119: Chapter 119 The Imperial Advisor has arrived!

Hearing her father speak, Li Hanyi was dazed for a moment. She caught Su Rui's gaze and immediately lowered her head, nodding so slightly it was almost imperceptible.

Mu Liangyue froze on the spot.

Was she even bringing out her parents to help apply pressure?

Her Senior Sister really wasn't playing by the rules.

"What do you think?" Lei Mengsha bared his teeth; his waist was still aching faintly, yet he forced himself to look at Su Rui and ask.

"..."

Su Rui was momentarily at a loss for words. He glanced at Li Hanyi, then back at Lei Mengsha. "Hanyi is still young."

As soon as these words came out, Li Hanyi snapped her head up, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

Li Xinyue withdrew her hand from her daughter's shoulder, her brow furrowing slightly.

Lei Mengsha was also stunned, his expression complex.

He had thought the two were mutually in love; could it be that his daughter was the only one who had fallen for him?

"At least until she is eighteen," Su Rui added.

Li Hanyi's face turned from white to red so fast that Mu Liangyue's eyes widened, almost thinking she was about to catch fire.

Lei Mengsha and Li Xinyue exchanged a look.

"In our parts, one can marry at fifteen.

Back then, Xinyue and I were that age!" Lei Mengsha felt Su Rui was making excuses and couldn't help but retort.

Upon hearing this, Su Rui's gaze instantly turned cold, staring at Lei Mengsha as if looking at something repulsive.

Fifteen?

You actually laid hands on such a young child? You're something else!

Lei Mengsha felt his skin crawl under that gaze. Though he didn't understand the meaning behind it, his back felt inexplicably itchy, making him restless.

"At fifteen, the body isn't fully developed. Marrying then poses risks for both the child and oneself in the future.

Eighteen is the absolute minimum," Su Rui said calmly, yet with a tone that brooked no argument.

"Hanyi, what do you say?" Li Xinyue turned to ask her daughter, her voice soft.

"Um... I will follow whatever my parents arrange," Li Hanyi's voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, her head hanging even lower.

Seeing her daughter like this, Li Xinyue already had a decision in her heart.

This young man, just from the insights revealed in those few sentences, was clearly no ordinary person.

That level of wisdom was likely something she, Li Xinyue, wasn't even fit to evaluate lightly.

Furthermore—

His devotion to Hanyi was obvious to any observer.

A Medicinal Pill capable of bringing back the dead was incredibly rare, yet he had produced it without hesitation because of a single word from Hanyi.

This level of affection was beyond reproach.

As for his strength, there was no need to say more.

Traveling ten thousand miles in a day, forcing back six experts alone upon entering the city—that aura was like a banished immortal from the heavens.

If such a man could become Hanyi's husband, it would be her blessing.

Most importantly, there was clearly a light in Hanyi's eyes.

That was the most crucial part.

Watching this scene, Lei Mengsha felt a mix of emotions.

His little girl was going to be led away after all.

He was no longer the father who just wanted to test the waters with a few questions.

"Eighteen is fine... indeed, fifteen is a bit early.

Currently, Hanyi is at a critical stage of her cultivation Breakthrough. Consummating the marriage too early might actually harm her body," Li Xinyue said casually.

"Mother!" Li Hanyi's ears rang, her face so hot it felt like it was smoking. She suddenly stood up, stomped her foot, and turned to run outside.

"Senior Sister!" Mu Liangyue glanced at Su Rui, a flash of resentment in her eyes, before also getting up to chase after her.

She was a clever person.

She naturally understood that she shouldn't hear what was to be said next, nor could she stay.

It was better to take the opportunity to leave and find some peace.

"Now then, let's talk about the marriage," Li Xinyue said, looking at her daughter's retreating back with a slight smile.

As a woman and a mother of two, she didn't need to be reserved in her speech.

Besides, this wasn't considered overstepping.

Lei Mengsha nodded along from the side, completely unfazed.

Su Rui let out a soft sigh, the image of Li Hanyi's shy appearance surfacing in his mind, and finally nodded slowly.

After leaving the hall, Li Hanyi's steps unconsciously led her toward her quarters in the Lei Residence.

Hurried footsteps came from behind. She turned around to see it was indeed Mu Liangyue.

As their eyes met, her face reddened a few shades more.

"Senior Sister, you can't keep Teacher all to yourself," Mu Liangyue said as she walked up to her, half-joking and half-serious.

She didn't have parents to arrange things for her; everything depended on herself.

If Teacher really settled his life with Senior Sister and she didn't even have a chance to get close, wouldn't her hopes be completely dashed?

Li Hanyi was stunned and sized up Mu Liangyue.

That gaze was so serious that Mu Liangyue actually felt a bit nervous. Goosebumps rose on her arms, her body trembled slightly, and her chest swayed gently along with it.

"Cough, Teacher said he would wait until I'm eighteen. There are still three years. But during these three years, Teacher can't always be alone."

Li Hanyi wasn't annoyed that her parents had exposed her feelings; instead, her heart felt light.

She also knew that this matter couldn't be stopped in the end.

Hearing this, Mu Liangyue first felt a warmth in her heart, but then her expression stiffened slightly.

These words... why did it sound like she was a substitute to keep Teacher company for Li Hanyi for the time being?

But even if she felt awkward, there was only one answer—she was willing.

As long as Li Hanyi wasn't the domineering and intolerant type, she would be satisfied.

A person like Su Rui was like the bright moon in the sky; anyone who saw him would be moved. How could it be quiet around him?

Now that things were out in the open, there was less need for concealment.

She simply stepped forward and gently took Li Hanyi's arm.

Her arm sank into a soft area. Li Hanyi's breath hitched. She subconsciously glanced down at her own chest and then compared it to the one beside her, her brow furrowing slightly.

Noticing her reaction, Mu Liangyue's lips curled up, and she whispered a few words in her ear.

Li Hanyi's cheeks instantly burned. She glared at her but quietly tilted her ear a bit closer, as if giving her tacit permission to continue.

At that moment, a figure in white stepped through the morning light and stopped before the gates of the Pillar State General's residence.

The person wore a plain Daoist robe, untainted by the dust of the world; it was indeed the State Preceptor, Qi Tianchen.

The soldiers at the gate immediately blocked his path. "Who goes there? Why do you trespass upon the General's residence?"

Qi Tianchen looked up at the White Silk hanging over the gate and sighed softly, pressing his palms together in a salute. "This humble Daoist is Qi Tianchen. I have come specifically to pay a visit to the new expert in the residence."

"Qi Tianchen?"

The sentries were stunned, their mouths falling open in an instant.

The State Preceptor of Northern Li!

The old immortal who commanded the Directorate of Astronomy and knew the secrets of Heaven?!

Qi Tianchen coughed lightly. The four guards snapped out of their daze and hurriedly corrected their expressions.

One respectfully led the way, inviting him into the residence, while another took off running to report his arrival.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was relaxed.

Regarding Li Hanyi's marriage, it was already an unspoken agreement.

Lei Mengsha and Li Xinyue both hailed from the Jianghu. They acted freely and never deigned to be bound by formal etiquette.

Back then, Li Xinyue had abandoned the Sword Heart Tomb to follow Lei Mengsha to the ends of the earth, infuriating King Li Su to no end.

Now, their daughter was merely settling her future home ahead of time; what was there to be conflicted about?

Furthermore, Su Rui was handsome and had astonishing cultivation. Although he was her Revered Master, he was only five years older than Li Hanyi.

He treated her with meticulous care and had no air of superiority.

The more they looked, the more they liked him; the more they thought, the more satisfied they became.

However, they also worried about too many variables.

A figure like Su Rui, even if he kept himself pure, would find it hard to stop others from taking the initiative to approach him.

It was better to establish the status early to put their minds at ease.

Su Rui pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Then let's set it for next March. It will coincide with the Hundred Flowers Banquet in Snow Moon City."

Li Xinyue smiled and agreed, "A good day. It's lively and holds great meaning."

Lei Mengsha sat to the side drinking tea silently, not saying much throughout the process.

Before the words had finished echoing, urgent shouts suddenly came from a distance: "Madam! Madam!"

Li Xinyue frowned—how could such a clamor be allowed in the residence?

Before she could see the person clearly, that coarse voice exploded first: "The State Preceptor has arrived!"

"The State Preceptor?"

"Qi Tianchen?"

The husband and wife looked at each other, understanding immediately.

He was likely here for Su Rui.

The messenger soldier stumbled in, his breath uneven. He looked up and ran straight into Lei Mengsha's cold gaze. His throat tightened in fear, the words stuck in his chest, and his vision went black as he fainted on the spot.

"Drag him out!" Li Xinyue ordered coldly.

No sooner had she spoken than steady footsteps and an aged voice came from outside: "Madam Lei, this old Daoist has taken the liberty of visiting. Please forgive the intrusion."

Qi Tianchen's voice arrived before he did. He stepped into the main hall led by a guard.

While still outside the curtain, he apologized first, his etiquette impeccable.

But when he looked up and saw the figure walking out from the hall, his footsteps came to a sudden halt, and the calm expression on his face instantly shattered.

His eyes widened, full of shock.

When Su Rui had previously manifested the Roc phantom to protect Lei Mengsha, he hadn't been able to see his face clearly at all.

And now, the Lei Residence hadn't yet had time to spread the news of the General's survival; even many close associates were still in the dark.

When he saw the White Silk at the front of the residence just now, he thought the Pillar State General had already perished, and he had been secretly sighing over the early death of a hero.

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the man would be standing alive before him!

Even though Qi Tianchen had practiced the Dao for many years and his state of mind was as calm as an ancient well, he couldn't help but be shaken, almost thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"General... Lei?" His voice trembled slightly.

Lei Mengsha cupped his hands, his tone calm. "State Preceptor, please come in."

Rarely did Lei Mengsha restrain his usual casualness. With a solemn expression, he raised his hand and made an inviting gesture.

Qi Tianchen's heart shook slightly as he sensed the surging circulation of blood and Qi within the other's body; it was definitely not something an evil spirit could possess.

But the news of Lei Mengsha's death in battle had already reached the palace; even the Emperor was aware of it.

His expression was wooden as he allowed Lei Mengsha to lead him into the main hall. His gaze swept around and landed on Su Rui, who was seated at the head position on the right.

Composing himself, Qi Tianchen clasped his hands before his chest and performed a salute.

"This humble Daoist greets Mr. Su."

"You recognize me?" Su Rui was slightly surprised.

"It was only a guess; only now do I dare to be certain," Qi Tianchen smiled warmly, though his eyes held a hint of shrewdness.

Su Rui nodded slightly and did not stand up.

He had no prior dealings with this Daoist and had no intention of engaging in much small talk.

Qi Tianchen didn't mind and took a seat on his own.

"I have heard that the City Lord of Xueyue City, Li Changsheng, has already joined your sect. In terms of seniority, this old Daoist should address you as Senior," he said casually, as if merely making small talk.

Su Rui raised an eyebrow slightly, sizing up this uninvited character before him.