Chapter 84

Shen Qifeng looked dazed.

Among his group of close brothers, several of them actually had secret crushes on him?

Who? Exactly who was coveting his body?

He had too many close brothers, so he didn’t even have a single suspect in mind. Unfortunately, after the Melon-Eating System dropped this gossip bomb, it showed no intention of elaborating. Ning Xu couldn’t even recognize them, so she was even less likely to be curious about these people.

As a result, Shen Qifeng was left standing there, looking complicated.

—

After strolling along the beach for a while, the wealthiest man in the cultivation world finally made his entrance.

Despite his youthful appearance, seemingly no older than his early twenties, he was actually already two thousand years old. A warm smile rested on his face, exuding an air of wealth and harmony.

Standing beside him were his children and grandchildren. At a glance, it was clear that this was a massive family, teeming with descendants. However, despite being the wealthiest man’s most cherished granddaughter, the Divine Maiden could only stand far off in a remote corner.

Ning Xu was slightly surprised. “The Divine Maiden is standing so far to the side?”

The Melon-Eating System explained, 【There’s no helping it. This old man has countless sons and daughters, and even his direct grandchildren number in the dozens. No matter how favored the Divine Maiden is, she’s still just a granddaughter. In such a grand occasion, with so many direct descendants present, there’s no way she could stand beside the wealthiest man.】

Ning Xu glanced at the seating arrangement of the Li family and asked the Melon-Eating System, “Who are the man and woman standing closest to the wealthiest man?”

The Melon-Eating System quickly responded, 【The man is the grandson the wealthiest man values most, and the woman is the daughter he trusts the most. Their talents are average, but their abilities are outstanding, and they’re highly skilled at pleasing the wealthiest man. He has placed great hopes on them. These two are the strongest contenders for the next head of the Li family.】

Then, with the tone of someone about to watch a thrilling drama, the Melon-Eating System added, 【Just these two alone have enough gossip to go around. Not to mention all the others.】

【If you add up all the scandals in the Li family, they’d exceed a hundred.】

【Anyone you pick out at random is a Gossip King.】

Ning Xu was stunned. “??? That many scandals?”

This family was ridiculously good at generating gossip!

The Melon-Eating System lazily responded, 【Of course. The bigger the family, the messier the affairs.】

【Forget the others for now. If we’re talking gossip, we should start with these two main contenders for the family head position.】

【Both of them…】 At this point, the Melon-Eating System chuckled meaningfully. 【Are both “orthopedic” candidates.】

What?

Orthopedic?

And both of them?!

The moment she heard the word “orthopedic,” Ning Xu instantly became wide awake.

“Tell me more.”

The people nearby who could hear thoughts maintained neutral expressions, but inwardly, they were wondering what this so-called “orthopedic” meant. They also found it odd how Ning Xu visibly perked up upon hearing the term.

Fortunately, they quickly got their answer.

The Melon-Eating System began rattling off information, swiftly exposing the dark secrets of the two main candidates for the Li family head position.

【The wealthiest man’s grandson has fallen in love with his biological younger sister. The wealthiest man’s daughter has fallen in love with her biological second uncle.】

Ning Xu: “!!!”

Everyone: “!!!”

Just as Ning Xu was about to ask more, she suddenly noticed that several of her teammates were standing uncomfortably close to her. If not for the boundaries between men and women, they might have already pressed up against her.

Even the Shen Qi siblings, whom she had just met, were only a step away from her, standing at her right front.

In short, she was completely surrounded on all sides.

If their group had formed a circle, then she was undoubtedly the center of that circle.

They were all standing around her.

Ning Xu paused. “What’s with you all?”

Shen Qidan smiled shyly. “Fellow Daoist might not believe it, but I felt an instant connection with you. I couldn’t help but want to be close to you.”

Qin Riluo and the others: …What a convenient excuse.

But Shen Qidan wasn’t entirely lying.

After suspecting that Ning Xu might be the legendary Melon Mover, she indeed wanted to get closer to her.

If not for Ning Xu, she likely wouldn’t have been able to stand here and attend the wealthiest man’s birthday banquet today.

Ning Xu then turned to look at Qingjiu Xian and the others.

Forget the Innocent Cultivator—he always stuck close to her and never strayed too far.

But why were the other sect members suddenly gathering around as well?

Qin Riluo and the others felt bitter inside.

The range of the heart-voice transmission was only so big… If they stood too far away, they wouldn’t be able to hear anything at all!

On normal days, when there were fewer of them, they could stand more loosely.

But today, there were also the Shen Qi siblings.

To avoid getting squeezed out of the transmission range by other acquaintances, they had no choice but to crowd closer to Ning Xu.

Being stared at, Qingjiu Xian coughed and said, “Like this fellow Daoist, I also wish to be close to the captain.”

Ning Xu: “…”

Before she could say anything, the Melon-Eating System had already started complaining.

【This shameless old man, still trying to cozy up to you at his age. Can’t you tell he’s an old pervert?】

【Scram, you old pervert!】

Qingjiu Xian, who had just been called an old pervert by the Melon-Eating System: …

He really shouldn’t have said anything!

Ning Xu turned to the others. “You guys too?”

The Innocent Cultivator was the first to respond with an affirmative.

Next was Wu Lüchen, then Qin Riluo, and finally, even Shen Qifeng gave a low “Mm.”

What could she say? Ridiculous.

However, Ning Xu didn’t actually mind that her teammates and the Shen Qi siblings wanted to be close to her.

She had only asked out of curiosity.

Now that she had her answer, she simply put it aside.

She quickly refocused on the orthopedic gossip from earlier.

“Continue, continue. Do the people they like know about their feelings?”

The Melon-Eating System snickered and asked in return, 【How could they not know?】

【You have to understand—】

It deliberately dragged out its tone.

【In this world, love is something that can never truly be hidden.】

【For example—】

The Innocent Cultivator’s feelings for you can’t be hidden either.

However, the Melon-Eating System mischievously chose not to say the last part out loud.

Although it had made plenty of jokes about its host and the Innocent Cultivator before, teasing was different from outright revealing the truth.

Jokes carried a playful tone and weren’t meant to be taken seriously.

But stating it outright would be confirmation.

Since the two of them were still dancing around each other, the Melon-Eating System had no intention of spoiling the fun.

It wanted to see the extreme push and pull!

Just as everyone perked up, eager to hear what the Melon-Eating System was about to reveal, it leisurely continued, 【For example, the Divine Maiden’s feelings for the Supreme Furnace can’t be hidden either.】

Everyone: ???

They thought they were about to hear something juicy.

But it was just about the Divine Maiden???

Wait a minute—did it just say that the Divine Maiden had feelings for the Supreme Furnace?!

The Divine Maiden liked a boy so much younger than her?!

Ning Xu was surprised as well. “The Divine Maiden and the Supreme Furnace…”

【That’s right, feelings grew over time.】 The Melon-Eating System put extra emphasis on the words.

Everyone: …

At that moment, the wealthiest man finished his opening speech and signaled for the guests to find their seats.

As expected, Ning Xu and her sect members were seated in the most remote area.

The Shen Qi siblings sat nearby as well.

Seeing them sit among such an unremarkable group, many people cast them meaningful glances.

Some even whispered in private, “Looks like the Shen Qi family is truly declining, to be associating with people like that.”

The Melon-Eating System cursed, 【People like that? Speak clearly, what kind of people? Let me tell you—we’re the kind you won’t be able to reach in the future!】

Ning Xu took a sip of iced tea and said, “Calm down.”

The Melon-Eating System finished cursing and immediately returned to focusing on eating melons. A small fry like that wasn’t worth remembering for too long.

It excitedly said, 【Host, do you see that little girl standing next to the Goddess?】

Ning Xu naturally saw her. The girl was dressed in luxurious clothing, and any accessory on her body was an extraordinary spiritual artifact, proving that her status in the Li family was not low.

The Melon-Eating System continued, 【She is Li Yu’s biological younger sister.】

As a bystander, Ning Xu commented honestly, “She’s very cute.”

【Exactly. Li Yu has given her all his warmth and patience, and she, in turn, has given all her dependence and admiration to Li Yu.】

【But Li Yu is about to get engaged.】

【The woman beside the curly-haired female cultivator is Li Yu’s fiancée.】

Ning Xu: “…”

She shifted her gaze to Li Yu’s fiancée.

Unlike his younger sister’s delicate and adorable appearance, the fiancée was an ice-cold beauty—her skin like frost and jade, exuding an untouchable, ethereal aura.

Ning Xu asked, “Does she know about this?”

【She knows, but she doesn’t care.】

【The only thing she cares about is the title of ‘Li Yu’s fiancée.’ As for who Li Yu actually loves, that doesn’t concern her much.】

Ning Xu: “…”

What else could she say? She could only sigh—this circle was truly messy.

The Melon-Eating System spoke again, 【Do you see that elegant and carefree handsome uncle holding a wine jug?】

Ning Xu: “I see him. Is he that biological second uncle?”

【That’s right.】

【He’s been engaged three times, but every time, Li Shan ruined it. Li Shan is the name of the richest man’s daughter.】

【After that, he never got engaged again, which is why he’s still a bachelor now.】

Ning Xu: “…So what does he feel about Li Shan? Does he blame her for ruining his marriages, or what?”

The Melon-Eating System replied, 【He definitely doesn’t blame her.】

【His previous engagements were just to make Li Shan give up, but after failing three times, he gave up instead.】

【Now, they’re basically at the stage of: ‘You won’t marry anyone else, and I won’t either. Let’s just grow old as eternal bachelors together.’】

Ning Xu: “…”

A partnership to grow old as lifelong bachelors? That was a new one.

She had no idea what to say anymore.

Her fellow sect members beside her also had complicated expressions.

The Li family…

They possessed wealth beyond imagination, appearing dignified and noble on the surface, yet beneath it all…

It was an absolute mess.

Compared to this, the drama involving the Goddess and the Supreme Furnace was barely worth mentioning.

After taking a bite of the chilled dish provided by the Li family, Ning Xu heard the Melon-Eating System summarize, 【So, the sibling’s taboo love is highly likely to end in tragedy, while the other pair—well, it’s neither a happy ending nor a tragedy.】

Ning Xu disagreed, “The first pair is indeed doomed, but the second one isn’t set in stone yet.”

The Melon-Eating System eagerly asked, 【Host, why do you say that?】

Ning Xu slowly analyzed, “If Li Shan becomes the family head, wouldn’t the entire Li family be under her control?”

“If she can dominate the entire clan, then a little sibling taboo love—what would that even matter?”

Hearing this, the Melon-Eating System had a moment of realization, 【That makes sense.】

【Right now, her competition with Li Yu seems to have reached a boiling point.】

【Neither of them will back down from the position of family head.】

【That’s also the biggest reason why Li Yu ultimately agreed to the engagement.】

Ning Xu sighed, “Looks like the Li family won’t be seeing any peace in the near future.”

Thinking about it, the Goddess, as an outsider and granddaughter, wouldn’t get involved in the Li family’s power struggle or these messy affairs.

After consuming so many juicy melons, Ning Xu felt utterly satisfied.

She was just about to take a break and enjoy more of the Li family’s delicious food when the Melon-Eating System suddenly let out a sharp cry.

Ning Xu casually asked, “What? More melons?”

For the first time, the Melon-Eating System’s voice carried a serious and chilling tone, 【Host, something major has happened!】

【Among the guests today, some demons have infiltrated.】

【I’m not sure yet whether they’re targeting the richest man himself or his wealth.】

【But one thing is certain—they’re here to cause trouble.】

【Prepare the magic treasures you got from the Wu family head’s private stash.】

【Get ready for battle—no, prepare to run for your life!】

Ning Xu: “…”

Alright then.

The Melon-Eating System’s warning system had finally proven useful.

Although… it was just telling her to run for her life.

—

—In Chinese internet slang, “orthopedic” (骨科) refers to sibling or incestuous romance tropes in fiction. It’s a joke implying such relationships are “broken” and need orthopedic treatment to be “fixed.”