A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 531 Only Can Be Fulfilled
Lu Zhongtang walked out of the ancestor's cave with a gloomy expression.

In fact, he had already received a cryptic message about the marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lü Qingzhu from Elder Sun Fujia of the Medicine Pavilion more than a month ago.

However, at that time, news of Zhuang Tairu of the Divine Will Sect advancing to the Nascent Soul stage had only recently spread, so the truth of the matter concerning the Tianyan Sect's proposed marriage alliance was hard to ascertain.

Lu Zhongtang then sent several trusted confidants into Youzhou, where the Tianyan Sect was located, firstly to investigate the matter of the marriage alliance, and secondly to investigate the public opinion of Li Ruozhou, the young sect leader of the Tianyan Sect.

The two marriage alliances were clearly kept highly confidential, and little information circulated in Youzhou. However, news about the public's opinion of Li Ruozhou, the young sect leader of Tianyan Sect, quickly spread back.

When Lü Zhongtang saw the message that came back, his face turned as black as soot.

After all, Lü Qingzhu was his own flesh and blood. Wouldn't marrying such a beast be like pushing her into a fire pit?
Although he had previously discussed with Sun Fujia, Zheng Yi, and Xu Qie that once the marriage was finalized, it would greatly help him win the next sect leader position.

But upon seeing the rumors circulating in the streets, Lü Zhongtang immediately abandoned the idea. Even tigers don't eat their cubs; he, Lü Zhongtang, couldn't possibly abandon his own daughter just to compete for the sect leader position!
But just now, inside the ancestral cave, he instantly realized that things were not up to him at all.

Because it was the ancestor who arranged the marriage between Qingzhu and the other woman, and no one can go against the ancestor's decision. "Even if Li Ruozhou were a cripple, Qingzhu would still have to marry him, no matter what.

Lu Zhongtang walked to a pine tree not far away, reached out and took down a few emerald green rice dumplings hanging there. He slowly walked to Lu Qingzhu's cave dwelling. He only paused briefly at the entrance of the cave dwelling, coughed lightly, and then went inside.

Lu Qingzhu was practicing her skills on the futon when she heard a soft cough, so she stood up. At that moment, a figure approached the cave.

Lu Qingzhu's face was icy cold. She stiffly clasped her hands in a salute and called out, "Father!"

Hearing the coldness in Lü Qingzhu's voice when she called him "Father," and seeing her icy expression, Lü Zhongtang felt a pang of pain in his heart. He hadn't expected that he and his daughter had become so estranged.

The father and daughter hadn't spoken much for two or three years. The cause was Amo's death.

In his quest to become the next sect leader, Lü Zhongtang inevitably harbored ambitions to gain merit in many matters. Two years ago, he sent Amo on a mission related to the Filthy Blood Cult.

Lu Yinlin hated the Filthy Blood Cult the most!
If the Filthy Blood Cult could be eradicated or severely damaged, it would be a great achievement for the Ancestor and a tremendous contribution to the sect.

Zhu He and Yang Sixuan have been entangled with the Bloodstained Blood Cult for many years without any significant gains, demonstrating the cunning and treacherous nature of the cult. To inflict serious damage on them is no easy task.
Lu Zhongtang initially had no idea of ​​his own abilities; he thought he could do what Zhu He and Yang Sixuan couldn't.

Sure enough, they suffered a great loss during one mission, and Amo disappeared during that mission, never to be heard from again.

After a year of fruitless searching for A-Mo, Lü Qingzhu returned to her sect in despair. From then on, Lü Qingzhu rarely spoke to her father.

Two or three years have passed, and Lü Qingzhu is now basically certain that A Mo is dead, because as long as A Mo is alive, she will definitely return to Taiyi Sect to find her.

Lü Qingzhu lost her mother at a very young age. Amo stayed by her side, taking care of her and protecting her; he was her closest relative. With Amo's death, it felt as if a piece of Lü Qingzhu's heart had been ripped out.

She later learned that her father had sent Amo on such a dangerous mission so that he could earn merit and use it as leverage in his bid to become the next sect leader.

She found it even harder to forgive Lü Zhongtang, and from then on, the father and daughter grew increasingly distant.

Suppressing the hidden pain in his heart, Lü Zhongtang said, "Qingzhu, you've been in this valley for more than half a year without returning to the manor. Your aunt often misses you. Even if you don't acknowledge me as your father, shouldn't you at least think about going back to see her?"

"Qingzhu wouldn't dare!" Lü Qingzhu nodded slightly, a hint of pain flashing across her face.

Lu Zhongtang placed the several emerald green rice dumplings on the stone table and said, "These are the eight-treasure rice dumplings that your aunt made. I brought a few for you."

Lu Qingzhu glanced at the few rice dumplings, and a scene of her aunt teaching her to wrap rice dumplings when she was a child suddenly flashed through her mind.

Lu Zhongtang said, "Go home tonight and have your aunt cook you some nice dishes."

Upon hearing this, Lü Qingzhu simply stood there without responding.

Lü Zhongtang sighed and said, "I have something to tell you tonight."

Lü Qingzhu looked up and saw her father, Lü Zhongtang, staring at her with a complicated expression. A thought struck Lü Qingzhu; she could tell that Lü Zhongtang truly had something on his mind. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would have likely stormed off long ago if she had treated him so coldly.

In the past two or three years, she has angered Lü Zhongtang countless times.
"Yes, father!"

Seeing that Lü Qingzhu agreed, Lü Zhongtang left the cave, his mind in turmoil.

Their relationship has deteriorated to this point; if the marriage proposal is mentioned, their bond may come to an end.

But can he defy his ancestor?
Even if he defies the ancestor, does that mean Lü Qingzhu doesn't have to marry Li Ruozhou?

In truth, he couldn't change anything. He couldn't do anything.

Lu Zhongtang walked out of the deep valley with a gloomy expression. He realized that he had been a failure all his life, and the more he refused to admit it, the more utterly he failed.

Duan Rong returned to Yunfu Peak, handed the list to the Imperial Advisor, and then went to Zhu He's room in the pavilion.

Li Ku broke into the valley, and Li Ruojian entered the Taiyi Sect as a hostage. These were all things that happened today, and he felt that he had to tell Zhu He about them.

Duan Rong walked to the corner of the floor where Zhu He's room was located, but suddenly saw a guard in black standing there, cupping his fists at him and saying, "Lord Duan, please wait, there is a meeting inside."

Duan Rong glanced at Zhu He's room at the end of the corridor and was about to leave when suddenly the door creaked open, and Wu Shidao came out, cupping his fists and saying, "Junior Brother Duan, Master wants you to come in!"

Duan Rong then walked towards the other end of the corridor. The black-clad guard clasped his hands in a salute, took two steps back, and made way for him.

Duan Rong walked to Zhu He's door, pushed it open and went inside. He saw three people sitting in the room: Zhu He was sitting at the table, while Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao were sitting not far away.

Duan Rong closed the door and said, "Master, Li Ku of Tianyan Sect went to the deep valley to see the Ancestor today, and left Li Ruojian in the sect as a hostage."

Zhu He nodded and said, "Sit down and let's talk."

Duan Rong sat down on a chair not far away.

Fan Hongjiao smiled and said, "Junior Brother, our spies in Youzhou just sent word that not only has Li Ruojian been left behind as a hostage, but our two sects are also planning a marriage alliance."

"A marriage alliance?" Duan Rong had not heard of this before.

Zhu He asked, "Duan Rong, what time did Li Ku arrive at the deep valley today?"

Duan Rong said, "It was around 9 AM."

Zhu He nodded and said, "The information from the spies in Youzhou is quite accurate, but it's too slow. They only found out after Li Ku had already set off."

Duan Rong looked at Fan Hongjiao and asked, "Senior Sister Fan, you just said that our two sects are going to form a marriage alliance?"

Fan Hongjiao laughed, "That's right! Hostages and marriage alliances are all for the sake of legitimizing an alliance." Duan Rong's eyes flickered, a bad premonition rising in his heart. He asked, "Marriage alliance with whom?"

Fan Hongjiao said, "Li Ruozhou and Lü Qingzhu!"

Upon hearing the name Lü Qingzhu, Duan Rong's head immediately went blank.

Wu Shidao looked at Zhu He and said, "The marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lü Qingzhu will help Lü Zhongtang in his bid for the next sect leader, but it may be somewhat disadvantageous for us!"

Fan Hongjiao laughed and said, "By the way, junior brother, why did that little girl Lü Qingzhu try to kill you the moment you met in the Dark Forest? And now that you two are living in the deep valley of the Ancestor, a lone man and a lone woman, didn't anything happen? If you could seduce Lü Qingzhu and ruin her marriage with Li Ruozhou, it would be a great contribution to our master's struggle for the next sect leader!"

After Fan Hongjiao finished speaking, she giggled.

Zhu He glared at her and said, "Hongjiao, don't talk nonsense! Duan Rong is a married man, how can he do such a thing?"

Fan Hongjiao stuck out her tongue and said, "I almost forgot. Junior Brother is such a devoted and loving husband. He didn't hesitate to break the sect's ironclad rules in order to save his wife from the Pagoda Forest."

Zhu He said in a deep voice, "Alright! The alliance between the two sects is a major event, and it was personally planned by the Ancestor. As for the marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lü Qingzhu, we don't need to take any action; we can just sit back and watch!"

"Yes!" Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao both clasped their hands in response, while Duan Rong stood there blankly, the news that Lü Qingzhu was going to marry Li Ruozhou had a great impact on him.

In fact, seven years had passed since he and Lü Qingzhu had their one-night stand in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of Xiangu County.

Back then, Duan Rong was just a nobody struggling at the bottom of society, but now, he is on the verge of enlightenment.

He no longer values ​​his relationship with his children as much.

But he just couldn't bring himself to watch Lü Qingzhu marry someone else.

Lü Qingzhu was the first woman he had in both his lives!
How can I allow someone else to sleep soundly beside my bed?!

Zhu He said, "You may go!"

Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao stood up to leave, and Duan Rong also stood up, but Zhu He said, "Duan Rong, you stay here!"

Duan Rong stood there, and after Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao left, he closed the door, looked at Zhu He, and said, "Master, is there something you need to tell me?"

Zhu He nodded and said, "Yes, it's about Lü Qingzhu. I'd like to give you a few words of advice."

Duan Rong's eyes flickered. Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao didn't know the details of his affair with Lü Qingzhu, but Duan Rong had told Zhu He everything.

At that time, Lü Qingzhu attacked Duan Rong in the dark forest. If Duan Rong hadn't suddenly unleashed a burst of sword light, he would have almost died at Lü Qingzhu's hands. Zhu He naturally had to intervene.

Zhu He said, "The marriage between Li Ruozhou and Lü Qingzhu was personally planned by the Ancestor. Behind it are the interests of the sect and the overall situation of the world! I know you have some entanglements with Lü Qingzhu, but regarding this matter, it can only be facilitated, not disrupted!"

"It can only be perfected, not destroyed?!" A muscle twitched on Duan Rong's face.

Zhu He said, "Don't go against the Ancestor. Remember your master's words."

Duan Rong's face stiffened, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

Zhu He said, "You may go now."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong rose, bid farewell to Zhu He, and departed.

Zhu He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea.

Originally, I thought that the position of the next sect leader was a sure thing, but then two sects formed an alliance and Lü Qingzhu and Li Ruozhou got married.

This matter will obviously have an impact on the selection of the next sect leader, but he is not sure exactly how much of an impact it will have.

But Zhu He understood that he absolutely could not ruin this matter.

The reason is simple: this was something that the patriarch, Lü Yinlin, personally planned.

No matter what means they used to fight for the position of sect leader, Lü Yinlin would not interfere. After all, it was a matter of the victor taking all, and the position of sect leader should belong to the most capable.

However, this marriage alliance is based on the alliance between the two sects and the interests of the sects. Anyone who takes a wrong turn in this matter and goes against the patriarch's wishes will be cutting themselves off from the Taiyi Sect!
Zhu He might argue about other things, but the one thing he dared not disobey was the will of his ancestor, Lü Yinlin.

He knew very well that if he sat back and watched Yu Cheng succeed, he would still have at least a 50% chance of becoming the next sect leader. But if someone wanted to sabotage it, he wouldn't have a chance at all.

This is why he specifically instructed Duan Rong earlier.

Duan Rong walked out of Zhu He's room and strolled slowly down the corridor, his mind churning with thoughts.
He never expected to encounter such a huge change!

Originally, he didn't care at all about alliances or marriages between the two sects. The general trend of the world and the interests of the sects were matters for the higher-ups. He had only been a direct disciple for less than a year, so he only needed to mind his own little corner of the world.

But it was Lü Qingzhu who was arranged to marry.

In fact, during the time he lived in the deep valley, he could sense the subtle changes in Lü Qingzhu's attitude towards him, and at least he was certain that Lü Qingzhu did not dislike him.

If we consider the events of the dilapidated temple seven years ago together, the fact that Lü Qingzhu doesn't dislike him speaks volumes.

But now Lü Qingzhu is going to marry the young sect leader of the Tianyan Sect, and this is the will of the patriarch Lü Yinlin.

The words Zhu He had instructed him to say in the room just now flashed through his mind again.

Duan Rong clenched his teeth, his cheeks bulging from the force.

If he disrupts the marriage alliance, he will be making an enemy of the entire Taiyi Sect.

No! It's not just the Taiyi Sect! There's also the Tianyan Sect!
This matter was jointly initiated by two major sects, and behind it lies the will of two Nascent Soul Realm experts—the pinnacle of existence in this world!
Can he really keep Lü Qingzhu?

Duan Rong suddenly realized that the problem he was facing was even more thorny than Xiao Yu being trapped in the tower forest!

Can this really break the deadlock?
As Duan Rong pondered, he walked out of the pavilion on Yunfu Peak with a dazed expression. Suddenly, a plump historian carrying an animal skin blanket chased after him, calling out, "Lord Duan, here is what you wanted."

Duan Rong suddenly realized that he had returned to Yunfu Peak to collect things for Li Ruojian. He took the animal skin blanket from the supervisor. The animal skin blanket was rolled up and contained many items, all of which were listed on the list.

Duan Rong rolled up the blanket, then activated his mind and rode the wind into the deep valley.

(End of this chapter)