Chapter 92: Early Competition

Zu'an was completely dumbfounded. Did that woman have a dog's nose? How could she even detect someone's specific scent? He reluctantly lifted his sleeve to sniff it himself, only faintly detecting a fragrance. Don't all women smell pretty much the same? He couldn't tell the difference.

Chu Huanzhao directly reached out and pinched his ear. "Quick, tell me, what exactly did you do with that woman Zheng Dan? Did you do something to betray my... sister?"

"Let go, let go!" Zu'an was in so much pain that tears nearly fell. He had initially thought his sister-in-law had become kind and gentle, but deep down, she was still that violent girl. "I really didn't do anything. This scent must have rubbed off on me when she fell into my arms this morning."

Their appearance at that moment caused passing students to turn their heads and stare, and many began to whisper:

"I thought things would get better for Zu after he became a teacher, but it seems he still has no status at home."

"Yeah, look at how subservient he is in front of Miss Chu Er; he doesn't dare resist at all."

"It's not easy being a live-in son-in-law. It's not easy living off a woman."

"I actually think it's not bad. Being grabbed by such a beautiful sister-in-law must be quite enjoyable."

"Ugh, stay away from me. Do you have some kind of special fetish?"

...

The sounds of the students around them reached Zu'an, who felt like crying but had no tears. Being grabbed like this by a little girl, what about his image?

"Really?" Hearing his explanation, Chu Huanzhao skeptically loosened her grip. She then brought her small head close to his chest and sniffed, her eyes full of suspicion. "How can the scent still be so strong after so long?"

Zu'an gave an awkward smile. "That I wouldn't know."

Chu Huanzhao huffed resentfully. "As expected, a vixen's scent fades slowly."

"Uh..." Zu'an couldn't help but say, "Where did a little girl like you learn such crude words? It affects your image."

"Hmph, can't I say it? Are you feeling sorry for her?" Chu Huanzhao completely shed her previous gentle, understanding demeanor, seemingly reverting to her old devilish self, wearing a small whip and ready to beat him. "My sister rarely comes to school, so while she's away, of course, I have to keep an eye on you to prevent you from being seduced by other vixens and doing something to betray her."

"I really didn't do anything, don't falsely accuse me, okay?" Zu'an almost wanted to cry. He wished he could, but his power didn't allow it! The Phantom Lotus of No Trace! He must obtain it in this secret realm, no matter the cost!

"It's best if you didn't!" Chu Huanzhao snorted, her expression softening. "Brother-in-law, don't think I'm making a fuss. You should know that my sister is too dazzling at school; she's every man's dream lover, so it's natural for her to attract the jealousy of some women. That Zheng Dan is one of them. Don't be deceived by her appearance this morning; she most likely approached you like that because she wanted to steal something from my sister."

Zu'an immediately became displeased. "What kind of talk is that? Couldn't it be because my own charm made her involuntarily drawn to me?"

Chu Huanzhao scrutinized him from head to toe. Finally, she shook her head and seriously declared, "Absolutely impossible!"

Zu'an felt a critical hit. He wanted to pin that girl to the table and spank her thoroughly. Who talks like that to someone?

"Oh, brother-in-law, don't be angry. At least you already have my sister, isn't that enough?" Seeing his sour face, Chu Huanzhao quickly smiled and comforted him. "So many people in this school envy you. If they could marry my sister, they'd probably be willing to shorten their lives by twenty years."

Zu'an rolled his eyes. "Others might not know, but don't you understand my relationship with your sister? When did your sister become mine?"

Chu Huanzhao gave an awkward laugh. She had indeed heard about their situation. "You have to give my sister some time. She's always been proud, so it's normal for her to struggle to accept this difference in status for a while."

Zu'an's face darkened. "Is that how you comfort someone? Am I really that bad?"

Chu Huanzhao hummed in agreement. "The old you, let alone my sister, even I looked down on. But after interacting with you, I've found you're quite different from the rumors. You actually have many good qualities, and once my sister gets to know you better, she'll definitely start to like you too."

"Perhaps." Zu'an actually didn't care about that at all now. What he cared about most was the Phantom Lotus of No Trace. Otherwise, even if Chu Chuyan threw herself into his arms right now, it would be useless.

Sensing the despondency in his voice and seeing his dispirited back, Chu Huanzhao paused. *My brother-in-law is truly pitiful,* she thought. *My sister doesn't like him, and my parents don't favor him. Even some of the ignorant servants in the mansion dare to show him disrespect. He must be quite unhappy in the Chu family. From now on, I must be kinder to him, so he can feel the warmth of a home.*

Thinking of this, she quickly ran up to him and sweetly called out, "Brother-in-law~"

Zu'an was startled. "What is it?"

"Nothing, just calling you." Chu Huanzhao's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.

Zu'an always felt there was something a bit off about his sister-in-law. While thinking about his own affairs, he responded intermittently.

When the two left the academy, Cheng Shoubing and other Chu family servants were already waiting. Watching the second young lady flutter around Zu'an like a beautiful butterfly, Cheng Shoubing's eyes went wide. *The young master-in-law truly has skills!* he thought. *Not only did he marry the eldest young lady, but he also managed to make the usually pampered and willful second young lady so docile. Hmm, privately, I must ask the young master-in-law how he managed to do it. Even learning a trick or two would be enough to walk tall among the household staff.*

The journey passed in silence. After returning home, Chu Zhongtian sent someone to call them for dinner. Upon arriving, Zu'an was surprised to find Chu Chuyan was also there. Zu'an was somewhat uncertain about the whereabouts of his nominal wife.

Logically, she was also a student at Brightmoon Academy and should be attending classes. Yet, he hadn't encountered her once during this period, and from his sister-in-law's words, he could also infer that she hadn't been attending classes.

He had no idea what she was busy with all day. It felt like she was constantly out, traveling far and wide. He had heard Cheng Shoubing mention that she seemed to be in charge of many of the Chu family's industries now. It seemed like a lot of hard work managing the family business.

As soon as Chu Huanzhao entered the room and saw her sister was there, she joyfully ran over. "Father, Mother, Sister, you won't believe what happened at school today! Zu'an, he..."

Qin Wanru interrupted her. "Unimportant matters can wait. Let's discuss serious business first."

Chu Huanzhao could only helplessly shrug at Zu'an. She tilted her head and stuck out her tongue, looking extremely cute.

Zu'an felt a warmth in his heart; his sister-in-law was truly good to him. However, he couldn't compliment his mother-in-law's attitude; it was clear she looked down on him. Qin Wanru was beautiful indeed, after all, her daughters were each more beautiful than the last. But her strong personality was truly unpraiseworthy. Fortunately, her two daughters were not like her. He wondered what kind of person Ji Dengtu was; how could he fantasize about such a woman? Did he have some special fetish?

If Qin Wanru knew Zu'an was mentally slandering her like this, she would probably be so enraged she'd ascend to heaven. At this moment, she looked at her eldest daughter. "Chuyan, because the Yaoguang Secret Realm opened early, the Family Grand Competition with the Yuan family has also been moved up to the day after tomorrow. How are your preparations?"

"Family Grand Competition?" Zu'an's heart skipped a beat. He then remembered hearing them mention this some time ago. Both the Chu and Yuan families dealt in weapons, and competition between them was fierce. But as nobles, they couldn't resort to all the unscrupulous tactics of common merchants; it would be undignified. So they had decided to hold a grand competition among their family members to determine market shares in each district.

Firstly, it was considered a gentleman's competition, allowing them to coexist peacefully. Secondly, it could encourage family members to diligently cultivate their skills.

Zu'an hadn't expected time to pass so quickly, and that the Family Grand Competition would be upon them so soon.

"It should be fine," Chu Chuyan replied. "I've been training the Chu family disciples during this period, and they've been quite diligent over the years. Based on past experience, it should be more than enough."

Chu Zhongtian frowned. "We can't rely on past experience. This time, the Yuan family has the support of the Wu family, so the people they send will definitely be stronger than in previous years."

Chu Huanzhao, who was standing by, couldn't help but say, "If the Yuan family can invite outside help, why don't we? Isn't it obvious we'll be at a disadvantage otherwise?"

"What do you know?" Chu Zhongtian snorted. "If I also went and invited outside help, wouldn't that prove our Chu family fears the Wu family? Moreover, your father has always been upright and never deigns to engage in such underhanded dealings."

Zu'an, standing nearby, secretly chuckled. Isn't this a classic case of suffering for the sake of appearances? It was truly difficult to associate a henpecked, submissive father-in-law with words like "upright and never deigns."

Chu Chuyan replied, "Even if they enlist the help of the Wu family, they still won't be able to defeat me."

Zu'an was startled. He hadn't expected his nominal wife to be so good at boasting. The crucial thing was that neither Chu Zhongtian and his wife nor Chu Huanzhao showed any doubt, as if it were a matter of course.

He heard she was now a fifth-rank cultivator, recognized as Brightmoon City's cultivation genius. He wondered who was stronger between her and Pei Mianman.

Zu'an found it hard to imagine Chu Chuyan's strength. He could only compare her to those he had fought. He had fought two fifth-rank cultivators, and each time he nearly lost his life.

Although Xue'er was fifth-rank, he imagined that no matter how powerful she was, she couldn't surpass Chu Chuyan. As for that woman Pei Mianman, she had easily defeated Yuan Wendong, also a fifth-rank cultivator, in the academy last time. Thinking of her strange black flames, he wondered who would have the upper hand if she and Chu Chuyan fought.

Thinking of Pei Mianman, he involuntarily recalled the scene of them grappling in Chu Chuyan's bedroom that night. That woman really had a great figure...

"Although you can certainly win one match, there will be ten matches in total," Qin Wanru said, glancing at Zu'an and then unconsciously shaking her head. "And a certain someone is destined to lose one. I don't have much confidence this time."

In the ten matches, the direct descendants of both families must participate. Beyond that, the requirements for others are not as strict. Whether they are collateral family members or household servants born within the family, as long as they are strong enough, they can participate.

The Chu family's disadvantage lay with Zu'an, their son-in-law. According to the rules, he had to participate, which clearly meant a loss before the battle even began.

"What does that mean?" Zu'an thought. *Are they looking down on me that much?* Although he was displeased, he maintained a calm and composed expression. "Don't worry, I can definitely win one match."

However, his words were clearly not taken seriously by the others. Even Chu Huanzhao, who usually supported him, didn't believe he could win a single match.

Chu Chuyan said indifferently, "Don't think about unrealistic things. Stick to the last plan: you will face Yuan Wendong. Even if you lose, it will still contribute to the overall victory of our Chu family. To ensure Yuan Wendong chooses you, I'll accompany you to school tomorrow. You just figure out a way to annoy him again."