Chapter 367: The Strength of the Xing Family!
"Saintess of the Li Clan?"
Xing Yi looked at the young woman before him, a mocking smile forming on his face. "I thought your Li Clan was so strong, yet here you are, dutifully presenting yourself at our doorstep."
Li Lingqing seemed not to hear Xing Yi’s mockery, her expression completely undisturbed as she stated calmly, "Take me to see Xing Chong."
After parting with Lin Mu, Li Lingqing had come to Yang City all by herself, prepared to enter the Xing Family.
Of course, she wasn’t here to get married.
"Alright."
Xing Yi gave Li Lingqing a deep look and said, "Men, please escort the Saintess to the sedan chair and take her back to the Xing Family estate."
"Yes, sir!"
Four burly men carrying a sedan chair came over and placed it before Li Lingqing.
"Since the Saintess is here to wed the Dragon of the Xing Family, we naturally cannot neglect her," Xing Yi said with a smile. "Saintess, if you please?"
Li Lingqing’s expression remained unchanged as she lifted her foot and entered the sedan chair.
"Let’s go!"
With a wave of his hand, Xing Yi commanded the four men to lift the sedan chair and move swiftly along the mountain road.
Despite the steep path, the bearers moved as if on flat ground. They were incredibly fast, yet the sedan chair remained perfectly steady, without the slightest jolt.
The profound strength of the Hongfeng Lake Xing Family was clear at a glance.
Once the group had departed, from the very spot where Li Lingqing had been standing, an insect slowly pushed its head out from the soil. Its two antennae twitched several times in the direction Li Lingqing had gone.
RUSTLE... RUSTLE...
A rustling sound came from the undergrowth. From within the mountain forest, countless insects emerged, chasing after the departing group.
Sitting in the sedan chair, Li Lingqing’s previously calm expression had vanished, replaced by a complex one.
Master, will you really come?
As if talking to herself, Li Lingqing gave a bitter smile. The Xing Family is guarded by a Grandmaster and teeming with experts. It would be better if you did not come.
A resolute look crossed her face as she murmured, "In life, I am the Saintess of the Li Clan; in death, I shall be the soul of the Li Clan!"
A white insect crawled out from her sleeve, gently nuzzling her hand.
The corners of Li Lingqing’s mouth lifted slightly, blooming into a breathtaking yet desolate smile.
「Hongfeng Lake.」
Hongfeng Lake is situated west of Yang City in Southern Sky, about 28 kilometers from the provincial capital. It serves as the first stop on Southern Sky’s golden tourism route. The scenic area spans 200 square kilometers. It is a national-level scenic area and a 4A-level tourist attraction, celebrated for its fusion of plateau lakes, karst landforms, and the customs of ethnic minorities.
By the lake stands Red Maple Ridge, which, along with the lakeshore, is covered in sweetgum trees. In late autumn, the maple leaves turn as red as fire, creating a beautiful contrast against the turquoise water, earning the place its name, "Hongfeng Lake."
After years of development and maintenance by the Xing Family, the vast Hongfeng Lake had been made extraordinarily beautiful. The rolling mountain ranges along both banks of the Qingxi River were submerged by a pool of clear water, forming over a hundred islands of various sizes.
The great poet Guo Moruo once visited the Xing Family and praised the scenery with a poem: "Like three thousand West Lakes, the mountains have lost their height; peaks have become islands, and waves roll over the flat land."
This alone spoke to the high status of Hongfeng Lake in Southern Sky.
And the strength and heritage of the Xing Family were even greater.
Li Lingqing, however, was in no mood to admire the scenery. She followed Xing Yi and the others straight into a Xing Family villa. Around Hongfeng Lake, many villas and mansions had been built—all properties of the Xing Family.
The main residence of the Xing Family, however, was on the highest mountain. From there, one could overlook the surrounding mountains and take in the panoramic view of Hongfeng Lake, capturing all the beauty of the landscape.
The moment she entered the main hall, Li Lingqing felt countless pairs of eyes fall upon her. There were looks of amazement, admiration, mockery, and also disdain.
With her expression unchanged and her posture erect, Li Lingqing fearlessly met the gaze of the middle-aged man seated in the main seat.
"Li Lingqing, Saintess of the Jiuli Tribe, pays her respects to the Xing Family Head!"
This middle-aged man was none other than the Xing Family Head, Xing Yong.
"Audacious!"
The instant Li Lingqing finished speaking, a Xing Family Elder barked, "You see the Xing Family Head and do not kneel in salute? The Saintess of the Jiuli Tribe is utterly without manners!"
"The Jiuli Tribe only taught me how to serve the Miao King and protect my people. It did not teach me how to kneel." Li Lingqing looked at the elder, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, and added with a hint of mockery, "Xing Family Elder, perhaps you would like to teach me?"
At these words, the hall fell silent. This Saintess of the Jiuli Tribe, with her sharp tongue, is no simple character.
Publicly rebuked by Li Lingqing, the elder’s expression turned incredibly foul as a powerful aura erupted from his body. "I only call you Saintess out of respect for Great God Chiyou! Otherwise, what do you think you are?"
The Xing Family Elder’s eyes filled with scorn as he sneered, "The Xing Family demanded you present yourself for marriage, and you still came all the same!"
This remark was indeed the height of humiliation.
Li Lingqing’s eyes flickered, but she did not grow angry. Instead, she said coolly, "I am not here because I fear the Xing Family, nor am I here to marry your so-called Dragon of the Xing Family."
"Oh?" The Xing Family Elder laughed. "Then why are you here?"
"I am here to seek justice!"
A faint, otherworldly aura emanated from Li Lingqing, stunning everyone in the hall.
She is truly worthy of being the Saintess of the Li Clan! That temperament is a perfect match for the Dragon of the Xing Family!
Her statement, however, made many people laugh.
Seek justice from the Xing Family? Only the Saintess of the Li Clan could come up with such a notion.
"The Xing Family has already forgotten its ancestral teachings, forsaken Great God Chiyou, and forgotten its own identity. Now that you’ve established yourselves as an independent power, I have nothing more to say on that matter." Li Lingqing’s gaze was sharp and piercing as she addressed the crowd. "But the Li Clan has its own rules. The Saintess belongs to the Miao King and must serve the King her entire life. Your Xing Family is not worthy of taking me in marriage!"
Her resounding tone moved some of them slightly. But the idea that the Xing Family was unworthy? What a joke!
"Hmph. We of the Xing Family are descendants of Great God Xingtian, equal in status to your Great God Chiyou. How is that a betrayal?" Xing Yong said indifferently. "As for your so-called King of the Miao of the Li Clan, he is a mere joke. It is a great fortune for both our families that the Dragon of the Xing Family wishes to marry you."
"Agree, and we are done. Disagree, and you will still agree!" Xing Yong’s words were filled with absolute dominance, leaving Li Lingqing no room to refuse.
In their eyes, now that she was here, anything she said was a joke.
"Heh, the mighty Xing Family is nothing but a house of robbers and bandits. You utterly shame Great God Xingtian!" Li Lingqing mocked. "If I refuse, what will you do? Kill me?"
"We won’t kill you, of course." Xing Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly. "But, Saintess, you should think carefully. The lives of tens of millions of people of the Li Clan hang in the balance, all in your hands."
At these words, Li Lingqing’s expression changed.
This was her only weakness.
And the Xing Family was despicable enough to threaten her with the lives of her own people.
Yet, Li Lingqing could not afford to ignore it. She was the Saintess. It was her duty, her destiny, to guard the Li Clan’s legacy.
Xing Yong waved his hand. "Take the Saintess away to rest. When Chong’er emerges from his seclusion, they will hold the grand wedding!"
Xing Yong made this move to prevent any unforeseen complications. Although no one dared to cause trouble at the Xing Family’s estate, it was a matter of utmost urgency for Chong’er to wed the Saintess and consummate their marriage for the sake of his cultivation.
Li Lingqing hadn’t expected the Xing Family to be so overbearing, completely disregarding her opinion. At this thought, her heart sank, filled with despair.
Could it be... that this is my destiny?