Chapter 65: Marrying In?
Rumors were now swirling that Lu Changfeng had a famous master and the backing of a powerhouse from the Celestial List.
After careful consideration, Hong Liang didn’t dare to slight Lu Changfeng.
The disciples of the Taihong Association were not afraid of death, but that didn’t mean they would needlessly bring trouble upon themselves.
Zhao Xingtian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and picked up his longsword. He sighed, ready to fight to the death at a moment’s notice.
Lu Changfeng frowned slightly. "What did he do?"
The moment Lu Changfeng asked, Hong Liang realized that he actually seemed to know Zhao Xingtian. Things were getting a little troublesome.
Hong Liang still spoke up. "This scoundrel defiled the Saintess of my Taihong Association!"
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng’s breath hitched, and he looked at Zhao Xingtian.
Zhao Xingtian shrugged. "How was I supposed to know she was some Saintess? I met her at the Misty Rain Tower, flirted a little like I always do, and next thing I know, after one night together, she wants to elope with me?"
"How could a guy like me give up the whole forest for a single leaf? Of course I broke up with her on the spot!"
"Who knew the woman would take it so seriously? She turned and left, and then she actually found people to ambush me!"
"Hey, you mutts from the Taihong Association! If you can’t kill me, I’ll go back to my Sect, gather the Law Enforcement Swordsmen, and slaughter you all until not a single one is left standing!"
"You’re courting death!" Hong Liang brandished his short club and lunged at Zhao Xingtian.
"Spare him!" Lu Changfeng quickly shouted to stop him.
Given that Lu Changfeng was the man of the hour, his words had some effect. Hong Liang’s club stopped in mid-air.
"Senior Hong Liang, perhaps there’s been some misunderstanding between you and the Young Sect Leader."
"This is Zhao Xingtian, the Young Sect Leader of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect from Yunyang Prefecture. He’s also a friend of mine. Although his personality is awful, he’s a decent person at heart."
’Yunyang Prefecture? The Xuanyuan Sword Sect?’
Hong Liang’s brows furrowed slightly as he cast a suspicious gaze on Zhao Xingtian.
Of course, Hong Liang knew of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect. It ranked among the top ten sects in the Song Country.
The Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s unique Sword Species was an extremely powerful lineage.
Although the Taihong Association was powerful, it was more or less on par with the Xuanyuan Sword Sect.
Zhao Xingtian pursed his lips. "Don’t look at me like that. If you really want to kill me, then give it a try."
If he weren’t worried about disrupting his Jade Bone transformation process, Zhao Xingtian would have already gone all out.
He had yet to use techniques like his materialized Sword Intent or his Sword Species.
But for Zhao Xingtian to still be running his mouth at a time like this was too much for Lu Changfeng. He shot Zhao Xingtian a fierce glare, telling him to shut up.
"The Young Sect Leader grew up in the Xuanyuan Sword Sect and has never traveled far, so he’s a bit immature. I hope you can forgive him," Lu Changfeng said.
"I naturally trust Master Lu’s words."
"If he truly is the Young Sect Leader of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, then I suppose he is worthy of our Saintess. In that case, there is another solution," Hong Liang said.
The Saintess of the Taihong Association was, in essence, the daughter of the Taihong Main God, and the association permitted their Saintess to marry.
However, the Saintess’s partner had to have both strength and a powerful background; otherwise, the Taihong Association would not allow her to marry beneath her station.
After the marriage, the Saintess’s offspring would also belong to the Taihong Association. As for the son-in-law, he would be free to stay or leave as he wished. It was essentially a matrilocal marriage.
"What solution?" Lu Changfeng, still unfamiliar with the customs of the Taihong Association, asked.
Hong Liang said, "He must marry the Saintess."
"After the sacred marriage, he will be free to come and go."
Zhao Xingtian shook his head repeatedly. "Impossible. There’s no way I’m getting married."
Like Lu Changfeng, he was a staunch bachelor.
Hong Liang’s patience ran out. "You just try. Out of respect for Master Lu, we won’t act against you inside the Changle Martial Arts Hall."
"But if you take one step out of this Martial Arts Hall, the Taihong Association will definitely cripple you."
"The Xuanyuan Sword Sect is ten thousand li away; they can’t save you. Even if you have a trump card to defeat the three of us, the Taihong Association will send more people to take you down before you can even leave Jiangzhou City. This is our territory."
Hong Liang was now issuing a direct threat.
His analysis was sound. Lu Changfeng knew that Zhao Xingtian had really gone too far this time.
Right now, apart from marrying the Taihong Association’s Saintess, Zhao Xingtian had no other way out of this predicament.
"Old Zhao, it looks like you’re destined to get married after all." Lu Changfeng stepped forward and patted Zhao Xingtian’s shoulder.
Zhao Xingtian opened his mouth, leaned in, and whispered, "Hey, you’ve been doing great for yourself here in Jiangzhou lately. Aren’t you an Elder of the Broken Moon Sect? Help me out here."
Lu Changfeng spread his hands. "Even if I have enough clout, do you really think the Broken Moon Sect would fall out with the Taihong Association over a messy affair like yours?"
At these words, Zhao Xingtian slumped to the ground. He lowered his head in silence for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "I can’t believe that I, a dignified Martial Sect of the Bone Refining Realm, would actually be asking a Blood Forging Martial Artist like you for help."
As he sighed, Zhao Xingtian was surprised to discover that his Jade Bone transformation process had greatly accelerated.
This was because, in asking for help, Zhao Xingtian realized Lu Changfeng had already grown to a level he could no longer compare to, causing a great shift in his state of mind.
He had always been a carefree person. Now that he had let go of Lu Changfeng, his only weak point, his mind was free of desire, and the Jade Bone transformation naturally proceeded without obstruction.
From this moment on, Zhao Xingtian no longer needed to stay by Lu Changfeng’s side for his Jade Bone transformation to proceed smoothly.
"’Fortune lies within misfortune, and misfortune lurks within fortune... So be it. I’ll just marry Xiangxiang.’" Zhao Xingtian finally gave in.
This Young Sect Leader, just over thirty, had finally reaped the bitter consequences of his overindulgence at the Misty Rain Tower.
Hong Liang nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent!"
"Second Brother, Third Brother, you two watch him here in the Martial Arts Hall!"
"I’m going back to inform the High Priest!"
Hong Liang left his two junior brothers behind and turned to Lu Changfeng. "My apologies for the trouble, Master Lu! These two junior brothers of mine will have to stay in the Martial Arts Hall."
"But rest assured, someone from the Taihong Association will come before tomorrow morning to arrange the wedding."
Lu Changfeng glanced at the deflated Zhao Xingtian. ’Aside from me,’ he thought, ’he probably has no family here in Jiangnan Prefecture.’
He said aloud, "The wedding can be held here in our Martial Arts Hall. We’ll take care of the arrangements on the Young Sect Leader’s side. As for the specific date, we’ll leave that up to you."
Hong Liang replied, "That would be for the best. It should happen within three days!"
"So soon?" Lu Changfeng was taken aback.
Hong Liang said grimly, "The Saintess has already... been with this boy. It has to be quick!"
"Master Lu, I’ll return to the association for now. We’ll see each other tomorrow!"
Hong Liang took his leave, and Lu Changfeng could only nod.
Hong Liang flew off, leaving his two junior brothers staring intently at Zhao Xingtian, who looked like a wilted eggplant.
Lu Changfeng speechlessly slapped his forehead. He arranged a room for the two men next to Zhao Xingtian’s to make it easier for them to keep watch.
"Changfeng, what’s wrong?"
Chunzhu came out of the bedroom, having heard the commotion.
Lu Changfeng quickly explained the whole story, and Chunzhu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
After she finished laughing, Chunzhu gave Lu Changfeng a reproachful look.
"It’s a shame I don’t have a powerful family backing me like the Saintess does."
Lu Changfeng pretended not to hear the implication in her words and stroked her smooth back. "You should go to sleep. I’m going to practice my Swordsmanship again."
"I have to deal with our new in-laws from the Taihong Association tomorrow. You know more about etiquette and social graces than I do, so I’ll be counting on you."
Chunzhu nodded. "I understand. Hmm, we could ask Senior Brother Zhou Feng and Sister-in-law Sunx Yu to come over and give us some advice. They know more about these things."
"Good idea! I’ll leave that to you!" Lu Changfeng said.