First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1591 - A Slap in the Face

Late at night.

Fang Yourong returned to her residence looking a bit sullen.

“What’s wrong?” Liang Wenyu was perusing an ancient tome when she returned. He could tell at a glance that Fang Yourong was in low spirits.

“I don’t know what’s going on with him, but my little brother isn’t willing to tell me anything.” Fang Yourong sighed.

Liang Wenyu couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’ve been separated for three years, and he’s grown up. You’ve only just reunited. I’m sure everything will get better.”

Fang Yourong frowned. “Big Brother Liang, what kind of person do you think that Fellow Daoist Su is?”

Liang Wenyu thought it over, then laughed bitterly. “You’re overthinking this. Given our situation, who would plot against us?”

He paused, then said tenderly, “But I understand your concerns. You’re afraid Fang Han’s been tricked, but rest assured. I don’t think Fellow Daoist Su is a bad person. If he was, why would he go to such lengths to bring Fang Han back to us?”

Fang Yourong nodded, then said solemnly, “I’ll be sure to repay his life-saving benevolence one day.”

......

Meanwhile, Su Yi had already arrived at a teahouse in Cloudwater Immortal City. This was one of the secret gathering points of the Divine Mysteries Pavilion!

Su Yi took out Chu Baichan’s jade slip and passed it to the master of the teahouse. “I need information on the Liang Family, the more detailed the better. Money isn’t a problem.”

The owner confirmed the slip’s authenticity, then said solemnly, “Please wait, sir.”

About ten minutes later, Su Yi left the teahouse with a black jade slip. He then found an inn, booked a first-rate room, and quietly read through the jade slip’s contents.

Time slipped by. A long time passed before Su Yi set the slip down.

Its contents were extremely thorough and detailed. He now had a clear picture of the Liang Family’s situation.

The Liang Family was a faction that rose to prominence in the White Deer Province following the Age of Fallen Immortals. They’d existed for close to ninety thousand years now.

Compared to other, more ancient orthodoxies, their foundations were paltry and insignificant.

The Liang Family had three Immortal Lords in residence. The strongest of them was in the mid-stage Saint Realm, and his name was Liang Yuntao.

However, eight thousand years prior, Liang Yuntao had proceeded to the Church of Supreme Oneness to become an elder and continue his cultivation there. He now wielded vast authority.

This detail drew Su Yi’s attention, as the Church of Supreme Oneness was founded by one of Wang Ye’s greatest enemies, Jiang Tai’e!

It was Jiang Tai’e who’d killed the Red Dragon Dao Monarch’s foster father, the Black Dragon Dao Monarch.

Liang Yuntao was no longer present in the Liang Family’s territories, so the Liang Family only had its two early-stage Immortal Lords to hold down the fort.

The first was their leader, Liang Zhibei. The other was their grand elder, Liang Yunhu.

None of this meant much to Su Yi. What drew his attention was that Liang Wenyu’s situation really was quite bleak.

He was the family head’s biological nephew. His father was Liang Zhibei’s younger brother.

Alas, he’d lost both parents at a young age, and his aptitude for cultivation was middling at best. The family attached little importance to him, and they frequently mocked and neglected him.

A few years ago, Liang Wenyu fell ill, and his vitality was badly damaged. He’d yet to fully recover, and his cultivation had dropped.

Even worse, a few years prior, Liang Wenyu offended one of the clan’s higher-ups, and he was exiled from Mount Huang Liang, the clan’s primary territory. He had no choice but to take up residence in one of their auxiliary residences in Cloudwater Immortal Mountain.

Furthermore, according to the jade slip’s intelligence, the Divine Mysteries Pavilion suspected that Family Head Liang Zhibei was involved in the deaths of Liang Wenyu’s parents!

Apparently, Liang Wenyu’s father had competed for the position of family head, leading to fierce conflict between the brothers. Not long after Liang Zhibei seized the position, both of Liang Wenyu’s parents met with disaster and died.

But that wasn’t all. They suspected that even Liang Wenyu’s illness was the result of poisoning!

Of course, those were just rumors the Divine Mysteries had heard; there was no hard proof.

No wonder he resents his extended family so much. His situation really is far too cruel... thought Su Yi.

As he pondered, he took out a blank jade slip, used his divine sense as an implement, and started carving.

Before long, a mysterious, sword-shaped Edict appeared within the jade slip.

Su Yi let out a breath of turbid air, then tightened his grip.

Bang!

The jade slip shattered, and a rain of light shot through the air. In the blink of an eye, it had vanished!

......

Six days later.

It was early in the morning, and the heavens were clear and bright.

Su Yi and Fang Han met up, then went to the Liang Family’s Mount Huang Liang together.

The mountain was a famous, blessed ground for cultivation, and it was located within city limits.

Today was Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong’s wedding day, and the wedding was to be held in the heart of the Liang Family’s territory.

“Senior, over the past few days, Big Sister asked me about you repeatedly, but I didn’t tell her anything,” Fang Han mentioned along the way.

Su Yi smiled. “You’ve done well. I’ve prepared three generous gifts for your sister today.”

His gaze was a bit inscrutable.

“Three gifts?” Fang Han was stunned, and he couldn’t help but be curious. “Senior, can you tell me a little more?”

Su Yi laughed. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

Over the past six days, he’d spent a considerable amount of time and effort preparing for this upcoming wedding. Fortunately, all three gifts were already in place.

...

Halfway up Mount Huang Liang, in an ancient building covered in colorful lanterns.

The wedding was to be held here. Only those with invitations were allowed to participate.

Su Yi and Fang Han had the invitations Liang Wenyu had given them, so no one tried to intercept them. When they arrived, they saw that numerous other guests were there already. There were prominent nobles from Cloudwater City, as well as representatives of factions from other parts of the White Reed Province.

Guests were as numerous as the clouds, and the seats were packed with distinguished guests.

Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong were both dressed in red, and they stood at the front of the hall. He was handsome, and she was beautiful. They were an eye-catching sight.

At least in theory. Awkwardly, the guests paid little attention to the couple about to be wed. Furthermore, higher-ups of the Liang Family led the guests away as soon as they arrived; they had no intention whatsoever of introducing them to the bride and groom.

Not far away, an elderly servant was reading a list of wedding gifts aloud.

“The Huang Family of Moonwater Immortal City has given one hundred thousand immortal stones and a pair of purple jade scepters to congratulate the bride and groom!

“The White Reed Province’s Greenwood Immortal Sect has given three hundred thousand immortal stones as a painting of a pine and crane!

“The White Reed Province’s Cloud Armor Immortal Sect...”

The list of gifts went on and on, drawing widespread attention and discussion. It was a striking sight, but Liang Wenyu knew that these gifts would go to his family; there’d be nothing left for him!

His expression was dark, and his lips were pursed. He felt like a clown.

This was supposed to be his wedding, but he felt more like a decoration; he might as well not have been there. Worse, his clan was seizing this opportunity to rake in wedding gifts!

Fang Yourong clutched his hand and transmitted, “Don’t be angry. It isn’t worth it.”

Liang Wenyu took a deep breath and forced himself to smile. He transmitted back, “One day, I’ll be sure to get even for every grudge and every humiliation I’ve endured over the years!”

The depths of his gaze blazed with deep-seated hatred.

“Big Brother Liang, Fellow Daoist Su and Fang Han are here.” Fang Yourong suddenly smiled, and her eyes lit up.

Liang Wenyu looked over, and indeed, he saw Su Yi and Fang Han walking right toward them.

“Big Sister!” Fang Han smiled and said, “You’re absolutely gorgeous today!”

Fang Yourong felt warmth fill her heart. She said gently, “When the ceremony begins, I won’t be able to look after you. Stay with Fellow Daoist Su and don’t cause trouble.”

Fang Han nodded.

“And who are these little fellows?” asked the black-robed elderly servant responsible for recording and announcing wedding gifts.

“Deacon, that’s my little brother, Fang Han, and that’s...” Fang Yourong was just about to introduce Su Yi, but she never got the chance.

“No need for introductions,” said the black-robed old man with a dismissive wave. “They’re just two punk kids here to scrounge for a free meal.”

This wasn’t at all polite, nor did he make any effort to lower his voice.

Fang Yourong’s beautiful face reddened, and her eyes filled with fury.

Liang Wenyu frowned. “What do you mean, ‘scrounge for a free meal?’ Can’t you be politer?”

The black-robed old man smiled faintly. “No, I can’t.”

He then looked askance at Su Yi and Fang Han and said slowly, “Even if you’re just here for the free food, you can forget about attending the banquet without a wedding present!"

The old man’s prideful rudeness made Hang Han gnash his teeth in fury.

Wham!

A crisp, clear slap rang out, ruthlessly striking the old man right in the face. He shrieked like a slaughtered pig and fell to the floor, his face swollen end bleeding. Even some of his teeth fell out.

A moment later, an ornately dressed man walked over and kicked the old servant. “You’re nothing but a guard dog. How dare you speak to my Brother Su like that? You’re simply sick of living!”

The ornately dressed man was obviously angry, and quite aggressive, too.

This was Mount Huang Liang, the Liang Family’s territory!

Yet he’d struck directly, pummelling one of the Liang family’s servants without the slightest reservations.

Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong were unwittingly stunned. Who is this guy? How could he be so domineering?

The nearby prominent wedding guests were startled too. All of them looked over.

Fang Han exclaimed with delight, “It’s you, Big Brother Xue!”

The ornately dressed man was none other than Xue Hongfeng.

He grinned at Fang Han, then dashed up to Su Yi and clasped his fist in greeting. “Brother Su, we meet again. We’re truly connected by fate!”

It hadn’t been long since Xue Hongfeng and Su Yi parted ways at the Mirror Lake Immortal Assembly. Xue Hongheng had gone back home.

Yet now, here he was again.

“What are you doing here?” exclaimed Su Yi.

Xue Hongfeng said hurriedly, “Brother Su, I’m here on my clan’s orders to represent them at the Liang Family’s wedding. I arrived just in time to see that old dog bark at you.”

Su Yi instantly understood. Xue Hongfeng’s Xue Family was another Immortal Lord clan of the White Reed Province.

However, the Liang Family’s foundations were far inferior to the Xue Family’s.

Meanwhile, some of the Liang Family higher-ups rushed over in a huff, their expressions decidedly unfriendly.

How dare someone cause trouble in our territory? This is a blatant slap in the face!