Jia Wen remained on the cold marble floor with her face swollen from the dual slaps. Blood still trickled from the corner of her mouth as she clutched her cheek in doubt.
How could this be happening?
She, Jia Wen, who had climbed her way up by attaching herself to powerful men, had just been publicly slapped by two rich brats! The humiliation burned hotter than the pain itself. Worst of all, these two peerless beauties had actually defended that useless Lin Yuan… the same broke leech she had treated like a slave for years. It was utterly embarrassing. Women of their caliber liking a nobody like him? Impossible! Her pride refused to accept it.
Su Wan'er looked down at Jia Wen with undisguised disgust as her gentle features that looked softer than feathers had hardened into icy contempt.
'I have always hated you.'
Her thoughts were precise.
'For the way you treated my Lin Yuan like a disposable tool. Because of all the so-called 'favors' you did for him, Aunt Zhang felt too guilty to let Yuan Yuan leave you. But now that you have revealed your true colors, the relationship is well and truly over. This is my chance to become his only darling. That is how I see things anyway.'
Her voice turned sharp as a blade.
"Get out of here, you vile woman. Crawl away before I lose my patience."
Jia Wen trembled as she apologized repeatedly in a shaking voice.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
The once-arrogant Jia Wen crawled pathetically across the smooth floor like a beaten dog.
Satisfied for the moment, both Murong Xue and Su Wan'er turned back to Aunt Zhang.
They bowed gracefully once more.
"Mother-in-law, for the sake of formalities, please allow me to introduce myself properly."
Su Wan'er said sweetly.
Murong Xue nodded competitively.
"I am fit to become your daughter-in-law. I bring the power and prestige of the Martial God Hall, I don't really see what Sister Su brings though. I, alone, will ensure your family rises to unimaginable heights."
They exchanged a quick, deadly side glare at each other before flashing angelic smiles back at Aunt Zhang as if nothing had happened.
With a gentle clap from each beauty, their respective Dao protectors summoned long lines of pretty maids. The maids advanced in perfect formation, each carrying numerous luxurious wooden boxes wrapped in expensive gold silk that shimmered under the mall's crystal lights.
A refined presenter stepped forward for Su Wan'er.
"For the esteemed mother-in-law, Young Miss Su Wan'er has prepared the following gifts: ten pieces of top-grade spiritual jade carved into protective amulets, five sets of pure gold jewelry, a limited-edition smartphone with unlimited data arrays, and a complete set of high-end modern home appliances powered by spirit stones. All chosen to bring comfort and longevity to the family."
The presenter for Murong Xue followed immediately.
"For the respected mother-in-law, Young Miss Murong Xue offers priceless antiques: a thousand-year-old painting of the Azure Dragon from the ancient era, a set of rare spirit weapons forged in the Martial God Hall's sacred furnace, including a defensive jade pendant capable of blocking Core Formation strikes, and several ancient calligraphy scrolls containing profound cultivation insights. These treasures carry the hall's supreme prestige and will elevate the Lin family's status instantly."
Lin Yuan's eyes widened in shock as the long lists of extravagant gifts were read aloud. The value was simply astronomical and clearly far beyond anything an ordinary family could dream of.
Aunt Zhang leaned close to her son and whispered.
"Xiao Yuan… what exactly is going on here?"
Lin Yuan scratched his head nervously.
"I… I'm not entirely sure myself, Mom."
He turned to the two beauties with a bewildered face.
"What is all this?"
Both Su Wan'er and Murong Xue frowned deeply at him like offended puppy dogs.
"You're playing with our feelings!"
Su Wan'er exclaimed as her eyes turned misty.
Murong Xue's domineering tone softened into a pitiful one.
"Hmph! Pretending you don't know these are bride prices, how cruel can you be? You're so harsh, darling! Do you want to make us cry?"
Lin Yuan panicked immediately, waving his hands.
"Wait, no— if these are bride prices, then I should be the one paying them! It kills my role as a man—"
They refused to let him finish.
Murong Xue snapped her fingers sharply.
In an instant, dozens of her Dao protectors formed dazzling sword lights, all pointed directly at Lin Yuan.
Her voice turned commanding.
"Be my man, Lin Yuan! With me, you will enjoy endless resources from the Martial God Hall, protection from any enemy, and a future where no one dares look down on you or your mother. Accept it now!"
Lin Yuan quickly lifted both arms in surrender.
"I don't want any trouble…"
This only irritated Su Wan'er.
Her own Dao protectors instantly formed sharp dragon spirit claws and pointed them threateningly at Murong Xue's guards in warning. Su Wan'er haughtily stepped in front of Lin Yuan as her fertile breasts bounced then shielded him with her graceful figure.
"Murong Xue, do not threaten him!"
She warned quite coldly.
Then she quickly turned to Lin Yuan and Aunt Zhang with a confident smile.
"Yuan Yuan, you are free to pick any woman you want to marry—as long as it is me and no one else! With my father's wealth, you and Aunt Zhang will have more money than you can possibly spend. My family controls half the spiritual commerce in Blue River City. We own mines, arrays, and trading routes that generate billions of spirit stones annually. You will never lack for anything again!"
Lin Yuan lifted a brow at her.
'Is she calling money spirit stones now?'
To him, these women are all mentally challenged.
How could they be so beautiful and yet so childish to think that things from a fantasy novel would actually exist in times like these. The thought made him laugh.
While all of this happened , a humbled Jia Wen nursed her swollen cheeks from a short distance. Her teary eyes suddenly narrowed as she noticed the prominent seals on the luxurious gift boxes.
One set bore the official imperial seal of the Martial God Hall while the other carried the golden and intricate seal of Grand Riverside Mall.
Jia Wen's heart leaped with malicious joy.
Using those specific seals was a serious crime! They could only be employed by high-ranking members of either organization. These two young misses were definitely not at that level. The gifts must be either stolen or the seals forged!
She laughed loudly.
"Lin Yuan, you are in deep trouble this time!"
Before she could shout more, the pain in her cheeks flared up again.
She shut her mouth halfway just to wince.
Lin Yuan tilted his head at her.
"What are you on about now, Goat-head?"
Jia Wen's anger surged despite the pain.
"You better go down on your knees and beg for mercy, or I'll make you regret it!"
Lin Yuan shrugged casually.
"Uh… I'm not doing that."
Jia Wen was startled.
When had this useless man become so bold?
Su Wan'er looked disgusted and warned her again, but the stubborn Jia Wen ignored her completely. She lunged forward and ripped off the golden silk sheets covering several of the luxury wooden boxes.
"Everyone, look!"
She shouted triumphantly.
"These treasures carry seals that can only be used by the main family of the Martial God Hall or the highest shareholders of Grand Riverside Mall! The Martial God Hall is the supreme power among the Ten Halls of the Grand Xia Ancient Kingdom. Its prestige is unmatched across the entire region! And Grand Riverside Mall is controlled by the richest tycoons in Jiangnan. A pathetic wimp like you is not worthy of even touching treasures marked with these seals. They must be stolen or forged! This is a crime punishable by death!"
Lin Yuan looked genuinely lost.
He mumbled to himself.
"To think Jia Wen is also a chuuni… those seals are probably just for copyright or something."
Jia Wen's face twisted with rage.
"How dare you look down on the sacred history of these seals, you ignorant trash!"
Murong Xue folded her arms under her breasts and stared at Jia Wen with pure contempt.
"If you truly know so much about the power and history of the Imperial Martial Seal, then why aren't you bowing before me yet?"
Jia Wen sneered viciously.
"Kneel? Ha! There are only ten people in the entire kingdom who can legitimately use the Martial God Hall's seal, and you are definitely not one of them! I will make sure all of you suffer for this blasphemy!"
The entire plaza held its breath.