Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 299: Chen Yun’er! A Match Made in Heaven!

Xiao Yuruo stifled a laugh. “Pfft… Are you serious?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Han Lie’s tone was deadpan.

“No… I believe you,” she said, a genuine smile gracing her lips.

She had no idea where he found the audacity to dismiss the entire Myriad Sword Pavilion so casually, but she chose to believe him. It was that very confidence radiating from him—an aura that felt truly invincible. Compared to a man riddled with self-doubt, she much preferred the Han Lie who stood before her now, brimming with unshakeable self-assurance.

“Let’s go,” Han Lie said, a challenging glint in his eye. “I’m eager to see just how difficult your father can be.”

Without further hesitation, Han Lie took her hand, and together they walked into Guqing City.

Over a year had passed since his last visit, and the reception couldn’t have been more different. The first time, with Ye Qingxuan, he had been a mere guest from a distant land. This time, on the arm of Xiao Yuruo, daughter of the Chen Family’s Sixth Branch Head, he was treated like royalty.

As they walked, Xiao Yuruo explained the situation. Han Lie was stunned to learn that this entire metropolis was managed by her family. To lesser powers, Guqing City was a coveted prize, a super-city of immense value. But to the colossal Chen Family, it was little more than a gatehouse.

Their true heartland was the Ancient Desolate Heaven.

The name sent a jolt through Han Lie’s memory. The Ancient Desolate Heaven was practically a world unto itself. He recalled his last visit; after wandering for over a week, he hadn’t even seen one percent of its entirety. This fact painted a stark picture: if managing a city like Guqing was a minor duty, then her father’s standing among the nine branch heads was likely just as modest as she’d implied.

Within the City Lord’s Mansion, they were led into a hall that was spacious, bright, and opulent without being gaudy.

A graceful, noble woman occupied the main seat. Her figure was full and elegant, her tastefully made-up face held a timeless charm, and every subtle movement radiated an air of innate authority. This was Chen Yun’er, City Lord of Guqing and a member of the Chen Family’s Sixth Branch. She was also Xiao Yuruo’s aunt.

On the antique chairs to the right, Han Lie and Xiao Yuruo took their seats.

“Yuruo, my dear, why didn’t you send word you were returning?” A perfectly manicured smile graced Chen Yun’er’s charming face. “With such a sudden arrival, your aunt hardly had time to arrange a proper welcome feast.”

“Auntie Yun, there’s no need for all that ceremony,” Xiao Yuruo replied. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“Hehe, Yuruo, you were always such a considerate and well-mannered child.” Chen Yun’er’s gaze shifted to Han Lie. “And who is this? A Senior or Junior Brother? Won’t you introduce him to your aunt?”

Before Xiao Yuruo could speak, Han Lie stepped forward and cupped his hands respectfully. “Greetings, Senior. I am not a disciple of the Myriad Sword Pavilion. My name is Han Lie. Please, feel free to call me by my name or simply as junior.”

“Auntie Yun,” Xiao Yuruo added, her voice firm, “Han Lie is the man I have chosen. I’ve brought him home to meet my father.”

“Oh!” Chen Yun’er’s eyes widened in understanding, her professional smile turning genuine. “So, he is your Dao Companion! No wonder, no wonder at all! Young friend Han Lie is handsome and carries himself with an extraordinary air, and his cultivation is clearly exceptional. The two of you… you are a perfect match, a true union blessed by the heavens! Whatever the Family Head may think, your aunt must be the first to congratulate you on finding each other.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Han Lie said.

“Thank you, Auntie Yun,” Xiao Yuruo added, beaming.

“Hehe, I won’t keep you two young lovebirds any longer,” Chen Yun’er said. “Yuruo, will you be returning to the Ancient Desolate Heaven today, or would you prefer to rest here for the night and depart tomorrow?”

Xiao Yuruo glanced at Han Lie, who gave a subtle nod. “We’ll depart immediately, Auntie Yun.”

“Very well. Follow me.”

Chen Yun’er led them to a teleportation array hidden deep within the mansion. This was the Chen Family’s private, internal array, free from the one-trip-per-day restriction placed on the public portal.

As Chen Yun’er activated the array, a disorienting flash of light later, Han Lie and Xiao Yuruo found themselves standing in a vast, open-air pavilion suspended high in the sky. All around them, guards armed with long spears stood as still and straight as statues, their gazes as sharp as honed blades.

“You weren’t brought here last time, were you?” Xiao Yuruo asked, covering her mouth to hide a playful smile as she watched Han Lie take in the new surroundings.

“No… last time was a courtyard.”

“Exactly. That courtyard is for guests. *This* is the arrival point for family.”

Xiao Yuruo explained succinctly, “It’s still a ways to my family’s estate from here. Shall we walk? It’ll give you a chance to see things.”

“Of course. Lead the way.”

He appeared relaxed on the surface, but the thought of meeting her father sent a flutter of nerves through him.

They descended a grand spiral staircase that wound down from the aerial pavilion. Xiao Yuruo pointed toward the horizon, where a sprawling complex of luxurious palaces was nestled against a mountain range and flanked by a shimmering river. “See that, Han Lie? That’s my home. The entire district has its own name, Guyuan Street… It’s named after my father.”

“Impressive,” Han Lie murmured, genuinely awed.

The massive complex of palaces stretched to the edge of sight, coiling through the landscape like a divine dragon whose tail was lost in the clouds. It was a breathtaking display of power and wealth. His gaze was drawn to one palace in particular, a magnificent tower that rose high above all the others, like the moon reigning over a sea of stars.

Once they reached the ground, they stepped onto a wide street, bustling with activity but never feeling crowded. Along the way, Han Lie tried to learn more about the Chen Family, but Xiao Yuruo’s knowledge was limited. Having left for the Myriad Sword Pavilion when she was only ten, she was a stranger to many of her own clan’s inner workings.

Noticing her slight embarrassment, Han Lie changed the subject. “Speaking of family, what’s your birth order? How many siblings do you have?”

It was a strange truth of the cultivation world: cultivators either had no children at all or they had them in droves. He only had to look at his own family for proof. His parents were mere Qi Refining Stage cultivators when they started their family, yet they’d had more than a dozen children.

He’d asked his mother, Li Susu, about his older siblings before. The story was a grim one. Some had been killed by rivals, others had perished in accidents. One brother and one sister had left to gain experience in the wider world and simply never returned; whether they were dead or alive was a mystery.

In the end, only he and Han Feng remained. As far as Han Zhentian and Li Susu were concerned, they were their only two sons. The two who had ventured out were long presumed dead, their Dao scattered to the winds.