Promise!

Chapter 259, Old Friend

Women like Jin Qiaohua, Wei Qinghui, and Miao Yuchai watched helplessly as Shangguan Yunchang and Ji Tongxiu left hand in hand to go shopping.

Although their inner gossip was burning fiercely and they couldn't suppress their desire to share, it was not something they could talk about outside the family because it involved Shangguan Yunchang. They were extremely frustrated, but they were certain of one thing: this marriage between Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang was a blessing rather than a curse for the Ji family, and their attitude immediately changed.

"Was that the next head of the Shangguan family? His appearance and temperament were extraordinary, making one feel ashamed of oneself in comparison."

"Yes, but in the end, Venerable Zhuang is still the most powerful!"

"Sister Ji is so lucky. Little Sister Xiao, you are Sister Ji's own sister, and you will enjoy endless blessings in the future."

……

As Ji Tongxiao listened to these compliments, her reason told her that she should be happy. Only when her sister was doing well could her family do well, and only then could she do well herself. But seeing that her sister had a false alarm and had not fallen into the mud, but instead rose from the ashes like a phoenix and soared higher, she knew that although she could benefit from it and gain considerable advantages, she would also be shrouded in the other's shadow for the rest of her life.

'It all comes down to that man!'

Zhuang Jin's image reappeared in her mind. At this moment, she felt a mix of regret, jealousy, and confusion, and she didn't know how to express it.

……

Meanwhile, Shangguan Yunchang and Ji Tongxiu went shopping and got along quite well.

Shangguan Yunchang is straightforward, adorable, and passionate; Ji Tongxiu also possesses heroic spirit and resilience. Having been influenced by Zhuang Jin for many years, she has developed unique insights and perspectives.

This made Shangguan Yunchang accept the latter. As expected of someone Zhuang Jin could take a liking to and keep by his side, she was indeed not a vulgar person. She came from a prestigious family and was willing to humble herself and do things. Winning people's hearts was a piece of cake for her. She confirmed the master and servant and brought the relationship closer.

Ji Tongxiu was sensible and perceptive, and the two went their separate ways. Soon, they became as close as true confidantes.

Both women have outstanding qualities. With Zhuang Jin as their bond, they transcend different identities and social classes. Under this foundation, it is not surprising that the friendship between the women develops very quickly.

In the evening, Shangguan Yunchang parted ways with Ji Tongxiu and invited her to accompany her as part of her dowry. Upon entering the Shangguan family home, Ji Tongxiu hesitated for a moment but politely declined. Shangguan Yunchang did not insist. She then suggested that Ji Tongxiu could move back to the Second Ring Road area, clearly indicating that Ji Tongxiu would continue to be in charge there.

As the next head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Yunchang's every move is closely watched and analyzed. Many people were shocked to learn of the intimate actions between Shangguan Yunchang and Ji Tongxiu that afternoon.

They had assumed that Zhuang Jin's marriage into the Shangguan family was a semi-marriage, meaning he would have almost no say in the matter. However, they were surprised to find that Shangguan Yunchang was willing to lower herself and get along well with another woman. They were all shocked and impressed by Zhuang Jin's methods.

Originally, because of Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang's marriage, the Ji family was facing a storm with unpredictable fortunes. Many families and forces with which they had cooperated had already begun to be vigilant and watchful, fearing that they would be implicated. However, after learning about what happened that afternoon, their worries disappeared, and the Ji family's popularity soared even higher.

Shangguan Yunchang is the next head of the Shangguan family. She has established a connection with the Ji family and holds a superior position among families below the Innate level. Although she is not an Innate family, she is better than an Innate family. For a time, her family was bustling with visitors.

……

That evening, Ji Tongwei was genuinely happy to see his sister Ji Tongxiu return in a good mood. He knew that his sister had shared both the family's joys and sorrows, and that his own happiness rested on the man behind his sister.

This afternoon, Ge Mingzhi slipped out and told him the good news that she wouldn't have to change classes next year. She knew it was because of her husband. Now her sister also had good news, which was truly double happiness.

"Little brother, have you finished your homework for today?"

"Hey, I'll go right away."

Ji Tongwei returned to his room, picked up a calligraphy brush, looked at the blank paper, and was stumped.

Bailu Martial Arts Academy teaches martial arts, but also has a curriculum that includes not only knowledge of meridians but also writing and writing skills to develop expression abilities.

Today's homework is to write an article about the person you respect the most.

After thinking for a long time, Ji Tongwei finally put down his pen and wrote four characters: "My Husband".

Well, what he didn't know was that this article would soon be corrected to "My Dean," selected as the top article, and displayed as a model essay, which would then cause quite a stir—but that was a matter for the future.

……

That evening, on the Second Ring Road, at the Zhuang residence.

"I'm sorry to have wronged you, Yun Chang." Zhuang Jin already knew what had happened that afternoon, and said while holding Shangguan Yun Chang's hand.

"If you do not betray me, I will not betray you. Putting myself in your shoes, besides the mountains, I have another surprise for you."

Shangguan Yunchang didn't say what the surprise was, only that she would know in a couple of days. Then she changed the subject: "However, you should restrain yourself after the marriage. We are husband and wife, and you represent me and the Shangguan family. If you go too far, I will be angry."

Unlike Chen Yun, Mu Qing, and Shen Xujun, she was more bound by feudalistic ideas of this world, believing that a woman should obey her husband after marriage, see herself as subordinate, and depend on Zhuang Jin. She could tolerate being happy for him and even compromise excessively, although Zhuang Jin had never done so.

Shangguan Yunchang views herself as an equal to Zhuang Jin and has a more independent personality.

Well, to put it bluntly, Shangguan Yunchang won't spoil Zhuang Jin like Chen Yun, Mu Qing, and Shen Xujun do. If she goes too far, she'll get angry and turn against him.

"As you said, husband and wife are one, so I will respect you and keep my promise."

Zhuang Jin is not a womanizer; everything she did before was for a clear purpose, and she wouldn't say she couldn't control herself.

He paused for a moment, thinking of Chen Yun, Mu Qing, Shen Xujun, and other women, but didn't say anything.

Even if he were to marry and enter the Shangguan family, it would be impossible for him to bring them over. On the one hand, his status with the Shangguan family is still unequal, and doing so would be extremely disrespectful. On the other hand, doing so would also involve Chen Yun and other women, bringing them danger.

Even if he were to break through to the Yin God realm, Zhuang Jin would not intend to do so. While the Yin God realm is supreme in Cangzhou City, allowing one person to speak on equal terms with a powerful family, Cangzhou has three great families and the unpredictable Suspended Sky Mirror, making it difficult for them to control everything.

Furthermore, now that they are practically married into the Shangguan family, with the Shangguan family protecting them, theoretically, it would be safer for Chen Yun and the other women to stay in southern Yunnan.

Shangguan Yunchang didn't mention Chen Yun and the other women either.

Given the officials' investigative abilities, they naturally knew about women such as Chen Yun, Mu Qing, and Shen Xujun.

In the eyes of the Shangguan family, Zhuang Jin came to the state capital from the prefectural city because he still had potential, but the prefectural city lacked resources, which restricted his martial arts, and he admired the prosperity of the state capital, so he came here.

They believed that Zhuang Jin, unable to break through to the Yin Spirit realm, would remain here, staying in the state capital and the Shangguan family, and would not repeat the events of the prefectural city.

In terms of lifespan, there is a great difference between those born with innate life and those below innate life. In the eyes of the Shangguan family, those people were like fleeting clouds to Zhuang Jin.

—Medical conditions in this world are limited, but it's not true that ordinary people don't live to be eighty or ninety years old. However, those are extremely rare cases. Even if someone lives to be over a hundred years old, it's one in ten million or a hundred million. But if a congenital martial artist doesn't have any problems, they can generally live to be sixty years old. One is an individual case, and the other is the whole. The average lifespan is nearly sixty years. It's completely different from the isolated case of living to be sixty years old.

"One more thing,"

Shangguan Yunchang said, "I once said that there are seventeen people in the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm in the state city. Eleven of them are from the three great families of Shangguan, Cen, and Ge. There are six others. After Zhan Shengchu died, only five people remained. Each of these five people has their own special characteristics."

She introduced him to Zhuang Jin: "There's a guy from Yong'an in the capital named Li Shicong. He has some connections in the capital and will leave sooner or later."

"Two of them came from other states. One was named Mai Yinghuang, from Fengyeshuize in Zezhou; the other was named Bian Zhihao, from Donglinhaizhu in Hanzhou." One of the ways the Suspended Heaven Divisions of each state dealt with the Corpse Slayer Realm was to send the trouble out, issue a mission, and throw it to another state. Cangzhou could do this, and other states could do the same. These two came from there.

These outsiders at the Corpse Slayer Realm have shallow foundations. Compared to them, the Cangzhou Suspended Sky Division's main targets are the local Corpse Slayer Realm warriors, and Zhan Shengchu was the first to suffer from them.

"Of the two, Mai Yinghuang is extremely talented and intelligent enough to stay within the Third Ring Road; the other one, Bian Zhihao, is alright, he mostly came here to avoid trouble."

"The remaining two are from our state capital. One is Ge Zhaoqing, whose grandfather separated from the Ge family and established his own household only about a hundred years ago. He is not far removed from the Ge family. The other is Ao Zhiqi, whose soul was injured. His only son has a congenital soul that is damaged and needs high-grade soul-nourishing grass all year round."

One of them was practically a member of a powerful family, and the other was controlled by the Xuantian Division. It could be said that after Zhan Shengchu's death, the Xiantian Slaying Corpse Realm warriors in Cangzhou City were basically under their control.

Shangguan Yunchang brought this up mainly to let Zhuang Jin know that he shouldn't get too involved with these people.

"Don't worry, Yun Chang, I know what I'm doing."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. Unlike these five people, he only needed to lie low and wait for his moment to soar to great heights. Naturally, he would not get involved with them.

……

While Shangguan Yunchang and Zhuang Jin were talking about these five people, the five people were also talking about Zhuang Jin.

“This Venerable Zhuang comes from a similar background to us. We might as well invite him into our circle and get to know him better.”

"Now that this person has married into the Shangguan family, his status has changed, and he probably won't be willing."

"It's just normal interaction, nothing to do with it. For them, it's just another channel, so why not? We're open and honest, unlike Zhan Shengchu, who wouldn't listen to advice and insisted on courting death... If we don't invite this person, it will make us look like we have something to hide."

“That makes sense. However, judging from this fellow Daoist’s information, he is cautious by nature. Even if we are just casual acquaintances, he might be wary and refuse. In that case, we might as well send a gift for his wedding to express our feelings, and then visit him together afterward to win him over with sincerity.”

"good!"

After discussing the matter, Li Shizong, Mai Yinghuang, Bian Zhihao, Ge Zhaoqing, and Ao Zhiqi reached a consensus.

……

Time flies, and the wedding date of Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang is getting closer and closer. The joyous and festive atmosphere in Cangzhou City is getting stronger day by day.

As the designated head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Yunchang was highly regarded by the Shangguan family, who wanted to win her heart and assimilate her. Therefore, the Shangguan family naturally held a grand wedding for the two of them.

In addition, considering that "the atmosphere of the roundtable meeting should be diluted to clear away the somber mood and welcome the new energy tide next month", this is no longer just a matter for the Shangguan family. The Cen and Ge families also contributed their efforts, which has taken this wedding to a new level.

The martial artists of the city, having suppressed their emotions during the previous roundtable purge and Zhan Shengchu's hunt, needed a grand release. All these factors combined to make this wedding a grand event, leaving a strong mark on the memories of the people of Cangzhou.

……

Outside the city.

A long line of people came, including two old friends of Zhuang Jin.

One is Bi Boyi, a member of the small circle of True Qi Realm cultivators, who came from the prefectural city and returned after the Fire Phoenix incident; the other is Teng Yuansong, who returned to the prefectural city from a county town many years later.

Bi Boyi came mainly to participate in Zhuang Jin's wedding and incidentally to escort the tribute procession.

The powerful families treated the prefectural cities like colonial powers, leaving them to their own devices except for taxes and tributes.

This is based on practical considerations. Sending people to occupy the territory would easily breed corruption and the cost of maintaining the regime would be huge. It would be better to use this 'proxy model' to gain more. In addition, it can isolate hatred. Even if the local government or county authorities oppress too much and riots break out, there is no need to take action to suppress them.

As for those powerful families in the prefecture, they were basically all families that had separated from the old aristocratic families over the past eight hundred years. They were either families from the same prefecture or families from other prefectures. They were intertwined with each other, so unless there were special circumstances, the aristocratic families would generally not interfere with the money bags of their subordinates.

Teng Yuansong also came to attend Zhuang Jin's wedding, but he was forced back by the Teng family. In his letter, Teng Zushou, the patriarch of the Teng family, said, "If you don't come back this time, I will personally go and kidnap you."

What is the purpose?
First, she wanted to see her son who had been away from home for many years; second, she wanted to see if she could keep Teng Yuansong and maintain and deepen her relationship with Zhuang Jin.

Bi Boyi's Bi family group encountered Teng Yuansong on the way. After learning about Teng Yuansong's intention to go to the state capital, they discovered that they had a mutual friend, Zhuang Jin, and thus became acquainted and agreed to travel together.

Because of Zhuang Jin's influence, Bi Boyi did not look down on Teng Yuansong, a martial artist who had opened his meridians, and treated him with courtesy. When they started chatting, they found that they got along quite well.

The group arrived in the city, and were particularly shocked when they entered the Third Ring Road.

The celestial canopy transformed by the Hanging Mirror gathers the vital energy of heaven and earth, turning into pink petals that flutter and fall. In this season where a heavy snow had just fallen not long ago, thousands of trees are now in full bloom, their branches bursting with color, creating a ten-mile-long red bridal procession filled with a lively and festive atmosphere.

Because of Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang's wedding, many guests from all over the country have stopped and waited in Cangzhou City, eager to join in the grand event. As a result, there is a severe shortage of accommodation resources in the city recently, especially high-end ones in the inner ring. However, Zhuang Jin knew they were coming and made arrangements for his old friends, booking a room at Zhaixing Tower.

Zhuang Jin was busy with affairs and only came briefly. Bi Boyi also went to preside over the tribute. Teng Yuansong wandered around by himself and eventually came to Tongfu Teahouse on the fifth floor of Zhenxiufang.

"You don't know, there was a great battle here that day. That Venerable Zhuang almost killed Zhan Shengchu... Hey, look, Manager Yu Linglong is here!"

"Brother, what's all the fuss about? Manager Yu Linglong is beautiful, but she's getting a bit too old. I still prefer the Sword Fairy."

"The Sword Fairy is cold and aloof, like a stone, but I prefer the Moon Beauty."

……

Listening to these voices, Teng Yuansong felt as if he were in another world. When he left, Yu Linglong was just beginning to emerge, but now she was already very famous, and even slightly past her prime.

Characters like the goddess constable Chu Jing, the healer Miao Yunzhen, and the tofu fairy Yu Yuxian are rarely mentioned anymore, especially after this new batch of 'stars' has emerged.

Newcomers come and old friends go, a constant stream of people, some enjoying immense popularity, but ultimately just passing through.

"My son!"

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

It turned out that the Teng family had come. Not only the old man of the Teng family no longer looked at the good-for-nothing with the same eyes as before, but was filled with tears and concern. The brothers were also different, each of them treating him with kindness.

This is to be expected, because it was his relationship with Zhuang Jin that gave the Teng family an opportunity and allowed them to develop considerably in recent years. It can be said that although Teng Yuansong was not in the state capital, his contribution to the Teng family was greater than that of every member of the Teng family, including Old Master Teng. If Teng Yuansong was a good-for-nothing, then what were they?
However, what worried the Teng family was that Teng Yuansong did not return to the city after arriving, but stayed outside instead. Despite their attempts to persuade him, he insisted on staying there, and they dared not force him.

Teng Yuansong was warm and welcoming to his family, but he was also calm and insightful. He knew that their change in attitude towards him was only due to the benefits he gained from his relationship with Zhuang Jin.

He turned to look at the flow of people coming and going in the inn, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: 'Twenty years have passed, and Cangzhou City is still the same Cangzhou City, without the slightest change!'

……

(End of this chapter)