"What's going on? Why hasn't that guy Chu Feng come back yet!"
Somewhere in the plaza, Su Mei's brows were tightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes scanning every direction as she searched for a glimpse of Chu Feng.
"Don't worry. With his cultivation, as long as he doesn't step into that zone, he can't possibly run into trouble in Ghost Horn Forest. He's probably just being too greedy for a better score — still out there hunting Ghost Horn Beasts."
Su Rou stood beside Su Mei, dressed in a white skirt, standing gracefully. Every expression, every smile of hers could captivate one's soul, making her incredibly alluring. These two sisters, wherever they went, became the center of everyone's attention — drawing admiration from men and envy from women.
"Sister Su Rou! Mei'er! Long time no see!"
A magnetic voice rang out, and a handsome young man approached. He held a folding fan before his chest, the very picture of elegance, causing countless women present to steal glances and gasp.
What drew attention to him was not merely his handsome face, but his attire — the uniform of a Core Disciple of the Lingyun Sect. This young man was actually a disciple of the Lingyun Sect, the number one sect in Qingzhou, and his cultivation had already reached the Yuan Martial Eighth Stage.
"So it's Shangguan Ya. Don't tell me you've come back for the Rookie Assembly too?" Upon recognizing him, Su Rou narrowed her eyes slightly and gave him a warm smile.
The Shangguan family held great weight in Vermilion Bird City. Although the Su family now ruled Vermilion Bird City, the Shangguan family's influence was hardly any weaker. And this Shangguan Ya was the most prominent figure among the younger generation of the Shangguan family — already the tacitly acknowledged heir to the family head.
"What's so interesting about this Rookie Assembly? It's just a bunch of good-for-nothings selected from second-rate cities."
"If the talented people from our Vermilion Bird City were to compete, forget the top ten — they wouldn't even crack the top hundred. All the spots would belong to Vermilion Bird City." Shangguan Ya flicked his folding fan, brimming with arrogance.
"This is a Rookie Assembly. You're already nineteen now — even if they let you participate, you wouldn't be eligible." Su Mei shot him a glance, clearly showing she had no fondness for this Shangguan Ya whatsoever.
Su Mei's words didn't anger Shangguan Ya. Instead, he smiled faintly. "Mei'er, how can you speak about your future husband like that?"
"Bullshit! You're not my fiancé at all. I never agreed to this arrangement, so watch your mouth. And don't call me Mei'er — it makes me sick." Su Mei glared at him fiercely, then strode away quickly, unwilling to stand next to this man.
"Sister Su Rou, Mei'er's temper is really too fierce. But she is my fiancée after all. I can tolerate her speaking to me like that, but it really makes a laughingstock of us in front of others." Shangguan Ya put on a aggrieved face and began venting to Su Rou.
"Heh…" Su Rou first gave a charming smile, then said: "Since you know she has a strong temper, you shouldn't keep saying these things to her. After all, she's still young — being willful is only natural. You should be more understanding."
"Even though you two have had a marriage arrangement since long ago, you should still try to win her over with sincerity. Otherwise, even if you get her body, you won't get her heart — and that would be bad for both of you."
"As her elder sister, I won't go against Father's wishes. But I also won't let Little Mei marry someone she doesn't love."
"So even with the engagement, you need to make her truly fall in love with you. Otherwise, even I won't agree to let her marry you." With that, Su Rou hurried off after Su Mei.
The smile at the corners of Shangguan Ya's mouth abruptly vanished. A cold gleam surfaced in his eyes, and he said icily: "What I want, I will get sooner or later. Nobody had better try to stop me!"
During this time, almost all of the rookies participating in the Rookie Assembly had returned. The organizers had already selected the top ten based on who had hunted the most Ghost Horn Beasts.
All ten were disciples of first-rate sects, and every one of them was a Core Disciple. Wan Wenpeng from Purple Gold City ranked tenth, while Chen Wanxi, a disciple of the Lingyun Sect, ranked second.
As for the one who took first place, it was a young man from Fengyun City. Fengyun City could be called the strongest among the second-rate cities — every year, the top spot at the Rookie Assembly was claimed by a newcomer from Fengyun City.