Lin Qinghen’s instinct for sensing danger after being bullied for so long was spot on.

Even if he didn’t know what exactly had happened that day, he had this sharp, almost animal-like intuition for avoiding danger. What he didn’t know was that Lin Qingshuang also had her sights set on that rare red Round Wheat.

After hearing about it from Lin Zhongtian, Lin Qingshuang, who wasn’t even an alchemist and had no particular interest in plants, found herself intrigued. Sure, Bai Lu Zongheng and Fu Xin Hall cared deeply about it, but she hadn’t expected that the Peak Master of Su Ye Immortal Mountain would be interested as well.

Even Chu Wei, who usually looked down on everything, had come directly to her with questions.

“That elder over there has a habit of researching this kind of thing. He’s been staring at that elixir for an entire day and even asked me to check with you. He said that if the Lin family could provide the seeds for this Round Wheat, the terms would be negotiable. I told him, ’It’s not like the Lin family can handle this thing on their own anyway. Why not let us take it off your hands? The people from Fu Xin Hall and Bai Lu Zongheng wouldn’t dare to mess around in front of our sect.’”

This piqued Lin Qingshuang’s interest.

During her earlier travels, she had met Chu Wei. Though he wasn’t exactly the friendliest, she had insisted on staying in contact with him—mainly because of Su Ye Immortal Mountain.

The head of Su Ye Immortal Mountain was a Nine-Star Heavenly rank, currently acknowledged as the number one expert in the Spirit World. It was tradition for the younger members of the Seven Great Families to visit and study at Three Mountain, though the sect master himself took no disciples. His only close companion was his son—Chu Wei.

Becoming the first disciple of the number one figure in the world would not only bring significant improvement to her strength, but it would also open doors to connections at a whole new level, amplifying her fame and bringing countless advantages.

Lin Qingshuang thought herself up to the task; among the younger generation, she had yet to meet a Combat Spirit Master stronger than herself besides Chu Wei. However, despite her attempts to win him over, Chu Wei remained as unyielding as ever.

But now, thanks to this Four-Star Homeostasis Powder, things were taking a surprising turn. For the first time, Chu Wei had come to her personally. And this Peak Master attending the Lin family banquet was the sect master’s brother, meaning that if Chu Wei helped with introductions…

“I figured you wouldn’t know,” Chu Wei remarked after a long silence from Lin Qingshuang, smirking as he observed her non-reaction. He didn’t leave, though; he seemed to be hesitating.

Finally, he spoke up with another question, “That Lin Qinghen of yours doesn’t seem very valued in your family. If I were to take him with me, would that work?”

At the mention of that name, Lin Qingshuang’s head shot up, her expression souring.

“Why would you want him?”

“Why are you so tense? Naturally, I’d take him back to Su Ye Immortal Mountain with me.” Chu Wei shot her a look before mumbling to himself. “The more I think about it, the more he seems… Hmm, can’t quite put my finger on it. But with his kind of background, it wouldn’t make sense for him to be a book boy. I’ll talk to my father and have him registered as a named disciple, so he’d have access to the peak where I live.”

“Chu Wei!” Lin Qingshuang was incredulous. “Have you lost your mind? Not helping me is one thing, but what’s Lin Qinghen even worth? With his strength, he has no business at Su Ye Immortal Mountain!”

Although a named disciple wasn’t the same as a personal one, the position was still no small deal. For Lin Qinghen, it would be like reaching the heavens in a single bound. Even for the average family child, it would be highly sought after.

Chu Wei didn’t bother listening to her, acting solely on his whims as usual. After all, he saw no reason not to.

The second volume of Journey Through the Clouds was notoriously hard to find, and he’d only read half of it in his childhood. He’d thought about it often, one of the main reasons he came to the Lin family being this very book. Then he’d run into Lin Qinghen.

To his shock, Lin Qinghen had managed to piece together the missing sections of this obscure book with amazing clarity. Chu Wei read through it all and found it to be exactly as Lin Qinghen had described.

He’d been carrying this curiosity for years, and now that it was resolved, he felt a rare sense of relief.

Lin Qinghen had credited Scholar Mei, so Chu Wei had hurried back to find the old man, hoping to have a discussion. But Scholar Mei, as it turned out, really was getting senile and seemed to have no memory of what Chu Wei was talking about, saying only that he couldn’t remember.

Puzzled, Chu Wei asked around among the servants in Plum Garden, only to find that none of them had ever heard of Journey Through the Clouds—not even the ones closest to Scholar Mei. Only Lin Qinghen knew anything about it.

Chu Wei was no fool. Something wasn’t right. Lin Qinghen… was probably lying.

It must’ve been his discovery all along.

When he’d been talking to Chu Wei, Lin Qinghen’s explanations were perfectly clear, with every detail spot-on. Yet, as soon as Lin Qingshuang and the others arrived, he had suddenly started acting like a fool.

His poor standing in the Lin family was probably just a front. Though he appeared inept, Chu Wei felt like he’d glimpsed something hidden within that fragile shell, sparking his curiosity.

After delivering his message, Chu Wei went off in search of Lin Qinghen, leaving Lin Qingshuang alone to simmer in her frustration.

Soon, Lin Zhongtian arrived with news that made her even angrier.

“We don’t actually have that kind of thing,” he said. “They’ve searched the planting gardens and pill refining rooms, and it’s clear someone brought it in just to set up the Lin family.”

This dashed Lin Qingshuang’s hopes for the red Round Wheat and reminded her of something she wished to avoid.

Lin Zhongtian’s face was grim as he looked at his beloved daughter, softening only slightly before finally speaking up, “Your engagement…”

This marriage arrangement should have been canceled long ago, but the backlash from breaking the contract would still be a heavy blow to the Lin family. Lin Zhongtian had recently managed to gather the necessary Heavenly-tier spirit artifact to withstand the damage.

He’d planned to go to the northern state’s Yin family after the banquet and formally call off the engagement. Since the Yin family was remote, he could handle them easily.

But with the recent turmoil, the forces at Three Mountain were seizing the engagement as leverage, making it clear that unless he offered something substantial in return, breaking off the marriage wouldn’t be easy.

“Didn’t you say before that we could just cancel the engagement?” Lin Qingshuang’s voice rose in pitch. “How could I possibly marry that useless Yin Jiuxiao!”

But as family head, Lin Zhongtian had too many things to consider. He spoiled his daughter, but he couldn’t afford to make reckless decisions.

With everyone’s eyes on the Lin family now, annulling the engagement would only become harder. Even if they succeeded, Three Mountain would certainly make a huge fuss if they didn’t get what they wanted.

This matter already cast the Lin family in a dishonorable light. The Lin family and the Yin family were old allies, and the Yins had helped them many times in the past. But they couldn’t delay the contract any longer. Lin Qingshuang’s upcoming eighteenth birthday marked a deadline, and the engagement had to be fulfilled within seven days.

This situation was urgent.

“Shuang’er,” Lin Zhongtian suggested after some hesitation, “we could fulfill the engagement, just as a formal gesture. Afterward, I’d immediately arrange for a divorce. You and Yin Jiuxiao would have nothing to do with each other. Our family has upheld our promise, but the two of you simply aren’t compatible, so a quick separation makes sense. How about that?”

“No way!”

Lin Qingshuang, who had been adored and pampered all her life, was not accustomed to being denied.

Now, at eighteen, the Su Ye Immortal Mountain she coveted was being offered to someone she looked down on—Lin Qinghen. And meanwhile, she was expected to marry Yin Jiuxiao, whom she despised.

Never mind this “marry then divorce” nonsense. She wouldn’t accept it. Even the slightest tie to the Yin family would stain her reputation forever.

Lin Zhongtian doted on her, coaxing her for a long time and making a slew of promises, but she wouldn’t budge.

Seeing her scowl, silent and seething, Lin Zhongtian finally heard her say, “Father, does it have to be me who fulfills this engagement?”

He blinked, confused. “What?”

In that instant, inspiration struck her.

If not for Chu Wei’s words earlier, she wouldn’t have even thought of him.

“Couldn’t it be… Lin Qinghen instead?”