Of course, Yu Zongding and Li Mosheng had no idea that Chu Fan was not only alive but had also stumbled upon a great stroke of fortune.
Meanwhile, they were busy arranging the marriage alliance with the Celestial Derivation Sect.
Li Mosheng made a sincere visit to the Celestial Derivation Sect. When its Sect Leader heard that the Lingyun Sect wanted to marry Yun Xi to his son in exchange for an alliance, how could he possibly disagree?
After all, the Lingyun Sect’s Stabilizing Needle, the Supreme Elder, was dead. All that remained was a single ancestor at death’s door, forced to hole up in the Spirit Gathering Cave just to keep breathing.
For the Lingyun Sect, it was as if half their sky had collapsed.
Once his Celestial Derivation Sect allied with the Lingyun Sect, they could claim that all matters would be decided through mutual discussion, but with the clear disparity in their strengths, wouldn’t the Celestial Derivation Sect inevitably take the lead?
What’s more, the one marrying his son was Yun Xi, the publicly acknowledged peerless beauty of the Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain.
Having Yun Xi as a daughter-in-law was a matter of great prestige.
So, for the Celestial Derivation Sect, the benefits of a marriage alliance with the Lingyun Sect were simply too numerous. Only a fool would refuse.
Once the two Sects reached an agreement, they jointly issued an announcement to all the Cultivation Sects of the Eastern Domain.
It stated that the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was an auspicious date for the two Sects to be joined by marriage and form an alliance. All fellow cultivators of the Eastern Domain’s Martial World were invited to the wedding banquet to witness the pact.
The news sent shockwaves of confusion through all the Cultivation Sects of the Eastern Domain.
But when those from the Six Sects and Eight Gates recalled the battle between the Lingyun Sect and the Red Blood Mansion more than three months ago, they understood the Lingyun Sect’s motive.
Still, many lamented the fate of Yun Xi and Chu Fan.
"I will not marry him! If you are really forcing me to marry Shui Yuntian, it’ll be over my dead body! Go ahead and send my corpse to the Celestial Derivation Sect!"
But the truth will always come out. When the Lingyun Sect issued its announcement, Yun Keji and his wife of the Chen Clan came to persuade their daughter.
When Yun Xi heard the news, she was overcome with disappointment in her parents and utter despair for the Sect.
"Insolence!"
Yun Keji slapped Yun Xi across the face. Stunned by the blow, she looked at her father in disbelief.
Never in her entire life had her father even said a harsh word to her. Yet today, he had actually struck her.
"Marriage has always been a matter of parental arrangement and a matchmaker’s word. Marrying you to Shui Yuntian is a matter of great importance to the Sect. It has already been announced to the world, so how can we retract it now simply because you are unwilling?"
"But why didn’t you even ask me before you decided this? What do you take me for?" Yun Xi roared hysterically.
"What are you? You are my daughter, Yun Keji’s daughter! You are a disciple of the Lingyun Sect! The Sect is on the brink of annihilation, and as its disciple, you should be prepared to give everything for it!" Yun Keji said, his voice dripping with self-righteousness.
"Give everything for the Sect?" Yun Xi asked with a miserable laugh.
"The Supreme Elder and his disciples gave their all for the Sect, and what did they get for it? Their bodies weren’t even recovered. Chu Fan’s Golden Core was shattered, his meridians ruined, and he was grievously injured with no hope of recovery. I wanted to just see him one last time, but you put me under house arrest here. Is a Sect like that worth sacrificing everything for?"
"Insolence!" Yun Keji raised his hand to strike her again, but Yun Xi simply tilted her head back, not even trying to dodge.
Chen Clan, however, stopped him. "Alright now, calm down. It’s only natural for Yun Xi to have trouble accepting this so suddenly. There are still five months until the eighth of the twelfth month!"
She said as she pushed Yun Keji out of the room and closed the door behind him.
She walked over to Yun Xi and guided her into a chair. Then, standing behind her, she began stroking her daughter’s hair.
"Yun Xi, you should try to understand your father. He is an Elder of the Sect, after all, and his hands are tied on many matters. The feud between our Lingyun Sect and the Red Blood Mansion is a battle to the death. And now with the Supreme Elder’s branch... gone... it’s as if half our sky has fallen. If we don’t find an ally, I fear the Lingyun Sect faces the disaster of complete destruction."
Yun Xi turned to look at her mother in disbelief. "And for that, you’re going to make me marry a degenerate scumbag like Shui Yuntian? You’re going to push your own daughter into a pit of fire? What about Chu Fan? He has nothing left now."
"Chu Fan... Chu Fan is probably already dead," Chen Clan said, hesitating slightly.
"What?" Upon hearing this, Yun Xi shot to her feet.
"More than two months ago, Chu Fan went to Dingfeng Slope. You know what kind of place that is. With his Golden Core shattered, he was a powerless cripple. How could he possibly have come out of there alive? Forget him, even your father would never return if he went to Dingfeng Slope!"
"Why... why would he go to Dingfeng Slope?" Yun Xi couldn’t believe this was real.
"Sigh..." Chen Clan let out a long sigh. "Actually, over two months ago, Chu Fan heard the Sect wanted to marry you to Shui Yuntian. He came here to argue with your father, hoping to make him retract the decision."
"The Sect Leader and the Great Elder were also in our courtyard at the time. With the Sect facing such a crisis, how could they change course just because of his words? Besides the marriage alliance with the Celestial Derivation Sect, the only other way to resolve the crisis was to retrieve the Biyun Sword. And so, Chu Fan promised the Sect Leader he would go to Dingfeng Slope and retrieve the Biyun Sword within three months."
"A three-month limit? That was just sending him to his death, wasn’t it? With him dead, the Sect can forget about the Supreme Elder’s branch and have a clear conscience, right? I never imagined... that this is how they treat someone who has rendered great service to the Sect." Yun Xi sank back into her chair, her heart turning to ash. Her tears had run dry, leaving only a miserable smile on her face.
"Yun Xi, Chu Fan is dead. Forget him! Mother knows you don’t want to marry Shui Yuntian. His reputation among the Cultivation Sects of the Eastern Domain is terrible, I know. And while his talent can’t compare to the old Chu Fan, he is still outstanding. Besides, he is Sect Leader Shui’s only son and is certain to become the Sect Leader of the Celestial Derivation Sect one day. If you marry him, you’ll be the Sect Leader’s wife. Besides, it’s perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives..."
"Enough!" Yun Xi roared.
"My answer is the same. If I am to marry Shui Yuntian, then you can send my corpse to the Celestial Derivation Sect!"
"Why are you so stubborn, child? You are my own flesh and blood. Would your parents really do anything to harm you? Just think about it carefully!" After speaking, Chen Clan patted Yun Xi on the shoulder, then walked out of her boudoir.
Yun Xi collapsed onto the table, crying silently. After a long while, a glimmer of resolve shone in her eyes.
’Chu Fan, it’s my fault. If it weren’t for me, you never would have gone to Dingfeng Slope. I’m coming to be with you now. Please, wait for me.’
She walked to her bedside, drew her personal sword, and put the blade to her own throat.
Just then, the door was pushed open. A jet of True Qi shot out, striking her wrist. The sword clattered to the ground.
"Junior Sister, don’t do anything foolish!"
The two women who entered were disciples of Chen Clan.
"Master expected you might do something foolish, so she sent us to look after you. If anything happens to you, Master will never forgive us."
Yun Xi laughed bitterly. "Fine. Just fine. You’re all so wonderful, aren’t you?"
「Meanwhile, in Lingyun Hall.」
"Fifth Elder, have you persuaded Yun Xi?" Yu Zongding asked.
Before Yun Keji could speak, Li Mosheng said, "Marriage is a matter for parents to decide. What is there to persuade?"
"Rest assured, the wedding will not be jeopardized," Yun Keji said.
Li Mosheng laughed heartily. "See? Elder Yun and his family are commendably loyal to our Sect. Sect Leader, what is there left to worry about?"