67: Chapter 67 On the Eve of the Wedding

"What?!"

"Getting married in seven days?!"

Old Master Xie's simple sentence not only left Chen Qingyuan shocked!

It was like throwing a boulder into a deep pool, causing a violent tremor throughout the entire Xie Family.

However, as the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Xie Family, Old Master Xie's will was the highest command; despite the gossip within the clan, no one dared to disobey!

Even with a thousand different thoughts, the wedding preparations began in an orderly manner.

The Xie Family, Council Hall!

Xie Deyuan was discussing wedding arrangements with the Fifth Elder, Xie Dezhao, and others.

"Fifth Brother, although Jinshu's wedding will be simple, the banquets and decorations required by the clan cannot be lacking. I will leave this matter to you to handle with care."

"Brother, don't worry, just leave it to me."

"Second Brother, and the ceremony procedures, as well as the dowry..."

Before Xie Deyuan could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a burst of hurried footsteps.

Madam Liu ignored the attempts to stop her and stormed right in, her voice filled with tears and anger!

"Seven days! This... this is simply preposterous! My Jinshu... she doesn't even have time to embroider a decent wedding dress!"

"Where are the Three Letters and Six Rites? What has his Chen Family prepared? To be so hasty, wouldn't that make people laugh at my daughter?!"

"I want to see the Old Ancestor... I am not convinced... I do not agree!"

As she spoke, she disregarded her image and plopped down right in the middle of the council hall!

There was absolutely none of the poise expected of the Xie Family's matriarch.

Upon seeing this, Xie Deyuan's face immediately turned extremely ugly, and he first waved his hand at the others in the hall!

"You all go down and get back to work."

After everyone had retreated, he quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice to scold her!

"Nonsense! What are you doing? This is disgraceful! Get up at once!"

"I will not get up!"

Madam Liu stiffened her neck and glared at him!

"Xie Deyuan! If you don't go talk to Father and clear this up today, I'm staying right here and not leaving! Is this how you act as a father?"

"You... you... you are simply unreasonable!"

Xie Deyuan's fingers trembled with anger.

"I'm unreasonable? You don't even care about your daughter's lifelong happiness, yet you call me unreasonable? Xie, if you don't give me an explanation today..."

Before she could finish!

"What is this, I heard someone is making a scene demanding to see me?"

An old voice suddenly came from outside the hall, and the Xie Family Old Ancestor was seen standing at the entrance, walking into the hall with a grim expression.

Madam Liu, who was still throwing a tantrum, looked as if she had been choked, her crying stopping instantly!

She scrambled up from the ground, hanging her head and not daring to speak.

Xie Deyuan hurriedly bowed!

"Father, why have you come? Please don't blame her, she... she is just deeply concerned for her daughter and couldn't think it through..."

Old Master Xie glanced at him!

"I see, it's not just her who hasn't thought it through; you probably aren't truly convinced in your heart either, are you?"

Xie Deyuan's body stiffened!

"This son... does not dare to question Father's decision."

He only said "does not dare," without agreement, understanding, or willingness.

"You all..."

"I have lived for over a hundred years; what storms have I not seen, what kind of people have I not encountered? Could I possibly harm that girl Jinshu?"

"The reasons behind this are not convenient to explain to you in detail right now, you only need to remember that this matter, whether for Jinshu or for the future of the Xie Family, only has benefits and no drawbacks!"

Speaking up to this point, his gaze immediately turned stern as it fell upon Madam Liu!

"All of you, prepare for the wedding with peace of mind! If I hear any more inappropriate gossip, or see any inappropriate scenes... do not blame me for showing no mercy with the Family rules!"

Although Old Master Xie was kind and amiable in front of Chen Qingyuan and could even joke with him, he was known for being decisive and ruthless within the Xie Family.

Under his accumulated prestige, Madam Liu was startled!

She lowered her head aggrievedly and responded obediently.

"Yes! This daughter-in-law understands!"

"This son understands!"

...

Inside the Xie Family guest room, Chen Qingyuan sat alone by the window.

Not only were the people of the Xie Family turned upside down by the Old Master's sudden idea, even Chen Qingyuan himself was very bewildered.

Good heavens, he had originally just come for a visit, to get to know the place, and to see his future Dao Companion.

Who would have thought it would turn into getting married within seven days!

More importantly, the Xie Family's Old Master was actually a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Now, the situation was stronger than the person; the marriage contract could not be refused, and for a moment, Chen Qingyuan could not help but feel helpless.

Moreover, since the news spread, his residence in the Xie Family had known no peace.

Several young disciples of the Xie Family, led by Xie Jincheng, blocked his door almost day and night.

Their eyes were red, wishing they could break in immediately and teach him a harsh lesson.

"Chen! If you have guts, get out here! I'm telling you, no matter what dirty tricks you used to deceive Grandfather, you must go and call off the wedding today!"

Listening to the desperate roaring outside the door, Chen Qingyuan gently let down the window curtain.

These half-grown youths could only vent their anger with words for now to show their stance, and they didn't really dare to do anything too excessive.

But it was too noisy, and he didn't know a sound-isolation Restriction, so Chen Qingyuan rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache.

"A bunch of little bastards, too noisy."

"Instead of wasting energy here, I might as well find a quiet place to hide."

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated, found a window at the back, climbed out,

With those kids' cultivation, it was impossible for them to detect the movements of a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared without a trace.

The Xie Family's ancestral grounds were built along Spirit Stream Lake, and within the village, several crystal-clear streams wound their way through.

The water bubbled, and the greenery was vibrant, possessing quite a bit of charm typical of a water town.

However, Chen Qingyuan naturally had no leisure to enjoy the scenery at this moment.

He specifically chose those quiet, deserted corners, just wanting to find some peace to clear his thoughts.

Until a rapid sound of sword ringing broke the silence!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

"Someone is practicing swordsmanship here?"

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young girl in a cyan martial outfit dancing with a sword in an open space by the stream.

Her posture was upright, and her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, flying in the air with her movements.

The girl's face was exquisite, like carved jade, and between her brows, there was a heroic spirit rarely seen in women!

With a long sword in hand, her sword moves were incredibly fierce; pointing, stabbing, chopping, and lifting were all clean and neat!

Observing the aura emanating from her, her cultivation should also be at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

"How beautiful!"

Just as Chen Qingyuan was praising her to himself, the girl, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, retracted her sword stance, flourished the sword, and sheathed it—the movement was done in one go.

She turned around, her voice clear and resonant.

"Have you seen enough?"

Chen Qingyuan was slightly stunned, then walked out calmly and bowed!

"Miss Xie? I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence to meet you practicing swordsmanship here."