Chapter 384 - 230: The Wu Family

Chapter 384: Chapter 230: The Wu Family

Inside the Inspection Bureau, Wuling City.

Fourth-Grade Inspection Envoy Wu Yiqi sat in the main hall with a young man. Frowning deeply, he looked at the youth and spoke slowly.

"Second Brother, there are countless women in the world. Why must you insist on marrying the young miss of the Luo Family?"

"Lao Liu, that’s where you’re wrong."

The young man continued, "Don’t you know? That girl from the Luo Family has comprehended the Kan Water Realm.

They say women are like water. A woman who has comprehended the Kan Water Realm is, in a word, supple!"

A lecherous look appeared on the young man’s face as he licked his lips.

A flash of disgust crossed Wu Yiqi’s face.

He disliked the man, but he was, after all, his second brother.

"The Luo Family may not be a big deal, but Luo Anning is a Taiping Captain. If you want to marry her, I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.

You know as well as I do what the Taiping Bureau is like."

Wu Yiqi said.

"If she weren’t a Taiping Captain, would I even need to marry her? She’d have been in my bed long ago."

The young man went on, "It’s precisely because she’s a Taiping Captain that I’m showing her this much respect.

No matter how overbearing the Taiping Bureau is, they don’t forbid marriage. Am I, the proper heir of the Wu Family, not worthy of a mere Taiping Captain?

Lao Liu, I’m not asking you to argue with me. I want you to help me decide on an appropriate amount for the betrothal gift."

A displeased look crossed the young man’s face as he continued, "The Luo Family is a minor house. If I give too much, they’ll be overwhelmed.

But if I give too little, it would be a disgrace to my name, Wu Yifan."

"If you’re asking for my opinion, I’ll give it to you: you’d best give up this idea."

Wu Yiqi said impassively, "This is Wuling, not the Capital City. There are some things you don’t understand, and some people you can’t afford to offend."

"Ridiculous! Is there anyone in Wuling I can’t afford to offend?"

Wu Yifan sneered. "I could even afford to offend Zhao Poni."

’The Governor of the Wuling Taiping Bureau, Zhao Poni, might be considered the most powerful man in Wuling City,’ he thought, ’but even he is nothing before me.’

’Even though Wu Yiqi is also from the Wu Family, his status is far beneath mine.’

’I, Wu Yifan, am the eldest son of the main wife. Though I have an older brother, he’s merely the son of a concubine.’

’One day, I will be the one to take control of the Wu Family.’

’And the Wu Family is one of the most powerful noble houses in all of Da Xuan, far beyond comparison to any family in a small place like Wuling City.’

’For someone like me, Wu Yifan, to take an interest in a woman from such a backwater town is her greatest honor.’

’Marrying the eldest legitimate son of the Wu Family would be the greatest social climb she could ever hope for.’

"I can only tell you this: the Luo Family’s daughter is very close to Su Mu. If you insist on formally proposing and end up thoroughly disgraced, don’t blame me for not warning you,"

Wu Yiqi said.

’I have no fondness for my second brother, Wu Yifan, and certainly no affection. This warning is the most I can offer, and only for the sake of our blood ties.’

’The whole reason I chose to join the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect was to avoid associating with certain members of the Wu Family.’

"That Su Mu? The one ranked second on the Dragon-Tiger Rebirth Rankings?"

Wu Yifan said with a sneer, "He’s merely in the Rebirth Realm. He earned a bit of a hollow reputation and now thinks a toad can feast on swan meat?

I’ve seen Luo Anning. She’s still a virgin.

I don’t care about what happened in the past. But if that Su Mu dares to pester her again, I’ll show him the gap between him and a true genius."

An arrogant expression spread across Wu Yifan’s face as he released the aura of a True Essence Realm Martial Artist.

"I’ve said my piece."

Wu Yiqi said, "Do as you please, but I’m not getting involved in this."

...

"Sister, what if I just go and kill that Wu Yifan?"

In a small, private courtyard in the rear of the Wuling Taiping Bureau, Xiang Xiaoyuan’s face was murderous.

Luo Anning, however, was perfectly calm. She shook her head. "There’s no need. The moment we acknowledge him, we’ve already lost."

"But that bastard actually went to the City Lord’s Mansion to propose!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan said indignantly.

After returning from Hujue Pass, she had sought out Luo Anning.

Luo Anning wasn’t the least bit surprised by her arrival; after all, Miss Luo had tried to buy Xiang Xiaoyuan to give to Su Mu on several occasions.

So, despite feeling a little awkward about it, Luo Anning had let Xiang Xiaoyuan stay.

After spending some time together, the two developed a close sisterly bond and got along wonderfully.

This was mainly because Miss Luo was magnanimous by nature, while Xiang Xiaoyuan, being worldly-wise, was skilled at getting along with others.

Not long ago, while the two of them were out, they happened to be spotted by Wu Yifan, who was visiting Wuling City for leisure.

This led to Wu Yifan going to the City Lord’s Mansion to propose marriage.

Luo Anning, however, paid it no mind. Her father hadn’t agreed, in any case.

Or rather, it wouldn’t have mattered even if he had.

Ever since she joined the Taiping Bureau, she was the one who made all her own decisions.

It was Xiang Xiaoyuan, on the other hand, who was furious.

’Where did this toad crawl out from, daring to have designs on Sister Luo!’

"Pay him no mind."

Luo Anning said calmly, her eyes returning to the Martial Arts manual in her hands as she focused on comprehending its secrets.

’It’s better to focus on cultivation than to worry about such trivial matters,’ she thought.

She had been training bitterly day and night and was already on the verge of reaching Rebirth Perfection.

"But I’m worried he’ll keep pestering you,"

Xiang Xiaoyuan said.

"This is the Taiping Bureau. He wouldn’t dare make a scene here,"

Luo Anning said.

"Sister, you don’t know how troublesome these Noble Family Disciples can be."

Xiang Xiaoyuan said, "There’s no depth of shamelessness they won’t sink to."

"As long as I ignore him, it’ll be fine. Surely he can’t force me to marry him, can he?"

Luo Anning asked, puzzled. "No matter how powerful the Wu Family is, they’re no match for the Taiping Bureau. He can’t force a Taiping Captain to do anything."