My Ares Son-in-Law

"Pfft!"

The sharp blade pierced the throat of the Lü family expert with unparalleled precision.

The madness, shock, and despair on his face froze instantly. He futilely covered his bleeding neck with his hands, a hissing sound coming from his throat. His body swayed, then he fell heavily backward, crashing next to his companion's still-warm body, splattering a small patch of blood.

The garden fell silent again, with only the strong stench of blood lingering in the air, telling the story of the brief but brutal massacre that had just taken place.

He frowned slightly, then casually waved his hand, and a ball of flame instantly burned the two corpses to ashes. The wind blew by, and they disappeared completely, as if nothing had ever happened.

After all, his fire was no ordinary flame.

After dealing with these matters, he turned and returned to the hall.

However, he paused slightly as soon as he stepped into the living room.

Zhou Keying did not wait in the upstairs room, but stood in the center of the living room, her face showing obvious anxiety and unease.

Beside her stood a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, exuding a calm and dignified air. The man had a square face, thick black eyebrows, and deep-set eyes. At this moment, he was frowning slightly, looking at Xiao Chen who had just entered with a complex expression.

It was Zhou Keying's father, Zhou Yanhe, the current head of the Zhou family.

Clearly, the gatekeeper had immediately reported to him that Xiao Chen had entered the Zhou family's residence in a special vehicle. Upon receiving the news, he rushed back from outside.

"Keying, go back to your room first." Zhou Yanhe said, his voice deep and carrying an unquestionable air of authority as the head of the family.

"Dad! I'm not leaving!" Zhou Keying shook her head stubbornly. Instead of leaving, she took a step forward and stood even more firmly in front of Xiao Chen, spreading her arms like a mother hen protecting her chicks, shielding Xiao Chen tightly behind her. She knew her father's temper and methods very well, and she was even more aware of the pressure brought by the Lü family. She absolutely could not let Xiao Chen face it alone.

Seeing his daughter's attitude, Zhou Yanhe's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness and a deeper worry.

Xiao Chen, on the other hand, had a calm smile on his face. He gently patted Zhou Keying's slightly trembling shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "It's alright, your dad can't eat me."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a kind of inexplicable reassuring power.

Zhou Keying turned back to look at him blankly, and when she met his deep and calm eyes, the panic in her heart subsided strangely.

She bit her lower lip, glanced at her father's solemn face, and finally nodded, whispering, "Then... hurry up." After saying that, she walked towards the stairs, looking back every few steps, and her figure quickly disappeared around the corner on the second floor.

In the large living room, only Xiao Chen and Zhou Yanhe remained, and the air seemed to grow heavier.

Zhou Yanhe didn't speak immediately. Instead, he walked to the mahogany coffee table on one side of the living room and skillfully began boiling water, rinsing the cups, and getting the tea. His movements were unhurried, carrying the calm and composed demeanor of someone who had long held a high position.

"You must be Xiao Chen." Zhou Yanhe gently pushed a cup of freshly brewed tea to the empty seat opposite the tea tray, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "Sit."

Xiao Chen nodded, walked to the opposite side with a calm expression, and sat down without showing any restraint or weakness despite being in an unfamiliar environment and facing the imposing Zhou family head.

Zhou Yanhe picked up his teacup, took a sip, and casually glanced at Xiao Chen. He was actually quite surprised. Given his status and the prestige he had accumulated over the years, ordinary young people, even those from prominent families in the provincial capital, would inevitably feel nervous or try to impress him.

But the young man before them, named Xiao Chen, was excessively calm, his eyes clear and deep, his demeanor composed and unhurried, as if he were sitting in his own living room. This composure was truly extraordinary.

If it weren't for the marriage agreement with the Lü family, and the immense shadow of their power, he might have genuinely been willing to give this young man a chance to see just how far he could go. Unfortunately…

Zhou Yanhe put down his teacup and cut to the chase, saying, "You should already know about the engagement between Keying and Lu Wenhou of the Lu family, right?"

"I know," Xiao Chen replied succinctly.

"You must have learned about the Lü family's influence and background in the provincial capital and even the entire Northwest through various channels, right?" Zhou Yanhe continued to ask, his gaze sharp, as if trying to see through Xiao Chen's heart.

"I've heard a little about it," Xiao Chen said calmly.

Zhou Yanhe nodded slightly, his tone becoming more serious, as if conducting a formal assessment: "I have investigated you. Tianzheng Group, doing well, although its foundation is still shallow, its potential is considerable. As for your personal strength... Gu Cheng Situ Xiong is quite famous in the provincial capital's martial arts circle. The fact that you were able to kill him in a public competition is indeed enough to make people take notice."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully: "If we take Situ Xiong's true combat strength as a reference, your strength is probably close to the edge of the 600th place on the Dragon Kingdom's Celestial Ranking. To be honest, at your age, to have achieved such a feat is already remarkable, with unlimited potential."

His words did indeed carry a hint of appreciation for talent. But then, the tone shifted, becoming serious:

"But young man, do you know where Lu Wenhou, who is engaged to Keying, ranks on the Dragon Kingdom's list of celestial beings?"

Xiao Chen didn't reply, but just looked at Zhou Yanhe quietly, his eyes as deep as an ancient well, without any ripples.

Zhou Yanhe looked at Xiao Chen's seemingly indifferent and fearless demeanor, shaking his head inwardly. He couldn't understand whether this young man had some unknown advantage or was simply ignorant and fearless. He took a deep breath and slowly uttered the number that would send despair through the vast majority of the province's young talents, his voice low and clear:
"Since you don't know, then I'll tell you. Lu Wenhou is not only the direct heir of the Lu family, but also hailed as one of the leading figures in the younger generation of martial arts in the provincial capital. Just last month, in a secret duel, he defeated a renowned master from the original rankings in three moves. According to the latest, not yet fully publicized, internal assessment, his ranking has been firmly established at—"

"Ranked 387th on the Dragon Kingdom's Celestial Ranking".

Zhou Yanhe's gaze was fixed on Xiao Chen, and each word he uttered seemed to strike the silent living room like a heavy hammer:
"The gap between you and him is not something that can be easily bridged by effort or talent. It is a comprehensive crushing of foundation, resources, techniques, and even luck; it is a true... world of difference."

"Oh!"

Xiao Chen simply gave a casual reply.

What kind of bullshit Heavenly Ranking is this? It's nothing more than a bunch of worldly martial artists showing off their strength and competitiveness. He doesn't even care about it.

His level of understanding has reached a level that these people cannot even imagine.

It could be said that even the person ranked first on the Heavenly Ranking could be drowned by his spit.

A person's perspective truly determines their judgment. (End of Chapter)