The Declining Hu Lineage

After hearing what An Lan said, Chu Xinghe burst into tears!

It's more than just capable!

That's absolutely incredible!

Chu Xinghe casually picked up a knife from the ground and chopped off An Lan's head in one stroke as a thank you for the hint An Lan had given him.

Even as he died, An Lan wore a smile, for he knew that with the Holy One's benevolence, this strike had already demonstrated the Holy One's decision.

After killing An Lan, Chu Xinghe walked out of the Dark Moon Palace humming "Good Luck" all the way.

Regarding what An Lan said about Hu Wenhai, Chu Xinghe said, "Hu Wenhai is my junior brother!"

So Hu Wenhai's sister is my sister, Chu Xinghe's sister!

Now that his sister is getting married, how can the younger brother stand by and watch her get a decent dowry?

Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, Hu Wenhai is still a disciple of our Vast Heaven Sect, right...?

If our Vast Heaven Sect disciple's sister gets married and we can't even afford a decent dowry, what will the outside world say about our Vast Heaven Sect?

The Vast Heaven Sect was supposed to be powerful and wealthy; they were supposed to be Vast Heaven Sect rich.

So, your Vast Heaven Sect disciple Hu Wenhai's sister's wedding was so shabby, isn't that making the Ling Lineage a laughingstock?

Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock to the whole world?

How could I, Chu Xinghe, allow outsiders to ridicule my Vast Heaven Sect disciples like this? How could I allow outsiders to ridicule my Vast Heaven Sect like this?

So Hu Wenhai, don't worry, Senior Brother Xinghe has arranged everything for your dowry!

Northwest China...

Hu Wenhai returned to his hometown and looked at Luheng City, where he had lived since childhood. Hu Wenhai filled with emotion.

Once upon a time, at the height of the Hu Lineage's power, Hu Lineage were invincible not only in Luheng City, but also in most parts of the Northwest.

But now the Hu Lineage has fallen on hard times and has long lost everything it once had.

Upon returning to the Hu Lineage, before Hu Wenhai even stepped inside, Hu Buqi led the entire family out to greet their returning son.

Ever since Hu Wenhai entered the Vast Heaven Sect, Hu Buqi has told everyone he meets that his son is now a disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect, and that Chu Xinghe personally recruited him into the Vast Heaven Sect.

Hu Buqi knows he's not very capable, but his son is successful.

My son is now a disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect; he is the Future of our Hu Lineage!

Looking at his son whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Hu Buqi's eyes reddened. However, this time Hu Buqi didn't rush up and give his son a big hug as usual. Instead, he patted his son's shoulder.

Because Hu Buqi knew that his son had grown up and was no longer the little guy who needed his protection.

My son, Hu Buqi, is now a disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect and is studying the Ancient Heaven-Reaching Talisman Art Vast Heaven Sect. He will surely become one of the most renowned and powerful figures in the world in the Future!

Compared to Hu Buqi, Hu Wenhai's older sister, Hu Wenjing, was busy showing concern and care for her younger brother.

"Brother, how are you doing at the Vast Heaven Sect?"

"Don't worry, Sister, the Vast Heaven Sect is excellent!"

Nobody bullied you, right?

"Sister, what are you saying? The Vast Heaven Sect is known for its benevolence and righteousness. Under the leadership of Senior Brother Xinghe, every disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect demands of themselves benevolence and righteousness. How could anyone bully me...?"

My brother has grown up...

Hu Wenjing wiped away her tears while looking at her younger brother with relief.

My younger brother, who joined the Vast Heaven Sect, has truly grown up. Before, whenever he went out to train, he would always come back complaining about how bad this was and how tough it was. But now...

The Hu Lineage welcomed Hu Wenhai back to the Hu Lineage, and Hu Buqi even ordered someone to prepare a table of Hu Wenhai's favorite dishes.

The family sat together eating and drinking, enjoying themselves immensely.

After a hearty meal, Hu Buqi pulled his son aside into the study. Looking at his now sensible son, Hu Buqi was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Father... I received your letter..." As Hu Wenhai spoke, he took out a Qiankun Ring, Hu Buqi's face lit up with joy as he looked at it.

But soon, when Hu Buqi opened the Qiankun Ring, the joy on his face froze.

Although the resources inside this Qiankun Ring are considerable, they are only considerable. If the daughter marries into an ordinary noble family, then these resources will be sufficient as her dowry.

But now my daughter is to marry into the Ling Lineage, the most prestigious family in the Northwest.

The Ling Lineage did not break the marriage agreement because of the Hu Lineage's decline, nor did they look down on the Hu Lineage of their decline. The Ling Lineage's betrothal gifts were all carried out according to the highest standards.

When the Ling Lineage's betrothal gifts arrived in the city, the convoy stretched from the east to the west. By the time the first betrothal gift car entered the Hu Lineage's gate, the last car hadn't even entered the gates of Luheng City yet.

Such an extravagant betrothal gift from the Ling Lineage caused a sensation throughout Luheng City. The Ling Lineage also used this to inform the entire Luheng City and even the whole Northwest that the Ling Lineage's marriage to the Hu Lineage daughter of the Hu Lineage was a great honor for her.

However, according to the customs of the Northwest, the amount of betrothal gifts will affect the amount of the bride's dowry.

If the Hu Lineage cannot provide a decent dowry in the face of such a generous offer from the Ling Lineage, they risk becoming a laughingstock throughout the Northwest.

If it were just Hu Buqi being ridiculed, Hu Buqi wouldn't care. After all, over the years, in the Northwest, Hu Buqi had long lost all dignity and face.

Privately, many people even called him Fu Buqi.

Hu Buqi usually laughs off others' ridicule.

But Hu Buqi could be indifferent; Hu Buqi wouldn't allow his children to be indifferent...

If the Hu Lineage can't even provide a decent dowry for their daughter's marriage into the Ling Lineage, then their daughter will likely become a laughingstock of the entire Ling Lineage as soon as she enters the Ling Lineage.

As the most prestigious family in the Northwest, the Ling Lineage wields immense power and influence. Those who can marry into the Ling Lineage are all high-ranking officials and nobles. If their daughter were to enter the Ling Lineage in such a humble manner, how would the Ling Lineage view her?

How should other prominent families view their daughters?

In the Northwest, dowry is a woman's status symbol when she gets married.

The dowry provided by the bride's family is also a symbol of the woman's status after she marries into her husband's family.

The matriarch of the Ling Lineage had actually been strongly opposed to this Ling Lineage alliance.

After all, although the marriage agreement was in place, the Hu Lineage had already declined, and marrying into the Hu Lineage would bring no benefit to the Ling Lineage family. However, Ling Bufan, the head of the Ling Lineage, was a man of his word, and even though many people in the Ling Lineage opposed the marriage, Ling Bufan did not go back on his word.

But if their daughter can't even afford a decent dowry, how will she face the Ling Lineage after marriage?

The second son of the Ling Lineage was already of lower status than the eldest son. If the dowry of his wife was so meager, then Ling Wuqi, the second son of the Ling Lineage, would probably be ridiculed as well.

Back then, Ling Wuzheng, the eldest son of the Ling Lineage family, married the daughter of an elder of the Listening Snow Pavilion. It is said that the wedding procession alone had more than a thousand carriages carrying the dowry, and all kinds of rare treasures dazzled the eyes. The Grand Elder of the Listening Snow Pavilion personally escorted the bride, and Ling Bufan, the head of the Ling Lineage, led his Lineage members to greet her ten miles outside Lingyue City.

The grand wedding shook the entire Northwest, and even Ling Lineage matriarch of the Ling Lineage had to show deference to Ling Wuzheng's wife once she entered the Ling Lineage.

Therefore, the status and identity of a woman's maternal family will determine her Future status and identity in her husband's family.

The Hu Lineage's status was naturally incomparable to that of the Listening Snow Pavilion, but Hu Buqi didn't want his daughter to be looked down upon. As a father, if he hadn't truly been driven to desperation, how could he have written that letter home...?

Although Hu Wenhai has returned with a lot of resources, even if these resources are combined with the entire wealth of the Hu Lineage, it is probably not enough to make up a decent dowry.

Hu Buqi looked at his son, Hu Wenhai... Hu Buqi was very puzzled. His son was personally recruited into the Vast Heaven Sect by Chu Xinghe, and was even the only Vast Heaven Sect disciple in the world to learn the Ancient Heaven-Reaching Talisman Art.

Although the son hasn't achieved anything yet, given his talent, wouldn't the Vast Heaven Sect be willing to lend him some resources?

Didn't everyone say that Vast Heaven Sect's wealth had gone mad?

Wasn't it said that his son received very high treatment at the Vast Heaven Sect? Why can't they even provide this much?

Could it be that my son's life within the Vast Heaven Sect wasn't as easy as I imagined? Or was the information released by the Vast Heaven Sect simply a smokescreen to mislead the outside world?

Hearing his father's doubts, Hu Wenhai almost lost his temper on the spot.

Others may not know how Hu Wenhai is doing at the Vast Heaven Sect, but doesn't Hu Wenhai himself know?

Since entering the Vast Heaven Sect, Hu Wenhai felt like he had entered paradise, thanks to the care and concern of Senior Brother Xinghe and the other senior brothers and sisters...

The Vast Heaven Sect never said a word against Hu Wenhai, even when he was consuming all sorts of resources before he learned the Ancient Heaven-Reaching Talisman Art.

Hu Wenhai felt that he must have done countless good deeds in his past life to be able to join the Vast Heaven Sect.

It was precisely because of Senior Brother Xinghe's trust and high regard for him that Hu Wenhai didn't know how to bring it up with Senior Brother Xinghe.

Hu Wenhai knew that as long as he found Senior Brother Xinghe, or even if he didn't need Senior Brother Xinghe, or even Senior Brother Ma Liang, or even Senior Brother Feng Fei, as long as he asked, they would definitely prepare enough resources for him without hesitation.

But Hu Wenhai asked himself honestly... what right do I, Hu Wenhai, have to make demands of the sect?

What achievements have I, Hu Wenhai, made since joining the Vast Heaven Sect?

What have I done for the sect?

Look at Senior Brother Ma Liang... look at Senior Brother Mu Bai... look at Senior Brother Feng Fei, not to mention Senior Brother Xinghe He.

Every day, they strive for the development of the sect and help it make a fortune.

But what about me, Hu Wenhai?

Aside from hiding in the Dark Moon Palace to study diligently, I have made no other contributions to the sect.

But my senior classmates never made any demands on me because I had no achievements. They even often came to check on me and fulfilled all my requests.

Under such circumstances, how could I, Hu Wenhai, have the audacity to ask the sect to do anything more for me because of my own family's affairs?

If I, Hu Wenhai, really did that, would I still be considered a human being?

Hearing his son's words, Hu Buqi fell silent...

Although his daughter's dowry was important, Hu Buqi understood that his son was right.

The Vast Heaven Sect has already given its son more than enough. Even if the son hadn't achieved anything, the Vast Heaven Sect still gave him its greatest support. Under such circumstances, what right does the son or the Hu Lineage have to ask the Vast Heaven Sect for more?

"Wenhai, don't worry about this. Your father still has some influence. I've contacted some close friends these past few days to help you raise a decent dowry for your sister. It shouldn't be a problem. You've just gotten home, so rest for a couple of days and talk to your sister more. Leave everything else to your father."

After finishing speaking, Hu Buqi patted his son on the shoulder and walked out of the room with a smile.

But watching his father's retreating figure, Hu Wenhai felt for the first time...

My dad... he seems to have really gotten old...