In the private room of the restaurant, Sylas Ren looked at the two people who were ignoring him and finally couldn't help but speak, "Quentin Hua, are you really not going? If you don't go now, it'll be too late."
Quentin Hua took a sip of tea, reached out to wipe the oil from Roxy Shangguan's mouth, and lazily replied, "Sylas Ren, are you just bored out of your mind?"
Sylas Ren curled his lips, "Fine, say I'm bored. But they're your family!"
Quentin Hua turned to look at him, his gaze instantly sharp, but his tone remained unhurried. "I have no family!"
Roxy Shangguan lowered her eyes, her pupils swirling with mischief. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed a duck leg, turned around, wrapped one arm around Quentin Hua's neck, and took a bite of the duck leg. Chewing, she mumbled, "Quentin, I don't want to see flowers anymore. Can we go to Sunflower Town instead?"
Quentin Hua frowned. Roxy Shangguan looked at him pitifully, swallowed her mouthful of duck, and muttered, "I really want to go..."
Quentin Hua sighed, "Alright, we'll go then!"
Smack! Roxy Shangguan planted a big kiss on his cheek and smiled with squinting eyes, "Quentin, you're the best!"
Quentin Hua wiped the grease off his face, half laughing and half crying, and carried her out. Sylas Ren blinked in disbelief. They're really going? He'd said so much, and it was ignored, but the little devil just acted cute and they went? Truly, when romance is involved, friendship is forgotten!
The carriage swayed along the road toward Sunflower Town, with Sylas Ren resigned to playing the coachman. At this rate, by the time they arrived, it would already be late!
He didn't really want to meddle anyway. Judging by Quentin Hua's attitude, he clearly harbored deep resentment toward that family! So why bother with their fate? Still, after thinking it over with his clever mind, he figured arriving early would be best—there was sure to be a good show.
Truth be told, he never liked that family either, all of them with their noses in the air. He even suspected Quentin Hua might have been adopted!
But if he could see those arrogant people lower their proud heads and beg Quentin Hua for help, that would be truly satisfying! Thinking of this, a wicked grin crept onto his face. He snapped the whip and sped up toward Sunflower Town.
Inside the carriage, the sudden burst of speed sent Roxy Shangguan crashing into Quentin Hua's arms. Teary-eyed, she rubbed her sore little nose and shouted, "Sylas Ren, I'm going to skin you alive!"
Sylas Ren shuddered, then whipped the reins even harder, as if fleeing for his life. He seemed to forget that Roxy Shangguan was right behind him in the carriage—no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't escape!
The Hua Family was famous throughout Sunflower Town as wealthy merchants. The family had a beautiful young lady who had reached marriageable age, but none of the local men caught her eye. She disliked scholars and poets, preferring wandering heroes and martial artists. Since childhood, she loved wielding swords and practicing martial arts, and her skills were quite respectable.
As she was about to become an old maid, the Hua Family held a martial arts contest to find her a husband. Invitations were sent far and wide, but few real martial artists showed up. Why? Though the Hua Family was the richest in Sunflower Town, they were nothing to the truly powerful, so most of the martial artists who came weren't very famous.
Still, none of the contestants pleased the Hua Family's young lady. Her ideal prince was nothing like these crooked-looking men. No matter—if she didn't marry, so be it. If the Hua Family didn't want it, no one could force her. Money could solve most problems, and if it couldn't, they could just hire experts to drive people away.
But this time, they provoked someone truly dangerous: Raymond Lei, the master of Iron Sand Hall. Raymond Lei was about to turn sixty, so naturally, the Hua Family's young lady didn't want to marry him. But Raymond Lei won the contest, and no one could beat him. When the Hua Family tried to back out, Raymond Lei threatened to slaughter the entire family if they went back on their word.
Although Iron Sand Hall had lost many men during a treasure hunt, they narrowly escaped destruction and remained a notorious sect. The Hua Family simply couldn't afford to cross them.
Raymond Lei had his eye on exactly that—he wanted to forcefully take Wendy Hua as his own and seize the Hua Family's fortune. Others might not care about their wealth, but he did. Iron Sand Hall was in desperate need of money!
Now, things were a mess. Money couldn't solve the problem, and hiring help... well, true experts couldn't be hired, and those they could hire were no match for Raymond Lei.
Just as the Hua Family was at their wits' end, they discovered that the legendary master of the Lotus Sect was actually the former young master of the Hua Family. He might not have mingled much with martial artists, but everyone had heard of the Lotus Sect Master. Among the evil factions, aside from the Ghost Guild and Cloud Sect, the Lotus Sect was the most formidable. With the Lotus Sect's help, why fear Iron Sand Hall?
The carriage stopped right at the Hua Family's gate. Sylas Ren had been sent ahead to deliver a message. The gatekeeper recognized him and hurried inside to report.
Soon enough, Charles Hua came out with his wife Autumn Du, their daughter Wendy Hua, and their visiting niece Joyce Du.
It wasn't that Joyce Du nobly chose to stay and share the Hua Family's troubles. In reality, the entire estate had been secretly surrounded by Iron Sand Hall—no one was allowed to leave. Even if she wanted to go, she couldn't.
Charles Hua was about to speak, but Sylas Ren raised a hand to stop him. Charles Hua frowned and could only stay silent at the door, glancing at the carriage from time to time. Had they really managed to invite him? It seemed so, but why was there no movement inside the carriage?
After a long while, there was finally some movement inside the carriage. A magnetic, pleasant voice rang out, "Awake?"
Hearing that voice, Joyce Du's heart skipped a beat. Was the person inside her cousin? She had no idea what he looked like, but his voice was certainly captivating.
Wendy Hua, on the other hand, looked impatient and dismissive. He was just a bastard, after all. If they didn't need his help, what right did he have to step into the Hua Family's house?
Turning to Sylas Ren, Wendy Hua put on a gentle smile and shyly called out, "Brother Sylas..."