Chapter 160: Learning the Truth

Gu Fan silently arrived at the Ruo Family, just in time to see the center of the manor brightly lit.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed like some grand ritual was being held.

Using his spiritual power to shroud his mysterious power, Gu Fan successfully approached.

Focusing his eyes, he realized it was the ancestral shrine of the Dragon People’s Ruo Family.

At this moment, in the center of the ancestral hall, Ruo Xi was kneeling on the ground, surrounded by a group of clan elders constantly chanting strange syllables.

It seemed like they were performing some sort of ritual, and Ruo Xi knelt down with her head lowered.

Eventually, the ritual ended with a strange yet rhythmical blessing dance.

Then, a middle-aged man with a dignified face and dressed in luxurious robes slowly stepped out from the crowd.

“Ruo Xi, tonight will be your last night in our Ruo Family. Tomorrow, the Lan Die Family will come to receive the bride. Remember the Ruo Family’s ancestral teachings—henceforth, everything must prioritize the Lan Die Family’s interests. Do not bring shame to our Ruo Family!”

Ruo Xi responded with a heavy nasal tone, lifting her head and replying:

“Your daughter understands, Father, please rest assured!”

Seeing his daughter in such a state, the man seemed to soften a bit, guilt flashing in his eyes, and his tone turned gentler.

“Ruo Xi, your father knows you don’t want to marry over there, but you must understand how difficult it has been for your father. If not for the Lan Die Family’s support in recent years, the Ruo Family would have long lost its current status. And now that Qing’er has broken through to the Celestial Profound Realm, by the rules, she should serve the family. Your younger sisters are still too young. Only with your help can the family’s future be secured!”

“Ruo Xi, you’re not marrying into the Lan Die Family for a single person, but for the prosperity of the entire family!”

Upon hearing this, Ruo Xi didn’t know what to say. Although her heart ached, for the family that had given her life and raised her, she could only agree!

However, hiding nearby, Gu Fan let out a cold snort.

What a brilliant job of brainwashing. Marrying off a daughter for the family’s sake wasn’t anything new—major families often resorted to such political marriages.

But when the entire city knew that marrying over there was a certain death sentence, and this old man still chose to deceive his daughter—tricking her into marriage while she remained completely unaware—that was truly shameless.

So the eldest daughter’s life mattered, the younger sisters’ lives mattered, but Ruo Xi’s life didn’t?

From the looks of it, under this whole script of psychological manipulation and empty promises, Ruo Xi actually believed it.

It had to be said—what a foolish girl.

“Indeed, the one who I managed to fool with just two sentences—can’t really expect her to go against her family.”

Gu Fan chuckled softly, muttering a few words, then saw that the ritual in the ancestral hall had ended, and the crowd began to disperse.

After everyone had left, Ruo Xi walked alone toward her independent cabin.

Gu Fan concealed himself and quietly followed behind.

The two moved one after the other, and before long, Gu Fan saw from afar that the private residence he had once stayed in was now decorated in vibrant red.

But in contrast to the cold and deserted atmosphere inside the courtyard, the bright red decorations appeared especially desolate.

Ruo Xi returned to the courtyard and sat alone on a stone bench, staring blankly.

“Fairy Ruo Xi, have you been well lately?”

Ruo Xi’s body tensed up, and she immediately looked up—only to see a black figure appearing inside the courtyard without her noticing.

“Who’s there!”

Gu Fan slowly stepped forward, emerging from the shadows.

“Gu Fan? Why are you back!”

Ruo Xi was pleasantly surprised, the joy on her face undisguised.

To speak of the happiest times recently, it had to be the moments she spent listening to various legends, tales, and local anecdotes from Gu Fan.

Had it not been for an unexpected twist, perhaps she would still be sheltering Gu Fan, occasionally chatting with him for a bit of amusement.

“Yes, it’s me. Fairy, you don’t seem to be doing very well. Is it because of the Lan Die Family?”

At the mention of this name, Ruo Xi’s expression immediately fell, her face showing some displeasure as she said:

“There’s no other way. For the sake of the family, I can only marry over. But thinking about it, it’s just repeating my current life in another place.”

Seeing her like this, Gu Fan was somewhat speechless. Did this girl really understand nothing?

So Gu Fan decided not to beat around the bush. You speak to different people in different ways—someone like Ruo Xi wouldn’t understand if he made things too complicated. She might not even grasp it after an entire night.

“If Fairy doesn’t mind, I do have something about the Lan Die Family that I could share with you.”

“Hmm?”

Ruo Xi was momentarily dazed, then nodded and said:

“Sure, though I know of the Lan Die Family, I haven’t really met anyone from their household all these years. If I could understand a bit more, that would naturally be better.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Fan didn’t hold back and directly sat across from Ruo Xi.

“Does Fairy Ruo Xi know that this is not the first time the Lan Die Family’s young master is marrying?”

Ruo Xi’s face froze. Though she had little contact with the outside world and was somewhat naive about such things, she still had a basic understanding of marriage customs.

As of now, no one in her family had ever told her that she was being married off as a concubine!

“I’m being married as a concubine?”

“Not at all. You’re the main wife!”

“Huh?”

Ruo Xi froze again, clearly puzzled.

“The Lan Die Family’s young master has married countless women by now, but every single main wife hasn’t lived long. It’s said that the longest one lasted less than half a year before meeting an untimely death!”

“Did Fairy Ruo Xi know about this?”

Ruo Xi’s face turned pale. She might be inexperienced, but that didn’t mean she was unintelligent.

If what Gu Fan said was true, didn’t that mean she would meet the same fate once she married over—unable to live past six months?!

“Is this true?”

“Absolutely. I found out these things just by casually asking around the city. Or rather, there’s no need to even ask—every force, big and small, in the entire Wanlin City knows this.”

“How could this… how could this be…”

Ruo Xi shook her head in disbelief, her whole being appearing dazed and lost, unable to accept the truth all at once.

Gu Fan, however, continued talking calmly.

“And all of this—your family, your siblings, and your relatives—there’s no way they didn’t know. So, did any of them tell you? You marrying over is simply a death sentence!”

Ruo Xi shook her head.

“No! No one told me anything. I don’t know a thing. They only told me that the Lan Die Family is our family’s supporter and that we can’t afford to lose their backing. That marrying over would be a blessing, that I’d become the young madam of one of the top three families in the city!”

“So they were all lying to me! Even my family… even my father was lying to me?”

Ruo Xi couldn’t believe it. She looked at Gu Fan, as if questioning him and hoping he would deny it.

She couldn’t believe that the father who had loved her since she was little, the family members she adored growing up, would treat her this way.

But Gu Fan had no reason to deceive her. There was no benefit in doing so.

Even if Gu Fan had some ulterior motive to lie.

He wouldn’t choose such an easily exposed lie.

Because all she needed to do was go outside and ask around in the city, and she would learn the full truth.

After all, the Ruo Family and the Lan Die Family couldn’t possibly silence the entire city!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep