A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 180 Marriage Between Two Clans
Yin Hao was startled when he saw Tong Zhan dressed in white, but he remained calm and strode in. He glanced coldly at Shen Hua and Zhao Yun, who were tied up to the side, and ordered them to be taken away before walking over.

"May I ask how you are addressed?" Yin Hao glanced at his daughter's rosy cheeks and felt a little uncomfortable. This man was indeed handsome, and although he had saved the manor from danger, his intentions were not pure, and he clearly had ulterior motives.

"Greetings, Master Yin. My name is Tong Zhan."

Upon hearing Yin Hao's words, Tong Zhan realized that the other party was Tian Xue's father, and immediately performed a junior's courtesy, which made Yin Hao frown.

"Let's go inside and talk."

Yin Hao walked into the main hall first. The others, except for Yin Jun, only included Yin Tianqi and two others as his attendants, as they had to deal with the mess left behind.

"Is Young Master Tong from the Tong clan?" Yin Hao finally had to confirm, after all, this matter was just too astonishing.

The Tong family had not appeared in the martial arts world for hundreds of years. Their sudden appearance at the Imperial Sword Manor was something Yin Hao would never believe if there wasn't something fishy going on.

Yin Jun also looked at Tong Zhan. This man had profound cultivation and upright character. Moreover, it seemed that he had come to Yujian Manor for Tian Xue, which puzzled Yin Jun.

“What Master Yin says is true. I am indeed from the Tong family. I have come here for a very important matter. I hope Master Yin will agree.”

Tong Zhan disliked beating around the bush. Now that he had met his destined one, there was no need for further words.

"What is it?" Yin Hao had a bad feeling when he heard this. Looking at Tian Xue's shy appearance and Tong Zhan's occasional glances, Yin Hao felt like he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Tong Zhan has fallen in love with Miss Yin Tianxue of your esteemed estate at first sight. I humbly request that Master Yin grant us this wonderful match. Tong Zhan would be eternally grateful."

As he spoke, Tong Zhan stood up and respectfully performed a deep bow. Yin Jun stroked his beard and smiled upon hearing this, while Yin Tianqi and Yin Tianhe looked furious. This guy was indeed prepared. No wonder he was giving away treasures and saying nice things earlier. So this was what he was waiting for.

Yin Tianqi wanted to say something, but the fire crystal in his hand was radiating heat, which greatly helped his cultivation.

He turned to look at Yin Tianhe, signaling him to say something, but Yin Tianhe's eyes darted around, not daring to look at Yin Tianqi. After all, Tong Zhan had just given him a black iron dagger, which was quite valuable, especially for someone like him who collected divine weapons, it was a treasure he dreamed of.

As the saying goes, "He who takes a man's money is bound to him, and he who eats a man's food is bound to him." After receiving the benefits from Tong Zhan, the two of them, apart from initially showing anger on their faces, quickly became calm and collected, not daring to look at Yin Hao at the head of the table.

He snorted inwardly. These two brats must have taken bribes from Tong Zhan. It seems he'll have to take matters into his own hands.

"Young Master Tong, this marriage was arranged by our parents and the matchmaker. Your sudden proposal has truly caught me off guard. Tianxue is still young, and I would like to keep her here for a few more years..."

Hearing his brother's words, Yin Jun couldn't help but secretly complain. His brother had previously worried that Tianxue was getting on in years and was preparing to get married, and had even saved up enough dowry to fill several storerooms. Now, he was clearly just stubbornly refusing to agree.

Tong Zhan smiled slightly upon hearing this. Before coming, Master Gu Xu had already explained to him the possible scenarios, including the reason why Yin Hao refused.

"The Taoist priest is truly a master strategist; fortunately, we were prepared in advance."

"Master Yin, the Tong family adheres to the principle of monogamy. Tong Zhan will not marry anyone but Yin Tianxue in his life. Please grant our request, Master Yin."

Upon hearing this, Yin Hao and the others were all startled. Tong Zhan's words had struck a chord with Yin Hao. In the martial arts world, the story of a couple who could be together for life was extremely rare. Even Yin Hao had two concubines. Although they had no children, they had not transcended worldly conventions.

Yin Jun and the others couldn't help but admire Tong Zhan, and at the same time, they were impressed by the Tong family's rules, which were worlds apart from any other valuable items.

"Young Master Tong, please allow me to consider this matter. If you do not mind, please stay at the manor for a while."

"Then thank you very much, Master Yin. By the way, a distinguished person asked me to pass on something to him."

After finishing his business, Tong Zhan felt relieved and took out a blood crystal that Gu Xu had given him earlier.

The moment Tong Zhan took out the item, a powerful aura suddenly enveloped the entire living room. Everyone except Yin Hao and Yin Jun changed their expressions drastically and jumped up in fright. However, the aura came quickly and went quickly, disappearing without a trace in just a few breaths.

Tong Zhan was shocked. The aura he had just experienced seemed to be somewhat similar to the Tong family's martial arts, yet also different. He shook his head slightly, turned around, and his face showed astonishment.

The blood crystal that was originally on the table had disappeared. Just as he was about to look for it, Yin Hao said apologetically, "Young Master Tong, this thing was taken by an elder of the clan. Please don't be offended, young master. I will retrieve it and give it to you in a while."

Upon hearing this, Tong Zhan's mind stirred. This Imperial Sword Manor was indeed quite remarkable. Even though the battle within the manor was fierce before, this person had not appeared. Now, however, he suddenly appeared. Could it be because the blood crystal was extremely important to him?
Completely baffled, Tong Zhan stopped thinking about it. In any case, Master Gu Xu had given him instructions before he left: just bring it into the Imperial Sword Manor and take it out personally, regardless of whether it was Yin Hao or someone else.

"Master Yin, you flatter me. This thing was originally meant for your manor. Now it seems there is indeed a connection between it and the item has been returned to its rightful owner for a short time. Master Yin, you don't need to take it to heart."

Yin Hao nodded upon hearing this. Tong Zhan was calm and composed, with a dignified appearance and a prestigious family background, making him no less than Long Bo. It was indeed an excellent match. Moreover, more importantly, Tian Xue also had some feelings for Tong Zhan.

"A daughter is too young to stay at home, that's fine. After settling this matter, we can wait for Tianqi's child to be born, enjoy our grandchildren, and live out our old age in peace."

Yin Hao has already planned his future life. Tian Qi will settle down and start a family before establishing a career. Now that the responsibilities of the head of the manor have been handed over, it is time to put the affairs of the grandchildren on the agenda as soon as possible.

Just as Yin Hao was talking with Tong Zhan, in the underground city, Yin Zhong held the dazzling blood crystal in his hand. As soon as this thing appeared, it emitted an aura that Yin Zhong desperately wanted, which is why he disregarded the rules and took it back.

After observing for a moment, Yin Zhong's mind stirred, and he channeled his true energy into it. The moment the true energy was injected, the blood crystal shone brightly, opening up a blood curtain. Yin Zhong's gaze narrowed slightly, and he saw a faint figure appear in the surging blood curtain. This person had his back to him, but the ethereal and immeasurable aura made Yin Zhong's heart tremble.

After a moment, the ethereal figure solidified slightly. Yin Zhong's pupils widened abruptly, and he stood up, his voice filled with excitement and disbelief as he respectfully asked, "Master Gu Xu?"

If there are any people in the martial arts world today who he cannot understand, there are very few. The one who ranks first is this peerless master who is rarely seen and is the goal he has been chasing all his life.

Gu Xu did not turn around, but simply waved his hand, and a beam of blood-red light shot out from the light screen. Yin Zhong stood still and let the blood-red light enter his brow.

After a moment, Yin Zhong slowly opened his eyes and looked incredulously at the slowly dissipating light screen. It turned out that his life trajectory had been completely changed after meeting the Taoist priest.

"So my daughter is still alive! My daughter is still alive, Feng'er, Feng'er."

Tears welled up in Yin Zhong's eyes. He had been such a failure as a father, wasting hundreds of years of his life without ever caring about his daughter's existence.

"No, we have to go to Shuiyue Cave to bring Feng'er back; this is her home."

Thinking of this, Yin Zhong was about to get up and leave when he suddenly stopped. What right did he have to see his daughter now? He had not fulfilled his responsibilities as a father. Even if he did see her, what difference would it make? Besides, he was a traitor to the Tong clan.

Once this matter is exposed, Feng'er, who was living a good life in Shuiyue Cave, will definitely be looked down upon by the Tong clan members. Her carefree life will be completely disrupted because of her interference.

"No, I can't be so selfish. It's already a great favor that the Taoist priest told me this. I can't disturb her. Let her live out her life peacefully and happily."

Yin Zhong closed his eyes in anguish. His biological daughter was alive, but he couldn't acknowledge her. This was a torment for him.

"Marrying into the Tong family might not be a bad choice for Tianxue."

Yin Zhong had only listened to the people above speaking when he learned the general reason. There must be a scheme by Daoist Gu Xu involved, and perhaps he was also trying to break up the feud between the two families and repair their relationship.

"I agree to this marriage. Make sure it's arranged properly and don't wrong Tianxue. Also, pick out a few items from the secret vault. Come to me after everything is done."

Yin Hao, who was talking to Tong Zhan, suddenly became serious and listened attentively, nodding occasionally. Tong Zhan was a little confused, but then he suddenly remembered that aura and his eyes immediately showed relief.

"Young Master Tong, I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me for now. Second Brother, have someone prepare the Pine Garden. Young Master Tong will be staying there for a while."

Yin Jun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded in agreement. After watching his brother leave, Yin Jun and the others looked at Tong Zhan, who had a puzzled expression, with complicated expressions. Songyuan was a superior villa in the manor, second only to Yin Hao's room in terms of decoration, and all the decorations were done with great care.

There's another special meaning: without exception, everyone who moves into this garden ends up becoming a son-in-law of the Imperial Sword Manor. Yin Hao had previously maintained a certain reserve, but this sudden move—others might not know its meaning, but surely Yin Jun and Yin Tianqi did too? This clearly implies that Tong Zhan is the son-in-law of the Imperial Sword Manor.

"Young Master Tong, please come with me to the elegant pavilion for a while. The Pine Garden still needs some time to be tended to."

"I will follow the Second Master's orders."

Yin Jun looked at Tong Zhan with satisfaction, then gestured to Yin Tianxue, who knew it was time for her to leave, otherwise people would gossip.

After bowing, Yin Tianxue returned to her residence. Tong Zhan watched her leave with reluctance, when he was suddenly awakened by a voice.

"Brother Tong, come with me."

Yin Jun handed over the hospitality to Yin Tianqi and his companion, then hurriedly went to deal with the matters left behind.

Seeing Tong Zhan's dazed look, Yin Tianqi immediately woke him up. This sight was really unbearable, especially since it was his own sister being stared at. Although he had accepted Tong Zhan's benefits, he would still face all the difficulties that were expected.

"Second Master, most of the sects involved, except those we killed, have died from poisoning. Their bodies were gruesome and have been burned by my men. The bloodstains in the courtyard have been cleaned up and disinfected with lime powder to ensure that there is no poison residue."

After Tie Feng recovered his true energy, he had been busy with these matters for a full hour without stopping to rest. Seeing Tie Feng covered in sweat, Yin Jun nodded and patted him on the shoulder.

"With your help, Tianqi is fortunate, and so is the Imperial Sword Manor. We old folks can finally rest easy. By the way, where are Shen Hua and Zhao Yun?"

"They have all been imprisoned in the secret stone cave, together with Liu Da. Would you like to go and see them, Second Master?"

"Yes, the sooner this matter is resolved, the better. Soon, our Imperial Sword Manor will have another joyous occasion."

Tie Feng was quick-witted. Now, only the eldest daughter in the manor was of marriageable age. Could it be…?

Seeing Tie Feng's speculative gaze, Yin Jun smiled, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the stone cell. Tie Feng hurriedly followed.

After passing through three layers of traps, Yin Jun arrived at a stone cave. Shen Hua was now in a sorry state, her dantian locked by a special technique, rendering her powerless. Upon seeing Yin Jun, she glared at him with a ferocious expression, spewing vulgarities, which made Tie Feng frown deeply.

Just as he was about to shut him up, Yin Jun waved his hand and sneered, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. Lord Shen should understand this principle even better. Yujian Manor has always kept to itself and the three factions, but you have made enemies of me for no reason. You deserve this fate."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hua became even more agitated. Yin Jun didn't give him a chance to speak. With a sharp look in his eyes, he struck Shen Hua squarely in the heart with a powerful palm strike. Shen Hua cried out in agony and died instantly, bleeding from all seven orifices.

"Throw his body into a mass grave to feed the dogs."

Yin Jun hated those who stabbed people in the back the most, and Shen Hua was an even worse one. If he didn't want to dirty his hands, he would have torn him apart by five horses to appease his hatred.

"Yes, Second Master."

Tie Feng felt extremely pleased. Shen Hua had killed many of his brothers, so this palm strike was a lucky break for him.

Stepping out of the stone cave, Yin Jun went to the stone cell next to it and looked at Zhao Yun with a cold gaze.

"Second Master Yin, I was deceived and that's why I did this. Please spare my life, for the sake of the Flying Immortal Sect not harming a single person from the Imperial Sword Manor."

Upon seeing Yin Jun, Zhao Yun hurriedly called out. The three-faction alliance had been destroyed, and she was secretly furious. The originally favorable situation had been ruined by a stranger. She was truly unlucky. Fortunately, she still had a backup plan. As long as Yin Jun didn't kill her, she would still have a chance to escape.

"Sect Leader Zhao, your palm strike seriously injured me. If I hadn't been lucky, I would probably be a corpse by now. Sect Leader Zhao's statement that the Flying Immortal Sect did not harm a single person from the Imperial Sword Manor is probably untrue."

Yin Jun snorted coldly. Although Zhao Yun was a woman, she was no pushover, having developed the Flying Immortal Sect to this extent in such a short time. Moreover, he shouldn't think he was unaware of her tricks.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun's expression changed slightly, then she straightened up and said in a deep voice, "Second Master Yin, let's not beat around the bush. What do you want for Imperial Sword Manor to let Zhao Yun go?"

Since Yoon Joon was willing to talk to him, there was still room for negotiation, after all, he was just a follower in this matter.

“Talking to smart people saves time, Sect Leader Zhao. As long as the Flying Immortal Sect hands over the Thirteen Flying Immortal Techniques hidden in the sect, I, Yin, guarantee to spare your life. What do you say?”

"Second Master Yin's appetite is far too great. The Thirteen Flying Immortal Techniques are the sect's most exclusive skills. If they fall into the hands of outsiders, how can the Flying Immortal Sect still have the face to stand in the martial arts world? It would be much simpler to just turn the Flying Immortal Sect into a branch of the Imperial Sword Manor."

"That was exactly what I was thinking, but I was afraid that Sect Leader Zhao would disagree. Now it seems that I underestimated Sect Leader Zhao's vision."

"you!"

"Sect Leader Zhao, remember this: I am negotiating with you. You have no choice. People always have to pay the price for their actions. Sect Leader Zhao, I will give you three days to consider. If I do not get what I want by then, then you will have to take care of yourself."

After speaking, Yin Jun walked out of the stone cell. Tie Feng glanced at Zhao Yun and then followed him out. As the locks closed, Zhao Yun's face turned extremely pale, and her hands clenched tightly.

Outside the Water Moon Cave, Gu Xu said to the elders who came to see him off, "There's no need for you all to see me off any further. I'll take my leave now. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the Tong Clan Chief's wedding. Consider these Yin-Yang Twin Swords as my early congratulatory gift."

Gu Xu took out two short swords from his sleeve. With a burst of true energy, the short swords transformed into two long swords, one red and one blue, which looked extraordinary and naturally exuded a Daoist aura.

Elder Jin hurriedly took it, looked at Gu Xu, and asked, "Is Daoist Master going on a long journey?"

"It is indeed a long journey, and the return date is uncertain. Before leaving, I have some things to explain. Gentlemen, we will regret this later."

"May you have a safe journey, Daoist Master," Elder Jin and the others said in unison.

Gu Xu nodded upon hearing this, and in a flash, he left Shuiyue Cave. Seeing him leave, everyone returned to Shuiyue Cave.

After leaving the Valley of Water Moon Cave, Gu Xu headed south, preparing to go to Dragon Ze Manor, where there was still something waiting for him.

Inside Longze Manor, the patriarch Longze was cultivating his divine skills in a secret chamber when he suddenly had a sudden inspiration. He calculated with his fingers, stopped cultivating, and stepped out of the secret chamber.

"Patriarch, you've emerged from seclusion?"

Long Ze nodded and said, "Go and call Bo'er here."

Upon hearing this, the servant immediately went downstairs, and soon after, Long Bo arrived at the training room.

"Father, did you call me here because you have something to tell me?"

"Go to Longze Manor and wait for a distinguished guest three miles southeast of it. Then invite him to Longze Manor. Remember, your attitude must be respectful."

"A benefactor? What kind of benefactor?"

"You'll see when you get there. Go."

Long Bo didn't understand his father's meaning, but he did as he was told. He tidied himself up a bit, didn't ride a horse, took the Heavenly Dragon Sword and set off immediately. Just as he arrived at a pavilion, a handsome and refined Taoist appeared in his sight.

At the same time, the Spirit Gathering Pearl on his body began to heat up, seemingly quite excited.

(End of this chapter)