"What is it?" After a brief silence, Wu Yuying spoke again.
"Naturally, it concerns my eldest brother's marriage!" Mo Wufei stood up and replied.
"Oh?"
"Some days ago, my eldest brother was fortunate enough to break through to the Spirit Attraction Stage. After emerging from seclusion, he said that ever since meeting Island Mistress Wu several years ago, he had never been able to forget her. Now that he has reached the Spirit Attraction Stage, thoughts of your voice and appearance prompted him to send me here to propose on his behalf! Let our two islands become in-laws!"
"Insolence!"
Peach Blossom Island's fifth elder glared at him and cursed, "You bandit cultivators dare bully Peach Blossom Island! Our island mistress is a lady of golden boughs and jade leaves. How could she lower herself to marry a bandit? Abandon those delusions at once and get out of Peach Blossom Island!"
"Get out of Peach Blossom Island!"
Behind her, the cultivators of Peach Blossom Island were all seething with anger. At their island mistress's command, they would slaughter every last one of these bandit cultivators!
At his seat, Zhao Yi was so startled by Mo Wufei's words that the fish held between his chopsticks dropped onto the table. He hurriedly picked it up and stuffed it into his mouth, savoring the spirit fish's flavor.
Three Heroes Island has certainly worked out a fine scheme. If they become in-laws with Peach Blossom Island, one Spirit Attraction cultivator will become two, and they'll also gain the wealth Peach Blossom Island has accumulated. With those resources, perhaps all of the Mo Clan's Three Heroes could reach the Spirit Attraction Stage. With four Spirit Attraction cultivators, they'd be on par with even the Zhao Family! Heh, Fifth Elder, you're too impatient. If this marriage really were going ahead, the Zhao Family would be the first to object! They'd do everything to break it up!
At that thought, Zhao Yi glanced toward the Zhao Family. Just as he had guessed, their cultivators looked angry, though they held it in!
He glanced toward Wind Howl Island as well. Wind-Thunder Rogue's eldest and third disciples had come, and both wore the air of people keeping well clear of something that was none of their concern. Suddenly, the eldest disciple sensed something and turned toward Zhao Yi. Their eyes met, and they exchanged faint smiles, raising their cups to drink together!
Silence held both on and below the dais for over ten breaths.
"I have stated before that my ambition in this life is the Dao Foundation. Until I achieve it, I will never seek a Dao companion!"
"In that case, what a pity. My eldest brother lacks such good fortune!" Mo Wufei sighed!
Hmm? Why is Mo Wufei suddenly so accommodating?
Everyone on and below the dais was puzzled. Who did not know what sort of man Mo Wufei was?
Before anyone could begin discussing it, Mo Wufei spoke again. "In that case, I have another request for the island mistress. My second brother is about to enter seclusion and deeply admires Fellow Daoist Wu Yujie of Peach Blossom Island. He specifically entrusted me with coming here to propose. Once his cultivation succeeds, he will marry Fellow Daoist Wu Yujie!"
"Well!"
Wu Yuying said, "I have already promised Sister Yujie to the Zhao Family, so I cannot agree."
Crack!
The table in front of the Zhao Family collapsed with a crash.
"Mo Wufei, are you courting death? Fellow Daoist Wu Yujie is already betrothed to my third brother. How dare the likes of you covet her!"
A young Zhao Family cultivator shouted angrily. The other members of the Zhao Family also wore furious expressions.
"Oh? Those who do not know are not at fault! I have spent these past years cultivating in seclusion and knew nothing of this. Allow me to apologize to the Zhao Family!" With that, he bowed.
"Hmph!"
"Then, Island Mistress Wu, might I ask whether Fellow Daoist Wu Xiuzhu has a Dao companion? I would like to seek one for myself!"
The cultivators below the dais were all dumbfounded. Mo Wufei, did you come here today to make sport of Peach Blossom Island? What do you take this place for? Your eldest brother has reached the Spirit Attraction Stage, but you haven't. If you anger Wu Yuying and she slaps you dead, even your eldest brother won't be able to do anything to Peach Blossom Island!
Sure enough, just as the rogue cultivators below the dais had guessed, an immense aura surged toward them, pressing down so heavily that they could barely breathe.
Bang!
"Mo Wufei, did you come here today specifically to provoke Peach Blossom Island? What gall!" Wu Yuying slammed the table in fury and rose to her feet!
"Island Mistress Wu, please forgive me. I truly came today hoping to form a marriage alliance with Peach Blossom Island! I had absolutely no intention of provoking you! Yet your repeated rejections of Three Heroes Island are hardly appropriate!" Bracing himself against Wu Yuying's oppressive aura, Mo Wufei stood up.
An uproar erupted!
The cultivators were all stunned by Mo Wufei's sophistry. There was a saying: "A name may be wrongly given, but a nickname never is."
In the case of the Mo Clan's Three Heroes, neither their names nor their nickname had been wrongly given!
Zhao Yi was dumbfounded too, secretly giving Mo Wufei a thumbs-up. Today, he would finally get to see a Spirit Attraction cultivator in action!
"If Three Heroes Island wants a battle with Peach Blossom Island, then come! Why bother with excuses?"
With a wave of her hand, she sent Mo Wufei flying. "Guards, drive the people of Three Heroes Island out!"
After the people of Three Heroes Island were driven out, the banquet could no longer continue. With things ending up like this, Peach Blossom Island had certainly made a spectacle of itself!
Sure enough, seeing this, the cultivators from the various islands made excuses and left Peach Blossom Island one after another.
Zhao Yi was no exception, preparing to head to the harbor and leave by boat.
Just then, a maid came to inform him that the island mistress wished to see him!
Here comes trouble. That was Zhao Yi's first thought.
He could hardly refuse. Peach Blossom Island and Linghua Island enjoyed quite a close personal friendship!
"Lead the way!" Zhao Yi nodded.
One following the other, they headed to the rear of the garden.
Wu Yuying was already seated in a pavilion somewhere within Lingxiu Manor.
"Island Mistress Wu, what important matter did you wish to see me about?" Standing outside the pavilion, Zhao Yi went straight to the point.
"Come in and talk."
Hearing that, Zhao Yi truly wanted to turn around and leave, but he did not dare. Alas, I'm not free to do as I please!
"Please sit!"
Zhao Yi sat upright opposite Wu Yuying.
A dozen or so breaths later.
"You had to witness quite a farce today!"
"Not at all. Three Heroes Island simply went too far!" Zhao Yi said with righteous indignation.
"Oh? You think so too? Alas, Three Heroes Island truly is revolting, making such a delusional request!"
"Exactly, exactly!" Zhao Yi nodded repeatedly.
"Why don't our two households become in-laws?"
"Ah!"
Zhao Yi stared, dumbstruck!
"I truly would not dare become your Dao companion, Island Mistress. You are the radiance of the sun and moon, while I am merely the glimmer of a grain of rice. How could I dare entertain such a wild fantasy!"
"What are you talking about?" Wu Yuying's face flushed, her expression angry.
Then she continued, "I thought well of you and wanted to promise our Xiuzhu to you, making our two households in-laws!"
Relieved of a great burden, Zhao Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded. "I misunderstood your meaning, Island Mistress. I deserve a slap!"
Then, after a brief moment of thought, he said, "Please forgive me, Island Mistress. I have no intention of seeking a Dao companion. In this life, I seek only the immortal Dao!"
Wu Yuying was not angered by his refusal. With a sweep of her hand, a booklet appeared on the stone table.
"These are some insights from my breakthrough to the Spirit Attraction Stage. If you agree, this collection of insights can be given to Linghua Island as a dowry!"
Boom!
It was as though rivers and seas were churning through Zhao Yi's mind. He stared at the booklet, speechless for a long time.
Seeing him seemingly frozen, Wu Yuying decided to add fuel to the fire.
"Linghua Island's legacy spans a hundred years. Yours should be its third generation, yet not one person in those three generations has broken through to the Spirit Attraction Stage. You should understand how precious this is!"
"I can see that your aura is complete. Presumably, you reached perfection of Meridian Opening long ago. If you can break through to the Spirit Attraction Stage, Linghua Island will surely flourish in your hands! Moreover, the situation in the Yunsha Sea Region is treacherous, with bandit cultivators running rampant. If you reach the Spirit Attraction Stage, you will be better able to protect Linghua Island!"
"If you are unwilling to become Xiuzhu's Dao companion, I heard Yu Yan mention that your junior brother Liu Yu has also reached perfection of Meridian Opening. And when you and your junior brother fought that battle to the death against Ghost Shark Daoist, Xiuzhu was the one Peach Blossom Island sent to help you! You do not know Xiuzhu, but your junior brother does! The two of them could become Dao companions instead!"
"Think it over! That will be all for today. It is getting late, so return to Linghua Island and discuss it with your junior brother! Perhaps he has the same wish! Give me an answer when you come for the trade fair!"
"Oh, and Wind-Thunder Rogue of Wind Howl Island has also become a Spirit Attraction cultivator!"
With that, she gracefully departed.
Zhao Yi gave a bitter smile and turned to leave without so much as looking at the booklet on the table.
Before you continue