Chapter 538: Struggles of the Heart

Duan Rong carried the rolled-up animal skin blanket and returned to the valley. He walked into Li Ruojian's Cave Abode, full of heavy thoughts, and handed all the items over to him.

Li Ruojian had tidied up the originally dusty Cave Abode until it was spotless; he had even wiped the stone walls with a rag, revealing the greenish-blue color of the natural bluestone.

Duan Rong looked at the stone walls, which were cast in a greenish hue by the faint light of the mushrooms, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. He sighed, "Brother Li is quite fond of cleanliness."

Although Duan Rong said this, he was secretly suspicious of whether this fellow had a germaphobe streak. Scrubbing the stone walls to this extent was truly a bit excessive.

"Cleaning one's dwelling is also a way to clear the mind." Li Ruojian took the items Duan Rong handed over, smiled lightly, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Duan!"

Li Ruojian spread the animal skin blanket out on the stone bed and counted the items inside one by one.

Watching Li Ruojian's earnest and meticulous manner, which seemed almost like that of a young woman, the doubt in Duan Rong's eyes grew deeper.

Li Ruojian suddenly looked up, holding a comb, and said, "These items Brother Duan brought are all top-quality. Even this comb is carved from ivory."

Duan Rong laughed, "Is that so? That's good! Those History Supervisors of the Inner History Department wouldn't dare to fool me, so naturally, they picked the best."

Li Ruojian gave Duan Rong a meaningful look. Just from the details of these items, he could confirm that his previous assessment was not wrong; Duan Rong's identity was indeed not simple for him to be able to live in this deep valley for so long.

Duan Rong looked at Li Ruojian's face, which always held a hint of sorrow, and suddenly his expression shifted. He asked, "Brother Li, you seem to be the legitimate second son of the Tianyan Sect Leader?"

Li Ruojian put down the comb and said, "That is correct." He did not know why Duan Rong was talking to him about this, but he could feel that Duan Rong had something on his mind. In the smile Duan Rong had worn since entering, there had been an uneasy shadow.

Duan Rong said, "Brother Li also has an elder brother, the legitimate eldest son, named Li Ruozhou, right?"

Li Ruojian nodded. "Brother Duan is very well-informed."

Duan Rong said, "Brother Li, could you tell me about your elder brother? What kind of person is he?"

Li Ruojian looked at Duan Rong with interest, but suddenly gave a miserable smile, his eyes dimming abruptly.

"I am also a legitimate son of my father. Does Brother Duan know why I was sent to your esteemed Sect to become a Sect Hostage?"

Duan Rong's expression shifted; he felt that in this instant, Li Ruojian's emotions had undergone a great change.

Li Ruojian said, "My mother died in difficult labor giving birth to me. Because of this, everyone in the household said I was ill-omened, and my father had disliked me since I was small. Throughout the year, I could only pay my respects and kowtow to my father at the end of the year; even on my birthday, I could not see him. My elder brother was born only two years before me. I was the little cold cat that everyone despised, while he was the Young Sect Master whom everyone held in the palm of their hand."

"My elder brother has been arrogant and domineering since he was young, and in these years, he has done many absurd things. Not to mention others, the scars, large and small, on my body are all his handiwork."

As Li Ruojian spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing many patches and lines of scars on his right arm, which were quite shocking to the eye!

Li Ruojian pointed at those wounds and said, "This centipede-like one is from a blade, this patch is from a burn..."

Li Ruojian pointed at the many wounds on his arm as if he were talking about something mundane; his tone and expression were so calm...

The calmer Li Ruojian was, the more shocked Duan Rong felt as he listened!

This Li Ruojian could be said to have been abused by his elder brother since childhood!?

A fellow who could be so cruel even to his own younger brother...

When Duan Rong walked out of Li Ruojian's Cave Abode, the worry in his heart was even greater.

Inside the cave, Li Ruojian watched Duan Rong's departing back, a deep, venomous look appearing in his eyes.

He did not resent Duan Rong; he resented his father and his elder brother.

Why could his elder brother become the Young Sect Master? Why could he have a bloodline marriage alliance with the Taiyi Sect Ancestor Lv Yinlin?

And he could only become a hostage?!

By what right?!

Duan Rong walked to the front of his own Cave Abode but suddenly stopped there. He turned his head and looked toward the Cave Abode of Lv Qingzhu on the other side of the deep valley.

Duan Rong walked over with a grave expression, but he stopped at the entrance of Lv Qingzhu's Cave Abode, pacing back and forth with a hesitant look for a long time...

Lv Qingzhu was sitting cross-legged in her Cave Abode practicing her cultivation. The deep valley was quiet, and she had long since heard the sound of Duan Rong's footsteps approaching her Cave Abode, only to pace at the entrance without entering.

In the valley, it was quiet all year round. Since Duan Rong moved in, Lv Qingzhu had lost count of how many times she had heard his footsteps passing through the valley.

She had once read a book that said one could identify a person by the sound of their footsteps, but she hadn't believed it at the time.

In this valley, the first footsteps she was able to identify were those of Duan Rong.

"If you have something to say, come in! Don't pace back and forth there; it's annoying to listen to!"

Duan Rong was pacing at the entrance of the Cave Abode when he suddenly heard Lv Qingzhu's voice coming from inside. His expression hardened, and he strode into the cave.

Duan Rong walked into the cave. Lv Qingzhu was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion; she did not stand up, only knitted her brows as she sized him up.

Duan Rong said, "Miss Lv, have you heard about Zhuang Tai Ru of the Shenyi Sect advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm?"

Seeing Duan Rong suddenly come over and pace back and forth at her Cave Abode entrance, Lv Qingzhu had originally felt some anticipation, but she hadn't expected that the first thing Duan Rong said would be such a boring matter.

"You came to see me just to talk about this?" Lv Qingzhu's eyes dimmed, a flash of disgust crossing them.

"Yes, just to talk about this." Duan Rong ignored the change in Lv Qingzhu's expression and continued to ask, "Haven't you heard?"

"What does this have to do with me?!" Lv Qingzhu's tone was already somewhat indignant.

Duan Rong said, "Because the Shenyi Sect now has two Nascent Soul Realm experts. Both the Tianyan Sect and the Taiyi Sect feel immense pressure, so the two sects are going to form an alliance. The Tianyan Sect Ancestor Li Ku came today to discuss this very matter. He also left Li Ruojian at the Taiyi Sect to serve as a Sect Hostage. Furthermore, the two sects are to be joined by marriage."

Lv Qingzhu knitted her brows, looking at Duan Rong as if he were a fool. "You said such a long string of nonsense—what are you trying to say?!"

Duan Rong said, "Marriage! You and the Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master Li Ruozhou are to be joined by marriage!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!?" Only now did Lv Qingzhu understand what Duan Rong was trying to say, and she jumped up from the meditation cushion with a start.

Duan Rong said, "Miss Lv, Duan does not have a single word of falsehood. Moreover, that Li Ruozhou's character is worrying; even his own younger brother is..."

Duan Rong then told Lv Qingzhu the reputation of Li Ruozhou that he had heard from Li Ruojian.

Lv Qingzhu's face turned deathly pale as she listened.

Duan Rong could see the emotional fluctuations in Lv Qingzhu. He felt he should let her calm down first, so he said, "Miss Lv, this matter is dangerous. I hope you can make plans early!"

After saying this, Duan Rong retreated and returned to his own Cave Abode.

Zhu He had instructed him that this matter could only be brought to fruition, not sabotaged. He did not know if telling Lv Qingzhu about this in advance, and even telling her about Li Ruozhou's reputation, counted as sabotage?

Lv Qingzhu stood deep within her Cave Abode, her thoughts in turmoil!

She did not doubt Duan Rong's words in the slightest.

Because the two sects wanting to form an alliance and using marriage as a guarantee was reasonable and logical.

More importantly, not long after the Tianyan Sect Ancestor Li Ku had left, her father had entered the valley.

The Ancestor does not particularly favor Father, and Father has not entered the valley to pay his respects to the Ancestor for two years, yet today, the Ancestor specifically summoned her father to come.

Moreover, when her father Lv Zhongtang sent her zongzi, he also instructed her to return home for a visit in the evening, saying he had something to discuss with her.

Besides the matter of the marriage alliance, what other matter could there be that concerns both her father and her?

Lv Qingzhu looked at the emerald-green zongzi on the stone table beside her, and suddenly, her anger flared up.

"Sure enough, 'no one offers a gift without a motive; it's either deceit or theft!'" She angrily picked up those few zongzi and threw them out of the cave.

Lv Zhongtang lives on Shenxiu Peak. Halfway up the mountain, there is a rather grand and imposing mansion.

This place has always been the residence of the bloodline of the Sect Ancestor Lv Yinlin, but by this generation, the family line has withered, and only Lv Zhongtang lives here alone.

In the Back Courtyard's flower hall, Lv Qingzhu's concubine-mother Li Baoyue had already prepared a rather sumptuous dinner, but seeing that night had already fallen, Lv Qingzhu's figure was still nowhere to be seen.

Li Baoyue stood at the doorway, anxiously looking outward.

She herself had no children of her own; Lv Qingzhu was her sister's flesh and blood, and she had always treated Lv Qingzhu as her own daughter, but that child Qingzhu had relied on her somewhat when she was small, yet as she grew older, she had become increasingly distant from her.

Lv Zhongtang sat in the armchair inside the room, picked up a teacup and took a sip, only to find that the tea had already run dry.

He placed the teacup on the side table and said with some annoyance: "This girl is becoming more and more outrageous. She promised me, and at this hour, she is still nowhere to be seen!? I don't know who she is putting on airs for."

Upon hearing this, Li Baoyue turned her head and softly urged: "When Qingzhu arrives in a moment, don't give her a cold look. How long has it been since she last returned! It's not easy for her to come back once, so be harmonious! Ah!"

Lv Zhongtang sat there with his beard blowing and eyes glaring, saying nothing.

After another while, Li Baoyue suddenly saw a figure walking in from the entrance of the Back Courtyard, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed Lv Qingzhu.

Li Baoyue said happily: "She's here!" After saying this, she ran over.

Upon hearing this, Lv Zhongtang suddenly stood up, but the next moment, he sat back down with a cold expression, though his eyes remained fixed on the doorway.

Not long after, Lv Qingzhu was seen walking in with a cold expression, with Li Baoyue following behind her, asking after her well-being in a flurry of words.

Lv Qingzhu walked into the flower hall, glanced at Lv Zhongtang, then lowered her head to look at the ground, and called out in a somewhat stiff voice: "Father!"

Lv Zhongtang's lips trembled, but he did not answer. Lv Qingzhu's voice was filled with a sense of alienation.

Li Baoyue noticed the awkward atmosphere in the room; the air between father and daughter could almost freeze into ice shards. She immediately laughed twice and said: "Come, come, let's all take our seats. Qingzhu, look, I specially cooked several of your favorite dishes..."

Although Li Baoyue's tone was enthusiastic, both father and daughter had cold expressions, sitting there and eating their own meals.

Li Baoyue brought up several topics, but neither of them responded.

Li Baoyue wanted to say something more, but Lv Qingzhu suddenly stopped her. "Aunt, I'm finished eating!"

"Ah!" Li Baoyue was stunned for a moment; accompanying this father and daughter for a meal left her in a cold sweat. "Qingzhu, you're finished already? Come, drink some soup; Aunt simmered this soup for several hours."

Lv Qingzhu said: "Aunt, you should eat something too! You've been talking the whole time and haven't really eaten anything." As Lv Qingzhu said this, a hint of softness flashed in her eyes as she looked at Li Baoyue.

"Sigh, I'll eat now." Seeing the way Lv Qingzhu looked at her, Li Baoyue felt a stir in her heart.

It wasn't that she didn't want to eat, but this father and daughter were facing each other coldly, and the atmosphere at the table was too frigid; if she didn't speak, she felt she couldn't stay at this table any longer.

Seeing Li Baoyue begin to eat, Lv Qingzhu stood up, ladled a bowl of soup, and personally held it in front of Lv Zhongtang, saying: "Your daughter is unfilial for not serving you for so long. I hope Father will forgive me!"

Lv Zhongtang's expression froze, and he took the soup.

Seeing this scene, Li Baoyue was overjoyed and said: "That's right! We are flesh and blood, how can there be any obstacle that can't be overcome? From now on, be harmonious..."

After Lv Qingzhu sat back down, Lv Zhongtang's expression also softened slightly; he took a sip of the soup and immediately felt an indescribable richness.

Li Baoyue looked at Lv Zhongtang's lingering expression and smiled: "What? Is the soup Qingzhu served really that delicious?"

Lv Zhongtang smiled for a rare moment.

However, Lv Qingzhu suddenly said: "Father, did you call me back to talk about the marriage alliance with the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect?"

Lv Zhongtang's smile stiffened on his face.

Li Baoyue was also stunned there; she knew nothing about any marriage alliance. But she knew that Lv Qingzhu was a girl with a strong mind who never spoke of things randomly. Since she asked, there must be a reason.

Therefore, Li Baoyue also turned her head to look at Lv Zhongtang.

Lv Zhongtang's expression remained stiff for a while before he said: "The two Sects are forming an alliance. This marriage matter was planned by the Ancestor himself. Li Ruozhou has good talent and is the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect; this marriage can be considered a good destination for you."

Seeing Lv Zhongtang speak in such a way, Lv Qingzhu's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.

She sneered, her expression looking somewhat unsightly. "Then may I ask Father, what is Li Ruozhou's character like?"

Lv Zhongtang's throat moved, and he said: "Since he is the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, with a scholarly family background and being a descendant of a famous family, his character should not be bad."

Lv Qingzhu said: "Is that so? In what way is it 'not bad'? Is rape and murder also called 'not bad'?"

"You..." Lv Zhongtang's expression twisted, but he suddenly realized that Lv Qingzhu's gaze was also looking at him as cold as ice.

Lv Zhongtang caught his breath and said: "I really have raised a good daughter! So you came to your father to hold me accountable. However, let me tell you, Lv Qingzhu, marriage is a matter of the parents' command and the matchmaker's word. Moreover, this matter was planned by the Ancestor himself."

"I am telling you this, these are the Ancestor's original words. Never mind that Li Ruozhou has good talent; even if he were a cripple, Lv Qingzhu would still have to marry him!"

Lv Qingzhu suddenly stared at Lv Zhongtang and asked: "Father, what about your own opinion?"

Lv Zhongtang stood there stunned, not speaking for a long time.

Lv Qingzhu continued: "Qingzhu is your own daughter after all. I believe you must have investigated the reputation of the Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master, Li Ruozhou, in the streets. Qingzhu asks you, Father, is it also your intention to have your daughter marry such a thing for the sake of an alliance between the two Sects?"

Lv Zhongtang's expression suddenly turned painful, and he said with a trembling voice: "Qingzhu, don't ask anymore... This is the Ancestor's will, do you understand? In the Taiyi Sect, no one can defy the Ancestor's will!"

Lv Qingzhu said: "Qingzhu understands. In front of the Ancestor, Father will never have an opinion of his own. Since Father cannot fight for Qingzhu, then Qingzhu will fight for herself!"

Before coming, Lv Qingzhu was still thinking that since Lv Zhongtang was her biological father, and since Li Ruozhou's character was so corrupt, he wouldn't really want to watch her fall into a pit of fire.

Seeing this now, Lv Qingzhu understood that although Lv Zhongtang might have internal struggles, he was too cowardly; in front of the Ancestor, he could not summon even a shred of will to resist.

Such a father has no way to shield her from the wind and rain!

This great storm, she must face it herself!

(End of chapter)