70: Helpless Lin Yimeng

Since the establishment of Mount Wangyun Grotto-Heaven, the Su Family's strength had once again skyrocketed.

Within a single year, all the Elders of the Su Family had reached Breakthroughs to the Body Integration Stage.

Now, the Su Family possessed one expert in the Return to Origin Stage and five in the Body Integration Stage.

With inexhaustible resources and the enhancement of Mount Wangyun Grotto-Heaven, the Su Family began to grow wildly, their Breakthrough speeds reaching staggering levels.

"Reporting to the Young Clan Leader, Princess Lin Yimeng has sent another letter."

Upon hearing this, Su Chen said directly, "Bring it in."

Although so much time had passed, Lin Yimeng continued to send him letters incessantly; sometimes every few days, sometimes once every half-month.

But she had never stopped.

However, over the past year, he had barely read any of the letters Lin Yimeng sent.

Because the content Lin Yimeng wrote each time was almost the same, monotonous and repetitive.

It was mostly about eating, drinking, and having fun, or sharing her recent moods and things she had seen and heard.

Thus, Su Chen stopped reading them later on; at least for the past few months, he hadn't looked at any of Lin Yimeng's letters, not even opening the envelopes.

Thinking of this, Su Chen waved his hand and took out all the letters from his spatial ring, nearly thirty in total.

"This girl really has fallen in love."

Su Chen sighed helplessly. He opened the envelope that had just been delivered; unlike before, there was only a single sheet of paper this time.

Su Chen looked down, and rows of characters caught his eye.

"Su Chen, if you receive this letter, it means I have already arrived at the Qianyu Empire."

"I still have so much to say to you, but unfortunately, I won't have the chance. Leaving this time, I'm afraid I will never be able to return to the Jinghong Empire."

"Su Chen... did you receive my letters? Why do you never write back to me?"

"I asked the messengers, and they said they delivered them personally to the Su Family. Yimeng doesn't know what she did wrong; do you really hate me that much? You won't even reply to a single letter."

"Su Chen, goodbye."

This letter was different from the usual ones. Previously, the contents were all happy and cheerful, but now he could feel the heartbreak embedded in every word Lin Yimeng wrote.

Su Chen's expression changed slightly, and he quickly picked up the previous letters Lin Yimeng had sent to check them.

"Young Lord Su, I learned a new dish this morning. The people in the palace call it 'Seven Stars Shifting.' It tastes wonderful. Next time you come to Jinghong City, I must cook it for you to try; I guarantee it's delicious..."

"Young Lord Su, when can you come to Jinghong City? I've been so bored lately. Imperial Father keeps making me Cultivate and Cultivate; I'm practically growing mold..."

Su Chen opened several envelopes in a row, and the contents were similar to before.

But when he opened another envelope, the content gradually began to change.

"Young Lord Su, the Qianyu Empire has been pressuring Imperial Father lately, and he's worried sick. Perhaps because Imperial Grandfather reached a Breakthrough to the Return to Origin Stage, the Qianyu Empire wants to recruit us. They've been using both carrots and sticks, along with various threats, and have been constantly pressuring the Jinghong Empire during this time..."

"After consulting with Imperial Grandfather, Imperial Father decided to compromise with the Qianyu Empire and surrender three counties on the eastern side of the Jinghong Empire."

"The Qianyu Empire sent people again today. They want a political marriage with our Jinghong Empire and specifically demanded that I be the one to marry over. What should I do, Su Chen? I don't want to marry that First Prince of the Qianyu Empire."

"The Qianyu Empire kept pressuring Imperial Father, and I was forced to agree to the marriage. In half a month, the Qianyu Empire's bridal procession will come to take me away. Su Chen, I don't want to marry there..."

Su Chen kept checking the letters one by one until he picked up the last one in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.

That letter contained only a few words, yet it moved Su Chen profoundly.

"Su Chen... can you take me away?"

After reading all the letters, Su Chen closed his eyes and let out a soft breath.

From those letters, he could feel the despair and helplessness in Lin Yimeng's heart.

He had heard of the Qianyu Empire; it was a relatively powerful force in the Eastern Region, guarded by experts of the Dao-Entry Realm.

Looking at the letters scattered across the table, Su Chen's heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions.

He had naturally known for a long time that Lin Yimeng liked him, but Su Chen didn't want to defile her feelings.

If it were just a simple matter of sleeping with Lin Yimeng, Su Chen felt he probably wouldn't refuse; after all, if he could reject such a beauty, he wouldn't truly be a man.

But he truly couldn't call what he felt for Lin Yimeng "love."

Even if they did end up together, he estimated he would treat Lin Yimeng much like Ruoxi—visiting her for some intimacy only when she came to mind.

He knew his own mind very clearly, which was why Su Chen had never given her a response.

He simply didn't want to let down Lin Yimeng's feelings.

But now, looking at these envelopes where every word and sentence seemed to contain infinite affection, Su Chen's feelings became complicated.

He looked toward the direction of the Qianyu Empire, and in the next moment, he vanished from Mount Wangyun.

...

Qianyu Empire.

Qitian City.

This was the imperial city of the Qianyu Empire, many times larger than Jinghong City, almost like a Small World.

Today, Qitian City was decorated with lanterns and streamers because their First Prince was getting married today.

Similar to the previous situation in the Jinghong Empire, the First Prince was also the strongest prince in the Qianyu Empire.

However, one difference was that because this First Prince's strength surpassed all others, he had already been designated as the Crown Prince.

"I heard the First Prince is only marrying a concubine, and she's just a princess from the Jinghong Empire. Is such a grand spectacle really necessary?"

"What does it have to do with her? Everyone knows our First Prince loves Face; how could it possibly be because of that Lin Yimeng."

"But I heard the Jinghong Empire refused to become a vassal of our Qianyu Empire. They truly don't know what's good for them, becoming so arrogant just because they finally have one person in the Return to Origin Stage."

Many people in the city were gossiping, but clearly, almost no one took this wedding seriously.

Although both the Jinghong Empire and the Qianyu Empire were King-level Powers, the gap between them was enormous.

In the Face of the Qianyu Empire, the Jinghong Empire was no different from a tiny, insignificant country.

Previously, the Jinghong Empire had no Cultivators in the Return to Origin Stage, so there was naturally no need for the Qianyu Empire to pay them any mind.

However, as the old King Jinghong reached a Breakthrough to the Return to Origin Stage, it naturally drew the attention of the Qianyu Empire, which hoped for their allegiance, but the Jinghong Empire refused.

But the price was heavy. Not only did they lose three counties, but Lin Mu also offered up his own daughter to preserve the Jinghong Empire.

Otherwise, the Qianyu Empire would likely have destroyed the Jinghong Empire.

Such was the Law of survival in this world: even if you are unwilling to become a vassal to the strong, you still need to show an attitude of submission.

...