158: Chapter 158 Great-Aunt

"Gone?" Everyone present looked completely bewildered.

Lin Bei didn't bother explaining further; he returned to his seat and began sipping his tea as if nothing had happened.

The group of people looked at one another, yet none dared to speak up.

"Report!!!" Before long, a panicked and hurried voice echoed from outside the hall.

Emperor Xia's brow furrowed, and an official immediately caught his drift and stepped out of the hall.

Soon, the official returned to the hall with a look of terror. His gaze swept over Lin Bei, and he instantly began to tremble all over.

"Your... Your Majesty! News has come from the border..." At this point, he stammered, not daring to continue.

"How indecisive! Where are your manners? Do you want to make us a laughingstock in front of outsiders?!" Emperor Xia's voice turned slightly cold.

The official could only summon his courage. "News from the border... Bauhinia... Bauhinia City is... gone?!"

*Thump!* His buttocks, which hadn't even warmed the dragon chair yet, rose from the seat once more. He gave Lin Bei a deep look, his back already drenched in sweat.

Lin Bei still showed no reaction, continuing to take light sips of his tea.

Emperor Xia turned his gaze toward the official. "Speak! What are the specifics?"

"The messenger... the messenger only said that not long ago, a terrifyingly large seal appeared in the sky above Bauhinia City. With one strike, the entire city was completely demolished. However... however, the tens of millions of residents within the city didn't seem to suffer any casualties..."

The official chose his words as carefully as possible.

"Impossible!" Qianlong's tone was resolute. "Bauhinia City is guarded by three Saints of my Great Qing Dynasty. Do not spread such inflammatory lies here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Half-Saint general beside him immediately took out a communication token. After a single glance, his Face turned deathly pale.

"Prince... Prince, the Lord has sent word. Bauhinia City has been destroyed, and all three Saints are dead. He suspects a high-level Saint from the Great Xia Dynasty has made a move and ordered us to return quickly!"

*Bam!* Qianlong slumped back into his chair, his Face pale. His finger trembled slightly as he pointed at Lin Bei. "You... you..."

The general at his side couldn't care less about protocol at this moment; he slapped Qianlong's hand down. "Prince, stop with the 'you, you, you'!"

He then cupped his fists toward the Great Xia Emperor. "Emperor Xia, we shall take our leave first!"

Emperor Xia nodded. "Regarding this matter... please explain it clearly to your Lord after you return..."

He glanced at Lin Bei and, seeing that the other party didn't seem to mind, added the final sentence: "It was not the work of my Great Xia Dynasty..."

After Qianlong and his party left, everyone's gaze fell on Lin Bei once more, most of them filled with fear.

Lin Bei finally set down his teacup, his smile remaining gentle and bright.

"It couldn't be helped. Our Heavenly Court has limited funds and couldn't provide a larger betrothal gift, so I could only come up with this crude method..."

These simple words sent a chill down the spines of every official present.

The reason sounded almost ridiculous.

"Someone, quickly bring Princess Yuhe here!" Emperor Xia was very quick to adapt to the situation.

What followed was naturally a smooth progression. Emperor Xia hosted a grand banquet and even specifically invited a Saint of the Great Xia Dynasty to accompany Lin Bei throughout the event.

"Emperor Xia, I would also like to ask you for a marriage arrangement!"

After several rounds of drinks, Lin Bei looked at the Great Xia Emperor and spoke with a light chuckle.

Chen Ping, who was currently in a world of his own with Xia Yuhe, as well as Feng Xiaoyao, Shi Hao, and the others, were all stunned.

They hadn't heard anything about this part before.

Only the old man beside them, Li Qingfeng, immediately showed a look of nervousness.

"Oh?" Emperor Xia's eyes lit up. "Could it be that Sect Master Lin has a lady he favors within my Great Xia Palace?"

"Rest assured!" He waved his hand grandly. "No matter who it is, as long as she is not yet betrothed, I will certainly facilitate this good deed!"

Lin Bei rubbed his nose, looking slightly embarrassed. "It's not for myself, but for this Senior of mine. He and a Senior within the Great Xia Palace are of one heart..."

"I have always been very supportive of this kind of sunset romance that breaks through worldly perceptions. Surely Emperor Xia won't object?"

The Great Xia Emperor's reaction wasn't too big, but the people around Lin Bei were all wide-eyed with shock, especially Chen Ping, who hadn't reacted for a moment.

"Holy crap! You old man Li! I was wondering why you were so excited along the way!" Feng Xiaoyao cried out.

Wang Teng gave Li Qingfeng a rare extra look, revealing a trace of admiration.

"Right, a sunset romance is fine, so why wouldn't same-sex be okay? Keep it up!"

Emperor Xia's expression didn't change much. Since Lin Bei had spoken, he had to give him this Face no matter what.

After all, the other party was a ruthless person who would destroy a city over a disagreement.

"There were reports that the Lord of the Heavenly Court destroyed Holy Alchemy City before; I didn't quite believe it, but now it seems it was definitely him..."

He sighed inwardly, the smile on his Face never fading as he looked at Li Qingfeng. "Then I wonder who this Senior's lady friend is?"

Since Lin Bei addressed Li Qingfeng as Senior, he couldn't afford to be arrogant either.

"Emperor Xia is too kind!" Li Qingfeng completely ignored the teasing from Feng Xiaoyao and the others. "Her name is Xia Ziwei..."

In an instant, the originally noisy hall fell into a dead silence, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

The smile on Emperor Xia's Face vanished, looking as uncomfortable as if he were constipated.

Xia Mang was also dazed, looking at Li Qingfeng in disbelief.

Chen Ping quietly approached him. "Brother Xia, what's wrong? Is this person's identity very special?"

Xia Mang took a deep breath to calm his emotions before speaking. "That is my Great-Grand Aunt, which is to say, my Imperial Father's Grand Aunt..."

A Grand Aunt—meaning she was the sister of Emperor Xia's grandfather.

"In my Great-Grandfather's era, she was a female general who fought across the north and south! She looked down on all men..." Xia Mang continued to explain.

Hearing this, Feng Xiaoyao and the others said nothing more and gave Li Qingfeng a thumbs-up one after another.

Lin Bei was speechless after hearing Xia Mang's explanation. He hadn't expected Li Qingfeng's old flame to have such a background.

At this time, Emperor Xia's expression finally looked a bit better, and he looked at Lin Bei with a bitter smile. "Sect Master Lin, I'm afraid this matter isn't for me to decide..."

"Someone, go and invite my Grand Aunt here!"

Not long after, Xia Ziwei arrived upon hearing the news.

"Qingfeng!" As soon as she appeared, she completely ignored everyone else and lunged straight into Li Qingfeng's arms.

Seeing this, the Faces of Emperor Xia, Xia Mang, and the others twitched.

"Grand Aunt..."

Emperor Xia had just spoken when he was interrupted by the old woman. "Your grandfather couldn't control me back then; you don't want to try to control me, do you?"

"Your grand-nephew wouldn't dare..." Emperor Xia shook his head repeatedly. "If Grandfather knew you had opened your heart, he would surely be very happy!"

"Why do you say it like your grandfather is dead? Isn't he still in seclusion trying to break through to the Saint Realm?"

"Uh... that's true..."

A day later, Lin Bei and his party left the Great Xia Dynasty and continued their journey toward the Eastern Wasteland.

The group now included two more women, one old and one young.

Xia Mang did not follow them this time, watching the group leave.

Suddenly, an IOU appeared in his palm before turning into ashes.

Looking at the ashes in his palm, Xia Mang suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

"Sigh! After spending a few days with my parents, I should return to the Heavenly Court as soon as possible..."

Ten days later.

Luoxia Town.

Sunset Restaurant.

This time, with no events being held by the Yin Yang Cave-Heaven, Lin Bei finally secured a good seat by the window.

Chen Ping stood by the window, his gaze like a sword, staring into the distance.

"Over there, is that the Yin Yang Cave-Heaven?"