When the Time Comes, Heaven and Earth Will Lend Their Strength

When Wen Lingxue returned to Su Yi's side, her pretty face was like a lake thawing from ice and snow, bright and lustrous.

"Brother-in-law, that felt wonderful."

A hint of excitement shone in the young girl's clear, limpid eyes.

Su Yi smiled and offered guidance:

"In dealing with people and the world, borrowing momentum is also a field of study. Those skilled at borrowing momentum are like sailing with the wind, traveling through the void. Some formidable cultivators can even borrow the momentum of heaven and earth to prove their Dao."

"However, borrowed things cannot last in the end. As the saying goes, when the hour comes, heaven and earth lend the same strength; when fortune departs, even heroes are not free. If you rely on external force, you will ultimately be abandoned by external force."

After listening, Wen Lingxue looked thoughtful and said, "Brother-in-law, you mean that whether one borrows momentum or not, one must grasp the proper measure, and in the final analysis, one still has to become strong oneself, right?"

Su Yi smiled and nodded.

The young girl was clever and intelligent; for some truths, a hint was enough.

Not far away, a resentful gaze turned toward Su Yi.

The owner of that gaze was Wen Shaobei.

He did not dare offend Wen Lingxue, but he intended to vent his anger on Su Yi.

Moreover, he was confident that Wen Lingxue had no way to interfere in this matter, because throughout the entire Wen Family, no one would care whether Su Yi was humiliated or not.

Su Yi naturally noticed Wen Shaobei's gaze, but paid it no mind.

If that kid truly dared to play any tricks, he would naturally teach him properly how to conduct himself.

Next, Su Yi and Wen Lingxue sat down at a banquet table in the courtyard.

But gradually, Wen Lingxue realized something was wrong. The nearby tables were almost all filled with people, who chatted with one another, laughing and talking merrily. It seemed very lively.

Only the table where she and Su Yi sat had just the two of them, making it unusually deserted, and in the whole area it was also quite conspicuous.

"Brother-in-law..."

Wen Lingxue glanced at Su Yi, somewhat angry and somewhat worried.

How could she fail to see that whether it was the Wen Family clansmen or the guests who had come to attend the Longevity Banquet, all of them regarded Su Yi as a Plague God, fearing they could not avoid him fast enough!

Su Yi, however, appeared very at ease and leisurely. He picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and joked:

"Among those seated here, not one is worthy to drink with you and me."

Wen Lingxue could not help pursing her lips in a soft laugh, and relaxed as well.

Not far away, an adorable-looking child walked over, about six or seven years old, clearly looking for a place to sit.

"Little Mingrong, come sit with big sister."

Wen Lingxue smiled and waved.

The child happily agreed, but when he saw Su Yi, he immediately stopped and called out in a clear voice:

"Though I, Wen Mingrong, am young, I am still ashamed to associate with a Son-in-law like Su Yi!"

The lively atmosphere nearby went still. Everyone's expressions turned strange, and then roaring laughter rose on all sides, the very air carrying the flavor of joy.

Wen Shaobei and the others were laughing even harder, clutching their stomachs, beside themselves with delight.

Children's words carried no taboo, but were often the truest.

That one sentence from the child was tantamount to directly exposing just how low Su Yi's status in the Wen Family was!

Wen Lingxue's pretty face turned frosty, and she glared viciously at that little brat. Naturally, she could not truly argue with a child.

Looking again at Su Yi, he seemed as if he had not noticed at all, drinking by himself over there, perfectly content.

Inside the Clan Hall.

Qin Qing felt equally miserable in her heart.

The great hall was filled with distinguished guests and gathered with nobles, yet almost all of them clustered around the clan head, Wen Changtai, and the Second Elder, Wen Changqing.

As for the table where she and her husband Wen Changtai sat, almost no one paid them any attention. They sat there all alone, incomparably awkward.

Even Old Madam, seated in the main seat at the head, kept her gaze fixed on the side of clan head Wen Changjing and Second Elder Wen Changqing.

This feeling of being left out filled Qin Qing with resentment.

"Look at those two elder brothers of yours, then look at you. In this life, your mother can forget about counting on you to make something of yourself!"

Qin Qing glared viciously at Wen Changtai beside her.

She felt quite regretful in her heart. If she had known earlier, she would have written a letter asking her eldest daughter to return. With her status as a disciple of Heavenly Origin Academy, she could at least have helped support her dignity.

"Sigh, we're all one family. What's the point of saying such things?"

Wen Changtai sighed.

Qin Qing grew even more annoyed and lowered her voice. "Look at those branch-line clansmen. They're all watching our family make a fool of ourselves! Even your eldest brother's son, Jue Yuan, has overshadowed our family!"

As though she meant to vent all the complaints in her heart, she said, "If you had even a little ability, how could our family have ended up in such an embarrassing state?"

Wen Changtai's face was drawn with worry. He did not dare make a sound.

As they were talking, more important figures arrived one after another to offer birthday felicitations, each presenting lavish gifts that made Old Madam's face shine with glory.

Clan Chief Wen Changtai and Wen Changqing exchanged pleasantries and laughter with those important figures, each of them high-spirited and full of vigor.

Watching scene after scene unfold, Qin Qing felt as if she were sitting on a cushion of needles.

But just then, a young, ringing child's voice sounded from outside the hall:

"Though I, Wen Mingrong, am young, I'm ashamed to associate with a Son-in-law like Su Yi!"

That sudden voice reached everyone in the hall, and the originally lively atmosphere stalled.

Immediately afterward, the whole hall outside erupted in laughter, making the important figures inside the hall unable to keep from laughing as well.

Su Yi!

In Guangling City, who did not know of the Wen Family's Son-in-law?

"Whose child is that? So young, yet already with such spirit. His future prospects are limitless."

An old man with silver hair and beard spoke with a smile.

As soon as he said this, it drew another burst of laughter.

Qin Qing felt her cheeks burn. She looked at her mediocre husband beside her, then thought of Su Yi, this son-in-law of hers, and a wave of sorrow could not help but rise in her heart.

Fine, I ended up with a useless man myself, but even my daughter's man is this spineless? How unfair the heavens are!

Amid this clamorous atmosphere, a voice suddenly came from the distance:

"Huang Family Clan Chief Huang Yunchong has brought the Huang Family clansmen to offer birthday felicitations!"

Everyone inside the Clan Hall felt their hearts tighten.

In Guangling City, the Huang Family sat firmly in second place among the Three Great Clans.

Huang Yunchong was even more a man of real power whose name shook the entire city.

Although there were many honored guests and important figures in the Clan Hall at present, when it came to status, almost none could compare with Huang Yunchong.

"Quickly, invite him in."

Seated at the head, Old Madam spoke with a smile.

Regardless of all the grudges between the Huang Family and the Wen Family in the past, at least now, the head of the Huang Family had personally graced them with his presence. This also brought honor to the Wen Family.

At once, Wen Changjing and Wen Changqing rose together, preparing to welcome him.

Outside the Clan Hall.

The gazes of the Wen Family clansmen and guests all turned toward the distance in unison.

Soon, they saw Huang Yunchong, dressed in a purple robe, his figure powerful and majestic, walk in. Behind him followed his legitimate son, Huang Qianjun, and farther back were two old servants and a group of attendants.

That imposing procession was just like stars clustering around the moon.

"Clan Chief Huang!"

"Uncle Huang is here too?"

"Brother Huang's honored arrival truly overwhelms us with favor."

As Huang Yunchong walked along, people among the guests called out greetings one after another, their expressions humble, even carrying a fawning look.

Even some Wen Family clansmen wore faces of awe and eagerness.

The youth Huang Qianjun followed behind his father, his expression aloof and proud. He had long since become accustomed to occasions like this.

Suddenly, Huang Yunchong's steps paused, and his gaze turned toward one spot.

Everyone followed his gaze and looked over, only to see that in that nearby area, almost everyone had already risen to their feet. Only before one wine table sat two figures, a man and a woman, completely unmoving, appearing especially conspicuous.

They were none other than Su Yi and Wen Lingxue.

"No manners!"

Quite a few guests shook their heads inwardly.

Some Wen Family clansmen also frowned. The dignified clan chief of the Huang Family had personally arrived; how could they still sit there so grandly and openly?

An elder of the Wen Family cleared his throat and was just about to scold Su Yi and Wen Lingxue when, the very next moment, his eyes suddenly bulged wide.

They saw Huang Yunchong stride forward quickly, bow slightly, and cup his fist. "Young Master Su."

The entire scene fell silent.

Everyone's expressions were stunned.

Only then did Su Yi seem to react. He lifted his eyes slightly, looked at Huang Yunchong, and said, "Here to offer birthday felicitations?"

Huang Yunchong nodded. "Precisely."

Su Yi gave an oh, then withdrew his gaze, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself another cup, paying Huang Yunchong no further attention.

Yet Huang Yunchong was not angered in the slightest, as if he thought it was only natural that Su Yi did not rise to greet him.

This left no telling how many people present astonished, unable to believe their own eyes.

At this moment, Clan Chief Wen Changjing had already hurried over. Laughing loudly, he cupped his hands and said, "Brother Huang's honored arrival—my apologies for not coming out to welcome you from afar. Quickly, come with me to the Clan Hall to talk."

Seeing that Su Yi neither confirmed nor denied it, Huang Yunchong finally straightened his figure, and the aura of power around him changed as well, his brows filled with a stern, overbearing majesty.

"Much obliged."

Huang Yunchong nodded to Wen Changjing, then walked toward the Clan Hall.

Only the people present were left standing there in a daze, the place sinking into silence.

"Why was Clan Chief Huang so courteous to that son-in-law just now?"

More than one person's heart churned, shocked and bewildered.

"What is going on?"

Wen Shaobei and the Wen Family clansmen were all somewhat stunned. With Huang Yunchong's status, why would he take the initiative to greet a lowly son-in-law like Su Yi?

The expressions of the guests present also became strange, as they sensed something unusual in the air.

"Brother-in-law, this..."

Wen Lingxue was puzzled too, her starry eyes looking toward Su Yi.

"The day before yesterday, didn't I beat Huang Qianjun up? Yesterday at noon, Huang Yunchong already took the initiative to apologize to me at the Gathering Immortals Pavilion."

Su Yi said with a smile, "From now on, you don't need to worry that the Huang Family will dare to trouble you either."

"Huh?"

Wen Lingxue was so shocked she could not speak.

Su Yi's words were too casual, leaving her unsure whether she should take them seriously.

At this moment, inside the Clan Hall.

Quite a few noble figures also sensed that something was off. When Huang Yunchong entered, all eyes gathered on him.

Huang Yunchong paid no attention to the gazes of everyone in the hall. He went straight before the Wen Family's Old Madam and instructed:

"Men, present the birthday gift."

At once, an old servant stepped forward and presented a jade box, saying respectfully, "Old Madam, this is the birthday gift my master prepared: a pair of ruyi scepters carved from hundred-year-old jade marrow. May Old Madam's longevity rival the Southern Mountain, and may all things go as you wish."

The Old Madam immediately felt her face brighten with honor and said with a smile, "Your coming has already made this old woman extremely happy. What need was there to bring any gift? Changjing, quickly invite Clan Chief Huang to take a seat."

Beside her, Wen Changjing greeted him with a smile, "Brother Huang, please, this way."

"One moment."

But Huang Yunchong waved his hand, then, under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, strode over to the table where Wen Changtai and his wife sat. A smile appeared on his face as he cupped his hands and said:

"Brother Changtai, Sister-in-law Qin Qing, I heard that your daughter has already entered Heavenly Origin Academy to cultivate. This is truly a rare joyous event. Since Huang has come this time, I have also brought a small token to present to you. Consider it a bit of my goodwill. You absolutely must not decline."