Chapter 22

After much deliberation, it seemed that Lady Wang had made a decision and sought out Li She.

When no one was around, Li She and Lady Wang naturally addressed each other as senior and junior siblings.

The fresh and elegant incense made one feel refreshed and at ease in the room. The top-grade pre-rain Longjing tea emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Li She and Lady Wang sipped their tea. "As expected, as you predicted, Murong Fu's ambitions are not small. The servants from the Manhua Manor reported that Murong Fu has sought out Yuyan several times, but they were all fobbed off by Auntie Xu," Lady Wang said first.

Li She nodded and replied, "My shop assistant also mentioned that Murong Fu is now doing very well in the martial world, known as 'Southern Murong' alongside 'Northern Qiaofeng' of the Beggars' Gang, they are called the twin heroes of the north and south. Murong Fu has eradicated many bandits under the guise of righteousness, but he has also amassed a considerable fortune and secretly gathered many young and strong men. He indeed has some skills."

Lady Wang had some understanding of Li She's intelligence network and believed that what Li She said was true. If Murong Fu wanted to recruit soldiers and horses, he needed a large sum of money. Business was slow, and the fastest way was to plunder. Murong Fu's public acts of righteousness were likely because he had his eyes on the wealth accumulated by these bandits over the years.

"Fortunately, we were prepared, or we might have fallen for Murong Fu's tricks at any time. I must thank you, Junior Brother. Yuyan's feelings for Murong Fu have diminished a lot recently," Lady Wang said with a smile.

"Senior Sister, you are too kind. If it weren't for the fear of Murong Bo's formidable martial arts, we wouldn't have to hide from Murong Fu. Sigh, in the end, it's because my martial arts are not up to par, and I can't help you, Senior Sister," Li She said, feigning helplessness. At this point, Li She's martial arts had reached the peak of the Later Heaven stage, and he was on par with the veteran experts in the "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" like Murong Bo, Jiumozhi, and Xiaoyuanshan. Lady Wang's meager skills naturally couldn't see through it.

Lady Wang changed the subject, "Sigh, my silly daughter, Murong Fu's shadow in her heart has indeed faded, but now there's you. What am I to do?"

Hearing Lady Wang's words, Li She secretly rejoiced. It seemed that his efforts over the past period had not been in vain. Entertaining this little girl was not an easy task. Li She feigned surprise and asked, "Really? I am her junior uncle, after all."

But seeing Lady Wang's cunning eyes, Li She straightforwardly said, "Senior Sister, but I do have a good impression of Yuyan."

Lady Wang spat out, "You little rascal," and then said, "Hmph, I knew you had ulterior motives. But at least you are not as insidious as Murong Fu. I am relieved that Yuyan will be with you. Our Sect of Freedom values freedom and ease. Although you have learned our sect's martial arts, you have not formally joined our sect, so the title of junior uncle doesn't count. But if I find out that you mistreat Yuyan in the future, I will flay you alive!"

Although Lady Wang's words carried a threat, they were spoken with her alluring red lips, which brought endless temptation to Li She.

Li She quickly made several solemn vows, promising to treat Wang Yuyan well in the future, before Lady Wang left with peace of mind.

Watching Lady Wang's departing back, Li She smiled with a sense of accomplishment, "Haha, the heroine of 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'? Done! Phew, the words of parents and matchmakers. Haha! Wang Yuyan, in this age of constraints, how can you escape my palm?"

Meanwhile, Lady Wang came to Wang Yuyan's room and saw her daughter, who was still sulking, destroying the flowers. Seeing the petals scattered on the ground, Lady Wang smiled and quietly approached.

"Yuyan, what's wrong? Why are you picking on the flowers?" Lady Wang asked gently.

Wang Yuyan, like a frightened bird, said hesitantly, "Mother, nothing, I'm just bored."

Lady Wang sat down in front of Wang Yuyan, took her hand, and said softly, "Oh, I don't think you're just bored. You're unsure about something, right?"

Wang Yuyan, whose heart was pierced by Lady Wang's words, lowered her head and said softly, "Mother, what are you talking about?"

"Yuyan, a man fears choosing the wrong profession, and a woman fears marrying the wrong man! You should know who treats you well and who cherishes you more. Although you and Murong Fu grew up together, I will not let you marry him," Lady Wang said firmly.

Hearing her mother's words, Wang Yuyan's eyes welled up with tears, and she sobbed, "Mother, why? Why can't I marry Cousin Murong Fu?"

Lady Wang's expression turned serious, and she said sternly, "Why? Haha, because that old villain Murong Bo is your father's killer!"

This news was like a bolt of lightning. Wang Yuyan couldn't believe it and said, "How could it be? How could Uncle Murong kill Father? Mother, how could this be?"

Lady Wang began to tell a half-true, half-false story, "Sigh, it's a long story. Actually, Li She is not your cousin; he is my junior nephew. The Murong family is of the royal lineage of the Former Yan, and after the fall of their kingdom, they have been hiding in the south, but they still harbor ambitions of restoring their kingdom. Murong Fu's name 'Fu' means 'restoration.' Our Wang family is a prominent clan in the south, naturally wealthy. Murong Bo needed to raise funds for his restoration, so he set his sights on our Wang family. Hmph! He went to great lengths to marry your aunt, who is not skilled in martial arts and is plain. How could your father, who was in good health at over thirty, suddenly pass away? It was Murong Bo's doing. Murong Bo's plan was that since you are the only daughter of the Wang family, if Murong Fu married you, everything in the Wang family would belong to the Murong family! With Murong Bo's formidable martial arts, we, a widow and an orphan, were no match for him. I have been enduring this for years. Fortunately, we met your cousin Li She, and we came to Bianliang to avoid the Murong family."

Lady Wang's words left Wang Yuyan speechless for a long time. Lady Wang knew she needed to give her daughter some time to think and comforted her a few times before leaving the room.

Lady Wang's words were like lightning, shocking Wang Yuyan to the core. Uncle Murong Bo had become her father's killer, and her childhood friend Murong Fu had ulterior motives. This explained why her mother had always been cold to him. It all made sense now.

No wonder Murong Fu, a martial artist, always talked about national affairs with his brothers, and why all the servants in the Yanziwu were skilled in martial arts. Wang Yuyan, who could memorize hundreds of martial arts manuals, had a good aptitude. After her mother's words, a series of questions connected, and she could discern the truth.

After learning the truth, Wang Yuyan could only cry, her tears soaking her clothes.

In this moment of her deepest pain, Li She naturally stepped forward.

With a series of moving words, barking like a dog, and telling jokes, he finally made Wang Yuyan smile.

With tears in her eyes, Wang Yuyan sobbed, "Li She, did you know that the Murong family was our father's killer all along? Why did you only tell me now?"

Li She sighed and said, "Yuyan, you are as pure as snow. This world is not as perfect as you think. Your mother didn't tell you for your own good. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried so hard to stop you from seeing Murong Fu."

Wang Yuyan lowered her head for a moment, as if making a big decision, and then looked up at Li She and asked, "Will you treat me well for the rest of your life? Will you not use me? Will you not have ulterior motives like Murong Fu?"

Li She felt a sense of satisfaction. The words of parents were indeed the greatest constraint of this era. With Murong Bo possibly being the killer of Wang Yuyan's so-called 'father' and the identity of the son of the killer, Murong Fu had no chance. He didn't want to be like Duan Yu, who had to persistently pursue Wang Yuyan to win her heart.

Looking into Wang Yuyan's sincere eyes, Li She said slowly, "The moment I saw you, I fell hopelessly in love with you. Your pure and lovely smile is my greatest treasure. I want to tell you that I love you. If I had to put a limit on this love, I would say it's ten thousand years."

This cliché, overused in modern times, was like a chemical weapon to a young girl in the Song Dynasty, instantly effective. Although Wang Yuyan had feelings for Murong Fu, she had never seen other men and Murong Fu had always been confident that she was his. He had never treated her with such moving words. Thinking of all that Li She had done for her in the past few months, Wang Yuyan buried her head in Li She's chest.

Adhering to the principle that one should take advantage when possible, Li She naturally kissed her. In the days that followed, after securing Wang Yuyan, Lady Wang immediately arranged their engagement. Although Wang Yuyan was still young, after the traditional three mediators and six gifts, their relationship was officially established. Li She, being an orphan, had no elders, so Lady Wang took on all the responsibilities.

After their engagement, Li She became even more unrestrained. Wang Yuyan, the unopened flower, was thoroughly examined by him. Although it felt a bit like a goldfish man deceiving a little girl, it brought Li She a different kind of excitement. Although the final step was yet to be taken, Wang Yuyan was now completely obedient to Li She.

The news of their engagement was known only to the Wang family and some trusted members of the 'Heavenly World.' Meanwhile, Murong Fu, who was traveling far and wide to restore his kingdom and amass wealth, was unaware that in the half a year he had been away, his backyard was already on fire. If he returned in a few years, Li She and Wang Yuyan's child might already be able to run errands.

After securing Wang Yuyan, the sky above the Li family mansion suddenly changed, and the dragon whirlwind phenomenon appeared again. It disappeared as quickly as it came, as if it had never happened. This anomaly was briefer than the one that disrupted Duan Yu's destiny, as Duan Yu was one of the main characters in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

Li She knew that this was the result of stealing the life fortune of one of the world's fate heroines, Wang Yuyan. If things had gone as planned, Wang Yuyan would have become the Empress of Dali, a legendary rise to glory.

The Divine Thief Order also glowed with golden light, absorbing the fortune. The spirit of the artifact smacked its lips and said, "Not bad, kid. You've stolen part of this world's fortune again. If you keep this up, as long as you don't get overwhelmed by the world's consciousness, when you return to the real world, the 'Divine Thief Order' might unlock its eighth seal."

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