Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Li Qin shook her head. Since Xiao Yan didn’t say anything himself, she didn’t want to inquire further. For the Li Family, the important thing was for Xiao Yan to participate in the championship and achieve a ranking. Xiao Yan’s background wasn’t really important to the Li Family.

The Thousand Mechanism Sect also wouldn’t investigate the identity of every participant in the championship. As long as one had skills in Artifact Refining, they could participate as long as they passed the preliminary rounds, even if they were a murderous demon—it wouldn’t affect the ranking.

”This Xiao Yan should be just over forty, how old is Qin’Er this year?”

Li Qin looked up at the Fourth Elder, contemplating the meaning behind his words...

”Although Xiao Yan started late with alchemy, his talent is evident. Given a decade or so, he should have no problem becoming an Alchemy Master. A fifty-something-year-old Alchemy Master... has boundless prospects.”

Li Hong looked at Li Qin meaningfully. In terms of age, this Xiao Yan was more than ten years older than Li Qin, but such an age difference was not unusual for martial artists. Elder men with younger wives were common, although usually the woman’s family background was a bit poorer.

”Qin’Er understands.”

Li Qin nodded. She understood the Fourth Elder’s implication. They wanted her to tie herself to Xiao Yan.

How to bind him?

The answer was obvious.

As Li Qin stepped out of the courtyard, she lowered her head in contemplation. As a member of the Li Family, she didn’t have much choice in marriage matters, as most were arranged alliances.

Rather than waiting for the family to arrange a marriage alliance, marrying Xiao Yan seemed not unacceptable.

But wait, this Xiao Yan already had a niece; what if he already had a wife?

Li Qin’s thoughts became chaotic until a voice interrupted her.

”Little sister!”

Li Qin looked up to see Li Kai smiling appeasingly in front of her.

Seeing Li Kai, Li Qin recalled the words of the Elders back then—if Xiao Yan emerged victorious, then Li Kai would have to apologize to Xiao Yan, and the apology needed to satisfy Xiao Yan.

”What brings you here, second brother?”

Li Qin feigned confusion. Li Kai cursed a few times in his heart, pretending to be ignorant.

But being under the roof, he had to bow his head. If Xiao Yan had only slightly won, it would be fine, but he thoroughly crushed Yuan Shengyao and even drew the personal attention of the Elders. If he couldn’t satisfy Xiao Yan, the Elders would definitely punish him severely. The family businesses he was responsible for would be taken back, and without those businesses, he would be no different from other ordinary family members.

The Li Family had many members; just in this generation, there were hundreds. Once he became an ordinary family member, his Martial Arts Realm would likely remain stuck at the Innate Second Realm for life.

”Little sister, earlier it was I who was confused. Please say some good words to Master Xiao on my behalf. Here’s the apology gift I’ve prepared.”

Li Kai brought out two Storage Boxes, handing them to Li Qin: ”This one’s for Master Xiao, and this one’s for you, little sister.”

”For me?”

Li Qin didn’t expect Li Kai to prepare one for her. Seeing the strange look in Li Kai’s eyes, she instantly understood that he thought there was a special relationship between herself and Xiao Yan.

Indeed, with the alchemy skills Xiao Yan had shown, enough to attract the Elders to personally invite him, she was just a junior—what power did she have to invite Xiao Yan?

Li Kai thought this way, and the Fourth Elder likely thought the same.

”I will give it to Master Xiao, but I can’t promise anything. Besides, you should take this Storage Box back.”

”If you can just speak for me, I’ll be very grateful, little sister. It’s nothing valuable inside, so don’t be too formal. I’ll head off now. If there’s any news, call me anytime.”

Li Kai naturally wouldn’t take it back, and Li Qin didn’t linger here with Li Kai. Whether to accept this apology gift would depend on Xiao Yan.

...

”Apology gift?”

”Yes, this is the apology gift Li Kai prepared for Master Xiao. Additionally, Li Kai prepared one for me as well.”

Lin Chen looked at the Storage Box handed over by Li Qin, then reached out to accept it: ”Alright.”

Seeing Lin Chen accept it so readily, Li Qin was a bit surprised—did he forgive Li Kai so easily?

Was it because Li Kai also prepared a Storage Box for her? Thinking of this, Li Qin’s face turned slightly red.

”Does Miss Li have anything else?”

Seeing Li Qin standing aside without speaking, her face flushed, Lin Chen was a little puzzled. Could it be she had some unspeakable difficulty?

”No... nothing. I just didn’t expect Master Xiao to so easily let Li Kai off.”

Hearing Li Qin’s question, Lin Chen smiled gently: ”This contest didn’t cost me anything. I earned twenty Profound Soul Pills, and now there’s an apology gift; what is there not to be satisfied with? If every contest had this kind of benefit, I would wish for more people to doubt me.”

”Just because of this?”

Li Qin instinctively asked.

”Yes, what else does Miss Li think it could be?”

Seeing Lin Chen’s eyes on her, Li Qin blushed even more and quickly shook her head: ”No... nothing, I’ll relay the message to Li Kai then.”

”Alright.”

Lin Chen nodded, watching Li Qin with her flushed face, even her steps a bit hurried as she left, he softly said, ”Does Miss Li have something on her mind?”

”You don’t know?”

Yin Yue, who had been indoors, came out. Lin Chen was puzzled: ”What should I know?”

”With your displayed alchemical talent, the Li Family will certainly value you highly; they’ll find ways to win you over. What’s more reliable than turning you into a son-in-law of the Li Family?”

Lin Chen:...

”Arranging marriages between family women and potential men is too normal for major families.”

Watching Yin Yue’s calm face, Lin Chen sighed wryly. Of course, he knew that large families would arrange marriages with talented ones, but the key was, his current appearance was nearly fifty, and Li Qin was only in her twenties, a difference of over twenty years.

If Li Qin were to marry him, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for the Li Family to let this rumor spread?

Precisely because of this, he hadn’t thought in that direction.

It seems he was too shallow, not understanding these major families.