Chapter – 176 Bustling Liu Mansion
At nightfall, Liu clan of Imperial city.
While there were still four days left for the commencement of seven sect competition, that evening, Major General Long Ji of Long clan had unexpectedly arrived at the Liu clan mansion to discuss his marriage with Liu Yuan. The matter had caught the attention of several martial artists who were present in the Imperial city.
The streets near the Liu clan mansion were bustling with noises as the streets were packed with numerous people who had gathered outside the Liu clan mansion.
The Imperial Liu clan was primarily a clan of traders and businessmen. However, at present, their chief business was the ‘Golden Pavilion’ restaurant.
At the same time, Liu clan sent its young boys and girls for training at the best sects and projected them as suitable matches for the heirs of various other influential families. This was for the sole purpose of forging relationships with aristocratic families through marriage alliances.
This generation of Liu clan had Liu Yuan as the most eligible bride.
It was said that while Liu Yuan was skilled in the traditional arts of poetry and painting, she was also the most skilled warrior of the Liu clan as she had stepped into Zhenling fourth layer and could now congeal her own Zhenling entity!
No wonder, the heir of the Long clan, Major General Long Ji, was interested in marrying this girl.
Since the seven sect competition was about to commence, Liu Yuan had arrived in the Imperial city as a participant from the Allure sect and had decided to stay with her family at the Liu clan mansion in this duration. She had never expected that Long Ji would arrive while she was there.
Following the crowd, Long Yu and Feng Longsong also arrived near the Liu clan mansion.
“This Long Ji looks very high-spirited today.”
Long Yu saw a charming young man clad in golden armour and passing though the crowd. This young man was the Major General of the Tang kingdom, Long Ji.
But Long Ji was not alone. He had brought three other generals with him – the bald Senior General Yan Shan, the small eyed general Yan Huli as well as the valorous General Ma Shili.
These three senior generals were more like Long Ji’s personal servants in spite of having a cultivation level of Zhenling third layer!
Long Yu looked on and found that Long Ji had stepped into Zhenling fifth layer now!
Long Ji was the heir of the Long clan and obviously had access to plenty of resources like immortality pills, neidan etc. It was no big deal for him to enhance his cultivation. However, when stuck in a bottleneck, it would be only his own talent that could help him break through.
“Zhenling fifth layer! Long Yu, you should be careful.”
Feng Longsong lowered his voice while standing in the crowd and said: “The people of Long clan practice the mysterious jade level ‘blood dragon’ principle. Owing to this, their Zhenling entities are more powerful than any ordinary martial artist.”
“Rest assured, foster father. I will be careful if I had to fight him.”
Long Yu said calmly.
There was a huge disparity in the strengths of Mysterious Jade level principles that Long clan practised and Huangshi level principles that were practised by ordinary martial experts.
However, it appeared that Long Ji had just stepped into Zhenling fifth layer and had not got enough time to consolidate his cultivation since he immediately rushed to the Imperial city to discuss his marriage with Liu Yuan.
If a fight ensued between Long Ji and Long Yu, there were chances that Long Yu might emerge victorious.
As they moved further along with the crowd, Long Yu and Feng Longsong finally saw the huge gate of Liu clan mansion.
At this time, the Liu clan mansion was decorated with flowers and colourful paper lanterns that hung from the walls. It was obvious that they had made these arrangements to welcome Major General Long Ji.
The Liu ancestor as well as some other important people of Liu clan was standing at the gate to greet Long Ji. However, Liu Yuan was nowhere to be seen.
“Major General Long Ji has bestowed upon us the favour of visiting Liu clan mansion. We are very grateful to you. Long live Major General! Long live Major General!”
The Liu ancestor, Liu Zeyan, wore a long robe. He was visibly delighted to welcome Long Ji.
“Senior Liu, there’s no need of such formalities.”
Long Ji, mounted on a war horse, said proudly.
“I believe the entire Liu clan is well aware of the purpose of my visit. I wish to know, where is Liu Yuan?”
“Major General Long, she…..”
Liu Zeyan politely said: “Liu Yuan is present in the mansion, but Major General must be aware of how shy young girls are when it comes to their marriage. She has retreated to her chamber.”
“I have come here to discuss my marriage with Liu Yuan. What does the Liu clan think of my proposal?”
Long Ji asked with a smile.
“Liu clan is honoured, Major General, and Liu Yuan would be the most fortunate girl ever to get married to you.”
Liu Zeyan was visibly impressed by Long Ji and was quite content because of the marriage proposal.
However, if it was the other way around, it wouldn’t have been a favourable situation for the Liu clan.
After all, there was not a single person in the entire Liu clan who was as strong as Long Ji.
Liu Zeyan himself had a cultivation level of Zhenling third layer and hence he wouldn’t have been able to fight Long Ji.
“That’s great. Such being the case, let’s settle a date for the wedding.”
Long Ji displayed a wide smile and said: “Liu Zeyan, tell Liu Yuan that I will marry her just after the seven sect competition ends. Tell her to be ready…..”
“Shut up!”
At this moment, a delicate female voice echoed through the corridors of the Liu clan mansion.
These two words startled everyone, including Long Ji. Who had dared to interrupt the Major General of the Tang army?
Soon afterwards, people came to know who this girl was.
There stood in the corridor a pretty young girl with white hair and delicate features, clad in a black dress. She was staring indifferently at Long Ji.
This girl was none other than Liu Yuan!
It seemed that she was not at all impressed by Long Ji!
All the people present there started whispering among themselves.
“Look! That’s Liu Yuan! It seems that she doesn’t want to marry Major General.”
“What nonsense! Liu Zeyan has just agreed upon their marriage!”
“Does it matter whether Liu Zeyan has agreed or not? Liu Yuan is a Zhenling fourth layer martial expert; she doesn’t need to listen to him. If it had not been for her father she would’ve never returned to the Liu mansion.”
Soon, these whispers reached the ears of Liu Zeyan.
“Liu Yuan, Major General has personally visited us to discuss your marriage. Why are you being so rude?”
Liu Zeyan’s complexion changed as soon as he saw Liu Yuan: “Come here, quick! Apologise to the Major General for your rude behaviour just now!”
“It’s my wedding that you are talking about! You should let me decide.”
Liu Yuan looked at Long Ji. Her eyes were filled with hatred.
“I, Liu Yuan, would prefer dying rather than marrying a monster like him!”
These words left everyone in great shock.
Liu Yuan had dared to call Major General Long Ji of Long clan a monster in front of so many people! Was she out of her senses?
Long Ji had always been polite to Liu Yuan; he never mistreated her. What made her call him a monster?
None of the people present there had any idea about what was going on between these two!
Long Yu didn’t have a good experience with Long Ji, but he didn’t know exactly what his nature was. But in the light of Long Ji’s treatment of Liu Yuan, it was impossible to figure out what wrong did he ever do to her.
Why did Liu Yuan call him a monster?
Long Ji, who hadn’t stepped down from his horse, said to Liu Yuan: “Liu Yuan, haven’t your parents taught you to think before you speak?”
“Major General, please forgive her.”
Liu Zeyan immediately said: “Liu Yuan’s mother died when she was very young, and her father is a fool. She never had anyone to look after her. It doesn’t suit the Major General to stoop down to her level…..”
“Will you please shut up, Liu Zeyan?”
Liu Yuan was greatly angered and this anger released a cold breeze which had sprouted from the lunar principle.
Immediately, Liu Zeyan was swept away by the wind; his hair and beard were frozen as if he had fallen into some ice pit!
“It’s the lunar principle!”
Long Yu hid himself in the crowd and continued to observe.
Liu Yuan had absorbed half of the lunar tablet just like Long Yu, which meant that Long Yu would also be able to release such an enormous amount of energy after comprehending the lunar charm.
No one had expected that Liu Yuan would not only argue with the Liu ancestor but would also dare to strike him, injuring him severely.
This sudden eruption of tremendous energy had scared everyone and most of the people had retreated by now.
Within a few moments, all the streets which had earlier been packed with people had become empty, with only Long Ji and his three generals standing there.
Liu Yuan fearlessly stood before them.
After striking Liu Zeyan, Liu Yuan indifferently said to Long Ji: “Long Ji, have you heard that Xin Yueya has committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake?”
(TL: Xin Yueya was a junior from Allure sect and a friend of Liu Zeyan. She had lent her horse to Long Yu and his friends during the Lunar debris arc.)
“What does it have to do with me?”
Long Ji lightly asked.
“You are such a monster! Don’t say you don’t know what I’m talking about! She died because of you!”
Liu Yuan’s eyes flashed with intense hatred: “Today I will seek justice for her!”
“You alone?”
Long Ji smiled contemptuously at Liu Yuan.
He thought to himself if he really wanted to fight her or not.
Liu Yuan didn’t waste any more time in idle talk. She immediately pulled out two daggers and rushed towards Long Ji to attack him!
A marriage proposal had turned into a call for battle within a few moments!
Long Yu and Feng Longsong stood aside and looked at each other.
It turned out that Liu Yuan lost her parents to some accident that happened long ago. Her mother died, while her father turned into a fool who was constantly nagging about what the Gods had done to him.
Liu Yuan’s father, Liu Hongyan, was the brother of the Liu ancestor, Liu Zeyan.
After Liu Hongyan lost his mind, he suffered great humiliation at the hands of the other clansmen, especially his own brother, Liu Zeyan. This was the main reason that the Liu clan as well as Liu Zeyan didn’t have a favourable impression of Liu Yuan.
“Who is this Xin Yueya that Liu Yuan had been talking about?”
Feng Longsong wrinkled his eyebrows and asked Long Yu.
“She was a fellow apprentice of Liu Yuan in Allure sect. Long Ji must have done something really nasty to her that forced her to commit suicide…..”
Long Yu shook his head as he spoke.
He sighed as he saw Liu Yuan attacking Long Ji.
It seemed to him that he might have to help Liu Yuan.
He didn’t know Liu Yuan properly, but she had helped him in escaping from the Ling clan villa by lending him her pet horse. Long Yu was bound to help her now that she was in trouble.
Moreover, he never got a chance to fight Long Ji. Now was a good time to test his strength.
If Long Ji was not strong enough, Long Yu wouldn’t mind teaching him a lesson or two!
………………………