Chapter 24: Engagement

Sect Master Su paused for a moment, but in the end he voiced the worry in his heart: "Besides… it's the marriage with the Purple Yang Sect."

"Liyan is a good child, but our Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect is now isolated and helpless; we should wait until everything passes safely before speaking further. If anything happens… anyway, we shouldn't drag her into jumping into the fire pit with us."

Su Chen naturally understood these.

Although he said they would all be one family in the future and had already regarded Liu Liyan as his future dao partner, now was not the time to go to her family to propose.

First, he worried that if the Purple Yang Sect learned that the Ye family had the backing of a Central State power and intended to destroy the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect, they might not agree to the engagement.

Second, before he had fully grown, he did not want Liu Liyan to follow him and live in fear.

Dad, Chen'er understands all of this. Su Chen was deeply moved, and released a Martial Emperor Realm demon beast from his storage ring.

"Father, this is a Martial Venerable Realm demon beast that has already recognized me as its master through blood; take it with you. Thus, unless there is a Martial Emperor Realm expert in the Central State…"

"I also have one by my side; rest assured, as long as the Protecting Sect Grand Formation and a Martial Venerable Realm demon beast are present, even if we face difficulty we can retreat safely."

"With it protecting you, I can also feel more at ease."

Sect Master Su sensed a suddenly appearing little kitten glowing all over; as soon as it appeared, the aura of the Martial Venerable Realm demon beast on its body was unmistakably revealed.

"This is a White Tiger cub, not yet grown, but the White Tiger clan possesses innate formidable strength; even in youth, it can already rival humans below the Martial Saint level."

He heard this and his face showed utter disbelief: "A holy beast?!"

A demon beast that has nearly vanished from the Northern Ice Continent, he originally wanted to say something more.

He moved his lips but didn't know what to say.

Chen'er has grown up; he can even tame a holy beast cub, and now even he cannot see the other's true cultivation, already able to stand alone; everyone knows he endures humiliation and bears burdens to change the sect's situation, unknowingly becoming his pride.

Taking with him over a dozen Martial Kings from the sect, he disappeared into the Core Teleportation Array.

Second Sister Su Lingxue deliberately wore a blood-red long dress, dabbed rouge on her lips with powder, set against her deathly pale pretty face, a sight that evoked pity.

She gazed at the tall figure vanishing at the center of the teleportation array, tightly gripping Su Chen's hand, forcing out a faint smile, murmuring as if speaking to Su Chen or to herself: "Little Chen, will Father return in half a month? Our family reunion!"

Su Chen reached out and touched his second sister's black hair, looking at the white tiger cub lazily lying on his father's shoulder, opening its sleepy eyes, a surge of confidence rose in his heart: "Yes! We will reunite; with me here, Second Sister, don't be afraid."

Ye family, Ye Xuan, your doom is at hand.

Heaven's mandate is mine!

"Wait!!!"

Just as Sect Master Su had someone cast the spell to activate the teleportation array, at the entrance to the array, a handsome demonic wind wolf-drawn carriage descended.

Mother Liu hurriedly blocked Sect Master Su.

Her face was anxious, mixed with a hint of anger: "Surname Su! You old lady, stop right there; my daughter's matter with your son hasn't been settled, you cause trouble and then try to flee—what do you think of the Purple Yang Sect?"

"You already know?" Sect Master Su, seeing the other's furious appearance, guessed somewhat.

It must be that Mother Liu learned the Ye family intended to strike at the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect, so she came to sever ties with them.

That's right.

Previously, Ye Xuan had received the Purple Yang Sect's protection; now the Ye family, because of Ye Xuan's meteoric rise, and the matter of Su Chen and Liu Liyan has caused an uproar throughout the city.

It seems Ye Xuan surely reminded Sect Master Liu to sever ties with the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect.

"You think you can hide it from me?"

Mother Liu's face turned dark as iron, her brows full of anger, she pointed at Sect Master Su and shouted: "I originally didn't want to get involved in this muddy affair, but who made me unable to resist my daughter's obstinacy, forcing me to come."

Sect Master Su, standing at the center of the formation, looked at his own son with a face full of guilt.

Severing ties might be fine, but we cannot let such a good girl as Liyan follow them into the fire pit.

Alas! This marriage was ultimately destined not to be.

He himself was fine, but it's pitiful that his son has given so much for the sect, yet in the end even his beloved woman remains unattained—this makes him an unworthy father.

What's this "number one below Martial Venerable in the Eastern Wasteland"? Nonsense!

Sect Master Su was thinking just that, about to apologetically say that this marriage between the two families should be forgotten: "Sect Master Liu, this matter is our Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect's fault toward you; the Purple Yang Sect wanting to seize the opportunity to sever ties is understandable, I also don't want to say more, Liyan this child deserves…"

"You want to sever ties? Impossible!" Mother Liu's face turned completely dark with anger: "While you haven't left yet, hurry and settle the marriage; you must go to the Ye family's side."

"What, what?" Sect Master Su thought he was having auditory hallucinations and instinctively asked back.

Sitting inside the carriage, Liu Liyan lifted the curtain, and the moment she raised her eyes she caught sight of Su Chen's figure.

She then stepped forward with lotus steps toward Su Chen.

Upon seeing him, her eyes, which bore a gray mist within blood-red pupils, instantly burst with blood light, her whole person revealing an exquisite aura.

That fleeting brilliance was as eternal as a shooting star.

"A Chen."

Liu Liyan's rosy lips slightly parted, her brows curved like crescent moons, paying no heed to the onlookers, she instantly teleported before Su Chen, opening her slender lotus arms, and obediently embraced him.

Su Chen held her, feeling the soft jade warmth and fragrance in his embrace, a surge of satisfaction filled his heart.

Last night, when A Chen was sleeping, he muttered something in his dream, as if complaining that his own performance upon seeing him was too aloof.

If next time she could rush into his embrace with a smile, how wonderful that would be.

How could she be willing to stay aloof? It's all restraint and suppression, fearing A Chen would despise and hate her; in fact, long ago she had wanted to pounce on him.

Now that she has pounced like this, is she satisfied?

Liu Liyan secretly thought this to herself.

"Sect Master Liu, what are you doing?" Sect Master Su stared in shock at the scene before him, then turned to Sect Master Liu: "Are you crazy? Knowing our Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect's situation, you still bring your daughter to jump into the fire pit? To marry Chen'er, have you taken the wrong medicine?"

"Aren't you afraid of being implicated?"

Mother Liu snorted coldly, turned and glared at Liu Liyan, her brows bearing a hint of helplessness and indulgence: "I haven't taken the wrong medicine; it's she who has! She actively insisted on life or death being with Su Chen; I truly don't know what love potion your son has given her."

"I can't just leave her unattended, after all, I only have this one precious daughter."

"Hurry up, first settle the marriage, then talk about other things!"

These words stirred Sect Master Su's heart.

Lady Su and Second Sister Su Lingxue clenched their fists tighter, a barely concealed joy welling up in their hearts.

They never expected the Violet Yang Sect to be so devoted to feelings and loyalty.

Even though they clearly know the Profound Mystery Dao Sect has become a target of public criticism, they still dare to marry off their daughter without hesitation.

They even claim it's because of the daughter's choice, but if Liu's mother were a bit more ruthless and truly didn't care about the two sects' relationship, she wouldn't have personally come here.

Because of this trip, what's at stake are the lives of tens of thousands of disciples throughout the Violet Yang Sect!

Watching the scene of the two families interacting again.

The Ye family's hidden guards lurking in the dark all furrowed their brows, whispering to each other: "At this critical juncture, the Violet Yang Sect is still associating with the Profound Mystery Dao Sect—do you hear what's going on?"

"From the lip movements, it looks like they're arranging an engagement."

The leader of the hidden guards scoffed softly: "Ha! At this time they still dare to arrange an engagement with the Profound Mystery Sect—does the Violet Yang Sect not know how to write the word 'death'? She probably doesn't even know the grudge between the Ye family and the Profound Mystery Dao Sect; once this marriage is settled, the Violet Yang Sect will likely be dragged down as well—truly a bunch of brainless idiots."

"By the way, Sect Master Su, did you break through to the Martial Sovereign realm in this seclusion? And what about Young Sect Master Su Chen? These matters need to be reported to the Young Master."

The hidden guard shook his head: "No, how could anyone in such a remote backwater break through to Martial Sovereign?"

"Sect Master Su probably thinks a great calamity is imminent; these days he's in seclusion, hoping for a slim chance of survival. As for that trash Su Chen, tsk! All he does is cling to women all day, doing nothing."

"Offending the Ye family, the Profound Mystery Dao Sect is basically finished."