Chapter 537: Only to Facilitate the Union

Lv Zhongtang walked out of the Ancestor's Cave Abode with a gloomy expression.

In fact, he had already received obscure news about the marriage alliance between Li Ruozhou and Lv Qingzhu from the Medicine Pavilion Elder Sun Fuga over a month ago.

However, at that time, it had not been long since news broke that Zhuang Tairu of the Divine Physician Sect had advanced to the Nascent Soul realm, so it was hard to tell whether the news about the Tianyan Sect wanting to form a marriage alliance was true or false.

Lv Zhongtang had dispatched a few trusted aides into You Province, where the Tianyan Sect was located, firstly to investigate the matter of the marriage alliance, and secondly to look into the public reputation of the Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master, Li Ruozhou.

The matter of the marriage alliance between the two sects was clearly quite confidential, and no news had circulated among the common folk in You Province. But regarding the public reputation of the Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master, Li Ruozhou, news was sent back very quickly.

When Lv Zhongtang saw the news that had been sent back, his face turned as black as the soot at the bottom of a pot for a moment.

Lv Qingzhu was, after all, his own flesh and blood; wouldn't marrying such a beast be pushing her into a pit of fire?

Although he had previously discussed with Sun Fuga, Zheng Yi, and Xu Qie that if the marriage alliance were confirmed, it would be of great help to him in competing for the next Sect Master position.

But after seeing the public reputation that had been sent back, Lv Zhongtang immediately dismissed this thought. Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs; surely he, Lv Zhongtang, could not abandon his own daughter just to compete for the position of Sect Master?!

But just now in the Ancestor's Cave Abode, he had instantly understood that the matter was simply not up to him.

Because the person who wanted Qingzhu to marry was the Ancestor, and no one could defy what the Ancestor had decided. "Not to mention that Li Ruozhou has decent talent, even if he were a cripple, Lv Qingzhu would still have to marry him."

Lv Zhongtang walked to a pine tree not far away, reached out to take down a few emerald-green zongzi hanging there, and walked slowly to Lv Qingzhu's Cave Abode; he paused briefly at the entrance of the cave, gave a light cough, and then walked inside.

Lv Qingzhu had originally been practicing on a meditation cushion, and upon hearing the light cough, she stood up; at this moment, a figure had already approached the cave.

Lv Qingzhu's expression was cold, and she cupped her hands in a somewhat stiff salute, calling out: "Father!"

Hearing the coldness in the "Father" that Lv Qingzhu called out, along with her icy expression, Lv Zhongtang's heart could not help but ache. He had not expected that they, as father and daughter, had already become estranged to this extent.

The two of them, father and daughter, had not really spoken for two or three years. The cause was the death of A Mo.

In order to compete for the next Sect Master, Lv Zhongtang inevitably had thoughts of being overly eager for merit in many matters; two years ago, he sent A Mo on a mission that was related to the Filthy Blood Sect.

What Lv Yinlin hated most in his heart was the Filthy Blood Sect!

If one could eliminate or severely damage the Filthy Blood Sect, it would be a great achievement before the Ancestor, and it could also be said to be a contribution of great importance to the Sect.

It was just that Zhu He and Yang Sixuan had been entangled with the Filthy Blood Sect for many years without any major gains, which showed how cunning and treacherous the Filthy Blood Sect was. To want to severely damage them, how could it be easy?

Lv Zhongtang initially had no realization of his own abilities; he thought that what Zhu He and Yang Sixuan could not do, he could do.

Sure enough, in one mission, he suffered a great loss, and A Mo also went missing during that mission, never to be heard from again.

Lv Qingzhu searched for A Mo for a year without success and returned to the Sect in low spirits. From that time on, Lv Qingzhu basically stopped speaking to her father.

Two or three years had passed, and Lv Qingzhu was basically certain in her heart that A Mo must be dead, because as long as A Mo was not dead, she would definitely have returned to the Taiyi Sect to find her.

Lv Qingzhu had lost her mother when she was very young, and A Mo had stayed by her side, taking care of her and protecting her; she was her closest person. Once A Mo died, it was as if a piece had been gouged out of Lv Qingzhu's heart.

She later also knew that her father had let A Mo carry out such a dangerous mission in order to gain merit to use as a bargaining chip for him to compete for the next Sect Master.

She found it even harder to forgive Lv Zhongtang in her heart, and from then on, the estrangement between father and daughter became even greater.

Lv Zhongtang suppressed the hidden pain in his heart and said: "Qingzhu, you have been in this valley for over half a year and haven't returned to the residence. Your aunt often talks about you. Even if you don't acknowledge me as your father, you should at least think about going back to see her, right?"

"Qingzhu dare not!" Lv Qingzhu nodded slightly, a flash of pain crossing her face.

Lv Zhongtang placed the few emerald-green zongzi in his hand onto the Stone Table and said: "These are the Eight-Treasure Zongzi your aunt just wrapped; I brought a few for you."

Lv Qingzhu glanced at those few zongzi, and the scene of her aunt teaching her how to wrap zongzi when she was a child suddenly flashed through her mind.

Lv Zhongtang said: "Come home for a trip tonight, and let your aunt cook a few dishes for you."

Upon hearing this, Lv Qingzhu just stood there without responding.

Lv Zhongtang sighed and said: "I have something to tell you tonight."

Lv Qingzhu looked up and saw her father, Lv Zhongtang, looking at her with a complex expression. Lv Qingzhu's heart stirred; she could see that Lv Zhongtang truly had something to say, otherwise, given Lv Zhongtang's temper, if she treated him so coldly, he would likely have already flicked his sleeves and left.

For these past two or three years, she didn't know how many times she had driven Lv Zhongtang away in anger just like this?

"Yes, Father!"

Seeing Lv Qingzhu agree, Lv Zhongtang walked outside the cave, his heart in a state of chaos.

The relationship between them as father and daughter had cooled to this point; once the matter of the marriage alliance was spoken of, I fear the bond between father and daughter would come to an end.

But could he defy the Ancestor?

Even if he defied the Ancestor, would Lv Qingzhu not have to marry that Li Ruozhou?

In fact, he could change nothing. He could do nothing.

Lv Zhongtang walked out of the deep valley with a gloomy expression. He realized that he had been a failure his whole life, and the more he did not want to admit it, the more thoroughly he failed.

Duan Rong returned to Yunfu Peak, first handed the list in his hand to the History Supervisor, and then went to Zhu He's room in the pavilion.

Li Ku breaking into the valley, and Li Ruojian entering the Taiyi Sect as a hostage, these were all things that happened today; he felt that he had to tell Zhu He about these matters.

Duan Rong walked to the corner of the floor where Zhu He's room was located, but suddenly saw a Guard in black standing there, cupping his hands toward him and saying: "Lord Duan, please stay your steps; they are discussing matters inside."

Duan Rong glanced at Zhu He's room at the end of the Corridor and was about to leave when suddenly, with a creak, he saw the door to Zhu He's room open, and Wu Shidao walked out, cupping his hands and saying: "Disciple Duan, Master wants you to come in!"

Duan Rong then walked toward the end of the Corridor, and the Guard in black cupped his hands in a salute, stepped back two paces, and cleared the way.

Duan Rong walked to the door of Zhu He's room, pushed the door open, and walked in; he saw three people sitting in the room, with Zhu He sitting at the table, while Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao were sitting not far away.

Duan Rong closed the door and said: "Master, Li Ku of the Tianyan Sect went to the deep valley to see the Ancestor today, and also left Li Ruojian in the Sect as a hostage."

Zhu He nodded and said: "Sit down and talk."

Duan Rong took a seat on a chair not far away.

Fan Hongjiao smiled and said: "Junior Disciple, our spies in You Province just sent news about this matter as well; not only was Li Ruojian left as a hostage, but our two sects are also going to form a marriage alliance."

"A marriage alliance?" Duan Rong had not heard of this matter yet.

Zhu He said: "Duan Rong, at what time today did Li Ku arrive at the deep valley?"

Duan Rong said: "It was around the Si hour in the morning."

Zhu He nodded and said: "The news from the spies in You Province is quite accurate, but it is too slow. Li Ku had already set off before they knew."

Duan Rong looked at Fan Hongjiao and asked: "Senior Sister Fan, you just said that our two sects are going to form a marriage alliance?"

Fan Hongjiao smiled and said: "That's right! Both the hostage and the marriage alliance are endorsements for the alliance."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he had a bad premonition in his heart; he asked: "Who is the marriage alliance with?"

Fan Hongjiao said, "Li Ruozhou and Lv Qingzhu!"

Hearing the three words "Lv Qingzhu," Duan Rong's head suddenly buzzed.

Wu Shidao, however, looked at Zhu He and said, "The marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lv Qingzhu is helpful for Lv Zhongtang to compete for the next Sect Master, but it is somewhat disadvantageous for us!"

Fan Hongjiao laughed and said, "By the way, little Disciple, in the Dark Forest, why did that little girl Lv Qingzhu try to kill you the moment she saw you? And now, you two are both living in the Ancestor's deep valley; you are a lone man and a lone woman, didn't anything happen? If you could hook Lv Qingzhu over and ruin her marriage with Li Ruozhou, that would be another great contribution to our master's bid for the next Sect Master!"

After Fan Hongjiao finished speaking, she giggled.

Zhu He glared at her and said, "Hongjiao, do not talk nonsense! Duan Rong is a man with a wife; how can he act recklessly?"

Fan Hongjiao stuck out her tongue and said, "I forgot. Our little Disciple is a good husband who is deeply devoted. To save his wife from the Tower Forest, he did not hesitate to violate the Sect Iron Law."

Zhu He said in a deep voice, "Enough! The alliance between the two sects is a major matter, and it was personally planned by the Ancestor. Regarding the marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lv Qingzhu, we do not need to take any action; we shall just sit and watch!"

"Yes!" Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao both cupped their hands and replied, but only Duan Rong stood there in a daze; the news that Lv Qingzhu was to marry Li Ruozhou had a great impact on his heart.

In fact, the affair of their Chunfeng in the ruined temple outside Xiangu County had already passed seven years ago.

At that time, Duan Rong was just a small figure struggling at the bottom, but now, he was already within sight of the Void-Seeing Realm.

Regarding the feelings between men and women, he no longer valued them so highly.

But to let him watch Lv Qingzhu marry someone else, he could not get past that hurdle in his heart.

Lv Qingzhu was the first woman he had known in his two lifetimes!

Beside one's couch, how can one allow others to sleep soundly?!

Zhu He said, "You may go!"

Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao stood up to leave, and Duan Rong followed suit, but Zhu He said, "Duan Rong, you stay behind!"

Duan Rong then stood there, and after Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao left, he closed the room door, looked at Zhu He, and said, "Master, do you have something to tell me?"

Zhu He nodded and said, "Yes, it is about Lv Qingzhu; I want to give you a few words of advice."

Duan Rong's expression shifted. Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao did not know the details of what happened between him and Lv Qingzhu, but Duan Rong had told Zhu He everything exactly as it was.

At that time, when Lv Qingzhu attacked Duan Rong in the Dark Forest, if he hadn't suddenly unleashed his Blade Radiance, he would have almost died at her hands; naturally, Zhu He had to inquire about it.

Zhu He said, "The marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lv Qingzhu was personally planned by the Ancestor; behind it are the interests of the Sect and the overall situation of the world! I know you have some entanglements with Lv Qingzhu, but regarding this matter, you must only facilitate it, never sabotage it!"

"Only facilitate it, never sabotage it?!" A muscle on Duan Rong's face twitched.

Zhu He said, "Do not go against the Ancestor. Remember my words."

Duan Rong's expression was somewhat stiff, and he could not speak for a long time.

Zhu He said, "You may go now."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong stood up, bid farewell to Zhu He, and left.

Zhu He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of clear tea.

He had originally thought that the position of the next Sect Master was already within his grasp, but he had not expected the alliance of the two sects and the marriage between Lv Qingzhu and Li Ruozhou to occur.

This matter clearly had an impact on the selection of the next Sect Master, but he was not sure how great that impact would be.

But Zhu He understood that he absolutely could not sabotage this matter.

The reason was simple: this was a matter personally planned by the Ancestor, Lv Yinlin.

In their competition for the position of Sect Master, no matter what means they used, Lv Yinlin would not interfere; after all, winners are kings and losers are bandits, and the position of Sect Master should be held by the capable.

But this marriage matter involved the alliance of two sects and the interests of the Sect; whoever took the wrong side in such a matter and defied the Ancestor's will would be cutting themselves off from the Taiyi Sect!

In other matters, Zhu He might fight, but the one thing he dared not defy was the will of the Ancestor, Lv Yinlin.

He knew very well that if he sat and watched it happen, there was at least a fifty percent chance he could become the next Sect Master; if he tried to sabotage it, he would have no chance at all.

This was also the reason why he had specifically instructed Duan Rong just now.

Duan Rong walked out of Zhu He's room and walked slowly along the Corridor, his thoughts churning!

He had not expected to suddenly encounter such a major change!

Originally, he didn't care at all about things like the alliance of the two sects or the marriage. The overall situation of the world and the interests of the Sect were matters for the higher-ups; he had been a personal disciple for less than a year, so he should just take care of his own business.

But it just had to be Lv Qingzhu getting married.

In fact, during the time he had been living in the deep valley, he could feel the subtle changes in Lv Qingzhu's attitude toward him; at the very least, he could be certain that Lv Qingzhu did not loathe him.

If one put the matter in the ruined temple seven years ago together with this, the fact that Lv Qingzhu did not loathe him spoke volumes.

But now Lv Qingzhu was going to marry the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, and this was the will of the Ancestor, Lv Yinlin.

The words Zhu He had given him in the room just now flashed through his mind again.

Duan Rong gritted his teeth, his cheeks bulging from the force.

If he sabotaged the marriage, he would be making an enemy of the entire Taiyi Sect.

No! Not just the Taiyi Sect! There was also the Tianyan Sect!

This matter was being pushed by both major sects simultaneously, and behind it were the wills of two experts in the Nascent Soul Realm. They were the most top-tier existences in this world!

Could he really keep Lv Qingzhu?

Duan Rong suddenly realized that the problem he was facing now was even more thorny than when Xiao Yu was trapped in the Tower Forest!

Could he really break the situation?

As Duan Rong pondered, he had already walked out of the pavilion on Yunfu Peak with a dazed expression, when suddenly a chubby History Supervisor chased after him, holding a fur blanket, and called out, "Master Duan, the items you wanted."

Duan Rong suddenly came to his senses and remembered that he had returned to Yunfu Peak to collect items for Li Ruojian. He took the fur blanket from the History Supervisor; the blanket was rolled up, and inside were many items, all listed on the slip.

Duan Rong rolled up the blanket, then moved his mind, rose into the air on the wind, and headed toward the deep valley.

(End of this chapter)