Chapter 4: Born to Suffer

Ji Ciyuan hadn’t expected this woman to be so unyielding. Even at this point, she dared to threaten him. He gave her a deep, lingering look, said nothing, and strode out. Yan Jingchen and the others followed in quick succession, each offering their farewells before departing. In the blink of an eye, only Chu Yuyao and Su Qinghan remained in the room.

Su Qinghan sheathed his sword, his expression indifferent as he cast her a glance and turned to leave.

“Um… thank you for saving me just now,” Chu Yuyao said awkwardly, her voice clear and pleasant, utterly different from the sarcastic tone she’d used before.

Though she found this man rather annoying, he had, after all, just saved her.

Su Qinghan paused, looking back with eyes that flickered slightly. This woman… seemed different from before.

He said nothing more, merely nodded in acknowledgment of her gratitude, then strode out of the room.

Silence settled instantly.

Chu Yuyao surveyed the mess, feeling as deflated as a punctured ball. There wasn’t even a place to sit, and her face was filled with self-mockery.

So this was her first day after crossing into this world—how… eventful.

Recalling how she’d writhed in agony moments ago, nearly dying, her eyes narrowed.

The fact that the system had given her an antidote pill showed that the original host had been poisoned—not by any ordinary toxin.

Yet in the host’s memories, there was no recollection of being poisoned. That meant someone had acted in secret, without her knowledge.

She was about to ask the system about the poisoning, when a string of electronic tones sounded in her mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Su Qinghan’s favorability increased by 5. Current favorability: -95.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Yan Jingchen’s favorability increased by 5. Current favorability: -95.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Ji Ciyuan’s favorability increased by 10. Current favorability: -90.]

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[Ding! Congratulations, host. Shangguan Yuheng’s favorability increased by 5. Current favorability: -95.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Ye Cangming’s favorability increased by 5. Current favorability: -95.]

Chu Yuyao was stunned by the notifications in her mind.

Favorability?

Minus ninety, minus ninety-five?

It was clear how much these five men had loathed the original host.

But that dog Ji Ciyuan was really strange—after getting slapped, his favorability actually rose the most. Was he insane?

Was he born to be abused?

She rubbed her chin in contemplation.

If she slapped him a few more times in the future, would she quickly reach a positive score and then receive antidote pills and all sorts of heavenly treasures?

Her eyes brightened at the thought, but she quickly realized the idea was too naive.

Ji Ciyuan was supremely arrogant and proud, rarely putting anyone in his eyes. The fact that he hadn’t killed her today was already a miracle.

If she dared to slap him again, she’d likely be chopped to pieces.

Just as she was about to continue asking about the poisoning, hurried footsteps sounded at the door.

She looked up.

Her “cheap father,” Chu Xiong—the Sect Master of Heavenly Dao Sect—strode in, his face grim. He wore a moon-white Daoist robe with wide sleeves and cloud patterns, the fine fabric accentuating his tall, elegant figure and scholarly features. A neatly trimmed beard adorned his chin, his gaze deep as an abyss, radiating the authority and presence of one long accustomed to command.

Behind him followed a girl of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a pink tasseled gown with a matching belt that outlined her slender waist. Exquisite hair ornaments adorned her head, the tassels swaying gently with her steps, making her gentle, beautiful face even more enchanting.

Yet her gaze was poisonous, though well concealed, it seeped out nonetheless.

This was the true daughter, Chu Ruoyan.

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Seeing the empty room with only Chu Yuyao left, and the five men nowhere to be seen, Chu Xiong’s expression faltered for a moment.

He quickly realized he’d arrived too late—the five had already left—and felt a pang of regret, wishing he’d moved faster.

Chu Xiong glanced around at the chaos, every piece of furniture reduced to powder—a clear sign of violence. Had the Heavenly Dao Sect’s buildings not been so sturdy, the place might have collapsed entirely.

His gaze finally settled on Chu Yuyao, whose face was pale with dried blood at the corner of her mouth. He frowned and scolded, “What happened here? If you wish to dissolve the contracts, do so quietly—why must you make such a spectacle? Divorce your husbands? Where did you get the nerve?”

Ruoyan had rushed to inform him, saying this fool dared dismiss the five carefully selected genius sons-in-law, causing a brawl that nearly enraged him to death.

Wasn’t this like announcing to the entire cultivation world that these five Dao companions were trash she’d thrown away?

How could he possibly arrange for Ruoyan to marry them now?

Was his own daughter meant to pick up the adopted daughter’s discarded garbage?

Moreover, this fool’s actions had not only offended the five factions, but had also insulted Ruoyan.

His chest heaved with fury, pointing at Chu Yuyao, wishing he could slap this useless troublemaker to death.

Chu Ruoyan stepped forward at just the right moment, her expression showing just the right amount of grievance. “Father, please don’t be angry. Perhaps sister acted rashly, provoked into making such shocking decisions. Young Master Ji and the others are highly esteemed—by humiliating them like this, she may have caused them to resent not only us, but the entire Heavenly Dao Sect. Though our sect is the foremost righteous faction and need not fear them, I am truly worried…”

She seemed to plead for Chu Yuyao, but her words were all about the sect’s reputation and the simultaneous offense to several factions, never mentioning her own grievances.

As expected, Chu Xiong’s face grew even darker, his gaze toward Chu Yuyao more disappointed and disgusted. “Listen—Ruoyan knows to consider the bigger picture. What about you? Reckless and selfish, heedless of consequences. Divorce your husbands? Absurd! If I hadn’t begged them back then, would they have wanted you?”

Chu Yuyao saw how furious Chu Xiong was, and sneered inwardly, though it was expected.

Her expression remained calm as she met his gaze, her voice steady and clear. “Father, please calm yourself. Today, they acted so arrogantly, forcing me in private to dissolve the contracts. Isn’t that disrespect toward you? Though I am your adopted daughter, you raised me from childhood. For them to humiliate me like this shows they hold neither you nor the Heavenly Dao Sect in any regard. If we let them trample over us, who knows how far they’ll go in the future? Naturally, I had to put them in their place, lest others think our sect is easy to bully.”

Her words left Chu Xiong speechless, his face alternating between green and pale—quite a sight.

He never imagined this fool, always lacking sense, could utter such words. Though unpleasant to hear, he had to admit they made sense.

The five dared force her to dissolve the contracts in secret, clearly disregarding him, not to mention fighting right under his nose—a direct slap to his face.

Chu Ruoyan, seeing her father’s wavering expression, grew anxious and gently tugged his sleeve. “Father, Young Master Ji and the others merely have some misunderstandings with sister, not with our Heavenly Dao Sect.”

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