I'm here in the martial arts world just to find love.

"Madam, are you feeling any better?"

Inside the cave, Liu Chen lit the piece of ambergris that Jiang Chao had obtained from the palace, and the rising smoke spread throughout the cave.

On the ice-jade bed, a sickly, beautiful woman with a snake's tail and a human body nodded slightly.

"I feel much better, thank you, my husband."

Liu Chen gently stroked the white snake's tail, sighed, and said with a worried expression:

"Although this ambergris is a precious item taken from that old dragon, its effects are limited. It can only be used to temporarily suppress your injuries, Madam. Perhaps I should think of another way and go to Penglai again in a few days."

The beautiful woman with a human body and a snake tail shook her head. "My husband, there's no need to worry. I know my own family's situation. I'm afraid I won't survive this calamity. I only hope that you will treat our children well in the future and not let them suffer because of me..."

Liu Chen felt a pang of pain in his heart, and said in a hurried yet firm tone:

"What are you saying, Madam? What do you mean by 'can't make it through'? Over the years, you and I, husband and wife, have survived countless life-or-death situations together. We can definitely make it this time too!"

The woman gently shook her head, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"This time is different. This is a calamity of heaven and earth, as well as an opportunity and test for all things. Beings like me are not in accordance with the natural way of heaven and earth, and I am afraid that I will not be able to escape this calamity."

"My husband, you must take good care of yourself. Xi'er and the others cannot do without your care."

Liu Chen closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his face.

It is said that men do not easily shed tears, but only when they are truly heartbroken.

Liu Chen's wife, Madam Wang, was no ordinary mortal. She was a primordial spirit snake born from an ancient secret realm. Such primordial beings have extremely long lifespans.

After arriving in the mortal realm, she accidentally ingested the residue of a pill, which transformed her into human form. There, she met, fell in love with, and eventually married Liu Chen, a mortal, and had a son and a daughter.

This should have been a beautiful story, but as the saying goes, "Man proposes, God disposes," and "Misfortune can strike at any moment."

In order to have a normal child, the couple risked their lives and ventured into various ancient secret realms hidden outside the mortal world to search for opportunities and spiritual medicines.

Little did they know, all of this was seen by the Heavenly Dao of this mortal realm, but it had not yet been dealt with.

In this great upheaval, the ethereal Heavenly Dao manifested itself in the world, and was utterly enraged. The Wang family, as descendants of ancient mythical beasts and the Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Serpent lineage, had actually committed adultery with mortals, violating the Heavenly Laws, and their crime was unforgivable.

Then a divine punishment descended, and Wang Shi, who had shed her snake body to become a human, was forced back to her original form.

At the same time, the outlaw hero Liu Chen also suffered the punishment of being implicated.

He was only one step away from the peak of mortal martial arts, but he failed because of this and almost lost all his martial arts cultivation.

Fortunately, Liu Chen was blessed with good fortune and had extraordinary luck, which allowed him to escape with his life.

"You've seen your young husband; are you satisfied?"

Wang didn't want Liu Chen to wallow in useless sorrow any longer, so she changed the subject.

"His temperament is acceptable, but he is too reckless and frivolous when it comes to matters of love between men and women. I don't like that," Liu Chen said, shaking his head.

"Who needs your approval?"

Wang rolled her eyes at him upon hearing this, then sighed, "Husband, you must know that this child is no ordinary person and cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

"If Yiyi follows him in the future, she will surely be able to transform from a mortal to an immortal, go to a wider world, and enjoy endless wealth and glory."

Liu Chen remained silent. Was that the kind of life his sister truly wanted to live?

Although the lifespan of mortals is no more than a hundred years, and they still have to experience birth, aging, sickness, death, joy, sorrow, separation, and reunion, these are real days.

Immortals, seemingly free and unburdened from calamities and tribulations, may not necessarily be truly happy.

"I know what my husband is thinking. It's nothing more than that the young man has too many women around him, and he's afraid that Yiyi will suffer if she follows him, but..."

Wang sighed, "But under the great calamity of heaven and earth, the disasters faced by mortals will only become more severe. If there is no strong person to protect her, I'm afraid Yiyi's days will be even more difficult in the future."

"I may not be able to... live out this life peacefully."

Liu Chen remained silent for a long time before speaking in an extremely low voice:

"I understand what you mean, Madam, but... never mind, I will do my best, but if it really doesn't work, I can only leave it to fate."

As the couple were talking, an old man walked in from outside the cave.

"Master, I have made arrangements for the entire Yu family."

Liu Chen nodded. "I understand. You may leave now."

The old man responded and left.

"The Yu family? My husband captured them?"

Wang asked in confusion.

Liu Chen nodded. "The Yu family, especially the currently popular Yu Wenyuan, has a very promising career and great fortune. With his help, Madam will surely be able to escape this calamity and turn danger into safety."

Wang suddenly became agitated, "Why would my husband do such a thing? This is an act that damages one's virtue, it must not be done!"

Liu Chen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam. It's just borrowing a bit of luck; it certainly won't damage my karma. Besides, even if it does damage my karma, I'm willing to do it, as long as you're safe and sound."

"You, you..."

……

"Brother, do you know where this place is?"

Looking at the dense forest shrouded in mist in the distance, Yu Wenhao asked nervously.

Beside him, Yu Wenyuan frowned and remained silent.

He didn't know where he was. He was sleeping soundly in the middle of the night when he suddenly felt dizzy and woke up to find himself here.

As an official appointed by the imperial court, Yu Wenyuan had heard of countless bizarre things, but he never imagined that such a thing would happen to him.

Or rather, it's about the Yu family.

After all, the Yu family had a long history of literary and artistic success, with generations of officials, a wealth of talented individuals, and abundant blessings. In addition, thanks to his younger sister Yu Wushuang and her husband Jiang Buwen, the family was at its zenith in his generation.

Whether in the martial arts world or the imperial court, the Yu family is a pivotal force.

Such a family is not only untouchable by petty villains, but even reclusive martial arts masters and esoteric experts have to give them some face.

However, overnight, the entire Yu family, from top to bottom, was inexplicably detained and imprisoned in this unknown place by extremely bizarre means.

"There's no need to panic. No matter where we are, the person who brought our family here must have no ill intentions, otherwise we would all be dead already."

After a long silence, Yu Wenyuan slowly spoke.

Yu Wenhao scratched his face.

"Brother, you make it sound so easy, but this godforsaken place is really creepy. I can't stand it for another second."

The sky was overcast and dark, with fog all around, making it almost impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. This oppressive atmosphere was nothing short of torture for someone like Yu Wenhao who loved excitement.

Even if his entire family of dozens of people were around him, he couldn't stand it.

Fear and anxiety about the unknown made him restless and unable to sit still.

"Wait a little longer; the person behind it all will surely appear soon."

Yu Wenyuan tried his best to comfort her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yu Wenyuan caught sight of the maids and servants lying unconscious on the ground not far away, and a surge of anger flashed through his heart.

Such humiliation of an official of the imperial court is absolutely unforgivable, regardless of who is behind it or what their purpose is!

He now holds great power in the court. With the Empress ascending the throne, she is in dire need of capable people. Without him as the Minister of War, the operation of the court will be affected.

I don't know how much time has passed. Staying in such a place, I can't even tell the time. It just feels like an eternity.

A figure emerged from the mist.

He was a middle-aged man with a handsome face and a refined demeanor.

Upon seeing this figure, Yu Wenyuan calmly inquired:

"Who are you? Why have you imprisoned my family here?"

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"My name is Liu Chen, and I greet Lord Yu."

"Liu Chen?"

Yu Wenyuan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, then shook his head and looked at the middle-aged man, saying:

"I do not recognize you."

Liu Chen smiled and said, "It's not surprising that Lord Yu doesn't recognize me, since we've never met before, but Lord Yu should have heard of my Liu family."

"The Liu family of Qingzhou City."

A thought flashed through Yu Wenyuan's mind: "Is there a woman named Liu Yiyi in that family?"

Yu Wenyuan, who frequently corresponded with his younger sister Yu Wushuang, had naturally heard a lot about his nephew Jiang Chao. After all, Jiang Chao was the apple of Yu Wushuang's eye, a precious treasure.

Every time the siblings corresponded, Yu Wushuang inevitably mentioned Jiang Chao.

Therefore, he knew that his nephew had met a young girl when he went down the mountain, and that he had fallen in love with her at first sight and would marry no one but her.

"Exactly."

Liu Chen nodded, "This junior is Yiyi's elder brother."

Yu Wenyuan felt a slight sense of relief, but when he thought of the recent rumors about his nephew Jiang Chao, he couldn't help but worry again.

My nephew is perfect in every way, both in terms of talent and character.

However, when it comes to matters of the heart, he is too reckless, which is a real headache.

With so many beautiful women around him, could it be that he was eyeing other women while eating what he had, and that she was caught in the act, which is why she got angry and dragged the Yu family into it?

Thinking of this, Yu Wenyuan felt utterly helpless.

Oh well, never mind.

Since it involves the nephew, it's only right that the elders suffer some hardship and pain.

"Lord Yu, please don't be alarmed. This junior has no ill intentions. I just want to ask Lord Yu for a favor. I hope Lord Yu will grant my request."

Yu Wenyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Speak, now that we're under your roof, what can we do?"

These words contained resentment, but more than anything, they expressed relief and helplessness.

Thinking to myself, the Liu family is really stingy. It's just a less-than-ideal marriage, why make such a fuss?

"Does Your Excellency know about the concept of destiny?"

Liu Chen asked.

Yu Wenyuan shook his head calmly, indicating that he did not know.

In truth, the other person's words stirred up a wave of emotions within him.