Chapter 3: The Prodigal Son

After Ying Xuan returned, he told his father about the matter.

Both of them were extremely surprised when they learned that Ying Tong had actually agreed to attend tomorrow’s engagement banquet.

“Xuan’er, are you telling the truth? Has the Venerable Yunhuang really agreed to come and observe the ceremony tomorrow?”

Ying Xuan nodded, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. “Father, how could I dare joke about such a thing? Of course, it’s true.”

Hearing the confirmation again, Ying Xuan’s father’s heart raced with excitement.

The Venerable Yunhuang rarely attended such events, but now she had agreed to attend Xuan’er’s engagement banquet.

Did this mean that Xuan’er had gained the favor of the Venerable Yunhuang?

Whatever the reason, this was an incredibly good thing, not only for Ying Xuan but also for their entire family line.

However, as if he had just thought of something, Ying Xuan’s father’s face showed a trace of regret.

“What a pity, the engagement banquet is tomorrow, and the invitations have already been sent out. If it could be postponed for a few more days, with the reputation of the Venerable Yunhuang, surely more people would come to witness it.”

As the only cultivator in the Cangqiong Realm in a thousand years with the hope of ascending, many people wanted to curry favor with Ying Tong.

But Ying Tong lived a reclusive life, and those who wanted to flatter her couldn’t even find her.

Ying Xuan, however, waved his hand indifferently. “It’s just the engagement banquet. There’s no rush; when Xiaoya and I marry in the future, we can hold a grand celebration then.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Xuan’s father shook his head. “By that time, the Venerable Yunhuang will probably have ascended to the Immortal Realm, unless you and Xiaoya marry immediately after the engagement.”

Ying Xuan looked slightly troubled at this. “Father, Xiaoya has said she doesn’t want to marry so soon, and I don’t want to force her.”

At this, Ying Xuan’s father had already given up trying to reason with his son, who was utterly controlled by his fiancée.

On the other side, the head of the Ying family, Ying Nanfeng, also received a personal order from Ying Tong. After reading it carefully, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

A handsome young man standing beside him noticed and asked, “Father, what did the Venerable Yunhuang say in the letter?”

Ying Nanfeng handed the order to his son. “See for yourself.”

After reading the contents, Ying Xuechen frowned in confusion. “The Venerable Yunhuang is asking us to tally up the cultivation resources Brother Xuan has sent to the Zhangsun family over the years? And she’s also planning to attend tomorrow’s engagement banquet?”

In the Ying family, Ying Tong’s commands held absolute authority.

So, even though he didn’t understand why, Ying Nanfeng followed through with the order, instructing people to compile the resources Ying Xuan had sent over the years.

The subordinates were efficient, and in no time, a list appeared in Ying Nanfeng’s hands.

What he saw shocked him.

Ying Nanfeng knew about Ying Xuan giving resources to Zhangsun Ya, after all, she was his future wife, and sending some gifts was expected.

However, what he hadn’t anticipated was just how generous Ying Xuan had been. The amount of cultivation resources he had sent wasn’t just enough for Zhangsun Ya alone; it was more than sufficient for the entire Zhangsun family.

There were even some extremely rare cultivation resources that the Ying family itself had been reluctant to use, yet Ying Xuan had casually sent them away.

Even with his typically calm temperament, Ying Nanfeng couldn’t help but curse inwardly, calling him “prodigal.”

Ying Xuechen also furrowed his brow upon seeing the list, though not because of the resources Ying Xuan had given away.

As a top-tier family, the Ying family could afford such resources, even though they appeared staggering. What truly concerned him was the impression he was getting of Zhangsun Ya and her entire family—they didn’t sit well with him.

These resources, at first, it was Ying Xuan who voluntarily gave them. However, later on, Zhangsun Ya began to ask for them herself, and the resources she requested were never ordinary—things a cultivator in the Qi Training stage had no need for.

Over time, it escalated to the point where whenever someone in the Zhangsun family needed cultivation resources, they would directly ask Ying Xuan. Nine out of ten times, they got what they wanted, and on the rare occasion they didn’t, it was only because Ying Xuan didn’t have the resources they needed at the moment. But as soon as he acquired them, he eagerly delivered them right to their door.

In just a few short years, the Zhangsun family went from being a third-rate family to being elevated into the ranks of the first-class families.

Ying Xuechen even suspected that if Zhangsun Ya were to ask, Ying Xuan might be willing to give away the entire Ying family.

“Father, this woman absolutely cannot marry into the Ying family,” Ying Xuechen said firmly.

As the saying goes, when choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. It was clear that Zhangsun Ya was a troublemaker. If she were really allowed into the Ying family, the entire Zhangsun family would likely leech off the Ying family like mad.

Ying Nanfeng nodded in agreement. His thoughts aligned with Ying Xuechen’s—Zhangsun Ya must not be allowed to enter their family.

“However, we must handle this carefully. Your brother is still deeply infatuated right now. If we rush to confront him, it will backfire.”

“Moreover, the fact that the Venerable Yunhuang suddenly asked us to compile this list shows that she has also noticed something. Let’s wait and see what happens tomorrow, and then act accordingly.”

Ying Xuechen nodded. “I’ll go check on the preparations for the engagement banquet to ensure nothing unexpected happens tomorrow.”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the Venerable Yunhuang’s sudden request for the list and her decision to attend the engagement banquet.

Especially with that list—it felt almost as if it was preparation for reclaiming what had been given away in the future.

Ying Xuechen was startled by his own thoughts. How could the Venerable Yunhuang possibly know about future events?

The next day arrived.

As the direct descendant of the Ying family, Ying Xuan’s engagement banquet was naturally quite grand.

Early in the morning, Ying Xuan’s mother busied herself with a group of servants.

Ying Xuan’s father, Ying Nantian, welcomed guests in the front courtyard, his face bearing a constant smile. Those who didn’t know might have thought this was a wedding banquet rather than an engagement celebration.

Some even whispered, “He’s so happy over just an engagement; if they were to marry later, wouldn’t that be a celebration for the whole world?”

Upon hearing that teasing remark, Ying Nantian didn’t get angry. His joy wasn’t merely due to the engagement; everyone would understand that in due time.

Because of the Ying family’s status, everyone who received an invitation came. Even those who truly couldn’t attend sent someone to deliver their gifts.

Ying Nantian and his wife welcomed the male and female guests in both the front and back courtyards.

Ying Tong had arrived early but didn’t participate in the festivities.

When Ying Xuechen and Ying Xuan approached, they found Ying Tong sitting bored on a swing, munching on sunflower seeds and enjoying the surrounding scenery.

The two stepped forward and respectfully greeted her, saying, “Junior greets the Venerable Yunhuang.”

Seeing this, Ying Tong casually tossed aside the sunflower seeds in her hand, clapped her hands, and said, “Stop with the formalities. I called you here to watch a show.”

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