His decision was a calculated move: This alliance would boost his standing beyond anything he currently had. Any future mess could be sorted with careful steps. One win at a time.
Meng Pan wasted no time.
"Excellent! Well said, son-in-law."
Ye Tian smiled brightly. "Patriarch Meng, just tell us when you want the ceremony."
"Next year. Same month, same day," Meng Pan said firmly.
Ye Linger's eyes widened in shock. Sheng Qinhua's face twisted even more with displeasure.
"Of course!" Ye Tian responded without hesitation.
"The engagement is now official and unbreakable."
Both patriarchs turned their gaze on Sheng Qinhua, clearly warning her to stay out of it.
Then, Meng Pan reached into his robes and pulled out a ring. "Ye Xian, please accept this small engagement gift."
It wasn't an ordinary ring—it was a spatial ring, an artifact crafted by rune masters to hold a separate space inside. Judging by the aura and design, it was at least Earth grade.
There were five known ranks: normal, earth, sky, heaven, and immortal. Even the Ye Clan's patriarch only had a normal-grade ring.
"This ring contains 20,000 ki stones," Meng Pan declared.
The entire room froze.
20,000 ki stones?! That was enough to supply the Ye Clan's entire monthly cultivation needs.
Ye Xian was stunned. Thanks to Sheng Qinhua's schemes, he usually received only 300 ki stones a month. And now, just like that, Meng Pan had casually handed him more than sixty times that amount.
"This is just a small gift," Meng Pan said with a casual wave, placing the ring in front of him.
Ye Tian and Ye Feng's eyes gleamed. Their smiles stretched wide—they couldn't hide their excitement.
Ye Tian urged quickly, "Ye Xian, this is a generous gift from Patriarch Meng. Accept it with thanks."
Ye Xian smiled and took the ring with a composed nod. "Thank you, Uncle Meng. This is more than generous. I'm honored. You really didn't need to give such a gift.""
As he slipped on the ring, he caught Sheng Qinhua's cold, hateful glare.
He responded with a small, knowing smile.
Today had turned out far better than expected.
Then, with a booming laugh, Meng Pan added, "And Ye Xian—don't be so formal! No need to call me Patriarch anymore. Just call me father, haha!"
Everyone at the table laughed along stiffly, especially Ye Feng, who forced a high-pitched chuckle through clenched teeth.
Ye Xian, however, didn't laugh. He simply gave a polite nod with a smile.
The rest of the meal passed in tense silence, with Ye Tian and Ye Feng tried their best to keep the conversation alive, showering Meng Pan with compliments and assurances.
Ye Tian leaned forward, smiling stiffly. "Patriarch Meng, once this marriage is official, the Ye and Meng clans will be like one family. We'll make sure the wedding is grand enough to shake the entire city!"
Ye Feng chimed in eagerly, "Yes, yes! And after that, maybe our younger generations can train together—we'll open all of our cultivation grounds for Meng clan "
Meng Pan nodded at their words, replying occasionally with short, half-hearted responses. His mood was already turning from cheerful to contemplative.
His eyes often drifted to Ye Xian, studying him silently, as though weighing something.
"Hmm," he said vaguely. "That's good. The younger generation needs unity and discipline. That'll help."
But he didn't elaborate.
Even though Ye Tian and Ye Feng tried to flatter him, they could sense Meng Pan's attention was slipping. It was clear that, while he had gotten what he wanted—the engagement—he didn't care much for the Ye Clan's pleasantries.
After a while, Meng Pan stood, brushing down his robe.
"This has been a good evening. I'll take my leave now."
Ye Tian and Ye Feng quickly stood with him, bowing and escorting him out with forced smiles. "Of course, Patriarch Meng Hahaha, we'll see you out!"
Meng Pan waved a hand dismissively and left with his guards.
The moment the Meng Clan left, Ye Tian's posture snapped rigid. He turned toward the table with narrowed eyes and sharp breath, gaze locking on Sheng Qinhua.
Sheng Qinhua stood before he could speak.
"Don't mess this up," He said coldly. "We just secured the Ye Clan's future. Don't ruin it."
Ye Feng nodded stiffly behind him, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Just do what you're told. Be obedient for once."
Sheng Qinhua didn't reply. She turned and walked off, her heels clicking hard against the floor.
Ye Xian back toward his residence, the sun spilled its golden rays across the stone path, casting long shadows behind him.
In the small courtyard before his residence, Ye Xian paused.
A plum tree stood there. Its gnarled branches heavy with pale blossoms. He reached into his sleeve and took out the ring again, rolling it between his fingers.
"Congratulations, Young master Ye Xian."
Ye Xian didn't turn around. He knew that cold, hateful voice right away.
Sheng Qinhua.
"You've made quite the leap," Sheng Qinhua continued, stopping just a few feet away. "A crippled beauty, a powerful clan, and a fat pile of ki stones. Not bad for someone who used to be called trash."
Ye Xian turned his head slightly. He wasn't angry. He understood exactly what she was feeling—frustrated, anxious, full of rage. This marriage had ruined everything she planned for her son. Her son was now in prison, her schemes had failed, and her reputation took a hit.
Ye Xian is face calm as spoke.
"Is that envy I hear in your voice?"
She smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Envy?" She said smoothly. "No, no. I just find it… inspiring. To see someone like you climb so high, so fast. Who knows? Maybe you'll be patriarch one day."
Inside, Sheng Qinhua was burning with rage. She wanted nothing more than to tear him apart, piece by piece, and toss what was left to the dogs.
But on the surface, her smile remained perfect.
Ye Xian stared at her for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"If that day ever comes, I'll be sure to remember who congratulated me first."
He turned his back on Sheng Qinhua and walked towards his residence without another word. He had more important things to do than waste time with a witch like her.
Sheng Qinhua's perfect smile faltered for just a moment as she watched Ye Xian's retreating figure.
"Running away so soon?" she called out, her voice carrying a honeyed poison.
"I was just getting started with my congratulations."
Ye Xian paused at his doorway but didn't turn around.
"Oh, I'm not running, stepmother Qinhua. I'm just being considerate."
"Considerate?"
"Yes," he said, finally turning to face her with that same calm expression.
"I thought you might want some privacy to... process tonight's events. After all, it must be quite a shock to see the 'trash' of the family suddenly become so valuable."
Sheng Qinhua's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
Ye Xian continued, his voice perfectly innocent.
"I mean, just think.Your son Ye Shen worked so hard to climb the family ranks, and here I am, skipping right past him with a single engagement. Life can be so... unpredictable."
"You—"
"And the best part," Ye Xian interrupted gently.
"Is that this is just the beginning. Once I'm officially part of the Meng family, who knows what opportunities might open up? Maybe I'll even be able to help Ye Shen with his... current situation."
The mention of her imprisoned son made Sheng Qinhua's composure crack slightly. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"How thoughtful of you," she managed through gritted teeth.
"I do try."
Ye Xian smiled warmly.
"Oh, and stepmom Qinhua? Thank you for all your... guidance over the years. Without your constant reminders of my worthlessness, I might never have learned to appreciate moments like these."
He held up the spatial ring, letting it catch the fading sunlight.
"Twenty thousand ki stones. That's... what, about sixty-seven times my usual monthly allowance? I should probably send Patriarch Meng a thank-you note."
Sheng Qinhua's face had gone pale, then red, then pale again. The rage boiling inside her was becoming harder to contain with each word.
"You ungrateful little—"
"Ungrateful?" Ye Xian's eyebrows rose in mock surprise.
"But I just thanked you. In fact, I'm so grateful, I'm thinking I should dedicate every future success to you."
He stepped a little closer, voice still calm, almost friendly.
"After all, if you hadn't spent all those years trying to crush me, I wouldn't have learned how to survive, how to smile while bleeding, how to wait for the right moment."
He leaned in, his eyes sharp.
"You taught me patience. And now that it's paying off, I think it's only fair to say.You were the best teacher I never asked for."
Sheng Qinhua stared at him, trembling with fury, her jaw locked so tight it looked like it might snap.
Ye Xian gave one last smile, slow and unbothered.
"Rest well tonight, Stepmother. You've earned it."
Then he turned and walked away, the ring glinting on his finger, leaving her frozen in place, alone with her shame and seething anger.