Firmament Sword

”Why are you being so good to me? Is it just because of… my relationship with Lianyi?” Xu Luo frowned slightly. He couldn’t see through this alluring, beautiful woman, but his intuition told him she meant him no harm. This left him feeling puzzled.

In this world, there is no love without reason, and no hate without a cause. Xu Luo didn’t think he was so charming that a complete stranger would do so much for him.

”For one, Lianyi grew up in the Xu Family. Without the Xu Family, there would be no Lianyi. So, my sister and I are both very grateful to the Xu Family. For another, that girl Lianyi’s heart is completely tied to you. My sister has tested her and tried to make her forget you, but the results… I’m sure you’ve seen for yourself. And finally…”

At this, Ling Fengxian gave a mysterious smile. ”This last reason is the most important one. But I… cannot tell you right now. Perhaps you’ll find out one day, but at the very least… it cannot come from my lips.”

”Why?” Xu Luo wasn’t the type to get to the bottom of things, but Lianyi’s alluring and beautiful aunt had given him far too many surprises today.

”If I say I can’t tell you, then I can’t. Why so many questions?” Ling Fengxian shot Xu Luo a look. ”In short, you only need to remember one thing: the Celestial Cauldron Sect will always stand by your side, no matter what!”

”Thank you!” Xu Luo asked no more questions, instead rising to give Ling Fengxian a deep bow.

Regardless of her reasons, she had shown considerable sincerity, offering what seemed to be almost selfless aid. Even if there were other motives at play, Xu Luo was already deeply moved.

”As for the Merak Sect, we will offer them some protection as well. Otherwise, I’m afraid they’ll be wiped out by some of the major sects from the Central Plains Star Continent before the invaders from beyond even arrive,” Ling Fengxian said.

”I met Xushan, the Sect Leader of the Jade Balance Sect, a few days ago. He spoke to me about you and holds you in very high regard. I believe that, barring any surprises, the Jade Balance Sect will also be on your side.” Ling Fengxian seemed to recall something and looked at Xu Luo with a smile. ”Oh, right. That young lady from the Jade Balance Sect named Xu Qing is quite something!”

”…” Xu Luo was speechless. A sense of absurdity washed over him, and he gave a wry smile. ”Listening to you… it sounds like I’ve suddenly become very important.”

”It’s not that it ’sounds like’… it’s a fact,” Ling Fengxian said softly. ”This is fate.”

”What?” Xu Luo raised an eyebrow slightly.

”It’s nothing.” But Ling Fengxian was unwilling to say more.

With that, their conversation ended. Just then, Phoenix, Huangfu Shishi, and the others arrived. They were already deep in a pleasant conversation with Lianyi’s group. When the stunning women saw Xu Luo and Ling Fengxian emerge, their eyes lit up.

Phoenix and Huangfu Shishi were rather curious about Lianyi’s alluring and beautiful aunt, and they came over to greet her.

”Two very pretty young ladies. Seeing you, even I can’t help but take a liking to you.” Ling Fengxian looked at Phoenix and Huangfu Shishi with a beaming smile, then shot a mischievous glance at Xu Luo.

Lianyi smiled helplessly. Her aunt was wonderful in every way, except for her love of teasing people. But there was one thing that surprised even Lianyi: her aunt’s attitude toward Xu Luo.

This aunt of hers had always been mysterious, rarely appearing in the sect. It seemed she spent her years traveling and was notoriously cold toward any man.

Even her only disciple, Wang Xu, hailed as the peerless genius of Celestial Cauldron, was like a mouse before a cat in her presence, always on his best behavior.

Lianyi had never told her aunt much about Xu Luo, which made her curious. ’What on earth did she and Xu Luo talk about? Why is she acting so warmly toward him?’

But she wouldn’t ask. That was simply Lianyi’s nature. Besides, her aunt had deliberately spoken to Xu Luo alone, away from everyone else, which clearly meant she didn’t want anyone to know what was said.

A short while later, Xu Ji and his wife returned. Hearing that someone from the Celestial Cauldron Sect had arrived, they immediately hurried over.

Ling Fengxian once again expressed her gratitude to Xu Ji and his wife, thanking them for their kindness in raising Lianyi all these years.

Xu Ji and his wife were also very courteous to the alluring, beautiful woman. Though it was their first meeting, their conversation was quite cordial.

”By the way, Xiaoluo, there’s news of your second brother.” After the meal, Luo Xinlan quietly pulled Xu Luo aside and whispered.

”What? There’s news of Second Brother? Where is he?” Xu Luo asked urgently.

Ever since Xu Jie fled his wedding, there had been no word from him. He hadn’t even appeared when monumental changes swept through Cangqiong and his father, Xu Zhongtian, was killed.

At the time, this had made Little Fatty and the others quite unhappy, as they felt their second brother was shirking his responsibilities. They couldn’t believe that Xu Jie wouldn’t have heard about something so significant.

”The Northern Desert,” Luo Xinlan sighed softly. ”That child… when he fled the wedding, he went straight to the Northern Desert. A powerful band of bandits has appeared on the grasslands there. Their leader is called Hong Niangzi, and this person… might just be Mo Yun!”

”The Northern Desert… How did they end up so far away?” Xu Luo was shocked.

To the northwest of the Cangqiong Empire lay the Da Han Empire, and to the south, the Great Yan Empire. The Northern Desert… was north of the Da Han Empire!

It was a vast, endless grassland stretching for thousands of miles. The grasslands were home to many tribes, and the people there were fierce and rugged. Even the Da Han Empire rarely bothered with the place.

The nomads of the grasslands had always been a troublesome people. They were fierce, wild, and had no fixed homes, coming and going like the wind. Once angered, they would harass their enemies relentlessly.

Thus, since ancient times, the Northern Desert grassland had always been the domain of the nomadic peoples.

”It seems Xu Jie got some news and chased after her. Mo Yun, meanwhile, took the remnants of her followers and established a foothold in the Northern Desert Grassland. They should be together now.” Luo Xinlan sighed softly. ”Mo Yun is also a star-crossed child. For things to end up like this is actually not too bad.”

”How did you find out?” Xu Luo was puzzled. The Northern Desert was tens of thousands of miles from Cangqiong, with the Da Han Empire in between. Getting news from there couldn’t be easy.

”Your father has had men stationed there for years. The news came from them,” Luo Xinlan said.

”No wonder… He didn’t even show up when his own father was killed. He must not have gotten the news at all.” As Xu Luo said this, he felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t that Xu Jie was unfilial, and that was enough.

He figured Little Fatty and the others would be relieved to hear this as well. After all, they had been brothers since childhood; no one wanted to see one of their own be disloyal and unfilial.

”That bandit group, led by Hong Niangzi, made a huge name for themselves on the Northern Desert Grassland in a very short time. Now, they’re famous throughout the entire Northern Desert. Otherwise, your father’s men wouldn’t have noticed them,” Luo Xinlan said.

”If that’s the case, then news from here…” Xu Luo looked at Luo Xinlan.

”Yes, that’s what I was getting to. They’re already on their way back. Right now, they should be crossing the Da Han Empire’s territory. I estimate it won’t be long before they return to the Imperial Capital.” As she spoke, Luo Xinlan sighed softly. ”It’s just that when they return, they will find that everything has changed. I don’t know if General Xu’s wife will be able to forgive Xu Jie.”

”No one expected this to happen. Madam Xu is a sensible and educated woman. And no matter what, Second Brother is still her son…” Xu Luo lamented.

”The problem is, the Xu Family’s chosen daughter-in-law… is Liu Ruyu! Xu Jie’s mother… once said that she would only ever acknowledge that one daughter-in-law!” Luo Xinlan sighed.

”That… is indeed tricky. And in this matter, Second Brother is the one who wronged Miss Liu,” Xu Luo said with a wry smile.

”Let’s not dwell on it. When the time comes, a solution will present itself. But on the other hand, there’s you. Lianyi is back. Isn’t it time you settled the matter of your marriage?” Luo Xinlan’s gaze burned as she looked at Xu Luo. ”Her aunt is here, so there’s even an elder present. What do you say? I don’t want to end up like Madam Xu…”

Xu Luo felt a headache coming on. ’My mother has gotten too clever,’ he thought. ’That segue was absolutely divine… She started with Xu Jie and Mo Yun, and somehow it all landed on my head.’

”Uh… Mom, look… I’m still young. Isn’t it a bit early to talk about this? Besides, Big Brother is already married, and you have two daughters-in-law. If you want grandchildren, you should go find my two sisters-in-law…” Xu Luo said with a look of utter helplessness.

”Hmph, don’t drag your brother into this! He’s far more responsible than you are!” Luo Xinlan glared at her son. ”How could two daughters-in-law be enough? I want more! Speaking of which, I get angry just thinking about it. After your two sisters-in-law got married, instead of staying home and trying for a baby, they both ran off, claiming they’re young and their careers are more important…”

Xu Luo lamented internally, ’Once upon a time, my mother was still like a young girl. Even now, she’s still young and beautiful. How did she turn into… this… the moment she became a mother-in-law? Thank goodness Big Brother and my two sisters-in-law are still ahead of me, taking the heat. Otherwise, she’d definitely nag me to death.’

”Are you even listening to me? I think Lianyi, Phoenix, and Qiqi are all wonderful girls! You should take this opportunity and just marry all of them! I’m sure they’ll agree. I’ve already sounded them out!”

”Mom… to be honest with you, I might… have to go on a long journey again.” Cornered, Xu Luo had no choice but to tell the truth.

”A long journey? ’While your parents are alive, do not travel afar.’ What are you up to now?” Luo Xinlan looked at her second son, annoyed.

These days, Xu Luo’s fame was known throughout the world. Ordinarily, a parent would only feel proud. But for Luo Xinlan, she would rather her son not have such renown. The higher Xu Luo stood, the more she worried for him.

For a mother, the greatest blessing was her children’s safety.