Chapter 157 - 50: The Toad General (Part 2)

Words : 1125 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

He walked with a steady step, and the six iron rings, as large as bells on him, made no sound at all. Even Lie Rou, a woman inexperienced in worldly affairs, could guess that this man’s Dark Skill cultivation was certainly not weak. As Lie Rou was pondering the identity of this man, the middle-aged man stepped forward abruptly, and with an ingratiating manner, he addressed Lie Rou: "This must certainly be the only daughter of Lie Changgong, Miss Lie Rou of the Lie Family Mansion." The man spoke in a resounding voice, his short beard clearly well-groomed, making him look quite presentable. However, his eyes held a probing look, sizing Lie Rou from head to toe. Lie Rou was already married, yet he repeatedly addressed her as Miss Lie. Such a form of address displeased Lie Rou considerably. "Rourou," the Empress Dowager glanced at Fa Xiaoyun, obviously aware of her son’s intentions, "Let me introduce you. This is General Tianwei, Qin Gang. In Shang Kingdom, he is a famous war general, also a Dark Heavenly Peak expert." Qin Gang’s gaze was fervent, as if stuck to Lie Rou’s face. Lie Rou couldn’t help but frown. In the eyes of many in Shang Kingdom, Lie Rou was considered a fool, waiting years for an heir whose whereabouts were unknown. Lie Rou never defended herself, but her pretense of foolishness didn’t mean she truly was foolish. The sudden introduction by Fa Xiaoyun and the Empress Dowager’s probing question of her remarriage intentions were all tests, and how could she not know it. Countless eyes surrounded Lie Rou; wanting to speak, she did not know how to begin. At this moment, she felt utterly helpless. Seeing her mistress in distress, Hongling felt anxious, but given the situation, as a servant, she could not speak out of turn, her heart merely filled with urgency. "My mother is already married. A married woman follows her husband, General, you should address her as Lady Yue," Yue Chen, who rarely spoke, suddenly voiced out with not a high volume yet a hint of timidness but clearly articulating, making everyone in the room hear it clearly. "Chenchen," Lie Rou covered her mouth, shocked. Hongling was also in disbelief, "Young Master!" Qin Gang’s expression slightly changed, Fa Xiaoyun also showed an awkward expression, the Empress Dowager coughed lightly, chuckling scoldingly, "This child, now you are quick with your words." "Mother, I want to go back," Yue Chen said softly, tugging at Lie Rou’s clothes, he was just a ten-year-old child, exhibiting some temper was not unexpected. Lie Rou breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling a fullness at heart and couldn’t help but feel her nose souring. This child, for the first time ever, had called her "mother." Her already staggering stance gathered strength in this moment, Lie Rou stood up, her eyes resolute and voice earnest, "Lie Rou, having married, has already followed her husband’s family name, I hope all can refer to me as Lady Yue henceforth. Mr. Qin’s reputation, I have often heard from my father since childhood. Among the practitioners in Shang Kingdom, Mr. Qin was the earliest famed one; compared to him, my father could only be considered a latecomer. Today, upon seeing you, the grandeur of a senior is indeed extraordinary." At first, Lie Rou’s words sounded polite, but to Qin Gang’s ears, they carried a hidden insult, as sharp as daggers and filled with irony. If Yue Jinghua were here, she’d likely bluntly point out the fact, practically saying, "You are old enough to be my grandfather, and you still have the nerve to covet my mother, a beautiful widow." Qin Gang, indeed, had some capabilities; he was a typical late bloomer among practitioners, only a Colonel in the Shang Kingdom military at the age of forty. However, after turning forty, he acquired a set of Dark Earth Rank Dark Technique Formulas, the Overlord Saber Technique. After practicing this saber technique, his cultivation rapidly improved, breaking through from Dark Jade all the way to Dark Earth. Later, with the support of the Shang Kingdom Royal Family, he advanced step by step to Dark Heavenly. Compared to the two major powers of the Eastern Continent, Shang Kingdom did not have a Dan Realm Expert in command, so Qin Gang was recruited as the National Guardian Heavenly General of Shang Kingdom, and his status can be described as being beneath very few and above tens of thousands. With warmth comes desire, and Qin Gang, obsessed with martial arts, focused on Dark Skill cultivation due to his unfruitful career earlier and delayed his marriage. By the time he had made his achievements, he was too prideful, and ordinary women no longer caught his eye. In terms of age, he was an old man in his seventies or eighties already, maintaining a middle-aged appearance only through his cultivation, yet he still harbored intentions towards Lie Rou. The origin of this matter traced back to a few nights ago when Lie Rou entered the palace to offer her pills, and Qin Gang inadvertently saw her. That night, the sight of Lie Rou, with her beauty intensely locked in a dignified and incomparably graceful demeanor, took his breath away as if she was a heavenly being. Thus, Qin Gang immediately inquired about the history of Lie Rou, hearing that she was the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager, widowed for several years and merely residing at the Lie Family Mansion, he immediately consulted with Fa Xiaoyun, and harbored intentions of marrying Lie Rou. Lie Rou’s words just now clearly rejected Qin Gang’s kind intentions. Seeing Lie Rou hastily leaving with Yue Chen and Hongling, Qin Gang’s face darkened. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager sighed lightly, murmuring somberly, "Rourou appears gentle, but is actually quite fiery. When she insisted on being with Yue Nian back then, no one could stop her. This matter might need to be postponed, unless we receive certain news of Yue Nian’s life or death, otherwise, Rourou might not compromise," knowing well that if Lie Rou was pushed too hard, it would surely end in catastrophe. Yet Fa Xiaoyun was not hurried: "Mother, you are wrong on this. Back then, Lie Rou was the pearl in the palm of Lie Family Mansion, truly, no one could coerce her against her will. But things are different now, doesn’t she have a pair of helpless children under her lap? As the saying goes, haste does not bring success; there’s no need for you or Qin Gang to step in, let the two old men of Lie Family press her a bit first." Upon hearing this, Qin Gang’s face brightened up, "Thank you, Emperor, for your guidance. This humble official understands."

Chapter 157 - 50: The Toad General (Part 2)

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