My father is the main character, but the female leads want to kill me.

"what?"

Lin Hongjia paused for a moment, then almost blurted out some words of blessing before quickly stopping himself. But what he said was a bit incoherent: "I wish... I think it's quite common to have three wives and four concubines in the Nine Provinces now, no... I... how should I put it?"

Seeing Lin Hongjia's appearance, Old Wang couldn't help but sigh and quickly comforted her, "Miss, perhaps I'm just overthinking things. Anyway, Young Master Lin Chong is safe and sound. You should quickly pass this message on to the Lin family patriarch!"

As for matters of the heart, he thought it best to let Miss handle it herself. Perhaps with time, a talented young man from the Heavenly Clan would attract her, and she would forget her feelings for Young Master Lin Chong.

Old Wang consciously left the empty island where Miss lived.

After seeing Elder Wang leave, Lin Hongjia went straight into his room. If Lin Ran were here, she would feel that the room was extremely familiar. Lin Hongjia had arranged the same room in the Heavenly Clan as he had lived in the Lin family for many years.

The little girl lay on the bed, holding the dragon and phoenix jade pendant, just like a girl in love, chatting on the phone with her sweetheart. If the phone line could pass through, she probably would want to be by each other's side and stick together.

The message delivered by the Dragon and Phoenix Jade was delayed and might take a long time to arrive. Lin Hongjia sent Lin Chong's message and his own words to Lin Ran all at once, then hugged his knees, staring at the Dragon and Phoenix Jade, eagerly awaiting Lin Ran's reply.

Meanwhile, Lin Ran was also waiting. She drank a pot of tea at the teahouse, but before she could get her wish, she put the jade pendant in her pocket and prepared to go back to the inn to sleep.

To Lin Ran's surprise, just as she returned to her room and was about to lie down and rest for a while, the jade pendant in her arms became warm and a low buzzing sound rang out. Lin Ran quickly took the jade pendant out.

Seeing the jade pendant flashing with golden-red light, Lin Ran probed it with her spiritual power and immediately received a bunch of information from Lin Hongjia, which left Lin Ran a little confused.

"Brother Lin Chong is fine. He's cultivating at Tianli Academy. Apparently, some girls like him. Did you know that?"

"This is the first time you've used this to talk to me, and you didn't even ask if I'm okay? I'm angry!"

"How have you been lately? How's your skill level improving? Have you been missing me?"

"Have you missed me?"

"..."

Hearing these voices, Lin Ran couldn't help but smile. He felt he hadn't been this happy in a long time. He couldn't help but think back to the days after he and that girl confirmed their relationship. Those were truly happy days!

Knowing that Lin Chong was alright, Lin Ran felt relieved and no longer needed to rush to take that space tunnel and risk her life.

Lin Ran also took the Dragon and Phoenix Jade and sent Lin Hongjia everything he wanted to say. He wanted to have a fantasy-world version of a long phone conversation...

……

A month or two later, in a small shop in the capital city of Jishui, Lin Ran slurped up noodles and picked up a local book or newspaper to read.

Perhaps they learned it from the Li Dynasty, because Ji Shui has started doing these things too. The news on it is quite varied, which is enough to amuse Lin Ran.

Not far behind Lin Ran, in an empty alley, a woman dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe and wearing a veil stood quietly. However, her eyes were no longer lifeless as before; instead, they held a few other emotions, which, upon closer inspection, might be anger.

But it also made the woman seem more like a human being, since how could a person not have emotions and desires?

After watching for a while, the woman disappeared again...

A few days later, Lin Ran left the hotel as usual and found a skinny newsboy carrying a newspaper and calling out as he walked down the street. He walked over to the newsboy and teased him, "Hey kid Erniu, give Uncle Lin a newspaper!"

"Alright, Uncle Lin, I have something important to tell you today!" Erniu smiled and wiped his hands with a rag when he saw that it was an acquaintance, Lin Ran, and handed a newspaper to Lin Ran with both hands.

Lin Ran took the newspaper, gave Er Niu a few copper coins, and casually tossed some copper coins and a silver coin into Er Niu's precious money bag. She said, "What big thing happened today? You're not recommending some hot girl to your Uncle Lin again, are you? Ordinary girls, your Uncle Lin wouldn't be interested in them."

"Hey, I guarantee you'll be interested in what I'm about to tell you, Uncle Lin!" Erniu shook his head and said with a sly look in his eyes, "Yong'an Teahouse was really lively today. A really impressive woman came. She was wearing some kind of veil, so we couldn't see her face."

But let me tell you, Uncle Lin, that woman's eyes are the most beautiful I've ever seen, so bright and sparkling. And her voice is just like Erhua's next-door neighbor's—to use the words you taught me, Uncle Lin, it's like heavenly music! And her buttocks are so big and round, she must be very fertile. And those big water balloons, they'd definitely fill you up! I…”

"You little rascal..." Lin Ran saw that Er Niu was getting more and more outspoken and his voice was getting louder, so Lin Ran quickly covered Er Niu's mouth, but it seemed that it was too late.

Because the people around them were looking at them strangely, and some women blushed, muttered a few curses and left, while some fierce-looking middle-aged women looked directly at Lin Ran and said, "You look like a decent person, but I didn't expect you to teach your child like this. You're not even human!"

"Indecent, indecent!" An old man was eating at the stall next to Lin Ran, shaking his head, looking at her with disappointment.

Seeing that this place was about to become the enemy of the people, Lin Ran quickly led the simpleton Erniu away from here and into a safe alley. Lin Ran slapped Erniu on the head and said angrily, "Why were you talking so loudly just now?"

"Holy crap! The lady who sells tofu to me all the time just now covered her face and scurried inside, refusing to look at me! You've ruined my reputation!"

The thought of having to face strange looks every time she went out for breakfast made Lin Ran want to crawl into a hole.

Erniu scratched his face sheepishly and said, "Uncle Lin, I'm sorry!"

"Oh well, never mind!" Lin Ran pulled Erniu to a spot to squat down, took out a big steamed bun, broke it in half and gave it to Erniu, chewing on the bun as she said, "Why don't you tell me about that pretty woman with the big butt and big water balloon!"

Lin Ran said that he just wanted to see it for himself and had absolutely no other ulterior motives. Who wouldn't want to see a big butt and a big water balloon?

……

Chapter Seventy-Three: Martial Arts Tournament for a Bride (Please continue reading)

Erniu, with Lin Ran by his side, sold newspapers while boasting about just how "capable of bearing children" that woman was.

He sold newspapers all the way to Yong'an Teahouse, which was already packed with people; he could see the dense crowd from afar.

Many people squeezed in desperately, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauty. Their shoes were covered in black dirt and footprints.

"Are there so many people?"

Lin Ran looked at the entrance of Yong'an Teahouse with some surprise. It was bustling with people, with cheers and shouts rising and falling, making it quite lively.

Hearing Lin Ran's words, Erniu muttered, "Uncle Lin, I told you to hurry up! Look at all these people, you're going to miss your chance to find a wife!"

"You silly boy, I came here to look at pretty girls, how did it turn into looking for a wife?" Lin Ran rubbed Erniu's head and said curiously.

Erniu then remembered that he had forgotten to mention this, and quickly explained, "Uncle Lin, that beautiful woman who is very fertile has set up a martial arts contest in Yong'an Teahouse, saying that she wants to find a husband who can beat her."

"A martial arts contest to choose a husband? That's really interesting!"

Lin Ran was surprised that this was the kind of thing they were doing, and she became curious. So she took Er Niu and squeezed into the crowd.

"Make way, make way!"

Lin Ran shouted and used her spiritual power to gently push away the guys in front of her.

The two quickly slipped inside the Yong'an Teahouse, where they could see what was happening inside.

The board that originally held the bounty missions had all been dismantled and replaced with an arena. The arena was surrounded by various protective formations, and many people were shouting and cheering around it. The lobby on the first floor, as well as the upper floors, were packed with people eating, drinking tea, and watching the fight on the arena with great enjoyment.

Lin Ran pulled Er Niu upstairs and squeezed to the second floor. There were fewer people there. She pulled Er Niu to the railing and watched the competition below.

The woman, dressed in a light blue dress and wearing a veil, moved with skill and grace, clearly demonstrating considerable strength. In contrast, the thin man opposite her, with his pointed face and monkey-like features, was much weaker.

The woman in the blue dress seemed eager to end the fight quickly. With a flash of pale blue light in her hand, she sent the man flying through the air, sending him crashing into the protective barrier. He fell face-first into the dust, got up, and the man, filled with shame, quickly left the arena and squeezed into the crowd.

The onlookers burst into enthusiastic applause, and the applause in the teahouse was like a tidal wave.

The woman in the light blue dress tidied her hair and walked to the center of the arena, where the young girl was facing him directly.

Lin Ran saw that the girl appeared to be around twenty years old, standing gracefully with a thin veil. Her eyes were as calm as well water, with long eyelashes fluttering, as if they could speak. However, the veil covered most of the girl's face, making one's heart itch a little. Her eyes were already so beautiful; wouldn't she be even more beautiful if she took off the veil?

Lin Ran couldn't help but have a little interest, and his eyes gradually turned golden. He wanted to see what the woman looked like under her veil, but when he looked over, he was blocked by a mysterious force.

From his perspective, the woman in the light blue dress was enveloped in a light blue light, which blocked any attempt to probe her. Moreover, the intensity of that energy was in no way inferior to that of a Spirit Core Realm cultivator.

"A person like this holding a martial arts contest to find a husband? What a joke!" Lin Ran thought to herself.

This woman is either a top expert, the daughter of a powerful figure, or someone's disciple. Is this some kind of martial arts contest for marriage? Is this some kind of entrapment? Who does she have a grudge against?

However, Lin Ran's probing just now may have been discovered by the woman, who actually looked in Lin Ran's direction, her deep eyes fixed on Lin Ran, with emotions in them that Lin Ran could not understand.

After only a brief interaction, the woman looked away and addressed the onlookers in a clear voice: "Many of you may be new here. Let me explain. My name is Mu Shiwen. When I was young, a fortune teller predicted that my husband would be in the capital city of Jishui."

Moreover, my future husband will be a handsome young hero with superb martial arts skills. Therefore, I have specially borrowed this venue from the teahouse owner today to hold a martial arts contest to choose a husband. Before we are married, whoever can defeat me with a single punch or kick will be my bride.”

At this point, Mu Shiwen bowed slightly to everyone and said apologetically, "I have acted recklessly this time. I hope the masters and heroes I defeated earlier will forgive me."

Mu Shiwen's words immediately won the understanding of many people present, and Mu Shiwen then said: "Too many people have come to challenge us today. Even if we were to have a martial arts competition, it might not be able to end for three days and three nights."

"How about this? I have something, a treasure given to me by that wise man years ago. It can find someone destined to be with me. Whichever young master this item finds, he must come forward and have a contest with me. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, many people were displeased. One of them, with a full head of sideburns, a large belly, and a dark patch on his chest, was shirtless. Looking at the burly man who looked to be over forty, he shouted, "Girl, you're going back on your word! How do we know if you've tampered with your treasure? What if I don't get this chance to fight? I've got my eye on you!"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. Some of the bolder ones laughed loudly, "Look at yourself! People say you're a handsome young hero with superb martial arts skills. Even if you win and marry such a beautiful girl, are you expecting her to be so scared that she'll run back to her parents' home as soon as she marries you?"

"Exactly, exactly! And I know you sell pork. Would a girl like that sell pork with you? You roughneck, you have no shame!"

The burly man shouted angrily, "What's wrong with selling pork? If I dress up a bit, I can be a dashing butcher! Who says I'm not a young hero? I'm only eighteen this year! You're just jealous of me. Were you talking bad about me just now, you bald boy!"

The room erupted into a noisy argument, but Mu Shiwen, with her excellent composure, smiled and said after a while, "Marriage is all about fate. I am very grateful for everyone's admiration. Let's follow my method!"

Mu Shiwen took out a rather peculiar-looking little bird. It wasn't that the bird was ugly, but rather that it was as beautiful as a phoenix, golden-red in color, with wings that shimmered with a lustrous sheen. Its small eyes were bright and piercing, and its body seemed to be surging with a considerable energy fluctuation.

Lin Ran, like the onlookers, exclaimed in surprise when she saw the little bird. She had never seen such a beautiful and unique bird before. The little bird perched on Mu Shiwen's shoulder and occasionally let out a few clear chirps.

Mu Shiwen said, "This is a spirited beast. Whoever this little bird lands on later, please come down and have a contest with me!"

After saying that, Mu Shiwen placed the little bird on the back of her hand, bent down and kissed it. The little bird fluttered and flew into the air. Everyone in the room was watching to see which bastard the little bird would fly to.

If it's a grumpy old man, they hope Mu Shiwen can win; if it's a handsome young man, they also hope he wins. If this pretty girl isn't theirs, then it's best to stay single.

Lin Ran also stared at the little bird curiously. The energy fluctuations surging around the little bird were not weak. Moreover, how was this method of selecting people used? If someone brought the little bird some of its favorite food, wouldn't the little bird go over?

Indeed, many people shared Lin Ran's idea and kept trying to attract the bird over, using every trick in the book. But the bird, just like people, ignored them and continued to circle and fly above the teahouse.

After wandering around for most of the day, just when everyone was starting to feel sleepy, the little bird returned to the second floor and suddenly looked in Lin Ran's direction, actually heading towards her.

Lin Ran was stunned for a moment, then quickly tilted his body to the side. He thought the little bird had seen the people behind it and wanted to fly over.

Erniu, standing to the side, excitedly grabbed Lin Ran and pointed at the little bird, saying, "Uncle Lin, that little bird might have flown over to find you!"

Lin Ran quickly covered Er Niu's big mouth and whispered, "Hey kid, Uncle Lin has no interest in this kind of tender young cabbage, don't jinx it."

Erniu rolled his eyes, seemingly speechless at what Lin Ran said. Uncle Lin was clearly a womanizer who dragged him to see pretty women every day. Now he said he didn't like this kind of woman? Family, who would believe that?

The little bird flew towards Lin Ran's direction, and the people there cheered excitedly, shouting, "Come over here! Come over here!"

A crowd of people crowded towards the fence. To avoid being used as a human shield, Lin Ran quickly pulled Er Niu away from the fence, which was teetering on the verge of collapse.

With a loud "rip," the railing broke, and a group of people fell from the second floor to the first floor below, creating a commotion that echoed throughout the Yong'an Teahouse.

The first floor suddenly became chaotic, with many people jeering and laughing at the guys who had fallen to the first floor.

Suddenly someone asked curiously, "Has anyone noticed where that little bird flew off to?"

"Yes, where did that little bird fly off to? Has anyone seen it?"

"I didn't see it! I only saw a bunch of people fall down!"

They looked at each other, wondering which bastard was this powerful and mysterious woman who had managed to win her favor.