Chapter 145: Kang Ming's Engagement
After a day's journey, the group finally arrived at a remote mountain in the Southern Border.
The air was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. It was sparsely populated, and an isolated little village appeared before them.
This was only possible because Chen Dong had contacted Yang Yushan and used the Yang Family's private jet; otherwise, there was no way they could have reached the Southern Border so quickly.
Several members of the Yang Family were naturally among them.
The third son of the Yang Family, his face stern, swept his gaze contemptuously over the group and snorted. "Hmph. So in the end, we still came to the Zhang Family, against my advice."
Yang Mingshan shot him a look. "Just shut up!" 'The fewer people who knew about the Mingxi Grass, the better,' he thought. But now that Chen Dong was heading to the Zhang Family, there was nothing he could do.
Just as the group entered the village, an old farmer in simple, traditional clothes, who was working in a medicinal herb field by the road, looked up at them unwelcomely. "What are you people doing here in our Zhang Family Village?"
Kang Ming spoke up. "Hello, sir. We're here to see Zhang Bai Zhi!"
The old farmer's expression froze. He stared at Kang Ming for a long moment before exclaiming in surprise, "Oh! You're the son-in-law!"
He then scrambled out of the herb field on all fours and shouted toward the village, "The son-in-law is back! The son-in-law is back! The son-in-law is back!"
It was too late for Kang Ming to stop him.
Soon, people from every household in the small village had come out. Hundreds of them—men and women, old and young—surrounded Chen Dong's group, chattering amongst themselves as if watching a spectacle.
"Where's the son-in-law?" an auntie asked.
"Over there! He's the most handsome one," another auntie said, pointing at Chen Dong.
Chen Dong was stunned. He wanted to go up and explain, 'Ma'am, you've got the wrong person. I'm just handsome!'
But the group of aunties continued, "Ooh! Look at him, he's not bad at all. Look at those arms, those legs... and those teeth!"
Hearing their discussion, Chen Dong covered his face, not bothering to explain anymore.
The group of aunties burst out laughing. "Aww! He's getting shy!"
If he didn't need something from the Zhang Family, Chen Dong really would have started throwing punches. Kang Ming, looking embarrassed, pulled on Chen Dong's arm.
Meanwhile, the members of the Yang Family stood in the back, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.
Just then, Old Ji emerged from the crowd, supported by a beautiful young woman.
Old Ji recognized Kang Ming at a glance. She smiled and said to him, "I imagine you must be close to completing your training. Have you come this time to finally marry Bai Zhi?"
Words failed Kang Ming. He couldn't bring himself to say it in front of such a large crowd.
Having lived so long, Old Ji was naturally as sharp as a tack. Seeing Kang Ming's predicament, her expression darkened. "Come. Let's talk inside."
Led by Old Ji, the group entered a main hall filled with the rich aroma of medicinal herbs.
The room was spacious and bright. The group took their seats one after another, and tea was served shortly after. Old Ji dismissed everyone around them, keeping only the beautiful young woman who had been supporting her. She coughed twice and asked, "Kang Ming, boy. Now you can say what you have to say."
Kang Ming's eyes were filled with reluctance, but he gritted his teeth and said it anyway. "I have come today to break off my engagement with Miss Bai Zhi!"
Old Ji had her suspicions, but hearing the words still sent her into a rage. SMACK! She slammed her hand on the table. The aura of a Celestial Spirit Peak expert instantly enveloped the entire room. "Why?" she roared. She glanced at Zhu Ran, who was next to Kang Ming, and her eyes narrowed. "Is it because of this junior sister of yours?"
The beautiful young woman at her side also pointed at Kang Ming and said coldly, "You heartless scoundrel! My sister was completely devoted to you, and this is how you treat her? Don't tell me becoming the son-in-law of the Purple Cloud Sect's Leader is more important than my sister!"
Hearing this, Kang Ming fell directly to his knees. He lowered his head and said, "Senior, Miss Bai Kou, it's not like that! I have wronged Miss Bai Zhi, but I have my own reasons!"
Old Ji snorted. "Don't think kneeling will solve anything. The Zhang Family's Mourning Bottle isn't something you can just take! If you have your reasons, then let's hear them. If I'm not satisfied, you can leave your life behind right here!" As she spoke, the pressure she was exuding on Kang Ming intensified.
Kang Ming gritted his teeth and said, "To avenge my family, I poisoned the entire He Family. The Military Suppression Department will not let me go. I don't want to implicate Miss Bai Zhi, so I came specifically to break off the engagement! It was Miss Bai Zhi who saved my life. If it weren't for her back then, I would have been killed by the He Family long ago. Senior, if you want my life, then take it! Consider it my repayment to Miss Bai Zhi!"
Old Ji spat. "Pah! In your dreams, boy! Where in the world is there such a convenient arrangement, thinking you can repay one life with another! Bai Zhi gave you her Mourning Bottle. She gave you her heart. How can you possibly repay that?"
Before Kang Ming could answer, Old Ji stood up, her Celestial Spirit aura flaring to life, pressing down on everyone in the room. "So what if you poisoned the He Family? I'll handle the Military Suppression Department for you. Since you've come, don't even think about leaving. Just stay here in the village and be the son-in-law of my Zhang Family!"
When Zhu Ran heard this, she couldn't accept it. 'How could her beloved senior brother be left in this rundown village?!' She immediately blurted out, "No! My senior brother is trying to break the engagement with you. You can't force him into a marriage!"
Old Ji shot Zhu Ran a frigid look. "You little brat," she said coldly. "Even your father wouldn't dare speak to me like that. Who are you to pop up and run your mouth? Are you looking to die?"
Cold sweat poured down Zhu Ran's body, but for her senior brother's sake, she had to speak. Yet when she opened her mouth, she found she couldn't say a word.
Kang Ming knew this was Old Ji's doing. He immediately pleaded, "Senior, I beg you to stop! My junior sister is just ignorant. Please, spare her this once!"
Old Ji acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. With a wave of her aged hand, three Silver Needles shot out and embedded themselves in Kang Ming and his fellow disciples. The three of them were instantly immobilized.
Old Ji gave the order, "Take these people from the Purple Cloud Sect away and watch them carefully!"
A few members of the Zhang Family entered the house on her command and escorted the three of them away.
After the three had been taken away, Old Ji said coldly, "Aren't you going to come out? How long did you plan to hide?"
Chen Dong stepped out from behind Yang Mingshan, a wide, friendly smile on his face. "Senior, so you recognized me?"