Upon hearing the Ye Family Ancestor bring up the marriage arrangement, Li Wanqing's expression shifted immediately. This union had indeed been established jointly by the heads of the Ye and Lin families back then.
She clearly had not expected the Ancestor to raise the matter of a marriage alliance with the Lin Family at a time like this, and a flash of complex emotions crossed her eyes.
Come to think of it, the Lin Family was one of the only two families in the border town of Cangbei City that could match the Ye Family on equal terms.
Furthermore, the two great families were considered generational friends. For this reason, Ye Tianba and his wife, along with Mr. and Mrs. Lin, had arranged the marriage on the very same day their legitimate sons and daughters were born, intending to strengthen the alliance between the two households.
Yet, following Ye Tianxuan's abandonment by the family and the collapse of his cultivation, this marriage arrangement had become something almost no one in the Ye Family ever mentioned anymore.
From the current perspective, however, it had unexpectedly become a stumbling block to their departure.
She looked at Ye Tianxuan and said softly, "Xuan'er, this matter was indeed arranged with the Lin Family by your father while he was still alive."
"You were still young then, and your father and I felt that this match would benefit both the Ye Family and you, which is why..."
"That means this marriage does indeed exist, then?"
"Your child has no need to consider such things right now."
Without even needing to think about it, Ye Tianxuan waved his hand dismissively.
His current singular pursuit was the power of the Supreme Emperor above the Nine Summits—to turn the clouds with one hand and rain with the other—along with taking the time to properly "educate" that fine disciple of his.
Where would he have any spare mind to lavish on romantic entanglements?
Ye Tianxuan was about to say more, but Li Wanqing cut him off.
"Xuan'er, Mother knows you have your own thoughts and pursuits. But in this world, some things are simply not within our control."
Li Wanqing sighed, stepped forward, and lowered her voice as she continued, "Being able to settle down and start a family was your father's greatest wish. Besides, I have also heard that Lin Qingya, the legitimate daughter of the Lin Family, is poised and graceful, well-read in poetry and books since childhood, and proficient in every aspect of the arts. She is a rare talent within her clan."
"If for no other reason, then for the sake of your father, it might not be a bad idea for the two of us to stay temporarily."
Seeing the two of them whispering back and forth, the Ye Family Ancestor felt a surge of anxiety in his heart.
The marriage alliance with the Lin Family was a minor matter; now that they could not touch Ye Tianxuan given the Xuanqi Sect's backing, they had to find a way to keep him here.
Whether it was the supreme treasures left behind by Ye Tianba or the unsolved mysteries of those cultivation techniques on Ye Tianxuan, their value to the Ye Family was incalculable.
Ye Tianxuan's current strength was unfathomable; if he were allowed to grow outside their line of sight, there was no guarantee he wouldn't exact revenge on the Ye Family later on.
As the Ancestor of the Ye Clan, he absolutely could not leave such a hazard lingering for the entire family.
"Your mother is right. For the dignity of the Ye Family, you cannot leave either."
"Dignity?" Ye Tianxuan turned back to look at the Ye Family Ancestor, his eyes filled with mockery. "Your Ye Family's dignity vanished into thin air the moment you betrayed my father and hunted down my mother and me."
"Xuan'er."
Ye Tianxuan glanced at Li Wanqing and took a deep breath. "I am staying entirely for my mother's sake. Once the marriage is discussed, we will still be leaving."
"Good, good, good!"
At this sight, a satisfied smile appeared on the Ye Family Ancestor's face.
"Zhengwen, since Xuan'er and Wanqing have decided to stay, why haven't you quickly sent people to tidy up their living quarters again?"
"Me?"
Having failed to kill Ye Tianxuan and failed to drive them away, Ye Zhengwen was already in a towering rage. Now that the Ye Estate had been burned down, he was expected to prioritize cleaning up a place of rest for this mother and son.
He couldn't help freezing momentarily. If the one giving the order hadn't been the Ye Family Ancestor, he would have loved to smack him right across the face.
Having turned halfway around and not yet left, the Ye Family Ancestor halted, turned his head, and looked back.
"Could it be me instead?"
With that, the Ye Family Ancestor turned and walked away, and the other members of the Ye Family scattered as well.
Only Ye Tianxuan, his mother, and Ye Zhengwen were left standing in place.
"Standing around for what? Good Second Uncle, none of your nephew's household items are convenient to use anymore, so I must trouble you to replace all of them with new ones. Otherwise, I'm afraid it won't be easy to get past the Ancestor's scrutiny."
"Don't push your luck, you little brat!"
"Mother, let's go."
Before Ye Zhengwen could finish speaking, Ye Tianxuan walked right past him, took Li Wanqing, and left the spot.
Watching the two figures depart, the corners of Ye Zhengwen's eyes twitched violently. "You little monster, one day, I will make you a complete and utter cripple!"
Crack!
A servant's long sword was snatched away by Ye Zhengwen and snapped into two pieces in the very next second.
Then, with a loud clatter, he hurled them behind him and strode angrily toward the interior of the Ye Estate.
Inside the Ye Family's council chamber, the Ye Family Ancestor was discussing countermeasures with several other clan elders.
"Ancestor, are we really going to push for a marriage alliance between Ye Tianxuan and the Lin Family's legitimate daughter?"
"Won't the Lin Family end up becoming a pillar of support for that monster Ye Tianxuan, all for the sake of their clan's daughter?"
An elder asked anxiously, worry written all over his face.
"Indeed. Right now, before his wings are even fully grown, he already holds us in contempt and even dares to raise a hand against us. In the future, he will surely become a major hazard."
"Hmph, a marriage alliance?" The Ye Family Ancestor sneered. "That is merely an expedient measure. Although the Lin Family currently holds more power than the Ye and Song families, our Ye Family is no pushover either."
"As long as Ye Tianxuan remains in our hands, the secret treasures and power left behind by his father will sooner or later fall into our grasp."
"However, that girl Zhao Wanling from the Xuanqi Sect..." another elder said with concern.
"Zhao Wanling?"
A ruthless glint flashed through the Ye Family Ancestor's eyes. "Although that girl is a master of the Xuanqi Sect, the Xuanqi Sect will not tear its face apart with our entire Ye Family just for the sake of a single Ye Tianxuan. Furthermore, we still have other trump cards."
"Our top priority right now is to stabilize Ye Tianxuan and his mother first."
"Besides, since Ye Tianxuan was ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth and offended the Wang Family today, then aside from us, the Wang Family will inevitably try to stop this marriage as well."
"So what if he climbs up to the Xuanqi Sect? As long as our two families join forces, not only will Ye Tianxuan fail to complete this marriage, but his cultivation career will also come to an end right here."
With that, the Ye Family Ancestor waved his hand. "Alright, you are all dismissed. Go and carry out your respective tasks."
Upon hearing this, the elders nodded in agreement, then dispersed to execute the orders of the Ye Family Ancestor.
North of Cangbei City stood the fortress-like estate of the Wang Family.
Inside the council chamber, the atmosphere was heavy.
Wang Xiaotian, the head of the Wang Family, sat in the primary seat, his brow deeply furrowed and his expression gloomy.
Kneeling down in the hall, Wang Ba's body was trembling almost like a sieve.
"Family Head, the above is... is the complete sequence of events that occurred today."
"I never imagined that brat Ye Tianxuan could actually manage to cling to a master of the Xuanqi Sect?"
Wang Xiaotian said in a deep voice, his tone revealing intense dissatisfaction and fury.
"Family Head, what should we do?" an elder asked.
"Now that the boy has the support of the Xuanqi Sect, I am afraid it will be difficult if we wish to move against him again."
"This person Ye Tianxuan cannot be allowed to live. If he truly becomes an inner sect disciple of the Xuanqi Sect, our Wang Family's position in the Northern Region will be in perilous jeopardy henceforth."
As Wang Xiaotian spoke, a ruthless glint flashed through his eyes.