Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 215 - 205: Dealing with it Privately, Majestic as the Sea
Lin Family, Family Head’s study.
In the study stood a large Maple Stone Case, upon which various scrolls and registers were placed.
A large "Flame Map" hung on the west wall, flanked by a famous quote from the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor.
"Ten thousand years is far too long; seize the day, seize the hour!"
Lin Bu Jing shifted his gaze from the quote to his father, Lin Zhan. He was puzzled, not knowing why he had been summoned.
Lin Zhan sat in a large, ornately carved red wooden chair. His expression was solemn as he gazed at the invitation in his hand, his eyes lingering on the name "Tang Baiwei."
Dragons and snakes do not dwell together, Lin Zhan mused. It seems Niece Tang has come concerning the marriage agreement.
He thought of his son’s situation and couldn’t help but sigh softly.
It’s to be expected. Niece Tang and Bu Jing have hardly ever met; there’s no foundation of affection. Fortunately, her visit is private, saving face for both parties.
Lin Bu Jing didn’t know what his father was contemplating. He still believed his father was troubled by the difficulties caused by the Great Elder and his faction, and was considering which shop to assign him to for work.
Lin Bu Jing’s eyes showed a flicker of struggle. Recalling his cultivation progress, he gritted his teeth and said, "Father, you needn’t be troubled about my placement. It seems I’m truly not cut out for cultivation. Just arrange a managerial position for me."
Upon hearing these words, Lin Zhan felt a great sense of relief.
He shook his head and said softly, "The Great Elder is nothing to worry about. I alone can easily bear the cost of resources for your cultivation. I am considering another matter."
"What is it?"
"About your marriage agreement. Back then, the Old Master and the Tang Family’s Old Master were life-and-death friends. They arranged your betrothal before you were even born."
"A betrothal? That’s absurd! I don’t need..."
"Haha, I also believe it’s unnecessary."
"..."
As Lin Bu Jing listened to the information his father relayed, his face was full of astonishment.
He had never heard of such a marriage agreement involving him.
Moreover, he already had a woman he liked in his heart; he didn’t want to marry a woman he had never met, even if she was a Heavenly Talent from the Phoenix Creek Sect.
「Elsewhere, in the City Lord’s Mansion, resplendent and magnificent.」
In a small pavilion on a lake, Hong Yuan and Le Congsheng sat opposite each other, perfecting their strategies.
Looking at the thick stack of intelligence reports in his hand, Le Congsheng smacked his lips, his expression one of astonishment. "Yuan, how did you get these incredibly detailed and comprehensive accounts of the Lin Family, Lin Zhan, his son, and their internal struggles? It’s simply unbelievable."
Hong Yuan, his mind momentarily diverted from condensing the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power, casually replied, "The Red Feather Mansion contains the Flame Sacred Fire Secret Realm; our Refining Equipment Hall values this place highly."
After answering, Hong Yuan said no more and continued to focus on forming the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Skill Talisman.
For several years now, Hong Yuan had contemplated forming the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power.
However, it required a medium, something akin to a Divine Power seed, which was why the progress of the Divine Power Technique had been slow.
Just like a Cultivation Worm, a Divine Skill Talisman could be transferred between the Original Body and an Avatar. However, without the corresponding Tao Marks, it would cause a conflict of Tao Marks.
DRIP. DRIP.
Within the Aperture of the Power Tao Incarnation, True Essence mixed with Ten Thousand Heavy Water, forming a faint, illusory black divine talisman.
However, this black divine talisman was extremely unstable and would disintegrate with the slightest disturbance.
But fortunately, the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power had begun to take rudimentary form; all that remained was slow accumulation.
And Hong Yuan had an abundance of one thing—time.
「The next morning.」
The weather was fair, the sun gentle, yet the sky was filled with endless dark clouds.
Escorted by black-armored cavalry, Hong Yuan and his party boarded a Dragon Tooth Tiger carriage and set off towards the Lin Family.
Even though Hong Yuan and his party traveled discreetly, their retinue still shocked the various forces within Maple Leaf City.
Passersby on the road quickly moved to the sides, watching the procession with awe and reverence.
The procession was vast and imposing, an intimidating sight.
Is that a Dragon Tooth Tiger!? I never imagined that the Fierce Tiger Fist form I’ve cultivated would merely serve as someone else’s seat cushion, lamented a young martial artist from a dojo who had just successfully opened his Aperture, feeling somewhat dejected.
Black-armored cavalry... truly the strongest legion under the City Lord, a local bully thought, his heart heavy.
At the Lin Family gates.
The walls were high, seemingly insurmountable even for birds.
The Lin Family guards at the gate trembled as they looked at the imposing black-armored cavalry and the ferocious, terrifying Dragon Tooth Tiger.
Even the captain of the guards was hardly faring any better.
As the captain hesitated, wondering whether to step forward and stop them, a steady footstep sounded beside him, followed by several others with less even rhythms.
"Go back," Clan Leader Lin Zhan said as he passed by, his words like a comforting spring breeze to the captain.
Thus, the guard captain watched as the highly respected Clan Leader personally went to welcome the visitors.
Lin Zhan stood on the threshold and waved his hand, dismissing all unrelated personnel. In an instant, only he, his son, Hong Yuan, and his companions remained.
Among the departing Lin Family members, two guards hurried towards the courtyard of the Lin Family’s Great Elder, who was at odds with Lin Zhan.
"Commander Mo, please wait here for a moment," an authoritative voice commanded from within the Dragon Tooth Tiger carriage.
"Yes, My Lord!" Commander Mo replied, and the black-armored cavalry waited quietly outside.
Lin Bu Jing gazed at the Dragon Tooth Tiger carriage, immensely curious about Hong Yuan and the other Heavenly Talents from the Phoenix Creek Sect.
Commander Mo could be considered the third most powerful figure in the City Lord’s Mansion, a man who could command the winds and rains in Maple Leaf City.
Yet, even he had to defer to the Heavenly Talents from the Phoenix Creek Sect. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
A fervent desire for the Phoenix Creek Sect, the Holy Land for martial artists in Yong State, burned in Lin Bu Jing’s heart. One day, I will definitely visit the Phoenix Creek Sect, he secretly vowed.
Once the outsiders were dismissed, Hong Yuan’s group of four stepped out of the Dragon Tooth Tiger carriage one by one.
Le Congsheng emerged first, followed closely by Tang Baiwei and Jiang Nai, with Hong Yuan bringing up the rear.
The men were heroic, the women beautiful—a dazzling sight for any eye.
Lin Bu Jing had been trying to guess which of the two beauties was Tang Baiwei. But when Hong Yuan appeared, his gaze instantly locked onto him, completely captivated.
The Jade Pendant on his chest emitted a faint glow, as if protecting him from the erosion of some invisible substance.
Lin Bu Jing sighed. So this is a Heavenly Talent of the Phoenix Creek Sect. His presence is as magnificent as the vast sea, making people afraid to look directly at him. No wonder Tang Baiwei admires him so. If my body hadn’t developed problems, I probably still wouldn’t be his match. A Heavenly Talent from an Overlord Sect indeed!
Hong Yuan, sensing Lin Bu Jing’s shocked gaze, gave him a warm nod before continuing to condense his Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power.
Lin Bu Jing hurriedly nodded in response. Even after they entered the reception hall, his gaze kept returning to Hong Yuan.
In the years since he had become a martial arts cripple, Lin Bu Jing had become extremely sensitive to emotions.
He could easily sense that, aside from the tranquil Hong Yuan, the others all harbored varying degrees of hostility towards him.
The confidence of a Heavenly Talent! If my constitution hadn’t failed me, I’m sure I could have entered the Phoenix Creek Sect and competed with talents like these. What a joyous thing that would have been in life! Lin Bu Jing felt a surge of ambition, only to immediately become dejected due to his own circumstances.
In the reception hall, Lin Zhan and Le Congsheng sat in the seats of honor, conversing with each other. The overall atmosphere was relatively harmonious.
On the other side sat Hong Yuan and his two companions.
Hong Yuan paused his cultivation of the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power and began to guide the flow of events.
Things are on track. Good, good, Hong Yuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
He was not a man who made promises lightly, but he always took the promises he made very seriously.
This was true for his promises to Senior Brother Mo Jiuyou, and equally true for those to Le Congsheng.
"Clan Leader Lin, we have come to your esteemed clan today primarily with a request," Le Congsheng said, cupping his hands.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and even Lin Bu Jing sat up straighter. Not only them, but Tang Baiwei and Jiang Nai also held their breath.
Everyone understood what Le Congsheng was about to say.
But just then, Hong Yuan’s brow furrowed. He looked towards the main entrance of the reception hall with a dark expression, and a chill spread through everyone present.
"Haha, honored guests have traveled from afar! May I ask what important matter brings you here? This old man will certainly offer all the assistance within his power!"
A hearty, elderly voice boomed as the Lin Family’s Great Elder strode in, accompanied by several other elders.
They advanced assertively, showing no deference whatsoever to Lin Zhan and his son.
