Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

The dawn light bathed Qi Yuan lazily.

Chen Kangbao was munching on a steamed bun, his words muffled as he chewed.

Inside the Shen household, in the martial arts training ground, groups of young men and women gathered in threes and fives, whispering among themselves.

“I wonder if I have the talent of an artifact master?”

“If I get selected to go to Mount Ye Lake, and I come up with a brilliant plan to repair the mighty Wei Long Xuanyuan, how glorious that would be!”

“I heard that last night, that son-in-law tried to bathe the madam… Honestly, I’d want to do that too…”

Some of these were voiced thoughts, others were inner musings, but none escaped Qi Yuan’s ears.

When Qi Yuan appeared, the whispers on the training ground shifted, with more and more inner thoughts revolving around "bath water."

However, not a single person dared to say anything out loud—it concerned the madam’s dignity.

“This progress of playing the son-in-law is too slow. Not only have I not gotten to pour the bathwater for my mother-in-law, but these people also have such refined self-control—no one has even come out to insult me. How am I supposed to play this role?”

According to Qi Yuan’s thinking:

Playing the role of a son-in-law requires being bullied. Without that, how can I progress?

Nevertheless, Qi Yuan's appearance indeed caught the attention of many.

Shen Baiting stared at Qi Yuan with a changing expression, his thoughts racing.

"How could someone as stunning as Ling Xuan marry such a useless man?"

"Why didn’t he just die in Ninghe County?"

"Yesterday, he made such a scene in the Shen household, and yet the family head didn’t punish him. Unbelievable!"

"Too bad he’s still the family head’s son-in-law, so I can’t offend him outright. I’ll have to find some idiot to provoke him and cause trouble."

"Seeing him live so comfortably makes me jealous!"

“Shen Baihu is a good candidate, but last time I hinted at it… He just said he doesn’t bully trash.”

Shen Baiting’s thoughts grew darker.

He had long despised Qi Yuan.

In fact, he had always treated his sister, Shen Lingxuan, like a goddess, harboring a strong possessiveness toward her.

At this moment, hearing Shen Baiting’s thoughts, Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up.

He had found… someone who could bully the son-in-law.

“Old man, fetch me a wooden board…” he whispered to Chen Kangbao.

Chen Kangbao, hearing Qi Yuan’s instructions, quickly swallowed the last of his steamed bun and jogged away.

Under many gazes, Qi Yuan approached the small group around Shen Baiting.

Shen Baiting frowned slightly.

Shen Baihu looked surprised.

The others were all puzzled.

“Greetings, Brother Qi!”

Regardless of their true thoughts, they all addressed Qi Yuan as “Brother Qi” with cordial smiles.

Such was the power of a son-in-law status.

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but sigh. Some people really are from prominent families—they’re too good at pretending.

Especially Shen Baiting. He was inwardly dying to see Qi Yuan gone, yet his face carried a genuinely kind smile.

“I’m just a son-in-law. I never thought you’d all be so kind to me,” Qi Yuan said, feigning a pure-hearted expression.

“Brother Qi, you must be joking. You’re Lingxuan’s husband. If we don’t treat you well, who else would we?” Shen Baiting replied, smiling warmly.

“Sigh,” Qi Yuan sighed.

“Does Brother Qi have something weighing on your mind?” Shen Baiting asked attentively.

“I’m just lamenting how full of scheming these big families are.

“You clearly wish I were dead, yet you greet me with a smile.”

Qi Yuan stared directly at the young man in front of him.

Shen Baiting’s smile froze for a moment before he quickly adopted a look of grievance.

“Brother Qi, are you falsely accusing me? I don’t know what I’ve done to offend you to make you hate me so much. Please, tell me, and I’ll change immediately!”

When it came to playing the innocent, Shen Baiting far outclassed Qi Yuan.

Even as a man, his expression evoked sympathy.

Many others even glared at Qi Yuan, feeling he was bullying Shen Baiting.

How dare this mere son-in-law act so boldly?

Shen Baiting was known for scheming from the shadows, leaving most people helpless against him.

Qi Yuan maintained a calm expression. “If you didn’t wish for my death, why would you provoke Shen Baihu and try to incite him against me?”

These words made Shen Baiting’s expression shift dramatically.

Shen Baihu’s thick brows furrowed as something dawned on him, and he looked suspiciously at Shen Baiting.

“You’re spouting nonsense! When have I ever provoked?” Shen Baiting stammered, his panic evident. The things he’d said to stir up trouble between Shen Baihu and Qi Yuan were only known to Shen Baihu.

That thick-browed, honest-looking man couldn’t have told Qi Yuan… could he?

Did I underestimate his scheming abilities?

“Sigh, Baihu, I misjudged you,” Shen Baiting lamented dramatically. “When Lingxuan married Qi Yuan, I had some complaints and made a careless remark while drunk. I never thought you’d repeat those words to Brother Qi!”

He quickly tried to distance himself from the situation.

Naturally, he sought the others' support.

After all, many in the Shen family had grievances about Qi Yuan marrying Shen Lingxuan.

Of course, Shen Baiting’s grievance was the deepest.

As a collateral relative, he considered himself exceptional.

Collateral relatives could marry into the main line.

Just as he was beginning to enter the Shen family’s inner circle, he met Shen Lingxuan and developed a strong desire to possess her.

Convinced that time would bring her around, he planned to win her over, gain more resources, and eventually control the Shen family.

But then Qi Yuan appeared, ruining his plans.

Hearing Shen Baiting’s words, Shen Baihu’s expression shifted multiple times.

At this moment, other Shen family members began speaking up for Shen Baiting.

“Brother Qi, Brother Baiting was just drunk and misspoke. Please don’t take it seriously!”

Many of the younger Shen family members harbored grievances toward Qi Yuan’s marriage.

They assumed Shen Baiting shared their sentiments but was betrayed by Shen Baihu.

Three or four younger members stepped forward to plead for Shen Baiting.

Shen Baiting hunched slightly, secretly pleased.

Hmph, Shen Baihu, with your little schemes, how can you compete with me?

He assumed Shen Baihu had tattled on him out of spite, prompting Qi Yuan to come cause trouble.

At this moment, Chen Kangbao rushed over.

“Young Master, here’s the signboard!”

He handed over a wooden plank.

The plank had a rope attached, and Qi Yuan hung it around his neck.

Flipping the board over, two large lines of characters appeared:

“I’m just a son-in-law, easy to bully!”

“Shen Baiting, if you want to bully me, just do it openly—don’t hide your feelings!”

Qi Yuan pointed at the words on the board, looking at Shen Baiting.

The surrounding crowd was stunned, baffled by this display.

“Has this son-in-law… gone mad?”

“His behavior is just too absurd.”

Indeed, Qi Yuan’s actions left everyone scratching their heads.

Shen Baiting’s face alternated between shades of pale and dark. He hadn’t expected Qi Yuan to confront him directly with a wooden sign.

Chen Kangbao blinked in confusion. Wait, I don’t remember writing anything on the signboard…

“Shen Baiting, I’m easy to bully, so go ahead and do it!” Qi Yuan said, his face filled with anticipation.

Qi Yuan’s role-playing as the son-in-law had stagnated at 29%.

He felt that progressing further might yield a reward, something he eagerly anticipated.

If Shen Baiting bullied him, the progress might just surpass 29%.

Shen Baiting took a deep breath. “If Brother Qi has any grievances with me, I admit my faults and beg for your forgiveness!”

He bowed solemnly, apologizing to Qi Yuan.

The crowd looked at Shen Baiting with sympathy.

“Sigh, are you even a man? If you want to bully me, just say so! Stop pretending to be a hypocrite—it must be exhausting!” Qi Yuan said.

Shen Baiting maintained a look of grievance. “Brother Qi, you misunderstand me too deeply!”

The crowd’s expressions toward Qi Yuan turned colder, their faces tinged with a hint of blame.

This outsider dares to act so smug here…

At that moment, a hurried voice called out, “Brother-in-law, I found Old Zhong’s place!”

The voice carried a note of excitement.

Shen Lingfeng ran over, grabbing Qi Yuan’s arm.

His arrival momentarily paused the tension in the air.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan turned to Shen Baiting. “Baiting, wait for me to return, and you can bully me then. I have something urgent to attend to.”

“Brother-in-law, what are you talking about?” Shen Lingfeng looked confused.

“Nothing. Let’s go find Old Zhong.”

Qi Yuan pulled Shen Lingfeng along as they left.

After all, there was something fishy about Old Zhong’s death, and Qi Yuan needed to investigate who was truly behind it.

It was one of the tasks Qi Yuan had to accomplish as part of playing the son-in-law.

Shen Baiting watched Shen Lingfeng and Qi Yuan leave, his face grim.

“How did they suddenly get so close?”

“Is Qi Yuan really playing the fool, or is this all an act?”

“Hmph, righteousness is on my side. I’ll just be cautious for a while. How can he compete with me?”

Shen Baiting mused darkly.

Given the current situation, he saw himself as the victim. Even if the matter reached the elders, he had the advantage. He wasn’t afraid of Qi Yuan.

…

“Brother-in-law, I know you’re investigating Old Zhong’s death, so I found you a helper. He’s in Old Zhong’s house right now, examining the body,” Shen Lingfeng said earnestly, like a child seeking praise.

“You’ve been very thoughtful,” Qi Yuan said.

“Hehe, of course! I have to put in the effort when helping my brother-in-law!” Shen Lingfeng replied, then added in a whisper, “Brother-in-law, I’ve already received 17 replies today.”

His tone was proud, almost boastful.

He had sent out over a hundred letters, and now he had received 17 replies.

“But Miss Li and Miss Lin haven’t written back… Sigh…” Shen Lingfeng sighed regretfully.

“That just means they’re not fated for you. Don’t waste your time on them,” Qi Yuan advised.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you!” Shen Lingfeng nodded.

Before long, the two arrived at Old Zhong’s residence outside the Shen household.

It was a remote, small, dark, and damp place.

The room smelled faintly of decay and carried a scent resembling that of a dead snake.

A coffin lay inside. Its lid was ajar, and a man dressed as a constable was examining Old Zhong’s body with a frown.

“Lin Qinghe, what have you found out? Who killed Old Zhong?” Shen Lingfeng asked loudly as he entered.

Lin Qinghe snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Qi Yuan and Shen Lingfeng, his gaze lingering on Qi Yuan with some surprise.

But he answered truthfully, “The victim has been dead too long, and there are too few clues left.

“However, there is a small, clean incision on his throat. I suspect it was made by a skilled swordsman—one strike to the throat.”

Lin Qinghe’s expression was filled with helplessness.

Old Zhong had been dead for too long, and there was too little evidence left in the room.

Even if legendary detectives came, solving this case would be difficult.

“Who killed him to frame my brother-in-law?” Shen Lingfeng pressed.

Lin Qinghe shook his head. “I need more time to investigate and uncover more clues.”

“Let me take a look,” Qi Yuan said, stepping toward the coffin.

Lin Qinghe looked surprised but said nothing.

“Brother-in-law, do you know how to solve cases?” Shen Lingfeng asked from the side.

“Actually, I’m particularly good at solving cases,” Qi Yuan replied seriously. “If I became a constable, there would be almost no case I couldn’t crack.”

If not for being in a world of cultivation, his superpowers would have made him an exceptional detective or police officer.

Lin Qinghe felt exasperated upon hearing this.

He had recognized the young man in front of him as Qi Yuan from Ninghe County.

He hadn’t expected this man to escape the asylum and return to the Shen family.

But considering the Shen family’s power, it made sense.

Lin Qinghe also knew Qi Yuan’s reputation as a plain, somewhat useless individual.

How could he possibly solve a case?

Now, spouting such boastful words only made Lin Qinghe want to laugh.

“Brother Qi, do you know why Old Zhong’s lower rib is missing?” Lin Qinghe asked casually, as if testing him.

“Does that matter?” Qi Yuan glanced at Lin Qinghe. “That’s unrelated to his death. If you’re focusing on things like that, it shows your skills are lacking.”

Lin Qinghe froze for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

This son-in-law Qi Yuan… Does he not realize I’m testing him?

If he can’t even discern this minor detail, how can he claim to solve every case?

Qi Yuan ignored Lin Qinghe and focused his gaze on Old Zhong’s decayed corpse.

His eyes fell on the fatal wound at the throat.

Suddenly, a message flashed in Qi Yuan’s mind:

This sword mark was made by Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society.

“Brother-in-law, did you find any clues?” Shen Lingfeng asked, too nervous to come closer.

Lin Qinghe stared at Qi Yuan, his heart filled with doubt.

This man only glanced at the corpse, barely inspecting it. How could he possibly find any clues?

“No clues, but I’ve identified the killer,” Qi Yuan declared.

Lin Qinghe blinked in surprise and instinctively asked, “Who’s the murderer? Does Brother Qi know them?”

“The murderer is Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society. Do you know him?” Qi Yuan asked in return.

“The Radiance Society? Fang Shisan?” Lin Qinghe repeated, stunned.

He had never heard of either name. Is Qi Yuan just making this up?

“I’ve never heard of them,” Shen Lingfeng admitted.

“Looks like neither of you know them,” Qi Yuan said calmly. “Let’s go home. Since we know who the killer is, we just need to find them.”

Shen Lingfeng’s face lit up with admiration. “Brother-in-law, you’re amazing! Just one look at the body, and you identified the killer!”

Lin Qinghe, on the other hand, was left speechless.

He wanted to refute Shen Lingfeng, but he knew there was no point arguing with him.

Seriously, how could anyone identify the murderer with just a glance? He doesn’t even know the culprit personally. Did the victim’s bones have their name carved on them or something?

“Brother Lin, please issue a warrant for Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society!” Shen Lingfeng requested before leaving, not forgetting to entrust the task to Lin Qinghe.

“…Alright,” Lin Qinghe said after a brief hesitation.

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