Gu and Lu
The status of Wuzhong in Yangzhou remained unchanged even after the capital of Yangzhou was moved to Guangling.
As the heartland, it is fertile and prosperous, with a vast spiritual atmosphere, shrouded in mist and rain, and full of poetic and picturesque charm.
The vast expanse of Lake Tai is shrouded in mist, with its seventy-two peaks appearing and disappearing in the distance. Where the water and sky merge into one, egrets flit by, and fishing boats sing their evening songs.
The pavilions and towers built along the lake are all made of white jade steps and glazed tiles. The air is filled with mist and cranes circle around, creating a scene of a blessed land of immortals, with a sense of ethereal beauty.
Today, the Gu Clan, the most Purple Mansion clan in Wuzhong, is exceptionally lively and bustling.
Red silk, like a rosy cloud, stretched from the Gu Clan's Worry-Dispelling Immortal Estate to the shores of Lake Tai, with sacred wood pillars forming a hundred-foot-long welcoming corridor.
A century-old jade lantern hangs in the corridor, inlaid with luminous pearls, gleaming with a warm glow even in the daytime.
Guests arrived in various ways: some sailed on spirit boats braving the waves, others rode cranes soaring through the air, and still Aristocratic Clan were transported by cloud palanquins. The grandeur of the procession was astonishing.
"The marriage between Gu and Lu is a momentous event in Wu Commandery's history!"
An elderly monk with white hair stood under the eaves, watching the guests come and go, and couldn't help but sigh, "Gu Qingyin, the eldest daughter of the Gu Clan, and Lu Ji Lu Hengzhi, the eldest sons of the Lu Clan, are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
"That's right." A middle-aged scholar next to him waved his folding fan and lowered his voice, "I heard that the original script was full of twists and turns. Some time ago at the Huainan Alchemy Gathering, the Nine Heavens Thunder Nether Divine Edict Pill was born, and the former Alchemy Gathering champion's disciple was annuled. Miss Gu didn't like that Qi Ming."
It is said that the Gu Clan family head personally prepared a generous gift, and with the intervention of Azure Waves Heaven, a top-tier Purple Mansion clan in Wuzhong joined forces, which is why...
"Shh!" Old Xiu quickly interrupted, "Why bring up such a downtrodden person on an occasion like today? Ye Chen is dead, and Qi Ming is nothing but a stray dog. Does he even deserve to be compared to the eldest daughter of the Gu Clan?"
The two exchanged a smile, raised their cups, and drank the precious wine to the last drop.
The main hall of the Gu Clan's Trouble-Dispelling Immortal Estate Troubles has been decorated in a magnificent and opulent manner.
Nine auspicious beast jade pillars support the dome, each inlaid with a fist-sized spiritual pearl, its light flowing and its Spiritual Qi so dense that it almost condenses into mist.
The ground was covered with a carpet woven from the Eastern Sea silk, making it feel like walking on clouds. Hanging in the main hall was a plaque with the golden characters "Gu Lu Tong Hui" (meaning "Gu and Lu Shi share the same glory"), written with vigorous strokes. It was said to be the work of a powerful Purple Mansion expert who was unparalleled in both calligraphy and painting.
Gu Yongshi of the Gu Household family, sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a purple robe. His face was as handsome as jade, and his every move exuded the majesty of a superior. Beside him sat Lu Hongyuan, the head of the Lu Household, who was tall and strong, with a resolute face and piercing eyes.
The mere presence of two experts at the Purple Mansion Realm caused the atmosphere in the entire hall to become heavy.
"Brother Yongshi, from today onwards, our two families are one." Lu Hongyuan raised his cup, his voice booming.
Gu Yongshi nodded with a smile and raised his glass in a toast, "Brother Hongyuan is right. With Gu and Lu joining forces, even the sky over Wu Commandery won't fall down."
After saying this, the two drank it all in one gulp, drawing cheers from the entire room.
The guests in the hall were all prominent figures from the Jianghuai. Representatives from major Lineage in Huainan, renowned figures from prominent Aristocratic Clan in Jiangnan, and even representatives from several major sects in the Northern Frontier were present to witness the ceremony.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation, the words exchanged were nothing more than words of congratulations and well wishes.
"I've heard that Miss Qingyin is exceptionally talented, having already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and is only a short time away from the Purple Mansion stage. Young Master Lu is even more outstanding, having Foundation Establishment Peak at only a hundred years old. He is a prodigy from Jiangnan, renowned throughout the land, and given time, he will surely become Purple Mansion True Person."
"With this marriage alliance, both families will be powerful allies. Who in Wu Commandery will dare to provoke them in the future? And who in the Jianghuai region won't hold them in high regard?"
"That's right. The Gu and Lu families have put in a lot of effort for the Supreme Azure Waves in Huainan. I heard that Azure Waves Heaven is counting on the two families for the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven incident..."
"Watch your words! How can such things be discussed here?"
The guests exchanged knowing smiles and steered the conversation toward romantic topics.
Gu Yongshi listened to these discussions with a faint smile on his lips.
His Divine Sense inadvertently swept over a hidden spot in the immortal mansion, where four elderly men with profound auras sat, all with their eyes closed, conserving their energy and paying close attention to the slightest movement within the immortal mansion.
Those were the supreme elders of the Gu and Lu families, both powerful figures in the Purple Mansion. Today, on the surface, it was an engagement, but in reality, it was a loose engagement with strict rules, allowing no room for ambiguity.
Including himself and Lu Hongyuan, there are now six people from the Gu and Lu families present at the Purple Mansion today.
Not even counting the elders buried in the ancestral tomb, if all of them were put together, they would be enough to disperse a force that had swept across half of Jiangnan, provided that Golden Core True Lord did not interfere in worldly affairs.
This is the foundation of the two great Purple Mansion clans.
Even within the entire Jiangnan Jianghuai regions, it is a top-tier power.
That's why they dared to take root in the prosperous land of Yangzhou, dared to be the spies that Azure Waves Heaven planted in the Jiangnan of the Cloud Mist Ye Clan, and dared to do those rebellious things, dancing on eggshells, and secretly opposing the Ye Clan.
It was a helpless situation, but one was also happy to accept it. After all, being a dog for a powerful person required waiting in line and had to have the means. Besides, the world ultimately belonged to the Sima Clan!
Even if the Great Jin declines, a centipede, though dead, will not fall down.
Adding to the promises made by Sima Canglan, he was truly tempted.
Even if you achieve the Golden Core through a borrowed form, it's still Golden Core! (This means helping you become Golden Core cultivator. Golden Core cultivator doesn't necessarily guarantee a Heavenly Realm seal, but those who do are all top-tier Golden Core True Lord Monarchs.)
Even if they become vassals of the Heavenly Position, it's still far beyond what the Purple Mansion can compare to! Gu Lu Ruocheng can at least prosper for another thousand years!
Gu Yongshi withdrew his gaze, a barely perceptible hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.
During the alchemy gathering, he personally witnessed Ye Chen's disciple, Qi Ming, being protected by the Ye Clan.
Moreover, a few days ago, Ye Clan personally exonerated and reinstated into the family genealogy at Zhong Mountain, where Ye Chen was also known as Young Master Ye.
What does this mean? It means that the good-for-nothing he Gu Household his engagement now has a behemoth standing behind him.
The Cloud Mist Ye Clan is awe-inspiring and terrifying!
"Hmph." Gu Yongshi snorted coldly in his heart, but his face remained expressionless.
He had already made preparations.
Today's marriage, ostensibly a wedding between Gu Qingyin and Lu Ji (Hengzhi's courtesy name), is in reality a gesture from both the Gu and Lu families to the Ye Clan.
We'll admit defeat, let Qi Ming vent his anger, hold a grand wedding, and let that brat humiliate us in public, giving the Ye Clan enough face.
The Ye Clan only wanted a way out, so they gave it to them. Gu and Lu were both powerful clans in the Purple Mansion, and were also dogs of Azure Waves Heaven. Azure Waves Heaven had the imperial court behind it. No matter how despicable the Sima Clan was, they were still the imperial court, and the imperial court had the right to stand up for them.
Even when beating a dog, you should consider its owner!
We can't afford to fall out over a dead person and a Foundation Establishment failure, can we?
Gu Yongshi believed he had calculated everything perfectly and done everything he could. He had not retaliated against Qi Ming, but had only made him realize the importance of marrying someone of equal social standing, which was also a way of being true to his friendship with Ye Chen.
He had even arranged for someone to accidentally mention Qi Ming in public, so that Gu Qingyin would apologize publicly and say something like "I didn't recognize your greatness," thus giving the Ye Clan enough face.
As for that kid Qi Ming, give him a little something to sweeten the deal and let him vent his anger, and the matter will be over.
Surely Ye Jinyu, the young master of the Ye Clan, wouldn't really go against the Gu and Lu families for the sake of an outsider?
"Master," a steward leaned closer and whispered, "People from the Ye Clan... have arrived."
Gu Yongshi raised an eyebrow. "How many people came?"
"Just... one convoy, four or five people. The leader was a young man who claimed to be a retainer of the Ye Clan, saying he was there to deliver congratulatory gifts."
Gu Yongshi was certain. There were only four or five people, which meant that the Ye Clan didn't want to make a big fuss. They were just sending a retainer to deliver congratulatory gifts as a formality.
"Let them in. Be polite, lest you give them something to talk about."
"Yes."
A moment later, a commotion arose at the entrance of the hall.
Gu Yongshi looked up and saw a young man in a blue robe walk in. He was pale and expressionless, holding an object wrapped in red silk in his hands.
It was Qi Ming.
Behind him followed only four disciples of the Ye Clan, their auras unremarkable and showing no particular special qualities.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Countless gazes were focused on Qi Ming, some with pity, some with disdain, some with schadenfreude, and some with curiosity.
"Is this the good-for-nothing who got dumped?"
"Tsk tsk, look at his pathetic state, does he even deserve to marry Miss Gu Household?"
"It's said that the Ye Clan values him highly? Ha, they're probably just taking pity on him, out of consideration for his former master."
Whispers buzzed like mosquitoes, but Qi Ming paid no attention. He simply lowered his head and walked step by step to the center of the hall.
Gu Qingyin sat in the side seat, dressed in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, her makeup exquisite, her beauty beyond compare. She looked at Qi Ming as he approached, a flash of disgust in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, picked up her teacup, and didn't even want to look at him again.
Gu Yongshi, Purple Mansion True Person, was unconcerned with formalities. He actually stood up and greeted him with feigned enthusiasm, "Nephew, you've arrived? Please, take a seat."
Qi Ming looked up at the hypocritical smiling face, and an uncontrollable anger welled up in his heart.
It was this man's daughter who publicly broke off the engagement, bringing shame upon him and his master.
This is the person who, after his master's death, remained silent and made no statement. Instead, he rushed to arrange this marriage, proclaiming to the world his foresight in caring for his Gu Household.
Qi Ming took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.
He recalled the words the young master had spoken to him before he left—
"Go. Collect the debts you owe."
"Fear not, I, the young master, will back you up. Let the world see who Jiangnan is, and what Jiangnan surname is! A mere few Purple Mansion, having become his dogs, dare to be so insolent!"
Qi Ming slowly unfurled the red silk, revealing the "gift" inside, which was also a magic Law Artifact —a Foundation Establishment Law Artifact.
It flew out of my hand and then grew larger.
It was a bell.
Cast in bronze, about half a person's height, its surface is covered with rust, exuding a slightly antiquated and stale aura.
The hall was deathly silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the bell in disbelief.
Send a clock?
Seeing someone off at their deathbed?!
Gu Yongshi's smile froze on his face, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he barely suppressed the urge to slap Qi Ming and the four guards to death.
Lu Hongyuan, who was not far away, suddenly stood up. His Purple Mansion Divine Ability unleashed a crushing pressure like a raging tide. "You brat! What do you mean by this?!"
Facing the terrifying pressure, Qi Ming's face was ashen, but he gritted his teeth and said, word by word:
"I have come to offer my congratulations as a junior to my teacher, and also for my own sake."
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Gu Qingyin, his voice eerily calm:
"To send off the Gu and Lu families on their final journey."