Winter wind and cold.
Chen Jiuyang's senses seemed to revert to a year and a half ago.
Back then, he was just an ordinary university student, relying on his handsome looks to have a girlfriend with decent looks. Besides studying, he worked hard at various part-time jobs to earn some money.
His plan was to finish his five-year undergraduate degree, then pursue a master's, and if his grades were good enough, a doctorate. By the time he was thirty, with money in hand, he would secure a down payment in Fengcheng, buy a house there, and bring his parents to live with him.
But after his father was wrongly imprisoned, everything changed.
The world before his eyes had also transformed.
...
December 10th, heavy snow in Shushan.
The next morning, Chen Biandao arrived at the residence where Chen Jiuyang was staying, waiting for him to wake up and practice martial arts.
However, he waited for a long time. It wasn't until nine or ten in the morning that Chen Jiuyang finally got dressed and got out of bed. To Chen Biandao's surprise, Chen Jiuyang exuded a sense of having shed all pretense, returning to his natural state.
In Chen Biandao's eyes, Chen Jiuyang appeared like an ordinary person.
After his initial surprise, Chen Biandao's eyes revealed a look of relief.
"Has his martial arts state of mind advanced further?"
Chen Jiuyang slowly shook his head, his eyes deep and calm. "I don't know."
"Then that is it."
Chen Biandao sighed, "Jiuyang, after being crowned King, I had a long talk with the Han family."
"Winning the Martial Rankings and being titled the Qian King is a matter of great honor for the ancestors."
"But the Han family and I feel that you cannot stop."
"We always feel that you are restless, suppressing yourself."
"Because of this, the Han family and I are extremely worried... therefore, we had to suggest that you not manage the new legion, and step down from your royal title after next year's Martial Rankings."
"The Han family, myself, and your several confidantes are all worried that if you continue like this... if you continue like this..."
Chen Biandao gritted his teeth, "I fear you will only stop when you die on the battlefield."
"Although we are martial artists and possess great strength, our lifespans are not much longer than ordinary people's."
"Getting married, having children, and the necessities of daily life are all experiences that we martial artists also need to go through."
"The Han family and I have tried every way to help your life and world slow down."
"We want to see your children born, and children will certainly need fatherly love."
As Chen Biandao poured out his heart, Chen Jiuyang's face gradually broke into a gentle smile.
"I actually know, perhaps it's just a habit."
"Perhaps deep down, I am also tired of all the killing and conflict."
"Patriarch, thank you for your concern, and thank you to Ancestor Fengge. I already know how to adjust my mindset."
Chen Biandao smiled and said, "Your several confidantes are all excellent choices and are good matches for you. Getting married and having children soon might truly be a good thing for you."
If it were anyone else, Chen Biandao would have said, "You must dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to the martial path; if you achieve nothing in martial arts, you are a worthless person."
But no one was qualified to say that to Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang had not failed the Dragon Kingdom, nor had he failed their Shushan Chen family.
Chen Jiuyang's previous state of being somewhat possessed and unable to slow down had truly caused him and Elder Han immense worry.
Chen Jiuyang's women also knew, but not one dared to speak to him about it, fearing that doing so would only harm him.
Chen Jiuyang said, "After the Martial Rankings World Championship, I will marry them."
Chen Biandao smiled, "This is a good thing. Your wedding will be grandly celebrated then!"
Chen Biandao's taut heart finally relaxed.
Chen Jiuyang changed into ordinary clothes and said, "Today, Zi Xuan and I will take a tour of Shushan. Tomorrow, we will depart for the Jiang family in Dong Province."
Chen Biandao nodded, "Good, let's start by dealing with Jiang Haoran."
A moment later, Yao Zixuan, wearing a green bamboo qipao and high heels, with her hair neatly styled, emerged from the residence. Her face was fair with a rosy blush, appearing serene, elegant, and dignified. As the first consort of the Qian King, Yao Zixuan's temperament, figure, and appearance were perfectly matched.
Yao Zixuan's temperament was enhanced by her Pure Yin physique, giving her a very strong aura of feminine grace.
She wore only a qipao. In the depths of winter, although her martial arts cultivation was not yet perfect, with Chen Jiuyang by her side, she felt as if she were standing in the sun, feeling no cold at all.
"A good match, excellent," Chen Biandao remarked with emotion.
Fang Bahua drove an ordinary car. The two held hands as they got into the car, leaving the Chen family to visit Shushan City.
Shushan City has always been known as the "Panda Base," and its hot pot skewers are famous worldwide, captivating countless food enthusiasts.
Once, a foreigner came to the Dragon Kingdom saying he would eat all the delicacies in China within three years. Three years passed, then another three, and another three, and after twelve years, he still hadn't left Shushan City, which speaks volumes about the variety of Shushan's cuisine.
Chen Jiuyang held Yao Zixuan's hand as they strolled through Shushan City, visited the giant pandas, ate hot pot, and explored every street and alley. This was nothing extraordinary.
It was merely the most common activity for a couple.
And after being together for so long, this was the first time Chen Jiuyang had accompanied Yao Zixuan in doing such things.
After their city tour, Chen Jiuyang and Yao Zixuan also went to watch a movie.
Like celebrities or internet influencers, wherever they walked, many people would gaze at them.
At the end of the day, neither of them showed any signs of fatigue. Yao Zixuan rested her head on Chen Jiuyang's shoulder, her arms around him, and said, "If only we could live a normal life like this forever."
Spending each day sightseeing and with the person they loved was truly a happy thing.
However, Chen Jiuyang's status destined him to be unable to live such a life. After accompanying Yao Zixuan for a day, Chen Jiuyang had to leave Shushan the next day.
Yao Zixuan, Chen Jianmin, and Zhang Xiuzhen remained at the Shushan Chen family residence. The construction of the Qian King's manor in Qingzhu Village was underway, and they would return to Qingzhu Village once it was completed.
This was also to prevent the Killing God Hall and the Longevity Alliance from launching attacks and threatening Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang chose not to take a helicopter. Instead, he traveled by high-speed train with Chen Fengge and Chen Biandao to the Jiang family in Dong Province.
Sitting on the high-speed train, Chen Fengge couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "This is the convenience of the current era. One can travel over two thousand li in a single day."
During breaks at intermediate city transfer stations, Chen Fengge saw the towering skyscrapers and exclaimed, "Fortunate to awaken in this era and witness such a prosperous world for my human race in a time of peace."
"War is difficult, peace is hard to build," Chen Fengge had not been idle these past few days and had also studied the history of the Han Dragon Kingdom.
Chen Biandao suddenly tensed up and said, "Ancestor Fengge, Jiuyang, the tree desires stillness, but the wind does not cease."
Chen Jiuyang looked into the distance and saw eight half-step Heavenly Realm experts approaching together, exuding a strong, cold killing intent.
Last time, two half-step Heavenly Realm experts could not kill Chen Jiuyang. This time, they had dispatched eight half-step Heavenly Realm experts, determined to kill Chen Jiuyang and ascertain if he was connected to the Nine Provinces Cauldron.
Chen Jiuyang's expression was calm as he slowly looked at Chen Fengge.
Both he and Chen Biandao were extremely curious about the combat power of a Venerable Realm expert.