Lin Ying's grandfather, Lin Xiaotian, was once a Tiger Marshal in the military. Although retired, he still commanded great respect in Jiangdong.
After retiring, Lin Xiaotian settled in Hangcheng to enjoy his twilight years.
Taking advantage of Lin Xiaotian's birthday, Lin Long wished to meet Qin Hanchu.
"Hai Lu and I will just stroll around Hangcheng, so we won't be joining you," Tang Siwei said hesitantly from inside the car.
Jin Hailu nodded. "I was thinking the same. The three of you should go."
"Why?" Lin Ying asked, puzzled.
"We both have betrothals with Hanchu. Wouldn't our presence be a bit sensitive?" Tang Siwei reasoned.
"Who brings their other fiancées when meeting parents?" Jin Hailu added.
Lin Ying smiled. "It's not that complicated. It's not exactly meeting parents today."
"I think it's better to be discreet to avoid any awkwardness," Jin Hailu suggested.
Tang Siwei nodded. "Drop us off in the city center. We'll wander around."
Lin Ying wanted to persuade them further, but Qin Yun intervened. "They have a point. I'll accompany them and we'll have fun in Hangcheng for a couple of days."
Qin Hanchu understood the awkwardness between Jin Hailu and Tang Siwei, so he said, "I'll have Old Ghost arrange for people to protect you."
"That's fine," Jin Hailu accepted. She knew their current situation was not entirely safe.
Although the past two months had been peaceful, it didn't mean danger was absent.
If the opposing side couldn't get what they wanted from Qin Hanchu, they might target the women.
All they could do was not cause trouble for Qin Hanchu.
"Alright, I'll arrange hotels for you," Lin Ying said.
Before long, the car arrived at Hangcheng's city center.
Stopping the car, Qin Yun alighted with Jin Hailu and Tang Siwei.
"Do you feel like you're meeting the parents?"
Aside from the driver, only Lin Ying and Qin Hanchu remained in the car.
Lin Ying teased him with a smile.
"Are you going to sneakily take me down?" Qin Hanchu chuckled.
Lin Ying's eyes lit up. "You've given me an idea. It's rare for us to be alone. This is my chance."
"I knew you were lusting after my body," Qin Hanchu quipped.
Lin Ying rolled her eyes. "So narcissistic. Do I look that desperate?"
Chatting idly, the two arrived at Cloudtop Villa.
Cloudtop Villa was situated on the mountainside of Cloudtop Mountain, serving as a "retirement home" for retired dignitaries of Jiangdong Prefecture.
"That's my grandfather, that's my dad and mom, and the others are my uncles' and aunts' families,"
Sitting in the car, they spotted a group of people waiting outside the villa from afar.
Lin Ying pointed to the crowd ahead and said to Qin Hanchu.
Soon, the car came to a halt.
Getting out of the car, Qin Hanchu followed Lin Ying towards them.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaotian walked forward with a smile.
"This old man, Lin Xiaotian, greets the Marquis of Champion." Lin Xiaotian cupped his fists.
Qin Hanchu quickly replied, "Elder Lin, there's no need for such formality. You are a Tiger Marshal, your status is no less than my title."
"This old man has retired. You, on the other hand, have a boundless future," Lin Xiaotian chuckled.
"Elder Lin, if you keep joking with me like this, I'll have to leave," Qin Hanchu smiled.
Lin Xiaotian roared with laughter. "Alright, no more pleasantries then."
"Greetings, Marquis of Champion." Seeing Lin Xiaotian step aside, Lin Long and the others bowed.
Although Lin Ying's father was a Dragon General, his rank was still one level below that of a Marquis.
After the greetings, everyone entered the villa.
Upon being seated, Qin Hanchu handed a jade bottle to Lin Xiaotian. "This is a pill I refined myself. It can strengthen the foundation and nourish vitality. Consider it a birthday gift for Elder Lin."
"I won't be polite then."
At Lin Xiaotian's age, his primary concern was his health.
He trusted that the pill Qin Hanchu gave him was no ordinary item.
"Hanchu, could you also check on my grandfather's health?" Lin Ying asked.
Qin Hanchu nodded. "Of course, no problem."
"Thank you, Marquis of Champion." With that, Lin Xiaotian placed his wrist on the table.
Qin Hanchu laid his hand on Lin Xiaotian's pulse, carefully feeling the flow of his pulse and internal energy.
"There are some minor ailments, nothing serious."
"Take one pill daily, and these minor issues will disappear soon."
Hearing this, Lin Xiaotian's mood brightened further.
According to Lin Ying, Qin Hanchu's medical skills had surpassed even Doctor Hu.
Since Qin Hanchu said so, his health must indeed be quite good.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Lin Ying's cousin quickly rose to open it.
A moment later, Lin Ying's cousin returned and said to Lin Xiaotian, "Grandpa, the Prefecture Lord is here to visit."
"What is she here for?"
Although Lin Xiaotian lived in Jiangdong Prefecture, he had no deep acquaintance with the Prefecture Lord.
Even for his birthday, she wasn't supposed to visit today.
Today was a private banquet hosted by the Lin family for Qin Hanchu; the actual birthday banquet was tomorrow noon.
Lin Ying snorted. "She's probably here for Hanchu. Gong Changjun provoked Hanchu at the Military Academy."
Gong Changjun's parents had previously visited the Military Academy to apologize to Qin Hanchu, but Qin Hanchu had paid them no mind.
Jiangdong truly lived up to its reputation as her territory; Qin Hanchu had barely arrived before she came looking for him.
Lin Xiaotian looked at Qin Hanchu. "Do you want to see her?"
Qin Hanchu shook his head. "Too lazy to see her."
Lin Xiaotian said to General Lin Long, "Go and refuse her."
General Lin Long stood up and walked out.
Outside the door, Gong Changjun followed behind his parents.
Although Qin Hanchu currently held no real power, his potential was immense.
For the sake of Gong Changjun's future career, his mother had to meet Qin Hanchu face-to-face to reconcile.
The door opened, and General Lin Long stepped out.
"Prefecture Lord," General Lin Long said with a smile.
"Apologies for the unannounced visit. I hope I'm not intruding," the Jiangdong Prefecture Lord said with a smile.
"You are indeed intruding slightly," General Lin Long said with a troubled expression. "We are currently hosting an honored guest, so it's inconvenient to receive visitors. Please return for now, Prefecture Lord. I will pay you a visit when I have the time."
"To be frank, our family wishes to meet the Marquis of Champion." Upon hearing General Lin Long's dismissal, the Jiangdong Prefecture Lord stopped hiding her intentions and said quickly.
General Lin Long sighed. "Today is not suitable."
Seeing General Lin Long's firm stance, the Jiangdong Prefecture Lord had no choice but to say, "Please convey to the Marquis of Champion that our family wishes to apologize in person. We hope for an opportunity."
"I will certainly convey it. We will not be receiving guests today. My apologies." With that, General Lin Long turned and returned to the villa.
"He's too arrogant!" After being shut out again, Gong Changjun angrily said, "Mom, although he's a Marquis now, it's merely an honorary title. His future path is long, and who knows if he'll even live to see it. We don't need to be so subservient to him."
"What do you know?" the Jiangdong Prefecture Lord said coldly. "Recently, so many forces wanted to kill him, but did they succeed? Over twenty Grandmasters came to kill him, and all were eliminated, including five or six peak Grandmasters. Do you know what peak Grandmaster represents?"
"He must have the protection of a Grandmaster of higher caliber. Unless a late-stage Grandmaster intervenes, he won't die," the head of the Gong family said gravely.