Chapter 27: My Husband, Do Stay

Upon hearing the word "but," Su Xingyue’s heart suddenly tightened, her bright eyes fixed intently on Lin Fan as she asked anxiously, "But what?"

Lin Fan sighed, a trace of melancholy appearing on his face. "But I will be leaving the Su family."

Indeed, Su Xingyue had brought Lin Fan to the Su family initially intending to drain his primordial energy to break through her own cultivation bottleneck. Unexpectedly, it ended up aiding her breakthrough. Afterwards, she implanted a Soul Locking Technique on Lin Fan and imprisoned him. Anyone in his position would choose to leave. To not face ruthless retaliation would already be fortunate.

Now that Su Xingyue had lost absolute control over Lin Fan, she understood his importance. Without him, her path to immortality would be bleak.

With this in mind, Su Xingyue feigned weakness, biting her red lips as her eyes reddened slightly. "Could you... not leave?"

Lin Fan was about to refuse, but Su Xingyue spoke quickly before he could. "Do you understand the world of cultivation? Do you know how many experts are outside? Do you realize how dangerous it is out there? The strong prey on the weak; killing and seizing treasures is commonplace! And where exactly do you intend to go? You have nothing! Leaving the Su family now offers you no benefit at all!"

She spoke in a rapid-fire manner, a barrage of words.

Lin Fan remained silent.

He had to admit, everything Su Xingyue said was true.

"Better you stay in the Su family. You’ve already been implanted with the Soul Locking Technique by me, so you pose no threat. And you entered Foundation Establishment half a month ago but only acted now, waiting for my master to leave, right? At your current cultivation level, I doubt anyone in the Su family, including my mother, could hold you back."

Lin Fan blinked, acknowledging Su Xingyue’s sharp intellect; indeed, she was right.

Since his breakthrough into Foundation Establishment, he had held back—partly because Ji Qingwan was still around, partly because he wasn’t confident in dealing with Su Mei.

But two days ago, Ji Qingwan left the Su family, and in the past half month, Lin Fan’s cultivation had stabilized and improved significantly. Though not yet at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he was close. Even if he fought Su Mei and lost, if he wanted to leave, she likely couldn’t stop him.

"So, if you stay, no one can threaten you. I will obediently follow you, and you can freely use all the Su family’s cultivation resources," Su Xingyue proposed. "In exchange, help me break through my bottleneck."

Honestly, Lin Fan was tempted. Even if he left the Su family now, he had nowhere else to go. His knowledge of the cultivation world was almost nonexistent.

Better to survive quietly within the Su family and develop gradually.

Seeing Lin Fan’s hesitation, Su Xingyue reached behind and looped her hands around his neck.

"Husband, just stay. I’ll take good care of you," she said with a seductive tone.

"Alright, I’ll stay," Lin Fan agreed outwardly.

Inwardly, he schemed: "I’ll deceive her for a while, gather enough cultivation resources, then leave immediately. Su Xingyue is cunning; dealing with her is like bargaining with a tiger—no good will come of it."

He didn’t want to fall into this woman’s trap.

His original plan was to capture Su Xingyue, the head of the Su family, pillage their cultivation resources, then leave Linjiang City.

His agreement to Su Xingyue now was purely to facilitate acquiring the Su family’s cultivation resources.

Su Xingyue had imprisoned him in this courtyard, used his abilities to break through her own bottleneck, so it was reasonable he could take some resources from her family.

"Husband, you agreed! Wonderful..." Su Xingyue clung to his neck from behind, her cheek resting on his back like a docile wife.

"You said I can use the Su family’s cultivation resources," Lin Fan grasped her soft hand.

"Whatever you want, I’ll get it for you tomorrow. It’s late now; let’s rest."

...

The next day.

Bai Xiyue and the six others in Lin Fan’s courtyard obediently stood guard outside the main hall’s door.

Only after the sun was high in the sky did Lin Fan and Su Xingyue slowly emerge from the room.

"Ahem..." Lin Fan cleared his throat upon seeing the women standing obediently outside.

"This courtyard is now open. You may come and go as you please."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over them, and continued, "But... you must not reveal that I have Breaking Pills."

Lin Fan had helped Su Fei, Su Yun, and others break through using hand-crafted Breaking Pills.

Now that he had implanted the Soul Locking Technique on Su Xingyue, he could freely enter and leave the Su family.

But the secret that he could help others break through must not spread.

Otherwise, after just escaping Su Xingyue’s control, he might immediately attract unwanted attention.

That was not the outcome he desired.

Hearing this, the women exchanged glances, surprise flickering in their eyes before joy replaced it.

Although their cultivation had advanced rapidly with Lin Fan by their side, being confined in the courtyard had been suffocating.

Now, finally free to come and go, it was joyous news indeed.

"Young master, so in the future we’ll still..." Su Yun hesitated, eyes full of hope.

Lin Fan waved his hand, cutting her off. "Just continue living here in the courtyard as usual."

"Great! Thank you, young master!" Su Yun hurriedly saluted, her face beaming with excitement.

Being free to come and go and still live in the courtyard meant they could continue receiving Breaking Pills from Lin Fan to aid their breakthroughs.

A double blessing!

Bai Xiyue glanced at Su Xingyue, then at Lin Fan, a mixture of turmoil and unease on her face.

She knew the entire situation clearly—Lin Fan had now broken free from Su Xingyue’s control.

"Husband, if you find Xiyue troublesome, I can replace her for you..." Su Xingyue noticed Bai Xiyue’s unusual demeanor and said.

Her words clearly indicated that Bai Xiyue had been planted as a spy, but was now no longer needed.

Lin Fan waved his hand. "Let her stay by my side."

Su Xingyue nodded, saying no more.

"Come, husband, I’ll show you the Su family’s treasury. Choose any cultivation resources you want," Su Xingyue said, linking her arm with Lin Fan’s intimately.

"Let’s go!"

A glint flashed in Lin Fan’s eyes, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

...

Su Qian was a maid in Lin Fan’s courtyard.

After being confined for over three months, she was finally free.

She lightly ran along a small path.

"I wonder how Brother Chen is doing? We had agreed to be dual cultivation partners, but I ended up staying in the young master’s courtyard. Though I owe him, I can repay him with the young master’s Breaking Pills..."

As she thought this, a figure suddenly appeared ahead, blocking her way.

"Who are you?"

Standing before her was a woman in her twenties, pure-faced but with a striking figure.

If Su Xingyue were here, she would instantly recognize her—this was Ji Qingwan, who had left two days ago.

The woman had secretly returned, clearly with ulterior motives!

Ji Qingwan smiled faintly, lightly pointing a finger.

Su Qian’s body went limp, and she fainted on the spot.