Flap... Flap... Flap!

The tent’s canvas flapped incessantly as the strong winds blew over it without rest.

Inside, a bright flame crackled, warming up the interior of the tent.

However, unlike the bright flames, the expressions of the two individuals sitting around it were far from bright.

Both Yi Chen and Gao Zhen were sitting at opposite ends, their eyes glued to the dancing flames, lost in their thoughts.

The glimmer of hope that had taken root in their eyes was no longer present, and, in its place, disappointment had sown its seeds.

’So, it’s going to take several years, huh...’ Yi Chen thought while exhaling deeply, his eyes fixed on the flames.

Another few minutes passed with no words being exchanged. Immersed in their thoughts, they were battling with uncertainties.

*Snicker*

Gao Zhen suddenly started snickering, attracting Yi Chen’s attention.

"Hahaha..." she continued, snickering with an ambiguous expression. Noticing that she had attracted Yi Chen’s attention, she met his eyes and said, "You know what? My two brothers would surely be having a time of their lives seeing that I’ve not yet come out of the tomb."

She let out an amused chuckle and continued.

"They must be already making plans on how to gain an edge over each other and impress my father... They really think that my father would pick them."

She shook her head in amusement.

"Well, they are your brothers, so isn’t it normal that one of them would be chosen in your absence?" Yi Chen asked curiously. It was his attempt to readjust his emotions.

"See." Gao Zhen chuckled at those words and said, "That’s exactly what they think as well, which is completely wrong.

What appals me is that even after spending so much time with Father, the two of them still fail to understand how he thinks.

The last thing he would want is to let the entire guild rest in the hands of one of them.

Even I would barely have made the cut if I could have cleared this tomb within one year and presented its core to him as proof.

But now..."

Gao Zhen scoffed before continuing, "The guilt will most likely fall into the hands of one of the powerful executives or their talented offspring, depending on my father’s whims."

A gloating expression formed on her face as she imagined her brothers’ aghast faces when they would witness this themselves.

"Why were you so fixated on becoming an heir? Even if you didn’t become one, I’m sure your father would have ensured that you had enough money to never worry for the rest of your life...Is it perhaps because you have an unquenchable thirst for money?"

He asked after a moment.

Hearing Yi Chen’s question, Gao Zhen narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "Does Young Master Chen think of me as a vain woman?"

"...Yes," he nodded honestly.

Seeing this, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Haha, you’re the first person to say that to my face." She shook her head in amusement and said, "But you’re not wrong. I most probably do look like that kind of person from an outsider’s perspective."

"Then...does that mean I’m not right either?" Yi Chen asked, noticing the subtle changes in her tone.

Gao Zhen’s smile widened at those words.

Turning her gaze towards the flames, she said, "Without money and status, one eventually ends up becoming a tool for others to use...just like what’s going to happen to me when I get out of here."

She chuckled mockingly as she finished her last sentence.

Hearing her words, a subtle frown appeared on Yi Chen’s face. He asked, "I don’t quite understand. What does Madam Gao mean?"

With a defeated smile on her face, she let out a breath, her eyes still lingering on the crackling flames.

"It’s normal that you wouldn’t understand from just that." She smirked and continued, "When I’m out, my father would most likely force me to marry the person whom he had chosen as an heir..."

She grew silent for a second before turning her head towards Yi Chen. He was still looking at her when she finished speaking, and as a result, their eyes locked.

An amused grin soon formed on Gao Zhen’s face as she said, "Young Master Chen may not have a very good opinion of me, but in the Silver Cloud Kingdom, I could be considered a heartthrob among the top cultivators."

"I see..." Yi Chen nodded in understanding as he heard those words before turning back to face the flames.

Seeing this, Gao Zhen’s eyes narrowed subtly, and the next instant, she gently leaned backwards and, resting her hands behind her, said with a bitter smile, "Young Master Chen, you know what? When I look at you, I get really jealous of your wife."

"My wife?" Yi Chen immediately frowned when he heard her mention Feng Yu and turned towards her, "What do you mean?"

Seeing how quickly his attention was pulled by her words, Gao Zhen chortled and said with a stiff smile, "What I mean is that, unlike your wife, I’ll have to get married to an arrogant bastard who only thinks of women as a means to satisfy his lust."

As she said those words, her tone shifted to one of complaint, and immense frustration appeared in her eyes.

"..."

Not expecting her to suddenly let out her emotions, Yi Chen was at a loss for words.

However, the next moment, he looked right into her eyes and said, "Then can’t you just escape? By the time we’re out, everyone would naturally think that we are dead anyway..."

"Young Master Chen underestimates the intelligence network of the Red Velvet Pavilion..." she said with a bitter smile and continued, "...but escaping, huh? It sounds rather enticing."

Knowing it was only wishful thinking on her part, she shifted the topic the very next instant.

"Come to think of it, you’ve never really shared anything about your wife at all. Tell me, is she very beautiful?"