Chapter 100: Father's Concession

“Foolish girl! If I’m not Chu Yun, then who else could I be? Stop crying, or people will think I’m bullying you...” Feeling her clothes nearly soaked through, Tianming gently patted the girl’s back.

Hearing this, the girl grew even more joyful, wiping her already moist eyes with her small hands and gazing at him tenderly. “Young master, promise me you won’t run away from home again!”

“Me? Run away? Girl, what’s going on? I don’t remember any of this at all...” Tianming feigned confusion, his face blank.

“Young master, what’s wrong with you today? Are you feverish? That day, you ran off in a fit of anger to avoid the marriage arranged by the Li family. Father has been looking for you all along!” The girl, anxious at Tianming’s clueless expression, spoke urgently, hoping to rouse him.

“...Is she very ugly?” After a moment’s hesitation, Tianming asked cautiously.

Yet in his heart, he already guessed part of the truth—likely, Chu Yun disliked this girl, which made him act recklessly.

“Well, well! Isn’t this the son of the Chu family? What’s he doing here sneaking around with a servant girl?”

“Hahaha...”

Just as Tianming was at a loss with the girl, a sinister, lecherous laugh echoed from outside the backyard gate.

Who were they?

Looking out, Tianming saw a group of young men dressed in patched, plain cloth, their expressions rough. He frowned in puzzlement but did not immediately move.

“...Li Er, what are you and your men doing here? This is the Chu estate, not your Li mansion. Don’t go spouting nonsense!”

Unlike Tianming’s indifference, the girl in his arms could not bear it. Her face flushed with both embarrassment and anger as she turned around and scolded the five men not far off.

“The Chu estate? Such arrogance! It’s laughable enough to make us brothers lose our teeth!”

No sooner had the words fallen than Li Er and his gang sneered loudly.

“You good-for-nothing, how could you possibly win our eldest miss’s favor? And to think you dared reject her! If we don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t know the power of the Li family.” A close-cropped youth beside Li Er growled resentfully.

“Li Shisan, go teach those two a lesson!”

Having spoken, the youth patted the broad-shouldered, large-bodied man beside him and gave a sharp command.

“Huff, huff!” Hearing this, Li Shisan, wheezing heavily, pumped his big belly and stomped toward Tianming and the girl, each step shaking the floor beneath.

“Ah, young master, it’s Li Shisan! Rumor says he’s already broken into the Foundation Establishment realm. Young master, run away first...” The girl cried out, trying to push Tianming away.

But with her frail frame, she was no match for the mountain-like Tianming.

“Girl, don’t panic! Where’s my father? And the servants in the mansion?” Tianming smiled, patting her head.

He truly didn’t want to reveal his strength so soon—for these minor characters, it would only raise suspicion.

Besides, the threat from the World God had not yet disappeared, so for his own safety, Tianming needed to stay low-key.

“Father and the others... they all went looking for you, young master. Only I stayed behind to guard the estate. If you come back suddenly, at least you can send them a message...” The girl lowered her head and whispered.

“Girl! You’ve always protected me before; this time, I’ll protect you.”

Tianming could see that the girl was only first-grade Foundation Establishment, while the others opposing them included two at the same stage and one at the Spirit Void realm. No wonder she was so frightened.

“Young master...”

Looking at Tianming standing before her, the girl’s eyes glistened with tears. She seemed to have made a decision and ran toward him.

“You brat of the Chu family, how dare you look down on me? Taste my power—fist!”

The simple-minded Li Shisan, seeing the disdain in Tianming’s eyes, flared his huge ears and pumped his belly, then threw a punch filled with dark energy toward Tianming’s face.

“Hmph! A few puny brats from the Li family dare to act recklessly in the Chu estate?”

At that moment, a voice filled with imposing pressure rang out. Tianming, who had been about to use brute force to send Li Shisan flying, instantly withdrew his strength.

What!

Before Li Shisan could react, he felt a pitch-black trident, radiating a fierce aura, fall from the air and slam him away.

“Great, father’s back! Young master Chu Yun, we’re saved now.” The girl, once again joyful, linked arms with Tianming.

Unlike the girl’s delight, Tianming was surprised. He hadn’t expected Chu Yun’s father to be a powerful figure of the Void Realm.

Soon, as Tianming had guessed, a middle-aged man in dark robes descended. His face, sharp as if carved from stone, wore a stern expression. His icy gaze swept the surroundings, relaxing only after seeing Tianming unharmed.

“...This... is a letter Miss Li Bing left for you, young master. If the Chu family head is safe, then we’ll be leaving...”

Li Er proved cunning—before the family head arrived, he tossed the envelope and fled with Li Shisan in haste.

Out of respect for appearances, the Chu family head naturally refrained from a fierce pursuit. Tianming, indifferent, made no move to chase either, and the three of them watched silently as the five servants departed.

“Yun’er, are you alright?” Holding the envelope in his palm, the family head’s stern gaze softened with a hint of affection as he asked Tianming.

“Thank you for your concern, Father. I’m fine.” Tianming shook his head.

Still adjusting, Tianming responded coolly and quietly, releasing the girl’s hand beside him.

Chu Yun’s father, thinking Tianming still harbored resentment, sighed.

“Ah well, since you refuse to marry the Li family’s miss, then let the matter rest. Yun’er, from now on, do as you wish.”

With apparent resolve, the family head crushed the letter in his hand, his expression complex as dark energy swirled within.

“Huh?”

Tianming, somewhat baffled, had not expected his father to yield so easily. At the same time, he envied Chu Yun for having such a good father.

Seeing Tianming’s astonishment, the family head nodded solemnly. The girl obediently stood to one side, waiting quietly.

“...Yun’er!”

Before Tianming could fully recover, a warm voice called out.

“Is this some kind of grand reunion?”

Looking at the crowd of servants and maids flooding in through the back door, Tianming’s gaze first fell on a middle-aged woman.

Though perspiration dampened her tired face, and she wore no gold or jewels, her eyes sparkled with vitality. The marks of time could not conceal the charm she once possessed.

That familiar call made Tianming uneasy. Though he was not Chu Yun, having assumed that identity, he must bear the responsibilities it entailed.