Chapter 139: Heavenly Luo’s Probe

"Hahaha, Master Yun, it has been quite a while. How have you been lately?" Liu Zhen stepped forward, offering polite pleasantries.

Master Yun chuckled and replied, "I've been very well. As soon as I heard the joyous news of your esteemed daughter's wedding, I rushed right over, though it seems I'm still a bit late. I see everyone is already dining—I hope I am not intruding?"

"Not at all, not at all. What are you saying, Master Yun? The great Mount Tianluo gracing us with your presence and honoring us with your face is the utmost fortune of the Liu Family Manor. I will immediately arrange another table. We have plenty of wine and food, and setting up an extra table won't take much time at all."

A disciple of Mount Tianluo piped up, "Master Liu, are we expected to dine in this open courtyard alongside these common folk? Doesn't that diminish the dignity of Mount Tianluo?"

"Hahaha, Master Liu, when has this old man Yun ever been so petty? It is just my disciple babbling foolishly. We are all colleagues and friends; where is one not meant to sit? I see tables and chairs set up over there; we won't trouble the manor master further, we shall seat ourselves."

Liu Zhen forced a smiling face and said, "Very well, my son-in-law and I will come over to toast you shortly..."

Hearing these words, Ye Sansi felt deeply uncomfortable, and compounded with the alcohol in his system, he blurted out angrily, "This Liu Family Manor has its rules. Since a banquet has been set and seats assigned, guests should follow the host's convenience."

Hearing Ye Sansi speak out so bluntly, Liu Zhen panicked and quickly explained, "My son-in-law has had a bit too much to drink and speaks without a filter. Please, Master Yun, do not take offense."

"Sansi, since things are this way, I shall go handle them. Mount Tianluo holds great power, and our Liu family cannot afford to offend them. You may suffer a slight grievance in their presence, but it is best to avoid conflict. Besides, they will not be staying long."

"Very well, Father, please take good care of things here. I will go check on Shuang'er."

Master Yun nodded slightly, hands clasped behind his back, and walked with his disciples toward the martial arts arena to take his seat.

Ye Sansi furrowed his brow, deeply preoccupied. When Liu Zhen questioned him, Ye Sansi said, "Father, among the Mount Tianluo disciples who just arrived, there are three I recognize, and one of them bears a personal grudge against me. He did not recognize me earlier, but I fear he might figure it out when we toast later and seek revenge on this joyous day. I care little for myself, but I am afraid of startling Shuang'er."

Inside the chamber, Liu Lingshuang still wore her bridal veil, but recognizing the sound of Ye Sansi's footsteps, she softly asked, "Why are you back so soon? Have all the guests outside been attended to?"

Anxious, Ye Sansi hurriedly said, "Shuang'er, there is a man I wish to kill today, and I wanted to hear your thoughts..."

Liu Zhen patted Ye Sansi's shoulder with a smile and said, "Sansi, look at how old your father-in-law is. In the future, the revitalization of the Liu Family Manor will depend on you and Xu Xuan. You and Shuang'er should also work hard and give me a grand-child to hold..."

Ye Sansi blushed. Liu Zhen laughed heartily, telling Sansi to go ahead while he handled the remaining trivial matters himself.

"Of course I remember. That man was outrageous; he injured Taiyi and you nearly took his life. Why? Has that man come to the Liu Family Manor?"

"Yes."

"If you wish to kill him, then kill him. Since I have married you, I am your wife, and whatever you do henceforth, I will support. I trust your judgment, so go ahead and do it. By the way, who is it you wish to kill?"

Ye Sansi sat beside Liu Lingshuang and spoke in a low voice, "Shuang'er, do you remember a Mount Tianluo disciple who participated in Nian'er's martial arts competition for marriage back in Qingyang City?"

"Sansi, do you mean to say that this martial arts competitor and the one who harmed Fox Immortal Sister and stole her inner core are the very same person?"

"I cannot be entirely certain yet. After all, to retrieve the inner core for Fox Immortal Sister, taking his life is inevitable, but we must not make a mistake. At the right moment, I will test him again. If he truly is the one who harmed Fox Immortal Sister, I will surely make him pay with his life."

"That fellow was frightened out of his wits by you and fled in a most wretched and pathetic state. Isn't it going too far to kill him?"

Ye Sansi furrowed his brow and slowly said, "If it were merely a matter of injuring someone, I naturally would not finish him off. But just now, I sensed a strange aura within his body—not something a mortal should possess. Upon closer reflection, it is identical to the one belonging to Fox Immortal Sister..."

Lingshuang softly said, "Whatever the matter is, we can speak of it tomorrow. Tonight, stay and keep me company."

Ye Sansi agreed, nodding repeatedly.

Liu Lingshuang nodded slightly and whispered, "It is time to lift the veil..."

Coming to his senses, Ye Sansi quickly picked up the weighing rod from the table, lifted the veil, and stroked Lingshuang's hair. Looking into her eyes, he was overcome with emotional tears and boundless tenderness.

Liu Lingshuang covered her mouth and smiled, "Taiyi, you may address me however you wish."

Qi Fei stood up, patted Ye Sansi's shoulder, and laughed, "Brother Sansi, you are truly blessed. Your bride is not only stunning but also a woman of noble birth. You'll probably wake up smiling in your dreams tonight."

Night passed...

Both of them were exhausted and only woke up around noon. After washing up, Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang went to the reception hall to pay their respects to Liu Zhen. Taiyi was already there, and seeing the couple finish their bows, he stepped forward with a smile and said, "Sister-in-law, I suppose I must address you as such from now on, hahaha."

Ye Sansi smiled and said, "Father, you overestimate me too much. I am merely a wild man from the mountains. Lingshuang treats me well, I love her, and I only wish to protect her peace for all eternity. The trivialities of this worldly reputation mean nothing to me."

Liu Lingshuang chimed in, "Indeed, Father. Sansi cares nothing for fame, fortune, or worldly glory. If he wishes to wander the world freely in the future, then as an unfilial daughter, I shall accompany him..."

Hearing this, Qi Fei blushed, scratched his head, and chuckled foolishly.

Liu Zhen also stepped forward and said, "It is this old man who should be smiling in his sleep! Sansi possesses such great talent, whether in martial arts or cultivation, both are supreme. Moreover, you are a disciple of the Fancun Immortal Isle and belong to a prestigious lineage. Your future achievements will be boundless. It is our Liu Family Manor that has climbed high branches by marrying you, hahaha."

"Oh, you needn't worry about that. I've already arranged everything. Those traveling slowly have been given lodgings in the city, and those traveling quickly departed early this morning. By the way, as for your older brothers, they were quite peculiar—they vanished early this morning, likely having returned home as well."

"What about those people from Mount Tianluo?"

Hearing Lingshuang's words, Liu Zhen felt no anger whatsoever; instead, he was immensely pleased. He laughed heartily, feeling that Lingshuang had shed her spoiled, willful ways as an eldest daughter and was now considering her husband's feelings. With Lingshuang assisting him, Ye Sansi would undoubtedly go far, and as a father, he felt immensely proud.

Recovering his wits, Ye Sansi hurriedly asked Liu Zhen, "Father, Shuang'er and I woke up late. The guests from yesterday..."

Liu Zhen quickly replied, "Oh, they are staying at an inn in the city, saying they wish to come pay their respects again today and offer supplementary wedding gifts and the like."

While they were talking, Xu Xuan came in to report: "Manor Master, Master Yun of Mount Tianluo has arrived with his disciples, bringing a chest of gold and silver jewelry. It looks extremely valuable. They are waiting outside the gates and insisted that I report to the Manor Master before they would enter."

"Brother Sansi, there were too many people yesterday, so I didn't pay close attention."

Ye Sansi continued explaining, "We have encountered three of those disciples before. Two we met in Tianhai Village, and another is the one who injured you. I also sensed Fox Immortal Sister's aura on his body, so I suspect he stole the inner core. The natural disaster in Fox Immortal Village is inextricably linked to him. If we hadn't passed through that village, those innocent villagers would still be suffering in that catastrophe. I must demand justice."

With a subtle cue from Ye Sansi, Lingshuang nodded slightly and accompanied Liu Zhen outside. After the three of them left, Li Taiyi leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Brother Sansi, what is wrong? What were you and sister-in-law discussing? Do not keep me in the dark."

"Taiyi, did you see those Mount Tianluo disciples yesterday?"

"Hahaha, Master Yun is truly courteous. I hear he even prepared generous gifts; this is truly the fortune of the Liu Family Manor."

Master Yun also smiled obsequiously and said, "Master Liu, I came in too much of a preparation yesterday and prepared nothing—it was terribly discourteous. So, I had my disciples procure a chest of gold and silver jewelry overnight to come and make amends."

Li Taiyi nodded, rubbing his palms together angrily, "That fellow is utterly detestable! Whatever needs to be done, I will follow Brother Sansi's arrangements."

...

"Since Master Yun puts it this way, Liu shall accept it. Come, Master Yun, this is my daughter." Liu Zhen gestured toward Liu Lingshuang.

Lingshuang bowed in greeting, and Master Yun smiled, "Master Liu truly has great fortune! Your daughter is so breathtakingly beautiful, and your son-in-law must be a hero among men. I only caught a glimpse of him yesterday and spoke very little—why is he not seen today?"

"These gifts are too precious; Liu cannot accept them. Master Yun, you would do better to take them back. Liu accepts your kind intentions in spirit. How about that?"

Hearing Liu Zhen speak thus, Master Yun laughed heartily, waved his hands repeatedly, and said, "No, no! Yesterday, my disciples were somewhat presumptuous, unaware that an elder of the Sword God Sect was among you. It was terribly unseemly, and we felt ourselves quite overmatched. You must accept these gifts, otherwise my heart will be uneasy, and I won't be able to sleep peacefully for days."

Master Yun smiled, waved his hand, and said, "No, no! This old man admires heroes above all else. I heard long ago that the son-in-law of the Liu family possesses extraordinary martial arts, wields a divine weapon, and is invincible. I came today firstly upon the invitation of the Liu Family Manor, and secondly to witness Young Hero Ye's martial prowess. I wonder if I might have the honor of seeing it today?"

Ye Sansi was extremely cautious. Hearing these words, he thought to himself: *This old codger is clever. He wants to draw out the Heavenly Wrath sword with these words. Undoubtedly, that disciple recognized me and spoke of it to this old man. Though I know not what their motives are, I have hidden Heavenly Wrath well, and they will never find it.*

"Did I hear Master Yun mention my name?" Ye Sansi slowly descended from the martial arts arena.

Approaching the group, Ye Sansi offered a formal bow, straightened up, and smiled: "Master Yun, I have long heard of Mount Tianluo's formidable reputation, and it is truly an honor to finally meet you. I was somewhat inebriated yesterday and acted somewhat presumptuously; I hope the Master will not take offense."

Ye Sansi said, "Naturally I can, but having me wield a sword alone is not enough; someone must spar with me."

Master Yun smiled and said, "Young Hero Ye, how about I be your sparring partner?"

"That simply won't do." Ye Sansi waved his hands repeatedly, narrowing his eyes with a smile, "You are an elder, Master, and no matter how I look at it, I cannot do such a thing. Why not let one of your disciples accompany Sansi in a bout? It will allow me to witness the brilliance of Mount Tianluo's sword techniques."

"Very well then, Young Hero Ye. You may choose any of my accompanying disciples."

Ye Sansi chuckled inwardly, thinking: *This is effortlessly gained. You wish to test me? I shall pretend to accidentally inflict a severe injury on that disciple and leave some poison behind—he certainly won't live past three days. But before that, I must find a way to extract his inner core...*