From Ning Prefecture to Qingyang, the journey was about twenty li, crossing several mountain ridges and a river along the way.
Although not too far, it was by no means convenient.
A caravan of roughly dozens of riders dragged cartloads of goods slowly along the mountain path.
At the center of the caravan was a splendid sedan chair, carried by eight burly men.
Inside sat the Zhang family’s Second Young Master—Zhang Qingyao.
As the groomer of “Treading Snow,” Zhang Yuge naturally followed this caravan, leading his white horse on foot.
They had departed from the Zhang residence in Ning Prefecture and traveled two days toward Qingyang City.
The purpose of this journey for the Zhang family was to formally propose marriage to the Zhong family in Qingyang.
Zhang Qingyao had long admired the Zhong family’s daughter, Zhong Bailin, and to show his sincerity, he was personally visiting the Zhong household.
Although both the Zhang and Zhong families were established clans, there was a clear difference in strength.
Qingyang was not as prosperous or wealthy as Ning Prefecture, and the Zhong family’s influence was naturally far less than that of the Zhangs.
Zhang Yuge had overheard the maids in the mansion gossiping: although Zhang Qingyao adored Zhong Bailin, she always treated him with cold indifference.
No wonder two months ago when Zhang Qingyao invited many wealthy and influential youths to go hunting, the Zhong miss had remained disinterested throughout.
“Young Master.”
Zhong Bailin was indeed a beauty who outshone all others.
Beneath her pure and youthful face, her enchanting eyes were irresistibly captivating.
It was only natural that a decadent son of a noble family like Zhang Qingyao was infatuated with her.
“Zhang San, how much longer until we reach Qingyang City?”
Zhang Qingyao pulled back the curtain and asked the man walking ahead.
Having been confined to the sedan chair for so long, the Zhang family’s Young Master wished he could teleport straight to the Zhong residence.
“Young Master, at this speed, we should arrive in Qingyang City before sunset.”
Still somewhat anxious, Zhang Qingyao asked,
“I know my reputation in Ning Prefecture isn’t great. Zhang San, what do you think the chances are that Bailin will accept my proposal this time?”
“Don’t worry, Young Master. You are a handsome and charming gentleman; everyone in Ning Prefecture knows you as a renowned man of great beauty. Besides, marriage proposals aren’t about whether Miss Zhong agrees or not—it depends on whether the head of the Zhong family finds you worthy.”
Zhang San’s flattery pleased Zhang Qingyao immensely.
“Good, very good. It’s worth all the Ling Stones and medicinal herbs I begged Father to secure. This time, I’ll definitely win the favor of my future father-in-law. If he’s pleased and gives his blessing, and Bailin is betrothed to me—how wonderful! Hahaha.”
Hearing their exchange, Zhang Yuge nearly laughed aloud.
They hadn’t even reached Qingyang City yet, nor formally proposed, and this second-generation heir was already calling the Zhong patriarch “Father-in-law” in private.
If the other side outright rejected him, it would be quite the spectacle.
“Exactly, Young Master. Father even gave you the Foundation Establishment pill that was meant for the Big Young Master’s breakthrough. Surely Father supports this marriage. In my humble opinion, we can offer our congratulations in advance.”
Zhang Yuge, who had read many cultivation novels in his previous life, knew that even Qi Refining cultivators were considered “Xianshi” in the eyes of ordinary people.
Scattered cultivators and minor sects rarely saw Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even the powerful Zhang family patriarch was only at Qi Refining stage nine.
Therefore, this Foundation Establishment pill was immensely valuable.
Having one more Foundation Establishment cultivator in the family could decide the rise or fall of the entire clan.
However, when Zhang San mentioned
“Big Young Master,”
The usually smug Zhang Qingyao’s face darkened immediately.
Seeing his Young Master’s sudden change in expression, Zhang San froze in fear.
“Sorry, Young Master. I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”
Zhang San slapped himself hard several times, reddening his face.
“Get out!”
Zhang Qingyao roared.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Zhang Yuge, leading the white horse behind, witnessed the entire scene.
He hadn’t expected the Zhang family’s Second Young Master to be so jealous.
Was it because his elder brother had already reached Foundation Establishment while he was stuck at Qi Refining stage two?
The caravan continued for nearly another hour, having crossed the mountain ridges, and arrived at a dense forest.
Within the forest was a narrow yellow mud path, barely wide enough for the large sedan chair carried by eight men.
Suddenly, those at the front of the caravan stopped.
A servant came to inform Zhang Qingyao that Miss Zhong Bailin and her entourage were coming out to greet them.
Upon hearing that Zhong Bailin herself had arrived, Zhang Qingyao jumped down from the sedan chair and hurried to Zhang Yuge’s side in a few quick steps.
“Young Master—”
“Get out of the way! Don’t block me, you dog servant!”
Zhang Qingyao shoved Zhang Yuge aside with one palm, mounted his beloved “Treading Snow” white horse, and galloped toward the front of the caravan.
Zhang Yuge clutched his chest, wincing from the pain, and silently cursed Zhang Qingyao’s entire family.
If it weren’t for the body training he had undergone recently, strengthening his physique, that palm from a Qi Refining cultivator might have crippled him.
Riding the white horse, Zhang Qingyao waved excitedly at Zhong Bailin like a child waiting for candy from an elder.
Zhong Bailin seemed hesitant upon seeing his wave; she glanced at the family elder beside her.
“Six Uncle, do we really have to… start here?”
The middle-aged man she addressed as Six Uncle spoke sternly,
“At this point, there’s no turning back.”
“But is it necessary to go this far?”
“Ling’er, this is your own choice. Didn’t you strongly oppose marrying Zhang Qingyao, that good-for-nothing?”
“But if we do this, what about Brother Zhang Qinglin…?”
“Don’t mention that ungrateful white-eyed wolf again!”
The Zhong family’s Sixth Elder interrupted Zhong Bailin.
“The original engagement was between you and Zhang Qinglin. For this, our Zhong family invested many resources in him. But after his successful Foundation Establishment breakthrough, he suddenly reneged on the engagement, saying he only wants to cultivate and has no interest in marriage. Bah! It’s just because he skyrocketed in cultivation and now looks down on you, who are still at Qi Refining stage six. Now Zhang Zhengzhi’s despicable son is coming to propose instead. A toad lusting after a swan—how outrageous!”
“…Six Uncle is right.”
Zhong Bailin knew the facts well and hated the callous and ungrateful Zhang family’s Big Young Master.
“Ling’er, now the opportunity is right before us. If we assist the Five Great Families of Jin City to eliminate the Zhang family, they will never trouble us again.”
“Mm, I understand.”
Zhong Bailin nodded, her gaze growing cold as she looked at the approaching Zhang Qingyao, as if she had made a firm decision.
“Bailin, are you here to receive me? Has your father agreed to this marriage?”
Zhang Qingyao asked happily.
“I heard you brought the Foundation Establishment pill. Where is it?”
Zhong Bailin’s tone was noticeably cold, and Zhang Qingyao’s spirits instantly sank.
But upon reflection, the match must be at the behest of her father.
Bailin herself was probably unwilling.
She must hate me for now, but surely things will improve after the marriage.
Comforting himself, Zhang Qingyao waved to a maid to bring the box containing the Foundation Establishment pill.
“Here, Bailin, inside is the Foundation Establishment pill. In addition, I brought many other treasures—100 high-grade Ling Stones, 1,000 medium-grade Ling Stones, and 10,000 low-grade Ling Stones. Would you like me to count them here?”
Zhong Bailin took the box, handed it to the guard behind her, and said coldly,
“No need to count. Thank you for the Zhang family’s kindness. Dismount and come over; I want to show you something.”
“Hmm? A gift in return?”
With hopeful anticipation, Zhang Qingyao jumped off his white horse and approached Zhong Bailin.
“Bailin, what is it that you want to show me?”
Before he finished speaking, a piercing sound of flesh being pierced rang out.
Zhang Qingyao realized a sharp sword had been thrust into his chest.
The attacker was none other than the Zhong family’s Miss Zhong Bailin, the one he had longed for day and night.
“Kill them all! Leave no one alive!”
At the Sixth Elder’s order, many Zhong family guards surged forward, slaughtering the Zhang family’s servants and maids.
Chaos erupted between the two sides.
“Help! Run for your lives!”
The caravan of dozens scattered instantly, with servants, maids, and grooms fleeing into the surrounding forest.
But the Zhong family had already set an ambush; arrows flew from both sides of the path.
Before long, over half the Zhang family’s people were dead or wounded.
“Wh-why…?”
Zhang Qingyao stared wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to understand why Zhong Bailin would do this.
“You’re not worthy of me at all. I don’t want to marry a worthless Qi Refining stage two cultivator like you,”
Zhong Bailin said expressionlessly.
“I know you’ve always liked Big Brother… but that doesn’t mean you have to kill me. You could’ve just rejected me directly…”
“Shut up, just go die.”
Several silver lights flashed, and Zhang Qingyao fell into a pool of blood, dying with unclosed eyes.
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