The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Chen Dong didn't know he still hadn't escaped the fate arranged for him.

Wang Yang carefully supported him as he walked. He nearly tripped twice just crossing two door sills.

He had clearly seen the sills, yet he still tripped over them. If Wang Yang hadn't been holding him up, he would have taken a nasty fall.

'This must be what it's like to have no luck!'

Chen Dong was helped into a side room. He then told Wang Yang to get him a change of clothes, as the groom's outfit he was wearing felt incredibly awkward.

After sending Wang Yang away, Chen Dong collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

He slept all the way until the next day.

When Chen Dong awoke, his body felt much better. Although he was still in some pain, he could move about freely.

The first thing he did was try to cultivate. The moment he began circulating energy, excruciating pain shot through his meridians and his Dantian.

He stopped immediately.

'It seems this body still needs some time to recuperate. It was severely injured from being constantly pulled and stretched while passing through the Realm Passage. For someone like me with no cultivation, it's a miracle I even survived.'

'Since I can't cultivate, I might as well go have a look around.'

He changed into the new clothes Wang Yang had brought him: a cloud-white, front-fastening long robe. Surprisingly, it fit him perfectly.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pricked his chest, like being stuck by a needle.

Chen Dong narrowed his eyes and looked down. There really was a sewing needle stuck in the robe. Its tip was positioned right over his Jianli Acupoint and had already pierced the skin slightly. If it had gone any deeper, it would have damaged the acupoint. Given his current physical condition, it was entirely possible he could have died on the spot.

The Jianli Acupoint is one of the body's vital points. The classic 'Black Tiger Snatches the Heart' technique targets this very spot.

Chen Dong frowned and pulled out the needle. There was no one else in the room, and no master assassin was trying to harm him. 'It must have been left in by accident when the robe was being sewn,' he figured.

Chen Dong couldn't help but sigh at his terrible luck. Even just putting on clothes got him stabbed by a needle.

When he stepped out of his room, Wang Yang was waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing Chen Dong, he smiled. "Young Master-in-law, you're awake?"

Chen Dong's brow furrowed even more deeply. "Young Master-in-law? Are you talking to me?"

Wang Yang chuckled. "Of course! There's no one else here."

Chen Dong said quickly, "Isn't your young lady mostly recovered? She has plenty of time and options to find a husband. Why are you still calling me Young Master-in-law?"

Wang Yang shook his head. "It's what the Master ordered. I don't know the details."

Chen Dong said coldly, "Take me to see your Master."

Wang Yang just smiled and began to lead the way.

Only then did Chen Dong realize just how large the Prince's Mansion was. After leaving the small courtyard, they walked for several more minutes before arriving at a main hall.

As soon as Master Wang saw Chen Dong, he rose with a smile to greet him. "My dear son-in-law, is there something you need?"

Chen Dong spoke bluntly. "Master Wang, there's no need to call me son-in-law. I will cure your daughter. She can then pursue someone she truly loves, and you can find a more suitable husband for her."

Master Wang's smile didn't waver, but a hint of coldness crept into it.

"What? Do you find my Xian'Er beneath you?"

Chen Dong shook his head. "I already have a family. It would be inappropriate for me to marry your daughter."

"That's no problem. Just divorce her!"

Chen Dong could see what was happening—they were going to force the marriage on him. As he was trying to think of a strategy, Master Wang spoke again. "You're not from the Qixia Sect's domain, are you? You're penniless, your clothes are rags, and you were so heavily injured you nearly died on the main road. My guess is you're a fugitive. If you really have a wife, you've likely been torn from your family already. Why not settle down here in Drunken Immortal City and become my Wang Family's live-in son-in-law!"

'Torn from my family, my ass!' Chen Dong wanted to curse, but he knew this was no time to be defiant. Without his cultivation, he couldn't even defeat Wang Yang, let alone this Master Wang, who was equivalent to the Outer Appearance Realm.

When Master Wang had transferred True Qi into him, he had sensed its strength. While different from the True Qi of his own world, its quality was no different than that of the Outer Appearance.

Chen Dong said tentatively, "Master Wang, why force the issue? My heart already belongs to another. I am truly not a good match for your daughter."

Master Wang's expression turned cold. In a tone that brooked no refusal, he said, "Feelings can be cultivated over time. Spend some time with Xian'Er, and you'll grow to love her. This marriage is settled. Say no more about it. If you insist on refusing, then the Wang Family will no longer treat you as a guest!"

The threat was blatant. The consequences of another refusal needed no explanation.

Chen Dong was never an inflexible person, and he wasn't one to look for trouble. Whether he wanted to escape the Wang Family or recover his cultivation, he needed a great deal of freedom, not to be imprisoned.

So, he forced a sheepish smile and said, "As Father-in-law says."

Hearing this, Master Wang slapped his round belly and roared with laughter. "Hahaha, good! It's for the best that my son-in-law has seen the light! I can see you have no cultivation, and you're not one to pursue the path to immortality. Just be good to Xian'Er, and one day, the entire Wang Family fortune will be in your hands!"

Chen Dong's eyebrow twitched. 'A classic case of stick and carrot.' And he had absolutely no desire to take the bait.

He then said, "Father-in-law, I'd like to visit the apothecaries in the city to look for some medicinal herbs for Lady Xian'Er."

Master Wang nodded. "Go ahead. You could just tell me what herbs you need, but it's fine if you want to have a look around. If you want to buy anything, just have Wang Yang pay for it. But before you go, I have a few words of advice. Here in Drunken Immortal City, while the Wang Family might not be omnipotent, we're not far from it. You don't need to be afraid of running into any trouble."

Chen Dong understood. He was being warned not to even think about escaping.