Chapter 37: You Are Not Worthy of Her

Wang Shi, the head of the Wang family, wore a look of utter dejection. Their family’s youths had been the weakest among those participating in the trial, and having been decimated by the beast tide, only two had managed to survive. From this day forward, the future of the Wang family in Qingfeng Town looked bleak indeed.

"The representatives of the Ten Great Sects have arrived!"

Following this announcement, ten figures, led by Tian Yuan of the Fengyun Sect, stepped onto the grand plaza. The crowd parted naturally, clearing a wide path toward the high platform. Everyone knew that the Tianfeng Mountain Youth Trial, held every five years, was coming to an end, and these ten representatives would soon announce the results.

Huang Bo stood among the crowd, a faint smile playing on his handsome face. He basked in the admiring gazes and worshipful whispers of the people, feeling as though he were floating on air. Over the past ten days, numerous factions from Qingfeng Town had visited the Huang family, hoping to forge alliances. For a time, the Huang family seemed poised to surpass the other three major families and become the undisputed leader of Qingfeng Town.

Huang Bo knew perfectly well that he was the reason for all of this. By taking first place in the trial, he had brought supreme glory to his family. He was now, without question, the greatest talent of the younger generation in Qingfeng Town. No one dared to challenge him any longer.

As he swept his proud gaze over the crowd, his eyes narrowed. He noticed a young girl in white standing at the edge of the plaza, her beautiful eyes filled with a sorrow so deep it seemed impossible to melt, staring fixedly at the exit of Tianfeng Mountain. The silent girl and the boisterous plaza were two extremes, as if they existed in different worlds.

"Ten days have passed, and the Young Master still hasn't returned!" the girl whispered to herself, her dark eyes shimmering as she clutched her small hands together. "Young Master, if you do not return soon, I will enter Tianfeng Mountain myself. Even if I have to scour every corner, I will find you!"

Her eyes burned with determination. She knew that with her meager strength, entering the mountain was a death sentence, but for her Young Master, what did her life matter?

"Brother Bo, that girl is Qin Lang’s maid from the Qin family. She has been standing there for ten days, watching the exit every single day, waiting for him. Don't you think she's a fool? Qin Lang hasn't returned; he must have died in the mountains," a sharp-witted youth from the Huang family whispered to Huang Bo.

"Loyal maids like her are rare these days. I like her," Huang Bo remarked with a look of appreciation. He suddenly strode toward the high platform, stopped before Qin Zhanshan, and cupped his hands in a salute. "Patriarch Qin, I have a request!"

Seeing Huang Bo ascend the platform, all eyes in the plaza turned toward him. Qin Zhanshan was surprised; with Huang Bo currently at the peak of his prestige, what could he possibly want?

"Speak your mind," Qin Zhanshan said with a smile.

"I wish to take your maid, Yun'er, as my concubine. I hope you will grant this request, Patriarch."

Huang Bo was full of confidence. As the undisputed top talent of the younger generation, he was of high status; for a maid to be his concubine was a climb up the social ladder for her. The Patriarch would surely agree. Marrying him was her great honor.

His words caused a stir throughout the plaza. Many were curious as to what kind of beauty could make a prodigy like Huang Bo actively pursue her. When they saw the elegant girl in white at the edge of the plaza, they understood. Such a refined and ethereal beauty would surely grow up to be a peerless woman. It was no wonder Huang Bo was interested.

Huang Guang, seeing his son’s choice, initially felt annoyed, but upon seeing Yun'er's appearance, he nodded slowly. She was beautiful enough to be his son’s concubine.

"The youth of today are truly bold in their loves and hates!" the representatives of the Ten Great Sects chuckled in approval.

Qin Zhanshan, seeing an opportunity to curry favor with the Huang family by sacrificing a mere maid, was about to agree when a firm voice rang out from the edge of the square: "I will not marry him!"

The confidence on Huang Bo’s face froze. He had not expected to be rejected so bluntly in front of everyone. Yun'er, her heart heavy with concern for Qin Lang, had no interest in marriage. Besides, in her eyes, even if Huang Bo had a handsome face, he could not compare to her Young Master in the slightest.

The crowd erupted into an uproar. "A mere maid, daring to refuse a proposal from a great family!" "She is throwing away a chance to soar like a phoenix!" "What is she acting so high and mighty for? Is Young Master Huang not good enough for her?"

"Hmph! Being able to marry my son is the blessing of eight lifetimes, don't be ungrateful!" Huang Guang said with a dark, displeased expression.

"Yun'er, for Huang Bo to lower himself to propose is a sign of his affection. Do not waste his true feelings," Qin Zhanshan urged, fearing the fallout of offending the Huang family.

"I am the Young Patriarch of the Huang family, the future head of the household!" Huang Bo glared at her, his voice filled with arrogance. "I am the first among the youth of Qingfeng Town, second to none! I earned 399 points in the trial and will enter the Fengyun Sect. My future is limitless! Am I not good enough for you?"

Yun'er frowned, about to explain, when a familiar voice cut through the air: "You are indeed not good enough."

Qin Lang, accompanied by Qin Yue and Qin Jian, walked from the mountain exit and stepped onto the plaza. He looked directly at Huang Bo on the high platform. "You are indeed not good enough for Yun'er."

"Hahaha!" "Absurd!" "What did I just hear? He actually said Huang Bo isn't good enough for a mere maid!"

The crowd was stunned before bursting into mocking laughter. Huang Bo was the Young Patriarch of the Huang family; how could he not be good enough for a maid?

"Qin Lang!" Huang Bo looked at him with annoyance. "You say I'm not good enough for your maid? Doesn't that mean you are even further beneath me? What is your intent in belittling me?"

Huang Bo was furious. He felt insulted that Qin Lang would use a maid to disparage his own status. *To think such a person survived the beast tide—is Heaven blind?*