The Leng Family.
After Leng Qingqiu’s thorough explanation, Leng Ling’er was completely stunned.
She swallowed hard, unsure whether the information was too shocking or something else, but her voice trembled as she exclaimed in disbelief, “No way, sis?! So these kinds of miraculous things actually exist in the world?”
“Martial artists? Cultivation techniques? Demon Creatures?”
Leng Qingqiu knew her younger sister would struggle to accept this all at once.
Time was the only way for her to adjust. She nodded. “Yes.”
“And just so you know, our Leng Family was once a lineage of martial artists.”
“Including your brother-in-law’s Gu Family.”
Hearing this—
“Hiss!”
Leng Ling’er sharply inhaled.
So this world… was actually so extraordinary?!
Then that little bear they brought out for a performance during the Gu Family’s annual gathering…
Could it have been… a Demon Creature?!
As someone who had read plenty of novels, comics, and watched movies, she naturally understood what this meant.
It meant—
Leng Ling’er turned to Leng Qingqiu with excitement. “Sis, I want to become a martial artist!”
“Can you teach me how to cultivate?”
?
Leng Qingqiu slowly typed a question mark in her mind.
Wait, Ling’er’s ability to accept this was way too strong, wasn’t it?
As if sensing Leng Qingqiu’s thoughts, Leng Ling’er said eagerly, “This world of martial artists is just so… me!”
“Sis, once my cultivation reaches a certain level, won’t I be able to fly through the skies and move through the earth?”
“Wow! Just thinking about it gets me so excited!”
Leng Ling’er was already impatient.
Leng Qingqiu chuckled helplessly. “You… you’re way too fired up about this.”
“Let me tell you, becoming a martial artist isn’t easy.”
“And once you do, you might get dragged into dangerous situations.”
“Of course, your sister and brother-in-law will protect you, so if you cultivate and become a martial artist, it’ll mostly just be an extra layer of security.”
Leng Ling’er asked, confused, “Security?”
Leng Qingqiu nodded seriously. “Yes. In case of emergencies, so you don’t die before we can get to you.”
Ling’er’s attitude was far too casual about the martial world—that wasn’t acceptable.
She needed to scare her a little.
As expected, the words had an immediate effect.
!!
Leng Ling’er seemed to recall what had happened earlier that day.
If her sister hadn’t intervened, she would’ve…
Leng Ling’er immediately buried herself in Leng Qingqiu’s arms, shivering. “Waaah, sis, you’re just trying to scare me!”
“You succeeded, happy now?!”
Leng Qingqiu smiled and gently patted her. “I just don’t want you to underestimate the martial world.”
“It’s a brutal place, one where strength reigns supreme and reason often doesn’t matter.”
As she said this, Leng Qingqiu sighed inwardly.
Just like their Leng Family back then…
Leng Ling’er nodded belatedly, but then seemed to think of something else. “Then, sis, once I become a martial artist, can I teach Bai Qionglan and Ning Qian too?”
Leng Qingqiu listened, then patted Leng Ling’er’s head with a smile. “Bai Qionglan has her older brother—she’ll become a martial artist sooner or later.”
“As for Ning Qian…”
“Ling’er, her cultivation is at the same level as your brother-in-law—both are at the Innate Realm.”
“Though the fact that you even get along with her is something I never expected.”
After all, Ning Qian was a disciple of Dragon King Mountain.
Leng Ling’er was dumbfounded.
Wait, Ning Qian’s cultivation… was already at the Innate Realm?!
After Leng Qingqiu’s earlier explanation, she now understood the martial world’s hierarchy:
Third-rate Martial Artist, Second-rate Martial Artist, First-rate Martial Artist, Postnatal, Innate, Master, Grand Master.
Anyone who cultivated true qi was considered an entry-level martial artist, and with further training, they could become a Third-rate Martial Artist.
But Ning Qian…
Was already at the Innate Realm?!
Leng Ling’er suddenly felt a little wronged. “Mmm… you all kept this from me.”
“If I had started cultivating earlier, I’d definitely be a Master by now!”
Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu smiled without a word.
She wasn’t yet sure about Ling’er’s talent.
But…
Even with the highest aptitude, it was impossible to reach the Master Realm in just a few years.
Ling’er wasn’t some heaven-blessed individual who could stumble upon countless fortuitous encounters.
In Leng Qingqiu’s eyes, reaching the Postnatal Realm would already be quite an achievement.
Now that she had decided to let Ling’er cultivate…
She needed to find a suitable cultivation technique for her.
The Night Organization’s techniques were out of the question—
If Ling’er were mistaken for a member, it’d be trouble.
In that case…
Just then—
Leng Qingqiu’s heart skipped a beat as she sensed a familiar presence downstairs.
Soon after—
Tap, tap, tap!
Footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Leng Ling’er seemed to notice something too and whispered, “Sis, is that brother-in-law?”
“Mm.”
Leng Qingqiu nodded.
The next second—
Click.
The door swung open.
Gu Yan rushed in.
His eyes quickly scanned the room before settling on Leng Qingqiu and Leng Ling’er, both safe and sound.
The tension in his chest finally eased.
When he had arrived on the first floor and seen the wreckage, a wave of unease had washed over him.
After all, with Leng Qingqiu’s dagger taken, she had likely lost all her strength.
“Qingqiu, Ling’er.”
“I’m glad you’re both alright.”
Gu Yan let out a relieved sigh as he sat on the chair across from them, his tense expression finally relaxing.
Leng Qingqiu remained silent, refusing to look at him.
Leng Ling’er, sensing the awkward atmosphere, cleared her throat and glared at Gu Yan. “Brother-in-law, why did you hide something so important from me too?”
Gu Yan blinked. “What thing?”
“The whole martial artist thing! You’re an Innate Realm martial artist, and sis is also—”
Before she could finish—
Leng Qingqiu cut in calmly. “Alright, Ling’er, step outside for now.”
“I need to talk to your brother-in-law.”
Leng Ling’er immediately shut her mouth. Before leaving, she shot Gu Yan a helpless good luck look.
The room fell into silence.
Gu Yan hesitated before speaking softly. “Qing…”
“Qing what?”
Before he could finish—
Leng Qingqiu coldly interrupted.
She opened her eyes, her gaze steady as she stared at him.
Compared to before, Gu Yan’s life essence now carried faint traces of gray impurities…
Was that… the Power of Night?
Because he had used the dagger.
Gu Yan knew he was in the wrong, so he could only cough lightly and lower his head, staying silent.
Time passed slowly.
Leng Qingqiu said nothing.
Gu Yan occasionally glanced up at her cold expression.
Maybe it was his imagination, but those once-lifeless eyes of hers…
Now seemed to carry faint silver specks of light…
He didn’t know what they were.
Finally, after ten minutes of silence—
Leng Qingqiu spoke.
“Gu Yan, what exactly have you been doing these past few days?”
The dagger was taken.
Ling’er was targeted.
Gu Yan had set up additional protective measures on Ling'er...
All these signs indicated... Gu Yan must know something!
Hearing these words, Gu Yan let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry, Qingqiu. Once I finish handling one last matter..."
"I'll tell you the truth. Now that I know both of you are safe, I should take my leave."
?!
The truth...
Leng Qingqiu's heart jolted.
Could it be... Was Gu Yan about to... come clean with her?
But the moment this thought crossed her mind, Gu Yan stood up, preparing to leave.
Leng Qingqiu immediately pressed her lips together, her fists clenching tightly as she demanded, "You're leaving just like that?"
"Ling'er just went through something terrible, and you won’t even stay here with us?"
Gu Yan paused mid-step but still moved forward. "I'm sorry. I'll return soon."
With that,
Gu Yan left through the window.
"Bastard..."
Leng Qingqiu gritted her teeth.
He... actually walked away just like that?
What had Gu Yan been up to lately? And where was he going now?
Leng Qingqiu suddenly realized—Gu Yan was keeping more and more secrets from her...

shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]

world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...

reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?

Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"