Chapter 768: "You Deserve It Too"
The atmosphere in the Flame Boar Family's main hall was heavy.
A middle-aged beauty paced back and forth with her hands clasped, letting out the occasional sigh.
She lifted her eyes now and then to look at the blue-haired youth in the guest seat and the middle-aged man in the main seat, her face flickering between flattery and helplessness.
"Young Master Lei, is there really no room for negotiation?" she clung to a last shred of hope and said cautiously, "My daughter didnât test for Battle Power yesterday, but that doesnât mean she canât awaken laterâŠ"
Before she finished, another beauty sitting on the next seat interrupted with a cold laugh, "Sister, my dear sister, youâre really getting more muddled the older you get! All Battle Soul practitioners awaken their Battle Power before adulthood. Li Qingran is already nineteen; sheâs been an adult for a long time! If she still hasnât awakened Battle Power now, you really think sheâll awaken later? Wake up! Sheâs destined to be an ordinary mortal for life! Her Battle Soul is probably going to be some ordinary livestock pigâlaughable!"
Those words turned the pacing woman's face ashen.
She was Yang Fei, the principal wife of the Flame Boar Family head, while the one who had just spat those words at her was the concubine Rong Wuhua.
Because Li Qingran had disappeared since childhood and Yang Fei had not borne heirs with her husband in recent years, the principal wifeâs status had subtly grown unstable. After all, lifespans are finite, and the family headâs position will inevitably pass to a talented next generation. She had no such child. That meant the succession would fall to the concubineâs daughter.
With the Thunder Leopard Familyâs heir reaching marriageable age, the only one able to marry him would be the concubineâs daughter if Yang Fei could not produce an eligible daughter. Worse, Rong Wuhuaâs daughter had already awakened Battle Power at seventeen and had inherited the Flame Boar Familyâs traditional Battle Soulâthe Flame Boar. If Yang Fei failed to present a bride by the arranged marriage date, Rong Wuhuaâs daughter would rightfully marry into the Thunder Leopard Family.
The Thunder Leopard Family far outstripped the Flame Boar Family in power. The marriage alliance remained due to rules passed down by former family heads. There was no doubt that whoever married into the Thunder Leopards would see their status rise dramatically.
For this reason, Yang Fei had spent the past few years practically begging her husband to keep trying, day and night, but nothing took. Even if they tried nonstop twenty-four hours a day, it did no good. Besides, Li Ji had many affairs and could not always indulge her whims. Fortunately, servants had suddenly found her long-missing daughter in the woods outside Battle Soul City yesterday. Overjoyed, Yang Fei immediately took her daughter for testing.
But the test result was hard for her to acceptâLi Qingran had no Battle Power. In this situation, there was no point even retesting for a Battle Soul three days later; without Battle Power, there was a ninety-nine percent chance she had not awakened the familyâs bloodline Battle Soulâthe Flame Boar. It was far more likely to be some lowly boar type tied to the Flame Boar name, like a wild boar, a spotted pig, or a suckling pig. What use are those Battle Souls? They have almost no combat value.
"Nothing more to discuss." The blue-haired youth glanced at Yang Fei indifferently. "Madam Yang, you know our familiesâ customs; this rule wasnât made by me. To ensure the purity of our future offspringâs bloodlines and pass on our familiesâ Battle Soul inheritance, marriages between our two families require both parties to possess bloodline Battle Souls. Thatâs the most basic requirement. You know why Iâm here today. Let me be blunt: Iâm not here to annul the engagement; it never really was an engagementâjust a formality. I, Lei Bo, will not marry one without talent. Even if she is a legitimate daughter, I wonât take her. I will marry a talented illegitimate daughter. I came personally to see what my future wife is like."
Yang Feiâs face drained of color.
She was about to plead again for her daughter.
A moment later, a series of footsteps sounded from outside the door.
"Young Master Leiâs thoughts are mine as well."
The voice was melodious and clear; just hearing it stirred the heart and drew every eye in the hall. Everyone turned and felt their breath catch. A graceful figure entered the hall, accompanied by two maidservants.
She wore a plain white long dress; her posture was lithe, her skin fairer than snow. She had not gone out of her way to dress upâher black hair was loosely gathered with a single jade hairpin, a few strands cascading by her neck, lending a languid charm. Yet her face was dazzling enough to make others avert their gazeâeyebrows like distant hills shaded in ink, eyes like autumn waters rippling, a refined nose, lips like dabs of vermilion. Especially those eyes: clear and penetrating, carrying an innate chill and aloofness, like the bright moon in the Nine Heavensâreachable only in sight, never in touch.
She stood quietly and stole every speck of brilliance from the hall, causing everything around her to dim by comparison.
The blue-haired youth, Lei Bo, who had been carrying himself arrogantly, now stared straight ahead, his teacup tilting and spilling as if he hadnât noticed. His adamâs apple bobbed; his eyes were filled with astonished infatuation as he blurted, "Could this be... Liâs illegitimate daughter, Miss Li Rong?"
Yang Fei in the main seat wore a sour expression mixed with complicated pride and whispered, "Young Master Lei, youâre mistaken. This is my daughter... Li Qingran."
"Li Qingran? The... legitimate daughter?" The adoration on Lei Boâs face froze instantly, then was replaced by deep regret and a faint, barely concealed greed. He sized Li Qingran up and down, his gaze lingering over her exquisite face and graceful figure. He rubbed his chin and spoke in a condescending tone:
"What a pity... with such looks, yet just a mortal." He paused, a lecherous light flashing in his eyes. "However... I can be accommodating. If youâre willing, I could take you into my household as a concubine. That would at least save some face for the Flame Boar Family, yes?"
To him, this was a tremendous favor. A useless girl with no Battle Power climbing into the arms of the Thunder Leopard Familyâs geniusâeven as a concubineâwould be a blessing for several generations.
The people in the hall showed various expressions. Yang Fei trembled with rage, while Rong Wuhua wore a mocking smile, ready to watch the spectacle.
But Li Qingran merely raised her eyes slightly and gave Lei Bo a cold, disdainful glance as if looking down at the humble dust at his feet.
Her red lips parted, and her icy voice rang through the hall like a bead of ice striking a jade plate:
"Concubine?"
"Do youâthink you deserve it?!"
âŠ