Chapter 549: Since I have seen the gentleman, how could I not be happy?

In the Endless Great Mountains, amidst the pitch-black night, Chu Qiushan transformed into a streak of black light and landed on the summit of Lone Mountain.

As soon as his figure settled, Li Yunjing lifted the curtain and came out, immediately asking, "Sect Master Chu, what did your Sect's Ancestor say?"

Chu Qiushan said, "Sect Leader Li, let us go inside to talk!"

The two entered the room and sat down. Chu Qiushan took a sip of clear water and said, "The Ancestor did not agree to the matter of postponing the Engagement Ceremony by five days."

"Ah!?" Li Yunjing's expression changed. He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, "The marriage alliance between our two sects is no small matter! Sect Master Chu, I am being presumptuous, but could I ask you to go to the Ancestor once more to persuade him and plead on our behalf?"

Chu Qiushan said, "I can go and plead. If Sect Leader Li can guarantee that within five days, you will definitely be able to find Li Ruozhou, then I will certainly persuade the Ancestor to accept your proposal for a postponement."

"This..." Li Yunjing's expression immediately turned grave. Never mind five days, even if it were ten, he dared not guarantee he could find that brat Li Ruozhou.

The Jiuzhou Continent is so vast; that brat is now like a clay ox entering the sea—where is he supposed to look for him?

Li Yunjing sighed heavily. At this moment, he felt quite remorseful; he had been too doting and indulgent toward Li Ruozhou in the past, which had led to today's disaster.

If the marriage alliance fails and he returns to the Sect, the Ancestor will surely punish him severely! It is not impossible that his entire branch could lose its succession rights!

Chu Qiushan said, "Brother Li, my Taiyi Sect is also in a difficult position regarding this matter. Brother Li, just think: the invitations for the Engagement Ceremony have already spread throughout the entire Sect. With the incident Li Ruozhou caused at the Maid Courtyard last night, plus his escape this time, I fear rumors are already flying everywhere within the Sect! If we postpone it by another five days, it will only fuel the spread of these rumors, and as time drags on, more gossip will surely ferment. If we truly postpone it for five days, and by then Li Ruzhou has still not been found, the Engagement Ceremony will still be dead on arrival. Brother Li, how would my Taiyi Sect be able to clean up that mess then!"

"Brother Chu is right." Li Yunjing shook his head with a bitter face and sighed, "In the end, this matter is due to my failure to discipline my son, and it has implicated the great affairs of our two sects."

Chu Qiushan said, "The Ancestor also gave one more instruction just now!"

Li Yunjing raised his head and looked at Chu Qiushan with a somewhat gloomy gaze. He knew that whatever the Taiyi Sect Ancestor had instructed at this time would certainly not be to his advantage.

Sure enough, he heard Chu Qiushan say, "The Ancestor said that if the Engagement Ceremony cannot be held as scheduled in two days, then it is the Tianyan Sect that has failed my Taiyi Sect. In view of this, we must ask your Sect to make some concessions regarding the alliance agreement!"

The muscles on Li Yunjing's face twitched. He felt that the Taiyi Sect was taking advantage of the chaos to rob them. Suppressing his anger, he said in a deep voice, "Is your Sect not being a bit too overbearing by doing this?!"

Chu Qiushan gave a cold snort, his tone indignant as he said, "If Sect Leader Li thinks so, you are free to leave. As for the alliance agreement, we can discuss it later!"

A sharp pain shot through Li Yunjing's temples; Chu Qiushan was putting him in a checkmate!

The marriage alliance had already failed; if the alliance agreement was not settled either, he would truly have no way to continue as Sect Leader in the future!

"Brother Chu, do not be angry! We can discuss the concessions for the alliance agreement further within the Elder Council." As Li Yunjing said this, he stood up. "The situation arose suddenly, and I was a bit impatient. I ask for Brother Chu's understanding!"

Chu Qiushan sat there with a cold face, not saying a word.

Li Yunjing cupped his hands slightly and said, "I have disturbed you by visiting in the dead of night! I shall take my leave!"

After Li Yunjing finished speaking, he walked away with a bitter expression.

He exited Chu Qiushan's thatched cottage and transformed into a streak of black light, returning to the manor.

As soon as Li Yunjing returned to his room, he sat down before the desk. His face was as dark as if covered by storm clouds—frighteningly black.

The situation was even thornier than he had imagined, but regardless, he had to report it to the Ancestor. If he delayed reporting such a major event, the future consequences would be endless.

Li Yunjing kept refining his wording, and only after three drafts did he finally finish. Feeling somewhat exhausted, he stood up and immediately ordered his trusted aide to send a message by flying eagle back to the Sect!

That person took the letter and left.

Li Yunjing felt his throat dry and his jaw stiff. Only then did he realize that he had been clenching his teeth for the better part of the night. "That spendthrift, trouble-making, rebellious son!?"

At this moment, Li Yunjing's heart was filled with both grief and indignation. He took two sips of ginseng tea and lay down on the bed.

Although he was very tired, he could not sleep no matter what. Tossing and turning on the bed, it felt as if no time had passed before the sky had already brightened!

Li Yunjing had no choice but to struggle to get up. His eyes were bloodshot, his brows tightly locked, and his temples, which had been gray, had turned completely white overnight!

In this one night, he seemed to have aged more than ten years.

He felt a heavy, stifling congestion in his heart, and his spirit had been tightly wound without rest, yet he still had to go to the Elder Council to participate in the negotiations for the alliance agreement. He had already decided last night that he could only make superficial concessions regarding the agreement; he absolutely could not yield on substantive interests. Otherwise, he would have no way to answer for it when he returned.

Regarding these matters, he would have to use both soft and hard tactics to wear down Chu Qiushan and Zhu He.

The news of Li Ruozhou's escape spread from the manor and soon reached every corner of the Sect.

The incident Li Ruozhou caused in the Maid Courtyard, along with those big-character posters of the TenGreatLewdSins all over the mountains and plains, had originally been suppressed, and no one dared to shout about them publicly.

The news of Li Ruozhou's escape was like a flame igniting firewood, and it immediately burst into a raging blaze.

Some said that Li Ruozhou had hidden in the Maid Courtyard intending to rape those maids, only to be discovered by the Dongming Realm guardian elder on Cuiwei Peak, who then knocked him unconscious, and so on. They spoke as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

Those maids heard the rumors, and not knowing if they were true or false, they were all frightened pale.

There were quite a few meddlesome Attendants who came to find them to ask about that night... Most of these maids kept their mouths shut, but some could not hold back and said a few things... These words, passed back and forth by those Attendants, became distorted beyond recognition...

The news of Li Ruozhou's escape and those rumors naturally reached Longyu Hall as well.

For the past few days, the History Supervisors and Attendants in Longyu Hall had been the hardest working, barely sleeping at all, and each of them had developed "rabbit eyes," frighteningly red.

After working so hard for these few days, seeing that the Engagement Ceremony was only two days away, Li Ruozhou suddenly ran off. Had all their desperate toil been for nothing?

Several Attendants were just finishing wiping the ornaments from the crates and placing them around when an Old History Supervisor walked in. One of the Attendants immediately asked, "Chief Qin, the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect has run away, why are we still tidying these things up?"

The History Supervisor surnamed Qin said sternly, "I have already asked the Department Head about this matter, and the Department Head said to arrange things according to the original plan. All of you, perk up! These problems are not for you to worry about; just do the work at hand!"

"Yes, yes..." The Attendants replied in a chorus, and with their red eyes, they went back to work.

Yunfu Peak, in the pavilion of the Inner History Department.

Ximen Kankan sat with his legs crossed in a not-very-spacious private room.

He picked up a bright red, juicy berry, bit into it, and then took a few sips of clear tea.

This was a new way of eating he had invented; the freshness of the berry and the mellow fragrance of the tea merged, and the fruit aroma and tea fragrance blended together in his mouth...

Ximen Kankan closed his eyes, swallowed slowly, and wore a look of enjoyment.

For a nominal Inner Sect Disciple who had just come out of the Tower Forest, having a private room in the Inner History Department was actually quite an impressive thing. Ordinary people would not have this treatment.

Those managing Old History Supervisors all knew that Ximen Kankan was one of Duan Rong's people.

Duan Rong now carried a lot of weight not only on Yunfu Peak but was also someone close to the Sect Ancestor. They couldn't find a chance to curry favor with him even if they wanted to, so naturally, they treated Ximen Kankan with great respect and took care of him quite a bit.

Ximen Kankan was just drinking his fruit tea when suddenly, a knocking sound rang out at the door.

He gulped down what was in his mouth and called out, "Come in!"

The door opened, and a young Attendant who looked quite sharp flashed in. He closed the door and hurried to Ximen Kankan's side.

Ximen Kankan glanced at him and asked, "What? Is there news?"

The Attendant nodded and said, "Yes. Li Ruozhou escaped last night!"

"Escaped!?" Ximen Kankan was so startled he jumped up.

Duan Rong had told him that day to plant a few informants to keep an eye out for news of Li Ruozhou, and to tell him immediately if there were any changes. He had been puzzled as to why Duan Rong was suddenly concerned about Li Ruozhou, but it seemed there really was something going on!

Ximen Kankan's gaze shifted as he looked at the Attendant and asked, "Is the news reliable? It isn't just a rumor, is it?"

The Attendant said, "I found an acquaintance and verified it with the Guards inside the manor. The news is accurate!"

"That's good!" Ximen Kankan said. "Well done, there will be a reward for you later! Keep your mouth shut tight for me!"

The Attendant said happily, "Don't worry, sir! If a single word leaks out, you can cut out my tongue!"

Ximen Kankan nodded and said, "Go!"

The Attendant covered the door and left.

Ximen Kankan pinched a fruit, tossed it into his mouth and bit down, then took two sips of clear tea before heading out.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were sitting in the pavilion by the lake playing chess.

Duan Rong was somewhat distracted, looking toward the golden scales in the lake from time to time.

Xiao Yu held a chess piece, looked at Duan Rong with gentle eyes, and asked softly, "Husband, are you tired?"

Duan Rong chuckled and said, "I'm just tired; beating you is still not a problem."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yu said, lowering her head to place the chess piece in her hand somewhere, then looked up. Her brows and eyes were filled with a faint smile as she said, "Husband, it seems you have lost!"

Duan Rong looked down and saw that the overall situation was indeed settled, so he shook his head bitterly and said, "One moment of carelessness, and I let you win another game!"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Husband's heart is not on the chessboard; two out of every three moves were played carelessly."

Hearing this, Duan Rong just smiled and did not speak.

Xiao Yu tidied up the chess pieces while saying, "Although Husband's heart is not on the chessboard, I am already very satisfied that you are willing to sit with me like this."

Hearing this, Duan Rong turned his head. Just then, a breeze swept by, and Xiao Yu's brows and eyes drooped, her temples moving slightly, filled with infinite tenderness for a moment. Duan Rong's heart trembled slightly.

In the few years since the two were married, Xiao Yu had gradually acquired the charm of a mature lady, dignified and modest, with a proper sense of courtesy.

Just then, a thumping sound came from the courtyard gate, and Ximen Kankan shouted, "Open the door! Open the door!"

As soon as Duan Rong heard Ximen Kankan's voice, he turned his head abruptly. At this moment, Shen Mizhi had already opened the courtyard gate and scolded, "What are you shouting so urgently for?!"

Ximen Kankan ran in, saw Duan Rong in the pavilion at a glance, and shouted, "There is news!"

Duan Rong exerted his movement technique, darting out of the pavilion like a ghost. In a flash, he had stopped beside Ximen Kankan and asked with a somewhat nervous look, "What news?"

Ximen Kankan lowered his voice and said, "Li Ruozhou has escaped!"

Duan Rong asked, "Is the news certain?"

"Certain! Would I come to tell you if the news wasn't certain?" Ximen Kankan said.

Duan Rong smiled faintly and said, "You certainly know how to gild your own lily." Ximen Kankan's phrasing made himself sound very reliable.

Ximen Kankan said, "That's right! Even if you are a true Buddha, you have to be gilded before anyone will worship you."

Duan Rong said, "You go back to Yunfu Peak first. Continue to monitor the situation, and come tell me as soon as there is news."

"Got it!" Ximen Kankan looked up at the courtyard and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Xiao Yu, Shen Mizhi, Xiao Qi, I'm leaving!"

Xiao Yu stood in the pavilion, turned back and smiled, "Hurry up and go! I didn't see you at all!"

Ximen Kankan glared and said, "Fine, Xiao Yu, you just wait." After he finished speaking, he hurried off to grab his blade. At this moment, he really didn't have time to bicker with Xiao Yu.

Duan Rong stood there, but his heart was filled with joy.

Li Ruozhou had escaped! After all that planning, there was finally a result!

Duan Rong turned and walked into the pavilion, looked at Xiao Yu, and said, "Prepare some wine and food at noon; I am going to bring two people back to eat."

Xiao Yu was slightly stunned, performed a curtsy, and said, "Yes."

Duan Rong said, "Is there any wine left at home?"

Xiao Yu said, "There are two more jars."

Duan Rong said, "Two jars are not enough. Have Shen Mizhi go to Yunfu Peak and get a few more jars of wine from Ximen Kankan."

Xiao Yu's gaze shifted, and she couldn't help but ask, "I wonder who Husband is inviting to dinner?"

Duan Rong said, "It's the two people who were sitting in the pavilion with me that day."

Xiao Yu's expression froze. She remembered the scene that afternoon vividly. Duan Rong was going to invite Lv Qingzhu and Li Ruojian!

After giving his instructions, Duan Rong had already turned and left the courtyard, Wind Riding toward the deep valley.

He walked into the deep valley and went straight into Lv Qingzhu's Cave Abode. Lv Qingzhu was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Hearing Duan Rong's footsteps, she became somewhat nervous; she knew that if Duan Rong came, there must be news.

Duan Rong walked into the depths of the Cave Abode, looked at Lv Qingzhu, and said, "It's done!"

Lv Qingzhu smiled, looking at Duan Rong with brimming eyes for a moment.

Duan Rong was slightly stunned and said, "I'm going to call Li Ruojian. Shall we go to my courtyard together and have a drink?"

Lv Qingzhu said, "Okay."

Duan Rong smiled, walked out of the Cave Abode, and Lv Qingzhu followed him out, her gaze fixed on Duan Rong's back.

At the entrance of Li Ruojian's Cave Abode, Duan Rong called out, "Li Ruojian, come out!"

Li Ruojian walked out slowly, looking at Duan Rong with a vigilant gaze.

Duan Rong patted him on the back and said, "Alright! That matter from that day is over! You've been here for so long, shall we have a drink together?"

As soon as Li Ruojian heard about drinking, his eyes lit up and he asked, "Where are we going to drink?"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "The same courtyard as last time."

The three of them then left the deep valley, Wind Riding, and flew toward the mountain peak belonging to Shang Xiangyu.

In the high sky amidst the drifting clouds and mist, Duan Rong said, "Brother Li, you really understand your elder brother! These past few days, I have been on edge!"

Li Ruojian smiled and said, "My elder brother has been spoiled since he was a child. When he acts foolishly, how could he care about the alliance between the two sects?! But Brother Duan, the fact that this matter could succeed is because your deductions were interlinked, mobilizing all parties to form a combined force, which is what forced him away!"

Regarding this part, Duan Rong and Li Ruojian had had quite a debate that afternoon, but in the end, they were persuaded by Duan Rong's plan.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "All three of us contributed to this. This is what they call 'three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang'!"

Lv Qingzhu asked with a smile: "Zhuge Liang!? Who is Zhuge Liang?"

Duan Rong said: "Zhuge Liang, well! He is a wise man from my hometown."

Lv Qingzhu said: "Someone you would call a wise man must certainly be extraordinary. If there is a chance, could you take me to visit this Mr. Zhuge?"

Duan Rong very much wanted to say that Mr. Zhuge had already passed away many years ago, but looking at the expectant expression in Lv Qingzhu's clear eyes, he could not bear to dampen her spirits for the moment, so he readily replied: "Sure!"

He thought to himself that if the day for such a journey ever truly came, he would explain it to Lv Qingzhu then.

Lv Qingzhu smiled lightly, feeling very happy.

In the two-plus years since A Mo died, she had not felt this joyful for a long time.

Having seen the gentleman, how could she not be happy?

In this vast storm, the only person who stood firmly by her side was Duan Rong!

(End of this chapter)