Chapter 75: Delaying the Wedding Failed (2)
The idea was also shared by Lü Ze’s sons and grandsons, so their faces all showed apprehension. Especially Zuo Ying, as the granddaughter of Elder Zuo, she would not even have a chance to argue if Lü Dao sought accountability.
After the other clansmen left, Lü Dao calmly inquired, “Second brother, I’ve heard some rumors lately that your father-in-law has visited several immortal forces in the cultivation world. Is his purpose to introduce suitable partners for those little monsters?”
“Uh… I’m not very clear.” Lü Ze’s expression changed drastically, and he answered haltingly.
Lü Ze’s sons and grandsons also trembled, their eyes evasive and guilty.
“You’re not clear even though you’re his relative? He was promoting my fiancée Cheng Hong Ling to those people. You owe me an explanation!” Lü Yi said domineeringly, disregarding seniority and respect.
“Something like this happened?”
“Yes, how could we not know? How can rumors be taken seriously?” Lü Ze’s son and daughter-in-law were terrified, stammering and trying to muddle through.
“Rumors? I have a Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device with those little monsters. Do you want me to verify it immediately?” Lü Yi pressed aggressively. Lü Ze’s descendants immediately fell silent, their faces showing unease. After all, Lü Dao was the patriarch of the Lü Family and the only Heavenly Punishment Realm expert. Lü Ze could not protect them.
“I know about this matter, and it was I who asked my father-in-law to do it,” Lü Ze admitted generously instead.
“I need an explanation! Otherwise, even if you are my elder, I won’t be polite,” Lü Yi’s face contorted.
“Alas! Speak a little more politely. How can you be so disrespectful to your elders? Could your little grandfather possibly harm you?” Lü Dao played the good cop, his goal being to discipline his second brother’s family rather than to seek a complete breakdown.
“Big brother understands me best!” Lü Ze seized the opportunity and explained, “Actually, I did this for you, my eldest grandson. As long as those little monsters’ attention is diverted to Cheng Hong Ling, then no one will compete with you for those three girls with immortal bloodlines, right? Compared to them, Cheng Hong Ling is still far behind.” Lü Ze’s sons and grandsons breathed a sigh of relief, as this reason was understandable.
“Then I should thank you?” Lü Yi sneered.
“That’s not necessary, we are all family,” Lü Ze said with a thick skin.
“I’m telling you, my affairs don’t require your intervention. I want Cheng Hong Ling, and I want those three women with immortal bloodlines. If you and that person named Zuo interfere again, don’t blame me for turning against you.” Lü Yi was not foolish, so he warned them sternly.
“Not anymore. Since you, my eldest grandson, have such ambition, I, your little grandfather, will naturally support you wholeheartedly,” Lü Ze quickly agreed. The faces of his sons and grandsons, however, became increasingly grim. Being threatened by a junior like this would be unbearable for anyone.
“I told you not to speak so harshly. Since it’s a misunderstanding, it’s best to clarify it.” Lü Dao then feigned a conciliatory tone. After a brief remark to his second brother’s family, Lü Dao changed the subject, “Second brother, if I remember correctly, you are about a hundred years younger than me, right?”
“That’s right! One hundred and twenty years,” Lü Ze replied respectfully. For cultivators with long lifespans, a difference of one or two hundred years between brothers was quite common.
“If we calculate based on cultivation level, your time is also drawing near,” Lü Dao continued to speak freely. “Yes, cultivators in the Shentong Realm can live up to around five hundred years at most, and I am already over four hundred and seventy years old this year.” Lü Ze’s face showed a hint of melancholy, after all, even ants cherish their lives.
“Second brother, you should know that five hundred years for Shentong Realm, six hundred years for Tianqiao Realm, these are just theoretical upper limits. We could leave at any time, perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps tonight,” Lü Dao sighed.
“Who’s to say? But is there any other way? For old folks like us, if we want to live a few more years, unless we can break through, but I haven’t even gathered the medicinal ingredients to refine the pills for advancing.” Lü Ze smiled bitterly.
“Be optimistic. Breaking through would be great, but if not, living five or six hundred years is also worth it,” Lü Dao consoled him. Lü Ze smiled noncommittally, thinking to himself, “That’s for you. I don’t want to accept fate.”
The two families were outwardly harmonious but inwardly divided, so they didn’t chat for long before parting ways.
“Grandfather, will this kind of scolding be effective?” Lü Yi asked with some concern.
“No, this matter concerns the future of our descendants. He will definitely fight to the end,” Lü Dao shook his head without hesitation.
“Then why did you have me cooperate with you in this act?” Lü Yi’s face showed confusion.
“I was just trying to vent my anger by scolding them. Your grandfather is not the kind of person who takes a loss without retaliating,” Lü Dao said calmly.
“But Father, doing this is ultimately a temporary solution!” Lü Gao raised an objection.
“That’s why I have a follow-up plan,” Lü Dao smiled proudly.
“What plan?” His family members asked in unison.
“Daughter-in-law, you notify your father-in-law and ask him to spread the word as soon as possible that when my grandson gets married, he will present a Jihuo Pill as wedding gift,” Lü Dao instructed Lü Yi’s mother.
“Ah? But Father-in-law, we don’t have any Jihuo Pills!” Lü Yi’s mother looked embarrassed. Although she also came from an ancient alchemy family, the “Jihuo Pill” was a very precious medicinal treasure. The few medicinal ingredients required for its refinement alone were priceless and truly unobtainable.
“It doesn’t matter, no one knows anyway, especially your second uncle,” Lü Dao raised an eyebrow.
“Father, what do you mean?” Lü Gao’s eyes lit up.
“You guessed it? That’s right, I want to use the Jihuo Pill to delay him,” Lü Dao’s lips moved.
“What do you mean?” Lü Yi asked with a frown.
“Jihuo Pill is a required medicinal ingredient for golden True Qi cultivators to break through to the Tianqiao Realm. You know this, right? Your second great-uncle, due to his lack of talent, has been stuck at the peak of the Shentong Realm for decades, and now he can only rely on this medicine to advance,” Lü Gao reminded his son.
“I understand. You want to use this pill as bait to make him give up disrupting my wedding?” Lü Yi immediately realized.
“That’s right, he’s a smart person and a selfish person, he will fall for the trap,” Lü Dao judged with extreme certainty.
“Father-in-law, this is indeed a good plan, but the problem is, if my father spreads the word and then can’t produce the pill, won’t that cause criticism?” Lü Yi’s mother hesitated.
“It’s okay, only our family knows who sent what wedding gift. At that time, we just need to spread the word that it was received,” Lü Dao comforted her.
“In that case, I’m relieved. For my grandson’s future, I believe he will cooperate with us,” Lü Yi’s mother breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as Lü Dao had predicted, Lü Ze’s family was not scared away at all. After returning, they continued to plan the matter of delaying the wedding. However, on the third day, Lü Yi’s mother’s family spread the word that on his wedding day, he would present a Jihuo Pill as a wedding gift. The news sent shockwaves through the cultivation world of the Weiyuan Empire, as the “Jihuo Pill” was a precious medicine required for golden True Qi cultivators to forcibly break through to the Shentong Realm, making it priceless. However, the most excited was Lü Ze, because he saw hope for advancing to the Heavenly Punishment Realm, so he immediately abandoned the plan to delay the wedding. His family did not question this, for a simple reason: as long as Lü Ze could advance to the Heavenly Punishment Realm, he could live another hundred years, and at that time, his lineage would be the dominant one in the Lü clan.
“But Grandfather, that pill is for Lü Yi. How will you obtain it?” Zuo Ying asked with some concern.
“Granddaughter-in-law, have you forgotten? I am more than a hundred years younger than my elder brother, so he is very likely to die before me. Once his protection is gone, won’t this thing be mine for the taking?” Lü Ze analyzed triumphantly.
“That makes sense! Then do we still need to cooperate with that Cheng Hong Ling?” Zuo Ying asked for his opinion.
“No need. This marriage between Lü Yi must happen, and I must obtain that Jihuo Pill,” Lü Ze gave the order. Thus, Qi Huang soon received a notification from Elder Zuo, saying that the plan to delay the wedding had failed.
“Why did it fail? There’s still a year left. Don’t you want to try again? Are you indifferent to your granddaughter’s life and death?” Qi Huang asked excitedly.
“There’s no ‘why.’ Our cooperation ends here,” Elder Zuo ended the conversation coldly.
“Heh heh, I already expected this. Indeed, it’s better to rely on oneself than on others,” Qi Huang chuckled self-mockingly, then a smile curved his lips, “Do you think this is enough to stop this fairy? You monsters from the Central Plains, wait for me. I will show you what a true monster is!”
