Chapter 14
After the greetings at the entrance concluded, the Zan Family was personally escorted into the Jin Residence.
The interior of the estate was grand and elegant, filled with expensive decorations, jade ornaments, and traces of noble prestige everywhere. Yet unlike other noble residences, the Jin Family manor also carried a distinct military atmosphere.
Even the servants walked with discipline.
Soon, everyone arrived inside a large meeting hall.
Tea was served while both families began discussing the upcoming wedding preparations.
The wedding robes.
The ceremony arrangements.
The guest invitations.
The location of the wedding itself.
Apparently, the Jin Family had already spent enormous effort preparing everything long before Zan Yunxiao even arrived at the capital.
Jin Feixue herself looked especially excited throughout the entire discussion.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao increasingly felt like he had somehow been dragged along by the flow of events without realizing it.
Eventually, after most matters were finalized, General Jin Zhou suddenly spoke.
“Yunxiao,” he said calmly, “I wish to speak with you alone for a moment.”
The atmosphere inside the hall briefly quieted.
Zan Yunxiao glanced toward Xueyun and Zan Wei before nodding lightly.
“Wait outside for me.”
Xueyun nodded gently while Jin Feixue reluctantly followed the others out as well.
Soon.
Only two people remained inside the meeting hall.
General Jin Zhou.
And Zan Yunxiao.
For a moment, silence lingered.
Zan Yunxiao inwardly wondered what exactly this father-in-law wished to discuss privately.
Before he could think further.
The rough-looking general suddenly stepped forward.
Kneel.
Jin Zhou directly kowtowed before him.
The sudden action instantly stunned Zan Yunxiao.
“Please forgive my disrespect earlier, Immortal Master.”
The moment those words entered his ears, Zan Yunxiao’s eyes narrowed slightly.
For the first time since arriving at the Jin Residence.
His expression became truly serious.
“…How did you know?”
The moment he asked that question.
Jin Zhou inwardly confirmed everything completely.
Still kneeling, the general spoke honestly.
“Because I investigated you.”
Zan Yunxiao remained silent.
Jin Zhou slowly continued:
“Feixue is my only daughter,” he said calmly. “Naturally, I had to investigate the man she insisted on marrying.”
At first, he merely intended to examine Zan Yunxiao’s background cautiously like any protective father would.
The deeper the investigation became.
The stranger everything appeared.
A man who supposedly looked barely in his twenties.
Yet somehow already had an adult son old enough to become the empire’s top scholar.
A mysterious noble from an unnamed village who suddenly rose to prominence after supplying enormous amounts of grain capable of sustaining the empire’s military for years.
A man with no clear origin.
No visible aging.
And countless unexplainable details surrounding him.
The more Jin Zhou investigated.
The more one conclusion surfaced repeatedly within his mind.
Immortal cultivator.
Then, after learning that Zan Yunxiao also possessed strength beyond ordinary mortals because of the Gambling Den Pavilion incident.
His suspicions grew even stronger.
Still.
He lacked absolute confirmation.
So today, Jin Zhou deliberately took a gamble.
He intentionally kowtowed and addressed Zan Yunxiao as “Immortal Master” while carefully observing his reaction.
If he were wrong.
At worst, he would merely embarrass himself.
But if he were right.
Then the Jin Family had unknowingly formed ties with a true immortal cultivator.
And now.
After hearing Zan Yunxiao ask “How did you know?”
Everything became completely confirmed.
Jin Zhou slowly lowered his head respectfully once more.
“This subordinate greets Immortal Master.”
The meeting hall became silent again afterward.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao looked at the kneeling general with visible surprise lingering in his eyes.
He truly did not expect this rough-looking military man to possess such careful intelligence and deduction abilities.
From only scattered clues.
Jin Zhou had managed to piece together the truth almost perfectly.
Eventually, Zan Yunxiao sighed softly before speaking calmly.
“You’re quite intelligent.”
Hearing those words, Jin Zhou finally understood that he had passed the test correctly.
Then Zan Yunxiao slowly continued:
“Rise.”
Jin Zhou immediately obeyed.
Although his expression remained respectful, inwardly his heart was already trembling with excitement.
Because today.
He had truly confirmed that his future son-in-law.
Was a genuine immortal master.
After their private conversation concluded, Zan Yunxiao calmly looked toward Jin Zhou and spoke in a serious tone.
“My identity as a cultivator must remain hidden,” he said. “Do not tell anyone about this.”
Jin Zhou immediately nodded solemnly.
“This general understands.”
Then Zan Yunxiao added:
“And act normally. There’s no need to constantly call me ‘Immortal Master.’”
Hearing this, Jin Zhou hesitated briefly before nodding once more.
“Understood… son-in-law.”
The moment those awkward words came out of the rough general’s mouth, even Zan Yunxiao almost laughed.
At least the man adapted quickly.
Afterward, Zan Yunxiao casually asked:
“Where are the others?”
Jin Zhou replied respectfully:
“They’re probably in the courtyard.”
With that, the two left the meeting hall together as though nothing unusual had happened.
However, compared to earlier.
Jin Zhou’s attitude had clearly become far more respectful now that he knew the truth.
The following days passed peacefully within the Jin Residence.
Meanwhile, preparations for the wedding became increasingly lively.
Inside one of the inner courtyards, Xueyun and Jin Feixue spent most of their time together discussing wedding matters.
“This one looks beautiful.”
“No, this color suits you more.”
“What about Husband? Which style would he prefer?”
The two women continuously chatted while examining expensive wedding dresses and accessories brought by countless servants.
Sometimes even the servants became stunned seeing how close the future wives of Zan Yunxiao had become.
Meanwhile.
Little Zan Wei had completely disappeared into the capital streets once again.
Every day, he enthusiastically ran around various markets, shops, and merchant districts while somehow continuously earning money through strange methods no one fully understood.
Occasionally, he even returned proudly carrying bags of profit while talking about “business opportunities.”
At this point, even the Jin Family servants began calling him “Little Merchant Master.”
As for Zan Yunxiao himself.
He became the most relaxed person inside the entire residence.
While everyone busied themselves preparing for the wedding, he simply sat peacefully beneath the courtyard pavilion each day while drinking tea leisurely.
Or rather.
Sea tea.
A rare tea gifted by the Jin Family imported from distant coastal regions.
The flavor was refreshing and calming.
At this moment, Zan Yunxiao lazily leaned against his chair while quietly sipping tea beneath the afternoon sunlight.
The warm breeze flowed gently through the courtyard while distant laughter from Xueyun and Jin Feixue occasionally echoed nearby.
For a moment.
Everything felt unbelievably peaceful.
No cultivation battles.
No dangerous enemies.
No life-and-death struggles.
Only family, warmth, and tranquility.
Zan Yunxiao slowly closed his eyes while enjoying the atmosphere.
Then inwardly sighed.
“…This really is the ideal life.”
Yet unfortunately for him.
The system clearly seemed determined to ensure his peaceful life never remained completely peaceful for too long.