As soon as those words came out of Xiao Yi's lips, he quickly found himself plunged into the wave of killing intent emitted by the master-and-apprentice duo in front of him.
Regret filled his heart, whether for carelessly blurting out those remarks or for treating his niece badly remained unclear.
Shrouded by bone-chilling, heart-stopping, and scalp-numbing murderous intent, Xiao Yi's entire body couldn't withstand the dreadful feeling of danger looming over him.
This caused his entire body to collapse, unable to support his own weight. He fell back onto his chair in a rather undignified manner. Not only that, but because his legs were unable to exert any strength, he ended up sliding off his chair and dropping onto his butt on the wooden floor, making his appearance quite comical to behold.
If it weren't for the fact that Xiao Yi was someone who had survived many life-and-death encounters throughout his lifetime, his psyche wouldn't have been able to cope with the terror of being the recipient of such killing intent from Xue Hui and his mysterious master. He would have surely passed out with foam at the mouth.
Although at the moment, Xiao Yi very much wished he had lost consciousness, since staying awake would only make his situation far worse than it already was.
"It sounds like Xiao Yi has an issue with marrying into our Divine Family. I wonder why?" Gone was the friendly tone; Xue Hui's voice now carried a hint of coldness.
The danger hidden within those words was enough to make the other elders feel their chests tighten.
The Divine Family was no longer like it had been in the past. With the enormous wealth and influence they had accumulated over the years, the current Divine Family stood on equal footing with the Snow Wind Family.
One word from Xue Hui was more than enough to drastically change the fate of a noble family like theirs, either for better or for worse.
Thinking about it, the old fogeys of the Winged Dragon Family suddenly had the urge to beat Xiao Yi black and blue for continually offending their esteemed guest.
"Is my Aunt Zema not up to your standards, Xiao Yi? Is it because of her age? Or do you simply find her unattractive? Then you wouldn't mind if I told Aunt Zema, would you? She isn't very good at handling her frustrations, so you can only blame yourself if she storms in front of your door and gives you a lashing."
Hearing those words, the important figures of the Winged Dragon Family felt a shiver run down their spines.
Not only Xiao Yi, but even the elders and Xiao Yufeng felt a sense of crisis bubbling within their hearts. Just the thought of Chen Zema causing havoc within their territory was enough to make them panic.
Chen Zema was known as a tigress, an extremely powerful and ruthless woman who became the stuff of legends after one unforgettable incident.
Back in her younger days, after catching her man cheating on her, she went berserk and wreaked havoc throughout the entertainment district, destroying the entire establishment where she caught him. Fueled by unfiltered fury, Chen Zema castrated the very same man by grabbing his twin pearls and ruthlessly crushing them with her bare hand. Striking fear into the hearts of all men.
Once the incident was over, no sane man ever dared to approach her, afraid that they would suffer the same fate.
Looking at Xiao Yi's pale face, Xue Hui's lips curved into a disdainful smirk.
Truth be told, this was not much of a punishment for Xiao Yi. Chen Zema was at that stage in her life where she wanted to have a child no matter what.
Due to her age, she had already given up on finding a proper relationship and simply wanted someone who could get her pregnant.
If Xiao Yi behaved himself and became a proper husband to her, then he might have a chance to earn Chen Zema's affection and end up having a happy married life.
But if it turned out that he was so useless that he couldn't even do that, then he would simply be discarded once he had fulfilled his purpose.
In the end, whether this was a punishment or a blessing entirely depended on Xiao Yi's capabilities.
Once Xiao Yufeng and the elders agreed to the marriage proposal and Xiao Yi was left with no choice but to abide by the family decree, everything proceeded smoothly.
"Good. Now that that's settled, I guess we can conclude this visit. Unless you all haven't had enough of me, then I don't mind staying for a couple more hours."
Hearing his casual remark, the already pale-faced elders became even more ashen, as though every drop of blood had been drained from their bodies.
All of them were on the verge of tears. The thought of prolonging the immense torment they had been subjected to nearly drove them insane.
If they weren't scared witless of the cloaked figure, they would have long since jumped from their seats and personally carried Xue Hui out of their estate.
To them, Xue Hui was simply too terrifying to deal with, so much so that they were willing to kowtow in front of Xiao Ning'er for ten days and ten nights just to earn her forgiveness, so they would never have to face Xue Hui's ire again.
Xiao Yufeng sighed helplessly. Although he wanted to spend more time talking with Xue Hui, he also understood that the elders beside him wouldn't be able to endure much longer.
"If that is the case, then I, Xiao Yufeng, thank Nephew Hui and your esteemed master for visiting our home. I will arrange the formal marriage visit as soon as possible."
With the discussion concluded, the cloaked figure gave Xiao Yufeng a curt nod before vanishing into thin air, leaving Xiao Yufeng and the elders utterly shocked.
"Okay, Uncle. I will inform Uncle Zhenlong and Aunt Zema about our discussion. Aunt Zema doesn't want an extravagant wedding, just a simple one, so please don't go overboard with the dowry. Our Divine Family lacks nothing. A modest offering will be more than enough."
Nodding, Xiao Yufeng felt much better after the discussion concluded, as though a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Now that the Winged Dragon Family was under the protection of the Divine Family, they no longer had to worry about their family declining.
"Ning'er, go on. If you want to accompany Nephew Hui, then you're free to leave. Your uncles and I still have things to discuss."
"Okay... Is that fine, Xue Hui? Can I accompany you?" she asked timidly, making Xiao Yufeng shake his head in amusement, especially after seeing the delighted expression on his daughter's face when Xue Hui agreed.
It didn't take long before the two bid their farewells to Xiao Yufeng and made their way out of the mansion.
Xiao Yufeng watched their retreating figures and couldn't help but feel emotional at the sight. Indeed, a daughter would eventually leave her father's side.
Sighing inwardly, Xiao Yufeng tore his gaze away from the two and composed himself.
There were many changes happening around him, and there was still much that needed to be done. The least he could do was give his utmost effort to keep the family running.
If he failed even in that matter, then he wouldn't have the face to meet his late wife in the afterlife when his time finally came.
Street of Glory City.
As the sun began to set, its fading rays painted the sky in shades of orange stretching as far as the eye could see.
Xiao Ning'er and Xue Hui walked side by side in silence, enjoying the gentle breeze brushing against their skin and the serene atmosphere brought by the setting sun.
Looking around, Xiao Ning'er couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of nostalgia, wondering why everything around her seemed different from how she remembered it.
Then realization dawned on her. The last time she had paid attention to the world around her was before she became trapped by the family affairs that burdened her.
Back then, in order to escape the engagement, she devoted all her efforts to training, hoping she could attain enough strength to change everyone's minds.
As a result, she neglected every other aspect of her life, including simply being a child who enjoyed playing around.
Then an image of Ye Ziyun flashed through her mind, causing her to feel guilty.
They had once been the best of friends, the kind who were always attached at the hip.
Then Xiao Ning'er simply stopped being friends with her. Worse, she began distancing herself from Ye Ziyun, not because she hated her, but because she envied her.
Unlike Xiao Ning'er, no one would ever force Ye Ziyun to marry someone, especially not the likes of Shen Fei.
Back then, Xiao Ning'er constantly compared her situation to Ye Ziyun's, and the more she saw the gap between their circumstances, the more distant she became.
"Are you okay? You look troubled." Xiao Ning'er was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Xue Hui speaking to her. There was a discernible concern in his tone, which made her feel bad for worrying him.
"Ah... nothing serious. I just thought of something I need to fix. Um... you don't have to worry about it, Xue Hui."
Xiao Ning'er hesitated over whether she should tell him what was troubling her, but ultimately decided against it. She wanted to resolve that issue on her own.
After a moment of awkward silence, she breathed a sigh of relief when Xue Hui simply stared at her curiously before nodding and dropping the subject.
As he walked a few steps ahead of her, Xiao Ning'er's eyes lingered on his back. Her eyes gleamed with fondness, her lips curving into a charming smile as an idea suddenly struck her.
Quickening her pace, Xiao Ning'er stretched out her arms and grabbed Xue Hui's arm, trapping it within her soft embrace.
The action achieved exactly what she intended. She now had Xue Hui's full attention.
Raising an eyebrow, Xue Hui turned his head to look at his captor. Their eyes met. Her cheeks were flushed red, but that wasn't enough to stop Xiao Ning'er from pulling him closer.
"Now what? Don't tell me I'm the one on your mind this time," Xue Hui asked with a smile, finding her actions quite amusing.
"Nothing much. I'm just basking in the fact that I'm finally free from my burden and have you in exchange for it," she replied with a sly smile.
Her answer made Xue Hui chuckle.
"I'm glad you are. With everything you've been through, you deserve to be happy."
Her expression softened affectionately. Warmth filled her heart as memories of her time with Xue Hui flashed through her mind and how everything had led to this very moment.
"It's because of you... because that boy riding on the back of a white beast all those years ago came to my rescue and pulled me from the depths of despair. Xue Hui, thank you for everything. Without you, I don't know what my life would have become. I... I love you Xue Hui."
Fueled by her emotions, Xiao Ning'er tugged on Xue Hui's shoulder, causing him to lean toward her. At the same time, she rose onto her tiptoes to close the gap between them.
The two met, and their lips touched. It was gentle, awkward, and filled with unspoken emotion.
Beneath the fading sun, amid the cool breeze and rustling leaves, the two of them let the world bear witness to their love.
.....
At an unknown location near the outskirts of the city walls.
Two individuals clad in dark gray cloaks stood silently as they gazed upon the magnificent city ahead. Both possessed a discernible aura unique to those who had committed countless murders.
"It's no use, Long Sha. With Brother Shen and his family removed to guard duty, we can't enter the city without drawing attention to ourselves. Even our members still inside the city can do nothing but keep a low profile to avoid being discovered by the City Lord's Mansion and the Divine Family. Those bastards caught us off guard."
In response, the cloaked figure named Long Sha let out a disdainful snort, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.
"The City Lord's Mansion and the Divine Family really think too highly of themselves. So what if they have the protection of Legend-ranked experts? Once our master emerges from seclusion, who will still dare act so presumptuously against our Dark Guild?"
As he spoke, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and an idea dawned on him.
His lips stretched into a brutal grin as he turned his back on the city and began walking away.
"Come, Gui Sha. I have come up with a plan. Since the City Lord's Mansion and the Divine Family believe they can walk all over us, it's time to remind them why our Dark Guild is not something they can trifle with."
After speaking, the two leaped away, their figures vanishing into the depths of the forest.
End of Chapter 73
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