li’s upcoming marriage. To two new beauties."

Song Yan blinked like an owl.

Her heart gave an unexpected, childish lurch.

『That pill he fed me last time... the one he shoved into my palm so desperately... is it possible that it was some kind of awkward, roundabout proposal?』

Heat crawled up her neck.

She pictured Li Qingmu’s usual lazy smirk replaced with something shy and earnest.

Her cheeks bloomed the faintest peach-pink.

『...How unexpectedly sweet.』

Beside her, Patriarch Zhen’s aura thundered.

"SEDUCER!!"

The shout boomed across the entire Li Clan settlement like a physical shockwave.

Sacks dropped.

Porcelain shattered.

Children wailed.

The long line of disciples froze in terror.

Yet two figures remained utterly unperturbed.

Elder Flame Cauldron.

A short, round man who was currently inhaling an entire bowl of spicy noodles.

Elder Silver Cloud.

A lanky, bald as mustache strips hung lightly to his chest like silver waterfalls.

They were also from the Elder Recruitment Token.

The lanky elder lifted one lazy hand.

"Keep moving. No time to gawk."

Disciples hastily resumed walking on shaking legs.

Zhen family patriarch stabbed a finger toward the groveling disciple.

"WHO are these shameless women?!"

Song Yan planted both hands on her hips.

The motion made her waist sash sway dangerously.

"How dare you call me shameless, old man?"

Her massive butt curved out like two big pearls.

Patriarch Zhen recoiled half a step.

"I—I didn’t mean—!"

His voice dropped to a pitiful softness.

"I meant the women that idiot wants to marry!"

Even the fiercest thunder went soft when addressing one’s own big sister.

The disciple talked as he kissed dirt.

"It’s Peak Master Chen and her daughter!"

Song Yan froze.

But her quivering lips managed to move.

"You’re... certain it’s Peak Master Chen?"

"Y-, Yes, Grand Elder!"

"You are very sure?"

Another frantic nod.

Song Yan’s fair hand rose and scratched furiously at her small scalp.

She bent forward slightly in agitation.

Her famously perilous curves suddenly rose behind her like twin snow-capped mountains under silk.

A long, involuntary "oooohhh..." drifted up from the line of sack-carrying disciples.

Song Yan ignored them completely.

"You’re absolutely certain that Chief Li did not say anything about... a beautiful Song woman?"

The disciple didn’t dare glance up.

"N-, NO! How could someone like this one’s Chief marry into the great Song family? Haha... that would be a very nice joke, Grand Elder..."

Song Yan’s eye twitched.

"...Useless."

She straightened then glared at Patriarch Zhen.

"So. What are you going to do about this?"

The old man considered for three full seconds.

Then shrugged.

"Mmm. Nothing."

"Nothing!?"

Patriarch Zhen was already turning away with both hands behind his back.

"If big sister says calm down... then this old man calms down. I don’t want you angry at me."

Song Yan hurried after him.

"No—no—you’re allowed to be mad!"

He smiled without turning.

"I know you’re testing me."

"I am not testing you!"

"Haha! I won’t fall for it this time."

"But... but... but... but..."

Song Yan walked after him like a stray puppy.

Farther back.

Elder Flame Cauldron slurped the last of his broth and smacked his lips.

"Why hasn’t Chief Li married that one yet?"

Elder Silver Cloud flicked his mustache.

"Because he’s not on her level."

"Bullshit."

The fat elder snorted.

"She likes him. You know she does."

"I don’t."

"Then let’s bet."

Silver Cloud’s eyes gleamed.

"Terms?"

"Our great Chief Li must not marry anyone before Grand Elder Song. If he does—you owe me your entire collection of thousand-year frost ginseng. If he doesn’t... I give you my Nine Revolving Chili Cauldron."

"Done."

They clasped wrists.

══════

Meanwhile.

In the fifth courtyard of the Li family palace.

Twenty-six concubines knelt in neat rows.

Their sharp-eyed children clustered behind them.

At the side sat Zhen Rou.

She was on an orchid-carved rosewood chair.

The newborn heir Li Yuantian gurgled happily in her arms while Li Zimo and Li Er knelt beside her to take turns making silly faces at their baby brother.

Chief Concubine Huang Shiyue scanned the courtyard with a very mean face.

『Where are those two little rascals hiding? Sneaking to see their busy father without permission... I’ll make sure they get a spanking tonight.』

She wasn’t happy in the slightest.

Then she spotted Zimo and Er giggling beside the main wife of her precious master.

Her expression instantly soft.

She turned away quickly, cheeks warm, and gazed up at the elevated platform.

There stood Li Qingmu in black robes.

He was flanked by Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yuling.

Some children’s eyes glowed when they looked at him.

Others narrowed with dark, childish resentment.

Li Qingmu released a very small sigh.

『Su Liyue didn’t come. Busy with sect duties again ever since she became elder... I miss when she’d massage my feet after a long day.』

He shook the thought away.

Huang Shiyue rose first. Everyone followed.

"This humble concubine thanks Master for granting us the honor of residing in the main palace. And we thank Madam Zhen Rou for not despising us for what we are."

Zhen Rou barely heard.

She was too busy tickling Li Zimo until the little girl kicked both feet in the air and squealed.

Li Qingmu smiled at his lovely wife.

Then he looked over the assembled crowd.

"I will soon take two more wives."

He kept it simple.

The illegitimate children were already traumatized.

"The wedding preparations have already begun and I expect your full cooperation."

A sea of heads nodded instantly.

"After the ceremony, I will also formally assign roles and duties. There will be no disrespect, no infighting, no jealousy-fueled nonsense in my household. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Family Head!"

Chen Yuxuan watched the sea of beautiful faces and felt a chill crawl up her spine.

『So many women... and he’s only Golden Core. What will he become when he reaches Nascent Soul? Is this really the future I want for Yuling?』

She glanced sideways.

Chen Yuling was staring at Li Qingmu’s broad back with the warmest smile imaginable.

Chen Yuxuan exhaled.

She could smile again.

『I think she’ll be fine. That’s good.』