Chapter 1235 - 1208: Behind the Mary Sue 7

Chapter 1235: Chapter 1208: Behind the Mary Sue 7

Family Head Zhu was overwhelmed with shock.

For years, the Zhu Family tradition had been to marry off their daughters to gain some advantages. Thus, Family Head Zhu never considered keeping talented girls in the family to contribute.

However, Anning’s words clearly enlightened him.

Indeed, marrying off a talented cultivator like Anning was truly not worthwhile.

Even if the other party was willing to offer more benefits, could any amount compare to having a Golden Core Master seated at home?

Just as Anning said, she was very likely to advance to a Golden Core Master.

If she really succeeded, marrying her off would be like handing a huge advantage to others.

But if she stayed in the family, there would be no loss, right?

Firstly, Anning was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Keeping her would also benefit the Zhu Family, and even if she never advanced to a Golden Core Master, having an additional Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the family was quite beneficial.

But what if she succeeded?

Contemplating this, Family Head Zhu’s breath became somewhat labored.

"Do you plan never to marry?"

He looked at Anning with some disbelief.

Anning smiled: "Father, isn’t it good for me to stay in the Zhu Family? I don’t want to marry now. Please tolerate me this once. When I eventually wish to marry, we could still invite someone in, couldn’t we?"

He nodded: "Indeed, there’s no rush since you’re still young. Let’s take our time."

As he said this, he put away that jade scroll.

Clearly, he had already decided not to marry Anning off.

Anning said with a smile, "I don’t want to leave home. I want to honor my father and mother in my own family where I am loved, living more freely than pandering to others in someone else’s home."

Her words instantly brightened Family Head Zhu’s mood.

What do large families love to see? Naturally, it’s the recognition and loyalty of the family members towards their family.

"Alright, alright, if you don’t want to marry, we won’t force it. You’ll stay with your mother and me in the future."

Family Head Zhu was pleased, so everything seemed agreeable.

The more he looked at Anning, the more he found her filial and sensible, her words and deeds very much to his liking.

"I’ll take you to the ancestral grounds to find a suitable cultivation technique later."

Since he intended to nurture Anning well, Family Head Zhu couldn’t let her practice techniques that merely enhanced appearance. He needed to find a cultivation technique suitable for her to quickly boost her strength.

"I knew Father loves me the most."

After praising Family Head Zhu for a few more moments, Anning left the study.

As she stepped out with a smile on her face, An Yue, who had come looking for Family Head Zhu, saw her. An Yue’s eyes slightly narrowed before she smiled and asked, "Younger Sister, what did Father call you for?"

Anning returned the gesture with a smile: "Nothing much, just to remind me to focus on cultivation and not disappoint Father’s expectations."

An Yue nodded: "If that’s so, then you should focus on your cultivation, Younger Sister. If you need anything, just let me know."

"If I lack anything, I’ll be sure to ask you, Sister."

Anning’s smile was bright and radiant, her beauty stunning like blooming flowers, making An Yue dazed for a moment.

Subsequently, An Yue’s aversion towards Anning deepened.

She thought, just as expected, someone who later caused many talented young men to risk everything for her—a femme fatale. Her looks were indeed captivating. If her beautiful face were ruined, would they still like her?

Anning watched as An Yue entered the study and turned back towards the backyard.

As she walked, Anning pondered An Yue’s earlier emotions.

When An Yue saw her, disgust and hatred were evident, yet she maintained a smile. This showed the girl had deep inner thoughts.

Still, given her depth, why would she react so openly and impulsively, injuring herself during Xiao Qing’s proposal withdrawal to prevent it?

An Yue wasn’t naive or a hopeless romantic. Even if she liked Xiao Qing, her character wouldn’t allow such actions.

Furthermore, Anning felt that An Yue probably didn’t like Xiao Qing at all.

From fragments of the original owner’s memory, she deduced that An Yue didn’t have much affection for Xiao Qing.

If she didn’t like him and wasn’t kind-hearted, why would she act that way?

Upon reaching her small courtyard, Anning paused for a moment.

While reviewing memory fragments earlier, she saw some things about Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing had a weakly brother named Xiao Yuan.

Anning’s heart raced wildly.

She believed this Xiao Yuan was actually Xiao Yuan.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she entered the house and meditated for a while before instructing the maids to prepare water to wash up before bed.

After returning to her room, An Yue sat pensively for a while.

She knew now wasn’t the right time to act but found it hard to restrain her urge to move against Anning.

After thinking it over for some time, she remembered something.

She recalled that the Old Master Wu of the Wu Family in Sifang City would soon celebrate his two hundredth birthday.

Among those attending the celebration from the Wu Family was a disciple from a Great Sect, grandson of Aunt Wu. He happened to be visiting home and passing by Sifang City, and naturally, he would drop by to offer his congratulations on Old Master Wu’s birthday.

Outwardly gentle and refined, this disciple was actually quite brutal. An Yue remembered that in a past life, Anning suffered considerably at his hands, almost losing her life, only saved later by Xiao Qing’s intervention.

Now, with no good ties between Anning and Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing wouldn’t help Anning.

Thus, if Anning were lured to the Wu Family’s celebration and encountered him, she might end up dead at his hands.

That man delighted in tormenting people. The more he liked someone, the more intensely he tortured them, and with Anning’s looks and charm, she perfectly matched his preferences. Who knew if he’d end up killing her and turning her into a puppet?

Thinking along these lines, An Yue smirked: "Dear Sister, see how generous your older sister is, finding you such an ideal suitor. Aren’t you the most charming? Go ahead and see if you can escape from him."

Once it was late into the night, Anning quietly slipped out of the Zhu Family.

Using the Teleportation Technique, she quickly found where Xiao Yuan was.

Seeing the dilapidated house Xiao Yuan lived in genuinely pained her.

She emitted a sliver of Divine Sense, and soon, Xiao Yuan emerged from the house.

Upon seeing Anning, Xiao Yuan smiled: "As expected, I guessed right."

Anning sat down with Xiao Yuan in a quiet spot, casually erecting a barrier: "How have you been?"

Xiao Yuan replied with a smile: "I’ve been doing well. My body is almost healed, and then I can regain my cultivation."

Seeing Xiao Yuan was aware of his situation, Anning didn’t ask further.

She pulled out some Spirit Pills and a bunch of Spirit Stones from her Storage Bag, thrusting them into Xiao Yuan’s hands: "Use these for now, and I’ll try to get more. Regain your cultivation, and then we’ll plan ahead."

Xiao Yuan held Anning’s hands: "Don’t worry about me. I’m doing really well this time, and my brother Xiao Qing is very responsible and treats me well. Plus, he has the protagonist’s aura, so he’ll likely achieve great things."

The mention of the "protagonist’s aura" gave Anning a pause.

Anning seemed to have had an epiphany.