Lin Yan learned that Zi Che Shao Hao had sent a letter to his parents. However, she hadn't expected to encounter such a situation when she visited his family.
“Shao Hao, what exactly are you like in their eyes, to make them so curious about you?” Lin Yan couldn't help but tease Zi Che Shao Hao. She already knew some things, but she wanted to hear him say it himself.
“It’s nothing. I don’t interact with them much, perhaps they just don’t understand me. Let’s walk faster, my parents are already waiting at home.” Zi Che Shao Hao didn't answer her directly. He genuinely didn’t know, as he had never paid much attention to others or matters.
“Mm.” Lin Yan nodded. A few days prior, she and Zi Che Shao Hao had had a complete heart-to-heart, and they were now considering when to hold their oath ceremony.
Zi Che Shao Hao’s carriage flew all the way outside the city and landed before the city gate. The guards at the gate, recognizing the familiar carriage, immediately opened it and let them pass.
Lin Yan looked around the city with curiosity, while Zi Che Shao Hao introduced the place where he grew up.
When the carriage reached its destination, Lin Yan alighted. As soon as she stepped out, she saw the crowd waiting at the entrance. Zi Che Shao Hao’s parents were not present; after all, they were the patriarch and matriarch of a top-tier family on the Central Continent, and they wouldn't easily come out to welcome someone.
After Zi Che Shao Hao got out of the carriage, he put it away, and the spirit beasts were led away by the guards.
“Your subordinate greets the Young Master.” Those at the entrance bowed.
Zi Che Shao Hao nodded casually and then pulled Lin Yan inside.
Everyone they encountered along the way stopped and greeted Zi Che Shao Hao. From their attitudes, Lin Yan could tell his status within the family.
When Lin Yan and Zi Che Shao Hao finally reached the main hall of the residence, they saw it filled with people. Zi Che Shao Hao stopped, looking with dissatisfaction at the people in the hall, not understanding why so many were present, as he had only brought Lin Yan to show her to his parents.
Lin Yan, still being pulled by him, also stopped and looked up at Zi Che Shao Hao in confusion, noticing his furrowed brow. She seemed to realize something, tugged on Zi Che Shao Hao’s hand to get his attention, and then gave him a smile.
Zi Che Shao Hao suppressed his displeasure and continued to lead Lin Yan inside. Lin Yan had not used her Concealment Jade Pendant today; her cultivation at the Out-of-Body stage was fully displayed before everyone. The people in the main hall were all Zi Che Shao Hao’s elders. They looked at Lin Yan with appraisal, and of course, they noticed her cultivation. Some even discerned her bone age. Thirty-something at the Out-of-Body stage – a true genius! Even Zi Che Shao Hao in his prime couldn't compare to this female cultivator before them. Zi Che Shao Hao had excellent taste, managing to snatch away such a genius. Thus, because of Lin Yan’s genius, she received the welcome of the entire Zi Che family. However, the Zi Che Patriarch and his wife were not solely pleased with Lin Yan because of her talent. They had seen the scene at the entrance and were very satisfied with how well the two got along. What more could they ask for than for such a beautiful and talented female cultivator to fall for their unsociable, dense son? Therefore, after Lin Yan paid her respects, she received numerous welcome gifts. Lin Yan initially wanted to refuse, but then considering her relationship with Zi Che Shao Hao, she accepted all the gifts. After experiencing the warmth of the Zi Che family, Lin Yan was arranged to reside in a small courtyard close to Zi Che Shao Hao’s own.
Even before Lin Yan moved in, the courtyard was already prepared. The furniture in the rooms was made of the finest materials known, with the properties of calming the mind and purifying spiritual energy. The wardrobe was also stocked with new magical robes in the most popular styles on the Central Continent. Of course, these should have been placed in storage artifacts, but their current display was solely to show how much importance they placed on Lin Yan. When Lin Yan introduced herself, she didn't use her given name but rather the name "Tan Tai Wang Shu." With this name and the location of the Southeast Domain, they would surely be able to find all her information quickly.
The day passed quickly, and Lin Yan lay on the bed, ready to relax for a day. However, the Zi Che family was far from calm. The news that the Zi Che family's young master, the most talented individual in the entire clan, had brought back a female cultivator with whom he intended to form a Dao companion had already spread throughout the family. Now that they had finally returned together, they had seen this female cultivator who had captivated their young master. To their surprise, this female cultivator was not as dazzlingly beautiful as they had imagined, although this wasn't to say Lin Yan wasn't beautiful. They had previously thought she would be the type to be stunningly attractive and highly skilled, the kind who had utterly bewitched their young master, leading him to decide to marry her after knowing her for a short time. Unexpectedly, upon meeting her, they discovered she was as serene and aloof as their young master. Could such two "cold" individuals truly create sparks together?
Everyone who had witnessed their interactions believed that their young master truly cared for this female cultivator. Every gesture and action revealed his concern, and his previous actions of mobilizing goods from numerous cities all pointed to this. However, their young master's taste was truly exceptional. Such a genius sword cultivator, reaching the Out-of-Body stage in her thirties – there was no one like her in the entire cultivation world. And she had been "kidnapped" back by their young master. Yes, they all considered it a kidnapping. In her thirties, for beings with such long lifespans, thirty was indeed very young. Their young master was also not old, being only a little over a hundred years old.
After Lin Yan settled into the Zi Che family, she cultivated with the Zi Che clan disciples every morning, even suppressing her cultivation to spar with them. She guided them in battle while also honing her own skills. Later, some high-level cultivators, feeling the urge, also joined in for sparring. Zi Che Shao Hao remained by her side, watching their spars. During this time, Lin Yan not only stabilized her cultivation but also gathered the materials needed to reforge her flying sword. Zi Che Shao Hao found the best artifact refiners to provide her with a forging plan. After studying the plan, Lin Yan adjusted it based on her own circumstances and prepared to forge her flying sword. Even though Zi Che Shao Hao knew his home was very safe, he still sat cross-legged outside Lin Yan’s courtyard to protect her. Zi Che Shao Hao’s actions made it clear to everyone how much he valued this female cultivator.
Zi Che's wife, while remarking, "Children grow up and become independent," began sorting through her and her husband's private treasury. She also planned to return to her sect to retrieve some items from her mother, which would be used as betrothal gifts to propose to Lin Yan's sect.