Central Anhu Province, Skyhold Family.
The Skyhold Family is one of the most powerful and flourishing martial aristocrat clans in Sinovera, as its previous patriarch was a member of the national Titled Sequence.
Precisely because of this.
Many younger members of the Skyhold Clan are arrogant and lawless, often abusing their status to bully others. This stems from the clan's strict survival-of-the-fittest system.
"Hahaha."
"I heard you took another concubine?"
In a certain courtyard, three handsome young men were talking without restraint; all three were martial practitioners at the Martial Artist Realm.
Their faces were flushed with excitement.
They spoke boldly, as if it were perfectly natural.
"To offer them for our amusement is an ordinary person's honor. Once they enter our clan's residential district, there's no leaving—they'll remain here as concubines for life."
"I only have three concubines. I got bored with the first two—they're lifeless now, and every time I take them to bed, I have to slap them hard to make them obey... Why don't we swap concubines? They're just playthings, not real wives."
The two youths whispered to each other.
Those merchant families think offering their daughters will forge a marriage alliance—how ridiculous. The Skyhold Clan is a colossal force; in all of Anhu Province, only the Red Lake Mist Sect rivals us.
In the minds of these youths, they were born superior—acting with impunity was only natural.
However.
The two youths also expressed concern: "A few days ago, that real estate merchant spent a fortune and, through other clans, contacted me, humbly asking how his daughter was doing. What should I tell him?"
They were lawless, yet still harbored some fear.
If the elders found out... Both youths turned to the third, Ian Skyhold: "Ian, how do you handle it? I heard you already have three or four concubines."
"Played them to death, tossed them aside." Ian Skyhold's face was youthful, but his words were shocking.
The two youths were startled, secretly clicking their tongues in admiration.
Immediately after.
Ian Skyhold glanced at the courtyard gate, humming slowly: "There’s a pair of twin sisters in Huangshan City—still in high school. Just thinking about it gets me excited... The engagement is set, and I can hardly wait."
As soon as he finished speaking.
An elderly voice called from outside the door: "Fourth Young Master, the clan leader asks you all to gather in the audience hall."
Fourth Young Master is the clan leader's fourth child, Ian Skyhold, with two older brothers and one older sister above him.
"Alright."
Ian Skyhold’s excitement faded; he obediently replied, dressed in neat, capable clothing, and walked out of the courtyard with the other two youths, following the butler toward the audience hall.
Passing through pavilions and corridors, and two passageways, they reached the spacious audience hall.
"Huh?"
Ian Skyhold’s pupils contracted suddenly; he sensed something unusual about the atmosphere. The two youths beside him felt it too—young and reckless as they were, they still knew when to be cautious.
At this moment.
The audience hall was already filled; seated at the top were three or four figures—all clan leaders and elders of the Skyhold Clan, wielding deep authority and imposing presence. Each was at the Martial Lord Realm, faces carrying a hint of solemnity.
To their right stood the clan’s Martial Generals, all at least upper Martial General tier—powerful and influential, not to be underestimated.
Further down.
Were the outstanding young generation of the Skyhold Clan, all at least upper Martial Artist Realm. Only those qualified could stand here—some wore fervent expressions, others respectful, their moods starkly different from the elders’ gravity.
"What’s going on?"
Ian Skyhold frowned inwardly.
The left side of the hall was empty.
Dozens of wooden chairs sat vacant, deathly silent. A young man in a green robe stood with hands behind his back, face indifferent, his presence vast and unfathomable... Beside him, a green-robed elder with white hair and a wrinkled face smiled cheerfully—a chilling smile.
The white-haired elder was none other than the upright and honorable Miles Ning.
"Mm."
Andrew Han stood nearby, cold and aloof. Per Miles Ning’s instructions, Finch Huang was not brought along, lest she be frightened.
Yet with the presence of the Inspiration crystal-diamond, every detail within a kilometer was clear to him; he even overheard the three youths’ whispered conversation, knowing the origin and fate of the concubine. He immediately decided to stay out of it today and watch how his master reasoned things out.
Meanwhile.
Ian Skyhold also glanced at Miles Ning and Andrew Han, master and disciple, then prepared to move toward his second brother’s spot.
"Ahem, don’t be nervous."
"I, Miles Ning, am here today to reason things out." Miles Ning sighed, forcing a smile on his wrinkled face as he looked at Ian Skyhold: "You’re Ian Skyhold, I hear you’re engaged to my disciple Finch Huang?"
Huh?
What does this old man mean… Ian Skyhold narrowed his eyes.
But with his Martial Lord father and clan elders all seated at the head, what was there to worry about… Ian Skyhold couldn’t help but smile and shake his head, turning to Miles Ning: "I am Ian Skyhold. What do you want?"
As he asked, his mind raced, his youthful face subtly changing color.
Could this old man be planning to break off the engagement? Losing two playthings wouldn’t matter much—just a typical regret for a man—but if the engagement were dissolved here, his father’s dignity as clan leader would be trampled. That would be a disgrace beyond words.
If that really happened, not only his father—he, Ian Skyhold, would become a laughingstock too.
In that brief instant, Ian Skyhold didn’t speak—he was composing his words in his mind: "Sir, I know who Finch Huang is, and I’ve met her parents; the engagement was set on the spot. If you intend to break it off, please produce proof that Finch Huang’s parents agreed, otherwise we may not accept it."
"Coming here to dissolve the engagement would embarrass my father and shame me, Ian Skyhold—this is simply intolerable!"
"Sir, seeing that you’re elderly, I’ll offer you some advice: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never underestimate the young and poor…"
Of course,
These impassioned words were just Ian Skyhold’s imagination—he hadn’t actually spoken them. After all, those lines came from TV dramas; he’d have to think them over carefully before using them to rebuke someone.
Besides, the matter of taking concubines shouldn’t be brought out into the open.
And this elder seemed to possess great power.