Chapter 26: Kneeling

Chapter 26: Kneeling

A Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique!

A Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique — even among great powers like the Spirit Sword Academy and Yunlan Sect, only Inner Sect Elders were qualified to practice one.

And yet Qin Guan had just produced a high-tier Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique. The sheer audacity of it left everyone stunned.

"Ha ha, wonderful! Wonderful!"

Nan Yunqi laughed so hard he couldn't close his mouth. His hands trembled slightly as he took the technique. With his current cultivation at the fourth level of the Spirit Refinement Realm, if he practiced this high-tier Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique, he would absolutely be able to fight above his level and challenge Profound Mastery Realm experts within Luyun City.

At that moment, Qin Guan turned his gaze toward Jiaquan, and Jiaquan immediately shuddered from head to toe.

"Jiaquan, you worked hard cleaning up the east courtyard for Rou'er and me last time. Consider this Cultivation Technique your reward."

With that, Qin Guan casually tossed a technique book to him.

"Ah — a mid-tier Mystic-grade fist technique!!" When Jiaquan saw what was in his hands, he couldn't help but cry out, his blood boiling with excitement.

Thud!

The next moment, Jiaquan dropped to his knees before Qin Guan and said with great emotion, "Many thanks to the live-in son-in-law and the First Young Miss for this generous reward!"

By now, how could he not understand? The reward had come because Qin Guan valued Nan Rou's feelings.

"Mm, rise." Qin Guan gave a nod.

At this point, no one could remain composed. Everyone was swallowing hard, their eyes fixed eagerly on Qin Guan.

"What is your name?" Qin Guan looked toward a rather slender Nan Family disciple.

"R-reply to the live-in son-in-law — this one is Nan Chang!" Nan Chang stammered with excitement.

"I remember you were the first one to call me live-in son-in-law. That deserves a reward." Qin Guan tossed a technique book to Nan Chang as he spoke.

Nan Chang caught it quickly. When he saw it was a mid-tier Mystic-grade staff technique, his eyes lit up brilliantly, and he immediately dropped to his knees. "Many thanks to the live-in son-in-law and the First Young Miss for this reward!"

"Mm." Qin Guan nodded, glanced at the remaining dozen or so Nan Family disciples, then turned to Nan Yunqi and said:

"Father-in-law, why not let them each copy a portion of this low-tier Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique to practice?"

"Agreed." Nan Yunqi nodded.

Upon hearing that they could practice a low-tier Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique, the remaining Nan Family disciples were beside themselves with excitement. They had never dared dream of practicing a Mystic-grade technique — this treatment was no worse than that of Elders in the great powers!

At that moment, everyone quietly rejoiced. It was fortunate they had chosen to remain with the Nan Family and had not defected alongside Nan Shunda and Nan Yuantong.

If those who had fled were to learn that every one of them could now practice a Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique, they would surely be eaten alive by regret.

"There are also some spiritual herbs and Pills here — please handle them as you see fit." Qin Guan produced another Storage Ring and handed it to Nan Yunqi.

Nan Yunqi hurriedly took it, and when he saw what was inside, he nearly fainted from excitement. In his entire life, he had never laid eyes on so many precious things.

Just then, Nan Rou quietly tugged at the corner of Qin Guan's sleeve.

Qin Guan looked at her and noticed an anxious expression on her face. He smiled warmly and said:

"Don't worry — although we didn't obtain a particularly good Cultivation Technique from the Secret Realm this time, I set one aside especially for you."

Hearing this, everyone inwardly marveled — just what grade would the Cultivation Technique Qin Guan had reserved for the First Young Miss be?

"That's not what I meant, husband. Have you forgotten about my sister?" Nan Rou said, her gaze quickly darting toward Nan Qiao.

At that, everyone finally understood. Everyone had received something — everyone except Yang Hongmei and Nan Qiao, the mother and daughter. But they quickly grasped the reason.

When Qin Guan had first entered the Nan Family, this mother and daughter had shown him nothing but contempt. Believing him to be a cripple incapable of cultivation, they had treated him with disdain, tossing him like garbage to the near-dying Nan Rou and forcing her to take his place in the marriage — a truly vicious scheme.

What they had never anticipated was that Qin Guan would turn out to be a powerful fourth-gate Martial Artist who had also cured Nan Rou's Cold Poison. Now, Nan Rou's standing within the Nan Family was unrivaled, for behind her stood Qin Guan, who cherished her deeply.

At this moment, Nan Qiao stood with her head bowed, biting her red lip, her hands clutching the hem of her garment tightly, lost in thought.

Beside her, Yang Hongmei's expression was equally unpleasant. She understood perfectly well why Qin Guan had not rewarded the two of them — he was clearly trying to make them feel humiliated.

Yet the Cultivation Techniques Qin Guan had given out were simply too tempting. Her daughter was extraordinarily talented; if she could obtain a Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique, her strength would surely skyrocket and she would rise swiftly.

After a moment's thought, Yang Hongmei looked toward Qin Guan with a hint of apology and said:

"Son-in-law, my behavior in the past was indeed a bit much. I promise to change going forward — please don't hold a grudge against a woman like me."

"Aunt, what are you saying? In truth, I should be thanking you. If not for you, I would never have married such a gentle and virtuous wife as Nan Rou." Qin Guan smiled.

Yang Hongmei gave an awkward smile. "Son-in-law, from now on we are all one family — no need for formalities. Do you think you could give Qiao'er a Cultivation Technique as well?"

Qin Guan gave a slight nod, his gaze settling on Nan Qiao as he said calmly, "Of course — so long as she is willing to kneel and apologize to me, I will give her one."

The moment those words fell, it was as if a biting cold wind had swept through the hall. The room fell utterly silent — so quiet one could hear a pin drop — and the air itself seemed to freeze, heavy and suffocating.

At that, Nan Qiao, who had not spoken until now, suddenly raised her head and stared directly at Qin Guan, her eyes full of grievance. "Qin Guan, I was wrong to look down on you back then and call you a cripple — but surely you don't need to humiliate me like this now?"

Nan Rou sensed trouble brewing and quickly stepped in to mediate. "Husband, Qiao'er has been mischievous since she was small. Now that you are her brother-in-law, please be more forgiving."

Qin Guan seemed not to hear her. His expression remained as calm as still water, giving no hint of what lay in his heart.

At this, Nan Qiao turned to Nan Rou, her voice thick with tears. "From the time we were little, I bullied you and berated you, relying on Father and Mother's favoritism — and yet you never held it against me. Sister, I know I was wrong!"

By the end, Nan Qiao could hold back no longer, and tears streamed down her face like rain.

After everything that had happened in the Secret Realm, Nan Qiao's feelings toward Nan Rou had changed greatly. Though she felt some resistance toward this apology, her sincerity came from the very depths of her heart.

In the Secret Realm, her sister had thrown herself in front of her without a second thought — and yet she had treated her so poorly before. Thinking of this, Nan Qiao wept even harder, the weight of her past wrongs pricking her conscience without mercy.

Tears glistened in Nan Rou's eyes as well. She hurried to Nan Qiao's side and gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief, saying softly, "Sister, don't cry anymore. Let the unpleasantness of the past go — we are family."

Nan Qiao suddenly threw herself into Nan Rou's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Sister, I will work hard to make up for everything I did wrong before!"

Watching the two sisters embrace, Nan Yunqi felt a deep warmth in his heart, his eyes growing moist. As the head of the family, his greatest dream had always been for everyone under his roof to live in harmony and love.

Beside him, even Yang Hongmei's gaze toward Nan Rou softened in a way rarely seen from her.

Just then, Nan Qiao suddenly pulled herself free from Nan Rou's embrace. "Wrong is wrong. Since my brother-in-law wants me to kneel and apologize to him, then I will kneel."

With those words, Nan Qiao dropped to her knees before Qin Guan.