He had endured Wang Yingfeng for a long time.
Liberally indulging Lu Zheng was one thing, but repeatedly bullying Xu Youran was another.
This time, he was determined to ensure she never had the chance to meddle in their marriage again!
Wang Yingfeng, her face contorted with rage, yelled, "Fine! You've got guts!"
"If you can truly present a dowry that satisfies me, I won't interfere in your relationship ever again!"
"But remember this, it has to be a dowry that pleases me! Got it?"
Jiang Fan coolly wrote a short line, "Then just wait and keep quiet!"
Wang Yingfeng clenched her fists tightly and hissed through gritted teeth, "Fine! I'll be waiting!"
With that, she stormed back to her room, her face dark with anger.
Xu Zhengyan glanced at Jiang Fan, unable to hide his growing admiration.
"At least you've got some backbone, kid."
Seeing how fiercely Jiang Fan was defending Xu Youran, as her father, he felt gratified deep inside.
But Jiang Fan gathering a dowry that would appease Wang Yingfeng within three days? That wouldn't be easy.
He mulled over whether or not he should step in to help Jiang Fan and Xu Youran.
The crowd dispersed.
Xu Youran returned to Jiang Fan's living quarters with a worried expression. Fretting, she said, "Fan, you shouldn't have agreed just now."
"Do you know why Aunt Wang wants a satisfactory dowry, and why the time limit is precisely three days?"
With no one around, Jiang Fan smiled slightly and replied, "If you know, how could I not?"
"She just wants to grab a hefty pile of silver to cover up for her precious nephew's mess, doesn't she?"
"As long as the dowry exceeds 300,000 taels, even if she doesn't want to agree to us being together, she'll pinch her nose and accept it for Lu Zheng's sake."
Xu Youran, annoyed, punched Jiang Fan on the chest and scolded, "You know, and yet you dared agree?"
"That's 300,000 taels of silver! Where on earth are you going to get it?"
"Rob a money house?"
Jiang Fan shrugged and muttered under his breath, "Even the bank might not have more money than I do."
He had once made a promise.
To marry Xu Youran with pride and splendor.
So, even without Wang Yingfeng demanding an exorbitant dowry, Jiang Fan had already planned to prepare a substantial one.
Nightfall arrived.
After Xu Youran left, Jiang Fan began refining Qi Cultivation Liquid.
Having gained experience during the day, he refined with practiced ease.
By morning.
Forty bottles of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid and twenty bottles of top-level Qi Cultivation Liquid were arranged before him.
"The efficiency of creating top-level Qi Cultivation Liquid has improved even more compared to yesterday."
"Alright, let's sell the top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid to the Chen Family; that'll fetch another 400,000 taels of silver."
"Adding that to the prior 500,000, it'll be a total of 900,000 taels. An enormous fortune indeed."
He was just getting ready to head out to the Chen Family.
Xu Youran suddenly walked in, her face beaming with joy. "Fan, Chen Silin invited me to her mansion as a guest, and she asked me to bring you along as well."
Who?
Chen Silin?
The Chen Family's one?
Noticing his confusion, Xu Youran explained, "She's a close friend of mine; we've been companions for years."
"For this dowry matter, I want to ask for her help."
If it wasn't for something as crucial as the survival of their marriage, she wouldn't have resorted to seeking help.
Now, however, she had no choice but to turn to Chen Silin.
"When you see her later, make sure to behave well, alright?"
"She might be our only hope now."
Behave well?
Did that mean refining more top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid?
Jiang Fan touched his nose and, a bit helpless, followed Xu Youran on the way to the Chen Family.
Feeling the bottles of Qi Cultivation Liquid weighing heavily in his arms, Jiang Fan couldn't help but feel speechless.
Surely, he couldn't show up as a guest like this, could he?
Better to sell the Qi Cultivation Liquid to the Chen Family first.
As they approached the Chen Family's gate, Jiang Fan said, "Youran, how about you wait for me here?"
"I need to buy some pastries and will come shortly."
Xu Youran paused and realized then that this was Jiang Fan's first visit to the Chen Mansion.
It was proper to bring gifts upon arrival.
"You're thoughtful after all. Alright, hurry back. Chen Silin is very busy and rarely finds time to meet us; we can't waste her time."
Jiang Fan nodded briefly and slipped into the crowd.
Taking advantage of Xu Youran's distraction, he darted into an alley and changed outfits, heading toward the Chen mansion.
The Treasure Pavilion shopkeeper, who was already waiting for Xu Youran, lit up upon seeing a Soul Master.
"Master, why are you here so early?"
From last night to this morning, the demand for top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid had exploded, with countless people offering twice the price just for a single bottle.
However, Chen Silin feared that this honored Soul Master might not deliver enough Qi Cultivation Liquid today, so she hadn't promised anyone.
To her surprise, the revered Soul Master proved exceptionally diligent.
In just one night, he had fulfilled the order.
"Please come in, Master. I'll take you to see the young lady."
The Chen Family's rear courtyard.
Chen Silin was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard to calm her restless thoughts.
After pondering all night, she still couldn't decide whether to dedicate herself to this elder Soul Master.
Age was one concern; another was whether he would truly fulfill his promise about cultivating Soul Master apprentices.
"Miss, the Master has arrived to deliver the Qi Cultivation Liquid."
The shopkeeper softly interrupted her sword practice.
Chen Silin was startled. Turning her head, she saw the enigmatic Soul Master shrouded in loose robes, meticulously hidden from view.
A glimmer of joy sparked within her.
The joy naturally stemmed from his reliability; he had arrived early to deliver the promised Qi Cultivation Liquid.
Yet, her emotions quickly became tangled again.
The turmoil, of course, was due to his earlier implications, which she was still deliberating whether to accept.
As she fretted, she discreetly gripped the Delusion-breaking Crystal hidden in her sleeve.
Steeling her nerves, she set down her sword and dashed over, her flushed face radiant from her exercise, with beads of sweat rolling down her smooth chin and disappearing into the depths of her neckline.
The sweat-soaked martial robe clung tightly to her form, accentuating alluring curves.
Jiang Fan couldn't help glancing over before quickly averting his eyes and placing forty bottles of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid on the table.
"It's all here."
Chen Silin seemed jittery.
She had been watching the Master's gaze intently. Though he only glanced at her once, she didn't fail to catch it.
Her heart grew even more chaotic.
Hurriedly inspecting the top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid to ensure everything was in order, she handed over prepared silver notes and fifty materials from a safe distance.
"Master, it's all here."
Her teeth lightly bit into her lip as she cautiously passed them to Jiang Fan.
Jiang Fan looked slightly puzzled.
What was up with her?
Did she think he might eat her or something?
"Alright, see you tomorrow." Jiang Fan stuffed the items into his robes and turned to leave.
"Wait, Master!"
Suddenly, Chen Silin called out to him. "Master, won't you have some tea before leaving? This junior personally prepared a bowl of Spiritual Tea for you."
Upon her words, a servant girl carefully brought over a bowl of jade-green Spiritual Tea.
The tea's fragrance was rich, a top-level brew capable of increasing cultivation.
Price aside, ordinary families wouldn't even qualify to enjoy it.
Jiang Fan's appetite piqued, and he sat down to take a sip.
While he lowered his head, Chen Silin discreetly turned away.
She nervously embedded two thin, transparent crystals into her pupils before turning back to face the Master.
She secretly held hope in her heart.
This esteemed Master who had hinted at his intentions—if only he wasn't too old.
At least that would ease her mind a bit.
If he turned out to be middle-aged, that would be ideal.
As for his appearance, she no longer harbored expectations. As long as he wasn't overly unattractive, that'd be enough to spare her discomfort.
Yet.
As the Delusion-breaking Crystal gradually pierced through the thick robes, revealing the real face beneath...
Chen Silin froze.