9: Chapter 9 This betrothal gift is only for Third Master Lin!

Early the next morning, the main street of Jiangyuan City was filled with the deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers.

Young Master Jiang Chen, wearing a bright red brocade robe, rode a tall and mighty Flaming Scale Horse at the front of the procession, with a long saber hanging at his waist and his posture upright.

The aura of his Qi Refining eighth level cultivation was undisguised, and his pressure accompanied him; behind him, the wedding procession was vast, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Twelve large red wooden chests were being steadily carried by strong Jiang Family guards, with red silk as thick as an arm tied around the chest bodies.

Merchants along the street stopped their hawking, and Loose Cultivators crowded both sides of the street, pointing at the procession.

"The Jiang Family is truly generous!"

"Going to such lengths to marry a cripple with ruined Spiritual Roots?"

"They even gave away a Spiritual Vein just to breed for that old man, Jiang Feng."

"The Lin Family has finally turned their fortunes around by selling their daughter."

The discussion was mixed with shock and jealousy.

No one expected that the former Qingyun Sect Prodigy, now a Mortal, Lin Yueyao, would be married off in such a manner.

On the outskirts of the city, at the Lin Family mansion, the dilapidated courtyard walls were covered in new red silk overnight, and the peeling red paint on the main gate was hastily touched up.

Dozens of banquet tables were set up inside and outside the courtyard.

Small surrounding Families and merchants came to witness the ceremony in an endless stream, and all the Lin Family members wore fawning smiles as they welcomed guests to their seats.

In the boudoir of the backyard, Lin Yueyao sat upright before the bronze mirror, and the matchmaker held a jade comb, coiling up her long hair.

Adorned in a bright red phoenix coronet and robes, the hundred-birds-worshipping-the-Phoenix pattern embroidered with gold thread on the wedding dress shone brilliantly, and the luxurious clothing set off her skin like jade.

The cold temperament between her brows took on a breathtaking, delicate beauty under the reflection of the red makeup; even in her wedding dress, the proud character within her remained undiminished, though a touch of loneliness showed between her brows.

Jiang Feng of the Jiang Family, over sixty years old, had his cultivation stagnant at the fifth level of Qi Refining, his blood and Qi were decaying, and his Lifespan was coming to an end.

She, Lin Yueyao, had her Spiritual Roots shattered and had been reduced to a Mortal.

This marriage was nothing more than a transaction with a clear price tag, using her, a cripple, to exchange for resources for the rise of the Lin Family.

"Young Miss, the auspicious time is approaching; it is time to leave," the matchmaker reminded her respectfully.

Lin Yueyao collected her thoughts, stood up, and allowed the matchmaker to place the bright red mandarin duck bridal veil over her head.

With her vision blocked by the red cloth, Lin Yueyao, supported by others, stepped out of the room and walked toward the front hall.

Inside the front hall, the members of the Lin Family were all beaming.

In their eyes, Lin Yueyao, this burden, had finally exerted her maximum value, exchanging for a waste Spiritual Vein and ten spirit gathering pills; as for what Lin Yueyao would face after marrying over, no one cared.

"Congratulations, Third Master Lin Changqing."

"With such a generous gift from the Jiang Family, the Lin Family will surely soar in the future!"

"Young Miss Yue Yao is truly blessed to marry into the Jiang Family and live in luxury for the rest of her life!"

The guests offered their congratulations one after another, and the clansmen echoed them repeatedly; these voices fell into Lin Yueyao's ears, all full of naked greed.

The expression under Lin Yueyao's veil was calm and rippleless.

In the corner, Lin Qingxue, dressed in plain white, was out of place with the festive atmosphere of the courtyard; she stood behind the crowd, staring fixedly at Lin Yueyao's back, her chest heaving violently.

When Young Master Jiang Chen announced publicly yesterday that he was going to marry Lin Yueyao, she felt as if she had been slapped dozens of times in public.

In terms of appearance, cultivation, and status, how was she inferior to that cripple?

The Jiang Family would rather use a Spiritual Vein to marry a piece of trash than even glance at her; Lin Qingxue's face was twisted, and she gritted her teeth.

Lin Yueyao ignored the gazes around her, sat quietly into the sedan chair, and as the curtain fell, it isolated the noise outside.

The wedding procession arrived at the front hall, reaching the stage of handing over the dowry.

Young Master Jiang Chen dismounted, strode into the Lin Family's front hall, and untied a black Storage Pouch from his waist; inside was the deed to the waste Spiritual Vein and ten spirit gathering pills.

When Clan Head Lin Cang saw the Storage Pouch, his eyes lit up instantly, and his greed was unconcealed; he hurried forward to greet him with a face full of smiles.

"Young Master Jiang Chen, you have worked hard."

"Please, come inside."

Clan Head Lin Cang spoke while extending both hands to receive the Storage Pouch.

He was the Clan Head of the Lin Family, and the dowry should naturally be received by him; as long as the items were in his hands, how much to leave for Third Master Lin Changqing would be up to him.

Just as Clan Head Lin Cang's fingers were about to touch the Storage Pouch, Young Master Jiang Chen sneered.

The spiritual power of the eighth level of Qi Refining erupted, and the violent air wave swept out from Young Master Jiang Chen as the center, striking Clan Head Lin Cang's chest directly.

With a muffled bang.

Caught off guard, Clan Head Lin Cang was sent flying, retreating seven or eight steps, his back hitting the red pillar in the hall heavily, shaking down a large piece of red silk.

Clan Head Lin Cang's blood surged, and he nearly vomited blood; he clutched his chest, glaring at Young Master Jiang Chen in shock and anger.

"Young Master Jiang Chen!"

"What are you doing?!"

"Could it be that the dowry sent by the Jiang Family is to be taken back in public?!"

Clan Head Lin Cang questioned sharply, trying to hide his guilty conscience.

Young Master Jiang Chen did not even look at him, his gaze disdainful; he took the Storage Pouch and walked straight toward Third Master Lin Changqing, who was timid in the corner.

Young Master Jiang Chen's voice, mixed with spiritual power, spread throughout the entire Lin Family courtyard.

"The one my Second Master wants to marry is the daughter of Third Master Lin Changqing."

"This dowry is naturally for Third Master Lin Changqing."

"What does it have to do with anyone else?"

The whole scene was dead silent.

Clan Head Lin Cang's face flushed to the color of a pig's liver, his hand extended in mid-air was extremely stiff, and the elders of the Lin Family changed color drastically.

That was a Spiritual Vein and spirit gathering pills; the Jiang Family actually handed them directly to Third Master Lin Changqing, this side branch that had lost power?

Third Master Lin Changqing stood frozen on the spot, his face full of astonishment.

Having been squeezed out in the Lin Family for many years, he never dreamed that the Jiang Family would openly back him up and leave Clan Head Lin Cang aside.

Young Master Jiang Chen's gaze was like a knife, sweeping across Clan Head Lin Cang and the crowd of elders, his tone cold and carrying an undeniable dominance.

"My Second Master has given instructions."

"If anyone in the Lin Family dares to covet or deduct even a fraction of Third Master Lin Changqing's dowry in the future."

"There is no need to trouble anyone else."

"My Second Master will come to the door in person and settle the account with each of you!"

Every word was like thunder.

Clan Head Lin Cang shivered all over, his face turned pale, and his lips trembled, but he dared not make a sound.

The Jiang Family was powerful, and Young Master Jiang Chen's cultivation was high; who would dare to provoke the Jiang Family?

Third Master Lin Changqing finally regained his senses, his hands trembling as he took the Storage Pouch, the heavy weight held in his palm.

With these resources, he would never have to look at anyone's face in the Lin Family again.

Third Master Lin Changqing's originally hunched back instantly straightened, the frustration accumulated over the years swept away; his eye sockets turned red, and he bowed deeply to Young Master Jiang Chen.

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang Chen."

"Thank you, Jiang Feng!"

This scene, through the gap in the sedan chair curtain, fell into Lin Yueyao's eyes.

She watched her father's straightened back quietly, watching the frustrated appearance of Clan Head Lin Cang and the elders who dared to be angry but dared not speak.

Jiang Feng not only gave a sky-high dowry but also sent Young Master Jiang Chen to establish his authority in public, firmly protecting her father's interests and cutting off the thoughts of others in the Lin Family to embezzle it.

With strong methods and careful thoughts, this Jiang Feng was by no means the muddled old man rumored by the outside world.

Lin Yueyao withdrew her gaze, and the resistance in her heart faded a little.

Seeing Third Master Lin Changqing accept the dowry, Young Master Jiang Chen stopped paying attention to the Lin Family members, turned around, strode out of the gate, mounted his horse, drew his long saber, pointed it straight at the sky, and his voice was as loud as a bell.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

"Lift the sedan!"

"Return to the Jiang Family!"

The sound of gongs and drums sounded like thunder again, and the suona played a high-pitched, joyful melody.

The eight sedan bearers exerted force at the same time, steadily lifting the sedan chair; the vast procession changed direction and marched toward the Jiang Family mansion, the red silk fluttering in the wind.

Inside the sedan chair, Lin Yueyao listened to the noise outside and felt the swaying of the sedan chair.

"Jiang Feng... what kind of person are you exactly?"

At this moment, she even felt a glimmer of secret expectation in her heart regarding this absurd marriage.