Chapter 1676: A Good Family Man

The bustling Ghost Street was crowded with people, and the stalls on both sides echoed with lively hawking. The items for sale were dazzling in variety.

Red lanterns hung high, adding a splash of brilliance to the dim colors. The ghost city of the Underworld was even more lively than the markets in the mortal world.

Though it was the realm of the dead, it fully displayed the prosperity of the human world.

Ye Chen and Chu Ling walked hand in hand, drawing envious gazes from all around. As a loving couple, they deserved the blessings of love.

Chu Ling smiled softly, her tenderness like water, filled with longing.

She had found her home, and everything seemed destined by fate.

In contrast, Ye Chen was lost in thought along the way.

He was still puzzled. Now that he had brought Chu Ling out, why hadn't Di Huang appeared? What exactly was that ancestor waiting for?

Unable to figure it out, he decided not to dwell on it. Di Huang probably had his own plans.

Shaking off his thoughts, he turned to Chu Ling at his side and smiled.

"Do you have anything you want for dinner? I'll make it for you."

"You can cook?" Chu Ling blinked her beautiful eyes, her gaze as clear as water, utterly captivating and shimmering with light.

"I'd say my cooking skills are pretty good." Ye Chen tossed his head, smoothing his hair, exuding an air of confidence.

He recalled the day he made a big meal to apologize to Chu Xuan, adding a touch of special Da Chu produce to each dish.

Unfortunately, Chu Xuan didn't touch any of it, and instead, Hong Chen Xue devoured it all, leading to a string of ridiculous incidents.

"Who knew? The mighty Huang Gu Ming Jiang is so talented." Chu Ling sighed. "I don't even know how to cook."

"A good family man—you've hit the jackpot." Ye Chen grinned and led Chu Ling into a shop on the street.

It wasn't for buying pills or Ming Qi, but for ingredients to cook with.

The shop owner was startled at the sight of the two.

Ye Chen acted quickly, using his powers to pull over a pile of ingredients, stacking them on the counter—a mix of everything imaginable.

"Eight hundred Ming Shi," the shop owner said with a chuckle.

"So much—can you give a discount?" Chu Ling blinked her beautiful eyes.

"Of course, how could I not?" Ye Chen pulled out his storage bag and started stuffing the ingredients inside one by one.

"Uh... discount it is." The shop owner laughed awkwardly.

How could he refuse when the Nai He Qiao Shen was so beautiful?

Besides, Huang Gu Ming Jiang Ye Chen was standing right there.

This guy was incredibly powerful and had a bit of a temper. If things went wrong, he might even flip the whole shop.

After some thought, he quickly gave them a three-fold discount.

"Nice one," Ye Chen and Chu Ling both gave him a thumbs-up.

After the two left, the shop owner was left with a troubled expression.

Pulling out his abacus for a calculation, he realized—oh no, he'd lost a hundred Ming Shi.

On the street, Ye Chen kept looking around for more ingredients.

Chu Ling was fully cooperative, one hand linked with Ye Chen's arm and the other holding a small bamboo basket, just like shopping at a market.

The two seemed to thoroughly enjoy the process, browsing from one shop to another. Ye Chen handled the selecting, and she took care of the bargaining.

As a result, the pair became a striking sight on Ghost Street, incredibly eye-catching. Anyone who saw them couldn't help but smile.

The Huang Gu Ming Jiang and Nai He Qiao Shen shopping and bargaining—who knew they were short on money?

The most awkward part was for the ingredient sellers. When the Nai He Qiao Shen came to bargain, she haggled fiercely, and in the end, they were still losing money!

"The Nai He Qiao Shen is so thrifty." Many old Ming Jiang stroked their beards. Not even married yet, and already learning to save.

"I think she's just bored. If she has time, she should be off chatting in bed."

"Fun—do you get it? Stop thinking about dirty stuff."

Discussions erupted everywhere, with endless sighs, making the street even more lively.

The strange looks from passersby were ignored by the two as they shopped happily, like a married couple chatting and laughing along the way.

This life had no swords or schemes, no deceit or turmoil—ordinary and genuine, truly touching.

After wandering around, they finally returned to Ye Chen's small garden.

Before meeting Di Huang, this had been their little home.

This time, it wasn't just him—Chu Ling was with him. They would be an ordinary couple, enjoying a few days of peace.

Ye Chen stepped into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and washed, selected, and chopped the vegetables with practiced ease, just like back in Da Chu.

Meanwhile, Chu Ling wandered around the small garden, curiously looking around.

She never expected that Qin Guang Wang's personally appointed Huang Gu Ming Jiang would live in such a simple place—it was quite surprising.

"If you don't like it, I can switch to a grand palace."

Ye Chen smiled. As a Ming Jiang appointed by Yan Luo, getting a palace as his residence would be effortless—that was his privilege.

"No need to change. This is fine." Chu Ling smiled sweetly.

Wealth and glory were fleeting. At their level, they had long seen through it all. Ordinary was best.

Most importantly, this place had Ye Chen. Wherever he was, be it palace or hut, it was home—a warm home.

"Honestly, you're a bit odd." Chu Ling circled around the kitchen, back and forth, occasionally snatching a bite from the cutting board—like some fruits and veggies that could be eaten raw.

"Where am I odd?" Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"Super strong in battle, yet so carefree; famous in the Underworld, yet you cook." Chu Ling said, then grabbed a cucumber, munching on it with a cheeky grin, a bit mischievous.

"So, I told you—you've hit the jackpot. Feeling lucky?"

"A little." Chu Ling's smile turned a bit silly.

Ye Chen chuckled, waved his hand, and the vegetables went into the oil pan.

As soon as he finished one dish, Chu Ling would carry it away, sniffing it first and then grabbing bites with her hands.

Soon, a table full of delicious dishes was set, aromatic and appetizing. Just the sight of it made one's mouth water.

Ye Chen added a romantic touch by lighting red candles.

This was the legendary candlelight dinner.

He poured a cup of wine for himself and tea for Chu Ling.

He didn't even ask how it tasted, because the girl was already eating with her mouth full of oil, no longer looking like the Nai He Qiao Shen.

At their level, they didn't need food, but after living like immortals, eating had become a novelty.

Ye Chen just smiled and watched, as if looking at his wife, his eyes full of tenderness, with only her in his deep gaze.

"The first time you saw me, you had this look. I was so curious—we'd never met before, so why do you always look at me like that?"

Chu Ling blinked her clear, beautiful eyes and smiled at Ye Chen.

"In a past life, we were husband and wife."

Ye Chen smiled.

"That explanation works." Chu Ling went back to sipping her soup.

"See? Better late than never." The romantic atmosphere was broken by a female voice.

A person entered the garden—it was Qin Mengyao.

She was dragging someone along, no need to say who: Zhao Yun. Wherever Qin Mengyao appeared, Zhao Yun was there.

"Don't you have any sense?" Zhao Yun said, starting to leave. The couple was finally having their moment, and she was butting in.

"They don't mind." Qin Mengyao pulled Zhao Yun back.

"The Huang Gu Ming Jiang cooking himself—who knows if we'll see this again?" This girl was quite at ease, not treating herself as an outsider. She rubbed her hands and sat down.

"Look, just look at them. When will you cook for me?"

Qin Mengyao glanced at Zhao Yun reproachfully, a bit resentful.

"Long Ge, I'll say it one last time—we're not close." Zhao Yun stuffed his hands in his pockets. This woman always tried to get familiar.

"Tch." Qin Mengyao didn't care and started devouring the food on the table, her ladylike image completely gone.

"Good thing you're not a guy." Ye Chen said casually.

"What do you mean?" Qin Mengyao looked up, confused.

"If you were a guy, you'd be flying up to the sky by now."

"Sis, look at him." Qin Mengyao turned to Chu Ling.

"Come on, ignore him." Chu Ling just kept serving Qin Mengyao food. Being called "sis" made her heart flutter with joy.

The two women had plenty to talk about—or rather, Qin Mengyao was a chatterbox. Once seated, she ate and talked nonstop.

As she spoke, she sighed and marveled.

The Nai He Qiao Shen was her brother's crush, yet she'd been won over by Ye Chen. Her brother was out of luck for life.

It was just bad luck—he'd fallen for the wrong person, and his rival was too formidable.

Even in a fight, he couldn't beat Ye Chen, and his flirting skills were miles behind. No wonder he couldn't win her over.

But she was open-minded about it. Love needed mutual consent, and as long as Chu Ling was smiling and happy, that was enough.

It was just a pity for her brother—he'd been doomed by that one sentence of hers, and she'd dragged the Nine Hall Ming Jiang into it too, leaving them dead or crippled.

Thinking back, the root cause wasn't really her words, but Chu Ling. If Fei Long Ming Jiang hadn't liked Chu Ling, none of this would've happened, making everything so awkward.

"You're something else—taking down Ming Di's disciple." While the women chatted happily, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun were talking just as lively, about today's events.

"Flattering me like that isn't necessary." Zhao Yun laughed.

He was right. Half a year ago, Ye Chen had crippled the Nine Hall Ming Jiang, and today, he'd taken down Ming Di's disciple.

But if they switched places, Ye Chen could do the same to Ming Di's disciple, and Zhao Yun could cripple the Nine Hall Ming Jiang.

As experts, they had that understanding. Both were unbeatable at their level—one could do it, so could the other.

"I have a feeling." Ye Chen laughed. "One day, we'll have a fight to the death."

"Then don't go too hard on me." Zhao Yun also laughed. Ye Chen's feeling was the same as his—very strong.

Both had that hope, wanting a real fight, but neither wanted that day to come too soon.

Because they might both die by each other's hand.

As night fell, Zhao Yun stretched and stood up first.

He dragged the still chattering Qin Mengyao away.

She'd crashed their dinner, and tonight was for their activities—don't get in the way. A moment of spring is worth a thousand gold.

This time, Qin Mengyao was sensible, but her beautiful eyes blinked curiously. Maybe she'd come back late at night to listen in.

With the two gone, only Ye Chen and Chu Ling remained in the garden.

The atmosphere, which had been romantic, now felt a bit awkward.

Tonight, would they sleep in separate rooms or the same bed?

If the same bed, would it be you on top or me? And is that bed in our room sturdy enough?