First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2467 – Shang Yun

Li Sanjiu stood in silence for a while before saying, “If you’ve already made up your mind, Fellow Daoist, I won’t try to dissuade you any further.”

Su Yi thought for a moment, then pointed at Shi Jian. “I’ll impersonate your disciple for the rest of the journey and follow you back to Qilin territory. That should avoid directly stoking the flames of conflict. What do you think?”

Shi Jian was stunned. He’s going to impersonate me?

Li Sanjiu’s heart pounded in his chest. “That would be best, but I can say with certainty that your disguise won’t be able to deceive the young mistress.”

Su Yi thought back to his first meeting with Qi Wei. He’d adopted Xiao Jian’s name and appearance, but Qi Wei saw right through his disguide.

He understood. Li Sanjiu was referring to the Divine Pearl of Heavenly Fate, a treasure that could sense his presence.

Su Yi said casually, “That doesn’t matter. It’s enough so long as I can escape the notice of the Great Yin Divine Race.”

Li Sanjiu sighed. “Have you considered the consequences of conflict breaking out in our territory, Fellow Daoist?”

Su Yi laughed. “Relax. Even if you’re forced to attack me, I won’t be upset with you. As for my safety… Well, you needn’t worry about that.”

Given his strength and the cards at his disposal, unless he ran into enemies on the level of Di E, the Dipankara Buddha, and Gu Huaxian, he really didn’t need to worry about anyone in the God Domain!

Su Yi pondered briefly, then added, “Even if this really leads to disaster, if the Great Yin Divine Race blames you, I’ll handle it.”

When he saw that Su Yi had considered the situation so meticulously, what else could Li Sanjiu say? All he could do was agree.

……

Nine Absolutes Divine Mountain, the ancestral ground of the Qilin Race.

This was one of the most famous blessed grounds in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. It was hidden far beyond the mundane world, and few knew its precise location.

Qi Wei stood before the window lattice of a pavillion. From here, she could see numerous other buildings. Pavilions and gazebos were scattered all over the place.

Many of her clansmen were shuttling about, bringing servants with them as they hung lamps, placed red carpets, and pasted wedding decorations…

It was little different from the commotion and spectacle leading up to a wedding in the mundane world.

Qi Wei watched this all in a daze, her bright eyes silently dimming.

Just three days remained until her wedding. Three days from now, she’d carry out her clan’s orders and enter a marriage alliance with Divine Son Shang Yun of the Great Yin Divine Race.

She wasn’t overly anxious, or was she overcome with grief. She just felt indescribable melancholy.

So what if she was the daughter of their leader?

When times were good, she lived without a care, but the moment something happened, her life would no longer be her own, and she’d have no choice but to bear the responsibilities that came with her position. She’d have no choice but to ensure her clan’s safety, even at great cost to herself.

Even though she was unwilling, and the clan was unwilling, circumstance had forced their hand.

Qi Wei now understood on a visceral level what it meant not to be in control of your own life. It was heart-breaking! She never wanted to feel like this ever again!

Qi Wei recalled the Ancient’s words once more.

“Those who enjoy power and authority must bear the corresponding responsibilities when trouble arises.

“You’re the young mistress of the Qilin Race. You were pampered from a young age, and adored by everyone around you.

“But should a problem arise, you’ll bear a far greater responsibility than your clansmen.

“Child, remember this. Nothing in human life, be it cultivation or interpersonal affairs, is ever easy!

“The smooth, worry-free days of your past are simply the result of others carrying these burdens in your place in silence.”

Qi Wei understood these principles, but now that the time came to pay the price, she found that bitterness and frustration hard to bear.

Suddenly, a cold, indifferent voice suddenly echoed throughout the pavilion. “Not even gods can escape the suffering of human life.”

There was actually someone else here, a fair, handsome man in white.

His seated figure was rather unusual; he sat cross-legged on a chair, his back as straight as a sword and his hands forming a seal in front of his stomach, almost as if he were cultivating.

His deportment was as cold as snow and as unfeeling as the heavens.

Most striking of all, he had a silver crescent moon marking at the center of his forehead. This was an innate Dao Marking unique to the direct descendants of the Great Yin Divine Race.

The Great Yin Divine Race called themselves the descendants of the Eternal Divine Moon because of this striking natural marking.

The man in white was none other than Divine Son Shang Yun of the Great Yin Divine Race. He was cold and indifferent, with bone-deep, aloof pride and confidence.

Although they’d yet to get married, the Great Yin Divine Race had arranged for him to take up residence in Qilin territory as of a month ago. This was, nominally, to build feelings between him and Qi Wei.

Qi Wei frowned, then said without turning her head, “The Great Yin Divine Race is getting what it wants. Why speak of ‘suffering?’”

Shang Yun’s gaze shifted to the window Qi Wei was standing in front of. “In your heart, you’re opposed to this marriage, but isn’t that true of me, too?”

Qi Wei was stunned. She silently turned to look at him.

This was the first time Shang Yun had said anything of the sort.

“I only have eyes for the Grand Dao. I’m not interested in anything else,” Shang Yun said with icy indifference. “If not for my clan’s arrangements, I would never have gotten married. What is a woman compared to the Grand Dao?”

This wasn’t particularly polite, but it was clear that deep within his heart, Shang Yun wasn’t at all interested in this wedding either.

Qi Wei pursed her lips, but she actually felt much more relaxed. Marrying someone disinterested is actually not so bad. At the very least, he isn’t interested in what goes on between men and women. He’ll just be a Dao Partner in name only, without any of the rest of it. That’s naturally best.

That was the only way Qi Wei could comfort herself, as their marriage was already settled. There was nothing she could do to change it.

“So you’re saying you were forced to do this too?” asked Qi Wei.

“No.” Shang Yun shook his head. “I don’t care about this trivial matter in the slightest. I naturally am not actively opposed. I’m simply carrying out a mission for the clan, no more and no less. It won’t affect my heart in the slightest.”

Qi Wei was unwittingly stunned. Is this guy seriously that indifferent? Is he so fixated on the Grand Dao that he doesn’t care about anything else at all?

Suddenly, her heart shook. She’d just realized a problem. Shang Yun only cares about the Grand Dao, nothing else. That means he’s capable of anything!

If the Great Yin Divine Race orders him to kill me, he’ll do it without so much as batting an eye!

The thought filled her with anxiety, but then…

Bang!

Someone pushed the door open.

A young man in brocade robes marched inside and said, “Cousin! Come with me, I’ll get you out here! Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let this marriage alliance ruin you!”

The young man was clearly furious, and he looked utterly determined.

Qi Lingjia, Qi Wei’s little cousin and the son of the third elder. He and Qi Wei had grown up together, and they had a deep bond.

“What are you doing here?” Qi Wei looked stricken.

Everyone in the clan knew that Qi Lingjia was spirited and acted without reservation. He wasn’t afraid of anything.

The third elder had been worried that he’d act up in response to Qi Wei’s wedding, so he’d ordered that Qi Lingjia be put under house arrest. He wasn’t allowed outside.

Yet now, here he was!

“Cousin, don’t fuss about how I got here. Just come with me! Hurry!” said Qi Lingjia. As he spoke, he reached for Qi Wei as if to drag her away.

Shang Yun frowned, then extended and snapped his fingers.

Bang!!

Qi Lingjia was sent flying. He slammed into a wall, bleeding from all seven apertures of his face. He was badly wounded!

“You…” Qi Wei’s face was ashen with fury.

Shang Yun said coldly, “How could someone so weak be qualified to oppose this wedding alliance? One more word out of you, and I’ll kill you!”

His tone was light and airy, but the cold, cruel indifference in his voice was enough to make one shudder.

Qi Lingjia was furious, but just as he was about to say something, Qi Wei clamped her jaw over his mouth and shouted, “Shut up and do as I tell you!”

Qi Liangjia fell silent, but he glared at Shang Yun hatefully.

Qi Wei took a deep breath. “This is Qilin territory, not the home of the Great Yin Divine Race, yet you just attacked one of my clansmen right in front of me. Don’t you think that’s over the line?”

Shang Yun didn’t even look at her. He just said calmly, “The Qilin Race will soon be our subordinates. Never mind attacking one of your clansmen. Even if I killed them, no one would be able to object.”

This time, Qi Wei was thoroughly enraged. I would never have guessed that he saw us as helpless victims he could slaughter as he pleased!

“Here that, Cousin? In his eyes, we’re no more than slaves!” roared Qi Lingjia. “I’m going to find the clan leader. No matter what, I won’t let this marriage go through!”

Shang Yun frowned, then swung at Qi Lingjia.

Qi Wei looked stricken. She stood before Qi Lingjia and said, “How dare you!”

“I said it earlier,” Shang Yun rose from his chair and said calmly. “I told him that if he spoke even one word more out of turn, I’d kill him, and I’m going to, even if you stand in my way or beg for mercy on his behalf!”

Boom!

Shang Yun swung his sleeve through the air, forcing Qi Wei back.

Meanwhile, he coldly approached Qi Lingjia.

“No——!” Qi Wei shouted in horror.

But Qi Lingjia wasn’t afraid. He roared, “Come on, go right ahead and kill me! If I die, the rest of the clan will see you for what you really are. It’ll all have been worth it!”

Shang Yun wasn’t at all moved, nor did Qi Lingjia’s words bother him in the least. He just raised his hand and pressed down on the air, right in front of Qi Wei.

Boom!

Divine radiance swept outward. Thunder rumbled and boomed.

But the power of that strike was neutralized in a flash, vanishing into thin air.

Shang Yun furrowed his brow, then whipped around.

Practically simultaneously, a group appeared outside the pavilion. The leader was a man in purple robes. He had a willowy beard and a dignified look on his face.

“Father!” Qi Wei inwardly sighed in relief.

The man in purple was none other than her father, the leader of the Qilin Race, Qi Jingxiao!

A group of prominent Qilin experts followed him inside. When they saw what was going on, their expressions darkened.

Qi Wei was on the ground, while Qi Lingjia was badly injured with Shang Yun was standing over him. The attack they’d just neutralized would have been lethal!

How could the Qilin experts not be furious? This was their territory!

But it was as if Shang Yun didn’t even notice their anger. He stood there, calm and indifferent, his expression not wavering in the slightest.

It was as if they weren’t even there!