Xiaoyu and the others waited outside the courtyard for a long time.
No one came out, and there was no sound of a loud argument.
“Xiaoyu…
should we…
take a look?”
“Go on, don’t crowd around here!” Xiaoyu glared, and the group, though dying of curiosity, dispersed.
But Xiaoyu waited a moment longer, then quietly poked her head out.
Her clear eyes glanced inside, and she instantly covered her mouth in shock!
Xiao Yue’Er was leaning in Shuidong Liu’s arms.
This…
‘Not only was there no conflict, but they’re progressing this fast?’
“Master Shui…
what you said at the execution ground…
I heard all of it!”
With a soft, warm, fragrant beauty in his arms, Shuidong Liu gently held Xiao Yue’Er.
Who in this world didn’t appreciate beautiful things?
“Master Shui, what is your current realm?”
Xiao Yue’Er had always been curious but felt it wasn’t appropriate to ask casually.
Today was different.
Having opened up to each other, some questions came more easily.
“The Body Refining Realm!”
“Really, the Body Refining Realm?” Xiao Yue’Er’s eyes were wide with astonishment.
“But how were you able to fight against Gu Min?”
“Actually, when we had our blind date, I was just an ordinary person.
I only reached the Body Refining Realm on that very day!”
Fate!
Xiao Yue’Er’s heart pounded.
‘This must be fate, bringing me and Shuidong Liu together.’
“But Master Shui, if you don’t have a special bloodline or constitution, how can you be so strong?
The Body Refining Realm is only the first realm for a Martial Artist!”
Shuidong Liu couldn’t quite explain it himself.
‘Is it because my cultivation technique is too powerful?’
“I don’t get it!”
“Master Shui, do you know the Champion Marquis’s cultivation technique?”
Shuidong Liu nodded.
“I remember my mother had me memorize some of it, but I was young then and don’t recall it all.”
“My Duke’s Mansion has a Cultivation Technique Pavilion.
Master Shui, why don’t you…
why don’t you come back with me!”
Xiao Yue’Er’s face grew hot as she said this.
They had only known each other for a few days.
She had given him a token of her affection right after they met.
Now, without her father’s approval of their engagement, she was inviting a man to live in her family home.
This was…
“Do you think I’m being frivolous, Master Shui?”
“No, I know what you mean.” Shuidong Liu squeezed her delicate hand.
“You’re worried that if I keep living out here, my enemies will send even stronger people after me.”
“Yes.
Even if you want to lure them out, Master Shui, but…” Xiao Yue’Er trailed off.
Gu Min of the Super Body Realm had already appeared.
What would come after Gu Min?
The Extraordinary Realm?
Or even…
an expert from the Ten Realms of Divine Power?
It wasn’t impossible!
This was what worried Xiao Yue’Er the most!
“Alright!” Shuidong Liu agreed quickly.
He wouldn’t joke around with his own life.
Besides, Xiao Yue’Er was worrying herself sick over him.
How could he not grow to like her?
“Really?” Xiao Yue’Er’s face lit up with a happy smile.
She hadn’t dared to hope he would agree.
In their situation, for the man to move into the woman’s home would naturally invite scorn.
It was considered even more lowly than marrying into the bride’s family.
But Shuidong Liu…
was not a man of this world.
The only problem was, once he entered the Xiao Mansion, outsiders would likely be convinced that he was hiding a great secret!
Upon hearing that Shuidong Liu was moving into the Xiao Mansion, a shocked Xiaoyu rushed back to the estate first to report it.
“That girl is bringing Shuidong Liu back to live here?!”
“Yes!”
The elegant and noble Duchess was taken aback, but then she started to smile.
“Inviting a man to come live here before she’s even married…
Even though Xiang’Er and Wen Long’s engagement was settled long ago, Wen Long has never once stayed the night in the mansion!”
“Madam, then…”
“It’s not appropriate for them to live together before they are married.
Since Shuidong Liu wants to practice his martial arts, prepare the more secluded Canglang Island for him.”
“Canglang Island?”
Xiaoyu was shocked.
The Xiao Mansion covered an area of over ten thousand mu, with small bridges and flowing streams connecting its many pavilions and halls.
All these streams flowed into a small lake of two thousand mu.
There were three small islands in the lake.
Canglang Island, Cangming Island, and Canglan Island.
Among them, Canglan Island was where the eldest young miss, Xiao Xiang’Er, who loved tranquility, resided.
As for Cangming Island, even Xiaoyu, who had grown up in the Xiao Mansion, had only been there twice.
Living on it was the Duke’s uncle, Xiao Xuan.
Giving Canglang Island to Shuidong Liu to live on was, in its own way, a great elevation of his status!
“Personally take some people and have it cleaned up!”
“Yes!”
“Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum!”
“Madam!” From the doorway, the Duchess’s four personal maids walked in.
“Open the central gates and welcome him!”
“Madam!” The four of them—identical quadruplets—stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.
“Madam, isn’t this…
a bit too grand?”
The central gates were only opened for an imperial edict from the Royal Palace, a young master’s wedding, or a young miss’s marriage procession.
But to open them now?
“Go!”
“Yes!”
Only then did the Duchess rise and adjust her clothing.
“The Champion Marquis spent half his life in battle, earning merits for a thousand generations.
His son is worthy of such a reception!”
On the main street, Shuidong Liu and Xiao Yue’Er rode slowly through the city, turning heads as they went.
People on all sides were pointing and whispering.
The Xiao Family was not overbearing in Celestial Fragrance City.
In fact, they had an excellent reputation; otherwise, so many people wouldn’t have bowed so sincerely upon seeing Xiao Yue’Er.
But now, Shuidong Liu’s situation had ignited the gossipy hearts of countless people, and they didn’t care what the consequences might be.
When Xiao Liang and Huang Wenlong heard the news, they too were dumbfounded.
“They’re really something…
one dares to ask, and the other dares to agree and actually move in!”
Xiao Liang, having dealt with the people from the Le Family, glanced at the newly arrived Huang Wenlong and said, “Come on, let’s go take a look!”
“Let’s go!” Huang Wenlong rubbed his nose.
“It seems that ever since Dongliu arrived, I’ve spent almost all my time in Celestial Fragrance City!”
“Exactly.
So when are you going to marry Xiang’Er?”
“Well…” Huang Wenlong chuckled.
“To be honest, I want to wait until after I break through to the Ten Realms of Divine Power!”
“Why is that?”
“They say the higher your realm, the better it is for your children.
Xiang’Er is just an ordinary person, and I…” Huang Wenlong sighed.
“But then I also worry that in the future, I’ll still be alive, while Xiang’Er has…”
Xiao Liang nodded.
“That’s why it’s often painful in the end when a Martial Artist and an ordinary person get together.
It’s a shame about Yue’Er…
Never mind, let’s not talk about it.”
Huang Wenlong gripped his reins and said no more.
「Atop Luotian Pavilion」
“The Xiao Family?”
“That bastard, does he intend to marry into their family?”
The old man was furious.
“He’s the last of his line!
He’s not thinking about revenge, not thinking about continuing his family name, but instead is moving into the woman’s home, and they’re not even married yet!”
“Foster Father, that’s the Duke…”
“So what if he’s the Duke?
The Duke is jack shit!” the old man roared.
“That bastard is just scared!
Scared he’ll be killed if he stays outside!”
“I’ve also seen that Celestial Level Technique.
He has such an incredible technique, yet for so many years he hasn’t bothered to cultivate.
He’s a complete bastard, an absolute bastard!”
Liu Yin felt a headache coming on.
“Why don’t you go and try to talk some sense into him, sir?”
“He’s almost at the Xiao Mansion!
Talk sense into him my ass!
That unfilial son, truly an unfilial son!”
Meanwhile, Shuidong Liu arrived in front of Duke Zhen’s Mansion for the first time.
In front of the Duke’s Mansion stood a jade wall, fifty feet wide and thirty feet tall.
Inscribed upon it were five words: Founding Minister, Pillar of the State!
After Shuidong Liu dismounted, Xiao Yue’Er stepped forward with a small smile and took his hand.
“There’s no need to be nervous, Master Shui.”
“I faced life and death when I was a child.
What is there to be nervous about?” Shuidong Liu said naturally.
“Is Master Shui planning to move into the Xiao Family?
Why else would he come…
Is it a marriage proposal?”
“It looks like he has a big secret and wants to hide in the Xiao Mansion for protection!”
“The Second Miss is the number one genius, so it should be fine!”
“Look!”
One of the onlookers pointed.
The main gates of the Duke’s Mansion boomed open, and two neat rows of people filed out from within…
Shuidong Liu was dumbfounded.
This was far too grand.
Not only did they open the central gates, but so many people had come out to welcome him.
Shuidong Liu was utterly dumbfounded.
“We respectfully welcome Master Shui!”
“We respectfully welcome Master Shui!”
The two rows of people bowed deeply.
Shuidong Liu had not yet proposed, so an official engagement didn’t exist.
It would be inappropriate to call him “Young Master-in-law” in public.
Xiao Yue’Er gave him a gentle smile.
Shuidong Liu clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.
“Dongliu has come to visit.
I apologize for troubling you all!”
“Master Shui, please!”
The four maids, Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, were waiting respectfully at the entrance.
Shuidong Liu nodded, then walked up the steps with Xiao Yue’Er and headed inside.
At that very moment, deep within the Xiao Mansion, an old man who had been sunning himself with his eyes closed suddenly snapped them open.
At the same time, a sharp pain stabbed through Shuidong Liu’s head…