“Handsome Valley? What is that…?”
After Huangpu Hanye explained everything, someone had already opened his mouth in disbelief, his mind racing with a myriad of curses. Was this some kind of joke?
“Strictly speaking, Handsome Valley isn’t a thing at all—it’s merely a forbidden area of my Huangpu family. Those who commit offenses are usually exiled there, but very few ever return alive!”
The way Huangpu Hanye looked at him made Xiao Yufan feel uneasy, especially after hearing those last words. Xiao Yufan’s heart sank to the depths.
He certainly hadn’t expected that just a small transgression—taking slight advantage of Huangpu Xian’er that day—would now lead him toward facing this so-called Handsome Valley.
“I want to know who made this decision. If even the strong warriors of the Huangpu family face near-certain death in the Handsome Valley, wouldn’t entering it simply be suicide?”
His expression turned cold. Xiao Yufan hated this feeling—as though his life were now in the hands of the Huangpu family, leaving him no choice but to obey helplessly.
“This decision was made by those old elders. It’s an ancestral rule: any man who touches the body of a Huangpu woman before she is married must pass through the Handsome Valley to be officially recognized.”
“What an overbearing rule. It seems the people behind the scenes in the Huangpu family are still too conservative!”
Xiao Yufan snorted coldly, his lips twitching fiercely. He knew this must be the doing of the so-called pro-Tan faction within the Huangpu clan, trying to eliminate him. And under such a rule, even Huangpu Hanyue was powerless to change things.
“Actually… entering the Handsome Valley, although risky, also brings great opportunities. Legends say that many of the Huangpu family’s inheritances lie within it.”
Huangpu Hanyue hadn’t expected Xiao Yufan to react so strongly. What she had said was indeed true, but compared to the terrifying mortality rate, even the greatest opportunities couldn’t stir any enthusiasm.
“Is this supposed to be comforting?” Xiao Yufan sneered. Although he didn’t show any dissatisfaction toward Huangpu Hanyue, he had already developed a significant resentment toward the Huangpu family. After all, no one would feel kindly toward a family plotting against him—even if it was only a part of them.
“If you refuse, those old elders won’t dare to trouble the grandson of the Silver Fox. However, if you choose to go through with it, then Xian’er…”
Huangpu Hanyue knew that asking Xiao Yufan to enter the Handsome Valley was cruel. But if this young man couldn’t gain the approval of the pro-Tan elders, Xian’er would still face tremendous pressure.
“I understand what Uncle is trying to say. I’ll think it over carefully.”
Thinking about Huangpu Xian’er, Xiao Yufan felt a headache coming. Could he really bear to ignore her plight? Obviously, he couldn’t. At the very least, he wasn’t a heartless man.
“I hope Xian’er’s efforts won’t be in vain. Since this is the first time she’s ever fallen for someone, as her father, I naturally don’t want to disappoint her.”
With a sigh, Huangpu Hanyue’s face bore a faint bitter smile. He didn’t wish for this conversation to leave a shadow in the young man’s heart, but as a father, there were certain things he had to say.
Watching Huangpu Hanyue walk out, Xiao Yufan furrowed his brows, his heart now facing a trial. Just how should he help Huangpu Xian’er? Could he really bring himself to enter that cursed place?
“If there’s truly no other way, then I’ll just have to brave that dragon’s den and tiger’s lair!”
Muttering to himself, Xiao Yufan thought that if entering the Handsome Valley was the only way to prevent Huangpu Xian’er from becoming a pawn of the family, then what harm was there in giving it a try?
Just as Xiao Yufan was lost in thought, outside the bamboo hut, a pair of beautiful eyes fixed upon his strong, resolute figure. A charming smile played on her lips, a smile that could topple kingdoms.
“The man I, Huangpu Xian’er, admire is destined to be a leader among men. Even if I can only be a quiet woman by your side, what does it matter…”
Her voice was light and ethereal, like celestial music. If members of the Huangpu family saw Huangpu Xian’er’s current blushing demeanor, they would surely be astonished. Such an extraordinary woman rarely ever showed such a delicate, girlish side…
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