Guo Junyu coldly watched the scene unfold, not uttering a single word from beginning to end. However, the barely concealed fury flickering in the corners of his eyes was unmistakable to anyone present.
He was a man of cunning and calculation, far from the typical spoiled aristocrat. His decision to revisit the matter and formally propose to the Lin family was not merely out of lust for Lin Jiayao’s beauty, but also a strategic move to solidify his position within the hidden Guo clan through this woman’s influence.
A beautiful woman alone would not have drawn Guo Junyu’s interest, but a woman who was both captivating and charismatic—someone capable of commanding respect—was undoubtedly the ideal wife for him.
Although Guo Junyu was the son of the current head of the Guo family, the clan was riddled with factions, and his position as heir apparent was far from secure. However, aligning himself with the Lin family might change everything.
“Xiao Yao, you should understand that marriage proposals are matters of parental decree and matchmaker’s words. Since your family had already promised this engagement back then…”
Madam Lin wore a faint expression of concern on her face. She knew her daughter’s temperament all too well—the more she was pressured, the more stubbornly she resisted. Her past act of running away from home was proof enough of her defiant nature.
Still, at this moment, only she could possibly reason with her daughter. She could only hope the girl wouldn’t make a foolish decision. Although marriages among noble families often lacked affection, becoming the wife of a Guo was not something entirely unacceptable.
“Mom, is a promise really more important than my happiness?”
Lin Jiayao smiled bitterly. Ultimately, it was still her grandfather who held the final say in this family. Even if her parents wanted to help, they were powerless. Suddenly, she felt a chill that blew straight into the depths of her heart.
Seeing Lin Jiayao’s expression, Xiao Yufan’s aura grew increasingly icy, though he knew this was not yet the time to unleash his anger.
He casually wrapped his arm around her slender frame, silently offering his comfort. Feeling his warmth, Lin Jiayao leaned closer, resting her entire body against Xiao Yufan’s.
Even Guo Junyu, composed as he was, could no longer suppress his fury. In his mind, Lin Jiayao had long been his woman, and no one was allowed to touch what was his.
“Whoever you are, let go of Jiayao now—or I’ll make sure you die a miserable death.”
The overwhelming power of a realm beyond Qi Condensation erupted instantly. Even Lin Zheng’s face subtly changed. It seemed the Guo family was no less formidable—this level of talent clearly demonstrated Guo Junyu’s extraordinary potential.
“Guo Junyu, don’t push your luck. He is my man, Lin Jiayao’s man. If you dare harm him in the slightest, I swear I won’t let you off!”
Hearing such a threat, Lin Jiayao furrowed her brows involuntarily. This man had crossed her bottom line—she would not allow anyone, under any circumstances, to harm Xiao Yufan.
“Do you enjoy hiding behind a woman’s back? If that’s the case, you don’t even deserve the honor of being my enemy…”
Guo Junyu’s lips twitched violently. Even if he were a fool, he could clearly see how fiercely Lin Jiayao defended this man. And such protection likely meant their relationship was far more than just romantic.
“Honey, since he’s said such things, if I don’t step forward, won’t people start talking? I don’t mind for myself, but I hate the thought of anyone thinking my wife’s chosen man is unreliable!”
Gently holding her delicate hand in his, Xiao Yufan’s eyes softened. That endearing term, “wife,” made Lin Jiayao’s fair, refined face flush with a rosy glow.
Lin Zheng’s expression darkened. Xiao Yufan’s actions were a blatant slap in the face to the entire hidden Lin family. Yet, he did not intervene—he wanted to see what this man was truly capable of.
“You’re asking for death…”
Without waiting for Lin Jiayao to step back, Guo Junyu had already launched his attack. Xiao Yufan’s blatant disregard infuriated him. He was determined to teach this man a lesson he would never forget.
“There are many who want me dead, but few have survived. So, I’ll return those words to you—find death yourself!”
Coldly snorting, Xiao Yufan showed no fear. He had not backed down when facing two opponents from the Huangpu family before, so why retreat now, even if the opponent stood at the peak of the Qi Condensation realm?
Meeting Guo Junyu’s assault head-on, Xiao Yufan leaped forward, aiming straight for his opponent’s face. Although this opponent was slightly stronger than him, his foundation was far inferior.
Who could have imagined that Grandmaster Situ had such foresight? Since Xiao Yufan could remember, the old master had continuously nurtured his body with ancient martial arts techniques…
“Hmph, I admit, you do have the strength to act arrogantly before me now—but that’s all you’ll ever have!”
In their direct clash, Guo Junyu gained no advantage, which forced the proud man to finally take this opponent seriously. He could sense Xiao Yufan was at the middle stage of Qi Condensation—yet how could his strength be this formidable?
“Is that so? If I’ve earned the praise of the young master of the Guo family, should I feel honored?”
A mocking smirk curled Xiao Yufan’s lips as he gazed at Guo Junyu with a teasing expression. He was never one to underestimate his enemies, nor did he ever belittle himself. Even if he couldn’t defeat this man, he was confident he could at least hold his ground.
“Tough talker. I wonder if your strength matches your mouth!”
A chilling killing intent surged forth again. Guo Junyu was no easy target. To many, he was a madman—obsessed not only with power but also with martial arts. Though his talent wasn’t exceptional, he had clawed his way to the peak of the Qi Condensation realm.
Their figures clashed once more. This time, Guo Junyu was no longer reckless or haphazard. His movements became cautious, clearly unwilling to give Xiao Yufan any opportunity. After all, the gap between middle and peak stages of Qi Condensation was significant.
Watching the fight with growing interest, Lin Zheng’s face showed a rare smile. No one could tell what the old fox was thinking. In his eyes, both men were exceptional, and he was curious to see who would prove stronger.
“Father, should we stop them? If anything happens to either of them, we’ll have a hard time explaining it…”
Beside Lin Zheng stood Lin Jiayao’s father, Lin Ye, his face etched with worry. If Xiao Yufan were an ordinary man, it wouldn’t matter much. But the truth was, he was someone else’s grandson.
If Xiao Yufan were to meet with any misfortune or be wronged within the hidden Lin family, there was no telling how furious that old man would be—or how quickly he might come knocking on their door…
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