Zhao Yinxi was also dumbfounded.
She turned her head, looking at Zhou Qingyu in disbelief.
If she remembered correctly, he had a Breakthrough as a former Genius just the day before yesterday.
In just two days, he had surpassed Zhao Qingyang, who was at the third level of Qi Refinement?
“You were so brave protecting your husband just now,” Zhou Qingyu teased in her ear, making her face flush crimson.
Her body instantly went limp, and her small hand was held freely by Zhou Qingyu.
“Today, your husband will teach you a set of Dog-Beating Staff Martial Skill. If you encounter a vicious dog bullying you in the future, just beat it to your heart's content!”
With that, he raised the broom and slapped Zhao Qingyang again.
Zhao Qingyang, his face burning, was enraged and roared, “You ambushed me while I was distracted. Do you really think you’re something?”
“Fierce Tiger Fist!”
He circulated his third-level Qi Refinement cultivation, starting with the Zhao Family’s Yellow-Grade Low Grade Martial Skill.
His fists carried a heavy punch wind, fiercely striking the broom sweeping towards him.
Smack—
However, this powerful punch was easily slapped away by the broom. The dirty broom struck him, knocking him to the ground on the spot!
Immediately after, there were a flurry of broom shadows, beating him like a drowning dog.
Zhao Qingyang yelped in pain, rolling around like a dog.
How could he, only in his teens, have ever endured such a beating?
After a few more hits, he started to cry, “Sister, save me, Sister!”
Zhao Yanyun couldn't bear to watch anymore and said coldly, “Enough!”
Zhou Qingyu ignored Zhao Yanyun, his eyes only on Zhao Yinxi, and asked, “Does it feel satisfying?”
More than satisfying!
Zhao Yinxi even felt a sense of vindication.
She never thought that after being bullied by Zhao Qingyang for so many years, she would one day be able to hold a broom and whip him.
And she even made him cry!
Much of her long-held grievances dissipated, and she nodded repeatedly, “That’s enough, please stop.”
If Zhao Qingyang was severely injured, her stepmother would not let her off.
Only then did Zhou Qingyu put away the broom and say, “Young Lord Zhao, next time you think of bullying my Yinxi, consider first how many broom strikes your delicate skin can withstand!”
Zhao Qingyang, covered in mud, crawled up, wiping his tears, and hid behind Zhao Yanyun.
He glared at Zhou Qingyu with resentment, “Sister, quickly break his legs, break his legs!”
However, Zhao Yanyun remained motionless for a long time.
He looked up and saw Zhao Yanyun staring at Zhao Yinxi, her expression somewhat complex.
She had never thought highly of this Elder sister.
Ugly her whole life, miserable her whole life, oppressed her whole life.
But at this moment, she was tightly protected in the embrace of a domineering man.
He shielded her from the wind and the rain.
These were things Zhao Yanyun had never experienced.
A hint of envy sprouted in her heart.
And what made her feel complicated was that this man was someone she had given to her sister!
“Sister, what are you standing there for? Even if you don’t teach that guy named Zhou a lesson, this ugly freak must be severely punished!”
“How dare she lay a hand on me? Are there no Family rules anymore?”
Zhao Qingyang’s angry shouts brought her back to her senses.
Yes, her sister was just an ugly freak.
What was there to envy?
“Alright, it’s your lack of Martial Skill, you can’t blame anyone else!” Zhao Yanyun glared at Zhao Qingyang, “Go, come back with me!”
Zhao Qingyang was extremely unwilling and snorted:
“You, surnamed Zhou! Tomorrow is your wedding day, and many distinguished guests will come to observe.”
“You’re marrying the ugliest woman in the city, let’s see how you can hold your head high!”
Ugliest?
Zhou Qingyu smiled faintly, “That’s not necessarily true.”
After two days of recuperation, Zhao Yinxi’s face had undergone a drastic transformation.
He couldn't say she was exceptionally beautiful, but at least she wouldn't be ugly.
Zhao Yinxi, however, lowered her head in self-consciousness, the light in her eyes gradually dimming.
Thinking of being the focus of so many people tomorrow, she couldn't help but feel panicked.
“Don’t worry, tomorrow you will undergo a Rebirth!”
Zhou Qingyu gently stroked her head and smiled tenderly.
Daylight quickly passed.
At nightfall.
An unexpected person quietly came to the woodshed door.
It was none other than Zhao Ruyuan.
“Father?” Zhao Yinxi looked at the person knocking on the door with some surprise.
Zhao Ruyuan walked into the room.
Looking at the dilapidated woodshed and the extremely simple bedroom.
A deep sense of guilt flashed in his eyes.
“Nephew Zhou, I heard you defeated Qingyang this morning.”
Zhao Ruyuan patted Zhou Qingyu’s shoulder.
He wasn’t angry that his son had been bullied; instead, he showed a hint of relief and sighed, “I misjudged you.”
“I’m relieved that Yinxi is marrying you.”
Saying that, he took out a brocade box containing a thousand taels of silver notes and two bottles of slightly yellowish Low Grade Yuánqì Liquid.
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes showed surprise, “Uncle? This is…?”
Zhao Ruyuan said, “Yinxi is my daughter. How can her marriage be shabby?”
“Take these with you tomorrow. Consider them as a betrothal gift for my daughter.”
“Don’t let anyone laugh at her.”
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes showed a hint of relief.
At least Zhao Ruyuan still had some conscience.
Zhao Yinxi’s eyes, however, reddened, and she said softly, “Father, this will cause you trouble.”
If her stepmother found out, she would make his life miserable again.
Zhao Ruyuan remorsefully took her hand and blamed himself, “I’m useless, Father, letting you suffer for over ten years. I’m sorry for your mother’s dying entrustment.”
“But Father, I…”
Zhao Yinxi’s tears fell silently, and she choked out, “Father, don’t say anymore, your daughter understands.”
“Our Zhao Family has to rely on stepmother’s maiden Family. As the Family Head, you have many unavoidable difficulties.”
“Your daughter doesn’t blame you.”
Hearing his daughter’s understanding words, Zhao Ruyuan’s old eyes also became moist.
He tightly grasped Zhao Yinxi’s hand and said, “Once your younger sister goes to Xingyun Pavilion, I will hand over the Family to your younger brother, and then I will lay down my heavy burden and spend time with you, making up for your many years of grievances.”
“Father!”
The father and daughter embraced, weeping.
Zhou Qingyu was genuinely happy for Zhao Yinxi.
Because her marriage had finally received a sincere blessing.
However, in Zhou Qingyu’s opinion, these silver notes and Low Grade Yuánqì Liquid were still too shabby.
How could his wife, Zhou Qingyu’s wife, be looked down upon by others?
The next day.
The street where the Zhao Residence was located was filled with gongs and drums, and firecrackers crackled.
Guests, invited to attend, rode on tall horses or sat in eight-bearer palanquins, gathering at the Zhao Residence.
“Gu Family Head, accompanied by his esteemed daughter Gu Changyue, offers congratulations.”
The doorman’s shout at the entrance startled everyone in the Zhao Family.
Zhao Ruyuan, leading the Family Elders, and Chen Qinglian, bringing Zhao Yanyun and Zhao Qingyang, all rushed to the mansion gate to personally greet them.
“The Gu Family Head’s arrival brings glory to my Zhao Residence!”
Zhao Ruyuan said, beaming.
The Gu Family was the foremost prestigious Family in Qingdi City. If not for Old Master Zhao’s past friendship with the Gu Family.
How could the Zhao Family ever associate with such a prominent Family?
Today, he brought his daughter to personally offer congratulations, which made countless Families envious.
Gu Zhengyang cupped his hands and smiled, “Congratulations, Family Head Zhao, on gaining an excellent son-in-law.”
Gu Changyue, however, scanned the people who came to greet them and said, “Where is the groom?”
“Let me see what he looks like.”
She was very curious as to how desperate one must be to attach themselves to the Zhao Family, to be willing to abandon a man’s self-respect and marry a woman like Zhao Yinxi.