Within the distant Jun Prince's Mansion, they were unaware of the fear gripping the Long family far away.
But today, a strange wind blew from an unknown source, carrying with it the snow. It lifted Li Yaowen's hair, her strands brushing against her serene and beautiful face. Her white clothes and pale complexion almost blended her into the wintry scenery.
However, Feng Qingyang, the Nascent Soul Lore, felt the wind to be unusually cold today. He saw no beauty in Li Yaowen before him. He even dared not meet her gaze directly.
Every time he glanced at Li Yaowen, his eyes ached, as if a needle made of ice was piercing his vision.
"In-law, you jest."
This was the first time Feng Qingyang had actively addressed a member of the Li family as "In-law." "What do you mean, 'chess player,' 'weapon'?" he asked.
...
Now, in front of the screen, Li Wei, watching the conversation within the Jun Prince's Mansion, had his hand on the mouse, his fingers trembling. His eyes were bloodshot. He only felt this way when he was extremely excited, and he couldn't remember the last time he had experienced such a feeling.
It was like the thrill of playing in an international competition, gradually defeating an opponent who initially seemed certain of victory!
He had sensed long ago that the peace in the Azure Cloud region was unnatural.
He had been speculating, investigating, and preparing to face the coming enemies with apprehension.
Fortunately, he wasn't the only one who was wary. Li Yaowen was as well.
He admitted that he wasn't as intelligent as Li Yaowen. He was only a young man, while Li Yaowen was almost a hundred years old. However, he still had his uses. If, in terms of intelligence, Li Yaowen plus Li Yaotie equaled Li Yaowen, then he plus Li Yaowen would at least equal 1.2 Li Yaowens!
They had completely jumped off the chessboard!
In the game, Li Yaowen raised her head and looked at the falling snow, letting the snowflakes land on her. "It's clear that Lord Feng has always cherished his daughter," she said, "but you should admit that you are someone who understands the importance of choices and sacrifices, unlike your outward appearance suggests."
"To outsiders, you appear to care for the people like your own children. It's said that you get furious whenever cultivators cause trouble. But let me tell you, my father is truly that kind of person. When he's truly angry, he will carry his coffin and go out to fight."
"You are different. You appear angry on the surface, but you remain unmoved."
"The Skyveil Sect and Black Tortoise Sect fought for many years, and Sky Jade region suffered a twenty-year drought, but you remained indifferent."
"My Li family slaughtered over two million enemies, and you even..."
Seeing that Feng Qingyang was still frowning, seemingly angry, Li Yaoqing continued, "You even offered your own daughter to my Li family."
Upon hearing these words...
Feng Qingyang finally slammed his hand on the table in anger. "Li Yaowen!" he roared, "you can speculate about me all you want, but to say I personally offered up my precious daughter? Is your Li family even worthy?!"
Li Yaowen completely ignored Feng Qingyang's oppressive aura.
"Lord Feng, you are right," she said calmly. "The Li family is not worthy. But if we can become the blade that helps you purge the major forces in the Azure Cloud region and allows your Feng family to completely control the region, then sacrificing a mere daughter is truly insignificant, to put it bluntly. As I said before, Lord Feng, you are someone who understands the importance of choices and sacrifices."
"Otherwise," she continued, "your daughter, Feng Mi, is such a noble and cherished person. In this grand Jun Prince's Mansion, how could she have been exposed to the tales of my Li family day after day, to the point of admiration?"
"And how could she have gained your consent to go to a place like Sky Jade region? Weren't you afraid that another battle with my Li family would cost Feng Mi her life?"
"And those Golden Core guards of yours are truly useless. They allowed Feng Mi and my Kuangren to have a coincidental encounter and engage in indecent acts."
"I am confident that although the younger generation of my Li family can be somewhat reckless, my elder brother did something similar in the past, Since then, our descendants have been strictly warned by family precepts not to act recklessly without consent."
"My Kuangtu, even with a beautiful woman by his side, could resist temptation. If he, such an immature youth, could do it, how much more so for the older and more mature Kuangren?"
She paused, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "You drugged them, didn't you?"
He didn't answer, but his long, drawn-out breath said it all.
Li Yaowen continued, "You were waiting, waiting for my Li family to discover this matter seemingly by chance. Lord Feng, you should be quite familiar with my Li family. You should know that once this matter came to light, we would inevitably seek a marriage alliance."
As she spoke, she suddenly became curious. "Lord Feng," she asked, "since we've come this far, why not clear up my doubts? If my Li family had remained unaware of Changsheng's birth, how long would you have waited before revealing it to us, so as not to appear deliberate? So that it would seem completely natural and unsuspicious."
Feng Qingyang clenched his jaw, his eyes closed.
"Then I understand," she said. "You would have waited until Changsheng grew up, and you would have deliberately arranged for him to seek out his family."
"Knowing my Li family's nature, we would still have sought a marriage alliance."
"Because whether it's due to family precepts or for the sake of benefits, having the Jun Prince's Mansion as in-laws would improve our Li family's situation."
"Therefore... my Li family would ultimately become your weapon."
"All the factions will learn about the marriage alliance between our families. Just like now, with the martial arts competition at the Azure Cloud Martial Pavilion, my Li Kuangren won, and you even deliberately brought him back to the Jun Prince's Mansion. This was all to let everyone know about our connection."
"Furthermore, considering your long-standing distance from these factions, they will be eager to eliminate my Li family, fearing that in the future, your Jun Prince's Mansion will fully support us and destroy them."
Li Yaowen's expression was playful. "Lord Feng," she asked, "are you excited now that the first step of your plan has succeeded?"
At this moment, Feng Qingyang's expression finally changed. He was smiling, a gentler smile than he had ever shown the Li family before, as gentle as Li Yaowen's own smile!
"I am pleased," he said.
---
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