This was something the woman’s elders were unwilling to see, so they made this demand. However, they also promised the man that after the wedding, the two would have equal status, their children would bear his surname, and he would even be able to wield real power in the future.

These were incredibly generous terms, yet the man refused. But he could not withstand the woman’s desperate pleas and finally, reluctantly, agreed.

But fate had other plans. The wedding date was set and the invitations had been sent, but the man’s family was suddenly struck by a crisis. And so, a few days before the grand wedding, the man left and never returned.

The woman, thinking he had reasons he could not speak of, went to his home to find him. In the end, she left in sorrow and went into seclusion, not to emerge again.

Thirty years passed. The man’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He challenged cultivators far and wide, defeating all his peers until he was utterly invincible.

Upon hearing this news, the woman stepped out of her room for the first time in thirty years to challenge him to a battle. But he was too strong. She was a step behind and was defeated by his hand.

After the battle, the man became his clan’s leader and, with his elders’ arrangement, married. When the woman received this news, her personality changed drastically, becoming like a completely different person.

Her cultivation stagnated as a result. This not only cost her the chance to compete for the position of Sect Leader, but it also meant the Alchemy Realm lost a future Alchemy Master..."

Zhuang Yuechan paused, then looked at Song Changsheng and said, "My master rescued me from a mortal village that had been slaughtered by Demon Cultivators. I was only a few months old at the time, and he brought me back with him.

"But he never married or had children of his own, so he had no idea how to care for a baby. He sent me to an elder, and she was the one who raised me and taught me to read. Besides my master, she was the kindest person to me in the world."

At this point, Song Changsheng understood the whole story.

The man in Zhuang Yuechan’s story was his grandfather, Song Xianming, and the woman was Elder Xiao Qingwan—the very same elder who had raised Zhuang Yuechan.

As the saying goes, if you love someone, you love everything about them; if you hate someone, you hate everything associated with them.

Look at what his grandfather had done. He’d run away right before the wedding, causing the woman’s personality to change completely. The fact that Luoxia City hadn’t declared war on his clan was a sign of extreme restraint.

For Zhuang Yuechan, who was like a daughter and a disciple to her, it would be a miracle if she had any fondness for someone named Song.

Putting himself in her shoes, Song Changsheng felt that if he were in her place, not drawing his sword would be the height of his self-control.

So, he could completely understand her attitude. But what about Niu Dazhuang? Surely he wasn’t also raised by Xiao Qingwan?

After he asked, Zhuang Yuechan gave him a complicated look. "Senior Brother Niu is the Direct Disciple of Master Zhan. And Master Zhan was a suitor of my martial aunt, so..."

So that was it. He was the disciple of his grandfather’s love rival. No wonder he was so hostile toward disciples of the Song Clan. Suddenly, Song Changsheng understood.

"Oh, Grandfather," Song Changsheng thought, "how many other glorious deeds have you failed to mention? Not only do you have an ex like Elder Xiao, but you also have a love rival like City Lord Zhan.

"It’s a good thing Luoxia City is a strictly neutral power. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have come to our door to settle the score long ago?"

Song Changsheng was filled with a thousand emotions. That was Zhan Tianxia, the Second City Lord of Luoxia City, a man famous for his explosive temper. No wonder his grandfather hadn’t dared to attend the banquet. If Zhan Tianxia found out he was here, wouldn’t he tear him limb from limb?

In his youth, Zhan Tianxia might not have been his grandfather’s match. But now, one was a renowned Purple Mansion Great Cultivator, while the other was an old man at the Foundation Establishment Stage with one foot in the grave. The gap between them was wider than that between a man and a dog.

"I never thought Grandfather and Elder Xiao had such a history," Song Changsheng sighed. But then another thought struck him as odd. If the two of them had completely and utterly severed ties, why would his parents have brought him here to seek her out?

Just imagine it: the son and daughter-in-law of the woman who stole the man you loved show up with their son—his grandson—to ask you, the "ex," for medicine. It was a bizarre scenario no matter how you looked at it.

The grudge of having one’s beloved stolen is one you’d carry to the grave. Even if she did provide the medicine, would anyone dare to take it?

When he voiced his confusion, Zhuang Yuechan said, "Back then, my martial aunt and your grandfather hadn’t reached the point of completely severing ties. They simply had very little contact. As far as I know, when your father was born, my martial aunt even went on behalf of Luoxia to offer congratulations.

"What truly turned them into strangers was something else entirely."

"What was it?"

"Fellow Daoist Song, I apologize, but I have already said more than enough today. I will not tell you what it was, nor can I. Please do not ask about it again." Zhuang Yuechan shook her head, her expression firm. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

This reason was likely the "truth" of the matter, but it was clear Zhuang Yuechan would not tell him anything more.

Song Changsheng was still immensely grateful. If not for her, he would never have learned so much. He cupped his hands once more. "Thank you for everything today, Fellow Daoist Zhuang. I owe you a favor."

"You are too kind, Fellow Daoist Song. I will take my leave now." Zhuang Yuechan shook her head gently, returned his salute, and turned to go.

Just as she reached the entrance of the bamboo house, Song Changsheng suddenly called out, "If that’s the case, why is the Great City Lord treating me so well?"

He was referring to the special invitation and the fine accommodations. Given the relationship between the Song Clan and Luoxia City, he shouldn’t have received such courteous treatment.

He had originally assumed it was because his grandfather had a great reputation. Now it seemed his grandfather didn’t have a great reputation at all—it was in tatters. He felt it was a miracle he hadn’t been beaten to death by now.

Zhuang Yuechan stopped and pondered for a moment before replying, "It is what you have earned."

"What I’ve earned?" Song Changsheng was completely baffled, but Zhuang Yuechan had already departed swiftly, apparently afraid he would press her further.

"Sigh, what’s wrong with me? I invited Fellow Daoist Zhuang over to reminisce, and it turned into this." Gazing at the still-steaming tea, Song Changsheng shook his head with a wry smile. He had been far too insistent.

Sitting back down, he couldn’t stop wondering why his grandfather had really run away from the wedding.

He had been willing to leave his clan for her, which proved their feelings for each other were profound. Otherwise, a man with Song Xianming’s character would never have done such a thing.

But with feelings that deep, what could have possibly made him choose the most hurtful way to end things?

"A family crisis..." Song Changsheng repeated the words, turning them over in his mind. As he began to piece things together, a flash of Spiritual Light sparked in his thoughts.

The timing... wasn’t that precisely when Yungui Ancestor was gravely injured and Song Yunhan took over as Clan Leader?

"Could it be..." A guess formed in Song Changsheng’s mind, but it wasn’t an answer he wanted to accept. He decided he would have to go back and ask for the truth himself!

——————

Two days later, Zhuang Yuechan came to his door once more. This time, Song Changsheng was tactful enough not to bring up the sensitive topics again, much to Zhuang Yuechan’s relief. If he had continued to press her, her only choice would have been to go into seclusion.

"Fellow Daoist Song," Zhuang Yuechan asked with a smile, "today in the Dao Discussion Hall, elders from the Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect will be holding a discourse. Would you care to attend?"

"An opportunity this rare cannot be missed. Let’s go at once," Song Changsheng agreed without hesitation. He still felt unfulfilled after the last Purple Mansion discourse, and this time, it was a discussion between two elders from Golden Core influences. It was an event he absolutely could not miss.

And so, the two of them set off for the Dao Discussion Hall together.

Song Changsheng had clearly underestimated Zhuang Yuechan’s charm. The moment she appeared, she was like a flower in full bloom, attracting countless admirers like bees to nectar.

These were no ordinary men; each was backed by a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Zhuang Yuechan couldn’t afford to offend them with a sharp word, so she could only choose to ignore their presence.

Being ignored by Zhuang Yuechan, the men could only grit their teeth and bear it—a beautiful woman had her privileges, after all. But Song Changsheng, standing beside her, became the target of all their animosity...

PS: I was planning to finish this before midnight, but I ended up writing until now...