This novel has been finished on Patreon! Thank you to all my Patrons for the support over this and the other novels <3
------------------------------------------------------
Ye Wen had originally planned to go out on business while taking a leisurely stroll and perhaps slacking off a bit. However, he unexpectedly encountered Qian Renxue, the big boss of the later stages, who completely upended his future plans. This left him utterly frustrated and disheartened.
But the die had been cast, and all the cooperation agreements were already in place. If the other party weren't Qian Renxue, she would indeed be an angel investor—offering minimal demands, providing abundant support, and imposing no special conditions.
In the end, Ye Wen could only return to Nuoding City with his newfound wealth, his spirit weary from the ordeal.
With Qian Renxue's involvement, Ye Wen's once arduous entrepreneurial journey suddenly became incredibly smooth. This left him feeling unfulfilled, and now he simply wanted to slack off and focus on cultivation in Nuoding City.
However, since Qian Renxue was involved, Ye Wen couldn't remain indifferent. He wrote a detailed letter about this business trip and sent it back to Huo Rui via one of his subordinates.
Huo Rui soon replied, essentially telling Ye Wen not to worry and to accept the benefits graciously. Xue Qinghe was using his project to boost her reputation, and if anything went wrong, Huo Rui would take responsibility.
Ye Wen naturally understood this point, but Qian Renxue's true identity posed a ticking time bomb. Once exposed, those corrupt nobles of the Heavenly Battle Empire wouldn't care whether he was innocent or not—they'd only think about how to divide the spoils of his pharmacy.
"Grandma Huo is truly kind, but the better you treat me, the more I can't put you in danger," Ye Wen muttered to himself.
Having secrets he couldn't share was undoubtedly painful, but Ye Wen bore it willingly. Knowing what tragedies lay ahead and being able to prevent them was the best outcome for him.
Time passed day by day. With Qian Renxue's backing, the scale of medicinal herb cultivation under Ye Wen's control began to expand gradually, and his reputation within the Heavenly Battle Empire also grew.
But while Ye Wen diligently focused on cultivation, trouble inevitably found its way to him.
With a sigh, Ye Wen opened his eyes and glanced at Xiao Wu, who was fawning over him, and Huo Yu'er, who remained silent and seemingly indifferent nearby.
Hmm…
So does love fade? Another girl is getting close to me, and you, as my legitimate fiancée, shouldn't act so nonchalant, right? Ye Wen inwardly raged.
Huo Yu'er quickly noticed Ye Wen's gaze and affectionately leaned against his shoulder.
A pleasant fragrance instantly filled Ye Wen's nostrils. Then, Huo Yu'er whispered softly into his ear in a voice so tender it made his whole body tingle:
"Let me tell you something, Wen. I've thought about it for a long time. We're definitely going to start a family in the future, but if I have children alone, the family's growth will be too slow. So I think Xiao Wu is perfect—I've brought her here to be your second wife. Isn't that thoughtful of me?
And Xiao Wu and I have discussed it carefully; she thinks it's a great idea too. So the three of us should get along well from now on."
Just moments ago, Ye Wen had felt comfortable, but now his entire body stiffened, leaving him speechless for a long while.
The idea of a wife actively arranging a concubine for her husband was every man's dream.
If Ye Wen were a simple lecher, he would have immediately burst into a song of gratitude.
Xiao Wu was pure, innocent, and humble—not yet arrogant as in the original story—and her tragic orphan background, coupled with her exceptional talent, made her an excellent candidate.
But the problem was, why did it have to be Xiao Wu?! Didn't you notice the protagonist is right here in this room? Are you trying to provoke fate itself?
As Ye Wen instinctively glanced at Tang San, Tang San opened his pitch-black eyes and stared coldly in their direction.
Wuhu! Though Tang San said nothing, Ye Wen clearly saw in his eyes the unmistakable message: You've signed your death warrant.
Ye Wen was utterly stunned. What was happening to him lately? First, he ran into Qian Renxue, and now he was stealing the male lead's woman—was the universe conspiring to torment this lowly time traveler?
Just as Ye Wen considered playing the "pure-hearted" card to salvage the situation, Xiao Wu suddenly embraced him tightly, her face flushed with shyness.
"Ye Wen, I like you. Let's be together from now on."
Xiao Wu's embrace wasn't just a casual arm-hold—it was a full-body press, as if she were trying to meld herself into Ye Wen. The move was incredibly suggestive.
This dramatic scene instantly drew the attention of everyone in the dormitory, turning them into eager spectators.
Ye Wen's expression darkened. Even if he rejected her now, knowing Tang San's personality, the label of "white moonlight" would remain firmly pinned on him, ensuring his demise.
If Xiao Wu were just an ordinary talented girl, Ye Wen might have accepted the situation without hesitation. But Xiao Wu was a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast in human form!
Tang Hao might even be secretly watching him right now. Taking away someone's future daughter-in-law, spirit ring, and spirit bone was an unforgivable mortal sin.
Dying himself wasn't the issue—if it endangered Huo Yu'er and her family, Ye Wen knew he'd bear an unfathomable guilt.
What to do, what to do…
Ye Wen's mind was a chaotic mess, unable to find a solution.
Meanwhile, the other work-study students in the dormitory, though envious of Ye Wen's good fortune, offered their blessings.
There was no helping it—his first wife was the leader of the work-study students, and his second wife was the second-in-command. Even if Ye Wen's talent was mediocre, they could only grovel before him.
As the intimate scene unfolded, Tang San's gaze turned especially gloomy, radiating a chilling aura. However, amidst the lively atmosphere, no one noticed.
Except for Tang Hao, who was secretly observing.
Though Tang Hao knew his son wasn't as dashing as he had been in his youth, losing a woman to a fellow villager-turned-mud-slinger was unacceptable.
But Tang Hao also understood that matters of the heart couldn't be forced, especially with soul beasts, who were exceptionally pure-hearted. Once they set their sights on someone, they never wavered.
Looking at Xiao Wu's sultry, affectionate gaze, Tang Hao realized she would never become his daughter-in-law or his son's spirit ring.
Tang Hao's eyes narrowed, and he muttered grimly, "It seems this little girl must die. I'll find an opportunity to kill her and claim her spirit bone. Though it's not the ideal power-type spirit bone for our Hao Tian lineage, a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone can bridge any gap."
Accustomed to brute force solving all problems, Tang Hao never considered using illusions to deceive Xiao Wu into sacrificing herself. His sole goal now was to kill Xiao Wu and obtain her spirit bone.
Though Tang Hao's murderous intent was faint, Huo Yu'er—who was still engaging in flirtation with Ye Wen—sharply detected it. On the surface, she remained calm, but internally, she quietly tapped into the deepest reserves of power hidden within her body.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.