The wedding between the Fang Family and the Wang Family was held as scheduled.

Both were prominent families, so the ceremony was naturally a grand affair. Many major families in Huanglong Prefecture sent representatives to offer their congratulations.

Of course, most of them were there to show respect to the Wang Family.

The Fang Family, at best, were merely supporting actors in this drama.

Fang Ya’s father, Fang Shijie, the Patriarch of the Fang Family, was all smiles. He stood at the entrance, enthusiastically chatting with the powerful figures of the city. In the past, he would have found it difficult to even get a meeting with such influential people, but now he could speak to them as an equal.

He felt that the decision to marry off his daughter was an incredibly wise one.

A single daughter in exchange for the prosperity of the entire family—the Fang Family had truly struck a great bargain with this deal.

"Rou, is your cousin ready yet?"

Fang Shijie said to Fang Rou while continuing to greet guests with a beaming smile.

"Sister Ya is still in her room. She hasn’t come out."

Fang Rou replied cautiously.

Unlike a typical wedding, the Wang Family had no intention of performing the traditional procession to receive the bride. Instead, they had Fang Ya come directly to the Wang Family estate the day before.

This was a breach of etiquette, a clear sign that Fang Ya was being taken as a concubine, not a primary wife.

However, Fang Shijie didn’t mind at all. As long as he could build a connection with the Wang Family, it didn’t really matter whether she was the main wife or a concubine.

’What is the Fang Family’s status?’

He knew perfectly well that a daughter from the main line of the Fang Family wasn’t quite qualified enough to be the principal wife.

...

In a small courtyard of the Wang Family estate.

"Sister Ya, the auspicious hour is almost here."

Fang Rou carefully combed Fang Ya’s long hair. Though her words were a reminder, there was no hint of urgency in her tone. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She and Fang Ya had grown up together. How could she not know what was on her sister’s mind?

Fang Ya had always been proud and stubborn. How could she be willing to be a mere concubine?

Sigh...

Fang Rou sighed inwardly. She truly didn’t know how to console her.

Fang Ya stared blankly at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She wore a phoenix coronet and a wedding gown. The Wang Family may have been lacking in etiquette, but they were quite generous in all other aspects.

After a long while, she heaved a long sigh.

"Rou, let’s go."

The wedding ceremony was over quickly.

Fang Ya and Wang Ding, a man she had only met once before, bowed to heaven and earth. Afterward, Fang Rou led her back to the bridal chamber. Two red candles cast a festive glow upon the room, their flames swaying in the breeze that drifted through the window.

The night grew deep.

Wang Ding finally finished entertaining the guests and, reeking of alcohol, pushed open the door.

He casually yanked the red veil from Fang Ya’s head, his expression utterly devoid of interest.

"My lady, drink this cup of wine."

Wang Ding picked up the silver cups that had been prepared on the table and handed one to Fang Ya.

Fang Ya raised her head and took a long look at the man she had met only twice—the second time making him her future husband.

’Clearly, he wasn’t very pleased with this marriage either.’

The ancient sages spoke of mutual respect between husband and wife, treating each other as honored guests. For a couple who were complete strangers, even that was a difficult feat.

Fang Ya took the silver cup from Wang Ding’s hand. The wine was a golden color, clearly a top-quality vintage.

Seeing Wang Ding down his own cup without a second thought, she too tilted her head back and drained the wine.

’It really is good wine... No, wait!’

Fang Ya felt her vision begin to blur, and her head grew dizzy.

’It’s a knockout drug!’

She was no sheltered young lady from a wealthy family. With her rich experience in the Jianghu, she immediately understood what was happening.

Fang Ya looked at Wang Ding in disbelief.

Wang Ding’s face was impassive, his eyes as calm as still water, without a single ripple. Clearly, he had known all along that there was something wrong with the wine!

"You..."

Fang Ya never would have imagined that Wang Ding would tamper with the wine.

Before she could finish her sentence, she collapsed onto the bright red wedding bed, unconscious.

With a cold expression, Wang Ding picked up Fang Ya, pushed open the door, and leaped over the courtyard wall.

The small courtyard was separated from the street by just a single wall. A carriage had long been waiting outside.

He placed Fang Ya in the carriage, then vaulted back over the wall as if nothing had happened, returning to the room with a composed demeanor.

CREAK.

The door closed once more.

In the light of the red candles, only Wang Ding’s silhouette remained.

...

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

Fang Ya finally awoke to find herself in an unfamiliar room.

The room was decorated exactly like the bridal chamber, and she was lying on a wedding bed!

To her greater horror, her entire body was sore and weak. She couldn’t even get out of bed. Forget being a Yijin Martial Master—even a delicate woman could easily overpower her now.

’Where in the world am I?’

Just as she was feeling lost and helpless—

The door was pushed open from the outside, and an old, wrinkled face appeared before her.

"Elder Wang?!"

Fang Ya never could have imagined that the person who appeared in the room would be Elder Wang from Wooden Man Alley!

This Elder Wang also had another identity: the old ancestor of the Wang Family.

The Divine Mansion Sect was a sect, so most of its disciples and Elders joined midway through their careers. They already had their own family traditions or masters before entering the sect. As a result, many Elders had their own power bases within Huanglong Prefecture City.

Elder Wang stared coldly at Fang Ya. After a long moment, he slowly nodded. "Not bad."

The "not bad" in his words was not referring to Fang Ya’s appearance, but to the unique yin energy within her, exclusive to a Female Martial Artist.

Fang Ya’s eyes were filled with nothing but terror.

She desperately tried to twist her body, but the drug was too potent. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t move an inch.

Elder Wang slowly walked over to Fang Ya.

The unique fragrance of a Female Martial Artist was intoxicating to him.

Fang Ya was utterly disgusted. She could never have imagined that an Elder of the Divine Mansion Sect would be involved in such a filthy business behind the scenes.

The corners of Elder Wang’s mouth curved up slightly.

’If I drain the yin energy from this woman tonight, my power will skyrocket.’

That’s right. The reason he was doing this was to cultivate an art: the method of Plundering Yin to Supplement Yang!

This was the Wang Family’s greatest secret.

As the saying goes, the hard and soft complement each other; yin and yang must be in harmony.

He had acquired an evil technique that used the method of Plundering Yin to Supplement Yang to advance his cultivation.

Ever since he started practicing this evil art, his power had advanced by leaps and bounds, allowing him to secure the position of Hall Master of Wooden Man Alley.

Having reached his current status, he no longer needed to act personally, of course.

What happened to Fang Ya tonight was a common occurrence. There were plenty of Wang Family Members willing to offer their wives for wealth and status—so many that the line stretched from the Divine Mansion Sect to East Gate Lane. However, ordinary women could not even catch Elder Wang’s eye.

Only a Female Martial Artist like Fang Ya could pique Elder Wang’s interest.

It was foreseeable that after tonight, Wang Ding’s status within the Wang Family would rise dramatically.

To trade being a cuckold for immense wealth and fortune—countless men fought for such a deal.

Wang Ding’s older brother and uncles had all risen through the ranks in this manner. Most of the women in the Wang Family had fallen victim to this old ancestor.

This was already an open secret within the Wang Family.

The families of those women were far inferior to the Wang Family. Even when humiliated, they had no power to resist. They could either suffer in silence or die...

Over the years, countless women had died in the dry well in the Wang Family’s backyard.

Their families accepted benefits from the Wang Family. Under a combination of threats and bribes, no one dared to pursue the matter further.

Elder Wang began to circulate his evil technique. His eyes gradually filled with greed, and an endless desire rose in his heart.

Right now, he just wanted to devour the woman before him completely...