Chapter 46: Giving You an Opportunity
“I have other arrangements for Qingyu’s marriage. Saint Son Gu, please return,” a cold voice from Luo Yueguan echoed from the courtyard.
Gu Zhou stood outside the courtyard under a phoenix tree. He was dressed in green, and his appearance was quite handsome. A long sword in a black sheath hung at his waist. Hearing Luo Yueguan’s reply, his face did not show much surprise. He merely responded unhurriedly, “May I ask what other arrangements Sect Master Luo has?”
“When I went to Tian Xuan Sect previously to arrange Qingyu’s marriage, it was merely to postpone the engagement for a period of time, not to break it. I fear some mistake occurred in the interim, leading to the rumor that the engagement was dissolved, causing a misunderstanding and thus prompting Saint Son Gu’s troublesome journey here.”
Gu Zhou’s brows furrowed slightly. “If I recall correctly, that Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect is already a cripple unable to cultivate.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Sect Master Luo betroth Qingyu to such a cripple?”
“Qingyu likes him,” Luo Yueguan replied calmly.
Gu Zhou was suddenly at a loss for words. The statement “Qingyu likes him” effectively blocked all his retorts. Fortunately, he had made further preparations before coming.
“Sect Master Luo is a reasonable person. How can you place your own daughter’s cultivation path for the next thousands of years in the hands of a cripple? I have brought the greatest sincerity from my Hao Ri Sect on this visit to Qingxuan Sect.”
As Gu Zhou spoke, he took out a piece of fiery red spirit jade from his Storage Ring.
Luo Yueguan’s residence on Guanyue Mountain was perpetually cold due to the spiritual qi influenced by her. However, the instant this fiery red spirit jade was taken out, the temperature of the entire mountain seemed to rise a few degrees, and a warmth spread deep into their bones.
Luo Yueguan immediately sensed that what Gu Zhou had produced was likely a Blazing Fire Spirit Jade from a spirit vein that had been nurtured for over three thousand years. She and Luo Qingyu both possessed the Ice Soul Profound Body. During the extreme yin periods, they suffered from the agony of their cold meridians. However, this Blazing Fire Spirit Jade could greatly nourish their cold meridians and improve the flaws of the Ice Soul Profound Body, saving them from suffering for a long time.
“My sincerity is not limited to this extent.” Gu Zhou still had not seen Luo Yueguan open the door, yet he showed no impatience. He simply stood outside the door and said calmly, “Hao Ri Sect and Qingxuan Sect have had a long-standing relationship. Qingxuan Sect provides spiritual materials, and Hao Ri Sect forges them, with an annual profit of nearly three hundred thousand Spirit Stones for each sect. If I marry Qingyu, Hao Ri Sect will only take two-tenths of the profit from now on, with the rest serving as a betrothal gift for the Sect Master.”
“Furthermore, I have the Innate Blazing Fire Spirit Body. If I engage in Dual Cultivation with Luo Qingyu in the future, the merging of ice and fire, yin and yang complementing each other, will greatly benefit both of us. The Sect Master should have no reason to refuse me.”
A faint smile played on Gu Zhou’s lips. He was certain that after he said these words, Luo Yueguan would come to see him. However, he stood in place, and after waiting for about half an incense stick’s time, he finally heard Luo Yueguan’s slow reply, “Saint Son Gu’s sincerity is much appreciated. I thank you in advance. However, as I said, Qingyu does not like you. She only likes Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect. Therefore, Saint Son Gu, please return.”
Luo Yueguan’s voice was still as decisive as ever, and this time it even carried a hint of coldness, exuding an unrefutable majesty. A trace of astonishment finally appeared on Gu Zhou’s face. This was unreasonable.
***
“I want to eat braised pork tonight.”
“Aren’t you afraid of turning into a little pig?”
“No, Qingyu won’t get fat. Want to touch my belly, Jiang Huai Gege?”
Affectionate chatter reached Gu Zhou’s ears. In a daze, he turned his head and caught sight of Luo Qingyu in a black dress, her attire flowing gracefully. She walked with light steps, wearing a woven flower crown on her head. Below her skirt, her calves were smooth and fair. Her delicate high heels clicked rhythmically on the ground. Beside her, a man in white, with a face like jade, was smiling at the corner of his mouth, holding Luo Qingyu’s soft, tender little hand.
Of course, Gu Zhou had seen Jiang Huai and Luo Qingyu before. The two had met at the Eastern Region Grand Competition four years ago. To this day, he still remembered the fear he felt under the power of Jiang Huai’s sword. Three months ago, he had heard that Jiang Huai had his cultivation crippled, and he felt a slight sense of pity. After all, the brilliance of that sword had stayed with him for a very long time, even making him ponder for an entire year whether to abandon his saber and learn the sword.
“Luo Qingyu?” Gu Zhou slowly spoke, his gaze falling on Luo Qingyu. He had, of course, seen Luo Qingyu before, also at the Eastern Region Grand Competition four years ago. That competition was almost a stage for the two from Moon Wave Continent. Luo Qingyu, with her Qing Yu Sword, had scattered many prodigies. Just when everyone believed the championship was hers, she had lost to Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect.
The name Jiang Huai was not only remembered by him, but by the vast majority of Eastern Region prodigies. This name had dominated them for a long time. Every time they cultivated diligently, they would hear news such as “Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect has broken through again,” “Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect has reached Heavenly Way Foundation Establishment,” “Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect has subdued the Heavenly rank Spirit Sword Yening,” or “Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect has obtained some treasure in a certain Secret Realm…” News like this made people incredibly envious and jealous.
Luo Qingyu, whose name was called, was startled. She glanced at Gu Zhou. Her eyes first showed a hint of confusion, and then they swept past Gu Zhou as if she hadn’t seen him at all. She continued walking into the courtyard holding Jiang Huai’s hand.
Jiang Huai also glanced at Gu Zhou, but since Gu Zhou wasn’t calling him, he ignored him and walked back into the courtyard with Luo Qingyu, even closing the door behind him. Gu Zhou was left alone, standing dumbfounded in the wind.
***
“Who was that person outside?” Jiang Huai asked as he closed the door, looking at Luo Yueguan, who was sitting in the courtyard gazing at the fish pond.
“Gu Zhou of Hao Ri Sect, who came to propose to Qingyu.”
“Sent him away?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t seem willing to leave.” Luo Yueguan held a handful of fish food. Her white and tender little feet were submerged in the pond, and the koi swam around her jade feet. She tossed the fish food into the pond. “Don’t mind him.”
“Isn’t it a bit rude to leave someone out there?”
“The more reasonable you are with some people, the more they think they have hope. They’ll push their luck. Being shut out will naturally make them leave. Besides, even without you, I wouldn’t marry Luo Qingyu to him.”
“Why?” Jiang Huai asked curiously.
“His father once wanted to ask me to be his Dao Companion. He also tried to offer that Blazing Fire Spirit Jade as a betrothal gift, but I scolded him. These despicable men are all the same, thinking that with what they have in hand, women must listen to them.”
Jiang Huai suddenly felt that Luo Yueguan seemed to have many interesting stories. He knew almost nothing about his Master’s past. Since Luo Yueguan and Chu Xianning had known each other for so many years, perhaps she knew a lot.
“How about I go out?” Jiang Huai thought for a moment, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked tentatively.
“He is in the early Nascent Soul stage,” Luo Yueguan glanced at him lightly. “What use would it be for you to step in? This matter does not concern you.”
“Hahaha, I can beat five early Nascent Soul cultivators.”
“You’re not old, but you have a big mouth,” Luo Yueguan glanced at Jiang Huai sideways. “It seems your mentality is quite carefree. You don’t show any regret even with your cultivation crippled.”
“The path of cultivation is about achieving clarity of mind. Cultivating the heart is also part of cultivation,” Jiang Huai said as he snatched some fish food from Luo Yueguan’s hand and fed it to the koi in the pond. Luo Yueguan gently swayed her jade feet, and the koi in the pond scattered, coming to Jiang Huai’s side, mouths open, waiting to be fed.
Jiang Huai looked down at the pond, his gaze drawn again to Luo Yueguan’s gently swaying snow-white jade feet. Luo Yueguan was tall and slender, with excessively full breasts and buttocks, yet her calves were slender and long, and her white and tender little feet were also smooth and cute. Compared to her Master’s cold and elegant demeanor, her white and tender little feet seemed inexplicably alluring.
“That’s strange, why does Sect Master Luo also smell so fragrant?” Jiang Huai finally couldn’t help but ask curiously.
“Are you saying only your Master is naturally fragrant with flower scent, and others are not allowed to have any fragrance?”
“No, I’m just curious what kind of perfume you’re using. It smells quite good.”
“It’s natural.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m too lazy to explain,” Luo Yueguan pouted. Just as she was about to say something else, Gu Zhou’s voice sounded again from outside the door.
“Sect Master Luo, I have brought all my sincerity this time. Even so, you refuse to even meet me in person. Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Even though Gu Zhou outside the door was extremely vexed, his tone was still respectful. Luo Yueguan replied calmly, “I do not intend to marry my daughter to you, so why should I meet with you? Go back. There are many beautiful Saintesses in the Eastern Region who would be a good match for you. You don’t need to be so persistent.”
“Where do I fall short compared to Jiang Huai? If you say Jiang Huai is still the number one in the Eastern Region, the Sword Dao master, then I will be convinced. But he is now just a cripple whose cultivation is completely destroyed. In the future, he will live like an ordinary person, his lifespan limited. After a hundred years, he will turn to dust. Even so, you still intend to marry Luo Qingyu to him? Isn’t that ruining Luo Qingyu’s life?”
Luo Qingyu, who had been obediently massaging Luo Yueguan’s shoulders behind her, puffed out her cheeks upon hearing this. She released her hands from Luo Yueguan, and the sword ring hanging from her wrist was instantly gripped tightly in her hand. The little clingy girl now desperately wanted to teach the annoying person outside a lesson.
But the next moment, Jiang Huai helplessly reached out and gently poked her cheek. Luo Qingyu’s puffed-out cheeks were deflated by the poke. Jiang Huai gently grabbed her wrist and took the thin sword from her hand, saying, “Leave it to me.”
Jiang Huai walked to the courtyard gate and opened it. He stood tall and straight, his eyes calm and gentle.
“Saint Son Gu, if you heard some news about my broken engagement with Qingyu earlier, those were just rumors. Please do not misunderstand.”
“My engagement with Qingyu will still be held as planned. As for my cultivation, that is not something you need to worry about.”
“Qingyu is my betrothed wife. Sect Master Luo has already warned you. Please return. If you still refuse to listen, I can give you an opportunity to come forward and have a Sword Discussion with me.”
Jiang Huai slowly raised the sword in his hand, a smile in his eyes.
