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

Chapter 532 Struggling with Inner Thoughts
Duan Rong carried the rolled-up animal skin blanket back into the valley. He walked into Li Ruojian's cave with a heavy heart and handed over all the items to her.

Li Ruojian cleaned the originally dusty cave until it was spotless, and even wiped the stone walls with a cloth, revealing the original blue stone color.

Duan Rong looked at the stone wall, which was tinged with blue by the dim light of the mushrooms, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He sighed, "Brother Li is quite the clean freak."

Although Duan Rong said this, he was secretly wondering if this guy had a cleanliness obsession. The stone wall had been wiped so badly; it was really going too far.

“Cleaning one’s dwelling is also a way to purify one’s mind.” Li Ruojian took the items Duan Rong handed her, smiled gently, and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Brother Duan!”

Li Ruojian spread the animal skin blanket on the stone bed and checked the items inside one by one.

Duan Rong looked at Li Ruojian's earnest and meticulous manner, which seemed like that of a young woman, and his doubts deepened.

Li Ruojian suddenly looked up, holding a comb, and said, "The things Brother Duan brought are all top-quality. Even this comb is carved from ivory."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Really? That's good! Those historians from the Inner History Bureau wouldn't dare to fool me, so they'll naturally pick the best ones."

Li Ruojian glanced at Duan Rong with a meaningful look. Just from the details of this item, he could confirm that his previous thoughts were correct. Duan Rong's ability to live in this deep valley for so long meant that his identity was indeed not simple.

Duan Rong looked at Li Ruojian's face, which always seemed to hold a hint of worry, and suddenly his eyes lit up. He asked, "Brother Li, you seem to be the second son of the Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect?"

Li Ruojian put down the comb and said, "That's right." He didn't know why Duan Rong had brought this up with him, but he could sense that Duan Rong had something on his mind. There had been an uneasy shadow in Duan Rong's smile since he came in.

Duan Rong said, "Brother Li also has an elder brother, whose eldest son is named Li Ruozhou, right?"

Li Ruojian nodded. "Brother Duan is quite well-informed."

Duan Rong said, "Brother Li, could you tell me about your elder brother? What kind of person is he?"

Li Ruojian looked at Duan Rong with great interest, but suddenly gave a bitter laugh, her eyes darkening abruptly.

"I am also my father's legitimate son. Brother Duan, do you know why I was sent to your sect and became a hostage?"

Duan Rong's eyes flickered; he sensed that Li Ruojian's emotions had changed drastically in that instant.

Li Ruojian said, “My mother died in childbirth because of me. Because of this, everyone in the mansion said I was unlucky, and my father disliked me from a young age. I could only pay my respects to my father and kowtow at the end of the year. I could not see my father even on my birthday. My older brother was only two years older than me. I was a cold cat that everyone disliked, while he was the young sect leader who was the center of attention.”

“My elder brother has been arrogant and domineering since childhood, and he has done a lot of outrageous things over the years. Not to mention others, all the scars on my body, big and small, are his doing.”

As Li Ruojian spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing numerous scars on his right arm, which were quite shocking to behold!

Li Ruojian pointed to the wounds and said, "This centipede-like one is a scratch, and this area is a burn..."

Li Ruojian pointed to the numerous wounds on his arm, as if he were talking about something trivial; his tone and expression were so calm…

The calmer Li Ruojian remained, the more alarmed Duan Rong became!
This Li Ruojian can be said to have been abused by her older brother since childhood!?
A guy who's so cruel to his own brother...

When Duan Rong left Li Ruojian's cave, his worries intensified.

Inside the cave, Li Ruojian watched Duan Rong's departing figure, her eyes filled with intense resentment.

He didn't resent Duan Rong; he resented his father and his brother.

Why was his elder brother able to become the young sect leader? And how was he able to form a blood alliance with Lu Yinlin, the patriarch of the Taiyi Sect?
And he can only become a proton?!

Why? !

Duan Rong walked to his cave dwelling, but suddenly stopped there. He turned his head and looked at Lü Qingzhu's cave dwelling on the other side of the deep valley.

Duan Rong walked over with a solemn expression, but he stopped at the entrance of Lü Qingzhu's cave, his eyes lingering there hesitantly for a long time...

Lu Qingzhu was practicing her martial arts in her cave. The deep valley was quiet, and she had already heard Duan Rong's footsteps approaching her cave, but he hesitated at the entrance and did not go in.

The valley was quiet all year round. Since Duan Rong moved in, Lü Qingzhu had heard Duan Rong's footsteps passing through the valley countless times.

She had once read a book that said you could identify a person by their footsteps, but she didn't believe it at the time.

The first footsteps she could recognize in this valley were those of Duan Rong.

"If you need anything, come in! Don't just walk around there, it's annoying!"

Duan Rong was pacing around the entrance of the cave when he suddenly heard Lü Qingzhu's voice coming from inside. He glared at her and strode into the cave.

Duan Rong entered the cave. Lü Qingzhu sat cross-legged on the futon, not getting up, but frowning as she looked him over.

Duan Rong asked, "Miss Lü, have you heard about Zhuang Tairu of the Divine Will Sect advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm?"

When Lü Qingzhu saw Duan Rong suddenly come over and linger back and forth at the entrance of her cave, she was initially somewhat expectant, but to her surprise, Duan Rong spoke of such trivial matters.

"You came to see me just to talk about this?" Lü Qingzhu's eyes dimmed, a hint of disdain flashing in them.

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about." Duan Rong ignored Lü Qingzhu's change in expression and continued, "Haven't you heard of it?"

"What does this have to do with me?!" Lu Qingzhu's tone was already somewhat angry.

Duan Rong said, "Because the Divine Will Sect now has two Nascent Soul Realm experts, both the Heavenly Evolution Sect and the Taiyi Sect feel immense pressure. Therefore, the two sects need to form an alliance. The Heavenly Evolution Sect's patriarch, Li Ku, came today to discuss this matter. He also left Li Ruojian in the Taiyi Sect as a hostage. Furthermore, the two sects will also arrange a marriage alliance."

Lü Qingzhu frowned, looking at Duan Rong as if he were an idiot. "What are you trying to say with all this rambling, nonsensical talk?!"

Duan Rong said, "A marriage alliance! You and Li Ruozhou, the young sect leader of the Tianyan Sect, are to be married!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!?" Lu Qingzhu finally understood what Duan Rong was trying to say, and jumped up from the futon.

Duan Rong said, "Miss Lü, I have not uttered a single falsehood. Moreover, Li Ruozhou's character is worrisome; even his own brother..."

Duan Rong then told Lü Qingzhu about the rumors he had heard about Li Ruozhou from Li Ruojian.

Lu Qingzhu's face turned deathly pale upon hearing this.

Duan Rong could see that Lü Qingzhu was emotionally unstable. He felt that Lü Qingzhu should calm down first, so he said, "Miss Lü, this matter is dangerous. I hope you can make plans as soon as possible!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he withdrew and returned to his cave.

Zhu He instructed him that this matter should only be accomplished, not sabotaged. He wondered if telling Lü Qingzhu about this matter in advance, and even sharing Li Ruozhou's reputation with her, counted as sabotage.
Lü Qingzhu stood deep within the cave, her mind in turmoil!
She had no doubt what Duan Rong said.

Since the two families wish to form an alliance, it is perfectly reasonable to use marriage as a guarantee.

More importantly, not long after the patriarch of the Yan Sect, Li Ku, left that day, her father came into the valley. The patriarch did not particularly like her father, who had not visited the valley to pay his respects to the patriarch for two years. Yet today, the patriarch had summoned her father.

Moreover, when her father, Lü Zhongtang, brought her zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), he also told her to come home that evening, saying he had something to tell her.

Besides the arranged marriage, what else is related to both her father and her?
Looking at the bright green rice dumpling on the stone table beside her, Lü Qingzhu suddenly felt a surge of anger.

"As expected, those who offer help for no reason are either up to no good or are thieves!" She angrily picked up the rice dumplings and threw them out of the cave.

Lü Zhongtang lived on Shenxiu Peak. Halfway up the mountain stood a rather magnificent and imposing mansion.

This place has always been the residence of the Lü family descendants of the sect's patriarch, Lü Yinlin. However, in this generation, the family has dwindled, and only Lü Zhongtang lives here alone.

In the backyard flower hall, Li Baoyue, Lü Qingzhu's aunt, had prepared a rather sumptuous dinner, but as night fell, Lü Qingzhu was nowhere to be seen.

Li Baoyue stood at the doorway, anxiously looking outside.

She had no children of her own, and Lü Qingzhu was her sister's flesh and blood. She always treated Lü Qingzhu as her own daughter. However, when Qingzhu was young, she was somewhat dependent on her, but as she grew up, she became more and more distant from her.

Lu Zhongtang sat in the armchair in the room, picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to find that the tea was already gone.

He placed the teacup on the table, somewhat annoyed, and said, "That girl is getting more and more outrageous. She promised me something, and it's been so long, and she still hasn't shown up! I wonder who she's trying to impress with her airs?"

Upon hearing this, Li Baoyue turned her head and softly instructed, "When Qingzhu arrives, don't give her a hard time. She hasn't been back for so long! She's finally back, so be nice and gentle to her! Okay!"

Lu Zhongtang sat there, his beard bristling and eyes wide, without uttering a sound.

After a while, Li Baoyue suddenly saw a figure walk in from the back gate. Upon closer inspection, it was Lü Qingzhu.

Li Baoyue exclaimed happily, "They're here!" and ran over.

Upon hearing this, Lü Zhongtang suddenly stood up, but the next moment, he sat down again with a cold expression, his eyes fixed on the doorway.

Not long after, Lü Qingzhu walked in with a cold expression, followed by Li Baoyue who kept asking her how she was doing.

Lu Qingzhu walked into the flower hall, glanced at Lu Zhongtang, then looked down at the ground and called out in a somewhat stiff voice, "Father!"

Lü Zhongtang's lips trembled slightly, but he did not answer. Lü Qingzhu's voice was filled with a sense of detachment.

Li Baoyue noticed the awkward atmosphere; the air between father and daughter was thick with tension. She immediately chuckled and said, "Come, come, everyone, take your seats. Qingzhu, look, I specially cooked several of your favorite dishes..."

Although Li Baoyue's voice was warm, both father and daughter had cold expressions as they sat there, each eating their own meal.

Li Baoyue brought up several topics, but neither of them responded.

Li Baoyue was about to say something when Lü Qingzhu suddenly called out to her, "Auntie, I'm done eating!"

"Ah!" Li Baoyue was stunned for a moment. Eating a meal with this father and daughter had left her sweating profusely. "Qingzhu, are you done eating? Here, have some soup. Your aunt has been simmering this soup for several hours."

Lu Qingzhu said, "Auntie, you should eat something too! You've been talking the whole time and haven't eaten much." As she spoke, a gentle look appeared in Lu Qingzhu's eyes as she looked at Li Baoyue.

"Sigh, I'll eat right away." Li Baoyue's heart stirred when she saw the way Lü Qingzhu was looking at her.

It wasn't that she didn't want to eat, but the father and daughter were so cold to each other, and the atmosphere at the table was too cold. If she didn't speak, she felt she couldn't stay there any longer.

Seeing that Li Baoyue had started eating, Lü Qingzhu got up, ladled out a bowl of soup, and personally presented it to Lü Zhongtang, saying, "Your daughter has been unfilial for a long time. I hope Father will forgive me!"

Lu Zhongtang's expression froze for a moment before he took the soup.

Seeing this scene, Li Baoyue was overjoyed and said, "Is that so! What obstacle can't be overcome by one's own flesh and blood? From now on, let's get along well..."

After Lü Qingzhu sat back down, Lü Zhongtang's expression also softened slightly. He took a sip of the soup and immediately felt its indescribable richness.

Seeing Lü Zhongtang's wistful expression, Li Baoyue laughed and said, "What? Is the soup that Qingzhu served really that delicious?"

Lu Zhongtang smiled, a rare occurrence for him.

Lu Qingzhu suddenly said, "Father, did you call me back to discuss the marriage alliance with the young sect master of the Tianyan Sect?"

Lu Zhongtang's smile froze on his face.

Li Baoyue was also stunned. She knew nothing about this arranged marriage. But she knew that Lü Qingzhu was a strong-willed girl who never spoke carelessly. Since she asked, there must be a reason.

Therefore, Li Baoyue also turned to look at Lü Zhongtang.

Lu Zhongtang's expression stiffened for a moment before he said, "The two sects have formed an alliance. This marriage was personally planned by the patriarch. Li Ruozhou has good talent and is the young sect master of the Tianyan Sect. This marriage is a good match for you."

Upon hearing Lü Zhongtang's words, Lü Qingzhu's heart sank to the bottom.

She gave a cold laugh, her face somewhat unpleasant. "Then may I ask, Father, what is Li Ruozhou's character like?"

Lu Zhongtang's throat bobbed, and he said, "Since he is the young sect master of Tianyan Sect, comes from a family with a long history of learning and is a descendant of a prestigious family, his character should not be bad either."

Lü Qingzhu said, "Really? How can it be considered not bad? Does rape, murder, and cruelty count as not bad?"

“You…” Lu Zhongtang’s face twisted, but he suddenly realized that Lu Qingzhu’s gaze was also as cold as ice as she was looking at him.

Lu Zhongtang took a breath and said, "I really have a good daughter! So you've come to find your father and interrogate me. But let me tell you, Lu Qingzhu, marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. Moreover, this matter was personally planned by our ancestor."

“I’m telling you this, these are the ancestor’s exact words. Even if Li Ruozhou were a cripple, let alone someone with good talent, Lü Qingzhu would still have to marry him!”

Lu Qingzhu suddenly looked at Lu Zhongtang and asked, "Father, what is your own idea?"

Lü Zhongtang stood there, speechless for a long time.

Lü Qingzhu continued, "Qingzhu is, after all, your own daughter. I'm sure you've investigated the public opinion of Li Ruozhou, the young sect leader of the Tianyan Sect. Qingzhu, ask your father, is your intention to marry your daughter to such a person for the sake of the alliance between the two sects?"

Lu Zhongtang's face suddenly contorted with pain, and his voice trembled as he said, "Qingzhu, don't ask anymore... This is the Ancestor's will, do you understand? No one in the Taiyi Sect can disobey the Ancestor's will!"

Lü Qingzhu said, "Qingzhu understands. Father has no say in things in front of the Ancestor. Since Father can't fight for Qingzhu, then Qingzhu will fight for herself!"

Before coming, Lü Qingzhu was still thinking that Lü Zhongtang was, after all, her biological father. Since Li Ruozhou was so depraved, he wouldn't really want to watch her go into a fire pit, would he?

Upon seeing this, Lü Qingzhu understood that although Lü Zhongtang was struggling, he was too cowardly. In front of the ancestor, he couldn't muster even a shred of will to resist.

A father like that can't protect her from the wind and rain!
She has to face this huge storm all by herself!
(End of this chapter)