Chapter 7 : The Wind Rises, Killing Intent Soars!
Xiao Zhenbang’s meaning was perfectly clear.
Through divorce, they could win back the Long family’s goodwill.
Xiao Qingcheng’s expression shifted slightly, but she still said, “Grandfather, I will not divorce.”
“Xiao Qingcheng, are you out of your mind?!”
Xiao Longhai pointed at Xiao Qingcheng, his hand trembling with rage.
“It’s all because of Ning Chen that we’ve completely offended the Long family! If you ask me, divorcing him is letting him off easy! Best would be to tie him up and drag him to the Long family to kowtow and apologize!”
“Second Brother, what nonsense are you spouting!”
Xiao Longshan’s expression darkened. “Mr. Ning is the old master’s savior. If we did such a thing, wouldn’t the Xiao family become an ungrateful, shameless clan?”
Xiao Longhai scoffed. “Back in the hospital, he merely gave one injection, and you still think that fool Ning Chen saved the old master? The old master’s recovery was entirely thanks to the Southern Medical King!”
“He was just lucky to be there at the right time.”
Xiao Longshan frowned. He knew Xiao Longhai’s character too well—prideful, arrogant, self-important.
When the old master had been critically ill earlier, Xiao Longhai had been forced to kneel to Ning Chen. The humiliation was something he clearly hadn’t gotten over, so now he targeted Ning Chen at every turn.
“Don’t talk nonsense. The Southern Medical King personally admitted that Mr. Ning is his senior brother, and his medical skills far surpass his own.”
Xiao Longshan’s face was stern. “In short, the Xiao family must not commit an ungrateful act.”
“Foolish!”
Xiao Longhai sneered. “Ning Chen is nothing but a scheming villain. Otherwise, how could he use his life-saving favor to coerce Qingcheng into marrying him?”
This sentiment drew agreement from many in the Xiao family.
“That’s right, Qingcheng is so outstanding, how could she willingly marry a fool? He must have forced her!”
“This kid is too cunning—once he’s in the family, we’ll never have peace again.”
“Longhai is right. The best way is to send Ning Chen to the Long family to atone!”
…
In an instant, many people’s hostility turned toward Ning Chen.
“Enough! Stop talking!”
Unable to watch any longer, Xiao Qingcheng said coldly, “Ning Chen has never used his life-saving favor to threaten me. I chose to marry him as my husband.”
“He is my husband. I will not divorce him, and I will never agree to hand Ning Chen over to the Long family!”
“Whoever wants to touch him will have to ask me first!”
Xiao Longhai’s face froze, then his anger flared hotter. “Xiao Qingcheng, do you really intend to go this far for a fool? Do you want to get the entire Xiao family killed?”
“It’s not me who wants to harm the Xiao family—it’s you who have bowed for so long that you can’t stand up anymore!”
Xiao Qingcheng’s voice was ice. “Even if I marry Long Zhan, will the Long family really look up to me, look up to you?”
“Let me make it clear today—if anyone in the Xiao family wants to marry into the Long family, they can, but I will not!”
Her words fell like a heavy hammer, tearing open a bloody reality.
Even if she married Long Zhan, the Long family still wouldn’t respect the Xiao family.
The gathered Xiao family members, from the eldest to the youngest, all wore different expressions—some frowned in displeasure, some breathed heavily, others lowered their heads with sighs.
“You…”
“Xiao Qingcheng, how dare you speak to your elders like this?”
Xiao Longhai’s face turned from green to white in fury.
“Enough! All this bickering—what sort of behavior is this?”
Bang!
Xiao Zhenbang slammed his hand heavily on the table.
“Mr. Ning, if the Long family blames us this time, whatever the consequences, the Xiao family will bear them.”
Xiao Zhenbang made the final decision. “The medicinal herbs you need, the Xiao family will try to procure them, but as for your marriage with Qingcheng, the Xiao family cannot agree.”
“Elder Xiao,” Ning Chen said calmly, “I am not someone who clings to power. If Xiao Qingcheng personally asks for a divorce, I will not object.”
“But if she does not want to divorce, no one can force her!”
His voice was unhurried, his demeanor calm, yet the simple words carried an undeniable authority.
“I understand you all fear the Long family’s retaliation. But grudges have their origin—Long Feng was beaten by me, and I will settle this matter myself.”
“You’ll settle it?”
Xiao Longhai sneered. “Ning Chen, aren’t you afraid the wind will snap your tongue? In terms of status, you’re just a foolish live-in son-in-law. The Long family is one of Jiangcheng’s four great clans. In terms of ability, your so-called skills are laughable. The Long family could send just a few people, all stronger than you.”
“Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. Where do you get the confidence to deal with the Long family?”
Ning Chen glanced at him faintly. “You don’t understand me—so why should I explain?”
Just one sentence, yet it brimmed with boundless confidence.
“Elder Xiao, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
Leaving those words behind, Ning Chen turned and walked away.
Xiao Qingcheng shot Xiao Longhai a glare, then hurried after him.
“Ning Chen, wait a moment.”
Biting her lip, Xiao Qingcheng said with guilt, “It’s all my fault for making you suffer such humiliation.”
“It’s fine,” Ning Chen replied lightly. “I don’t care what others say. I need to return to the old house for something.”
Xiao Qingcheng quickly nodded, her voice soft. “Alright. Find a quiet place for now—leave the rest to me.”
With that, she sent him to the door and turned back to the family estate.
Inside, Xiao Longhai was still going on and on, working hard to slander Ning Chen.
When he saw Xiao Qingcheng return, he deliberately raised his voice.
“I knew it—that fool is like a weasel wishing the chicken a happy New Year, never with good intentions!”
“He has nothing, yet rushed to treat the old master. Obviously, he just wanted to cling to the Xiao family’s power.”
Xiao Qingcheng frowned and gave him a cold glance. “With Ning Chen’s abilities, there are countless people who would want to curry favor with him. The so-called power of the Xiao family is nothing in his eyes.”
“Utter nonsense!”
Xiao Longhai stood abruptly, his face dark as he glared at her.
“Xiao Qingcheng, you’re a member of the Xiao family, yet you dare speak in defense of an outsider?
“All these years, the family has nurtured you, sparing no expense to send you abroad to study, pouring countless resources into you.”
“But you—after finally completing your studies—you not only refuse to serve the family, but also secretly break off your engagement and marry a fool!”
“Do you want the Xiao family to become the laughingstock of Jiangcheng?”
Hearing his daughter being berated, Xiao Longshan couldn’t stay silent any longer.
“Second Brother, you’re wrong here.”
Slapping the table, Xiao Longshan said unhappily, “When Qingcheng studied abroad, she relied on her own hard work. She neither took the family’s money nor used the family’s influence.”
“Back then, without her consent, the family unilaterally arranged an engagement with the Long family. It’s normal she doesn’t want to accept it.”
Then he looked at the old master. “Father, Qingcheng is still young. Even if she made a mistake, we can understand it.”
“Give her more time—let her calm down and think things over.”
Xiao Zhenbang said indifferently, “Very well, let her stay at home these few days to reflect.”
“In ten days, the new commander of Jiangbei Province will take office and hold the Rising Dragon Banquet. For the Xiao family to attend, we will need the Long family’s help.”
“In ten days, Qingcheng must divorce!”
…
The house left by Ning Wei was located in the northern part of Jiangcheng.
Looking at the somewhat dilapidated residence, Ning Chen pushed open the door, greeted by a wave of musty air.
The courtyard was covered with moss. Stepping on the stone slabs, a trace of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
During his three years of feigned idiocy, he hadn’t even known how Ning Wei had died, nor where his remains were.
Ning Chen found a piece of wood, carved Ning Wei’s name on it, and placed it in the courtyard.
“Uncle Ning, I’m back.”
Sitting on the ground, he looked at the wooden plaque. “Rest assured—no matter who killed you, I will not let them go!”
After speaking, he respectfully lit three sticks of incense and placed them before the spirit tablet.
Bang!
Suddenly, the courtyard gate was kicked open.
More than a dozen thuggish men stormed in, the leader’s face slashed with a scar, glaring at Ning Chen with hostility.
“Who are you people?”
Ning Chen raised his eyes slightly, a cold gleam flashing within.
“Who the hell cares who I am? Where’d you come from, brat? Get the hell out!”
The scar-faced man cursed as he strode forward, glancing at the spirit tablet.
“This is Black Fiend Hall territory. You think you can come here to mourn? Brings damn bad luck!”
With that, he kicked at Ning Wei’s tablet.
Crack!
The spirit tablet fell to the ground and broke in two.
“Disturbing Uncle Ning’s rest—you’re looking for death!”
Ning Chen’s eyes turned blood-red as he stared coldly at the scar-faced man.
In the courtyard, the wind rose suddenly, and killing intent surged into the sky!
