Wandering Swordsman |

Once everyone was seated, the maids served exquisite tea and snacks, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. Murong Liang broke the silence first: "Nephew Huangfu, you must have come here today regarding the marriage proposal from last time, right?"

Huangfu Haotian smiled slightly and nodded. "Uncle Murong, that's right. My son Hui has long admired Miss Murong and hopes to form a marriage alliance with the Murong family."

Before he could finish speaking, Huangfu Hui eagerly declared, "Miss Murong, I've fallen for you at first sight and am willing to protect you for the rest of my life." His gaze was fixed on Murong Qing, his eyes gleaming with infatuation and possessiveness, as if he already considered her his own. This highly aggressive gaze caused the elders of the Murong family present to frown. They were well aware of Huangfu Hui's playboy reputation and worried about the situation Murong Qing would face if she were to marry him.

However, Murong Qing was not moved by these sweet words. She stood up and gave an elegant bow. "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Huangfu, but I am still young and will not consider these matters for the time being. I will consider them when I come of age." Her voice was gentle but undeniable, and every word was clear and powerful.

Murong Liang nodded slightly in support. "Nephew Huangfu, I think we should see what your thoughts are," he explained to Huangfu Haotian. "Our Murong family has always respected our children's choices and will not interfere."

In fact, a few days ago, Murong Qing had just returned to the Murong family and had already privately told her grandfather, Murong Liang, that she had someone she liked, and briefly recounted how Shen Mo had saved her. After listening, Murong Liang instructed Murong Qing not to make this public for the time being. This was partly to protect Shen Mo's safety and prevent him from becoming a thorn in the side of certain forces; and partly to avoid a complete falling out with the Huangfu family, as the relationship between the two families was complex and required careful handling.

Upon hearing Murong Qing's polite refusal, Huangfu Hui's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his smile. "It's alright, I can wait." His words revealed a sense of determination, clearly indicating that he did not intend to give up easily.

Huangfu Haotian echoed, "Since my son says we can wait, then on behalf of the Huangfu family, I would like to ask Miss Murong to give Hui'er a chance." Huangfu Haotian's implication was that since the Murong family respects the younger generation's ideas, the Huangfu family will naturally respect theirs as well.

At this moment, Murong Qing's third brother, Murong Wei, immediately interjected, trying to persuade his sister not to miss such a good opportunity. "Seventh sister, such a good match is a rare opportunity. Why would you refuse?" On the surface, he seemed to be concerned about his sister's happiness, but in reality, he knew Huangfu Hui's true character. He had privately contacted Huangfu Hui, praising his sister's beauty, with the aim of causing trouble for Murong Qing. He knew that once Murong Qing married Huangfu Hui, her future would likely be difficult, and her chances of becoming the head of the Murong family would decrease.

Hearing Murong Wei's seemingly considerate words about Murong Qing, Murong Liang keenly sensed the anxiety in them, as if he knew something. At this moment, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table, his voice low and serious: "Wei'er! Enough."

This action instantly silenced the entire hall; everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound. Murong Liang's stern gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Murong Wei.

Murong Wei was so frightened by his grandfather's stern gaze that he dared not speak again, and could only lower his head and silently retreat to the side. Huangfu Haotian smiled awkwardly, trying to ease the atmosphere, "Uncle Murong, please calm down. Young people are always prone to impulsiveness when they want to express their opinions."

Murong Liang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now. But what I want to say is that our Murong family takes marriage very seriously, and I hope Nephew Huangfu can understand."

Huangfu Haotian waved his hand gently, a meaningful smile on his face. "Uncle Murong is absolutely right. The foundation of a family truly lies in respecting every member. This is the cornerstone that has enabled our family to become powerful."

"However," his voice was steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable confidence, "the Murong family rose to prominence as merchants, amassing immense wealth, but in this martial world, without the support of martial prowess and power, it is ultimately difficult to maintain a foothold for long. Our Huangfu family, on the other hand, has served the imperial court for generations and holds real power. If the two families could become in-laws, it would be a powerful alliance, and by combining our strengths, we would surely be able to overpower the other six major martial arts families."

Huangfu Haotian's words contained a veiled warning, implying that although the Murong family was wealthy, they did not hold an advantage in terms of military strength and political influence. He hoped that these words would make Murong Liang reconsider the marriage proposal.

Murong Liang naturally understood the underlying meaning in Huangfu Haotian's words, but he did not directly refute them. Instead, he smiled slightly, appearing calm and composed. "Nephew Huangfu, what you say makes sense. Although the Murong family has achieved some success in the business world, the martial arts world does indeed need more military and political support. We also have our own plans in this regard."

After listening, Murong Liang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Nephew, we will seriously consider your words. But Qing'er is not yet of marriageable age, and her feelings are still unknown. Ultimately, marriage is a matter for her to decide. As the head of the family, I naturally hope that she can choose someone who truly cares about her, and not just someone who values ​​her family background and wealth."

Huangfu Haotian's heart stirred; he realized that Murong Liang was implying that he hoped he would genuinely care about Murong Qing, and not just act out of self-interest. He smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Murong, I've remembered your words. The Huangfu family will do its utmost to show the sincerity we should, so that Miss Seven can feel Hui'er's true feelings. I hope that when the time comes, she will make the right choice."

Murong Liang then stopped discussing the matter and shifted the topic to a more relaxed one, gradually easing the tension between the two sides.

The banquet continued, and everyone began discussing trivial matters, laughter echoing throughout the hall. The discussion about marriage alliances had temporarily come to a halt, but everyone knew in their hearts that this was only a facade, beneath which undercurrents were surging.

......

As night fell, Murong Liang sat alone in his study, pondering the intelligence he had just received, looking somewhat troubled.

Not long after, he seemed to have made a decision. So, he sent someone to summon Murong Qing, intending to talk to her.

When Murong Qing entered the study, her eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation. She knew her grandfather must have something important to tell her. "Grandpa, you wanted to see me?" Her voice was soft yet firm, carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.