The Price of Beauty

"Even if you were the Lin Family's direct descendant, breaking market rules gives me every right to kill you."

The Foundation Establishment elder sneered, his grip tightening around Chen Jinli's throat as if she were nothing more than a joke.

Everyone knew the Lin heir had lost an arm in a clan duel and was now a discarded pawn. To still cling to that name for protection was pure stupidity.

Nearby, Chen Jinshu's thoughts churned.

"So after my public rejection, another Chen girl actually threw herself into the Lin heir's ruined future?"

But considering Chen Jinli's mediocre talent and her father's precarious position in the family, it made sense. A broken Lin heir was still better than no alliance at all.

"Elder Li! Since this woman claims to be the Lin heir's betrothed, perhaps you could spare her for our family's sake?" A Lin clansman stepped forward, bowing nervously.

"Who are you to tell me how to enforce the rules?"

"However—" The Li elder's eyes glinted coldly. "Since you invoked the Lin Family's name, I'll spare her life out of respect for your ancestor."

With that, he hurled Chen Jinli aside—then drove a fist into her dantian.

"Boom!"

A hurricane of force erupted, shattering her cultivation base in an explosion of dissipating spiritual energy.

"Aaaagh—!"

Blood sprayed from her lips as she crumpled like a broken puppet. The surrounding rogue cultivators recoiled, their faces pale with fear. Though inwardly pleased, Chen Jinshu felt an icy dread seep into her bones.

"This is the fate of Qi Refining ants before Foundation Establishment giants."

Just as a Lin clansman moved to help the bleeding Chen Jinli, a voice cut through the crowd:

"Since when does our Lin Family acknowledge such a 'betrothed'? She's nothing but a delusional upstart. Elder Li, you may dispose of her as you see fit."

The speaker was a tall man in gold-trimmed white robes, his Lin insignia gleaming arrogantly at his waist. His gaze swept over Chen Jinli's prone form with open disgust.

"Ah! So not only did she break the rules, she also falsely claimed our Lin Family's name?" The Li elder chuckled darkly. "Drag this trash out of my market."

The Lin clansmen scrambled to obey, hauling the unconscious Chen Jinli away like a sack of offal.

Meanwhile, Chen Jinshu stood frozen. Leaving now would insult the Li elder—but staying risked worse. Steeling herself, she bowed deeply.

"This junior thanks Elder for upholding justice!"

"Hmph. You're no saint either. If you hadn't provoked her, would she have attacked?"

"This junior accepts Elder's wisdom," she murmured, head lowered.

"Why hide your face? Are you that unsightly?" The Lin elder's gaze sharpened on her veil.

Her pulse spiked.

"Chen Jinli was just petty jealousy—but these elders? Dangerous."

If they recognized her as the "ugly girl" who humiliated the Lin heir, their wounded pride could turn lethal.

"This one… dares not offend Elders' eyes with her plain features," she whispered.

At the same time, she reached inward—toward the lotus mark between her brows.

To her shock, it responded instantly, shrinking from its usual vivid sprawl into a delicate crimson dot at her brow.

"It can change size?!"

"'Plain features'? Now I'm curious." The Lin elder's smile turned venomous. "Lower that fan."

The Li elder watched with idle interest.

Hands trembling, Chen Jinshu complied—

—and the crowd gasped.

Where they expected ugliness stood a vision of jade-like perfection: luminous skin, lips like rose petals, and that bewitching crimson dot glowing like a celestial seal. Even her trembling lashes seemed to sparkle with unshed tears.

"So that's why that woman attacked her!" someone blurted.

The Lin elder's face darkened. "You dare deceive us with false modesty?!"

"This junior would never!" Her voice quivered with just the right blend of fear and innocence.

Murmurs of sympathy rippled through the male onlookers, their gazes turning accusingly toward the Lin elder.

"Enough." The Li elder sighed. "She's the victim here. Let her go."

Glaring at the mutinous crowd, the Lin elder could only storm off in defeat.

"Many thanks, Elder Li!" Chen Jinshu bowed again, relief flooding her veins.

"Just be more careful next time." With a last appreciative glance at her face, the Li elder vanished on his sword.

As curious eyes followed her, she hastily retrieved her fallen veil.

"Beautiful faces bring their own troubles," she mused, melting into the crowd before admirers could swarm.