A life of idleness in the world of demons

Chapter 17.17. Now look at me.

Ning Xuan slowed his pace and stood upright in front of a row of white walls, tilting his head slightly upwards, his eyes filled with a complex expression.

The sounds from the study in the distance gradually quieted down; the two people inside were clearly conversing in a quieter, more discreet manner.

However, even a few words were enough for Ning Xuan to glimpse the tip of the iceberg of the truth.

This is the truth about his family.

This world is clearly not like him, nor is it as most people perceive it to be, a world of low-level martial arts.

The imperial court in this world possesses a mysterious power, which can be subtly inferred from terms such as "General Qin Shanjun," "Dragon Qi," and "Celestial Master Realm."

The old man's true identity is most likely that he is a member of this mysterious court.

He didn't know what his father had done before he turned thirty-five, but he knew that his father already had a descendant at that time, a descendant he hoped would inherit his mantle, and that person was the one who "called his elder brother".

But the mysterious imperial court didn't seem to allow his father to do so.

He could roughly guess the reason.

To avoid the situation of "hereditary local tyrants" from occurring.

Ning Xuan could easily imagine that with his father's prestige, a single word from him would be enough to draw many powerful forces from the surrounding prefectures to his side. This was even when he was just a pretty boy and a playboy. If someone had truly inherited his father's mantle, then it would be a complete "private empire," which the mysterious court would certainly not allow.

Therefore, his elder brother cannot be revealed.

Therefore, his birth became a matter of course.

To avoid suspicion, his father and mother had him.

He was naturally groomed into a dissolute playboy who indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, thus putting the mysterious imperial court at ease.

Talk about it.
He inherited wealth and luxury from his father, while his elder brother inherited skills, danger, and a life full of hardships.

Now, his father looks frail and weak. Even if Ning Xuan is unwilling to admit it, he can sense that his father doesn't have many years left to live. His seemingly refined body is already decaying, and he is almost an old man.

Therefore, a marriage alliance is imperative.

The mysterious court clearly had rules that required "potential heirs" to be completely removed from their original lands, so the court wanted him to marry into another family.

The old man also had his own plans. He wanted to consider his son, his mother, and the entire Ning family, so he tried his best to secure a marriage alliance for him that, from his own perspective, was already quite good.

Moving to the Hanzhou Ranch and marrying the illegitimate daughter of General Qin's family was essentially no different from marrying into the family.

But General Qin must be very powerful.

My father's thinking was: "So what if we have to suffer a little? Who doesn't suffer? As long as we live a peaceful and prosperous life, that's all that matters."

For a moment, Ning Xuan couldn't tell who his father was favoring.

Suddenly, his thoughts drifted away.

He remembered his childhood, when his father would take him horseback riding across the ancient plains, admiring the blooming flowers, and telling him "otherworldly fairy tales" he'd heard from who-knows-where; his father would carry him everywhere, holding his hand, teaching him to fly kites, never scolding him for his mistakes, spoiling him rotten.
Ning Xuan could already imagine that his father was a ruthless, decisive, and ambitious person, otherwise he wouldn't have taken this step.

Yet this same father had given him the best of all the tenderness he had ever known in his life.

In this life, his father is his real father.

Therefore, he should cooperate with his father.

Don't let Dad's plans change.

Don't put your whole family in danger because of your own willfulness.

In this way, the father-son bond can be fulfilled in this lifetime.

"Hanzhou Horse Ranch, huh?"

Before Ning Xuan's eyes appeared an endless grassland with drifting white clouds.

He sent Xiao Jie away to avoid upsetting the legal wife; living under someone else's roof, he tried his best to perform, carefully concealing his strength and only revealing a little bit each time to gain status; the legal wife was a concubine's daughter, and would occasionally become a punching bag at home, while he needed to become the punching bag among punching bags, becoming a seemingly useless person who was actually getting stronger and stronger, while thinking every day, "One day, one day."
into the night.

Ning Family Study.

Master Ning is still awake.

The door opened again. Old Master Ning looked gently at the young man who entered, a kind smile on his face, and said, "I knew you couldn't sleep and would come to me to ask what was going on. I had the cook prepare wine and dishes. By the way, have we had a drink together, son?"

"father."

Ning Xuan interrupted him.

Ning Taiyi looked at him with interest, smiled, and said, "Do you have a surprise for Dad?"

Ning Xuan nodded.

Ning Taiyi suppressed his smile, stood up, and said solemnly, "Father is looking forward to it."

He said he was looking forward to it, but he wasn't really looking forward to it. He had already guessed what his son was going to do: he was just restless and thought he was a martial arts prodigy, so he wanted to refuse to marry into Hanzhou.

He was extremely tolerant of his son's "lack of understanding," so he wanted to listen carefully to his son's explanation first, and then slowly persuade him to understand that in this era, martial artists were just more worthwhile flesh and blood, just cannon fodder on the battlefield of the new era, just trash.

However, to his surprise, Ning Xuan calmly said, "Father, I know that you are always thorough in your planning. The marriage alliance with Hanzhou Ranch that you arranged for me was also a decision made after considering all aspects."

Ning Taiyi was stunned for a moment, then said, "My Xuan'er has grown up."

Ning Xuan said, "That's precisely why I don't want any changes to my father's plans."

Ning Taiyi asked curiously, "What variable?"

Ning Xuan asked, "Father, can you tell a person's level by observing their qi and blood?"

Ning Taiyi nodded.

Ning Xuan said, "Then you can see how I am now."

As soon as he finished speaking, he no longer concealed the calm energy within his body. Even without using the Heavenly Demon Talisman, he was already a physique of 2.2.

Before he said these words, his blood and qi were just a calm stream; after he said them, his blood and qi suddenly boiled, surged, and roared.

He clenched his fists, his slender muscles bulging like steel bars, and raised his eyes like a ferocious beast poised to devour its prey in a midnight forest. His imposing aura was like the fierce smoke of war, so oppressive that it made it hard to breathe and sent chills down one's spine.

It truly is a monster in human skin.

After Ning Xuan's physical constitution broke through to 2.0, he vaguely sensed that this "2.0" was likely the limit for martial artists.

To break through this limit, external force is needed.

He possesses a natural external force—the Heavenly Demon Talisman.

He has easily broken through what others consider an impossible limit.

An expression of disbelief gradually appeared in Ning Taiyi's eyes.

The next instant, he suddenly shouted sharply, "You've contracted the demonic plague?!"

Ning Xuan was taken aback: "What kind of demonic plague?"

Ning Taiyi quickly stepped forward and anxiously raised his hand to touch his forehead.

Suddenly, the refined old man shone with golden light.

He closed his eyes, clearly examining Ning Xuan.

After a long while, he withdrew his fingers and said in a somewhat bewildered voice, "You...you haven't been infected with the demon plague? That's impossible. Without the demon plague, it's absolutely impossible to have reached this level. You...you..."

Ning Xuan honestly replied, "I train hard every day; it's not just about talent."

Ning Taiyi asked, "How did you train?"

Ning Xuan recounted his daily training routine.

Ning Taiyi was clearly a bit flustered. He rubbed his forehead and said, "Xuan'er, go and rest first. Let your father sort things out properly."

P.S.: It's summer vacation! Today I went on a trip with my family and kids. We took the train all morning, rested a bit after lunch, and have been writing in the hotel ever since. Here's the first chapter.

Updates might be a bit late these next few days, but I promise there will be no fewer updates. I apologize for the inconvenience.

(End of this chapter)