Chapter 496: Qi Yuan's Love Experience, the Social Death of the Mother-in-Law

Chapter 496: Qi Yuan’s Experience in Love, the Mother-in-Law’s Mortifying Shame

“Brother-in-law, teach me!”

Shen Lingfeng’s eyes sparkled: “I’ve been pursuing Miss Li, but she couldn’t care less about me!”

Qi Yuan coughed, putting on an inscrutable expression: “Before we make a plan, we need to clarify the other party’s strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate Miss Li, and yourself.”

“Miss Li is as beautiful as a flower, with peach-blossom eyes that are especially captivating. A thin gauze drapes over her shoulders, half-hidden, drawing attention.”

“Me… I’m a man. Miss Li thinks I’m too frail.”

“Got it.” Qi Yuan understood the dynamics of offense and defense.

He pondered for a moment, recalling his past with Jinli.

“To crack this situation, you need an online romance!”

“Online romance?” Shen Lingfeng blinked, feeling the term was rather profound.

No wonder he was the brother-in-law—he even knew such impressive words.

“When you’re in an online romance, the other person can’t see you. Your image is entirely shaped by her imagination.

In that case, as long as you craft an image of high emotional intelligence, gentleness, and humor, she won’t have met you, so in her mind, you’ll naturally be tall and imposing, never silent.

But seeing how dull and dazed you are, you probably don’t even have a Nokia. So then… write letters.” Qi Yuan earnestly shared his experience.

Compared to offline, online romance indeed had a lower threshold.

After all, offline, you risk being exposed on the spot or judged by looks, and the story ends before it even begins.

Online is different—it’s easy to get hooked. The other person’s appearance and charm are entirely up to your own fantasy.

Could your own fantasy ever be bad?

That’s the principle that even the white moonlight herself couldn’t outshine the white moonlight.

Shen Lingfeng’s eyes widened: “That makes sense! Throughout history, many talented scholars and beauties have bonded through letter writing.”

Then he frowned in thought: “But… I don’t know how to shape the image Miss Yang would like?”

“Simple. Use some high-EQ quotes and some witty, romantic lines—they’re sure to touch her heart.” Qi Yuan said seriously.

In his past life, didn’t the son of some tycoon also love sweet talk?

“Come on, let me think of some witty romantic lines for you.”

“Babe, I went for an IV drip today. What drip? A drip of missing you!”

“What does that mean?” Shen Lingfeng’s brain couldn’t keep up.

“Right, you don’t have IV drips here.”

“Another one!”

“Do you know why I eat fish heads? Because I want to leave the rest of my life for you!”

“Your dimples don’t hold wine, but I’m drunk like a dog!”

“I bought a bag of salt today. Guess what salt? Love needs no words!”

“Do you have body odor? Otherwise, why are you as enchanting as a fox spirit?”

Qi Yuan poured out the witty romantic lines from his mind.

As for the vulgar ones—like “I farted loudly today, but I didn’t think of you”—he deleted them outright.

Qi Yuan felt those were better suited for couples who had been together a long time.

“Brilliant!”

“Words can be said like that!”

“Brother-in-law, you’re amazing! Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Dimples and wine—they can actually be linked!”

Shen Lingfeng was thrilled, as if he had heard golden words.

Chen Kangbao also gave a thumbs-up: “Young master is too impressive!”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a bit smug.

In TV shows, the protagonist, after time-traveling, recites poems and draws everyone’s admiration and awe.

He now enjoyed the same glory.

“But then, online romance—writing letters is only the first step. The second step is… the net!

That’s the true essence of online romance!”

“Brother-in-law, please continue!” Shen Lingfeng listened intently, as if hearing the sound of the Dao.

“Writing to one woman is just a crush; writing to two women is a double crush; writing to all the young and beautiful women in the city—that’s what you call online romance!”

“Do you want only a crush on Miss Li, or do you want to online-romance all the beauties in the city?” Qi Yuan said temptingly.

Shen Lingfeng’s face twisted, his heart seemingly torn with hesitation.

“It’s okay, no rush. Think it over carefully.”

“Brother-in-law… could I write fewer? Writing to the whole city—my hand would break!”

Imagining writing tens of thousands of letters a day, Shen Lingfeng felt a pang in his hand.

“No problem, write as you like. Remember the quotes I just said, and add them in your heart.”

“Alright! I’ll go write letters now!” Shen Lingfeng was quick to act, dashing off to write.

“Sigh, doing good deeds every day without expecting anything in return—I’m just too kind.

When his sister comes back and sees her brother’s change, she’ll surely be moved.” Qi Yuan sighed.

Another good deed done today.

“Young master, I have a doubt.” Chen Kangbao poked his head out. As the god’s strategist, he had to offer counsel at all times. “Your romantic lines are exquisite and moving, but people are different. What if… someone doesn’t like one of those lines?”

“Online romance—there are always fish that slip through the net. If she doesn’t like it, she just leaves the net.” Qi Yuan said casually. “Write to so many people, and someone’s bound to fall for it, right?”

Cast a wide net, fish hard—that’s always the truth.

What if, by chance, there’s someone with the same refined taste as him who particularly loves such lines?

“Let me put it simply. Why do scammers have so many scripts, full of obvious flaws, yet so many people still fall for them?”

“Because, from the start, they never planned to fool those who spot the problems!”

“Finding the right target customer is what matters most!”

Chen Kangbao looked baffled, feeling that Qi Yuan was profoundly unfathomable.

…

Lamplight blazed bright.

Shen Wanshan sat upright in the seat of honor, his expression solemn.

His fine silk robe was embroidered with intricate patterns, and a soft sword hung at his waist—his magical artifact, an Earth-grade weapon.

Shen Wanshan was the master of the Shen family, and one of its few Earth-rank Weapon Masters.

An Earth-rank Weapon Master was a regional hegemon, maneuvering with cunning and might, able to slay three thousand elite soldiers without retreating.

"I've just returned from Yeshan Lake, and the situation there is grim.

Luotong Water Lord has grown powerful, merging with the waters into one.

The Celestial Sect contacted many Earth-rank Weapon Masters, even summoning Wei Kun, the Mournful Wind Hand, ranked in the top twenty of the Earth List, to Yeshan Lake—yet they could do nothing against Luotong Water Lord!"

Within Yeshan Lake dwelt a powerful spectral being, known as Luotong Water Lord.

Earth-rank specters were mysterious and unfathomable; their combat prowess might rival that of an Earth-rank Weapon Master, but their destructive power was far greater, with all manner of special abilities.

Take Luotong Water Lord, for instance—it had merged with Yeshan Lake.

Yeshan Lake was the largest lake in Jiangzhou, spanning over a hundred li in both directions, far larger than an ordinary county town.

After the merger, Luotong Water Lord stirred up storms, not only depriving hundreds of thousands of fishermen of their livelihoods but even able to raise the lake's waters and flood Jining Prefecture.

The Celestial Sect, the foremost sect in Jiangzhou, contacted many Earth-rank Weapon Masters to go to Yeshan Lake and pressure Luotong Water Lord.

The result was a crushing defeat.

"Even the Earth List grandmasters could do nothing against Luotong Water Lord?" an old man spoke; he was a peak Profound-rank Weapon Master, holding high status in the Shen family.

The Ning Kingdom had an Earth List, recording the kingdom's Earth-rank Weapon Masters.

Earth-rank Weapon Masters were overlords, and the top thirty on the Earth List were also called grandmasters!

Each one was a Weapon Master who had reached the limit of the Earth rank.

"If Yeshan Lake floods Jining Prefecture, the Celestial Sect will surely lose much prestige, and in the next Thunder Heaven Battle, the Celestial Sect will be at a disadvantage!"

"And how many innocent people will be harmed?"

"A pity, the Mighty Dragon Xuanyuan has been damaged, and no Artificer can be found to repair it."

"The Mighty Dragon Xuanyuan is a Near-Heaven Artifact; even the finest Earth-rank Artificers would struggle to mend it—it likely requires a Heaven-rank Artificer!

The Ning Kingdom has no Heaven-rank Weapon Masters, let alone Heaven-rank Artificers!"

"Difficult, difficult, difficult!" The Shen family was a wealthy and powerful clan, backed by the Celestial Sect, and naturally did not wish to see the Sect encounter trouble.

This family council gathered most of the Shen family's Weapon Masters and Artificers, their faces all etched with worry and fear over Luotong Water Lord.

"The Celestial Sect's leader has decreed that an Artificer Assembly will be held near Yeshan Lake to discuss repairing the Mighty Dragon Xuanyuan.

All Artificers and Artificer apprentices in the family—any with talent or creative ideas—will accompany me to Yeshan Lake this time," Shen Wanshan said.

"But... what if we Artificers gather at Yeshan Lake and Luotong Water Lord raises a wave, drowning us all? What then?" Chen Xianwei asked with some concern.

He was a guest elder of the Shen family, a Profound-rank Artificer.

In Ninghe County, even the magistrate would treat him with courtesy.

The number of Artificers was far fewer than that of Weapon Masters.

The Shen family, as one of the top three clans in Jining Prefecture, had seven Earth-rank Weapon Masters, but only one Earth-rank Artificer.

"Rest assured, the Celestial Sect has the means to guarantee our safety. Even Artificer Fireblaze will be going; if he's there, what do we have to fear?" Shen Wanshan said.

At the mention of Artificer Fireblaze, Chen Xianwei's face showed a look of reverence.

Artificer Fireblaze, in terms of artifact-crafting skill, ranked among the top ten in the Ning Kingdom.

With such a great figure attending, the Celestial Sect must have made thorough preparations—their safety was assured.

"I wonder if any Artificer at this assembly can repair the Mighty Dragon Xuanyuan!" someone exclaimed in awe.

"If it cannot be repaired, and one day Luotong Water Lord raises monstrous waves, what will we do?"

The group was filled with anxiety, worrying about the future.

"Everyone, do not fret too much. Even if Jining Prefecture is flooded, the waters cannot reach our Fengshan Commandery," Lady Shen interjected at that moment, offering comfort.

"Water?"

Just then, a voice came, tinged with confusion yet delight.

"Mother-in-law, did you ask for bathwater?"

"I'll bring it right now!"

The door crashed open with a bang, revealing a strikingly handsome young man cradling a large basin, filled with steaming hot water that billowed vapor.

The moment he entered the hall, he became the center of attention.

Gazes of surprise, confusion, bewilderment, daze, shock—every expression imaginable.

Was this the live-in son-in-law, Qi Yuan?

What was he doing with a basin of water?

Wait—bringing bathwater for his mother-in-law?

Their eyes involuntarily fell upon Lady Shen, their faces turning odd.

Lady Shen's face flushed crimson, like a bright flower: "Qi Yuan, what! are! you! doing!"

She spoke each word deliberately, her heart in turmoil.

She wished she could crawl into a hole in the ground.

"Giving you a bath?" Qi Yuan blinked.

Seeing everyone staring at him, he spoke slowly.

"As a live-in son-in-law, I'm bound to be looked down upon, bullied, even servants won't give me a second glance.

In the Shen manor, I must endure humiliation, brew soup for my wife, and pour bathwater for my mother-in-law!

Now the water's here, Mother-in-law, would you like to bathe and change?"

Qi Yuan looked at his mother-in-law with eager expectation.

But her face was flushed yet icy cold.

"Enough, Qi Yuan, get out!" Shen Wanshan could not help saying, suppressing his anger.

"Not bathing now?" Qi Yuan asked.

"No!" Lady Shen replied coldly.

"Call me when you want a bath, and I'll bring the water right away." Qi Yuan came quickly and left just as fast.

The hall door closed again, and the room fell into silence.

Shen Wanshan looked at his wife and asked slowly, "Has he... truly gone mad?"

"Alas." Lady Shen sighed softly. "From the tone of his words, since he married into our Shen family, he must have endured many cold stares and much hardship... Even in his madness, he still remembers to pour... pour..."

The rest of her words she never spoke.

"If Brother Qi saw his son like this, alas..." Shen Wanshan's face showed a melancholy expression, then turned harsh. "Issue an order: investigate which servants have bullied the young master since he entered the household. Those deserving punishment shall be punished; those to be dismissed shall be dismissed!"

"Yes, Patriarch," an elder replied.

"But his being this mad and foolish is still better than before... when he was always causing trouble. It's just... poor Xuan'er." Lady Shen's voice could not help but carry sorrow.

The former Qi Yuan was morally corrupt, weak, and cowardly, utterly incapable.

Not only that, but he lacked ambition, so much so that even if she wanted to help, there was no way.

Now, his character seems to have improved, his old flaws gone, but he has gone mad.

Whether this is good or bad, no one can tell.

“I hear some major events have occurred in Ninghe County?” Shen Wanshan asked.

“The Thorn Blood has appeared. Eighty-seven specters emerged at Red Cloud Stronghold, but… they were all slain by a single strongman wielding a rough spear!”

“The Thorn Blood, of all things!”

At the mention of Thorn Blood, everyone present felt a shiver of fear.

This faction is a cult, mysterious and powerful, active not only in Ning State but also in other territories.

Madam Shen recounted the intelligence she had gathered to Shen Wanshan.

“Claims to be a deity?”

“Spectral soul attacks are ineffective against him?”

“The specters nurtured by Thorn Blood are skilled in soul attacks. Even at the Yellow rank, with eighty-seven gathered together, I would have to exert considerable effort to deal with them.

Where does this prodigy come from?”

Shen Wanshan mentioned it briefly, then dismissed it.

Just a prodigy.

In ordinary times, he might have had the mind to have the Shen family investigate that person’s identity and, depending on the situation, seek to befriend and curry favor.

But now, with the crisis at Yeshan Lake looming, he had no mood to bother with such trivial matters.

To him, finding a powerful artifact master was far more important.

If Brother Qi were still alive, with his talent, he might have found a way to repair the Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan by now.

At this thought, he sighed in melancholy: “Chen Xianwei, go and teach Qi Yuan for a while. See if he has any talent as an artifact master.”

He did not want Qi Yuan to remain mad and muddled.

Nor did he wish for the Qi family’s legacy to be broken.

“This… me?” Chen Xianwei was utterly bewildered.

Teaching a madman to forge artifacts?

How does one even teach that?

His heart was bitter.

He would rather teach a mute to sing.

…

“Indeed, after I brought in the bathwater, my progress in playing the role of the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan has improved.”

“It seems this live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan has long wanted to wash his mother-in-law’s feet!”

“Besides pouring bathwater for his mother-in-law, what else does Qi Yuan want to do?”

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but ponder.

“Being stepped on by Shen Lingxuan? Licking her toes?”

“Forget the toes—other places might be worth considering.”

“Playing the live-in son-in-law is too hard. I’d rather play a kitchen knife—just focus on chopping vegetables.”

“Level up, level up, kill specters!”

(The chapter ends)