Embroidery Manor.
The retreat where Baili Bingyun resides.
"Mother, you’ve just broken through to Celestial Essence, and now announcing celebrations so pompously, won’t that cause many speculations?" Baili Yuyao expressed her concerns tactfully.
"Silly child, when I broke through, I stirred the energy fluctuations of heaven and earth, how could they not notice? If I didn’t make any moves, they would be even more worried. Now that I’m announcing it boldly, they’ll actually be reassured." Baili Bingyun chuckled, looking radiant and exuding the captivating charm of a mature woman.
"Then who should be invited to this celebratory banquet, mother, do you have a plan?"
"There’s no guest list, and no invitations will be sent. Anyone willing to co may attend." Baili Bingyun said confidently.
Baili Yuyao was taken aback, but quickly understood her mother’s intention. Although there was no list and no invitations were sent, this was a test for the major forces in Li Hen City and the tribal chiefs in Longchuan Canyon to decide which side they would take.
Those who don’t co, do so at their own risk.
"Alright."
"Yuyao, you’re twenty years old now, it’s ti to consider the matter of your life-long commitnt." Baili Bingyun suddenly said.
"Mother, I am an embroidery girl, aren’t I forbidden to marry?"
"Who said embroidery girls can’t marry?"
"Isn’t that the rule of the embroidery manor?"
"There’s no such rule. Embroidery girls just can’t marry outside but can have a man marry into the family. Boys belong to the father, while girls belong to the manor; if they are gifted, they can be trained for the next generation of embroidery girls." Baili Bingyun explained.
"Ah?!" Baili Yuyao was greatly surprised.
"At this Celestial Essence Banquet, I will announce to the public a call for suitors for you," Baili Bingyun said.
"Calling for suitors for ?"
"Yes, you’re not young anymore, should find soone to marry, don’t be like your mother, entrusting herself to the wrong person. But for you, I wouldn’t know what I’d beco if I hadn’t had you." Baili Bingyun said.
"But, mother, I don’t want to get married right now..." Baili Yuyao said, knowing she couldn’t resist her mother’s orders, but she truly didn’t want to marry off yet.
"Silly child, a woman must do the right thing at the right ti; you’re at marriageable age, you should find soone to marry and have children. By the ti I understood this, it was too late; hence, my misplaced trust. Alas, I can’t let you repeat my mistakes." Baili Bingyun said with heartfelt sincerity.
Hearing this, Baili Yuyao couldn’t help but feel moved; her mother was doing it for her own good, otherwise she could have simply ignored it.
"Actually, seeking suitors publicly is just a gimmick. I’ve already found soone suitable for you," Baili Bingyun said.
"Ah?!" Baili Yuyao was even more shocked.
"Haha, how could mother let you just find anyone to marry into the family; it’s just a distraction to these people." Baili Bingyun chuckled and explained, "To prevent them from thinking I might make any major moves against them, making them paranoid all day."
"Mother, the person you found won’t be Mr. Lin, right?" Baili Yuyao, being quite astute, imdiately guessed her mother’s intentions, asking with her cheeks flushed.
"Correct, it’s Lin; although he’s two years younger than you, he’s mature and steady and has excellent dical skills, which makes him more than capable of staying with you..."
Why does this sound off? What does it an he’s more than capable of staying with ; isn’t that belittling her own daughter?
"Mother, Mr. Lin already has a fiancee, not to ntion Miaoxue and Mr. Lin also share a very close relationship..." Baili Yuyao explained.
Baili Yuyao said, "What does it matter as long as you like him and he likes you?"
"Mother, am I Baili Yuyao unsaleable, that I have to share a man with another woman?" Baili Yuyao said displeased.
"Can you find soone better than Lin?" Baili Bingyun asked, "If you can find soone, I wouldn’t oppose it, but if you can’t, follow mother’s plan."
"Mother, how can Mr. Lin possibly agree to marry into the Baili family, aren’t you being too presumptuous?" Baili Yuyao said.
"I have discussed this with him; he agreed, it’s just a matter of changing identities." Baili Bingyun said.
Changing identities?
Baili Yuyao was stunned; can it be done this way? Mother, what kind of genius brainwave is this to pair her daughter with Lin Miao? Would such a solution be conceivable?
Is Mr. Lin your son, or am I your real daughter?
"Lin has an official identity in the Da Li Dynasty and the potential to beco a ’dicine Saint.’ Therefore, he certainly can’t openly beco the Baili Family’s son-in-law at present, but can quietly under another identity. Anyway, we don’t need him to show up all the ti, just let the outside world know there’s such a person." Baili Bingyun explained, "Back then, I also hoped that person would be like this, sadly, after he left, he never ca back to see you or your mother once."
"Mother, are you talking about my father?"
"He is your father, but not worthy of being your father. It’s been twenty years, and he knows of your existence yet never returned, what’s the need for such a heartless and unfeeling person?" Baili Yuyao said angrily.
Baili Yuyao knew, her father must have hurt her mother deeply for it to be like this.
"Mother, can you give so ti?"
"Fine, mother will give you two years; if you can’t find the one you’re satisfied with, then do it as mother said, alright?" Baili Bingyun said.
"Okay." Baili Yuyao thought for a while and temporarily agreed. Two years should be enough, if not, deal with it then.
At least I’ve secured two years for myself.
...
On the morning of the third day, Yue i’Er returned to Li Hen City alone on horseback.
Lin Miao and the others had already packed up. After breakfast, they were ready to leave Li Hen City and return to Dongshan. They had been out for almost a month, and it was ti to return.
Yue i’Er, having broken through to the ridian Passage Realm, was ecstatic. She beca even more convinced that Lin Miao was the "Chosen Saint Heir." Only this could explain why she could advance so quickly by his side.
Only the "Chosen Saint Heir" could have this ability and luck.
Moreover, after her cultivation advanced to the ridian Passage Realm, her voice within the Yue Family was no longer the sa. She was no longer just a candidate for Consort Yue. At least within the Yue Family, she could now be involved in so core secrets.
She felt a bit jealous; that seat in the carriage didn’t belong to her. If she were in the carriage, she would surely not be able to resist...
...
It takes a day to rush by fast horse from Li Hen City to Dongshan, but with a carriage, the speed is slower. Plus, traveling under the scorching midday sun is too hot, requiring at least an hour’s rest at noon.
Therefore, it took two days to reach the manor outside Dongshan City.
After resting overnight at the manor outside the city, they could return to the city the next day.
"Qiu Ze, this manor belongs to Miaoxue. It’s now our transit point between Dongshan and Li Hen City. You’ll need to co often in the future, so take the brothers to get acquainted," Lin Miao instructed Qiu Ze.
"Yes, sir," Qiu Ze responded and left to carry out the task.
"Yue i’Er, take to the secret room with the dragon egg!"
"Yes."
Yue i’Er led Lin Miao into the underground space of the manor. After several turns, they arrived in front of a secret room. This room was specially modified for the dragon egg. The glass window allowed one to see the dragon egg inside without entering.
"Mrs. i!"
"What’s the situation?"
"In recent days, the movent’s been increasing, and the cracks in the shell are getting more nurous. The little dragon inside is estimated to break out soon!" the guard reported.
"Open the door, let go in and take a look," Lin Miao ordered.
The door to the secret room was controlled by chanisms. Once activated, the brick door slowly retracted into the wall, revealing an entrance wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
Lin Miao and Yue i’Er went in one after the other and ca before the dragon egg.
Perhaps sensing the presence of humans, the little dragon inside the egg seed to wake up, starting to move around inside and bump its head against the eggshell as if trying to break free.
"i’Er, is there any record in the Moon Worship Sect’s texts about taming strange beasts?" Lin Miao asked, staring at the dragon egg.
"Taming strange beasts? Mr. Lin, do you want to ta this little dragon?"
"I just want to try and see if a strange beast can be used. The Snow Mountain Sect has snow eagles reared from a young age, and once grown, they beco companions. This little dragon might be possible too," Lin Miao said.
"We did kill its parents. Are you sure you want to ta it? What if its animal instincts remain unchanged?" Yue i’Er said, "Besides, raising such a thing, think about the cost!"
"Then should we kill it to eliminate potential future threats?" Lin Miao asked.
"Yes, I think that’s the only way," Yue i’Er nodded.
A dragon’s rarity ant there might be very few left in this world, but killing it was indeed a pity.
Yet, if it grows up to harm humanity, that’s a sin that can’t be denied. As precious as strange beasts are, they’re not worth more than human lives.
"Throw it into the glass-blowing furnace," Lin Miao finally decided. To cut the grass, one must remove the roots. Even if this little dragon knew nothing, he felt it couldn’t be kept. If it grows and gains intelligence, knowing its parents died by his hand, it might seek revenge, a risk he was unwilling to take.
"Okay," Yue i’Er nodded.
"And the Yin i?"
"He’s next door, with his pipa bone destroyed and his dantian ruined, now almost like a living dead," Yue i’Er said. "Keeping him alive is just to learn about the old sect leader, and at a critical mont, see if we can trade him for Miaoxue’s Long Po."
"It’s been so long. After Yin i ca here, no one else was sent?" Lin Miao asked curiously.
"No, perhaps there’s no one left to send. I’ve written ho asking about the situation. My father’s reply said everything in the sect is fine, the Sect Leader remains in seclusion, and about Yin i, I ntioned nothing!" Yue i’Er said.
Yue i’Er concealed the issue of Yin i, only saying that Yin i had co looking for her and that she provided information about "Si Miaoxue" hiding in Longchuan Canyon...
As for the so-called "Saint Heir" found, Yue i’Er lied, claiming Si Miaoxue had abducted him!
For now, Yue i’Er collaborated with Si Miaoxue, captured Yin i, deceived her father, and then demanded the sect send Long Po over.
"Didn’t your father ask about Yin i’s whereabouts?"
"He did ask, and I replied that I couldn’t contact him, so I didn’t know where he was. Logically, he should continue to urge to track him down," Yue i’Er said.
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