Chapter 9: Arranged Engagement, Targeted by Someone_1
After some talk, Ye Fan learned about Jia Lu's background.
Jia Lu was also sent to Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall by her family and, coinciding with Ye Fan's time there, naturally became a classmate.
After long-term interaction, Ye Jintian found himself secretly developing feelings for Jia Lu.
Mainly because Ye Jintian inherited Ye Fan's looks, he was tall and robust, with a handsome face.
Furthermore, the Ye's pharmacy had recently made quite a name for itself in Changhe Town, making Ye Jintian more of a sought-after individual.
The best-selling product at Ye's pharmacy was not the Boiling Blood elixir but the Five Complete Powder, which Ye Fan had initially created as a bonus product.
It strengthened the body and had the effect of extending time, instantly becoming a favorite among many wealthy merchants.
Every month, it could bring Ye Fan a profit of several dozen taels.
As a result, Ye's pharmacy had become known as the gas station for men in Changhe Town.
In this era, boys and girls matured early, and they were much more open about matters of love.
In the village, many people were already married at the age of fifteen or sixteen.
For someone like Ye Jintian, it was considered a late time to marry.
This time, Ye Jintian brought Jia Lu back home to express his feelings.
He was in love with Jia Lu.
Ye Fan had no objection to Ye Jintian's choice.
He didn't place much importance on family backgrounds.
As long as the person's character was acceptable, Ye Fan wasn't too concerned about the other aspects.
Moreover, Jia Lu's family background wasn't bad either, coming from a wealthy business family with significant wealth.
Jia Lu was one year younger than Ye Jintian, just turned sixteen.
Ye Fan considered it and figured if Ye Jintian truly liked her, they could arrange their marriage.
Over the next two months, they could interact and allow the Ye family to assess Jia Lu's character.
Of course, if Jia Lu turned out to be of poor character, Ye Fan would advise Ye Jintian to abandon the idea.
As for whether or not Ye Jintian would be infatuated, Ye Fan simply stated that a punch would get rid of any emotional clouds clouding his judgment.
"You should be breaking through to the fifth level of body refining soon, shouldn't you?" asked Ye Fan.
Ye Jintian nodded, "I should be able to break through this month."
"Good, once you've broken through, I'll take you to propose."
Ye Jintian's eyes widened in surprise, then he exclaimed excitedly: "Dad, thank you, I won't let you down."
Ye Jintian hurried out straight away. He needed to practice, practice crazily, and break through to the fifth level of body refining as quickly as possible.
Seeing Ye Jintian filled with motivation, a smile appeared on Ye Fan's face.
The sight of youth is lovely.
This time, he should finally break through to the late stage of body refining.
Reached the late stage of body refining, coupled with the soon-to-be complete Jiu Niu Body Refining Technique, along with the power of his bloodline.
The Ye family could finally have strength enough to protect themselves.
...
Perhaps due to the power of love, Ye Jintian, who was originally projected to take another month to break through, successfully reached the fifth level of body refining in just 20 days.
This speed left Ye Jinhai, who had been progressing at the same rate, dumbfounded.
Could this be the power of love?
My dad, I would also like to find a wife.
Unfortunately, Ye Jinhai was still too young.
He was not yet fifteen, and even if he wanted to find someone, Ye Fan would not agree.
It is not good for health to indulge too young.
"Xiao Yan, you've been investigating Xiao Lu for some time now, how's it going?" Ye Fan asked Su Yan as he saw her.
"Husband, Xiao Lu is a good girl, and she's well-educated by the Jia family. She can be considered well-read and reasonable."
As Ye Fan's wife, especially now that Ye Fan had gradually become the top pharmacist in Changhe Town, Su Yan's relationship with the other families' women was also good.
Finding out some information was quite easy for her.
Since her character was satisfactory, Ye Fan felt that it was about time he fulfilled the promise he made to Ye Jintian.
To go to the Jia family and propose marriage.
But before that, there was still something to be done.
That was a breakthrough in cultivation level.
"System, initiate a merge."
A hot current emerged, and his internal organs began to vibrate.
Bits of black impurities were forced out of his body.
In the late stage of body refining, the five viscera are tempered, greatly enhancing the martial artist's strength, endurance, and other qualities.
At this level, common people pose no threat at all.
One punch can pack a force of a thousand pounds, making it extremely formidable.
The seventh level of body refining has been achieved!
Ye Fan practiced a set of Nine Bulls Fist that came along with the Jiu Niu Body Refining Technique. The force behind his punches was strong and resounding.
After finishing his practice, Ye Fan frowned.
By the late stage of body refining, the Nine Bulls Fist could no longer fully bring out Ye Fan's combat power.
After all, it was only an adjunct to the body refining technique. To truly unleash full combat power, dedicated martial arts techniques were still required.
Furthermore, it was necessary to practice with a long weapon.
For instance, techniques of swords or blades.
In the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, only basic techniques like Jiu Niu Body Refining Technique are taught to ordinary members.
Only the real core members are permitted to practice superior techniques and martial arts.
As a member of the Ye family, joining the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall is clearly out of the question.
Therefore, he had to find a way to obtain martial arts techniques and then cultivate them by himself.
Ye Fan planned to go to the Duobao Pavilion to see if he could buy a few cultivation techniques after settling Ye Jintian's matters.
...
Early in the morning, the Jia Mansion was already bustling.
Today was the day the Ye Family proposed a marriage alliance.
Although Jia Duoduo had two sons, his favorite was still his daughter, Jia Lu.
As for Ye Jintian, Jia Duoduo was quite satisfied.
His cultivation level was good. At the age of seventeen, he had achieved the fifth level of body refining.
His family background was also good. His father was the top pharmacist in Changhe Town and was a guest elder at Duobao Pavilion.
In addition, since Ye Jintian was the eldest son of the Ye Family, Jia Lu would not have a hard life marrying into it.
All things considered, when the Ye Family came to propose marriage, the Jia Family naturally couldn't take it lightly.
Ye Fan also took it very seriously. He bought many gifts, took people from the Ye Family, got into the carriage, and headed for the Jia Family's residence.
"Ye Pharmacist, I've long admired your great reputation."
"Clan Leader Jia, you flatter me."
"My son has long admired Miss Jia. I hope Clan Leader Jia could give him a chance."
"Ah, you're joking, Ye Pharmacist. Jintian, with his outstanding talent, is my Jia Family's honor."
...
After some cordial and friendly exchanges, the Jia Family accepted the gifts and set a preliminary date for the engagement.
Of course, this was just an initial agreement.
There were many details to be finalized gradually.
The three letters of betrothal, the book of rites, and the book of marriage procession.
Then there were the six rituals: proposal, divination, betrothal gifts, dowry, choosing the date, and the marriage procession.
The Ye and Jia Families were both well-known clans now, with many eyes watching them.
They could not afford to skip any ceremony.
After everything was decided, Ye Fan led his family onto the carriage and left.
The carriage gradually disappeared into the distance. Behind it, two pairs of gloomy eyes were fixed on the departing figures of the Ye Family.
"Father, Jia Lu is mine," the voice of a young man was filled with bitterness.
"Son, the Jia Family's disregard for us will cost them. They shouldn't expect the engagement to be successful next month.
The Ye Family, with their guest elder at Duobao Pavilion, well..." The middle-aged man's voice brimmed with confidence.
At the end of the day, it was still a world where martial power reigned supreme.
Money and skills, to pay due respect to others, would suffice on regular days.
But when faced with the pressure of martial power, all such things would just vanish.
The Jia Family had also noticed this, and so they had been attempting to send clan members for martial training these past years.
Unfortunately, martial arts required talent.
In this aspect, the Jia Family had always fallen short.
They could only rely on hiring guest elders to barely maintain the Jia Family's industries.
As for marriage alliances, they knew that there weren't many good things in the world.
After the marriage alliance, they didn't yet know who the Jia Family would belong to!
As for the Ye Family, Ye Jintian and Ye Jin Hai had shown some talent, but in others' impressions, Ye Fan was just an ordinary person who had some skill in concocting elixirs.