Firmament Sword

When Xu Jie saw Liu Xuan and Madam Liu emerge, he knelt and said in a solemn voice, ”Sir, Madam, I have come to beg your forgiveness!”

The onlookers watched with excitement. Witnessing the drama of such a great family was an incredible stroke of luck for them—a story they could one day boast about to their children and grandchildren.

”Enough, Xu Jie. Get up. The fault doesn’t lie with you.” Liu Xuan let out a long sigh, walked over, and helped Xu Jie to his feet. Then, he said solemnly, ”This was my daughter’s own choice. You’re not to blame. The fact that you came is proof enough of your sincerity. Alas... You may go. We forgive you.”

Madam Liu shed tears at his side. Though her expression was grim, she said nothing.

Xu Jie looked deeply ashamed. Regardless of whether he was entirely to blame, the conduct of Liu Xuan and his wife, combined with the great debt the Xu Family owed Liu Ruyu, was more than enough to fill his heart with shame.

”I’m sorry. It was my selfishness that led to this outcome. Please rest assured, Sir and Madam. Although Ruyu has left the Xu Family, if the Liu Family ever needs me for anything in the future, I will not hesitate for a moment!”

As he spoke, Xu Jie glanced at the crowd around them. ”With all our friends and neighbors here as witnesses, from this day forward, you, Sir and Madam, are my own parents! Your concerns are my concerns!”

With that, Xu Jie knelt once more and kowtowed three times to Liu Xuan and his wife.

”Alas...” Madam Liu sighed. Looking at the sturdy young man kneeling before her, she could only lament inwardly, ’My daughter and this young man were fated to meet, but not destined to be together.’

She had, of course, read the letter Liu Ruyu left behind and understood her daughter’s reasons. Because of that, she couldn’t bring herself to hate the young man.

”Get up. We accept you as our son!” A look of gratification flashed in Liu Xuan’s eyes. He had said son, not son-in-law. It wasn’t that he wanted to nullify the marriage agreement between their families, but that this was Liu Ruyu’s choice!

If Xu Jie hadn’t left the Xu Family that day, Liu Ruyu would have naturally become his wife and the Xu Family’s daughter-in-law. But he chose to leave to pursue the one he loved. In turn, Liu Ruyu cared for her would-be mother-in-law until Xu Jie’s return, then left to find her own path... In the end, it was all a matter of choice.

’Besides, for someone like Liu Ruyu, she would have left eventually, even if Xu Jie had stayed. So his departure was, in a way, a good outcome for her too.’

With Xu Jie’s public apology, the scandal that had been the talk of the Imperial Capital finally came to an end. While people praised Xu Jie for being honorable, they couldn’t help but feel regret for the two of them. They had been a match made in heaven, but a strange twist of fate had left them worlds apart. There was nothing more to say than this: they were fated to meet, but not destined to be together.

...

More than ten days flew by. Finally, news about the Spirit Stone Vein arrived from the eastern part of the Cangqiong Empire, and it sent shockwaves through the populace.

A group had gathered at Xu Luo’s home. A Merak disciple had finally returned with detailed intelligence on the Spirit Stone Vein.

”The vein’s reserves are incredibly vast. They’re currently extracting about three hundred thousand Spirit Stones per month, and by our estimates, it can be mined for several hundred years!” As the Merak disciple spoke, he couldn’t hide the envy on his face.

”HISS...” Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. ’Three hundred thousand Spirit Stones a month... that’s nearly four million a year. A hundred years would be almost four hundred million. And it can be mined for several hundred years... Doesn’t that mean the vein holds at least a billion Spirit Stones?’

It was an astronomical figure, enough to drive any Cultivation Sect mad. No wonder so many high-ranking sect members had all rushed over there, while the ones who came to the Imperial Capital were mostly disciples from smaller sects or the larger sects’ junior members.

The number required to awaken his fourth Star Soul, Tianquan, instantly flashed through Xu Luo’s mind. ’If I could get my hands on that vein,’ he thought, ’wouldn’t I instantly meet the basic requirements to awaken the Tianquan Star Soul?’

’Right now, my Dharma Heaven and Earth only has three great stars. If the Tianquan Star Soul is awakened, can I add another?’

’Not to mention that with every awakened Star Soul, my power takes a huge leap forward, and I gain other unexpected benefits. It might even be enough to rouse the Jade Balance Star Soul from its slumber...’

At this thought, Xu Luo’s heart blazed with ambition.

”That much? Good heavens... no single sect can swallow all of that,” Phoenix whispered in astonishment. ”The Dubhe Sect may be powerful, but there’s no way they can monopolize this vein.”

Lianyi nodded. ”Almost all the major sects have gathered there this time. Once this news spreads, even more will head that way. It’s impossible for the Dubhe Sect to keep it all for themselves.”

Huangfu Shishi frowned slightly and said quietly, ”Unfortunately, even if we wanted to compete with those major sects, I’m afraid we lack the strength...”

Phoenix smiled. ”Forming alliances will be inevitable!”

The Merak disciple spoke up again. ”Another significant incident occurred over there. The Dubhe Sect forcibly conscripted a large number of local laborers to work the mines. A few days ago, in Daxing Town, the closest settlement to the vein, a retired veteran had been appointed as a foreman to oversee the miners. He was probably pushed too far by the Dubhe disciples, because one night, he led a large group and killed more than a dozen of them. Just as the Dubhe Sect’s experts arrived to execute the old soldier, Sect Leader Ling of the Celestial Cauldron Sect and Sect Leader Xu of the Jade Balance Sect suddenly appeared and took the veteran under their protection. The Dubhe Sect’s people were furious, but there was nothing they could do. In any case, the situation there is very delicate right now.”

”I’m going to head over there and see for myself,” Xu Luo announced quietly, his eyes sweeping over the group.

Luo Xinlan shuddered slightly. She suddenly recalled something her son had told her a few days ago and had a premonition that this time, when Xu Luo left, there would be no telling when he might return.

Phoenix, Lianyi, and Huangfu Shishi all looked at Xu Luo at the same time and said in unison, ”I’m going too!”

Ji Bingyu had wanted to say the same, but seeing the other three speak first, she held her tongue, not wanting to cause a misunderstanding.

The three women glanced at each other, and all of them blushed slightly.

Xia Muyao and Guo Ying were sitting together off to the side. They exchanged a look, and Guo Ying whispered, ”See? And you were giving me a hard time. Our little brother-in-law here... he’s even more of a charmer!”

”When was I giving you a hard time? The two of us... we’re the official wives, aren’t we?” Xia Muyao said, pursing her lips.

Xu Luo looked at Huangfu Shishi and the others, gently shaking his head. ”I’m going alone. You all are to stay here!”

”No!” Huangfu Shishi’s reaction was the most vehement. They had already been intimate as husband and wife, and she already considered herself Xu Luo’s wife. Naturally, she didn’t want him walking into danger.

And while the relationship between Lianyi, Phoenix, and Xu Luo was still platonic, their hearts belonged to him all the same. They too didn’t want him to face such perils alone and wished to go with him.

”You’re not alone anymore. You have me... us. You have family and brothers. You’re the one at the center of everything for us. I can’t let you go take such a risk.” Huangfu Shishi stumbled over the word ”me,” pausing as she thought of Lianyi and Phoenix before correcting herself. She looked at Xu Luo, her voice emotional. ”You know as well as I do that the Dubhe Sect hates your very guts, and the Kaiyang Sect... they don’t wish you well, either. If you go over there and something happens, what will we do?”

”Don’t worry. If I want to leave a place, there aren’t many people in this world who can stop me.” Xu Luo smiled faintly, then said suddenly, ”Qiqi, let’s get engaged!”

The moment the words left Xu Luo’s mouth, the room fell into a dead silence. No one had expected that at a time like this, in this setting, Xu Luo would suddenly say such a thing.

Even his parents, Luo Xinlan and Xu Ji, were completely stunned.

Beside them, Lianyi’s face turned deathly pale. She swayed on her feet, struggling to keep her composure. Lowering her head slightly, her eyes began to well with tears.

Phoenix had a similar reaction. She first stared at Xu Luo and Huangfu Shishi in disbelief, then a shadow of sadness crossed her eyes. ’So it’s really come to this,’ she thought. ’The bond between childhood sweethearts... it’s truly different.’

Huangfu Shishi was also stunned. She had never imagined Xu Luo would say something like that, especially in front of so many people. It clearly wasn’t a joke. For a moment, she felt so overwhelmed with happiness she thought she might faint.

But a glance at the expressions on Phoenix and Lianyi’s faces sobered her instantly. Of course she didn’t want to share Xu Luo with anyone, but when faced with these two women, she simply didn’t have the heart to be cruel.

She looked up, her gaze serious. ”What about them?”

Xu Luo gave a bitter smile in his heart. ’Silly girl. Them? Is my current situation suitable for getting involved with so many women? The only reason I’m proposing is because you are already my woman and can never marry another. Otherwise, how could someone like me, destined to wander the world while fleeing assassins... ever drag you into my troubles?’

Lianyi and Phoenix both looked up, their eyes fixed on Xu Luo.

Everyone else also focused their attention on Xu Luo, waiting to hear his answer.

After all, the room was full of close friends and family. Anyone who wasn’t blind could see the feelings Lianyi and Phoenix had for Xu Luo. Was it possible he was completely oblivious?

That was impossible!

Among everyone there, only Xu Luo’s mother, Luo Xinlan, calmed down after her initial shock. After a moment’s thought, she understood her son’s difficult position.

’He’s... afraid of dragging others down with him! But my foolish son, can’t you see? Even if you reject them, do you really think they will simply go and marry someone else?’

Thinking this, Luo Xinlan decided she couldn’t let this matter proceed according to Xu Luo’s whims. ’Otherwise, two perfectly good girls will have their hearts broken, and that would be a terrible shame.’

”An engagement, you say? Then naturally, all four of you will be engaged together!”

Luo Xinlan’s words were a bombshell, leaving everyone utterly stupefied.