18: Chapter 18 No Marriage

Yang Zhi just opened his mouth, "You..."

A cold glint flashed in Xiang Tian's eyes; he didn't give his opponent any chance to run his mouth.

With a muffled "bang," a solid kick landed on Yang Zhi's lower abdomen. The latter slammed into the courtyard wall before crashing heavily to the ground. A mouthful of blood sprayed out instantly, and he curled up in pain, unable to climb back up for a long time.

"Xiang Tian, don't kill him!" Xiang Yuanyuan's face turned pale. She hugged Xiang Tian's arm tightly from behind, "If he dies, the Yang Family definitely won't let it rest. We can't afford to provoke them!"

The middle-aged man standing to the side muttered repeatedly, "Young Master Xiang Tian, it's over, it's completely over now... The Yang Family won't let us off..."

He was none other than Xiang Yuanyuan's father, Xiang An.

Xiang Yuanyuan turned around abruptly. The look in her eyes as she gazed at her father was filled with anger and disappointment, "Isn't this all because of you? A perfectly good home, ruined and torn apart by your gambling! Mother couldn't stand your lack of proper work and ran off over a decade ago. We, father and daughter, have been mocked and had fingers pointed at our spines in the clan. Have you learned absolutely nothing?"

Xiang An hung his head even lower, stammering in defense, "I... I didn't want to either. It was a trap they set. I was confused for a moment..."

"If you didn't gamble, how could they set a trap?" Xiang Yuanyuan's retort was like a sharp blade, instantly piercing through his excuse.

Xiang An opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only close his eyes in defeat, unable to say a single word.

"Ten thousand Spirit Stones is quite a lot, but it's not impossible to deal with." Xiang Tian patted Xiang Yuanyuan's tense shoulder and then pulled a palm-sized Storage Pouch from his bosom, "I have some hehuan grass here; it should be enough to cover this debt."

As he spoke, he contacted the System, "System, calculate it. How many Spirit Stones is one stalk of hehuan grass worth?"

[Ding! According to the current market price in the cultivation world, the average selling price of a mature stalk of hehuan grass is 200 Spirit Stones, and those of superior quality can reach 250 Spirit Stones.]

Xiang Tian calculated in his heart, a look of realization curling the corners of his mouth, "There are at least over a hundred stalks in this Storage Pouch of mine. Taking out 50 stalks to pay the debt is enough."

Withdrawing his consciousness from the System interface, he carried the Storage Pouch over to Yang Zhi, who was still groaning, and threw it down at him from a condescending height, "Yang Zhi, the 10,000 Spirit Stones the Xiang Family owes you—here are 50 stalks of hehuan grass. Is that enough to cover it? Get lost now."

Yang Zhi struggled to climb up and tremblingly took the Storage Pouch.

Just as Yang Zhi tucked the Storage Pouch away and intended to slink off, Xiang Tian's voice rang out again, "Wait!"

Yang Zhi's footsteps paused, his heart skipped a beat. He turned around, feigning composure, "Is there anything else, Young Master Xiang?"

"What if the Yang Family refuses to acknowledge this later and comes back to the Xiang Family to collect the debt?" Xiang Tian took out a "Debt Settlement Guarantee" he had already written from his sleeve, "Sign your name and press your thumbprint on it to avoid trouble in the future."

Looking at the words "From now on, the debts between the Yang Family and the Xiang Family are cleared, and there are no further entanglements" on the paper, Yang Zhi gritted his teeth.

In the end, he didn't dare to defy Xiang Tian's wishes. He honestly signed his name, pressed his thumbprint, clutched his still-aching abdomen, and fled in a sorry state.

"Look, isn't that solved?" Xiang Tian turned around and rolled his eyes at Xiang Yuanyuan, who was still dazed.

Xiang Yuanyuan, however, had not yet recovered from her shock. Looking at the now-empty Storage Pouch, she was heartbroken, "That was 50 stalks of hehuan grass! Spirit Medicine worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones, and you just used it to pay off a debt like that? It's such a waste..."

"How can it be called a waste if it helps Sister Yuanyuan solve her trouble?" Xiang Tian smiled, then turned to Xiang An, his tone sinking, "Uncle An, I've cleared your debt this time, but this is the last time. If I find out you go gambling again, even if Sister Yuanyuan pleads for you, I won't intervene again."

Xiang An shuddered, raised his head abruptly, and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes. Young Master Xiang Tian is right to scold me. I will never gamble again, never again!"

That gambling addiction was finally temporarily suppressed under his daughter's disappointment and Xiang Tian's warning.

"Alright, since you are both fine, I'll be going first." Xiang Tian brushed the dust off his hem, "Right, if the Yang Family people come to cause trouble again, come directly to my house to find me. Don't shoulder it yourselves."

He knew clearly in his heart that Yang Zhi had suffered such a great loss; he definitely wouldn't let it rest.

"Xiang Tian, thank you..." Xiang Yuanyuan watched his back, her eyes suddenly reddening. Her voice choked with sobs, and as she spoke, she was about to bend her knees to kneel, "I really don't know how to thank you. Please, accept my kowtow!"

Xiang Tian was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing her arm to support her. He sighed helplessly, "Don't do that. We grew up together; you will always be my sister. Isn't it only right for me to help you?"

In his heart, Xiang Yuanyuan was much closer than those cousins who only knew how to vie for favor. He had always kept this friendship in his heart.

"Then... goodbye." Xiang Yuanyuan let go of his hand, took a deep breath, and suppressed the complex emotions in her eyes.

"Daughter, I'm sorry..." Xiang An walked to her side, "It's all Dad's fault, making you, in front of Young Master Xiang Tian..."

"Don't say it." Xiang Yuanyuan shook her head and turned to walk toward her room, "In a while, I will be going to the Lingyun Sect."

She had long since inquired clearly about the rules of the Lingyun Sect. Once she joined the Sect, perhaps there was never any possibility between her and Xiang Tian from the very beginning.

Returning to her room, she pulled a warm, smooth jade talisman from under her pillow and injected a trace of spiritual power into it.

A moment later, a gentle yet slightly teasing female voice came from the jade talisman, "Yuanyuan, have you thought it through? Have you decided to come back to the Lingyun Sect with me?"

"I... have thought it through." Xiang Yuanyuan's voice was somewhat low.

"Oh? Was it because you saw your little sweetheart that you made up your mind?" The Grand Elder's tone carried a smile, "When I saw you in Tuyu Town last year, you didn't say that. You insisted on waiting for that boy named Xiang Tian to return."

"Grand Elder, we are not in that kind of relationship." Xiang Yuanyuan hurriedly explained, though her cheeks burned uncontrollably, "I just... saw that his strength is very strong now, and I also want to Cultivate properly. I don't want to be someone who only drags others down anymore."

"Is that so?" The Grand Elder chuckled, not exposing her, "Alright, in a month, I will come personally to pick you up to return to the Sect. Prepare well during this time."

"Mm, mm, thank you, Grand Elder." Xiang Yuanyuan put away the jade talisman, leaned against the head of the bed, and stared at the moon outside the window in a daze.

When she met the Grand Elder of the Lingyun Sect in Tuyu Town last year, the other party saw that her Spiritual Root was pure and insisted on taking her as a disciple. However, she always held a glimmer of hope in her heart, firmly believing that Xiang Tian was not dead, and insisted on waiting for his return.

Now that she saw Xiang Tian had returned safely and had even become more powerful than before, she instead developed the thought of Cultivating.

Perhaps only by becoming stronger could she not let down this wait, and not let down his help.

Meanwhile, Xiang Tian had already returned to his own Family courtyard.

Xiahou Yu came out of the room holding the child she had just coaxed to sleep. Seeing him return, a flash of joy crossed her eyes, and she asked softly, "Has Sister Yuanyuan's matter been handled well?"

"Mm, a small matter." Xiang Tian walked over, took the child, and carefully placed it in the cradle. He turned and wrapped his arms around Xiahou Yu's waist, "Xiao Yu, while the child is asleep, let's have some intimate time. I've been too busy handling things these past few days and haven't properly kept you company."

Xiahou Yu's cheeks flushed slightly. She pushed him gently but didn't really push him away.

...

A day later, Xiahou Yu was changing the child's diaper. Xiang Tian sat to the side, watching her gentle profile, and suddenly spoke, "Xiao Yu, do you still want to return to the Haotian Sect?"

Xiahou Yu's movements paused. A trace of confusion flashed in her eyes, then she shook her head, "Xiao Yi is still so small, where could I go? The Haotian Sect... I could never go back."

Ever since she followed Xiang Tian and gave birth to the child, she knew that she had no further entanglements with her former Sect.

Xiang Tian held her hand, his eyes earnest, "Then let's hold the wedding first? I cannot let you continue following me without a name or status."

A flash of anticipation crossed Xiahou Yu's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry. Her voice was low, "I... I will listen to you, but I am worried... If the news that you are not dead reaches the Xiahou Family, will they come to cause you trouble? After all, you originally..."

"What is there to fear?" Xiang Tian interrupted her, "You have already borne a child for my Xiang Family. If I still act like a coward, how can I be your husband in the future, and how can I be Xiao Yi's father? I will handle this matter!"

Done is done; Xiang Tian immediately went to find his father, Xiang Chen. Just as he walked into the study, he got straight to the point, "Dad, I want to hold a wedding with Xiao Yu. When do you think is appropriate?"

"No!" Xiang Zhennan refused without a second thought. He put down the teacup in his hand, his expression serious, "Do you think we don't know that you killed so many people in the Secret Realm? The Family forces of those dead have long since sent people everywhere to inquire about your whereabouts. Once they know you are still alive, they will definitely come to cause trouble for the Xiang Family. Can you bear the consequences of this?"

Xiang Zhennan's words were like a basin of cold water, instantly waking Xiang Tian up. He had only been thinking about giving Xiahou Yu a status, forgetting that he still carried so many enemies on his back. If he rashly held a wedding, it would only bring catastrophic disaster to the Xiang Family.

"Hiss—Father, it is I who thought about the problem too incompletely."

"But don't worry." Xiang Zhennan changed the subject, his tone softening a little, "Our Xiang Family has already been secretly preparing to relocate. People in the clan will enter the Secret Realm in the back mountain in batches to hide for a period of time, and we will talk about it after the limelight passes."

Xiang Tian's eyes lit up, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Then I will go to the Secret Realm with Xiao Yu. Wouldn't it be fine to hold the wedding inside?"

"Who told you to go in together?" Xiang Zhennan frowned, "Isn't it because of the trouble you caused? Your engagement with Xiahou Yun hasn't been dissolved, and you've had a child with Xiahou Yu. How do you intend to explain this to the Xiahou Family?"

"My union with Xiahou Yu was truly an accident..." Xiang Tian attempted to defend himself.

"Whether it was an accident or on purpose, what's done is done. You must give the Xiahou Family an explanation." Xiang Zhennan's tone was unquestionable.

Xiang Tian fell silent. He knew his father was right.

Xiahou Yu had given birth to a child for him, yet she didn't even have a formal status. This was too unfair to her.

"Father, I will personally go to the Haotian Sect to admit my mistake to Xiahou Yun and explain the matter between me and Xiao Yu clearly. When the time comes, whether they want to kill or slice me, I will accept it."

Xiang Zhennan looked at his son's firm eyes and said nothing.

In fact, he had long since secretly contacted Xiahou Yun. When the other party learned that Xiang Tian was still alive, not only was she not angry, but she even guaranteed that she would protect Xiang Tian's safety.

After all, Xiang Tian's record of killing multiple strong enemies in the Secret Realm had long since spread throughout the entire Haotian Sect. Even the Inner Sect Disciples had heard of this name. Naturally, the Xiahou Family was unwilling to miss out on such a potential stock.

After a while, Xiang Chen slowly spoke, "Mm, set off for the Haotian Sect now and get things resolved early."

"Ah? I've only been back for a few days!" Xiang Tian looked reluctant, "I still have so much to say to Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yi is still so small..."

"What do you have to say to her that can't wait until later?" Xiang Zhennan glared at him, "She is still in the lactation period. You two be careful and exercise restraint; don't tire her out."

Xiang Tian's cheeks flushed red. He scratched his head and stopped arguing, "Alright, I'll go pack my things now. Dad, I leave Xiao Yu and Xiao Yi to you and Mom to take care of."

"Rest assured." Xiang Zhennan waved his hand, his tone softening, "Even without a status, Xiao Yu is still a daughter-in-law of our Xiang Family, and Xiao Yi is even more so the flesh and blood of the Xiang Family. We will not treat them poorly."

Hearing his father's words, Xiang Tian was completely relieved.