Chapter 63: Leaving Home

Wang Mingyuan and Wang Mingzhi left in a hurry. Wang Changxue was filled with worry.

Liu Qing'er patted Wang Changxue's shoulder and comforted her, "Changxue, don't worry! I believe your father and third uncle won't let you marry Lin Yuting. A woman fears marrying the wrong man; marrying Lin Yuting would ruin your life. If they tried to make you marry him, I, your third aunt, would be the first to object."

She had always wanted another daughter but never got her wish. When Wang Changsheng served as a Celestial Master in Ping'an County, Wang Changxue often helped Liu Qing'er deliver things to him. Liu Qing'er genuinely adored Wang Changxue, treating her like her own daughter. She was unwilling to see Wang Changxue marry a dissolute fop.

"That's right, Second Sister, don't worry! I'm sure Father and Eldest Uncle won't let you marry Lin Yuting." Wang Changsheng nodded in agreement.

After a short while, Wang Mingyuan and Wang Mingzhi returned, looking excited.

"Changxue, your Second Uncle has agreed. However, we need to make this convincing. Afterward, we'll send people to search for you everywhere, so you must hide far away in a safe place. Your Second Uncle discussed it with us and suggested you go to White Dragon Valley in Wei State to lay low. Once the dust settles, we'll bring you back. White Dragon Valley is a market town established by the five major sects of Wei State; as long as you don't leave the market, you'll be completely safe. The family will provide you with spirit stones so you won't be left destitute. If we have time, we'll send someone to visit you."

Upon hearing this, the weight lifted from Wang Changxue's heart. She nodded and said, "No problem. When do we leave?"

"The sooner the better. The longer we delay, the more likely we are to be exposed. Go see Changfeng and explain the situation to him, then I'll arrange for someone to escort you away."

Wang Changsheng hesitated slightly before saying, "Father, I want to go too. Let me see Second Sister off." Wang Changxue's departure this time meant it was unknown when she would return.

Wang Mingyuan nodded with relief, saying, "Changxue didn't dote on you for nothing. Go see her off."

Wang Mingzhi sighed, his nose stinging slightly. He took out all the spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed them to Wang Changxue, earnestly admonishing her, "Changxue, from now on, your father won't be by your side, so you must take good care of yourself. Be more cautious in everything you do. If I have time in the future, I'll come to see you."

"Father, I can't use that many spirit stones. You keep them!" Wang Changxue's eyes welled up with tears as she tried to decline.

"Changxue, when you're out there, you'll need spirit stones for many things, so just take them! Here are six hundred spirit stones: five hundred are from the family, and one hundred are a small token from your third aunt and me. Take them; you'll need them on the road. Go back and pack a few clothes, and once you've seen Changfeng, you can set off!" Wang Mingyuan took out a green storage pouch and handed it to Wang Changxue.

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment, then took out all the spirit stones he had and gave them to Wang Changxue, saying, "Second Sister, this is a small token from me. Please take them! When you're traveling, you'll need spirit stones for everything – food, clothing, housing, and travel."

Wang Changxue bit her red lip, her eyes slightly red and glistening with unshed tears, as she accepted the spirit stones.

Wang Changxue returned to her dwelling, packed a few clothes, and brought her nurtured Snow Cloud Chicken with her.

After a short while, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxue arrived at an elegant and unique small courtyard with red tiles.

Inside the courtyard stood a two-story red pavilion, surrounded by eighteen scattered Crimson Flame Bamboos, each over ten zhang tall. The arrangement of the Crimson Flame Bamboos appeared chaotic but actually contained hidden principles. Each bamboo could be considered a formation flag, and the eighteen bamboos together formed a first-tier mid-grade Fire Gathering Array, making the courtyard the most abundant place for fire spiritual energy on the entire Green Lotus Mountain. The red pavilion was built directly over the array's core, allowing cultivators who practiced fire-attribute techniques to achieve twice the results with half the effort when cultivating there.

This was Wang Changfeng's residence.

As they stepped into the courtyard, a scorching heat wave washed over them. The closer they got to the red pavilion, the higher the temperature became, causing fine sweat to bead on Wang Changsheng's forehead and his mouth to feel parched.

Wang Changxue took out a sound transmission talisman, whispered a few words, and tossed it forward. The talisman transformed into a red light and flew into the red pavilion.

Soon after, the door of the red pavilion opened, and a fair-faced young man in a red shirt emerged. The red-shirted young man was tall and had piercing eyes. This was Wang Changfeng. Wang Changfeng was twenty-seven years old this year and had already reached the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, making him the most promising candidate for Foundation Establishment in the Wang family.

When Wang Changsheng saw Wang Changfeng, a hint of envy appeared in his eyes.

"Second Sister, Ninth Brother, what brings you here?" Wang Changfeng chuckled heartily and asked casually.

Wang Changxue sighed and truthfully recounted the entire situation.

Wang Changfeng frowned deeply. Since the Wang family could not afford to offend the Lin family, they had no choice but to let Wang Changxue suffer this injustice. He solemnly promised, "Second Sister, you absolutely cannot marry someone like Lin Yuting. It's better to go into hiding. If not for the family's insufficient strength, you wouldn't have to go to Wei State to avoid trouble. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I will immediately go to Wei State and bring you back. Bear with it for a while and stay in White Dragon Valley for some time."

"Eldest Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but please don't rush your Foundation Establishment breakthrough because of me and make a mistake in your cultivation. If that happened, I would be a sinner to the family." Wang Changxue cautioned him with some concern.

"Don't worry! I won't be reckless." Wang Changfeng nodded and said to Wang Changsheng, "Ninth Brother, I'm at a critical stage in my cultivation, so I can't escort Second Sister to Wei State. I'll trouble you to see her to a safe place."

"Eldest Brother, rest assured, I will definitely escort Second Sister to White Dragon Valley." Wang Changsheng repeatedly agreed.

Wang Changfeng gave Wang Changxue a few instructions and then handed her all three hundred spirit stones he had saved. Wang Changxue was unable to refuse and accepted them.

Returning to the study, Wang Changxue's legs gave way, and she knelt, kowtowing three times to Wang Mingzhi. With reddened eyes, she said, "Your daughter won't be by your side, so please take care of your health, Father."

Wang Mingzhi choked up and said, "Get up! It's all your useless father's fault. Stay safe in White Dragon Valley; don't leave it. Once the commotion has died down, your father will immediately come to bring you back."

"Sheng'er, after you and your Sixth Uncle escort Changxue to White Dragon Valley, you two should go directly to Immortal Fate City! There's no need to return." "Sheng'er, Immortal Fate City isn't Ping'an County; it's a mixed bag of good and bad people. Don't run around recklessly. Stay put in Immortal Fate City and listen to your Twenty-Fifth Uncle, do you understand? These are some dried rations your mother rushed to prepare; take them and eat them on the road!" Liu Qing'er earnestly advised him, taking out a green storage pouch and handing it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng accepted the storage pouch, agreeing repeatedly.

Bidding farewell to their parents, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxue departed Green Lotus Mountain with Wang Mingzhan.

When Lin Huaisheng brought the news back to the Lin family, Song Huiyun was furious. To elope at the exact moment the Lin family came to propose marriage, not earlier or later—did they take her for a fool?

As the matriarch of the Lin family, Song Huiyun had never endured such indignation. This marriage concerned her precious son, so she would certainly not let the matter rest. She immediately carried two plates of pastries and hurried to Lin Huai'an's study, where he handled clan affairs, then recounted the events, adding fuel to the fire.

After listening to Song Huiyun's account, Lin Huai'an's brows furrowed tightly, and a hint of displeasure appeared between his eyebrows.

Seeing this, Song Huiyun quickly added more fuel to the fire: "Husband, Eldest Uncle just announced Yuxin's engagement, and the Wang family immediately rejected our marriage proposal, even using a flimsy excuse. Do they think we're fools who can't see through it? This matter absolutely cannot be overlooked."

"Cannot be overlooked? What do you mean? If they reject a marriage proposal, are we to annihilate their family?" A cold male voice suddenly rang out. An elderly man with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and wearing a red robe walked in, his face expressionless.

Lin Huai'an's expression changed slightly, and he quickly stood up, respectfully saying, "Third Great-Uncle, why have you come?"

"Hmph, if I hadn't come, the family would have sown the seeds of its own destruction." The red-robed elder glared and spoke coldly.

Lin Huai'an gave an awkward smile and explained, "Third Great-Uncle, you jest. The matter isn't that serious. Huiyun was just speaking casually; I wouldn't do anything to the Wang family."

"I hope so! The family has finally managed to associate with a powerful figure like True Monarch Cloud Soar, giving us a better development prospect. Yet you, on the other hand, proposed marriage for Yuting, and when they refused, you intended to use force? If you actually did that, how would other families view our Lin family? Would it mean that our Lin family can forcefully buy and sell? That we annihilate any family that dares to refuse? That's utterly foolish! How do you know the Wang family doesn't know a Core Formation cultivator? We're not rogue cultivators who act alone; in everything, you must think more about our descendants."

Song Huiyun pursed her lips and retorted quietly, "Third Great-Uncle, I never said we should annihilate the Wang family. But the Wang family is treating us like fools. If word of this gets out, others will think our Lin family is easily bullied! We should at least make the Wang family suffer a bit!"

"The matter with the Wang family ends here. Our Lin family currently has excellent development prospects. Our top priority is to expand our business and bring in new talent; we must not lose sight of the bigger picture over a minor issue. Of course, if the Wang family doesn't know what's good for them, it won't be too late to deal with them when the opportunity arises."

"Yes, Third Great-Uncle, your grandson has noted it." Lin Huai'an repeatedly agreed, and Song Huiyun nodded in reluctant agreement.