The worse you are, the stronger you become: My summoned beast is a photographer.

With the wedding date finally set, the Raven Crest Manor was filled with joy, and even the old locust tree in the yard seemed to perk up.

Aura was in high spirits and trained using the methods Ming Luochen remembered—push-ups, sit-ups, dumbbell curls… a hundred of each, and she also practiced a set of Jeet Kune Do. She was shirtless, her glossy coat gleaming in the sunlight, sweat dripping down her strong muscles. It wasn't until noon that Aura dragged her exhausted body home for lunch.

"Let's eat first." Ming Luochen looked at his body, which was soaked to the bone—his clothes clung to his skin as if he had been pulled out of the water—and handed a towel to Aura.

"Honey, you eat first." Aura slumped in her chair, her arms weak and sore, she didn't even have the strength to hold a fork. She leaned back in the chair, her four legs spread out like a puddle of melted butter. It was all because Ming Luochen's physical condition was too poor; he couldn't even handle one percent of her training volume—she usually ran at least 100 kilometers in the morning, but Ming Luochen's body felt like he'd lost half his life after running five kilometers.

"He needs more practice," Valerius said sternly from the side. He was shirtless, his bronze skin crisscrossed with old scars, his pectoral muscles rising and falling slightly with his breath. His only dissatisfaction with this son-in-law was that he was too weak, looking like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. How could he be worthy of his daughter, who was skilled in battle?

"Let's switch back first." Seeing that his wife was exhausted, Ming Luochen said with a heavy heart.

But as soon as he switched back to his original body, the overwhelming pain surged forth—even breathing felt scorching and unbearable, his lungs felt like they were being sanded, and every muscle was screaming. Ming Luochen was completely numb, his face contorted in agony. Couldn't they have taken it step by step? Starting with such intensity right away, wasn't that trying to kill him?

"Then I'll give you a massage to help you detoxify." Aura went to get the fascia knife, a skill she had learned from Ming Luochen's memories. She took out the small steel tool, weighed it in her hand, and wiped it with alcohol.

At midday, under the bright sunshine, the screams of pigs being slaughtered echoed through Earl Raven Crest's manor.

"Ouch—it hurts, it hurts, be gentle—" Ming Luochen couldn't bear any pain and howled, lying face down on a large solid wood table. The scene truly resembled a pig being slaughtered. His round body lay on the table, his short legs kicking wildly, his face flushed red, and the veins on his forehead throbbing. Especially since Aura hadn't held back, the feeling of the fascia knife scraping through his muscles was worse than death, with soreness, numbness, and pain all rushing up at once, it was practically torture.

Valerius watched the spectacle from the sidelines, arms crossed, clicking his tongue in disdain, "Too weak, needs more training." His experienced expression seemed to say, "If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship, what kind of man are you?"

"Yes, honey, this really works." Aura often used his body for exercise and knew very well that the massage was effective. Although she felt sorry for him, she didn't reduce the pressure of her hands much—better to get it over with quickly than to suffer for a long time; once it was massaged, it would be fine.

"If you want to die, then I'll massage you." Ming Luochen couldn't take it anymore—they were all just talking without understanding the situation; what if they tried it themselves? He struggled to turn over, but Aura grabbed him and held him down.

Aura couldn't bear it either, especially when Ming Luochen's cries made her heart ache, and her brows furrowed into a small knot: "Then let's change it."

Ming Luochen hesitated for a moment, looked at his still trembling body, then at the fascia knife in Aura's hand, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine... let's continue." After saying that, he buried his face in his arms, looking like he was bravely going to his death.

"Useless! I'll do it!" Valerius couldn't stand it anymore. He snatched the fascia knife from Aura's hand, his rough hands gripping the handle. "What are you yelling about, you big man? This little pain is nothing!" He squatted down, pressing his knee against Ming Luochen's leg, looking ready to fight.

"Ah—" Ming Luochen felt as if his flesh was being scraped off by his father-in-law's strength. Valerius's grip was more than twice as strong as Aura's; the places where the fascia knife had scraped felt like they had been burned. But he couldn't muster any strength and was being held down by his father-in-law, so he could only desperately cry out, "It hurts, it hurts, be gentle—Old Deng—"

"Old Deng?" Valerius sensed it wasn't a good word. He narrowed his eyes, increased the force of his blow, and a wicked smile lurked at the corner of his mouth.

"Wife, switch over, hurry up—" Ming Luochen couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, his voice changing tone, like the last screech of a pig being slaughtered.

When the howling subsided, Ming Luochen curled up on the table, sobbing with a wronged expression, muttering to himself, "I just want to be a good-for-nothing in peace... Why did you force me to..." His eyes were red, and his nose was red too.

"Okay, stop crying, be good." Aura comforted her husband tenderly, gently patting his back as if she were comforting a wronged child.

"Can't you be a little gentler! Ming Luochen isn't a combat specialist; he relies on his brain. Why are you using so much force!" Marina scolded Valerius fiercely, hands on her hips, eyebrows raised in a V-shape. Her whole family were martial arts fanatics, and she'd finally found a well-behaved and intelligent son-in-law she could talk to. Seeing his pitiful state, she felt utterly sorry for him.

"You're a devil—I'll never brew wine for you again, nor will I make barbecue for you—" Ming Luochen choked out to his father-in-law, his voice thick with nasal tone, like a child whose candy had been stolen.

Surrounded by his entire family, Valerius took a step back in fear, nearly dropping the fascia knife in his hand. With his last breath, he said, his voice clearly weak, "I'm doing this for your own good. You'll thank me later."

"Moral blackmail!" Ming Luochen pouted disdainfully, tears still clinging to her face. Her whole body ached terribly; she was already weak, and now she couldn't move at all, not even having the strength to lift a finger.

"Alright, let's rest for a bit." Aura scooped up Ming Luochen and carried him back to the room. Her arms were steady and strong, as easy as if she were holding a child.

Ming Luochen buried his head in his wife's soft, firm breasts, looking aggrieved, and extended his middle finger at his father-in-law in disdain. The short, chubby hand reached out from Aura's shoulder, the middle finger held straight up.

Valerius saw the finger, paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, the sound so loud it rattled the pots and pans in the kitchen: "That rascal!"

The family's noisy and bustling life made time fly by. With the wedding drawing ever closer, everyone at Earl Raven Crest Manor was incredibly busy.

Butler Addison led the servants in rehearsing the dinner ceremony, from greeting guests to serving food, from seating arrangements to toasts, practicing every step repeatedly. Another leaf was hanging from his antlers, probably from running around the yard all day.

Isabella and Ming Luochen led the cooks in preparing large quantities of flour and seasonings. Steam filled the kitchen, the aroma of flour mingling with the spiciness of the spices, making everyone sneeze. Ming Luochen, wearing an apron and with flour-covered hands, kneaded the dough while giving instructions, looking quite professional.

"Your Excellency, your two younger brothers and sister have arrived from the territory and are at the gate." The guard ran up to the training ground, panting, his armor clanging.

Upon hearing that his brother had arrived, Valerius turned and ran towards the gate, shouting excitedly that echoed throughout the manor: "Meria! Ares! Cordon! I'm so glad to see you!" He rushed out shirtless, his feet slapping the stone pavement with a loud thud.

"Big Brother!" the three people at the front of the door called out in unison, their voices filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

Melia was Valerius's sister, a light brown-haired centaur woman with a gentle face and a slightly shorter stature than Marina. She wore a pale green dress and her hair was neatly styled in a bun. Behind her followed a bespectacled centaur—her husband Charles, with grey hair and a slender build, carrying an account book.

Ares was Valerius's younger brother, a burly centaur with light brown hair. He bore a striking resemblance to Valerius, though younger. He wore leather armor and carried a short sword at his waist, clearly a seasoned military officer who patrolled the borders.

Kerton was the third brother, with dark brown hair, medium build, and shrewd eyes. He wore a simple gray cloth outfit and carried a basket of local specialties. He was in charge of the territory's taxes and grain management, and was usually the busiest and latest to arrive.

"Unipar, you're here too! Marina will be so happy." Valerius was so happy to see his brother-in-law that he hadn't seen him for two or three years that he punched him on the shoulder.

Unipar, Marina's brother, was a centaur with pure black fur, a size larger than Valerius, and exuding an imposing aura. He wore a dark blue noble's robe with a viscount's coat of arms pinned to his chest. He chuckled and returned a punch, the force neither too light nor too heavy. "Aura's wedding, as her uncle, of course I have to come." He paused, then looked Valerius up and down. "You haven't changed a bit. Still doing your morning training?"

"You haven't changed either," Valerius said, putting one arm around Ares's shoulder and the other around Keldon's arm, leading them into the manor.

The large reception room became lively. The centaurs sat together, some standing, some reclining on soft couches, with teacups and snacks laid out on the table. Aura led Ming Luochen to the elders.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Aunt, Uncle, hello." Aura bowed slightly, performing a standard junior's greeting. Ming Luochen followed behind her, imitating her posture and bowing as well.

Ming Luochen quickly glanced at these elders. They were all centaurs, with glossy coats, few stray hairs, and robust physiques—clearly pampered individuals. Although he knew nothing about horses, he could tell these men were extraordinary—the spirit and energy emanating from their very bones were something ordinary people couldn't possess.

Based on his wife's memory, he hadn't mistaken her for someone else. Valerius's younger brother and sister weren't wearing noble attire—Aura's second and third uncles were D-class lords (honorary citizens), essentially earl vassals, responsible for managing Valerius's fiefdom's guard and land taxes. Their clothing was simple and practical, unlike Valerius's elaborate attire.

Unipar's title was Viscount. According to regulations, those below the rank of Marquis were not required to remain in the main city and could reside in their own fiefdoms, but were subject to the supervision of the Earl. A Viscount was roughly equivalent to a town mayor, governing several villages. His clothes were made of noticeably better material than his two younger brothers', but they weren't the flashy kind.

As a count, Valerius governed a district and was not entitled to reside permanently in the main city. However, Earl Raven Crest's estate was only 120 miles from the main city of Helma, making it the closest part of his territory to the city—for centaurs, 120 miles was practically the same distance as living in the main city, taking just over an hour to reach. Valerius usually entrusted the more distant parts of his territory to his two younger brothers and brother-in-law, only inspecting them himself on important days.

Unipar looked at Ming Luochen, who resembled a chick—round and short, standing among a group of centaurs like a child—with a hint of disdain. His gaze held undisguised scrutiny, and the corners of his mouth turned down slightly: "You still need to train more." His tone was as if he were evaluating a substandard colt.

"Brother, Ming Luochen is a cultured man who relies on his brain, unlike those knights who fight and kill," Marina defended him, walking over and standing next to Ming Luochen, putting one hand on his shoulder to show her attitude.

"He's smart, but that doesn't conflict with training. Ming Luochen has been training lately, and his energy and spirit are much better than before." Valerius smiled and reassured his brother-in-law, then praised him, excitedly patting Unipar's waist, "But Unipar, although this kid isn't strong, he's incredibly smart, practically superhuman."

"Not human?" Unipar frowned strangely, looking at Ming Luochen with incomprehension—no animal ears, no tail, fair skin, quite cute appearance, with an honest and simple look, he didn't look like a genius at all.

"Uncle, Ming Luochen is really smart and knows everything. Whether it's swordsmanship, military law, territory management, or gourmet food, he knows it all." Aura also praised her man, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"I'm not that great either..." Ming Luochen scratched his head sheepishly, his face slightly flushed. Being stared at by a group of centaur elders, his shy and modest nature kicked in again.

"Aura is right, especially when it comes to winemaking, it's absolutely superb." Valerius seized the opportunity and instructed Ming Luochen, his voice filled with eager excitement, "You'd better bring out some wine for your uncle to taste today, let him see what good wine is."

Valerius couldn't help but smile even more broadly, his eyes narrowing into slits—now he had the chance to drink openly without getting scolded by his wife. He stole a glance at Marina, and seeing that his wife didn't object, he felt even happier.

Ming Luochen's lips twitched as he looked at his father-in-law's smug expression.

Well, he's using her as a pawn.

However, seeing that the family was having a good time, he didn't mind.