TRWSB – Chapter 135 A Return Full of Surprises

As soon as Qi Shaorong stepped into the private room, he was greeted with an exuberant hug from Bi Liuyun.

“Master, you’re finally back!” Bi Liuyun exclaimed, embracing him tightly.

“Liuyun, don’t get so emotional. This behavior doesn’t suit your usual elegant and noble image,” Qi Shaorong teased, glancing around to ensure the Fourth Prince hadn’t returned yet.

“Master, I’ve missed you so much!” Bi Liuyun said affectionately, nuzzling closer.

“I never expected you to miss me this much,” Qi Shaorong replied, touched.

“Yes! I was so worried. I kept imagining that if something happened to you, the entire workload of the Qingcheng Cosmetics Store would fall on me. I’d overwork myself to death at such a young age! Just the thought kept me awake all night,” Bi Liuyun said with mock grievance.

Qi Shaorong was speechless. “So, you were only worried about yourself overworking?”

Taking a deep breath, Qi Shaorong reassured him, “Relax, Liuyun. You’re destined for a long life, no doubt about it.”

“I know, but if you stayed away any longer, I might’ve aged prematurely from exhaustion. That’s even worse than dying,” Bi Liuyun lamented dramatically.

Qi Shaorong sighed, at a loss for words.

Zhuang Hao pulled Bi Liuyun aside with a frown. “Don’t get carried away. No more hugging.”

Bi Liuyun smiled cheekily. “Zhuang Hao, you’re back too?”

“Of course,” Zhuang Hao replied tersely.

Bi Liuyun turned to Yi Fan with a teasing grin. “You seem unhappy. What’s wrong?”

Yi Fan hesitated. “Tingxuan… he’s still in the Li Kingdom.”

Bi Liuyun smiled knowingly. “He’s on his way back.”

Yi Fan’s eyes widened. “Really? How do you know?”

“He contacted me while you were out in the jungle. He couldn’t reach you, so he informed me,” Bi Liuyun explained.

Excitement filled Yi Fan’s expression. “Is that so? He’s really coming back!”

Bi Liuyun observed Yi Fan’s joy and thought to himself how easily this man could be satisfied. “You’d better prepare yourself—you’re about to get very busy.”

“Busy with what?” Yi Fan asked, puzzled.

“Getting married, of course,” Bi Liuyun replied matter-of-factly.

“Married?” Zhuang Hao cut in, surprised.

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Yes! There haven’t been many celebrations lately. If Yi Fan and Tingxuan get married, it’ll definitely brighten things up!”

Zhuang Hao shot Yi Fan a jealous glance. “You’re getting married already?”

Yi Fan retorted with a smirk, “It has nothing to do with you. I wasn’t planning on inviting you anyway.”

At that moment, Tang Tianying, the Fourth Prince, entered the room. “I heard someone talking about marriage. Zhuang Hao, when are you and Qi Shaorong tying the knot?”

Yi Fan snorted. “Them? That’s a long way off.”

Bi Liuyun laughed. “It’s Yi Fan and Tingxuan, not Zhuang Hao!”

Tang Tianying turned to Yi Fan. “Well, congratulations in advance, Yi Fan!”

“Thank you,” Yi Fan replied graciously.

Tang Tianying asked, “If you’re getting married, surely you’ll invite many guests?”

Yi Fan shook his head. “Tingxuan doesn’t like big events, and neither do I. If we get married, it’ll be a simple affair.”

“Well, if that’s the case, remember to invite me,” Tang Tianying said with a smile.

“It would be my honor, Your Highness,” Yi Fan replied.

Zhuang Hao frowned. “Are you sure about rushing into marriage like this? Don’t you think you should spend more time getting to know each other?”

Yi Fan shot back, “Tingxuan and I have known each other for years. We understand each other well. Unlike you, who might not have the purest intentions. Qi Shaorong should think carefully about marrying you.”

The tension between the two was palpable, but Tang Tianying quickly diffused the situation. “Come on, everyone, let’s take our seats.”

Zhuang Hao and the Others Gather Around the Table

Zhuang Hao and his companions sat around the circular table.

“Ah Hao, I heard you and Qi Si Shao were struck by the God-Sealing Ring. Does it really suppress magic and combat energy? Were your abilities actually restricted? During that time, did you encounter any trouble?” Tang Tianying asked with concern.

Zhuang Hao’s hand, which was holding his chopsticks, trembled slightly. Bracing himself, he replied, “No major troubles, everything was fine.”

“Really? It seems your luck wasn’t too bad,” Tang Tianying remarked.

Zhuang Hao forced a laugh and nodded. “Indeed.”

“Yi Shao, did you know that while you were away, Yi Xun added a younger brother and sister for you?”

Yi Fan dismissed the comment. “Yi Xun doesn’t count as my father, so they don’t count as my siblings.”

Lowering his head, Yi Fan thought to himself, Yi Xun truly is heartless. After Yi Huo and Yi Bing fell from favor, he abandoned them completely.

Rumor had it that Yi Bing had recently developed a gambling addiction, racking up massive debts and even getting one of his legs broken. Yi Bing, once so proud and arrogant, had now fallen to such a miserable state.

“Tang Tianying, I’ve heard that Mu Tingxuan comes from the Li Kingdom and has a very powerful father,” Tang Tianying said.

Yi Fan nodded. “That’s correct.”

“If you marry Mu Tingxuan, you’ll gain a formidable father-in-law. Although you’re strong, Yi Shao, it seems your father-in-law might be even stronger,” Tang Tianying teased.

Tang Tianying glanced at Qi Shaorong, secretly assessing. A level-nine powerhouse was rare in Yuan Kingdom. With Qi Shaorong already surrounded by talent and engaged to Zhuang Hao, the potential addition of another level-nine expert would make their influence truly daunting.

Qi Shaorong smiled faintly. “Well, that’s not certain yet. Tingxuan’s relationship with his father isn’t great. Whether he acknowledges him or not remains uncertain. If Tingxuan doesn’t recognize him, Yi Fan won’t have to worry.”

Tang Tianying was silent, reflecting on the strained familial relationships. Qi Shaorong had a fallout with his family, Yi Fan was estranged from his, and Mu Tingxuan’s family was nearly destroyed because of him.

“By the way, Fourth Prince, how is His Majesty?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Tang Tianying smiled knowingly. “He’s doing well. He was quite upset before, but now he’s calmed down.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “It’s a relief to hear that His Majesty has come around.”

The Qi Family

“Second Brother, Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao have returned safely,” Qi Shaofu said.

“As expected. With Zhuang Hao’s capabilities, it’s not surprising he turned misfortune into fortune,” Qi Shaokang replied.

Qi Shaofu sighed. Qi Shaorong’s talents were truly extraordinary, and now he had also established connections with the Commerce Alliance.

Although His Majesty had his grievances with the Fourth Brother, he still had to give him some face. If the Fourth Brother’s relationship with the family hadn’t soured so much, the Qi Family could’ve used this opportunity to ally with the Commerce Alliance. Unfortunately, no such benefit came their way.

“The elders in the family seem to be planning to mend ties with the Fourth Brother, but…”

“The Fourth Brother seems to value the people around him more than the family,” Qi Shaofu said with a bitter smile.

Qi Shaokang nodded. “Indeed. While we, his blood relatives, mean little to him, he would go through fire and water for those by his side.”

Qi Shaorong’s Estate

“Tingxuan, you’re back earlier than I expected,” Qi Shaorong said lazily from his rocking chair.

“Master, you went through so much trouble for me. If it weren’t for me, your past month wouldn’t have been so difficult,” Mu Tingxuan said guiltily.

“It wasn’t that difficult, actually. It was rather interesting. Tingxuan, don’t take everything upon yourself. Even without you, I still would’ve treated Feng Yuan, and everything else would’ve happened anyway,” Qi Shaorong replied casually.

Clenching his fists, Mu Tingxuan said, “Regardless, thank you, Master.”

Qi Shaorong tilted his head to look at him. “No need to be so formal. By the way, have you really decided to marry Yi Fan?”

Mu Tingxuan nodded. “Yes. I don’t think I’ll find anyone who cares for me as much as he does. And I don’t dislike him.”

Qi Shaorong sighed internally. He had always thought Mu Tingxuan was reserved, but now he realized Tingxuan was decisive when it came to action. Compared to Tingxuan, Yi Fan seemed more hesitant—it was Tingxuan who initiated their intimacy and even proposed marriage.

“I came today to ask for your help,” Mu Tingxuan said.

Qi Shaorong thought for a moment. “You want to restore your appearance?”

Mu Tingxuan nodded. “Yes.”

“That’s great. Although I doubt Yi Fan cares about your looks, it’s always better to restore them, isn’t it?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Mu Tingxuan pursed his lips and raised his head. “He’s done so much for me. I don’t want people to say that after being rejected by a stunning beauty, he settled for a disfigured one.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “True enough. Don’t worry, Tingxuan. With your natural looks, once you recover, you’ll undoubtedly be a peerless beauty. Yi Fan is getting quite the bargain this time.”

Mu Tingxuan smiled faintly. “Master, you flatter me.”