The Prodigal Disciple of Mount Hua: Seizing All Opportunities

Chapter 107 Thoughts

The rain in Hengyang was a bit sticky.

Unlike the torrential rains of the north, the rain here was fine and melancholic, enveloping the entire Liu residence in a damp atmosphere.

Liu Zhengfeng's retirement ceremony is imminent, and the mansion is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, but the atmosphere these past few days has been somewhat strange.

People from the Five Mountains Sword Sects arrived one after another, while the Songshan Sect's troops were stationed outside the city, creating the impression of a siege.

However, Master Mo Da, the head of Hengshan Sect who was supposed to be the host, has disappeared without a trace, and Liu Zhengfeng is also nowhere to be seen, as he is busy with something all day long.

The secluded courtyard where the Huashan Sect lived was eerily quiet.

Yue Lingshan sat by the window, unconsciously playing with a grasshopper woven from straw in her hand.

Before leaving Fuzhou, Chen Qianyang casually made it up and gave it to her to cheer her up, saying that if she was bored, she could take it out on her.

The grass for grasshoppers has withered and turned yellow, but the lover in her heart is still nowhere to be found.

"Little Chen..."

She murmured something, then tightened her fingertips, breaking off one of the grasshopper's legs.

Since parting ways in Fuzhou, Chen Qianyang has been like a stone sinking into the sea.

Rumors circulated widely in the martial arts world. Some said he had secretly taken the real Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and was hiding to cultivate demonic arts. Others said he was surrounded and killed by underworld masters, leaving no trace of his body. Still others said he had already defected to the imperial court and become its lackey.

She naturally didn't believe it.

That extraordinary man who cleaved the path between life and death with a single sword in the lobby of the Fuwei Escort Agency and burned the sword manual in front of the world was definitely not as despicable as they described.

But why doesn't he come back?

Perhaps something has delayed them, or perhaps they've really run into some trouble.

Even Yang Guo, that little rascal, has become listless these past few days, spending his days squatting at the courtyard gate looking around. As his senior sister, she felt even more heavy-hearted.

"Squeak."

The door was pushed open.

Ning Zhongze walked in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup. She glanced at her daughter, who was sitting listlessly by the window, and then at the untouched food on the table, and sighed inwardly.

"Shan'er, eat something."

Ning Zhongze put down the bowl, walked behind her daughter, and gently tidied the messy hair at her temples. "You've lost a lot of weight these past few days. If... if that child comes back and sees you like this, he'll probably blame us for not taking good care of you."

Mentioning Chen Qianyang, Yue Lingshan's originally dim eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.

"Mother, do you think something might happen to him?"

"Even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take someone like him," Ning Zhongze said gently, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

She is a sensible person.

Although she had not personally gone to Fuzhou, she had heard about Chen Qianyang's series of methods, which were ruthless, decisive, and unfathomable, completely beyond the scope of a young man in his early twenties.

Such people either die a spectacular death or live an extraordinary life; they will never disappear silently.

However, she could see that her daughter was deeply in love with him, while her husband...

Although Yue Buqun did not say it explicitly, after being husband and wife for so many years, how could Ning Zhongze not see it?

He had long regarded Chen Qianyang as the most unstable factor in the Huashan Sect.

In this contradictory situation

If Chen Qianyang really comes back, is it really a good thing for the Huashan Sect and for Shan'er?

Ning Zhongze pulled up a chair and sat opposite her daughter: "Shan'er, I've come today to ask you something."

Yue Lingshan asked alertly, "What is it?"

"This morning, Elder Yun of the Diancang Sect, along with their young master, went to pay their respects to your father."

"The Diancang Sect?" Yue Lingshan frowned slightly. "What are they doing here?"

The Diancang Sect, located in the south, is a top-tier sect in the martial arts world, renowned for its light, agile, and unpredictable swordsmanship.

"It's about the marriage." Ning Zhongze looked into her daughter's eyes and said slowly, "That young sect leader Yun Shaohua, known as 'The Sword of Tiannan,' is famous at a young age and has outstanding talent. Today in the main hall, he seemed quite interested in you."

"I won't marry him!"

Yue Lingshan abruptly stood up: "I won't marry anyone! I don't want anyone but my junior brother!"

"Shan'er!" Ning Zhongze called out softly, reaching out to press her back into her seat. "Let your mother finish speaking first."

Looking at her daughter's stubborn face, she felt a mix of emotions.

"Your father did not refuse."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Yue Lingshan's head.

"Why?" Yue Lingshan's voice trembled. "Father clearly knows I like Junior Brother, and he even praised him as the fortune of Mount Hua. Why now..."

Ning Zhongze's voice was very low.

"Shan'er, your father is the head of the Huashan Sect. His greatest wish in this life is to glorify the Huashan Sect. He has far-reaching concerns. Although the Qianyang and Fuzhou incident preserved the reputation of Huashan, it also... destroyed your father's hopes."

Ning Zhongze recalled her husband's behavior after he returned from Fuzhou.

That suppressed rage, the sighs in the dead of night, and the occasional flash of cold light in his eyes when he mentioned Chen Qianyang.

How could she not understand that Yue Buqun had clearly already decided to kill his disciple?

With the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual burned, Yue Buqun's years of planning came to naught.

Although he had to praise his apprentice for doing the right thing on the surface, the thorn in his heart was deeply embedded.

"In your father's eyes, Qianyang is too uncontrollable," Ning Zhongze said with a wry smile. "He's deep-seated, acts impulsively, and holds too many secrets. Such a person might be useful as a disciple, but you are, after all, his daughter..."

The meaning behind her words was quite clear: if the two of them were to turn against each other in the future, how would Yue Lingshan, as their daughter, cope?

"So you're going to sell me to the Diancang Sect? In exchange for an alliance to deal with the Songshan Sect?"

"You can't put it so harshly. The Diancang Sect is very powerful. If we can form a marriage alliance, Mount Hua's position among the Five Sacred Mountains will be much more secure. Besides, I've met Yun Shaohua. He's handsome and not a villain. Furthermore, Diancang is located in the south. If you marry into that sect, you can escape the conflicts of the martial world."

"I don't care if it's a sword from the south or a blade from the north!"

Yue Lingshan abruptly shook off her mother's hand: "Mother, you're a woman too. Back then, Father was just an ordinary disciple of Mount Hua, and you followed him without hesitation. How can you force me to do something like this now?"

Ning Zhongze stiffened.

The once down-on-his-luck disciple is now the cunning and calculating Sect Leader Yue, and there's still that figure from my memory.

An indescribable sense of sorrow welled up in her heart.

Deep down, she was actually very grateful to Chen Qianyang.

If Chen Qianyang hadn't acted decisively and burned the sword manual that day, and if her husband had truly practiced that evil martial art that required "castration before practice"...

As the wife of the Huashan Sect Leader, wouldn't she have to live a life of widowhood?

If the Huashan Sect can truly dominate the Five Sacred Mountains, then what am I?

This family is probably going to fall apart.

"I'm not forcing you," Ning Zhongze's tone softened, with a hint of pleading. "It's just that the situation is beyond our control right now. Zuo Lengchan is pressing us relentlessly, and your father is under immense pressure. The Diancang Sect has taken the initiative to befriend us, and he can't possibly let go of this lifeline."

"Your mother just hopes that you can go see Yun Shaohua tomorrow. Even if it's just to make a show of it, to appease your father and prevent him from getting angry at this crucial moment. As for whether it works out or not... we'll talk about it later, okay?"

"Just for show?"

Yue Lingshan sneered, "Mother, don't you understand Father? As long as I agree to meet him, half the matter will be settled! When Junior Brother Chen returns, how am I supposed to face him? Say that I went on a blind date with another man for the sake of Mount Hua?"

She turned around, her back to her mother, her voice resolute.

"I'm not going. I'd rather die than go."

"If Father insists on forcing me, then take my corpse to the Diancang Sect!"

The room fell into a deathly silence.

The sound of rain outside the window seemed to grow louder, much like the chaotic state of my mind.

Ning Zhongze watched her daughter's trembling back. The little girl who used to only know how to act spoiled had now developed such fierceness.

She sighed deeply and slowly got up.

"Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll go and refuse."

She walked to the door and paused.

"Shan'er, if Qianyang returns... tell him to be careful."

The door closed.

Yue Lingshan felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she slumped onto the bed.