My Ares Son-in-Law

The fact that someone like Zhuang Yuan could overcome all opposition and bestow such weight upon someone is definitely not just due to martial arts prowess.

Those people are shrewd; they never do anything that doesn't make them money.

What secrets does Xiao Chen hold that make him worthy of such "investment" or even "betting"?
Qin Xianglan used the Qin family's secret channels to investigate, but the results became increasingly puzzling.

All that is known is that he came from the mountains and shared the same name as the legendary war god.

All of this was like a highly attractive mystery, making her eager to unravel it.

Therefore, when she "bumped into" Xiao Chen at the family's door, she almost immediately changed her original plan.

Xiao Chen saw the undisguised probing look in Qin Xianglan's eyes and understood.

He doesn't dislike this kind of approach with a purpose, as long as the purpose is clear and the rules are well-defined.

The clue to the consecration of the Reverse Scale Sword may lie in this woman's hands.

"it is good."

He spoke concisely and without the slightest hesitation.

Before long, the two were seated by the window on the second floor of the coffee shop.

Outside the window is a meticulously maintained courtyard, with swaying bamboo shadows and babbling brook, isolating it from the hustle and bustle of the outside world; inside, soothing classical music flows, and the air is filled with the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans, paired with off-white carved tables and chairs and retro wrought iron windows with scroll patterns, creating a noble and elegant atmosphere.

Qin Xianglan did not rush to order; instead, she gently stirred the lemonade that the waiter had just brought over with a silver spoon, her posture elegant and composed.

She looked up, her gaze falling on Xiao Chen's calm and expressionless face, and went straight to the point: "Mr. Xiao, you've come to the Qin family today, surely... you have something to ask for?"

Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow slightly: "How do you know?"

Qin Xianglan smiled slightly, put down the silver spoon, and the porcelain spoon clinked against the bone plate, making a crisp sound: "These past few days have been a gathering of my Qin family. This area is usually sparsely populated, and now it is only Qin family members who come and go."

"Mr. Xiao's appearance at this moment, introduced by Uncle Qin Fang, and heading straight to the clan chief's residence... If he didn't have something to ask for, could he really have come to enjoy the scenery and visit friends?"

She paused, her tone still gentle, yet carrying a worldly wisdom: "I'm not one to beat around the bush."

"Mr. Xiao, please speak frankly. If it is within my power, I might be able to help out for Hongyan's sake."

"Of course, if it involves the core interests of the family, I also need to weigh the pros and cons."

Since the other party was so direct, Xiao Chen decided not to beat around the bush anymore.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as a sword, looking directly at Qin Xianglan: "I need something."

"As far as I know, this item is related to a master casting expert named Qin Tie, an ancestor of the Qin family. It is the core material left over after he cast a certain object."

Qin Xianglan paused almost imperceptibly as she stirred the lemonade.

She raised her eyes, her gaze deep and intense, her smile unchanged, but her tone became increasingly serious: "Master Qin Tie? My Qin family ancestors did indeed have a very deep connection with this sage, and we also treasured some of his ancient forging diagrams and insights."

"But Mr. Xiao's 'remaining core materials'... I wonder which artifact he's referring to?"

“It’s a long time old, and the family has a large collection. I need more precise information.”

Xiao Chen remained silent, simply flicking his right hand across the table. The next moment, the Reverse Scale Sword lay silently on the dark velvet-covered table.

There was no dazzling light, no overwhelming murderous aura, but the moment it appeared, the temperature of the surrounding air dropped several degrees. The light seemed to be absorbed by the deep black of the sword, and the area around the table was faintly gloomy.

The dark gold reverse scale pattern was faintly visible in the dim light, seemingly flowing slightly as if it had a life of its own.

"Clap!"

The silver spoon in Qin Xianglan's hand suddenly slipped from her grasp and landed on the edge of the bone china plate with a crisp sound.

The lemonade in front of her was knocked over, and the icy liquid instantly soaked the hem of her moon-white cheongsam, leaving dark water stains.

However, she was completely unaware of this.

Her entire being was captivated by the sword on the table.

Those usually calm and composed, seemingly all-seeing eyes were now wide open, churning with shock, disbelief, realization, and an almost reverent excitement!
Her fair neck stretched forward slightly, her breath caught in her throat, and her gaze was fixed on the sword, especially the dark gold reverse scale pattern... It was exactly the same as the mark on the family's secret map!
"The Reverse...Reverse Scale Sword?!"

Qin Xianglan's voice suddenly rose, trembling with disbelief and cracking, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

She pressed her hands firmly against the edge of the solid wood table, her knuckles turning white from the force, even chipping a corner of her delicate manicured nails, before she could barely steady her swaying body. "It...it's actually in your hands!"

A near-mad, burning light instantly ignited in his eyes, like a hungry wolf spotting its prey.

She stared intently at the ancient sword in the center of the table. The scabbard had a dark purple, creamy sheen and was covered with fine scale patterns. Under the soft lights of the coffee shop, it shimmered with a faint glow. Even from half a foot away, she could feel an aura of majesty from a primitive era, as if a sleeping dragon was lurking within it.

Qin Xianglan's breathing became heavy and rapid, her chest heaving violently, her fingertips turning bluish-white, as she uncontrollably reached towards the ancient sword...

That was the obsession of three generations of the Qin family spanning a century, a sacred object passed down from their ancestors, and a symbol of holding the family's power!

His fingertips were less than half an inch from the blade, and they convulsed violently with excitement, causing even the silk tassels on his cuffs to tremble slightly.

"No one else is allowed to touch my things, nor are they worthy to do so."

Xiao Chen's voice suddenly rang out, without any inflection, yet it was as cold as ten thousand years of ice, striking Qin Xianglan's heart heavily.

He raised his eyes, his dark pupils devoid of any emotion, only an unfathomable indifference: "Those who touch it, from ancient times to the present, have only one fate... death."

The moment the words fell, a chilling sensation, almost tangible, crept up Qin Xianglan's fingertips. It didn't hurt, but it carried a bone-chilling cold, as if she had instantly fallen into an ice cellar tens of degrees below zero.

Qin Xianglan shuddered, jolting awake from her frenzy. She withdrew her hand as if electrocuted, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her close-fitting silk shirt, clinging stickily to her skin and trickling down her spine, making her shiver involuntarily.

When she looked at Xiao Chen again, the shock in her eyes was replaced by an unfathomable fear. She even subconsciously softened her breathing, afraid of angering the seemingly young but unfathomable man in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Xiao, I lost my composure."

Qin Xianglan took three deep breaths, her chest heaving violently, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, her voice still trembling almost imperceptibly, "This item is by no means an ordinary treasure to the Qin family, but a sacred object that has transcended a hundred years!"

"Our ancestors left a will that whoever can find the Reverse Scale Sword will directly take control of the family and mobilize all of the Qin family's resources!"

"We've poured three generations of effort into this, traveled far and wide, and even paid the price of three lives, but we never expected... we never expected it to end up in your hands!" (End of Chapter)