Chapter Eleven: The Second Comeback Mission

At thirty-one, having made some progress, you once again hear news of Lin Xueru, and you can’t help but recall the day the engagement was called off. Surprisingly, you feel calm, not resentful as you might have expected.

That day, Lin Xueru appeared clad in white, purer than snow, as if a celestial exile had descended from Mount Tai Xu. She had intended to honor the engagement with you but was ordered by Duke Xing to break it off. Since then, she returned to her sect with no further news.

You are tasked to renew the engagement with Lin Xueru to settle past grievances!
Reward: Minor accomplishment in swordsmanship.

Note: Lin Xueru is now an elder of the Tai Xu Dao Sect, ranked third among the Ten Immortal Maidens of the Dao Sect, and is a fourth-grade spirit realm cultivator. You have two years to complete this task. Failure or delay will result in a lonely old age!

...

After reading the mission prompt, Chen Yi was momentarily speechless. The system really pegged him as a disheveled middle-aged man in his thirties. But what was up with that last line? Why all those exclamations after "lonely old age"?

He reread the crossed-out words and finally understood.

“If I didn’t go through it, of course I’d be calm!”

After some grumbling, Chen Yi stared thoughtfully at the panel. It turned out that in that tragic life path, Lin Xueru of the Duke Xing family ended their engagement.

Duke Xing... Chen Yi recalled seeing this duke, a pale-faced, beardless scholar-like man, standing beside Emperor Wei when Chen Taiping led his army north. Appearance-wise, decent; judgment-wise, not so much.

“The key is Lin Xueru—elder of Tai Xu Dao Sect, a fourth-grade grand cultivator, and the third among the Ten Immortal Maidens,” Chen Yi said without hesitation, deciding to complete the task as soon as possible.

Setting aside his fiancée’s background and future achievements, the reward of a minor accomplishment in swordsmanship alone was irresistible. Moreover, the life warning of ending up lonely pushed him further.

“This is definitely a worthwhile move!” Chen Yi had seen the current depictions of the Ten Immortal Maidens—each a peerless beauty. Surely, Lin Xueru wouldn’t be any less enchanting grown up.

Glancing at Chen Yuan, who was shaking his head beside him, Chen Yi spoke, “Big brother, I’ve thought carefully about your question earlier.”

Chen Yuan looked puzzled. “What question?”

“The engagement…”

“No way, no way, I’m not marrying some ancestral ghost!”

“Really not?” Chen Yi smiled innocently. “I haven’t even told you the benefits of an engagement.”

“Benefits?” Chen Yuan eyed him suspiciously. “What benefits?”

“Come, let me explain carefully.”

“The first benefit is warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Imagine how cold winter is—having a wife to warm your bed, isn’t that cozy?”

“Right, right. The mansion is far too cold.”

“The second benefit is obedience; whatever you ask, she’ll do.”

“That’s not right, second brother. Didn’t you say before she made me go east, not west?”

“That’s because you chose the wrong target. They say young women have three phases... uh, youthful infatuation. You must show manly spirit and restore order in the household...”

After much persuasion, Chen Yi patted his older brother’s shoulder. “Think it over carefully, big brother.”

“I’m going to discuss some things with mother.”

Chen Yuan nodded enthusiastically. “Second brother, you really know a lot.”

Chen Yi thought to himself, this is just the beginning—I haven’t even used one percent of my strength yet.

...

Soon, Chen Yi found Xia Wanwan.

“What? You agree to an engagement with the daughter of Duke Xing?!” Xia Wanwan asked in surprise.

Chen Yi scratched his nose and earnestly said, “Mother, I’ve thought it through. It’s better to fix the engagement early so no one else keeps eyeing me.”

“Besides, you brought the invitation today yourself, so you must be quite fond of the Duke’s daughter. It’s only right that I don’t stubbornly refuse.”

“But…” Xia Wanwan hesitated. She had just discussed with Zhou Wanyi that Yi’er would only consider marriage after his Foundation Establishment evaluation. Changing her mind so soon would make her look ridiculous.

After much thought, she bit her lip. “Fine, Lin Xueru of Duke Xing’s family it is. Your father is fond of her as well.”

“Father?”

Chen Yi was surprised. Wasn’t Chen Taiping far away at North Xiong Pass? How would he know about Duke Xing delivering the invitation today?

Xia Wanwan realized she had spoken too much, clearing her throat. “The engagement was actually arranged by Duke Xing through your father. That’s why I accepted the invitation.”

“So Father has already agreed?”

“Yes.”

Chen Yi was silent for a moment before warmly, humorously saying, “Mother, you should have told me directly.”

“Since it’s your father’s decision, refusing Duke Xing wouldn’t be wise.”

Had he known earlier that it was Chen Taiping, his father prone to trickery, making the decision, he wouldn’t have refused so rashly. He should have found a way to make Duke Xing back down.

But now, with the counterattack mission as reason, he had no intention to refuse and decided to follow Chen Taiping’s wishes.

“Yi’er has really grown up.”

Xia Wanwan caressed his head and smiled gently. “I’ll go talk to your eldest aunt and retract my previous decision.”

“After informing the matriarch, we will send a formal notice to Duke Xing’s residence on behalf of the Hou Mansion.”

“Okay.”

Chen Yi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this should count as completing the mission, far smoother than expected.

If the system hadn’t mistaken his age, and he had waited until thirty to be kicked out of the family before seeking out the fairy Lin Xueru… well, he’d probably have been driven out of Tai Xu Dao Sect for sure!

...

The next day.

Upon learning that the Wu’an Marquis Mansion had accepted the invitation, everyone at Duke Xing’s residence was pleased.

That very day, Duke Xing’s wife, Lin Xiao, came to visit with their daughter Lin Xueru, who was not yet three years old.

Chen Yi followed closely beside Xia Wanwan, studying the girl.

She was indeed as described in the invitation—an exquisitely delicate beauty, somewhat adorable.

Lin Xueru timidly hid behind Mrs. Lin, occasionally peeking out at him with a curious yet confused expression, as if unsure what was happening.

Soon, Mrs. Lin, Xia Wanwan, and Zhou Wanyi, who came as a spectator, sat together to discuss matters, sending the two children outside.

The two little ones stared at each other wide-eyed.

Lin Xueru looked hesitant, wanting to watch but afraid, while Chen Yi was much bolder and more straightforward.

“You—I’ve seen you before, Chen Yi,” Lin Xueru finally mustered courage to say.

“When did you see me?” Chen Yi raised an eyebrow.

He had only left the mansion twice: once during the Lantern Festival, and once when Chen Taiping went north. Probably the latter, atop the Guangyuan Gate tower.

“That day at Guangyuan Gate, you were being held by the emperor…”

“And then?”

“And then I…”

Lin Xueru froze, stumbling over her words, her chubby little face flushed red, her small hands nervously clutching her clothes.

Chen Yi chuckled softly, finding this “future wife” quite endearing, and quickly changed the subject.

With his worldly experience and what he had learned in this life, it took only minutes to make the little girl giggle uncontrollably.

She even switched from calling him “Chen Yi” to “Brother Yi.”

“Yi’er and Xueru get along very well.”

Not far away, Mrs. Lin, Xia Wanwan, and Zhou Wanyi watched the two children, their childish voices bringing smiles to their faces.

“When they grow up, we will be old.”

“Yes…”