Chapter 81: However, I Must Remind You of Something

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: However, I Must Remind You of Something

A horse-drawn carriage slowly departed from Purple Cloud Valley.

Inside the carriage, Steward Lin was resting with his eyes closed. Yang Haichen casually glanced around, while Liu Chen was the only one to lift the window curtain, curiously observing their surroundings.

In both his past life and this one, it was Liu Chen’s first time riding in a horse-drawn carriage. ’This feeling is quite strange.’

"Is this your first time in a carriage, Junior Brother?"

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. He wasn’t aware of Liu Chen’s background, which was why he posed the question.

"You must find this amusing, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen nodded. ’No need to even mention my past life. In this one, I never had the means for such things back in the mortal world, and after coming to Purple Bamboo Peak, it was even more unnecessary.’

’When I first came here, Master brought me back by riding on a cloud. I vaguely remember being terrified of falling off mid-journey. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, but I was still shaken with fear after we landed.’

"The carriage is being pulled by a Second Grade Spirit Beast, a Fire Cloud Horse. At this speed, we’ll reach the Marketplace in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Yang Haichen didn’t respond to that topic, instead offering an explanation. A Second Grade Spirit Beast was equivalent in strength to a Meridian Passage Realm cultivator. If it weren’t for Steward Lin, they wouldn’t even be able to defeat a single horse.

However, since it was a Spirit Beast, that meant it had been tamed. Otherwise, it would just be called a Demon Beast, so there was nothing to worry about.

Silence fell within the carriage. A short while later, a town came into Liu Chen’s view, and upon seeing it, he lowered the curtain.

A few breaths later, the carriage slowly came to a halt. At that moment, Steward Lin slowly opened his eyes.

"We’re here."

Steward Lin stated this concisely. The carriage’s curtain was then lifted, and an Outer Disciple hurried over to help Steward Lin out of the carriage.

Yang Haichen and Liu Chen slowly disembarked. There was no driver for the carriage, and they had no idea how Steward Lin managed to make a Second Grade Spirit Beast travel on its own.

What greeted their eyes was a building that wasn’t luxurious but was filled with a rustic, antique style.

"This is Purple Cloud Hall, the place where Purple Cloud Valley interacts with the outside world. Each peak has its own independent courtyard to handle its affairs."

Steward Lin explained casually before leading the two of them inside. The three of them eventually stepped into a courtyard adorned with carvings of purple bamboo.

Inside the courtyard, one Inner Sect Disciple and four or five Outer Disciples were waiting. Besides them, there were two chairs, occupied by two stern-looking, middle-aged men.

"Greetings, Steward Lin."

Upon seeing Steward Lin enter, the two middle-aged men quickly rose to their feet and bowed along with the Outer Disciples.

"How are the preparations?"

Steward Lin nodded and looked at his apprentice, who was walking toward him. He had an apprentice, too. Otherwise, he would have worked himself to death running around alone.

"Master, the one on the left is Patriarch Yang of the Yang Family, and the one on the right is Patriarch Ye of the Ye Family."

The Inner Sect Disciple turned and gestured for Steward Lin to look. The man on the left appeared unremarkable, but he couldn’t restrain the aura emanating from his entire body. If he weren’t currently bowing to Steward Lin, his presence would have been even more imposing.

The other man was dressed magnificently and had several visible Magical Artifacts on his person, but beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.

"Forgive my rudeness. Patriarch Ye, please come with me."

It was impossible for Steward Lin not to have seen the two men, but he only turned his gaze to them now. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to handle the Ye Family’s matter first, which would also give Patriarch Yang and Yang Haichen time to catch up.

Steward Lin left with Patriarch Ye. Patriarch Yang’s usual stern expression vanished as he appeared directly at Yang Haichen’s side. Just as Liu Chen thought the two might embrace, he saw Patriarch Yang grab Senior Brother Yang by the ear.

"Gotten bold, have we? Leaving a letter and then staying away from home for five years?!"

Patriarch Yang’s words made the Purple Cloud Valley disciples, who had been on alert, turn away to admire the surrounding architecture, occasionally huddling together to whisper a few comments.

"Father, I’m an Inner Sect Disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak! Have some consideration for my reputation!"

Yang Haichen’s pained voice reached Liu Chen, who was busy examining the weeds at his feet, and he almost couldn’t stop himself from laughing out loud.

Inside the room, Patriarch Ye entered to find Steward Lin sitting there, engrossed in flipping through documents. He felt extremely anxious. After the previous patriarch was forced to step down, he had been practically invisible in the Ye Family. But when he presented Ye Linglong’s letter, everyone knew the Ye Family’s chance to rise again had come.

Sacrificing Ye Linglong had been a decision made by everyone. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, no one was willing to step forward. As the one who became patriarch after that incident, he could only bite the bullet and make the trip himself.

"According to the information Purple Cloud Valley has gathered, the Ye Family intended to send the former patriarch’s daughter to the Nangong Family as a concubine? If I recall correctly, this Ye Linglong should be a disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak now."

Steward Lin finished organizing the documents in his hand and squinted at the patriarch before him. His tone was relatively calm, but even more sweat appeared on Patriarch Ye’s forehead.

’The family has already discussed it. If this succeeds, they’ll go to the Nangong Family and break the marriage contract. Originally, there was some resistance to this plan, as the Nangong Family also has Inner Sect Disciples in the Three Immortal Sects. But with the end of the Purple Cloud Valley assessment and the revelation of the Second Grade Spirit Chef’s identity...’

’The Ye Family immediately made their decision. However, no one was willing to step forward to face Purple Cloud Valley’s questions here, or the Nangong Family’s inquiries later.’

’But he was the one who had instigated the matter back then and become the current patriarch. Could he really pass this responsibility to someone else? If he didn’t have the letter, he probably wouldn’t have even been able to enter Purple Cloud Valley, let alone anyone else from the Ye Family.’

"Steward Lin, we were forced into this by the second young master of the Nangong Family! We had no other choice..."

Patriarch Ye recited his prepared excuse. Since he had come here, he had come fully prepared.

"I was just asking casually. However, I must remind you that Liu Chen is a Second Grade Spirit Chef. You should know what that implies. Although he agreed to Ye Linglong’s request, he might not know about the marriage contract. If word of this were to reach his ears..."

Steward Lin shook his head and didn’t continue. He didn’t know if Liu Chen was aware of the matter, but that didn’t stop him from seeing that Liu Chen clearly cared for Ye Linglong. Whether it was the bond between senior and junior disciples or some other romantic affection, it didn’t change the fact that he could use this to put some pressure on the Ye Family.

’Even setting aside Liu Chen’s influence, the acting Peak Master has only taken three disciples in all these years. Isn’t it obvious what that means?’

’If I can resolve Ye Linglong’s marriage contract issue along the way, even if the acting Peak Master says nothing, it will reduce my own workload in the future. Disciples under the acting Peak Master are bound to become Inner Sect Disciples.’

’And if they become Inner Sect Disciples, I’ll still be the one who has to handle these kinds of affairs.’

’The Nangong Family is far away. I really don’t want to make that trip.’

"I understand! After I return, I will personally go to the Nangong Family to dissolve the marriage contract. I will absolutely not let this affect Young Friend Liu."