After hearing Lin Mo's story, Chen Hao couldn't help but feel emotional and said, "So it turns out that your father, Lin Fei, was the thief who stole the Shadow Demon's mother's dagger!"

Lin Mo nodded slightly with an embarrassed expression on his face.

After a snort of disdain, Chen Hao sheathed the Nether King Ancestor's primary sword back into Lin Mo's scabbard at his waist, then he turned around and his Yin Soul returned to his body. A short while later, Chen Hao got up from the ground, walked back in front of Lin Mo, and once again drew the Nether King Ancestor's primary sword, sighing, "Until now, I had always thought that, like the secondary sword, only a Yin Soul could wield the primary sword. I really didn't expect this. Indeed, being called the primary sword, it's just a bit better than the secondary!"

"Do you want this sword?" Lin Mo suddenly asked thoughtfully, narrowing his eyes.

Chen Hao laughed "ha ha" twice, then put the sword back in its place and said, "If I say I want it, you will definitely propose some conditions to me, won't you?"

"Correct!" Lin Mo's eyes twinkled faintly, "With this primary sword in hand, your chances of defeating the Sandrock Demon will increase by quite a bit. I only have one request, which is that you must take my daughter Huashan out of this world within the painting."

Chen Hao shrugged, a helpless look on his face, saying, "Sorry, I can't agree to your request for now, because I currently have no intention of leaving this world. The only thing I can promise you is to help Lady Huashan leave this city and escape from Liu Xuan's clutches!"

"Is your true purpose here really to wait for someone?"

Chen Hao looked steadily at Lin Mo, without responding. After a long while, he finally spoke, but instead he said, "It's incredible that people from our world can actually have children with people from this world within the painting."

"Huashan's mother is not from within this painting," Lin Mo replied.

Chen Hao was surprised.

"She is a distant relative of the Zhao Family Clan Leader, Zhao Chong, who also came in search of a fragment of the map. Liu Xuan knew I would not have true feelings for a person from within the painting, so he promised her to me."

Chen Hao nodded in sudden realization, thinking to himself that Liu Xuan was indeed very cunning. After thinking for a bit, he asked, "Why did Liu Xuan originally go to such lengths to force you to confront the Sandrock Demon?"

"Because beneath the cave where the Sandrock Demon resides, there lies a countless amount of gold and silver treasures. Not just Liu Xuan, but in this world within the painting, every city's City Lord and every country's king wants to obtain these treasures to expand their armies and wage war."

..

Time flowed like a stream, and before he knew it, Chen Hao had spent ten days in the world within the painting. To him, this world was blissful. Every day was free of worries, with good food and drink, and personal maids serving him at all times.

This made him decide that if Ye Yuqiao really wasn't going to come for him, he would stay here forever.

When he opened his eyes, Chen Hao found it was nearly noon. He slowly sat up, and just as he stretched his arms, two maids entered the room with hot water, towels, and water for washing up.

"Thank you for your hard work, both of you!" Chen Hao said with a light laugh, enjoying the feeling of being meticulously taken care of, wondering if Ye Yu would one day become a gentle and considerate wife and mother who took great care of others.

After washing up, the maids led Chen Hao to the hall for a meal.

Inside the hall, Liu Xuan had already prepared food and drinks and was waiting.

After sitting down, Liu Xuan poured a cup of tea for Chen Hao and said, "Master Chen, you have been here for a full ten days now, may I ask what your plans are for the future?"

Chen Hao became alert upon being questioned by Liu Xuan, wondering if Liu Xuan was issuing him a veiled notice to leave. However, Chen Hao soon dismissed that thought, considering that Liu Xuan probably wanted to know whether he was planning on confronting the Sandrock Demon.

"City Lord, my reason for coming to this world within the painting was due to being weary of the life in my original world," Chen Hao said with a smile, "So I plan to reside here in the city from now on, until the end of my days. I wonder if the City Lord would welcome that?"

After a moment of surprise, Liu Xuan smiled and nodded, saying repeatedly, "Welcome, of course welcome!"

Chen Hao looked into Liu Xuan's eyes and saw that they had become dim.

Two days passed.

As the night fell, just like always, Chen Hao was escorted by a maid to the hall for dinner.

Having taken his seat, Liu Xuan poured tea for Chen Hao while speaking, "Master Chen, today I've also invited a friend to share the meal with us. It's a good opportunity for you to meet."

"Oh, wonderful!" Chen Hao expressed his surprise, thinking that finally, he would not have to dine just with Liu Xuan anymore.

"Bring in the guest," Liu Xuan ordered the maid at his side.

After the maid acknowledged the command, she left the hall and shortly returned with the friend mentioned by Liu Xuan.

To Chen Hao's shock, the friend turned out to be Lin Huashan.

Lin Huashan frowned, making eye contact with Chen Hao, her face full of reluctance. Without needing her to say anything, Chen Hao could guess that she was forced to come here.

"Master Chen, let me introduce her to you. This young lady's name is Huashan," said Liu Xuan, pointing to Lin Huashan as he introduced her to Chen Hao.

"Miss Huashan is so youthful, I never expected the City Lord to have such a beautiful friend of different generations," said Chen Hao with a mocking tone, insinuating that Liu Xuan might have May-December desires. Although he appeared relaxed, he felt some concern, wondering what scheme Liu Xuan had in bringing Lin Huashan before him?

"You misunderstand, Master Chen. Miss Huashan is the beloved daughter of a dear friend of mine, not what you're thinking," Liu Xuan clarified.

"And what do you think I was thinking?" Chen Hao feigned ignorance.

Liu Xuan's expression darkened, showing a forced smile on his face. Just as Lin Huashan took her seat beside him, he changed the subject, "Huashan, this is Master Chen Hao, Chen Hao."

Lin Huashan raised her eyes to look at Chen Hao and said without any emotion, "Greetings, Master Chen."

"Greetings to you, Miss Lin!" chuckled Chen Hao. After speaking, he picked up his chopsticks and placed a chicken leg in Lin Huashan's bowl, saying with a smile, "Miss Lin, you look so slim. You should eat more meat!"

Having said that, Chen Hao proceeded to fill Lin Huashan's bowl with plenty of meat.

Lin Huashan gave Chen Hao a glare, finding it hard not to laugh in irritation, and then said, "Then I must thank Master Chen for your kindness."

"Haha!" Liu Xuan suddenly burst into loud laughter, then patted Chen Hao and Lin Huashan, who were seated on either side of him, on the shoulders and said, "I must admit, I've gathered you both here today because I wish to play matchmaker, hoping to pair the two of you. Seeing how harmoniously you've gotten along upon first meeting, this seems to me to be settled then."

"What!" both Chen Hao and Lin Huashan exclaimed in surprise.

Liu Xuan turned to Chen Hao, patted his shoulder earnestly, and said, "Didn't the younger brother mention wanting to stay here for a long time? I figured, since that's the case, why not find a good wife for him to spend his days with. Look at Miss Huashan, delicate and fair as jade, there's no better girl than her in the entire city. Younger brother, don't let this opportunity pass you by!"

With a loud "bang," at that moment, Lin Huashan suddenly slammed the table in anger.

Liu Xuan, still trying to convince Chen Hao, turned sternly with a fierce look in his eyes.

Seeing Liu Xuan about to turn his head to look at Lin Huashan, Chen Hao quickly grasped Liu Xuan's hand, smiling, "City Lord, you're not joking with me, are you? Thank you very much then. Miss Huashan is so pretty; I will certainly treat her well in the future."

Liu Xuan stared at Chen Hao in surprise, questioning with some disbelief, "So you mean to say, younger brother, you agree to take Huashan as your wife?"

Chen Hao looked towards Lin Huashan, raised his eyebrows slightly, and replied with a light laugh, "Of course, she will be my woman from now on!"

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