36: Ye Jinghan【1】

"Father, I will absolutely not marry Brother Jinghan."

"If you insist on forcing me to marry Brother Jinghan, then I will only have death as an option."

When Wen Yuheng saw her father's indecisiveness, she was also afraid that he would resolutely uphold the marriage contract and force her to marry Ye Jinghan. At this moment, she unleashed the ultimate move a girl could use in such a situation.

It was also her firmest stance on the matter.

Upon hearing her words, Wen Yuheng's mouth twitched. He sternly rebuked her, "What foolish things are you saying, you girl? To be so dramatic over such a small matter, are you truly honoring the teachings your mother and I have given you?"

His tone of rebuke was very serious, almost scolding.

But after the scolding, Wen Yuheng very carefully observed his daughter's face.

He could see an unprecedented seriousness in her expression.

Wen Yuheng sighed, awkwardly raised his cup, and reached out to clink it against Ye Canglong's. With an apologetic look, he drained his cup and then said, "Old Ye, Yun Yao has been spoiled by me. This girl truly infuriates me. But... children grow up and have their own ideas. You somewhat know this girl's personality. If we truly push her too hard, I don't know what she might do."

"How about this matter... let's just let her decide. As for matters of the heart, if either party is reluctant, it might not end well, don't you think, Old Ye...?"

Ye Canglong's mouth twitched slightly. The conversation had reached this point, and he already knew Wen Yuheng's stance.

He put down his wine glass and said, "It's normal for children to grow up and have their own feelings... normal! Moreover, Yun Yao and Jinghan only met occasionally and never lived together, nor did they cultivate deep feelings. It truly can't be blamed on Yun Yao having someone in her heart. We can only blame it on them not having a fated connection. It's also that our two families don't have a fated connection and cannot become in-laws."

"You girl, what a huge trouble you've caused! Why don't you quickly apologize to Uncle Ye and your Brother Jinghan!"

Wen Yuheng reprimanded her sharply.

How could Wen Yun Yao not understand? This meant her father had agreed.

She was so happy inside that she almost wanted to shout. Her biggest trouble was finally resolved.

However, she did not show her excitement. Instead, she raised her wine glass and respectfully toasted, apologizing, "Uncle Ye, Brother Jinghan, Yun Yao doesn't have this good fortune. Please, Uncle Ye, Brother Jinghan, forgive Yun Yao's willfulness. Yun Yao has disappointed you!"

Ye Canglong was awkward but managed to maintain his composure, raising his cup and taking a sip.

Ye Jinghan's expression could no longer hold. His gentle smile stiffened into an ugly grimace. He picked up his wine glass and poured it into his mouth, saying nothing.

"Old Ye, I also owe you an apology for this matter! I never expected this girl to gather our two families for something like this. But since things have come to this, she is my daughter, what can I do with her, right?"

Wen Yuheng raised his cup and said, "While it's a great pity that we cannot become in-laws, I hope we don't let this matter sour our relationship, what do you say?"

"Of course! Even if we can't be in-laws, we're still friends!"

"Since this matter is settled, let's not talk about these unpleasant things anymore. Come, come, let's drink, let's drink."

Ye Canglong maintained his composure, urging everyone to continue drinking.

But how could they still drink?

Whether it was Ye Canglong or Wen Yuheng, or Wen Yun Yao and Ye Jinghan, everyone was extremely awkward.

After three rounds of drinks, Ye Canglong feigned drunkenness, leaning back in his chair and self-deprecatingly saying, "I'm getting old, getting old. A little drink is all it takes to make me woozy. I don't know if this wine is too strong, I feel dizzy..."

How could Wen Yuheng not know that his old friend was trying to end the gathering due to embarrassment?

He himself also wanted to end it quickly, but he was too embarrassed to propose it himself, making it seem as if he had orchestrated today's events.

Seeing Ye Canglong like this, he went with the flow and said, "Yes, indeed, getting old is not like it used to be. We all have important matters in the coming days, so it's best not to get drunk! Old Ye, Jinghan, how about we stop here today and gather again next time!"

"For today's matter, as Yun Yao's father, I apologize to you again! Come, I'll drink this cup!"

Wen Yuheng poured himself a cup of wine and drained it.

"Hey, it's the children's own business, there's no right or wrong!"

Ye Canglong raised his cup and said, but did not drink.

"Old Ye is magnanimous!"

"Jinghan, if you have time in the future, come to Profound Heaven Dao Sect to visit. Uncle Wen welcomes you anytime!"

"Then let's gather again at Five Elements Sect next time."

Wen Yuheng put down his wine glass and rose from his seat.

"Uncle Ye, Brother Jinghan, thank you for your understanding."

Wen Yun Yao bowed and followed her father to leave.

Ye Canglong and Ye Jinghan watched the father and daughter leave, then simultaneously sat down and simultaneously slammed their un-drunk wine glasses onto the table, splashing wine everywhere.

The expressions of the father and son almost simultaneously hardened, both showing an iron-like grimness.

Ye Jinghan said coldly, "These past few days, I've always felt that Sister Yun Yao was a bit different towards that Su Yang. If my guess is correct, Sister Yun Yao's so-called having someone in her heart is indeed having Su Yang in her heart."

"You mean that kid who obtained the divine sword?"

Ye Canglong asked.

"Exactly him! The way Sister Yun Yao looks at him tells me their relationship is not ordinary!"

Ye Jinghan said, "Perhaps their relationship was already extraordinary before coming to Burial Immortal Valley. I don't believe Wen Yuheng didn't notice it at all! Now that Su Yang has obtained the only Divine Artifact in Burial Immortal Valley, the value of keeping him in Profound Heaven Dao Sect has become greater than forming an in-law relationship with our Yu Ling Sect. If I'm not mistaken, this is something he tacitly approved!"

Ye Canglong's expression was grim, his eyes flickering.

His attention these past few days had not been on Wen Yun Yao, so he naturally didn't know about her special feelings for Su Yang. But he believed his son's insight wouldn't be wrong.

Moreover, only this possibility could make Wen Yuheng, the Sect Master of Profound Heaven Dao Sect, abandon the marriage alliance with Yu Ling Sect, using the excuse of respecting his daughter's emotional choice to let the Sect's direct descendant act willfully.

"This Wen Yuheng, what a scheme!"

Ye Canglong slammed his fist on the dining table. The table, along with the food and wine on it, instantly turned into dust.

But what good was his anger? Things had already come to this; even anger was useless.

As a fellow Sect Master, Ye Canglong also knew in his heart that Wen Yuheng had made a correct choice. If the same situation happened in his Yu Ling Sect, he would also make the same choice as Wen Yuheng.

A top Genius who gained the recognition of an ancient divine sword, his value indeed surpassed the support of another Sect.

What he was angry about was why a Genius like Su Yang did not appear in his Yu Ling Sect.

Alas ~

Ye Canglong sighed.

"Father, are you just going to accept this?"

"Although the annulment of the engagement was privately agreed upon and not publicly announced, the engagement between Sister Yun Yao and me is known to all Eight Sects. Now that the engagement is broken, and Sister Yun Yao and I cannot marry for a long time, once Sister Yun Yao and Su Yang publicly announce their relationship, the annulment of the engagement will also be effectively publicized."

"At that time, Yu Ling Sect will become the laughingstock of the Eight Sects. I'm afraid people will mock our Yu Ling Sect for failing to marry into the number one Sect in the world and instead being disliked and cast aside. Can you just let such a humiliation go, Father?"

Ye Jinghan's face was as cold as ice, and his voice even had a shattering quality like colliding ice shards, making it chilling.

"Otherwise? Wen Yuheng has already supported his daughter's decision to break off the engagement. Are you perhaps still going to beg them not to break it off? Wouldn't that bring even more shame to my Yu Ling Sect!"

"Father, your son has a plan. If this plan succeeds, it will not only pull Profound Heaven Dao Sect down from its position as the number one Sect in the world, but it will also make Profound Heaven Dao Sect actively beg us to continue the marriage alliance!"

"Oh? What strategy?"

Ye Jinghan sneered coldly, saying, "Father, don't forget that our Yu Ling Sect's greatest ability is the art of controlling Spirit Beasts. In the upcoming Spirit Beast competition, if we can use the Spirit Beasts to eliminate Su Yang, Profound Heaven Dao Sect's greatest trump card for the future will also disappear. Then, if we instigate Five Elements Sect to continue opposing Profound Heaven Dao Sect, wouldn't Profound Heaven Dao Sect have to come begging us?"

Ye Canglong's eyes flashed with obvious ruthlessness. With a wave of his hand, he set up a barrier and discussed the plan in detail with his good son...