"Once the matter with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is settled, add a little more to the betrothal gifts they return and send them to the Clear Sky Sect."
Ning Fengzhi was brimming with enthusiasm.
He imagined Tang Yuehua, who stood on equal footing with him, one day serving him tea and calling him Father-in-law.
When he thought of how Tang Xiao, the current sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, would also stand a notch below him, Ning Fengzhi actually felt another surge of satisfaction.
Tang Yuehua was a fine choice!!!
Educated and courteous, gentle and refined, she had the backing of the Clear Sky Sect, once the foremost of the Upper Three Gates, and belonged to its direct line.
However he looked at it, she was far better than Liu Erlong.
"Good!"
Ning Fengzhi was full of praise and made up his mind.
"Then it's settled. Once the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan returns the betrothal gifts in a couple of days, we'll choose a day to visit the Clear Sky Sect."
The Clear Sky Sect had secluded itself from the world and sealed its entrance.
Its location might have been a secret to some of the continent's smaller sects, but how could it escape the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, another of the Upper Three Gates?
"Sect Master, marriage is a major life decision. We should still ask the Young Sect Master's opinion."
Chen Xin hurriedly spoke up.
Ning Xuan had always had a mind of his own, even as a child. What if he did not want to marry yet?
Ning Fengzhi's eyes immediately widened in a glare.
Early the next morning.
Heaven Dou City.
The Martial Soul Temple.
A woman's terrified scream rang out.
It echoed through the Martial Soul Temple's rear courtyard.
In an instant.
A large number of temple disciples and deacons swarmed in, charging into Salas's room.
On the bed.
Two voluptuous, beautiful women huddled in a corner of the bed, wrapped in a quilt, their faces deathly pale as they trembled.
The occasional glimpse of flesh below their necks revealed bruises amid fair skin, glaringly conspicuous and suggestive.
Clearly, Salas had not merely sought pleasure in bed, but had also indulged his twisted proclivities.
Yet at that moment.
Salas lay motionless across the bed.
His face was equally pale, his body stiff. Clearly, he had been dead for quite some time.
At the sight, several temple deacons' expressions changed in horror.
They hurried forward to examine him.
Only after confirming that Salas was truly dead did they exchange glances.
"What on earth happened?"
One of them demanded in a low voice, his expression cold and stern.
"Husband... I... I don't know either..."
One of the two beautiful women on the bed shrank back, utterly terrified.
After last night's pleasure.
The two of them had suffered every torment before collapsing into bed and falling asleep early. Only that morning, when they discovered that Salas's body was cold, had they realized something was wrong.
"Damn it!"
The deacon roared, unceremoniously dragging the beautiful woman out of the corner of the bed and exposing large swathes of her bare body once more.
Bruises and scratches covered her, a miserable sight.
"Talk!"
He threw her to the floor and punched and kicked her, cursing all the while.
"I told you to serve the bishop."
"And you actually fucking drained him dry?"
Another deacon dragged the other beautiful woman down as well.
Another furious beating followed.
They only stopped once both beautiful women were at death's door.
"What do we do?"
The deacons panted heavily and looked at one another.
Salas's standing was far from low. As one of the temple's four Platinum Bishops, he was unquestionably a high-ranking figure even in Spirit City.
And now he had died just like that, on top of a woman?
For a moment, they found themselves in a difficult position.
"We can only report the truth to our superiors."
One deacon spoke.
They had considered pinning Salas's death on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. After all, a clash had occurred just yesterday.
But Spirit City would certainly send someone to investigate.
There would be no way to conceal it then.
"Those two bitches really fucking deserve to die."
Another deacon flew into a rage.
"Brother Gou, I have another idea."
The deacon who had spoken earlier said, a glint flashing through his eyes.
"When someone from the temple comes down, we can mention the Immortal Herb to him as well. Whatever conclusion he reaches then will have nothing to do with us."
"All right."
"We'll do as you say."
The deacons conferred in low voices, though their gazes remained vicious as they looked at the two beautiful women.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
A long convoy stretched ahead. More than twenty carriages were covered in oilcloth, and sturdy members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan sat on their shafts with heavy expressions.
On one of the carriages, the tall, burly Yu Yuanzhen wore a grave expression as he looked at the disguised middle-aged man and spoke.
"Tang Hao."
"It seems they won't act unless I leave."
"Then I can only entrust the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to you."
The middle-aged man was cloaked in black robes.
"Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, rest assured."
His voice was rough, steady, and strong. Who else could he be but Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao?
After reaching an agreement, the two had waited together at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for two days, but Gu Rong had not appeared as expected.
Yu Yuanzhen reckoned the other party was waiting for him to leave.
So he simply decided to turn their scheme against them.
Muffled cries came from inside the carriage, along with what sounded like someone stamping hard against its floor, furious and humiliated beyond measure.
Yu Yuanzhen climbed inside.
Immediately afterward, the smack of a slap rang out.
"Idiot."
"Keep making a scene, and see if I won't kill you right now."
Yu Yuanzhen was utterly scornful.
"You didn't hesitate when you betrayed your clan. Why are you putting on this show of ironclad loyalty now?"
"I didn't."
A voice came from within.
It was actually Ning Rongrong.
Her voice was thick with tears.
"I just don't want the two clans to go to war over Ning Xuan's nonsense."
"Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, let me go. I'm sure I can persuade Dad to apologize to you."
"Apologize?"
Yu Yuanzhen sneered and slapped Ning Rongrong across the face again. Blood quickly trickled from the corner of her mouth, leaving her looking wretched.
"What makes you think you can get him to apologize?"
"Do you think Ning Fengzhi is as stupid as you?"
Even after being slapped, Ning Rongrong continued trying earnestly to persuade him.
"Because breaking off this engagement was nonsense to begin with."
"Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, I understand how aggrieved you feel, but you have to believe that breaking off his engagement to Dean Liu Erlong is Ning Xuan's loss. One day, he'll come begging you again."
"But Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, if you ambush and kill Grandpa Bone today, you really will become mortal enemies of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, you must think this through."
Yu Yuanzhen could not help scoffing.
"What a fucking moron."
Her persistence had worn through even his composure. He could not help leaning closer to her and saying,
"Idiot, you keep saying that breaking off the engagement was a misunderstanding, that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is making trouble. It seems you haven't even figured out what happened."
"Then I won't worry about losing face. I'll tell you right now why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to break off the engagement."
As he spoke, Yu Yuanzhen moved closer, bent down, and began speaking into Ning Rongrong's ear.
In an instant.
Ning Rongrong shuddered, her eyes widening.
Bone-deep cold and bewilderment poured over her like cold water from head to toe.
Unthinkable!
Unbelievable!
"Th-this... how is this possible?"
Ning Rongrong's lips trembled as she recalled what Ning Fengzhi had said to her in the Meeting Hall that day...