Chapter One: The Conquering King Becomes a Son-in-law

As the city lights began to glow, night settled in with a hazy softness. A taxi pulled up in front of a small villa in the SN District of Qingshan. The rear door opened, and a tall, slender young man stepped out, his handsome features bearing a casual indifference.

A man in his fifties followed, speaking earnestly to the young man ahead: “Haoxuan, remember what I’ve told you. Even though your grandfather and Old Master Li arranged this engagement for you and his granddaughter over twenty years ago, times have changed. The Li family is wealthy and powerful—they won’t let their eldest granddaughter marry you so easily. Fortunately, there are no male heirs in the third generation, just two granddaughters. You still have a sliver of hope if you’re willing to marry into their family.”

“I—” He Haoxuan found himself at a loss for words.

He, who had made a name for himself as a mercenary king abroad—a man so formidable that the strong would say, “Better face the King of Hell than cross the War King”—had only just returned home after years away, and now his father, He Wei, was pushing him into marriage, insisting he become a son-in-law to the Li family?

“I know you’re reluctant now, but once you see the Li family’s eldest daughter, you’ll change your mind. She’s famous for her beauty in Qingshan. Still, I fear she’ll look down on you. Anyway, let’s just get this matter settled—if they want to break the engagement, let them. If the Li family hadn’t remembered old times and paid a hundred thousand for my surgery last year when I was gravely ill, you wouldn’t even see me now,” He Wei muttered to himself.

The best outcome would be to break off the engagement; otherwise, his father might threaten his life again. Haoxuan reflected silently.

In the villa’s first-floor living room, Old Master Li sat at the head of the table, his son Li Dong and others seated to his left.

His daughter-in-law, Song Li, looked up and said, “Father, our Qingying is exceptional. She can’t marry into the He family. I’ve heard that boy worked as a laborer for years and only graduated from high school. He’s not good enough for her.”

“Ah, when He Wei arrives, bring it up. Peace above all,” sighed the septuagenarian patriarch.

A good match in family and status was still essential. He regretted the impulsive child engagement made over twenty years ago. His eldest granddaughter, Li Qingying, was outstanding—there wasn’t a man in Qingshan who truly deserved her.

Soon, the door opened, and a servant led in He Wei and his son.

Old Master Li kept his head down, lifting a teacup to his lips and sipping slowly, deliberately.

Haoxuan glanced around the room, his eyes falling on a girl seated at the front.

She had a cascade of jet-black hair and lips like cherries, her beauty ethereal, like a fairy descended to earth. The only flaw was the inexpressible pride on her face, as if she kept the world at arm’s length.

He guessed this must be Li Qingying—the “Ice Goddess” of Qingshan.

“He Wei, we invited you here today to discuss the engagement arranged over twenty years ago—” Song Li sneered, her eyes cold.

A glance at the father and son’s clothes revealed cheap market wares. They lived in a poor district, struggled for daily meals—how could such people dream of marrying her daughter? Pure delusion.

He Wei hurried to interject, “Old Master Li, everyone, I know my son Haoxuan isn’t worthy of Miss Li, but we can compromise—Haoxuan can marry into your family.”

“No!” Song Li cried out. “Stop dreaming! My daughter will not marry He Haoxuan. Here’s what we’ll do—we’ll give you another hundred thousand to cancel the engagement.”

He Wei’s face fell, helpless. “Then let’s cancel the engagement. We don’t need compensation. We’ll repay the hundred thousand for the surgery ourselves.”

Old Master Li was taken aback by He Wei’s words. He looked up—and his expression changed instantly.

It was him—how could it be him? Wasn’t he still abroad? How could he be here?

“No, a man must keep his word. We cannot cancel the engagement. They’ll marry at once and start living together immediately.” Old Master Li stood up excitedly, as if he’d found a treasure.

Li Dong and his wife stared in shock.

What was happening? Hadn’t they agreed to break the engagement for a hundred thousand? He Wei had just refused the money and agreed to end it—so why was the patriarch now insisting otherwise?

Had the old man lost his mind? Was age finally muddling his senses?

“Dad, are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital?” Li Dong asked cautiously, pulling out his phone to dial for an ambulance.

“Li Dong, get out,” Old Master Li snapped, hurrying down to personally invite He Wei to sit, deliberately avoiding looking at Haoxuan lest he reveal too much.

At the same time, Old Master Li felt a twinge of fear.

He’d once encountered a fearsome powerhouse abroad—someone who could snuff him out with a mere gesture. Yet that same powerhouse had grovelled before Haoxuan like a loyal dog.

To have such a man as a grandson-in-law was a windfall beyond imagining.

As chairman of Baili Group in Qingshan, he knew Li Dong and his wife wouldn’t dare utter a word of protest.

As for Qingying—if she wanted to be the group’s general manager, that could be part of the bargain as well.

Haoxuan looked on in confusion as the old man and his father discussed wedding plans for the next day. What had changed? They’d clearly been unwilling for him to marry in before, but now the old man seemed overjoyed, while Li Dong and the others wore expressions as black as soot.

Six months later, Haoxuan lounged comfortably on the Li family villa’s leather sofa with his legs crossed, calling out to Song Li, “Mother-in-law, I’m a bit thirsty. Could you pour me a glass of water?”

“I have no time. Ask a servant,” Song Li snapped, turning to head upstairs.

She couldn’t understand what the old man had been thinking. After Haoxuan and her daughter married, the patriarch had disappeared without a trace. How could a laborer marry her daughter?

No, marry into the family!

But he didn’t act like any typical son-in-law living under his wife’s roof. Instead of being meek and enduring hardship, Haoxuan behaved like a king—ordering people around, never lifting a finger, living off the family without a care.

Watching Song Li storm upstairs in anger, Haoxuan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

After years of bloody mercenary missions abroad, he’d longed for a simple, peaceful life. Marrying into the Li family, doing nothing, being waited on hand and foot, living as a quiet and handsome man—that suited him perfectly.

He and Li Qingying had privately agreed to divorce after a year, each going their separate ways.

Suddenly, Qingying’s frustrated voice carried down from upstairs: “President Yang, we signed the contract ages ago. If you refuse to supply us now, our project will be delayed—”

Li Qingying came downstairs, fuming at the sight of Haoxuan lounging idly on the sofa.

It was all Haoxuan’s fault. Ever since word got out that she was married, a group of local playboys had joined forces to make things difficult for her, and every branch of Baili Group was under attack.

What was even more infuriating was that the general manager of Ruhu Group, Yang Zhiyi, had just broken their contract and refused to supply their materials.

If things dragged on for a few more days and Baili Group couldn’t deliver to their client, they’d face lawsuits and huge penalties.

“What’s wrong, darling? Is someone giving you trouble? Want me to help?” Haoxuan teased, still lounging with his legs crossed.

For some reason, the colder Qingying acted toward him, the more he enjoyed provoking her.