The Mother-in-Law’s Appraisal

For the next two months, Xia Yi systematically prepared everything he could possibly use against Zhen Aoyu.

This included elixirs, talismans, formations, spirit artifacts, and more.

Anything he deemed useful, Xia Yi made sure to acquire.

It was thanks to his earlier decision to join the Myriad Treasure Pavilion as a first-class guest elder that Xia Yi possessed the necessary capital and channels to make such thorough preparations.

Considering all the items Xia Yi had amassed over these two months, if Zhen Aoyu weren’t the protagonist, these marvelous little tools would have been enough to kill him a thousand times over.

“Phew, this should be just about enough.”

After storing everything within his spatial ring, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“I heard from Master that things are progressing smoothly on their end. She even asked me to deliver a Beauty Enhancing Pill to them today.”

Xia Yi had originally planned to unwind a little and explore the local customs and scenery of Hanhai City.

Only when he reached the doorway did he suddenly recall that over the past month, Pei Yunxiang and Fei Miaoyun had apparently become quite close with Bing Yingying’s mother, Chang Zhenli, to the point of being bosom friends.

While he didn’t know how they managed it, since it benefited the plan’s progress, Xia Yi hadn’t delved much deeper into the matter.

After a brief marvel at the mysterious nature of female friendships, Xia Yi turned back to refine the Beauty Enhancing Pill.

Around noon, Xia Yi placed a pink Beauty Enhancing Pill into a jade vial.

After a quick scan of Pei Yunxiang’s location, he set off.

Soon, Xia Yi arrived before the grand gates of the Bing family estate, marveling briefly at the expansive residences of the city dwellers.

After informing the guards at the entrance of his name, he was respectfully ushered into the Bing family mansion.

He had originally expected to experience the protagonist’s unique ‘being looked down upon by snobbish eyes’ (TL Note: A common webnovel trope, ‘gouyan kanren di’, where a character is initially disrespected due to perceived low status, only to ‘face-slap’ their detractors by revealing their true power or identity) scenario.

Yet, he entered the Bing family estate so smoothly that Xia Yi felt a slight sense of disappointment.

After following his guide through numerous twists and turns, Xia Yi finally arrived in a secluded rear garden.

Pei Yunxiang and Fei Miaoyun were conversing cheerfully under a pavilion with a charming, middle-aged beauty who still retained her alluring grace.

“Yi’er!”

Pei Yunxiang was the first to spot Xia Yi’s arrival, immediately waving him over.

Fei Miaoyun, who usually loved to cling to Xia Yi, was now acting quite demure and restrained, merely sitting quietly beside Chang Zhenli without rushing forward.

This made Xia Yi feel a little unaccustomed; he had initially expected Fei Miaoyun to pounce on him.

Perhaps Fei Miaoyun was holding back due to the presence of an outsider.

Disregarding the slight sense of incongruity in his heart, Xia Yi, heeding Pei Yunxiang’s summons, unhurriedly approached the three women.

“Senior.”

He courteously bowed before Chang Zhenli.

“Indeed, you are a handsome young man. Please, take a seat.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

After bowing once more, Xia Yi settled into a seat opposite the three women.

No sooner had he sat down than Pei Yunxiang’s dragon tail coiled around Xia Yi’s calf.

Feeling the familiar sensation on his calf, Xia Yi froze for a moment, glancing at Pei Yunxiang, whose expression remained completely normal.

Pei Yunxiang, however, ignored Xia Yi’s questioning gaze, proceeding to introduce him to Chang Zhenli as if nothing had happened.

“Sister Li, what do you think? I didn’t lie to you, did I? Isn’t my disciple exceptionally handsome?”

“Indeed, Sister Yunxiang, your disciple is truly handsome. I merely wonder about Nephew Xia Yi’s cultivation level?”

Although Chang Zhenli was a Core Formation realm cultivator, she would never commit such a provocative act as rashly probing her best friend’s disciple’s cultivation in front of her.

“Replying to Senior, this junior has just recently entered the Foundation Establishment realm.”

Xia Yi had no intention of revealing his true cultivation of the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation.

After all, such a revelation would be far too shocking. In any case, the aura of the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation was quite similar to that of a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator. Without careful discernment, one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

“Already in Foundation Establishment!?”

Hearing that Xia Yi had already reached Foundation Establishment cultivation, Chang Zhenli’s eyes widened with surprise.

She had believed that only the prodigies of immortal sects, or those with unique characteristics like her own daughter, could achieve Foundation Establishment at such a young age.

To her surprise, one such individual now stood before her, and he was roughly the same age as her daughter.

“Yes, this junior has indeed reached Foundation Establishment cultivation.”

With that, Xia Yi deliberately released a wisp of his aura. Sensing Xia Yi’s ‘Foundation Establishment’ aura, Chang Zhenli’s eyes gleamed with even greater satisfaction.

“Nephew Yi, do you belong to a sect?”

“This junior has no sect affiliation; my purpose in coming to Hanhai City this time is to join the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.”

“Do you possess any special skills?”

“This junior has a slight understanding of the path of alchemy.”

“You can even refine pills?!”

“Just a little.”

“Good, good, good. Nephew Yi, have you ever been betrothed?”

“I…”

Xia Yi was about to say that Fei Miaoyun was his Dao companion when he was interrupted by the tightening grip of Pei Yunxiang’s dragon tail.

“Oh, hehe, Sister Li, my Yi’er is not yet betrothed. Isn’t that right, Yi’er~?”

“Hiss… Yes… this junior is indeed not yet betrothed.”

The sharp pain in his calf made Xia Yi suck in a cold breath, and under Pei Yunxiang’s ‘benevolent’ gaze, he had no choice but to go along with her words.

“Excellent, excellent, Sister Yunxiang, you are truly wonderful. I will return and mention your suggestion to my husband.”

“Hehe, then I shall trouble Sister Li.”

“It’s no trouble at all, no trouble. For Sister Yunxiang to be willing to accept my predicament is already a rare kindness. I never expected you’d give me such a grand surprise; it is I who should be thanking you, Sister.”

“Sister Li, you exaggerate. It’s merely a fortunate match at a fortuitous time. Oh, and Sister Li, Yi’er has brought you a welcoming gift this time. Isn’t that right, Yi’er?”

Pei Yunxiang’s hint was as clear as could be, and Xia Yi naturally caught on.

“Indeed, this Beauty Enhancing Pill is the welcoming gift this junior offers to Senior.”

With that, Xia Yi produced the Beauty Enhancing Pill he had refined that morning.

“A Beauty Enhancing Pill!!”

Just as no man could resist a long, straight wooden staff complete with a handguard, no woman could resist an elixir that promised to enhance her beauty.

After accepting the Beauty Enhancing Pill and repeatedly confirming its authenticity, Chang Zhenli’s gaze towards Xia Yi sparkled with renewed brilliance, growing more satisfied with each passing moment.

However, Xia Yi couldn’t shake the feeling that Chang Zhenli’s gaze resembled the look of a mother-in-law appraising her prospective son-in-law, a look he had often seen online before his transmigration.

A proper mother-in-law and son-in-law, of course.

“Nephew has a thoughtful heart. As it’s already late, why not stay at my estate for the night? Tomorrow, when Xingwen and Yingying return, I can speak with them directly. What do you think, Yunxiang?”

“I shall defer to Sister Li’s arrangements entirely.”

“Then it’s settled. Coincidentally, I recently acquired some fine wine. I invite both sisters and Nephew Yi to partake in it together.”

“I…”

Xia Yi had intended to ask what they were going to discuss, but this time, he was interrupted by Fei Miaoyun.

“Hehe, Xia Yi, let’s go quickly. This elder sister will take you to an interesting place.”

With that, Fei Miaoyun gave Xia Yi a push.

“Ah? An interesting place?”

So bold, truly? This was someone else’s home, after all.

In Xia Yi’s experience, Fei Miaoyun’s ‘interesting places’ were typically locations she deemed stimulating for exploring the ‘great harmony of life’ (TL Note: A humorous euphemism for sexual activity).

This included, but was not limited to, lakes, trees, the sky, wardrobes, cliff edges, and other such peculiar spots.

Urged along by Fei Miaoyun, Xia Yi failed to notice a maidservant emerging from around the corner, carrying a watering can.

‘Splash!’

Xia Yi collided squarely with the maidservant. Being an ordinary person, she was sent sprawling by the impact, and the water from her watering can inevitably splashed all over Xia Yi.

“Are you alright?”

Xia Yi paid no mind to his soaked clothes, instead immediately extending a hand to the fallen maidservant.

“N-no, I’m fine, truly. I am so terribly sorry, honored sir, I wasn’t watching where I was going and bumped into you. I humbly beg for your mercy and forgiveness for this humble servant.”

“It’s good that you’re alright. Don’t worry, I bear you no ill will.”

“I am eternally grateful for your generosity, this humble servant…”

While Xia Yi was reassuring the maidservant, Chang Zhenli, as the hostess, remained silent, instead merely nodding at Xia Yi.

She had observed Xia Yi’s actions just now.

Xia Yi’s initial reaction was not to blame the mortal who had offended him, but rather to instinctively show concern for her. This alone was enough to prove Xia Yi’s excellent character.

Coupled with the information Pei Yunxiang had provided, and now seeing him in person,

Chang Zhenli felt increasingly that Xia Yi and Yingying were a perfect match.

‘This young man truly pleases me. If he were willing to marry Yingying, it would indeed be Yingying’s good fortune.’

Recalling her own daughter’s unique circumstances, Chang Zhenli sighed helplessly.