Chapter Thirty-One: Humiliated While Proposing Marriage

During the days when Ye Yun diligently cultivated at home, Ye Qian and Ye Xian would often come to visit. They exchanged their insights on cultivation, especially the art of alchemy. Through Ye Qian, Ye Yun learned much that he had never known before. Once his cultivation broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he planned to visit Elder Ye Min, to inform him that he had mastered the basics of alchemy and was ready to begin true alchemical training.

Perhaps because of what happened last time, Ye Qian felt guilty towards him and proactively shared her knowledge of alchemy without reservation. Ye Yun understood that Ye Qian was not inherently unkind; it was simply due to Ye Peng's overwhelming influence, against which even she was powerless to resist.

Yet in recent days, Ye Xian still visited from time to time, but Ye Qian had not appeared for quite a while.

“Brother Yun, I heard from Master that Ye Peng has already become a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The Lord of the Manor has become the matchmaker and proposed marriage to Elder Ye Min,” Ye Xian brought this news when she arrived at the Rain Pavilion today.

“Hm? Proposing marriage to Elder Ye Min? Ye Peng has set his sights on Ye Qian?” Ye Yun’s brows furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Though all members of the Ye family shared the same surname, there were many branches without blood ties; marriages between disciples of the clan were common. Ye Peng, as the disciple of the Lord of the Manor, had a significant chance of becoming the next Lord, his status prestigious and noble. Ye Qian, a genius in alchemy, would surely achieve greatness in the future. If they married, it would be a union of equals.

Time flowed like water; in the blink of an eye, this generation was leaving behind the innocence of youth. At fourteen or fifteen, it was already the age for marriage discussions. In these past months, suitors had nearly worn out the threshold of Second Uncle’s home. Ye Xian, with her beauty and talent, had attracted the admiration of countless young men.

Among his peers, Ye Yun had few friends; aside from Ye Xian, his relationship with Ye Qian was the closest. After prolonged acquaintance, faced with Ye Qian’s stunning beauty, to claim he felt nothing was a lie. Thus, upon hearing that Ye Peng was pursuing Ye Qian, a chill appeared in his eyes.

Otherwise, whom Ye Peng wished to marry or whom Ye Qian wished to wed would have nothing to do with him.

“Brother Yun, you must try your best. Don’t let that scoundrel Ye Peng succeed!” Ye Xian bit her lip as she spoke.

“Yes, I understand.” Ye Yun nodded.

The Grand Ancestor Ye Yu was always elusive, never seen unless he personally appeared, so Ye Yun had nowhere to seek him.

Helpless, Ye Yun explained the situation to his parents.

“Yun’er, you wish to marry Ye Qian?” Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun were both startled.

“Yes. She is an elder’s disciple, and I am a core disciple. We are well matched. Elder Ye Min and Ye Qian’s parents have no reason to refuse.” Ye Yun spoke with conviction.

He understood why his parents were surprised. Ultimately, Ye Qian was famous among their generation. Though both were core disciples, Ye Yun was unremarkable, neither showing his talents nor standing out.

“I heard Ye Peng has already had the Lord of the Manor propose. Ye Qian hasn’t come lately, likely because of this,” Ye Zili stood up, pacing about the hall.

“Ye Qian is a good girl, but with the Lord of the Manor personally arranging it, how can we compete?” Liu Shuyun sighed.

“Yun’er finally has someone he likes. Are we to let it slip away?” Ye Zili shook his head resolutely, looking at Ye Yun, “Have you spoken to your master about this?”

“My master hasn’t come for a long time. I don’t know where to find him.” Ye Yun replied with a bitter smile.

After a moment’s contemplation, Ye Zili said, “Prepare the betrothal gifts. I will personally go to propose!”

For the sake of his son’s happiness, Ye Zili would not shirk this responsibility.

“But Ye Qian is a cultivator. What proper betrothal gifts do we have?” Liu Shuyun asked. Though she knew the chances were slim, she still wished to try.

At this moment, Ye Yun produced a delicate brocade box, “I have already prepared the gift. You need not worry, Father, Mother.”

“What’s inside?” Both Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun were surprised.

“A genuine treasure, far more valuable than anything Ye Peng could offer.” Ye Yun smiled confidently.

Ye Zili trusted his son and nodded, making the decision, “No time to waste. Let’s go propose now!”

...

“Propose marriage? Nephew Ye Yun, which elder is your family’s master?” Ye Qian’s father, Ye Cai, asked directly as soon as they entered the living room.

“My master is not an elder,” Ye Yun replied.

When he was young, he had asked his master, and Ye Yu had told him he was not an elder, but never explained his true status within the Ye clan.

“Not an elder?” Ye Cai frowned, glancing at Ye Yun’s belt, which bore the emblem of a core disciple. “Then how are you a core disciple?”

“I study alchemy under Elder Ye Min. I am his registered disciple,” Ye Yun answered truthfully.

“Just a registered disciple, insignificant. What right do you have to propose marriage here?” said a woman beside Ye Cai, her expression sour.

From the moment Ye Yun’s family entered, this woman had shown them no kindness. She was, in fact, Ye Qian’s mother, Wang Ping.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zili’s expression changed, but for the sake of Ye Yun’s marriage, he forced himself to remain calm, “Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?”

“Meaning? Don’t you know the Lord of the Manor himself wishes to unite my daughter Qian’er and Ye Peng? Knowing the gap, you still come to propose, courting humiliation?” Wang Ping sneered.

“My Qian’er will be the Lady of the Manor. What can your Ye Yun offer her? Even a fool knows which to choose. Please leave,” Wang Ping ordered them out, giving them no respect whatsoever.

“Isn’t this too much, sister-in-law? Brother Ye Cai, do you agree?” Ye Zili, furious, could only endure and looked hopefully at Ye Cai.

While Wang Ping spoke, Ye Cai did nothing to stop her. When Ye Zili asked, he acted as if he hadn’t heard, sipping his tea calmly.

“Don’t call me sister-in-law, you’re not worthy!” Wang Ping’s words grew sharper. She glanced at the delicate brocade box on the table and sneered, “How shabby! There’s nothing precious inside, I’m sure. You want to marry my Qian’er? A toad wishing to eat swan meat!”

With a loud smack, she threw the brocade box out the door. The spirit marrow rolled out, its surface crystal-clear.

Seeing it was only a jade pearl, Wang Ping’s disdain intensified. Ye Cai glanced at it and snorted, his meaning unmistakable.

“Father, Mother, let us go,” Ye Yun said.

Seeing his parents trembling with anger, Ye Yun felt pained. If not for his request, they would not have suffered such humiliation.

If Ye Cai and Wang Ping were not Ye Qian’s parents, Ye Yun might not have restrained the murderous impulse within him.

He was no stranger to killing.

“Blind fools…” Ye Yun picked up the spirit marrow from the snow, shaking his head with a sigh.

A piece of spirit marrow whose value was immeasurable was discarded by Wang Ping as worthless. In the end, ordinary mortals could not measure up.

On the way back, Ye Zili was depressed and Liu Shuyun wore a sorrowful expression. They had come with sincere intentions, only to be insulted and have their dignity trampled—who could endure such treatment?

“Your son has failed you, Father and Mother, and made you suffer,” Ye Yun said upon returning home, kneeling to ask forgiveness.

“Don’t blame yourself, Yun’er. Neither your mother nor I expected them to behave so. After today, you should give up and forget Ye Qian,” Ye Zili stepped forward to help him up, sighing heavily.