54: Chapter 54 The Uninvited Guest

Ning Liandie pressed her face against Hua Shaoyang's chest, drawing circles on his chest with her fingers, her voice so coy it seemed like it could drip honey.

"Shaoyang, when will you promise me what this humble one talked to you about? My father has already been bullied to his face, and my clan members were completely uprooted by someone overnight. Thirty-two lives, gone just like that! If you still won't uphold justice for me, this humble one will have no face left to return to Mount Xiao."

Hua Shaoyang lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, lightly tapping her waist twice with the folding fan in his hand.

"That Wanshan County is the territory of the Spirit Sword Sect after all. Your father has a grudge against the people of the Spirit Sword Sect, and you want me, the son of an Elder of the Baihua Sect, to step forward and take the lead? Isn't that throwing me into a fire pit? Even my father would have to weigh this carefully."

With a spoiled whine, Ning Liandie wriggled in his arms, raised her face, her eye rims slightly red, and her voice softening a few more fractions.

"Shaoyang, how can your heart bear to watch this humble one being bullied? That Wang Family is merely a fishmonger in Baishan County. Relying on an old Foundation Establishment cultivator who is nearly in the coffin, they dare to ride on the head of the Ning Family. With just a flick of your finger, it would be enough for them to die a hundred times over."

Hua Shaoyang's hand slid down from her waist, heavily pinching her buttocks, completely unconcerned about the gazes cast by pedestrians on the street.

Ning Liandie let out a soft moan as two flushes of red flew across her face. A flash of shyness crossed the depths of her eyes, but it was suppressed by her in an instant, replaced by an even thicker allure.

She stood on tiptoe, leaning close to Hua Shaoyang's ear, her breath like orchids, her voice so light that only the two of them could hear: "Shaoyang, you are so bad. As long as you help this humble one, this humble one is willing—just tonight."

"Oh? Aren't you worried about that husband of yours?"

"Shaoyang, you are bad. You clearly sneak a bite yet point it out; this humble one is angry."

Hua Shaoyang laughed heartily, pulling her closer still, and was just about to say something when out of the corner of his eye he suddenly caught sight of the woman holding candied hawthorns across the street.

His footsteps came to a halt.

Ning Liandie looked over following his gaze, and the seductive, bone-melting smile on her face froze abruptly the moment she recognized Wang Qingyan.

"This Fairy," the young man shook his folding fan, walking forward with a smile, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Wang Qingyan from head to toe.

"This humble one is Hua Shaoyang, son of Elder Hua of the Baihua Sect. Today, it is my good fortune to meet Fairy. May I know Fairy's honored name?"

Wang Qingyan handed the candied hawthorns back and said "wrap them up nicely" to the shopkeeper before turning around, her voice cold and clear: "I don't know you."

Far from being angry, Hua Shaoyang smiled even more happily.

With a snap, he closed his folding fan and took another step forward, almost pressing right up against Wang Qingyan's front.

"If Fairy didn't know me, don't you know me now? This humble one harbours no malicious intent either; it's just that seeing Fairy's cold and aloof temperament, resembling a cold plum blossom in the snow, I truly admire you immensely. This humble one is willing to offer three thousand Spirit Stones, asking only for Fairy to share a drink with me."

He did not finish his words, but the unsaid half-sentence was already written in the ambiguous smile on his face.

Wang Qingyan's expression sank.

Her hand pressed against the hilt of the sword at her waist, and she coldly spat out a single word: "Scram."

She turned and left immediately, not even taking the candied hawthorns.

Hua Shaoyang stood in place, gazing at her departing back, interest growing even thicker in his eyes.

He reopened his folding fan, shook it lightly twice, and turned to speak to Ning Liandie.

"This girl is not bad. She is much more interesting than those Junior Sisters from the Baihua Sect who cling to me all day long. Do you know her?"

Ning Liandie lowered her eyelids, her voice so gentle that no abnormality could be heard: "The Wang Family, the Wang Family of Lotus Pier, the paternal cousin of Young Lord Wang Shouren, Wang Qingyan."

Every single word of hers was bitten out extremely clearly, especially the two characters for "Wang Family".

"Wang Qingyan," Hua Shaoyang rolled the name around between his lips and teeth before laughing, "Good name."

He said not a single word about the matter he had just promised Ning Liandie.

Watching Wang Qingyan's figure disappear around the street corner, the gentleness in Ning Liandie's eyes had completely vanished, replaced by sheer iciness.

Half a month later, the gift procession of the Ning Family grandly marched up to the mountain gates of Lotus Pier.

This time, the array was even larger than when Ning Shengli previously came to call them to account.

Ning Family Grand Elder Great Elder Ning Shengkui personally led the team, with over a dozen Ning Family disciples behind him carrying gift chests tied with red silk. The red silk used was of top-grade spiritual silkworm thread, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

The gift chests were lined up one by one, stretching across half of the mountain path and causing passing Loose Cultivators to stop and look, whispering to each other and guessing which family had come to propose marriage.

Wang Yaozu received Great Elder Ning Shengkui in the council hall.

He sat in the main seat, spiritual tea at his hand puffing wisps of hot steam, a hospitable smile on his face while the depths of his eyes were icy cold.

The Ning Family and the Wang Family had long since torn off all pretense. Today, suddenly bringing heavy gifts to the door to propose marriage—he picked up his tea cup, took a slow sip, and waited for Great Elder Ning Shengkui to speak first.

Great Elder Ning Shengkui presented the gift list with both hands, smiling so that the wrinkles on his face bunched together, his tone as affectionate as if the two families were generations-old friends.

"Family Head Wang, this old man has come to your door today to ask for the hand of Young Miss Qingyan of your esteemed estate on behalf of Ning Kun, a direct-line descendant of our clan.

Ning Kun is already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, and with clan resources inclined towards him, Foundation Establishment is well within sight! If the two families can form a matrimonial alliance, who within the Three Counties would still dare to look down upon the Wang Family? This marriage is a fortunate event for the Ning Family, and it is also a good thing for the Wang Family."

Wang Yaozu took the gift list and placed it on the desk without even flipping it open.

The Shou-generation disciple serving nearby tactfully refilled his tea. He picked up the tea cup and took another sip before calmly saying.

"Qingyan is still young, and clan affairs are busy, so marriage is not to be discussed for the time being. Grand Elder's kind intentions, the Wang Family accepts with appreciation; as for these things, please take them back."

Great Elder Ning Shengkui's smile froze on his face for a moment before melting away again, though this time when he spoke again, the affection in his tone had faded a bit, replaced by a layer of faint, intangible thorns.

"Family Head Wang, Young Miss Qingyan is an outstanding figure among the Shou-generation, and she is no longer young. For a direct-line descendant of our Ning Family to match her, even if it cannot be said to be a match made in heaven, it can at least be considered evenly matched in social status.

Why must the Wang Family push people away thousands of miles away? Furthermore—"

He picked up his tea cup, imitating Wang Yaozu's manner of taking a slow sip, before leisurely spitting out the second half of his words: "If the Ning and Wang Families can form a marriage alliance, wouldn't all those past misunderstandings be wiped clean in one stroke?"

These words were spoken prettily. But the meaning at their core couldn't be clearer—agree to the marriage alliance, and the Ning Family will temporarily suppress past grievances; do not agree, and those misunderstandings will be endless.

Wang Yaozu placed the tea cup down on the desk, the porcelain clashing against the wooden surface to produce a crisp, light sound.

He raised his head, looking into Great Elder Ning Shengkui's eyes, his voice sneering: "For the blood debts between the Wang Family and the Ning Family to be wiped clean in one stroke, this old man cannot do it. Grand Elder, please return."

Great Elder Ning Shengkui's smile finally turned cold.

The air in the council hall seemed to be pressed down by something, making even the few Shou-generation disciples guarding the doorway feel their backs tightening slightly.

Great Elder Ning Shengkui slowly stood up, the wrinkles on his face straightening out one by one, and was just about to speak—

"There is no need to ask."

A cold and clear voice cleaved in from outside the hall.

Wang Qingyan pushed open the door and entered, clad in plain white martial attire with a high ponytail, the twin swords at her waist clashing together to produce an extremely light sound of metal.