“Father, Mother, Yu’er has something to say on this return,” Shangshuyu said.
The middle-aged man waved his hand, letting Shangshuyu sit beside him. “Yu’er, what are your thoughts? Tell me first. However, as your father, I feel that no matter what you think, nothing is more important than living happily. Isn’t it better to go out and play, free from the Family’s restrictions?”
The middle-aged man, named Shangshu Tianye, was the Clan Chief of the Azure Dragon Clan and Shangshuyu’s father. He did not support his daughter’s marriage alliance with the White Tiger Holy Land. However, some elders within the Clan believed that Shangshuyu’s marriage alliance with the White Tiger Holy Land was a good thing, because the White Tiger Holy Land promised that after Shangshuyu had children, they could be adopted into the Azure Dragon Clan, which would greatly benefit the Azure Dragon Holy Land.
Because the elders were all seniors, Shangshu Tianye did not directly object. Instead, he gave his daughter hints and an opportunity, letting her run away.
“Father, if I give you and Mother one Spirit Intent Grass each, can you make the decision for your daughter?” Shangshuyu took out two Spirit Intent Grasses and dangled them in her hand, but showed no intention of letting go.
Shangshu Tianye and his wife’s eyes followed Shangshuyu’s arm as it swayed.
“Spirit Intent Grass… you really got it. Keep it to improve yourself; you still need to sneak out and play!” Shangshu Tianye adjusted his posture. He felt that good things were better left for his daughter.
Shangshuyu then took out a Sword Intent Grass. “This one is mine! Father, what Yu’er is asking now is, if I offer these two Spirit Intent Grasses to you and Mother, can you make the decision to reject the White Tiger Holy Land’s marriage proposal?”
“Offering them to your father and mother… this is a great merit. Although rejecting the White Tiger Holy Land’s marriage proposal is a bit troublesome and requires offending some elders, your father will bear this matter!” Shangshu Tianye said.
As thoughts turned in his mind, Shangshu Tianye had already made his considerations. If there were only two Spirit Intent Grasses, his daughter and wife could use them secretly. But with three, there was a different approach. In the Family’s deliberation hall, Shangshuyu publicly offering two Spirit Intent Grasses to the Clan Chief and the Clan Chief’s wife was a great merit, and asking for autonomy in marriage was certainly acceptable.
Feeling that everything was in order, Shangshu Tianye burst into laughter.
“Father, what are you laughing at? You must handle this matter well. Your daughter’s lifelong happiness depends on you,” Shangshuyu said.
“The reason your father hasn’t stated his position is simply because he doesn’t want to make those elders look bad. You should know that your father rarely decides anything easily, but once he decides, it cannot be changed!” Shangshu Tianye said.
Shangshuyu nodded. She understood her father; he indeed rarely decided anything and didn’t often inquire about Clan matters. But once he made an arrangement, it was unquestionable, and no one could defy it.
“Tomorrow, your father will go to the Azure Dragon Holy Temple, convene a meeting of all elders, and discuss the recent turmoil in the Jianghu. You bring the Spirit Intent Grass, publicly offer it to the Clan Chief and the Clan Chief’s wife, then request autonomy in your marriage. Then, your father will approve it,” Shangshu Tianye instructed Shangshuyu.
Shangshuyu stepped forward and hugged Shangshu Tianye. “I knew Father loved Yu’er the most.”
“That’s nonsense! If your father really wanted to arrange your marriage, could you have run away? How many years has Grandma Yu not left the Clan territory? She only went out for you,” Shangshu Tianye scolded Shangshuyu good-naturedly.
“Yu’er, you’ve been away for several years. What have you seen outside?” the beautiful woman beside Shangshu Tianye asked. Her name was Zhen Han, the Clan Chief’s wife of the Azure Dragon Holy Land. She looked young, but was actually quite old; she simply had techniques to preserve her youth. The Crown Prince of the Azure Dragon Holy Land was already fifty years old, and Shangshuyu was the youngest child of Shangshu Tianye and Zhen Han.
“I’ve seen quite a lot. I’ve seen the treachery of human hearts and made friends,” Shangshuyu said.
“You even made friends?” Shangshu Tianye looked at his daughter.
“Yes, where do you think your daughter’s Sword Intent Grass and Spirit Intent Grass came from? They were given by him!” Shangshuyu said with a smile.
Shangshu Tianye looked at Shangshuyu with eyes that shone with light. “Yu’er, you’re not talking about Qin Chu, who has been causing a stir recently, the one countless people in the world want to kill, are you?”
“Want him dead… they’d need the ability to do so. Many people want him dead, but he’s still living perfectly fine!” Shangshuyu’s face lit up when Qin Chu was mentioned.
“That boy has been causing a lot of trouble recently. Your father has heard some things. Now, tell your father in detail!” Shangshu Tianye inquired. Although he stayed in the Azure Dragon Holy Land, nothing in the world could escape his notice.
“Then Yu’er will say what she can. He is eighteen years old this year. He was raised by an old man when he was young. At fifteen, he joined the Azure Cloud Sect as a Utility Disciple. As a Utility Disciple, he defeated Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and Core Disciples. Just a while ago, he even killed an opponent in the Middle Stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm, and his current Cultivation is at the seventh level of the Fourth-Stage Spirit Yuan Realm,” Shangshuyu said. She mentioned Qin Chu’s Cultivation to show how fast Qin Chu Cultivated, and also to demonstrate Qin Chu’s ability to fight above his level.
“So, he’s very outstanding!” Zhen Han asked, looking at her daughter.
“More than outstanding, he possesses the Sword Spirit Realm and has Five-Level Sword Intent. In short, he has some very deep foundations, but I promised him not to reveal his secrets,” Shangshuyu said.
“Eighteen years old with the Sword Spirit Realm and Five-Level Sword Intent, this is a promising talent for the Dao of the Sword! When you have time, bring him to our Azure Dragon Holy Land. Your father will talk to him. If he is willing to serve the Azure Dragon Holy Land, then your father will take action to help him resolve his troubles,” Shangshu Tianye said.
“Father, don’t even think about it. As far as I know, the Alchemist Guild and Demon Castle are both interested in him, but he hasn’t considered any of them. He won’t be restricted,” Shangshuyu said.
Shangshu Tianye shook his head. “He’s a good talent, but such a raw talent is easily killed. The White Tiger Holy Land and the Blazing Thunder Holy Land won’t let him go.”
“No, he will absolutely not be killed!” Shangshuyu’s voice rose. She didn’t want to see anything happen to Qin Chu, nor did she want anyone to speak ill of him.
Shangshuyu left, and Shangshu Tianye exchanged glances with his wife.
“It seems we need to investigate the background of this boy named Qin Chu. Yu’er is too naive. If he dares to use our daughter, he will die a very unpleasant death!” A coldness appeared on Shangshu Tianye’s face.
The next day, Shangshu Tianye convened a Family meeting in the Azure Dragon Holy Temple, announcing the Azure Dragon Holy Land’s future development path: no matter how the Blade God Valley, White Tiger Holy Land, and Blazing Thunder Holy Land fought, the Azure Dragon Holy Land would not participate or pay attention, but anyone who dared to touch the Azure Dragon Holy Land’s sphere of influence would be killed directly!
After Shangshu Tianye finished the Clan meeting, Shangshuyu entered the main hall, took out the Spirit Intent Grass, and stated that she was offering it to the Clan Chief and the Clan Chief’s wife. She didn’t say she was offering it to her parents, which showed wisdom.
“Two Spirit Intent Grasses… this Chief and my wife will accept them. This is a great merit. What reward do you seek?” Shangshu Tianye asked Shangshuyu after handing the Spirit Intent Grass to his wife.
“Shangshuyu seeks no reward, only freedom and autonomy in her marriage,” Shangshuyu went straight to the point.
Shangshu Tianye slammed the armrest of his seat. “Such a small request, this Chief approves it.”
Shangshu Tianye slamming the armrest of his seat was not a trivial matter; it startled everyone in the hall. How could anyone object now? Shangshu Tianye had preempted them!