Lending Your Family's Live-in Son-in-Law
Qin Xiahe listened, his expression flickering between shadow and light. In the end, he let out a long sigh, helping Qin Rongrong back onto the couch. "Forget it. The family has wronged you on this. We never imagined Jia Qiang would have that kind of problem. You've suffered so much..."
Qin Rongrong immediately burst into tears, all the grievances of these many years pouring out at last.
Watching her, Qin Xiahe felt a pang of emotion. He spoke slowly, "What you've done... the family can forgive you. After all, it was for giving us more exceptional descendants. But we still need to give Jia Qiang some kind of accounting—it's our Qin family that's in the wrong first."
Qin Rongrong lifted her head, her face full of resolve. "Elder, no need to worry. If Jia Qiang grows suspicious and asks, I'll tell him everything myself. Beat me, curse me—I won't hold a grudge."
Qin Xiahe's face darkened slightly. He snorted, "He dares? Even if you've erred, you're still a Qin. He's not free to strike you whenever he pleases. These years without children... that's his failing. Rest assured, if he lays a hand on you, the Qin family won't tolerate him either!"
A warm current flowed through Qin Rongrong's heart. The Qin family was still on her side, after all. She hurriedly gave thanks.
That very night, just as the two had anticipated, Jia Qiang stormed in with a sullen face. He cut straight to the chase. "Rongrong, be honest with me—are these two kids mine?"
Qin Rongrong's expression remained calm. "No."
Jia Qiang nearly spat up blood. Clutching his chest, his face drained white, he jabbed a finger at her and roared, "No wonder Qipeng doesn't look a thing like me... You bitch, deceiving me like this!"
He felt like the world's biggest fool right then, a vast green pasture sprouting atop his head.
He raised his hand for a vicious slap.
Qin Rongrong didn't dodge—instead, she thrust her head forward, snarling right back, "Jia Qiang, if you want to hit me, then hit me! Let's see who loses more face when this blows up— you or me! Whether the Qin family can still stomach you!"
Jia Qiang's hand froze midair, hanging there for ages without falling. His face twisted in torment.
Seeing this, Qin Rongrong sighed, her tone softening. "Husband, I'm doing this for our family's good. Think about it—Qipeng's already been sent to the Taixuan Sect. Foundation Establishment's no issue for him, and becoming a Golden Core True Person isn't out of the question. These years, you couldn't give me children, but I never abandoned you. I even helped you take on a few concubines. As long as you treat me and the kids well from here on, you'll be the father of a Golden Core True Person someday..."
"Golden Core True Person!" Jia Qiang's hand slowly lowered.
For any cultivator, the Golden Core was the ultimate aspiration—a realm they yearned for but could scarcely reach.
His child could become a Golden Core...
Jia Qiang gradually calmed. He was just a live-in son-in-law, after all, clinging to the Qin family, propped up by Qin Rongrong alone. The Qins fed him, nurtured him, all for the sake of breeding immortal seedlings for their line. But he couldn't sire any. That made him useless in the family, squandering Qin Rongrong to boot. They hadn't kicked him out already—that was mercy enough.
Reality stared him down. He had no room to choose.
Besides, as a cultivator himself, he knew the value of spirit roots. Who wouldn't crave a child with a supreme spirit root? Even great sects fought over them!
He pictured Qin Qipeng returning as a Golden Core True Person, calling him "Father"—and excitement stirred in his chest.
Anyway, he couldn't have kids himself. Letting Qin Rongrong borrow seed for a few supreme spirit root children? What was wrong with that? No one would ever know—they'd be his sons!
The grace of raising them would tower above all!
From then on, he'd be the father of a Golden Core True Person!
The more Jia Qiang thought, the more thrilled he grew.
Qin Rongrong rose and looped her arm through his, her voice gentle. "No one in the family or I will breathe a word of this. The kids won't mistreat you either. Can't we just live well together from now on?"
Jia Qiang's cheeks twitched, his gaze complicated as he looked at her. At last, he heaved a sigh. "Rongrong, you're right. I was too extreme. It's my fault we couldn't have children—I shouldn't blame you. You've endured so much these years!"
Qin Rongrong smiled at once. "I'm glad you see it that way. I was wrong too—don't hold a grudge against Qin Changqing. I forced him into it..."
After some back-and-forth, they reached a true understanding. Both felt unburdened at last.
Jia Qiang no longer fretted over heirs—instead, he had free supreme spirit root children handed to him. The Qin family and Qin Rongrong owed him now. He could linger in the Qin household with far more ease, his mindset broadening instantly.
And Qin Rongrong no longer had to bottle it up. She could live openly at last.
With the shackles of her heart shattered, their bond grew even more harmonious!
If Qin Changqing had been there, his jaw would've hit the floor.
"Rongrong, since it's already like this... why not have a few more? All supreme spirit roots!" Jia Qiang suggested proactively.
"This..."
"What's there to hesitate? The family will raise them anyway."
"Alright then!"
...
The next day, Qin Rongrong sought out Patriarch Qin Zhengyang and laid everything bare for the family.
Qin Zhengyang was already aware. He said little, simply leading several elders to visit personally, bearing five hundred spirit stones as compensation. This eased Jia Qiang's heart greatly.
The Qin family truly was decent—not abandoning him just because he was a useless man who couldn't produce children.
Little did he know the Qin family had calculations of their own.
Qin Rongrong had erred first, after all; such a scandal couldn't be aired publicly. More importantly, they had to consider the two boys—prime immortal seedlings with supreme spirit roots. What if they learned they were illegitimate?
"As long as Brother Jia treats Rongrong well, that's enough!" Qin Zhengyang's face held a trace of guilt. Then he added, "Oh, right—word from the Taixuan Sect. Qipeng's highly valued there. He's already hit the fourth layer of Qi Refining. No need to worry too much."
"Fourth layer of Qi Refining!" Jia Qiang jolted in shock, his heart quaking.
As expected of a supreme spirit root—such terrifying talent.
After all these years of cultivation, he'd barely scraped the third layer of Qi Refining. Qin Qipeng, after just over a year, had already surpassed him. Talk about making one die of envy by comparison!
Foundation Establishment wouldn't be long now, then Golden Core... His dream of being a Golden Core father was just around the corner!
Jia Qiang could barely contain his wild joy.
He even began urging Qin Rongrong on, proactively stepping aside to create opportunities for her.
...
Cultivation knew no years; another passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Qin family courtyard, a pale-faced, beardless middle-aged man strolled slowly with a woman at his side.
The man was Lin Hong, an elder of the Lin family—another cultivation clan on Immortal Sun Mountain, allied with the Qins by marriage. The woman was his daughter, Lin Ziwei.
"Ziwei, any progress on what I asked you to look into?" Lin Hong glanced around before sending a sound transmission.
The Qin family had sent multiple upper-grade spirit root children to the Taixuan Sect lately, but that hadn't drawn the sect's notice—they were a great power, after all, taking in hordes of upper-grade disciples.
But the Lin family, another cultivation clan, had taken note. As in-laws to the Qins, it was rare for a small family like theirs to produce even one upper-grade spirit root. Now the Qins had churned out multiples—not to mention supreme-grade ones.
This naturally sparked suspicion, so they'd tasked Lin Ziwei, married into the Qins, with quietly probing.
Lin Ziwei transmitted back, "Father, there's a son-in-law in the Qin family who's been marrying at an insane rate these past few years. He's taken dozens of wives and concubines all by himself. Not only that—even the Qin eldest miss has lowered herself to become his concubine. Every unmarried Qin woman with spirit root potential has been married off to him. It's highly unusual."
"And those upper-grade spirit root children—they all came from his household."
Lin Hong's eyes narrowed at once. "What's his name?"
"Qin Changqing!"
...
After chatting a bit more, Lin Hong patted his daughter's shoulder with a smile. "Father understands now. You've done a great service—the family won't forget it. Head back first."
Lin Ziwei departed.
Lin Hong stood motionless for a moment, pondering silently. Then he swiftly left the Qin estate, mounting his magic tool and soaring into the sky.
Several hours later, Lin family Patriarch Lin Xiuwen paid a personal visit.
In the main hall, Qin Zhengyang sat at the head seat, the Lin clansmen arrayed below him in order.
"Brother Lin, what brings you to visit our humble Qin family?" Qin Zhengyang asked with a smile.
Lin Xiuwen got straight to the point. "Brother Qin, no need for pleasantries—I'm here with a request."
Qin Zhengyang's gaze flickered subtly, but he chuckled warmly. "What talk of 'requests' between our families? If I can help, I certainly won't refuse."
Lin Xiuwen said, "I've heard the Qin family has a remarkable man who can help women conceive spirit root immortal seedlings. Might I borrow him for the Lin family's use?"
Qin Zhengyang's face changed dramatically.