Banshee Family Training Record

Page 348

She turned to look at Zhu Yunqing, who was now certain that Qi Qiao wasn't talking about her own family matters; she must have just heard rumors from somewhere and was simply chatting idly.

She immediately rolled her eyes at Ye Jinglan, thinking to herself that her older sister was so frightened, there was no need to be so nervous.

Then, looking at Qi Qiao's expectant eyes, she pondered for a while and decided to establish herself as the "all-knowing" older sister, and then release even more explosive news.

"Actually, this situation seems shocking, but it's not uncommon in many corners that we don't easily know about," she said softly. "After all, truly charismatic and peerless geniuses are rare, and it's hard not to be tempted when you encounter one."

"I've even heard that in some families, a mother-in-law might take a liking to her son-in-law and be willing to submit to him so that he can fully enjoy the pleasures of mother-daughter bonding, and even..."

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly. She tried her best to appear composed and said, "I've even heard that some matriarchs of powerful families, who appear glamorous on the surface, have actually been trained by their sons-in-law to be sex slaves willing to do anything."

These words caused an uproar among the women present. Nie Ningshuang blushed deeply, her heart pounding wildly, and she murmured to herself, "Ah? Such a thing actually happens? Good heavens, this is truly... the world is going to the dogs, people's hearts are no longer what they used to be!"

Ye Jinglan turned her face away, not asking much: "Don't say anymore, I've also heard that there used to be many patriarchs of noble families... In short, as long as you live long enough, we'll see all sorts of strange and unusual things later on."

Liu Meng nodded slightly, while Qi Qiao tilted her head slightly, a hint of doubt rising in her heart.

Hmm, am I hinting to Fourth Sister and the others? Did Fourth Sister understand or not?

Was she talking about her mother?

Are we still talking about other people's business?

Speaking of sex slaves, it seems that in that crystal ball, Chu An was quite gentle with his mother.

Although she did have many words written on her body that others didn't have, but...

hiss……

I'm not sure, I'll take another look when I get back.

Resisting the urge to take out the crystal ball in public and examine it more closely, Qi Qiao looked at her fourth sister with a strange expression, making Zhu Yunqing's heart skip a beat.

The spider demon didn't understand what was happening, but the other party's behavior made her nervous and guilty. She felt like something had been discovered, and her heart was pounding wildly.

Looking at Qi Qiao's strange appearance, she suppressed her nervousness, swallowed, and said in a deep voice, "Qiao'er, anyway, if you don't like hearing about this kind of thing, don't go around asking about it. Although this kind of thing has nothing to do with us, hearing about it is indeed upsetting."

It doesn't matter?

Actually, they are very closely related...

Qi Qiao turned her head and looked at her sister with a playful look in her eyes: "I...I don't know how to say it..."

Standing to the side, Liu Mengshen looked at her younger sister and her heart pounded. She wondered if the affair between her and Yun Chuan had been discovered.

But then she thought back carefully to how excited Qi Qiao was when she first discovered Yan Shuiyi and Yun Chuan's affair, and whether she was being too calm now.

Am I being too nervous and scaring myself?

Liu Mengshen was unaware of the situation and tried her best to remain calm. Ahead, Zhu Yunqing, as always, remained composed and said in a deep voice, "Just say what you have to say. Between sisters like us, what is there to hide?"

She tried her best to project the authority and presence of an older sister, but nowadays, this kind of aura was no longer enough to intimidate Qi Qiao.

Especially after she learned of her husband's secret and that she still had the crystal ball containing evidence of their lovemaking.

"Well..." She glanced around at her sisters, "Sisters, what do you all think of Chu An?"

Zhu Yunqing's heart skipped a beat, not understanding why she suddenly asked this question.

Has their relationship faded?

Qi Qiao suspects that he no longer loves her?

Was it because he spent too little time with her?

That's true. Chu An has such a heavy burden on his shoulders, and he still has to take time to accompany us. Although he still spends the most time with Qi Qiao, it is definitely less than when he is wholeheartedly devoted to her.

If Qi Qiao felt wronged because of this, or even if it caused a rift in her relationship with Chu An...

She pondered many things for a moment, while Nie Ningshuang, standing beside her, seemed oblivious. This truly clueless girl chuckled softly, leaned closer, and nudged Qi Qiao lightly with her elbow, saying with a mischievous grin, "What's wrong? Missing your husband already after only a few days?"

Qi Qiao's eyes were playful as she said, "No, I just wanted to hear... your opinions."

A sense of guilt enveloped Zhu Yunqing as she said, "Chu'an, without a doubt, is a very responsible person. Especially now, with the world in such turmoil, he's been running around for our family..."

She carefully observed Qi Qiao's expression and was surprised to find that her usually well-behaved younger sister was now wearing a rather strange expression.

Qi Qiao, it seems, is also observing me? You Lin aren't here, aren't you free...

Zhu Yunqing couldn't figure it out for a moment, nor could she guess what she was thinking. Her heart pounded wildly, and her uneasy premonition grew stronger.

“But, after all, as his cultivation level increases, all sorts of trivial matters will come his way, leaving him with less and less time for his family.” She continued, “So, Qiao’er, if you feel that he has been spending less time with you lately, believe me, it’s not an illusion, it’s true.”

As she spoke, she sighed softly, "This is how it is between high-level cultivators and their spouses, especially if one of them plans to go into seclusion to break through. So you just have to get used to it."

Qi Qiao blinked and whispered, "I know, sister. I didn't blame Chu An for anything because of this. I was just asking..."

She moved even closer to Zhu Yunqing, almost touching her face: "What else do you think of him, sister?"

Zhu Yunqing's heart pounded. She pursed her lips, feeling a little guilty, but forced herself to appear confident, saying, "Me? What can I possibly think of him? Powerful, reliable, loyal to the family, but, uh, also a womanizer..."

She used a few somewhat contradictory words, trying to make herself seem quite disgusted with this cheating scumbag. However, the more she spoke, the softer her tone became. The more she recalled his face, the more her heart pounded.

“But overall, he’s a very good person,” she said softly, “especially for us, uh, I mean for you…”

Qi Qiao blinked, looking at her sister. Zhu Yunqing felt uncomfortable under her gaze, turned her face away, and said, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Qi Qiao then sat back slightly and said, "It's nothing, I was just asking."

Then, she looked away and turned to her three older sisters: "Eldest sister, third sister, sixth sister, what are you thinking?"

Ye Jinglan was nervous, but she pretended to be nonchalant: "He's pretty good at fighting, um, I don't know anything else, that's all."

Nie Ningshuang whispered, "I think he's pretty good to you, except... uh... it's definitely his fault for cheating no matter what..."

Qi Qiao stared at her, thinking to herself that her third sister really managed to shirk all responsibility. She had clearly done it too, but she spoke as if it had nothing to do with her.

She gently pursed her lips, then suddenly leaned forward, close to Nie Ningshuang, and took her small hand in hers, whispering, "Then, Third Sister, let me ask another question."

"Well, if, uh, I mean if..." She had already prepared this question, and now asked with a mischievous smile, "If Third Sister were to find a husband to spend the rest of her life with in the future, then..."

"Third sister, what kind of woman will you be looking for?"

Chapter 697 What kind of men do the sisters all want?

Upon hearing this, Nie Ningshuang gently cupped her chin in her hand and pondered for a moment: "Me? I really haven't thought about it. Hmm, but if we're talking about the man I'll spend the rest of my life with, uh, firstly..."

She traced circles lightly on the table in front of her with her finger, and stated her first requirement with utmost seriousness: "First of all, he must be handsome! And he has to have a good physique too!"

"Then, you have to be very smart! Not just smart in cultivation, you have to be talented, and most importantly, you have to be quick-witted, after all, I... cough cough, in short, we have to complement each other!"

"Then, he needs to be strong. Although he doesn't need to be too strong, I can cooperate with him, but of course it's better if he's a little stronger."

"Oh, and most importantly, I have to take care of my family, and I also have to get along very well with my dear sisters..."

She had a clear conscience and listed out all her criteria for a partner. Qi Qiao checked them one by one and found that Yun Chu'an was gentle in almost every one of them. Immediately, she said softly, "Then, a man like Yun Chu'an?"

Nie Ningshuang immediately nodded: "Yes, it's your husband... ah no, I mean... uh... there's a certain resemblance..."

Suddenly realizing that she might have said something inappropriate, Nie Ningshuang stammered and then quickly corrected herself, afraid that her good sister might have misunderstood something.

Unfortunately, she was unaware that the seeds of misunderstanding had already been sown when the Holy Maiden of Joyful Union secretly went to see Qi Qiao.

Seeing Nie Ningshuang's embarrassed state, Zhu Yunqing knew she was the only innocent person present, so she quickly spoke up to smooth things over, saying, "Qiao'er, don't ask anymore. Your third sister is clearly fantasizing about a perfect man, and in your eyes, the perfect man is your husband, Yun Chu'an—ultimately, it's because you love him too much..."

She said this, giving both of them a way out. Nie Ningshuang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! After all, I really hadn't considered this aspect at all before..."

The storm seemed to be gradually subsiding, but Qi Qiao's eyes darted around and landed on Zhu Yunqing: "Alright, then Fourth Sister, have you thought about it? If you were to get married in the future, what kind of man would you want to marry?"

Fearing that the spider demon might think she was targeting her, Qi Qiao then turned to Ye Jinglan and Liu Mengshen: "Oh, and eldest sister and sixth sister, have you thought about it?"

Zhu Yunqing's heart pounded, and her cheeks flushed rapidly. She turned her face away, feigning composure, and said, "Why are you asking this?"

Qi Qiao looked at her, showing no sign of giving up: "Because... I'm curious."

Zhu Yunqing felt guilty, her mind filled with Yun Chu'an's face. Afraid that she might accidentally steer the conversation back to Yun Chu'an, she immediately pretended to be uninterested, saying, "I haven't thought about this. At such a young age, I should focus on cultivation. I haven't really thought about this."

She said this in an attempt to bluff her way out. But Qi Qiao wouldn't give up, grabbing her sleeve and pleading in her voice, "Please, Fourth Sister, just tell me."

"Look, Third Sister just said it, if you don't say it, it's no fun at all..."

She spoke so softly that Zhu Yunqing had no reason to refuse. She pursed her lips, then abruptly turned to her two sisters who hadn't spoken yet: "I...I need to think about it for a while. Eldest sister, sixth sister, why don't you go first?"

She intended to shift the blame, but upon hearing this, Ye Jinglan hesitated: "Me... actually, I don't really have any ideas. Uh, if I had to say, it would be someone who can defeat me head-on at the same cultivation level..."

Qi Qiao turned her head slightly to look at her older sister: "Oh right, you're also in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm now, right?"

Ye Jinglan nodded: "Yes."

Qi Qiao then asked with a smile, "So, before Chu An went into seclusion, he was also in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. Eldest sister, did you spar with him? Who won and who lost?"

Ye Jinglan suddenly opened her mouth, speechless with astonishment: "I...uh..."

She wanted to say "we've never sparred," but when she got to the point, she realized that given her consistent "martial arts fanaticism," it seemed a bit hard to believe she hadn't fought Yun Chu'an.

But if she tells the truth, wouldn't that also mean she's willing to marry Yun Chu'an?

Currently, the only option for her future husband is "her brother-in-law".

Ye Jinglan's face no longer held its usual boldness. She turned her face away, her lips trembling as she murmured, "Um... we had a friendly spar, but it was a draw..."

"Or rather, before the battle could even be decided, Bai Wu'an interrupted it, yes, that time..."

She forced herself to give an answer, but her own reply made her blush and feel incredibly ashamed.

Qi Qiao's eyes darted around, quite certain that there was something fishy going on behind the scenes.

She wanted to ask more questions, but at that moment, Zhu Yunqing's expression suddenly changed: "Wait, we have a guest!"

Everyone's expressions changed, and they turned to look outside. They saw Zhu Yunqing turn around, tidy herself up, and then step out of the courtyard and onto the mountain path leading up the mountain.

Below, an official in indigo robes, accompanied by several wolf-like demons, ascended the mountain. Upon seeing Zhu Yunqing, he immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Zhu!"

Zhu Yunqing looked closely and saw that the man's face was filled with anxiety. Her heart skipped a beat, realizing that something bad might be happening, and she quickly asked, "What happened?"

The official hesitated, seemingly unsure how to begin: "Lord Zhu, may I ask... if Lord Yun could come? We have important matters that may require his approval to make a decision."

Zhu Yunqing said, "He is currently cultivating. Just tell me what's wrong, and I will relay it to him."

Upon hearing this, the official hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided that the matter at hand was more important, so he didn't delay any longer and said, "The Qin army is about to attack."

"And the reason they came this time, specifically, is to find Lord Yun."

Zhu Yunqing's expression immediately changed. Behind her, Ye Jinglan also came to her side, frowning, and said in a deep voice, "How did you get the information?"

The official immediately said, "Some of the Qin army secretly contacted my comrades, intending to bribe them and obtain a secret passage in order to launch a surprise attack on Huai Mountain. Their target is Lord Yun."

Upon hearing this, Ye Jinglan's expression immediately changed: "They're coming for us!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunqing breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking to herself that it was fortunate that the local officials were loyal enough, thus giving them an advance warning.

Following the events that occurred in the Nalan family, Sheng Linglong personally led a purge of the local official cultivators, and those promoted afterwards were all loyal and capable cultivators.

Moreover, not to mention that Yun Chu'an has earned a massive amount of spirit stones for the Jin Kingdom during his two years of fighting abroad. Much of this money has been used for construction along the banks of the Wei River, and the salaries of local officials have increased year after year. [The rest of the text appears to be nonsensical and unrelated to the preceding sentences.]

Those who have managed to reach this point are all shrewd individuals. They all understand how they acquired this wealth, and they also realize that the time has come to pay the price for it.

The Qin state is going to attack, and the only way to protect the wealth we've accumulated is...

"be prepared!"

Zhu Yunqing's face was icy cold: "Inform Lord Li that no matter how many Qin soldiers come, we must drive them back!"

Lord Li is Li Woyu. After the last purge, she was promoted all the way because of her cultivation and ability, and now she is basically in charge of the affairs on both sides of the Wei River.

Currently, Li Woyu is considered her half-best friend. The two often exchange magical techniques and can be said to be able to talk about anything with each other.

At such a time, what needs to be done is naturally to work together with one heart. Of course, although he said such nice words, Zhu Yunqing was also very clear in his heart that the Qin army's focus of attack could not be a small country like Jin. Qin, having annexed Zhao, would face a stronger backlash from other countries and the Zhou emperor.

Their focus cannot be here; they must reserve more military strength for the Qi and Chu states, as well as the Zhou emperor's imperial guards, who might arrive from the east. Therefore, as long as they can hold them off...

This will give Yun Chuan more time to breathe and improve!

Chapter 698 Qin Army Goes Up the Mountain

Having finalized the subsequent plans, Zhu Yunqing then personally set off, traversing the mountains to find Li Woyu and discuss countermeasures with her.

Afterwards, she sought out local officials and distributed the information that Hua Caiyan had painstakingly stolen—the information about the magic arrays and spiritual energy circuits on the Qin army's terracotta warriors at the Foundation Establishment level—so that everyone could learn and have a plan to deal with them when the time came.

In addition, there were leaders of prominent families such as the Wenren family, and together they devised a plan for troop deployment.

Finally, Zhu Yunqing opened his own warehouse and distributed the goods that had been accumulated over the past year and had not yet been sold to soldiers of all ranks.

They had to make thorough preparations before the Qin army actually attacked.

As time passed, the Qin army soon discovered something amiss and realized that the officials on both sides of the Wei River had no intention of cooperating with them and were merely stalling for time.

Feeling that they had been fooled, the Qin army was almost furious and humiliated. Subsequently, a detachment rushed towards the Jin state from both sides of the Wei River.