Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1173 - 349: Unworthy of Virtue and Position (Part 4)

"It's impossible," Chu Keqing stated, shaking her head. "That day, things went awry with that one kneel, indicating this blessing isn't something your Yang Family can handle. Since you cannot accept it, you shouldn't force the issue."

"Moreover, alas, what a pity. If Sisi had met me back then, I might have been able to set up an altar and cast a spell to resolve it, using a method to integrate her fate with the Yang Family, allowing her to join. But unfortunately, now as time passes, she is already over twenty years old. By twenty, if she hasn't entered the clan, the blood ties have thinned. The cause and effect are set at this point, and performing any spell is futile."

Mr. Yang Sr. was unwilling to concede, "Is there truly no other way?"

"It's difficult to say for certain. Perhaps after I return, I'll consult the ancient texts of the sect to see if a solution exists to save her," Chu Keqing replied, not completely closing the door.

After all, she had conversed with Chen Yanting and understood Chen Yan’s stance: he held the Port City Yang Family in considerable disdain.

Since Yang Jiaming's time, Chen Yan had harbored deep contempt for the Yang Family associated with Lu Sisi.

She pondered Chen Yan’s underlying intentions, believing he likely didn't favor the Yang Family and wished for Lu Sisi to avoid joining them. He looked down upon them entirely!

Yet, Chu Keqing hesitated to be too absolute. Thus, even as she denied Mr. Yang Sr.'s plea, she allowed a sliver of hope to remain.

Mr. Yang Sr. let out a deep sigh, his face etched with disappointment and regret. He cast a prolonged, meaningful glance at Lu Sisi.

Oddly, when he first saw Lu Sisi that day, he hadn't felt particularly moved. However, after Chu Keqing's pronouncements, Mr. Yang Sr. found the girl before him increasingly endearing.

His heart ached profoundly, as if witnessing a priceless treasure slipping through his grasp.

"Old sir, you need not be so troubled. Matters of fate cannot be coerced. Although Sisi cannot temporarily join the Yang Family, she is, after all, of the Yang Family. Her good fortune and luck are somewhat entwined with the Yang Family. I advise you, sir, to treat Sisi with kindness in the future."

Hmm? Mr. Yang Sr.’s eyes brightened with interest.

Chu Keqing offered a slight smile. "Kinship, kinship. Without closeness, where does fate originate? The ties between the young girl and the Yang Family are weakening, also because the Yang Family hasn't demonstrated sufficient kindness towards her."

The consequence of this entire affair was that Lu Sisi ended up staying at the Yang Family’s Old Mansion that day!

This exceptional privilege wasn't even extended to Yang Jiaming—initially, he was meant to stay and attend to Chu Keqing. However, it transpired that Lu Sisi formed a better rapport with Chu Keqing, rendering his presence unnecessary.

Furthermore, following this event, Mr. Yang Sr. summoned Yang Jiaming privately to his study. He intended to thoroughly investigate Lu Sisi’s upbringing from her earliest years.

Yang Jiaming dared not utter a falsehood. This was partly due to Mr. Yang Sr.'s intimidating presence and influence, and partly because Lu Sisi was present in the household. If he were to lie, he feared she would immediately expose him.

Under duress, Yang Jiaming was compelled to recount everything truthfully: Lu Sisi’s tumultuous destiny and his own neglect and mistreatment of her.

After absorbing this information, Mr. Yang Sr. remained in a state of stunned silence for a considerable duration. Finally, he slammed his hand on the table in a burst of rage!

"Perhaps it is not this girl's fate that brings disaster, but rather that she was born into the Yang family, and we lacked the capacity to manage her blessing, resulting in her tumultuous fate since childhood! No wonder, over these past ten-plus years, our Yang Family has gradually withered and declined! Likely, we lost our fortune due to mistreating Fuxing!"

With that declaration, the old man fixed Yang Jiaming with a fierce glare and berated him angrily, "And you! How could you, as a father, treat your own flesh and blood with such neglect and harshness? Utterly disgraceful!"

He then raised his hand and delivered two forceful slaps to Yang Jiaming’s face, leaving his cheeks visibly swollen and red, rendering him speechless.

Internally, Yang Jiaming couldn't help but curse! Now you're saying I mistreated my daughter! Wasn't it you, the old man, who spearheaded the decision not to let her into the family? It was also you who issued the direct command not to bring her back to Port City or home. Weren't these all your own decisions and pronouncements?!

But these inner grievances remained unspoken, as he knew he dared not voice them.

·

"So, you're now considered an honored guest in the Yang family? Your dad, mom, and brother were dispatched to a hotel, while you remain at the Yang Family’s Old Mansion?"

Over the phone, Chen Yan couldn't suppress a chuckle after hearing Lu Sisi's account of her recent experiences. "It appears you've become quite the sought-after individual within the Yang family."

On the other end of the line, Lu Sisi let out a helpless sigh. "I don't desire this. Living here isn't enjoyable; I lack freedom in my actions. The old mansion is teeming with relatives I don't recognize, most of whom I've never even encountered."

For the past two days, the old man has seemed to be enjoying my company. He insisted that I meet his relatives, one by one: uncles, aunts, and a multitude of cousins and in-laws.

I encounter so many faces daily, yet I can't seem to connect them to names, nor do I try. I'm even forced to put on an act of gentleness and courtesy, my face stiffening from a constant, forced smile.

Lu Sisi's complaints to Chen Yan were, in truth, a pretense; she was mostly acting spoiled towards her long-lost boyfriend.

Knowing Lu Sisi's personality, a single call from Chen Yan would be enough for her to abandon the Yang family and rush to the airport for the earliest flight back to Jinling to see him.

However, Chen Yan explicitly persuaded Lu Sisi to remain.

After all, their trip to Port City was to celebrate the old man's birthday. Being the guest of honor didn't grant her the liberty to skip the celebration, as that would be disrespectful to the Yang family and quite unnecessary.

With some comforting words from Chen Yan, Lu Sisi reluctantly agreed to stay until after Mr. Yang Sr.'s birthday banquet concluded before making her departure.

Chen Yan offered a few reminders for Lu Sisi's safety, but with Gui Geng by her side and Chu Keqing present within the Yang family, few individuals in the world would dare pose a threat to Lu Sisi under such protection.

"Gui Geng has been my constant companion and is staying at the Yang Family's Old Mansion, with the old man's special consent. Furthermore, the old man is quite cordial to Gui Geng because Dean Chu mentioned that Gui Geng is affiliated with you. The old man even met with Gui Geng personally and engaged in conversation, seemingly trying to ascertain your background."

Lu Sisi giggled, adding, "The Yang family has arranged for Gui Geng to reside in the annex of the old mansion, where the housekeepers and servants are housed, though they've provided him with a private room.

This morning, I saw him and heard that the Feng Shui fish pond in the courtyard is situated directly beneath his windowsill.

I suspect he likely ventured out last night to feast on the fish from the pond. I'm just curious how many of those pricey Feng Shui fish he managed to consume."

After conversing with Chen Yan for a period, the young woman reluctantly ended the call, repeatedly assuring him that she would return to Jinling promptly after the birthday banquet.

As Chen Yan hung up and placed his phone on the table, he embraced Big White, stroking it affectionately, eliciting a contented purr from the feline.

Chen Yan contemplated for a significant duration, then suddenly a smile graced his features.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the empty hall of his residence, and emitted a soft sigh, remarking, "So, back then, Lu Sisi's life chart was pilfered, and a decade of misfortune ensued—was this entire ordeal part of the Tribulation Crossing itself?

And my intervention to alleviate her suffering; did that inadvertently disrupt your plans?

Do you hold it against me for meddling?"

In the quiet emptiness of the room, naturally, no response was forthcoming.

Unperturbed, Chen Yan offered a smile, rose from his seat, gently placed Big White onto the sofa, and then turned to depart.