Chapter 150: The betrothal gift she gave me, no one can snatch it away
Cheng Hong Ling stepped forward and respectfully bowed three times, without the slightest hint of coercion on her face.
“Senior Wen’s legendary deeds, I have heard of them. She is the number one genius in Shuiyu Valley, entering the Guiyi Realm at the age of eleven and ranking in the top thirty of the Xihui Dynasty’s Immortal Seed Ranking at eighteen. Later, she single-handedly swept away a fierce land that had been encroaching on Nanchangzhou for years. Although she perished together with the evil source within in the end, this courage and strength are definitely worthy of our admiration from all juniors!”
Cheng Hong Ling murmured, her expression solemn.
‘So terrifying?’
Qi Huang’s scalp tingled. Judging by this, the talent of Shuiyu Valley’s Grand Elder was not inferior to the Main Body.
“Yes, our Shuiyu Valley was once incredibly glorious, and it can be said to be entirely due to her! Unfortunately, after her passing, my abilities were limited, and I could only watch the sect gradually weaken.”
Valley Master Wen gently wiped a trace of dust from her mother’s tombstone, her expression complex, filled with remembrance, respect, and more self-blame.
“Valley Master Wen, there’s no need to blame yourself. Your cultivation level is not weak either.”
Cheng Hong Ling said comfortingly.
“Wife! Why are you calling Valley Master Wen again?”
Mu Ruoyi, standing beside her, grumbled unhappily.
‘Stop being so cheesy! It’s not me calling your old mother mother-in-law, so find whoever called them that!’
Cheng Hong Ling complained inwardly.
“Heh, it’s a pity that compared to her, I’m still ten thousand miles behind.”
Valley Master Wen smiled self-deprecatingly, then slowly turned her head: “Fortunately, we have you now. You entered the Huashen Realm at fifteen, and your talent is much greater than my mother’s. I believe Shuiyu Valley will once again regain its glory in the near future.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s face turned pale again. She, this impostor Huashen Realm expert, could not bear such high expectations.
“Alright, if you don’t object, shall I engrave your name now?”
Valley Master Wen
took out a hairpin from her bun. Facing her mother, she naturally couldn’t draw a sword.
“Mm!”
Knowing that there was no turning back, Cheng Hong Ling nodded reluctantly.
Valley Master Wen smiled with relief, then bowed to her mother’s tombstone again: “Mother! Your daughter offends you! I will now engrave your granddaughter-in-law’s name!”
After saying this, Valley Master Wen picked up the hairpin and began to carve on her mother’s tombstone. With her cultivation, she could have completed it in one go, but now she seemed incredibly careful and solemn, pursuing perfection in every stroke, fearing any mistakes.
After a long while, the five characters “Granddaughter-in-law Cheng Hong Ling” finally appeared behind “Granddaughter Mu Ruoyi.” If someone who didn’t know would surely think the engraver made a mistake. Mu Ruoyi was the granddaughter, so why would there be a granddaughter-in-law behind her?
Of course, this is not to say that female relationships have never appeared in the cultivation world. On the contrary, it is very common. The reason is simple: Immortal Sects have always had more women than men, so it is not unusual for women to be together. But that was out of necessity. With Mu Ruoyi’s appearance and status, it was almost impossible. After all, it was as easy for her to get married as drinking water. Why would she choose a woman as a partner?
“Now you are my daughter-in-law. Bow to your grandmother again. When you marry Ruoyi in the future, you can kowtow to her properly.”
After finishing the engraving, Valley Master Wen turned around and instructed.
Cheng Hong Ling did not complain about anything and bowed three more times to the tombstone. After all, the deeds of this senior were enough to convince her.
“Alright, now we are family. I can’t delay you from finding your in-laws. You and Ruoyi will accompany me to the Grand Hall.”
Valley Master Wen turned and walked outside.
“Go to the Grand Hall? For what?”
Cheng Hong Ling followed her curiously.
“As I mentioned before, this ‘Shui Linglong’ is the sect’s ultimate technique, and only disciples of our sect can cultivate it. Although you are now my daughter-in-law, you are not yet a disciple of our sect. To pass this technique to you, we must obtain the consent of all the high-level figures.”
Valley Master Wen explained without looking back.
“What? We still need to seek their consent? What if they don’t agree?”
Cheng Hong Ling was stunned. She had a feeling she was being tricked.
Qi Huang, in the Sea of Consciousness, was also a little agitated. Although this “betrothal gift” was not part of the plan at first, it was indeed very important to her and the Main Body.
“Don’t worry, they will definitely agree.”
Valley Master Wen replied confidently.
“Don’t worry! Wife! My mother never does things she’s not sure of. The betrothal gift she promised you will definitely be delivered.”
Mu Ruoyi quickly reassured her.
“Stop calling me wife!”
Cheng Hong Ling frowned, a surge of emotions washing over her.
“Can I not call you wife if I haven’t seen the betrothal gift? Then I’ll call you Sister Hong Ling for now.”
Mu Ruoyi was quite thoughtful.
Cheng Hong Ling took a deep breath, then stepped forward. At this point, she could only take things one step at a time.
The three women soon arrived at the Grand Hall. Valley Master Wen ordered someone to notify the high-level figures, and the two Protectors and eight Elders of Shuiyu Valley quickly arrived.
Valley Master Wen first announced the news that she had found a granddaughter-in-law. Although the high-level figures were surprised, it had nothing to do with them at the moment, so they did not cause any trouble.
“Hong Ling is now my granddaughter-in-law and a gifted cultivator of Shui Zhen Qi. Therefore, I plan to pass on our sect’s ‘Shui Linglong’ technique to her. Who agrees and who opposes?”
Valley Master Wen then stated her purpose.
“I object!”
“I object too!”
“Valley Master, although she is your granddaughter-in-law, she is not a disciple of our Shuiyu Valley.”
“Yes, if she joined Shuiyu Valley, I would never say a word against it. But what you are doing now clearly violates the sect rules.”
“…”
As expected, four out of the ten high-level figures stood up to object. The others did not express their stance clearly, but they also did not speak in support, maintaining an ambiguous attitude.
“Everyone! My granddaughter-in-law comes from HongHua Sect in Huang Tian Prefecture. You must have heard of the situation there. The entire prefecture’s demons and monsters are suppressed by her alone. Once she leaves, it will be abandoning all the common people. Can we force her hand? This is about sentiment.”
Valley Master Wen first played the emotional card.
The dozen or so high-level figures looked at each other, unable to refute for a moment. Although they didn’t care about the lives of the people in Huang Tian Prefecture, they couldn’t say it directly, as everyone was a cultivator.
“Logically, she is my daughter-in-law, and I am the Valley Master of Shuiyu Valley. If we ever need her help in the future, she will not refuse. In this way, isn’t she considered half a member of Shuiyu Valley?”
Valley Master Wen continued to expound her logic.
“Valley Master! No matter how bad Shuiyu Valley is, it is still a reputable large sect with three Huashen Realm experts. How could we possibly need her?”
“I have heard about her situation. She entered the top sixty of the Immortal Seed Ranking at twelve, and since then, her fame has diminished. I suppose she didn’t achieve any good results at the last Evergreen Convention?”
“As the saying goes, thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west. Some people rise, and some fall. Who knows what has happened to her in these three years?”
“Even if she is still a genius, so what? Génius also needs time to grow. We have no interest in playing a nurturing game.”
“…”
Several high-level figures finally found an opportunity to retort, speaking one after another.
Valley Master Wen frowned slightly, speechless for a moment, because she knew that her reasoning was not convincing.
Mu Ruoyi’s pretty face also showed worry. She subconsciously glanced at Cheng Hong Ling beside her. Although her wife was secured, she did not want to be branded as “free-loading.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s breathing gradually became heavier. Although she was not a greedy person, the feeling of being deceived was very unpleasant.
‘Forget it, one should know when to be content. I came here only to save my father.’
Cheng Hong Ling comforted herself this way and decided to give up.
‘No, the betrothal gift she gave me, no one can snatch it away!’
Qi Huang, in the Sea of Consciousness, was not going to let it go. So, of her own accord, she pushed open the Heart Door and stepped out of the Sea of Consciousness.
“You have no interest in playing a nurturing game because you don’t know what kind of genius you are nurturing!”
As soon as Qi Huang appeared, her immense Spiritual Sense swept out in all directions.
