Chapter 80: Engagement?

Ling Jinsong let out a soft sigh and said, “Are we brothers truly destined to end up like this in this lifetime?”

Yue Mingxi paused in surprise, unable to fathom what had gotten into Ling Jinsong, who suddenly seemed uncharacteristically sentimental and brooding, more like a woman than the stern man he knew.

He glanced at him and spoke coolly, “The Sect Master is busy with countless affairs. Why would he have time to chat idly with me?”

Seeing Yue Mingxi so impervious, Ling Jinsong gave a bitter laugh and shook his head before revealing his true reason for coming. “Cultivators from the Celestial Sect will soon arrive. After they leave, let us take little Qin to seek the Immortal Land together.”

Yue Mingxi suddenly understood, and at the mention of this subject, a surge of anger welled up within him.

I was the one who first discovered Qin’s potential, who insisted against all objections to make him the youngest ever guest elder of Zhaoyang Sect. And you, you damn fox, just had to wedge yourself in.

Ling Jinsong continued, “I know the affection you once had for me is gone…”

“You had better be clear,” Yue Mingxi interrupted coldly. “We were merely fellow disciples; don’t make it sound as if there was something more between us.”

“Old Yue, since our goals are aligned, I hope we can join hands as brothers once more—first to protect little Qin, and then to help each other in the search for the Immortal Land. The forbidden zone is not easily breached; over the years, countless Celestial cultivators have perished there. If we’re distracted or harbor hidden motives, we’ll meet a bitter end.”

Ling Jinsong appeared utterly sincere, looking Yue Mingxi straight in the eye. “You know as well as I do—by the time we reach the Celestial Realm, be we Sect Master or Vice Sect Master, all such titles become fleeting. No one will truly care about us.”

Yue Mingxi fell silent at these words, for they rang true.

Ling Jinsong pressed on, “Brothers may quarrel within, but must unite against outside threats. Should we both reach the Celestial Realm one day, we will still need to join forces, and little Qin must be with us. With his talent, even in the Celestial Realm, he will stand out. With him, the two of us can still carve out a future for ourselves over there!”

Years as Sect Master had honed Ling Jinsong’s ability to paint a grand vision; as Vice Sect Master, Yue Mingxi was no less adept, but he knew well that this time, it wasn’t mere empty talk.

To hold onto top talent, and seek shelter together in the Celestial Realm, truly was the wisest choice.

Yue Mingxi looked at Ling Jinsong. “Are you certain we’ll both succeed? And how do we keep little Qin by our side? Don’t forget, he’s just a guest elder, not our disciple.”

“If both of us find suitable Immortal Lands, that is ideal. If only one succeeds, we’ll share the spoils. Whether it’s the Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Polygonum or your supreme-grade spiritual herbs, it will be enough for us.”

Yue Mingxi did not refute this. The vital energy within a single ‘celestial herb’ was indeed sufficient for several to benefit.

Ling Jinsong said, “Recently, word came from the Celestial Sect that this time we may take some suitable people with us, and they want to select a few young geniuses… Chu Wanqing is very likely to be chosen.”

Yue Mingxi, understanding the implication, asked, “You want Wanqing and little Qin to be betrothed? Would your sons agree?”

Although Ling Kun, Ling Han, and Ling Chen had never made their intentions clear, a genius girl like Chu Wanqing—what young man wouldn’t harbor feelings for her?

Even someone like Li Ye, an outer sect disciple with no background, couldn’t resist secretly recording her image as his unattainable muse.

Ling Jinsong gave a mocking laugh. “Which of them is worthy of Wanqing?”

Yue Mingxi’s lips twitched. “You’re certainly blunt, as a father.”

Ling Jinsong replied, “Wanqing is my personal disciple, as dear to me as a daughter. I’ve observed her lately—she’s always running to little Qin’s place. She’s young, her heart is awakening; I doubt she would refuse this match.”

Yue Mingxi said, “Are you sure little Qin would agree? He doesn’t strike me as one to be distracted by romance. Besides, even if you arrange the betrothal now, when the Celestial Sect comes to take her away, could you stop them?”

Ling Jinsong smiled. “Who says I would try to stop them?”

Yue Mingxi looked at him in confusion. When it came to schemes and subtlety, he had to concede that Ling Jinsong was craftier.

Ling Jinsong said calmly, “If she’s taken, the betrothal is still arranged by me, her master—completely legitimate. Even Celestial cultivators would find it hard to force them apart. If they truly try…”

Yue Mingxi finished the thought, “Little Qin would come to hate them.”

Ling Jinsong nodded. “All I want is a connection. Only by staying with us does he have a chance to change his fate.”

He did not tell Yue Mingxi what had happened the previous night.

The matter of the sect harboring demonic cultivators could not bear the light of day. Furthermore, he didn’t want to give Yue Mingxi ammunition to use against him in front of Qin Yue.

One other reason Ling Jinsong hoped to pair Chu Wanqing with Qin Yue was concern that Xue Song and others might do harm to Qin Yue.

If they wanted to protect him, they had to make their intentions explicit—mere words would not sway those people.

…

When Yue Mingxi came to see Qin Yue, Tang Qingxuan, Chu Wanqing, and Ling Chen were all present.

“Why are you all hanging around here instead of focusing on your cultivation?” Yue Mingxi scolded, his face stern.

“Especially you, Qingxuan. Though you’re the Sect Master’s disciple, I am still your elder. Let me give you some advice—don’t get too involved in sect affairs. Seeking the Dao and pursuing longevity is your true path.”

Tang Qingxuan laughed. “You say that, but as Vice Sect Master, aren’t you always coming to see my little brother?”

Yue Mingxi was exasperated. “I have business with him!”

Ling Chen chimed in, “Vice Sect Master, we’re not here to bother Brother Qin, but to discuss cultivation methods together!”

Yue Mingxi waved them off. “Enough, you’re wasting your youth. This is the best time to cultivate.”

Seeing he truly had business with Qin Yue, Tang Qingxuan led Chu Wanqing and Ling Chen away.

Left alone in the guest hall, Yue Mingxi sat across from Qin Yue.

“Little Qin, do you want a Dao companion?” Yue Mingxi was direct.

Qin Yue was speechless. He had thought Yue Mingxi wanted to talk about the talkative Enlightenment Tree or probe for matters concerning the Sect Master, but not this.

“Vice Sect Master, are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious! On the path of cultivation, it’s not enough to have resources, techniques, and a residence. You also need a like-minded Dao companion!” Yue Mingxi looked at him frankly. “What do you think of Chu Wanqing?”

Qin Yue was dumbfounded. “She’s just a child!”

Yue Mingxi hadn’t expected this reaction and stared at him in surprise. “Are you that much older than her? Wanqing is sixteen, already a graceful young woman. How is she a child? You’re only eighteen or nineteen—sounds perfect to me.”

“I’m curious,” Qin Yue said. “Why would a Vice Sect Master act as a matchmaker?”

“That’s not your concern. Just say if you’re willing or not.”

Truthfully, he thought, if it weren’t for certain inconveniences and a desire to curry favor, the Sect Master himself would have come today.

Both he and Ling Jinsong believed no one could refuse a genius girl like Chu Wanqing.

Beautiful, supremely talented, soon to become the sect’s Saintess, her future limitless.

Yet Qin Yue, without hesitation, declined, “Vice Sect Master, it’s not appropriate. I’m still young and don’t wish to be bound by a betrothal so early. Besides, I only want to focus on cultivation. The ‘companion’ in wealth, method, companion, and abode doesn’t necessarily mean a romantic partner. Aren’t you single yourself?”

Yue Mingxi was at a loss for words. He wasn’t single by choice—the one he loved had been snatched away by that damn Ling Jinsong!

But he couldn’t say that to a youngster, so he simply asked, “Is there something wrong with Chu Wanqing? You don’t like her?”

Qin Yue smiled. “Wanqing is extremely gifted and shouldn’t be constrained by romance. I see her only as a younger sister.”

Yue Mingxi hesitated. “She may be taken away by the Celestial Sect. Once there, she won’t be free.”

Qin Yue looked at him. “Would the Celestial Sect force a marriage?”

Yue Mingxi replied, “It’s hard to say. She’s destined to reach the fifteenth layer of Void-Gazing, and if she breaks through nine layers of Cave Micro, she’ll be a peerless genius in the Celestial Realm. Producing better offspring through such unions is standard practice among the great clans.”

Qin Yue was bemused. “If I become betrothed to her, will that really change anything?” Not to mention that, in the eyes of outsiders, he was merely a somewhat capable inheritor of Green Bamboo Garden—even if his true strength was known, could he really compete with the Celestial Realm for her?

“At least legally, we’d have the upper hand. Zhaoyang Sect has deep roots in the Celestial Realm—both the founding patriarch and the second generation are well respected,” Yue Mingxi said.

“In that case, let them protect her. I’m not suitable,” Qin Yue replied, still refusing.

He was here to subvert Zhaoyang Sect. Even though he got along with Tang Qingxuan and the others, there was every chance they would become enemies in the future.

There was no need to drag a pure-hearted girl like Chu Wanqing into this.

Yue Mingxi left full of hope and returned disappointed. When he relayed the matter to Ling Jinsong, the latter could only sigh, lamenting how young people nowadays were too independent, unwilling to be constrained.

Qin Yue had thought this was merely Ling Jinsong and Yue Mingxi’s attempt to bind him to the sect.

But the next day, when he saw Chu Wanqing, he could clearly sense a faint sadness in her eyes. She still taught him the Falling Leaf Sword Manual with her usual seriousness, but had become notably silent.

Tang Qingxuan even came to see him privately, asking why he had refused such a good match.

“If it were you, Sister, perhaps I would have agreed!” Qin Yue joked.

“Don’t give me that!” Tang Qingxuan didn’t believe him.

“I came to Zhaoyang Sect, firstly because you strongly invited me, and both Young Master Ling and Wanqing have been kind to me. Secondly, I wanted a powerful backer and to learn some real skills, to smooth my cultivation path.”

Qin Yue stated seriously, “But as for other matters, let them be. If fate wills it, it will happen in the future.”

Tang Qingxuan, considering her master’s and the Vice Sect Master’s attitude, gained a new understanding.

He was a proud young man, calm on the surface, but unwilling to be controlled by anyone.

Indeed, if not for the desire to keep Qin Yue, neither the Sect Master nor the Vice Sect Master would have entertained such a notion.

For the sect’s Saintess to marry a guest elder wasn’t quite marrying beneath her, but there had never been such a precedent.

“All right, I understand. Wanqing is a little sad because of this—I’ll comfort her. In the future, you young people can make your own decisions.”

Qin Yue thought the matter ended there.

He hadn’t expected that very night, trouble would arise.

First, he received a message from Tang Qingxuan, telling him Chu Wanqing had left a letter and gone out of the sect to train in the mortal world.

As he was communicating with her, an ominous feeling struck him—he sensed a terrifying presence in the depths beneath his cave dwelling, about to lunge at him.

Had his constant use of earth escape to ambush others finally brought retribution?

Just as the figure burst out of the ground and lunged at him, Qin Yue snatched the small cauldron from his brow.

Like playing whack-a-mole, he swung it with full force and smashed down hard!

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