Chapter 362

Chapter 362: After the Wedding

Lin Residence.

"Sister Lin Xian, who attended the wedding? I've heard many influential figures were there!" Several young members of the Lin family surrounded Lin Xian, inquiring with curiosity.

Lin Xian nodded, "Indeed! Except for the Tower Master of Dan Tower, all the other Spiritual Tower Masters came. Moreover, representatives from Dan Ding Pavilion, Dan Valley, many martial lords, and prominent Zhongzhou families were present..."

"With so many dignitaries, I'd have fainted from happiness if it were me." Lin Qing said dreamily.

"Qing'er, you're so lovesick." Lin Xia teased.

Lin Qing shot Lin Xia a glance, "Sister Lin Xia, don't just tease me! What about yourself?"

A blush crept up on Lin Xia's face, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"Sister Lin Xian, there must've been many talented young men from Bai and Ling families. Didn't you get to know any?" Lin Qing continued.

The eyes of several young girls turned to Lin Xian.

Lin Xian gave a bitter smile. She wished to, but they barely noticed her. The gap between their statuses was too wide, not everyone is as lucky as Lin Xie.

"Lin Xie must've been overwhelmed with the gifts." Lin Qing couldn't resist saying.

Lin Xian nodded, "Indeed. Each of these dignitaries, one wealthier than the other, gifted Grade-8 spiritual herbs, lucent heart pendants, Grade-8 magical instruments, and formation flags. When it came to spirit stones, they gave in thousands, as if they were mere pebbles."

Lin Xian twiddled her fingers. The spirit stones allocated for their younger generation's cultivation every year amounted to just a few top-grade stones.

The girls looked at each other, "So, Lin Xie is wealthy now?"

"Of course," Lin Xian confirmed. With all these gifts, even the elders of their family would be envious.

"Sister Lin Xian, when is Lin Xie returning?" Lin Qing asked.

"I'm not sure," Lin Xian replied with a frown.

Now that Lin Xie belongs to the Ling family, Mu Chen conveniently gave all the betrothal gifts to the Ling family. The Lin family received nothing in return. What was Mu Chen thinking? He clearly looks down on the Lin family.

It's said that once you marry off a daughter or spill water, there's no getting either back. Lin Xie too, with the way Mu Chen treated their family, didn't say a word in their defense. But of course, these thoughts were just in Lin Xian's heart. Lin Xie's status had risen and she couldn't afford to offend him now.

"Where's Lin Yu?" Lin Xian inquired.

"Is she still causing a ruckus? Shouting and screaming at those who guard her, does she still think she's the once influential young lady of the Lin family?" Lin Qing said with disdain.

Lin Xin sighed softly, "Lin Yu really doesn't know better. After all, Lin Xie is her seventh brother, and yet she opposes him at every turn, even stealing his fiancé. Now she's facing the consequences."

"She believes she's flawless in her schemes. Everyone knows she pretends to be good to Lin Xie but plots against him behind his back. The family elders indulge her, so she's become overly confident. Look at the mess she's caused now."

"She has such bad luck; both her master and her husband have brought misfortune upon her. Why do the family elders still tolerate her? If they keep doing so, our entire family will be in trouble," Lin Fei Xue muttered.

Wan Ling listened to their conversation from a distance, her face growing rigid.

Wan Ling clenched her fists. Lin Fei Xue clearly noticed her but continued speaking deliberately.

"Fei Xue, it's not right to say that. Sister Lin Yu is already quite pitiable," said Lin Qing.

"Pitiable? What's there to pity? The family cut our expenses to nurture her. All she's done is cause trouble for the seventh brother. Despite the family investing so much in her, she hasn't given anything in return. She claims to be a Level Six Alchemy Master, but how many Level Six elixirs has she made for the family?" Lin Fei Xue retorted.

...

Bai's residence.

"Father, has my step-father awakened?" Mu Chen asked Ye.

He had acquired many Level Nine spiritual herbs at the auction, and since then, Mu Chen had been familiarizing himself with the formulas for Level Nine elixirs.

"I don't know! I didn't dare to probe using my spiritual power. I sent Da Bao and Xiao Bao to check, but they've been inside for a long time without returning."

Mu Chen rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "You had Da Bao and Xiao Bao sneak a peek. With all the delicious food in their room, they probably won't come out until they've eaten everything."

"What?!" Ye Shi exclaimed, "What do we do now?"

"So, have they woken up, father?" Ye Shi inquired.

Mu Chen gave a wry smile. "They probably have. Da Bao and Xiao Bao will end up fighting over food, and that's bound to cause a commotion."

Mu Yuan Feng and Lin Xie came out, each carrying a baby.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao affectionately nuzzled against them.

Ye Shi and Mu Chen approached sheepishly, picking up Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

"Father, step-father, I apologize. Da Bao and Xiao Bao love to run around," said Mu Chen, taking Da Bao.

Mu Yuan Feng smiled, "It's okay."

Looking at Ye Shi, Mu Yuan Feng chuckled, "Ye Shi, you're quite impressive, holding two at once. The Mu family has a promising future."

Ye Shi scratched his head, "You're too kind, father."

Mu Chen handed two spatial rings to Mu Yuan Feng and Lin Xie, "Father, I've sorted all the gifts people have given. They're almost evenly divided between these two rings. Only you and step-father can open them with your spiritual powers."

Lin Xie hesitated, "I can't accept this. Give it all to your father."

Mu Chen replied, "Now that you're married to my father, I should treat you both equally."

Lin Xie paused, still somewhat lost in the whirlwind of events.

Mu Yuan Feng took one ring and slid it onto Lin Xie's ring finger.

He took the other and wore it himself.

"Father, what are your plans now?" Mu Chen asked.

Mu Yuan Feng replied, "The Bai family elders suggested we stay here, so we can share alchemy knowledge. Lin Xie's adoptive father suggested we stay with the Ling family, where they have a special pond that can enhance the success rate of alchemy and forging."

Mu Chen nodded, "Both the Bai and Ling families are good choices. Both of you can spend time in each."

Mu Yuan Feng gave a bitter smile, "Actually, I've been thinking of returning to the outer realm."

Central State is nice, but home is where the heart is. Despite the Bai and Ling families' hospitality, they're still strangers.

Mu Chen frowned. The outer realm currently only allows exit and not entry. He could possibly fix the teleportation array to send Mu Yuan Feng there, but he was worried given Mu Yuan Feng's current status.

Seeing Mu Chen's concern, Mu Yuan Feng said, "I was just thinking out loud."

Mu Chen, clenching his fist, responded, "Give me a few years, father. I'll ensure you can go wherever you wish."

Mu Yuan Feng patted Mu Chen's shoulder, "Don't stress too much about it. I'm okay."

Lin Xie reached out and held Mu Yuan Feng's hand.

...

Qu Kun took a piece of pastry and generously spread jam over it.

Ling Chuan watched with a feeling of nausea. "Qu Kun eats so much. He might not just have one child on the way, but possibly two or even three."

"Would you like something to eat?" Qu Kun asked, looking at Ling Chuan.

Ling Chuan shook his head and replied, "No need, you go ahead." He wasn’t particularly fond of sweets.

Qu Kun glanced sideways at Ling Chuan, smirking, "Good you know your place. I never intended to share anyway."

Ling Chuan: "..."

"Ah! Mu Yuanfeng made a fortune with his wedding this time! Shi Tou mentioned that there were over twenty Grade-8 Spirit Grasses gifted by the guests. I thought the auction was lucrative, but weddings seem even more so!" Qu Kun said, nibbling on a jam pastry.

Ling Chuan nodded, "Indeed! Weddings can be quite profitable. If you married me, we'd make a lot too."

Qu Kun shot Ling Chuan a disdainful look, "Who do you think you are? They gifted generously because of Mu Chen's influence. You think you're on his level? Dream on."

Ling Chuan: "... Actually, I'm not that far behind."

While Mu Chen is a ninth-grade pill alchemist, he is a ninth-grade equipment refiner. Even though alchemists are more esteemed than refiners, the difference isn't that significant.

Qu Kun sneered, "Not far behind? You're miles away. You're just a blacksmith. Comparing yourself to an alchemist? Delusional."

Ling Chuan: "..."

Qu Shen, munching on a pastry, remarked, "You know, you're quite cunning. I was wondering why you let Ling Chen recognize Lin Xie as his adopted son. So, you had your eyes on Lin Xie’s dowry all along. The dowry Mu Chen prepared for Lin Xie ended up in the pockets of the Ling family."

Ling Chuan, fanning himself with a hand fan and looking triumphant, retorted, "Why let the water flow into someone else's field? What's the Lin family, anyway? A bunch of shady people. Why should they benefit from Mu Chen's dowry?"

Watching Ling Chuan's self-satisfied expression, Qu Kun became irritated, "The Lin family might not be saints, but your Ling family isn't any better..."

Ling Chuan, feigning innocence, responded, "Ah Kun, you're mistaken. All of us in the Ling family are fine young men like me!"

Qu Kun swallowed a piece of cake, nodded, and said with disdain, "So, all of you in the Ling family are losers like you? No wonder you're like a den of wolves."

Ling Chuan: "..."

Chapter 359: If Only We'd Known Sooner