"No, Dad, this really isn't my fault. It's this scoundrel spouting nonsense here!"
Hearing Chu Yuan's words, Chu He became completely flustered.
He could tell his father wasn't joking this time!
If he were truly expelled from the Chu family, given his performance in Beichuan over the years, he might just get into a freak car accident walking down the street one day.
"Hmph! Let's go!"
Chu Yuan didn't want to waste any more words and turned to leave.
For Chu Yuan, relying on these two good-for-nothings was clearly unrealistic. Since he had already thoroughly offended Lin Chen, the best course of action now was to find a solution from Zhou Qianyuan!
Not long after, Chu Yuan returned to the Chu family villa and found Zhou Qianyuan leisurely drinking tea.
"Master Zhou, I am extremely sorry, I failed to persuade Mr. Lin!"
At this moment, Chu Yuan was full of remorse and bowed deeply to Zhou Qianyuan.
"Heh, don't worry, this was within my expectations."
Seeing Chu Yuan's dejected appearance, Zhou Qianyuan actually chuckled lightly.
Although he hadn't known Lin Chen for long, he knew that Lin Chen was a proud person.
Back at the Sun family's place, if Sun Zhiqian hadn't unknowingly shown Lin Chen enough respect, Lin Chen probably wouldn't have bothered to treat Sun Xiaotian, right?
Or, if Lin Chen hadn't wanted to take Sun Xiaotian as a disciple, he might have just stood by and watched!
How could such a proud person casually save someone?
Moreover, tomorrow was the official start of the Southwest Grand Competition. Would saving someone at this time not deplete his spiritual energy?
"Then, Master Zhou, what should we do now?"
Zhou Qianyuan appeared relaxed, but Chu Yuan was in a frenzy.
If Lin Chen refused to act, wouldn't his daughter be truly doomed this time?
"Alas, alas, as the saying goes, 'save a person and see it through, send the Buddha to the West.'"
"Patriarch Chu, I do have a method that can delay your daughter's condition."
"However, this medicine is extremely expensive. It depends on whether you are willing to part with it."
Zhou Qianyuan narrowed his eyes and looked at Chu Yuan.
"What? It can delay the condition?"
"Master Zhou, please tell me, what do you need! As long as you are willing to save my daughter, just name your price! Whatever I have, you can have it!"
Upon learning that his daughter might have a chance, Chu Yuan gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, completely hardening his resolve.
"Heh heh heh, it's quite amusing, this medicine is available in name but not in reality on the market. There's no price for it."
"And more importantly, to use this medicine, a medicinal ingredient is also needed."
"It must utilize the pure yang of a cultivator to aid the medicinal properties, otherwise, your beloved daughter will be beyond saving!"
Zhou Qianyuan spoke with feigned profoundness to Chu Yuan.
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire living room fell silent.
Chu Yuan's eyes widened, and he stared at Zhou Qianyuan in stunned silence, as if he were looking at a stranger.
As a man who had been in the martial world for so many years, how could he not understand what Zhou Qianyuan had just said?
Good heavens, this old man must be close to eighty, and he wanted to... with his daughter?
"Master Zhou, you..."
At this moment, Chu Yuan felt an inexplicable surge of resentment filling his chest, he didn't even know how to speak.
He never dreamed that after all the trouble Zhou Qianyuan had put him through all afternoon, he would finally come up with such a reason!
"Patriarch Chu, I know what you are thinking."
"But you must have heard of my abilities, right?"
"Those bodyguards behind you are not ordinary people either."
"I can tell you clearly, if I wanted to kill them, a single glance would suffice."
"If your daughter marries me, the Chu family will have my protection from now on, which is also a good thing."
Having said this, Zhou Qianyuan tilted his head back, looking very pleased with himself.
It was only at the Sun family's place that he truly realized how inconvenient it was to not have his own power base.
And the Chu family before him, although just a family in the secular world, due to their past industry connections, had their subordinates deeply rooted throughout Beichuan.
The Chu family was involved with all sorts of people from all walks of life.
If such a family could be brought under his control, it would be easier to manage on one hand, and on the other, he wouldn't have to painstakingly build his intelligence network himself, right?
Besides, this eldest daughter of the Chu family, Chu Lian, with her figure and appearance, was indeed a stunner!
Especially her delicate and frail demeanor, which was most likely to arouse a man's protective instincts.
And most importantly, when he took Chu Lian's pulse earlier, he clearly discovered that this Chu Lian possessed a water-attribute spiritual root.
And women with such spiritual roots were the most suitable to be used as cultivation cauldrons!
As long as he married this woman, he could enjoy the pleasures of intimacy on one hand, and after he grew tired of her, he could directly use her as a cauldron to absorb her cultivation and increase his own.
It was truly killing two birds with one stone!
"Master Zhou, since you have a way to save my daughter, why did you ask me to beg Mr. Lin just now?"
Chu Yuan asked Zhou Qianyuan with a dark expression.
If the other party had this idea, it certainly wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision!
"Alas, it's rather embarrassing to say, but earlier I just wanted to test how effective your Chu family's intelligence network in the secular world truly was."
Zhou Qianyuan chuckled lightly, revealing his true motive.
Lin Chen was a煉丹師 (alchemist/pill refiner), and although his whereabouts wouldn't be completely secret, it was still very difficult for ordinary people to find him in such a short period!
Yet the Chu family, as a secular family, had found him in just two hours.
This kind of power was usable!
"So, you've been playing us all along?"
Chu Yuan clenched his fists tightly, his entire body tensing up completely.
He knew he was extremely angry, even furious to the extreme!
But he also knew that he could not make a move against Zhou Qianyuan!
Although he didn't know the specific strength of cultivators, nor did he know what methods Zhou Qianyuan possessed.
But he knew that with the people of the Chu family currently present, it was absolutely impossible to take action against Zhou Qianyuan!
"Patriarch Chu, you should feel honored!"
"As the head of the Chu family, you must have felt it, right? In Beichuan, there is a stronger force."
"But I tell you, with my protection, the Chu family can become a truly top-tier family in Beichuan!"
"Of course, I, Zhou Qianyuan, will not force you. I will give you one month to consider. After one month, I will come to the Chu family again."
"At that time, I hope you can give me a definite answer!"
With that said, Zhou Qianyuan, along with Zhou Hao, turned and walked directly out.