Shuidong Liu felt a wave of dizziness.
He swayed, his face pale.
A sharp pain shot through him.
A deafening clang, like a colossal bell, resounded in his mind, threatening to shatter his very consciousness.
“Sir!”
“I’m fine!” Shuidong Liu was clearly squeezing Xiao Yue’Er’s hand too tightly.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he nearly stumbled.
Xiao Yue’Er could see that he was using her for support.
‘What happened?’
Xiao Yue’Er was completely bewildered.
“Wait up!” Xiao Liang and Huang Wenlong rode over on their horses.
“Whoa…
Little Sis, you actually had the main gates opened!”
“This…
Mother must have done this.” Xiao Yue’Er had wanted to be discreet to ensure Shuidong Liu’s safety.
‘Who would have thought…’
“Whoa…” Xiao Liang scratched his head.
“Is Mother welcoming her new son-in-law?
I say, brother-in-law, you haven’t even proposed yet.
Why not…
propose right now!”
Xiao Yue’Er’s face turned crimson with embarrassment.
Watching this, Huang Wenlong felt a pang of jealousy.
As the son of the Mansion Master and the renowned “Timely Rain of Dongling,” even he had never received such treatment.
But he still laughed heartily.
“Second Young Master, don’t make things difficult for Dongliu.”
Everyone knew Shuidong Liu had grown up in the mines and possessed nothing of value.
What could he possibly offer as a betrothal gift?
But he couldn’t bring himself to say that out loud.
The group entered.
The Duchess was already waiting in the main hall.
She sat in the seat of honor, her expression serene and unmoved by external affairs.
Upon seeing her, Huang Wenlong stepped forward and bowed first.
“Wenlong pays his respects to you, Madam!”
“Wenlong is here as well.” The Duchess smiled, then turned her gaze to Shuidong Liu.
“Shuidong Liu pays his respects to you, Madam!” By now, Shuidong Liu had slowly recovered, but a question lingered in his mind: ‘Was someone spying on me?’
‘It seems the Duke’s Mansion isn’t as peaceful as it looks.
I’ll have to be careful!’
The Duchess scrutinized Shuidong Liu from head to toe.
Xiao Yue’Er opened her mouth to say, “Mother…”
“What’s wrong with me taking a closer look?” the Duchess said with a smile.
“The Champion Marquis’s family has produced five generations of loyal and heroic figures.”
“They reclaimed sixteen cities for our Yunlong Dynasty and even fought their way to the very capital of the Guanghan Dynasty.
It is truly a monumental achievement for the ages!” The Duchess stood up and bowed to Shuidong Liu.
Shuidong Liu quickly sidestepped to avoid the gesture.
“It was my late father’s accomplishment, not my own.
I am unworthy of your bow, Madam.”
Hearing his humble words, a smile appeared on the Duchess’s face.
“You may stay here with peace of mind.
I’ve already had Xiaoyu prepare Canglang Island for you.
You will live there.”
Shuidong Liu was unfamiliar with the layout of the Duke’s Mansion, but Huang Wenlong, a frequent visitor, knew it well.
‘Canglang Island!’
He was stunned, realizing that in the eyes of his future mother-in-law, Shuidong Liu’s status was likely already above his own.
“For now, have Yue’Er show you around.
We can talk more at dinner.”
“Thank you, Madam!”
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s all go together…” Xiao Liang called out, making a funny face at the Duchess.
The Duchess chuckled.
“Go on, go on…”
Only then did the group crowd around Shuidong Liu, crossing a long, winding bridge to reach Canglang Island.
Along the way, Xiao Yue’Er and Xiao Liang pointed out their surroundings, helping Shuidong Liu learn a great deal about the place.
After listening for a while, Huang Wenlong laughed.
“So, it turns out you just want to learn more Cultivation Techniques, Dongliu.
What’s the big deal…
I’ll bring some for you tomorrow!”
Although Huang Wenlong had been incredibly generous when they first met, Shuidong Liu was once again struck by how remarkable the man was.
When they arrived at Canglang Island, Shuidong Liu felt his body and mind relax.
The island was shaded by trees on all sides.
Aside from the main courtyard in the center, a few pavilions with intricately carved railings and jade-like masonry added to the elegant scenery.
After a tour of the grounds, they finally sat down.
Xiao Liang said, “You should really go see our Xiao Mansion’s Cultivation Technique Pavilion.
You’re bound to find something useful!”
Shuidong Liu asked curiously, “Is it that impressive?”
“In our Xiao Mansion, we have the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, and we also have the Battle Power Tower.
If you ever have free time, you can go there to test how strong you’ve become!”
Shuidong Liu nodded.
Seeing that everyone present was from the Xiao Mansion, he asked, “Second Brother, who was it that crippled you?”
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Even Xiao Yue’Er fell silent.
The question had been nagging at him, and Shuidong Liu felt he wouldn’t be at ease until he got an answer.
“I asked Luotian Pavilion, and they said the Xiao Mansion definitely knows who it was!”
“You want to avenge me?” Xiao Liang asked with a smile, though he was genuinely surprised.
Even his good friend Huang Wenlong had never asked in all these years.
Huang Wenlong was also curious.
He had been a frequent guest of the Xiao Mansion for many years, but he never found out who crippled Xiao Liang.
“Second Brother!”
But Xiao Liang said, “There’s nothing so bad about being a cripple.
Don’t worry about it.
Just focus on your training!”
Shuidong Liu thought Xiao Liang was a good person, which only made him want to get to the bottom of it even more.
He hadn’t expected such a response.
Clearly, the person behind this was no simple character.
But he made a resolution: ‘Xiao Liang is Yue’Er’s second brother, and he’s been so kind to me.
When I become strong enough, I will definitely get revenge for him!’
Xiao Yue’Er changed the subject.
“My sister is still on Canglan Island.
I’ll go get her!”
“Don’t…
As if she’d ever come over!” Xiao Liang shook his head.
Huang Wenlong shook his head too.
His fiancée was a recluse who rarely left her island.
Even though he was a frequent visitor, he seldom saw her.
Shuidong Liu asked curiously, “What’s with you all…?”
“Wait for me!” Xiao Yue’Er left by herself.
Canglan Island was the largest island in this lake.
Aside from the chirping of birds, there was no other sound.
“Sister…
Sister…” Xiao Yue’Er called out, but there was still no response.
Canglan Island seemed deserted, which surprised Xiao Yue’Er.
‘My sister almost never leaves Canglan Island.
Where could she have gone?’
Shuidong Liu didn’t mind.
For one, he didn’t know her anyway.
For another, he was sure they would have a chance to meet in the future.
Time flew by, and soon it was time for dinner.
Except for the Duke and the Young Duke who were in the capital, and Xiao Xiang’Er who was on Canglan Island, nearly everyone had arrived.
After the Duchess took her seat, everyone else who was qualified to sit at the main table sat down.
“Where’s Grand-uncle?”
“No idea!”
The Duchess was helpless.
“Forget it.
The old master likes to be alone, so…”
“Who says!”
The voice arrived before the man, an old man with a full head of white hair.
The old man, dressed in a green robe and holding a walking stick, came striding in, calling out boisterously, “Come.
Let me see who our little Yue’Er has taken a fancy to!”
As he spoke, the old man’s gaze fell on the unfamiliar face of Shuidong Liu.
“Shuidong Liu, son of the Champion Marquis, Body Refining Realm!”
The old man walked in and looked at Shuidong Liu.
“Huo Xiao, East Wind.
You actually know these two Sword Formulas!”
Shuidong Liu was shocked.
‘Someone can actually tell?’
The others were all confused.
Even Xiao Yue’Er only knew the name “Huo Xiao.” How could their grand-uncle, who spent all his time on Canglang Island, possibly know about East Wind?
“Uncle!” the Duchess bowed.
“Grand-uncle!” everyone else bowed.
Everyone respected the hierarchy of age and seniority.
Shuidong Liu also bowed.
The old man slowly walked to the head of the table and sat down.
“Everyone, be seated!”
Huang Wenlong asked curiously, “Grand-uncle, what are Huo Xiao and East Wind?”
“Huo Xiao is the first sword of the Nine Heavens Sword Formulas, and Dongfeng-1 is the first sword of the Dongfeng Sword Scripture!” the old man said with a laugh.
“When I was young, I often heard people talk about the first sword of the Nine Heavens Sword Formulas.
As for Dongfeng-1, I later saw it with my own eyes!”
The old man smiled faintly at Shuidong Liu.
“Am I right?”
Shuidong Liu looked at the old man, who seemed so frail he could be blown over by a gust of wind, and said, “I only know the first sword.
I ask for Grand-uncle’s guidance!”
“Grand-uncle, you’re just an ordinary person.
How do you know all this?” Xiao Yue’Er said.
“If you know, you should tell Sir!”
Xiao Xuan laughed.
“You want me to tell you?”
Shuidong Liu said curiously, “If I’m not mistaken, Grand-uncle probably doesn’t know how to explain it either!”
“How did you know?” Xiao Xuan nodded.
“Indeed, I have only seen it.
It’s an indescribable feeling!”
“Just a guess.
Leaving Huo Xiao aside for a moment, that Dongfeng-1 sword technique is incredibly powerful.
I can’t even begin to unleash its true strength!”
Xiao Xuan said, “I saw this sword technique once when I was young.
I can feel its power in my very bones…
It’s not something achievable by human strength.”
Xiao Xuan said, a lingering fear in his voice, “Wen Long, the first time you met me, you said I was surrounded by Sword Qi!”
Huang Wenlong nodded.
“Yes.
I don’t really understand.
Grand-uncle is an ordinary person, so how can that be?”
“Everyone is different.
Do you know how many people there are in this world?” Xiao Xuan retorted.
“I can feel the gleam of the sword, the Sword Qi, the Sword Intent from that one time I saw it…
It has clung to me my entire life!”
At this, everyone turned to look at Shuidong Liu.
Including Xiao Liang and Huang Wenlong, no one knew where Shuidong Liu had learned such a Cultivation Technique.
Huang Wenlong thought for a moment and made a decision.
“Grand-uncle, is this Swordsmanship truly that powerful?”
“Immensely powerful.
Most people could spend their entire lives training and never reach its peak!”
Huang Wenlong looked at Shuidong Liu.
“Dongliu, if it’s possible, could you teach me this move?
I would spend my entire life using it to protect Dongling Mansion!”