Chapter 1610: Chapter 65: Love Parting_2

Having finished speaking, he then turned to the two guards outside: “Before the auspicious day arrives, the young lady shall pray in the ancestral hall. You must guard the entrance well and not allow outsiders to disturb her!”

“Yes, Great Elder!”

The two guards outside shouted in response.

From the most honored lady of the Zhen Clan to a prisoner forced to pray, there was only the separation of a Naxing Letter.

Thinking back to her father Zhen Ding’s pained yet relieved expression as he left with the two elders, Zhen Ping’er felt somewhat sad.

In truth, she had never thought of escaping from the very beginning; the grand trend that the wise men of the Zhen Clan could see was naturally also visible to her.

She had planned to use the upcoming days to hand over the clan’s business and power completely, resigned to her fate, but she had not expected the urgency of the two elders, who did not hesitate to tear off all pretense.

The attitude of her father, Zhen Ding, made Zhen Ping’er feel utterly disheartened.

Sitting on a cushion with her knees drawn up to her chest, Zhen Ping’er looked up at her mother’s spiritual tablet and murmured, “Mother, do you hear that? Your daughter has been sold once more.”

…

In stories, heroes are supposed to appear at moments of danger, giving the plot its dramatic tension, but Xu Lao Ying was no hero.

So, after listening to the outrageous stories of the braggart, he flew on his sword towards Danmu Town, heading straight for Zhen Mansion.

The frigid winds of the vast sky blew his clothes, fluttering loudly, and also extinguished the flames of his one-sided affection.

For a member of the wandering Xu Clan, the full mastery of spiritual ability by villagers of the seaside fishing village was as preposterous as a slum dweller becoming a wealthy man, but with what identity could he save Zhen from them?

He and Zhen Ping’er were doomed to be people from two different worlds; to put it bluntly, if Zhan Clan’s eldest forced the Zhen Clan, he could at least give Zhen Ping’er the status of a concubine, and with her beauty and talent, it wouldn’t take long for her to become the darling of Zhan Clan’s eldest.

But he could not offer any status, nor promises; could he simply, with his own fervent love, go and destroy the life set before her?

Xu Lao Ying was seriously doubting the correctness of such actions to the point that he slowed his pace more and more until he finally stopped above Zhen Mansion.

His keen sixth sense saw through everything in Zhen Mansion; he heard the anxious discussions of the mansion’s guards, the excited chatter among the Zhen family members, and also the threats issued by the three elders of the Zhen Clan in the ancestral hall.

And hearing all this chatter from “spectators,” he suddenly realized that perhaps what seemed like coercion to outsiders might not be a bad thing for the Zhen Family.

The most frequent praises he heard concerning Zhan Jingquan were “Dragon Among Men,” “Peerless Stature,” “Foundation of Revival,” and the like.

It seemed as if by marrying off Zhen Ping’er, the Zhen Clan could ride the coattails of Zhan Jingquan’s mighty ship, eventually securing themselves a place along the Southern Seas Shore.

Indeed, from the perspective of Danmu Town’s people, Zhan Jingquan’s strength was beyond their comprehension; no stronger figure worthy of following existed within their sight.

Xu Lao Ying, although outwardly appearing frivolous and dissolute, was at heart a true descendant of saints.

Xu Clan’s upbringing made him, in some situations, put aside personal feelings to consider a much higher and greater stance.

Danmu Town needed someone to lead it forward; otherwise, it would remain weak and impoverished. Zhan Jingquan appeared at the right moment, on his own mission.

Before such a mission, does the personal preference of a woman matter?

From the perspective of both the entire Danmu Town and the Zhen Family, Zhen Ping’er’s wishes were insignificant.

And in matters of marriage, with parental commands and matchmaker’s words, if the Zhen Clan themselves deemed Zhan Jingquan a good match, then what significance would his appearance have?

Sitting despondently on the rooftop of Zhen Family’s ancestral hall, Xu Lao Ying thought it over and still felt he should leave quietly, until he heard Zhen Ping’er’s pitiable words that she had been sold once again.

Without knowing it, his body moved, and by the time Xu Lao Ying came back to his senses, he had already knocked out the guards and stepped into the shadows in the corner of the ancestral hall.

The two guards fell to the ground with a slight noise, the vigilant Zhen Ping’er immediately turned around to look towards the corner of the hall, and exclaimed, “Who’s there!”

Raising his right hand, Xu Lao Ying stepped out from the shadows with a baffled expression, slightly embarrassed he said, “If I said I was looking for Kaba but got lost, would you believe me?”

“Pfft.”

Zhen Ping’er covered her mouth and gently chuckled, then lightly pointed westward: “Mr. Kaba’s residence is towards the west, you’re in the wrong place, sir.”

“Oh, oh, oh, so it’s to the west!”

Xu Lao Ying, hitting his palm with his fist, feigned a sudden realization, turning clumsily like an unoiled wheel: “Well then… I’ll be on my way now.”

Turning around, swinging his head, Xu Lao Ying walked step by step out of the ancestral hall. He could feel Zhen Ping’er’s burning gaze locked onto his back, his heart overflowing with unwillingness to leave, yet not a word was spoken as a plea to stay.

The inexplicable situation left Yuanzhou of the Xu Clan deeply perplexed. When he saw his Zhen Ping’er again, she appeared very excited, the affection in her eyes undiminished. In his estimation, Lady Zhen, pressured by her clan, should have been eager to have him take her away.

But she said nothing, just quietly watching his departing figure, as if wishing to etch his image into her heart with her gaze.

One more step and he would cross the high threshold of the Zhen Clan’s ancestral hall. Yuanzhou’s legs felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds, unable to move forward.

“Cough… I’ve heard people say that something joyous seems to be happening in Danmu Town recently.”

Yuanzhou, with his back to Zhen Ping’er and not daring to turn around, asked casually.

“The Zhan Clan is performing the Naxing ceremony. That should be considered a great joyous event.”

Zhen Ping’er’s tone was light.

“So it’s the Naxing… Then… does the girl being taken agree to it?”

Yuanzhou asked and then immediately wanted to slap himself.

“Of course… she agrees.”

Zhen Ping’er’s eyes were alluring, her tone cheerful: “Lord Zhan of the Zhan Clan possesses unmatched divine power and has the ambition to swallow the world whole. In the future, he’s bound to be a pivotal figure in the Southern Seas Shore. Which woman wouldn’t want her man to be a great hero, a brave champion? Why wouldn’t she agree?”

“Is that so…”

Yuanzhou’s voice held a hint of complexity: “I thought that you…”

“Thought that I couldn’t live without you?”

Zhen Ping’er laughed, full of pride: “It’s too late. When I wanted to elope with you, you refused. A woman’s heart can change very quickly.”

“Although you, young master, are not bad, compared to the Great Elder Zhan, there’s still a vast difference. So, Ping’er has fallen for someone else.”

The woman exuded an I’m-sorry-you’re-late air of self-satisfaction, seemingly mocking the foolish husband who only learns to cherish after the fact.

If one were to listen with only their ears, it would indeed appear that the woman’s affections have changed. But Yuanzhou had the Tongyou Intention, and so he could hear the reluctance in her heart.

This reluctance was subdued yet stubborn, like a youth who understands the reasons but stubbornly dislikes following them.

And he was even more aware of where this reluctance came from. Originally, Zhen Ping’er was not averse to being taken as a star bride in the Naxing ceremony, but unfortunately, some untimely interventions made what was the best choice less so.

But in the end, one cannot live for oneself alone. Besides love, Lady Zhen had unfulfilled responsibilities towards her family; she could leave before, but now, it was no longer an option.

Yuanzhou felt all this, making him even more empathetic towards this woman. At the same time, he held some contempt for the men of the Zhen Clan.

Why is it that when it comes to moments of crisis, they always push their own women forward? Do these men of the Zhen surname not have any balls?

A somewhat annoyed Yuanzhou said gravely, “Actually, if you don’t want to, I could go find…”

“Don’t overestimate your capabilities.”

During the conversation, Zhen Ping’er, who had unknowingly drawn closer, wrapped her arms around Yuanzhou’s waist.

“Let Ping’er hug you for a while, just a short while…”

The woman murmured tenderly as she rested her face against his back.

Moonlight flowed through the open gates of the ancestral hall, casting a luminous glow on the stalwart and slender figure of the Xu Family’s young master.

In his dreamy peach blossom eyes flowed an array of complex emotions, and the woman clinging to his back held on tightly, as if she wanted to embed her entire being into him.

“Alright!”

Zhen Ping’er let go of her arms from around Yuanzhou’s waist and pushed herself away forcibly from the back that was akin to a whirlpool.

“I need to pray to our ancestors. Please feel free to leave, young master.”

With a resolute turn, Zhen Ping’er faced away from Yuanzhou and knelt on the cushion in front of the Spiritual Platform. Meanwhile, the silent figure from the Xu Clan stepped into the moonlight.

Their backs to each other, the man and woman did not realize that during this very encounter, the distance between them had rapidly closed, and their fates had become even more entangled.