Volume 9, Chapter 625 – The Lü Family’s Proposal (Part 1)

The Lü family took this matter very seriously, but that didn’t mean Qi Huang did. Now that she had the confidence to face the Immortal Stele, there was no way she would bother putting on a pleasant face for these people. So she simply left them hanging.

“Hongling, what do we do now? Should we let them in first? After all, they’ve come from far away.”

Qin Quan, that old fox, understood the strength of the other party, so he was feeling somewhat intimidated.

“What guests? Those people are here to forcefully take a bride, don’t you know that?”

Cheng Hongling frowned and questioned him directly.

“Still, leaving them outside like this isn’t a long-term solution. Disciples of Shuiyu Valley are going in and out all the time, and if they cross paths, there’s bound to be conflict.”

Qin Quan tried hard to come up with a somewhat reasonable excuse.

“Then just tell them to get lost.”

Qi Huang said as she turned and started walking out. The others followed behind one after another.

Cheng Yuan and Jiang Linian trailed closely behind their daughter. After all, this was a matter of marriage, and as her parents, they had to make their stance clear.

Meanwhile, outside the main gates of the Honghua Sect, the Lü family had already been waiting long enough to grow impatient.

“This Honghua Sect has such an attitude! To keep us hanging here for so long… even the Emperor of the Weiyuan Empire wouldn’t dare treat us with such disrespect.”

An old senior servant of the Lü family, Uncle Ma, couldn’t help but complain.

“Hmph! People from small, backwater places are always like this. Just because they have a bit of talent, they think they can look down on the world.”

Lü Yi’s eldest aunt, Lü Fei, showed open disgust on her face. She had already disapproved of her nephew marrying a so-called ‘country girl’, and now being made to wait like this only deepened her resentment.

“Look at this shabby Honghua Sect! Their main gate isn’t even as grand as the entrance to our Lü family’s latrine, and yet they have the nerve to put on such airs.”

Lü Yi’s uncle by marriage, Lou Xiao, sneered disdainfully.

“Sister-in-law, once this daughter-in-law enters the Lü household, you’ll have to discipline her properly. We cannot allow her to tarnish the reputation of our Lü family’s womenfolk.”

The more Lü Fei thought about it, the angrier she became, so she turned to Lü Yi’s mother.

“Don’t worry, brother-in-law. With me around, even the wildest horse will learn to wear its bridle obediently.”

Lü Yi’s mother, Madam Zhuo, said with full confidence.

At that moment, Mu Ruoyi and her daughter arrived with a group of Shuiyu Valley disciples, encircling the Lü family once again. Even though they knew they were no match, their mortal enemies stood right before them, there was no way they could simply pretend not to see.

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“You again! You caused the extermination of Shuiyu Valley and the destruction of our sect. Isn’t it about time you gave us an explanation?”

Wen Yunmei, the Valley Master, drew her sword with a sharp shing!

“Shuiyu Valley? You mean the same Shuiyu Valley that was suppressed by our Lü family’s Immortal Stele?”

Lü Yi’s father, Lü Gao, turned and asked his son.

“Who else could they be?”

Lü Yi sneered dismissively.

“Brother Lü Gao, I heard that Shuiyu Valley’s so-called Holy Maiden used to have some ambiguous relationship with that Cheng Hongling. And now they’re staying here at the Honghua Sect? Is this what they call ‘cutting ties’? More like ‘entangled strings’. If other Immortal Sects in Central Continent find out, won’t they look down on our Lü family?”

A clan cousin spoke up, sounding dissatisfied.

“It doesn’t matter! My son has already carved that Shuiyu Saintess’s name onto the Immortal Stele. As long as we take her as a concubine, she becomes one of the family. Who can say anything against it?”

Lü Gao replied calmly, as though it were all perfectly reasonable.

“Oh-ho, Nephew Lü Yi is truly brilliant! Not only will this restore the Lü family’s honor, but he’ll also gain quite the beauty. Two birds with one stone!”

That relative wore an expression of open admiration.

“You actually carved my daughter’s name onto the Immortal Stele?”

Wen Yunmei’s face paled as she confirmed in disbelief. She had thought their threats last time were just intimidation tactics, but they had actually done it! This was beyond outrageous.

“Of course. When I, Lü Yi, give my word, it is as good as nine sacred decrees.”

Lü Yi said proudly.

“You shameless beast!”

Mu Ruoyi trembled with fury, her delicate frame quivering, her pearly teeth nearly shattering from how hard she clenched them.

“You should be grateful that I’ve set my sights on you. Otherwise, based on the fact that you’re staying at Honghua, your Shuiyu Valley remnants would have been erased long ago.”

Lü Yi cast a cold, disdainful glance her way.

“That’s right. On the sixth day of the sixth month, come obediently with Cheng Hongling to the Lü estate and become my son’s concubines. Otherwise, prepare to be suppressed by the Immortal Stele once again.”

Lü Gao’s words were sharp and domineering.

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“You Lü dogs, relying on your so-called Immortal heritage. You destroyed Shuiyu Valley’s thousand-year foundation, and now you want to forcefully claim my daughter? You’ve gone too far! Even if it costs me my life, today I will see Lü blood spill!”

Wen Yunmei completely lost control, gripping her sword tightly as she charged toward the Lü family.

“For our fallen kin, avenge them!”

The disciples of Shuiyu Valley followed right behind her, their faces resolute, unafraid of death. Clearly, they had never let go of their hatred.

“You? Witness the blood of an Immortal? Know your place!”

Lü Gao sneered, his lips curling coldly. A vast Divine Sense from his mid Divine Realm cultivation surged outward, crushing down on Shuiyu Valley’s women. The very air warped under its weight, forming a violent, roaring current. It was clear he hadn’t held back.

Lü Gao had his reasons for going all out. First, the ambiguous connection between Shuiyu Valley and his future daughter-in-law needed to be severed; eliminating these eyesores was only natural. Second, the Lü family was one of the Nine Great Immortal Clans, they could not allow low-blooded cultivators to defy them. Crushing them with overwhelming force was the only option.

Of course, Lü Gao did not intend to wipe them all out. At least Mu Ruoyi needed to stay alive, she was the concubine his son had chosen after all.

The rest of the Lü family shared the same sentiment, many of them wearing gloating expressions, as if eager to watch Shuiyu Valley be humiliated.

On the Shuiyu side, however, even Wen Yunmei, their strongest, was only at the late Incarnation Realm. Against Lü Gao’s strength, they were like eggs striking a boulder. If no one intervened, that Divine Sense alone would have turned them into bloody mist in an instant.

But just then, a force equally powerful erupted, arriving half a step later yet striking head-on against Lü Gao’s Divine Sense. The two forces collided violently, canceling each other out, and the resulting shockwaves blasted outward in all directions, knocking the Shuiyu disciples off their feet.

Though they looked a bit battered, this outcome was undoubtedly the best they could hope for.

“Hm?”

Lü Gao froze in place, stunned. Never in his dreams had he imagined there was someone within Honghua Sect with strength equal to his own.

Everyone turned their gaze and saw Qi Huang stepping out with a group behind her. The Divine Sense just now had come from her.

“Wu… wu wu… Qi Huang, sister… Lü… Lü Yi, that shameless beast, carved my name onto the Immortal Stele. Even if I die, I will never become his concubine!”

Mu Ruoyi stumbled forward, tears streaming down her cheeks as she poured out her grievance.

“Don’t worry. With me here, no one can force you.”

Qi Huang comforted her softly.

“She’s Qi Huang? That doppelgänger of Cheng Hongling’s?”

Lü Gao turned to his son, surprised.

“Yes. A year has passed, and her Divine Sense has grown again. I’d wager she’s already surpassed the third level of the Divine Realm.”

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Lü Yi replied solemnly.

“That explains it. I just used the Divine Sense of the fourth level of Divine Realm, and she actually blocked it.”

Lü Gao confirmed.

“Truly? No wonder our son fancies her. This girl is extraordinary.”

Madam Zhuo’s eyes shone with rare appreciation.

“Not only her strength, even her looks are no less than those three Immortal Clan heiresses.”

Lou Xiao’s expression grew slightly dazed, seemingly forgetting she was to be his nephew’s future wife.

“Who would’ve thought a place this barren could produce someone of this caliber.”

Lü Fei couldn’t help but praise begrudgingly.

Lü Yi, however, looked increasingly displeased. As a man, if he were weaker than his future wife, it would be shameful if word got out.

“Why are you people brawling outside the Honghua Sect gates?”

Qi Huang stepped forward and demanded an explanation.

“They were the ones who came here to provoke us first!”

Lü Yi countered immediately.

“Lü Gongzi, really? Shuiyu Valley’s sisters live here at Honghua Sect, it’s their home. You’re the ones from Central Continent, tens of thousands of li away. Tell me again: who came here to provoke whom?”

Qi Huang mocked.

“You—!”

Lü Yi, this reckless brute, was instantly struck speechless.

“You must be Qi Huang, Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger.”

Lü Gao quickly tried to mediate, saying, “Don’t misunderstand. We didn’t come to provoke anyone. We came to propose marriage.”

“Propose marriage? Then you can turn right back around and leave.”

Qi Huang waved her delicate hand dismissively.

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“What do you mean by that?”

Lü Gao asked, baffled.

“May I ask how I should address this gentleman?”

Cheng Yuan stepped forward, clasping his hands politely.

“And who are you? I’m speaking to my future daughter-in-law. When was it your turn to interrupt?”

Lü Yi snapped impatiently.

“No offense taken. I am Cheng Yuan, father of both Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.”

Cheng Yuan introduced himself calmly.

“Oh? So you’re the father-in-law! My apologies, my apologies.”

Lü Gao was taken aback, quickly returning the greeting awkwardly.

“Brother Lü, I wouldn’t call me ‘in-law’ just yet.”

Cheng Yuan’s smile didn’t falter as he continued, “Marriage is a lifelong matter for our children, guided by parental consent and proper matchmaking. You haven’t even sent a formal proposal, nor sought a matchmaker. How can you speak of engagement already?”

“So that’s what concerns Brother Cheng? Such worldly formalities are trivial. No problem, I’ll propose to you right now, and immediately find a matchmaker. Then after that—”

“No need for after that. You can leave now.”

Cheng Yuan cut him off, issuing a clear dismissal.

“What do you mean by that?”

Lü Gao froze again.

“I merely pointed out that you lacked proper etiquette. I never said I’d agree to the proposal. So let’s not waste any more of your precious time. Head back now, you might still make it home in time for supper.”

Cheng Yuan said with a teasing smile.

“You dare make a fool of my father? You’ve got some nerve!”

Lü Yi’s anger erupted instantly.