Chapter 67

Liu Yi didn’t play any tricks; she just kept drinking with Lu Li, one cup after another, for seven or eight cups in a row. Lu Li was fine, but Liu Yi’s face was flushed, her eyes hazy, clearly already drunk.

It had to be said that although Liu Yi’s appearance wasn’t the most beautiful, it was still excellent, especially the noble and graceful demeanor cultivated from her birth into a prominent family, which the women of the Dilong tribe couldn’t compare to.

A beautiful woman, drunk, with her skin rosy and soft, her movements unsteady, and her eyes hazy, was extremely alluring. Lu Li had also drunk quite a bit and was a young man in his prime who rarely interacted with women, let alone drink so closely with a beautiful woman.

The night was picturesque, the scenery beautiful, and the beauty exhaled a fragrant breath, her body emitting a faint, sweet scent. Lu Li, even if he wasn’t drunk, was almost intoxicated. He saw Liu Yi wobbling as she stood up to pour him another drink, and he quickly reached out to grab the wine bottle, but unexpectedly grabbed Liu Yi’s jade-like hand.

He quickly let go, embarrassed, and said, "Miss Liu Yi, don’t drink anymore, you’re already drunk!"

But Liu Yi didn’t care. She poured a cup for Lu Li and filled her own cup to the brim, spilling some. She drank it in one gulp, then closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, looking at the distant garden and said, "Lu Li, I won’t beat around the bush. Today, I invited you to this banquet on behalf of my family. If you agree—apart from me, you can marry any of the other young ladies, even... spend the night with them tonight!"

Lu Li had already guessed. The Qinglong Spear and Yinhong Sword he submitted today revealed many things, and it was reasonable for the Liu family to value him so much.

A genius was of great significance to a family, while a direct-line young lady was nothing to the elders. If Lu Li married this young lady, he would be considered part of the Liu family’s inner circle.

Lu Li didn’t respond, and Liu Yi didn’t push him, continuing with a bitter smile, "It’s both laughable and tragic. We, the direct-line young ladies of these families, may look glamorous and high up, but it’s all a facade. We are even worse off than ordinary girls from a tribe, because when the family needs us, we must sacrifice ourselves at any time."

As Liu Yi spoke, a mocking smile appeared on her face, and she shook her head, "Do you know why the Zhao family was able to connect with Lord Yu? Do you really think Lord Yu values the Zhao family’s strength? Or that the Zhao family patriarch is good at flattery? Wrong! In fact, at Han Yun Mountain, the Zhao family patriarch gave his precious daughter to Lord Yu, and without any formal status. Once Lord Yu finishes his business at Han Yun Mountain, the Zhao family’s young lady will be mercilessly discarded."

"Ah?"

Lu Li was full of shock, and he was mostly sober now. He had heard that the young ladies of prominent families couldn’t decide their own marriages, but he didn’t expect the Zhao family to be so ruthless, giving a noble young lady to a powerful figure for free...

"Ha ha, isn’t it laughable?"

The mockery on Liu Yi’s lips deepened. She turned to look at Lu Li and said, word by word, "Actually... you don’t know, that night I was also sent over, but Lord Yu didn’t fancy me. And I was even given to three other lords, and none of them chose me. Ha ha ha!"

As Liu Yi spoke, tears silently streamed down her face. She was laughing loudly but also crying, a sight that stirred Lu Li’s heart, leaving him deeply shaken.

"Miss Liu Yi..."

Lu Li wanted to comfort Liu Yi but didn’t know what to say. Liu Yi wiped the tears from her eyes, drank another cup, and then looked up at Lu Li, "Do you think the Liu family and the Zhao family are very dirty? Lu Li, this world is much bigger than you think. Even in Beimo, there are countless prominent families. Our Liu family may be the dominant force in Wuling City, but outside, any powerful figure could destroy us. For example, Lord Yu, he doesn’t even need to act himself; he could send a subordinate to do it. To connect with such a powerful figure, sacrificing a young lady from the family is nothing, even if the patriarch kneels like a dog, it’s worth it."

Lu Li was speechless. Liu Yi’s words today had overturned his understanding, making him realize how cruel and harsh the world truly was.

"Phew!"

Liu Yi took a long breath, her eyes clearing a bit, and she said seriously, "Lu Li, I won’t hide anything from you. Our Liu family is at risk of being expelled from Wuling City at any moment. Three months ago, my grandfather was severely injured and fell into a coma, and he hasn’t woken up yet, and might never wake up. That’s why the Zhao family is going to such lengths to connect with Lord Yu, hoping to replace us and become the new dominant force in Wuling City."

"Lu Li, do you remember the Zhao family’s child who awakened a fifth-rank bloodline last time? That child has already been sent to Lord Yu’s family and is now a member of their inner circle."

"At Han Yun Mountain, our Liu family suffered heavy losses. You know about the ambush in Han Yun Valley. Because of Lord Yu’s word, no super-family stood up for us, and Elder Cai and the others died in vain."

"Right now, those powerful figures are busy in the Ice Abyss, vying for the origin blood of the Beast Emperor, and they need the families to clear out low-level mystic beasts. That’s why the Zhao family dares not act rashly. Once the matter in the abyss is settled, the Zhao family will definitely move against us. With Lord Yu’s support, even if our Liu family isn’t exterminated, we won’t be able to stay in Wuling City."

Lu Li’s expression became more serious. The situation was more severe than he had imagined. He thought for a moment and asked, "Since your Liu family can be the dominant force in Wuling City, don’t you have any backing?"

"Yes!"

Liu Yi said firmly, "But our backing is only a fourth-rank family, while Lord Yu’s family is a fifth-rank family."

"Fifth-rank family!"

Lu Li’s face twitched. A family with three Soul Pond Realm warriors is a third-rank family, a family with three Life Wheel Realm warriors is a fourth-rank family, and a fifth-rank family has at least three Immortal Realm strongers.

Beimo has no Emperor, and it’s said that there are few Marquises. The strongest families are the three fifth-rank royal families.

None of the three fifth-rank royal families are surnamed Yu, but since they are all fifth-rank families, they are not much weaker than the royal families. In other words, Lord Yu’s family is a super-family standing at the peak of Beimo.

How powerful such a family is, how many vassal families they have, and how many strongers they command is immeasurable. Liu Yi was right; Lord Yu could indeed send a subordinate to destroy the Liu family without exaggeration.

"Then are we just going to sit and wait to die?"

Lu Li felt a bit anxious. If the Liu family fell, he would fall too. The Zhao family wouldn’t let him off, so this time he didn’t say "the Liu family" but "we."

"Of course not!"

Liu Yi’s eyes became fiery, and she looked at Lu Li earnestly, "My grandfather once guarded the gate for the royal family, the Zijia family. As long as he wakes up, he can go to the Zijia family for help, and we still have hope. Moreover, Lord Yu can’t openly participate in the conflict; that would be a laughingstock for the Beimo families. As long as we can completely destroy the Zhao family, Lord Yu is unlikely to directly intervene."

"Oh?"

Lu Li’s eyes brightened, feeling much more relaxed. He nodded and said, "The Liu family is a third-rank family, while the Zhao family is only a second-rank family, with far fewer strongers. Destroying the Zhao family shouldn’t be too difficult, right?"

"It’s very difficult!"

Liu Yi shook her head, "Because of their connection with Lord Yu, countless strongers have joined the Zhao family. The Lu, Chen, and He families have all allied with the Zhao family. Meanwhile, our Liu family lost many strongers at Han Yun Mountain. The balance of power has shifted, and we are now weaker than the Zhao family."

"So... we desperately need strongers!"

Liu Yi stood up, leaned her face toward Lu Li, and said very sincerely, "Lu Li, since you can kill people like Qi Sihai, your talent and potential are beyond our imagination. If you join the Liu family’s inner or outer circle, we will spare no expense to cultivate you, no expense at all!"