113. Undercurrents Stirring

Although Xiao Yun often bickered with Qu and Chu, the bond between them grew steadily stronger. Even Qu and Chu had developed a genuine affection for the Ninth Young Lady. Though she rarely gave them a pleasant look, they understood that if she truly despised them, she would never have taught them martial arts alongside Xiao Yun. This was the very reason why, in their future quest to dominate the martial arts world, they would always defer to Xiao Yun; they had come to regard him as a younger brother. It was precisely this dynamic that allowed Xiao Yun to later ascend to the position of Alliance Leader with such ease, as he served as the balancing point for all these competing forces.

Xiao Yun spent a period of lighthearted and joyful days with the Ninth Young Lady, who had herself become much more tender. Every day, she taught him martial arts. Deep down, she longed to be a good wife to her husband, but as a woman of immense strength, she found even that simple desire beyond her reach. She felt a profound sorrow, compounded by a deep-seated, repressed hatred toward her own family.

Observing the Ninth Young Lady now, Long Hanchun felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if the younger woman were venting grievances on her behalf. Yet, when she imagined the Ninth Young Lady actually marrying Xiao Yun and living happily, she was filled with jealousy. She opposed the match with her words, yet in her heart, she was drawn to the idea of the Ninth Young Lady marrying him. At the same time, she hoped the union would be fraught with obstacles or even end in tragedy. She wanted Long Lengyue to share a fate similar to her own, so that they might be fellow sufferers adrift in the world.

The human heart is complex, and a woman’s heart even more so. A woman as clever as Long Hanchun possessed an inner world so convoluted she could not even articulate it herself. Her brother, Long Wei, occupied with major family affairs, feigned ignorance and indifference toward the marriage. But for the Matriarch of the Long family, such a union was strictly forbidden. She understood that losing Long Lengyue would be as devastating as losing a limb.

The Matriarch’s capacity for sentiment had long been eroded by decades of bloody family vendettas. She cared only for the interests of the clan, having cast aside the emotions of her kin long ago. If she could not allow her own daughter, Long Hanchun, to marry as she pleased, she certainly would not allow it for Long Lengyue, who was merely an adopted daughter. The Long family had taken her in as a child primarily to cultivate her into a critical pawn for the future. The only problem was that this pawn had become too capable, making her difficult for the family to control.

The Matriarch had not opposed the marriage publicly at first because she knew Long Lengyue was a stubborn woman; once she set her mind to something, she would pursue it regardless of opposition. To protest would only exacerbate the conflict. Should she come into open confrontation with Long Lengyue, the consequences would be dire—no one in the family understood the terrifying extent of Lengyue’s power better than she did.

Without sufficient preparation, the Matriarch would not show her hand. Thus, she feigned fondness for Xiao Yun, waiting for the opportune moment to strike him down without mercy. Of course, with Long Lengyue’s intelligence, she was well aware of this. They were both waiting—waiting for the moment that would favor them.

The Matriarch set out in her carriage, accompanied by the sisters Long Hanchun and Long Hanxing, along with Long Feifeng, the daughter of the Xu branch, as they traveled toward Xianyang. Along the way, the Matriarch’s mood was heavy. She pondered how best to handle the relationship between the Ninth Young Lady and Xiao Yun to ensure the greatest benefit for the Long family. She had to be extremely cautious, for a single misstep could lead to total defeat.

Suddenly, Long Hanxing asked, "Matriarch, we have encountered the Blood Demon of Fate. Shall we finish him off?"

The Blood Demon of Fate was a figure on the Martial Arts Alliance’s "Black Demon List," one of the villains the righteous path sought to eliminate. As the Long family was a prestigious and renowned clan of the righteous path, the question was natural.

"I shall step out and take a look," the Matriarch replied. She pulled back the carriage curtain and was startled to see that the Blood Demon of Fate was missing an arm. The wound had not yet healed, suggesting the injury was recent. She wondered who could have severed his limb. The Blood Demon was a formidable master; there were few capable of such a feat. She signaled to Hanchun and Hanxing, and the two sisters stepped forward to block his path.

The Blood Demon of Fate felt a surge of despair upon encountering them. He had hoped to slip away, but their sharp eyes had caught him. Facing these two terrifying women, he resigned himself to his misfortune. Even before his injury, he could not have escaped their combined strength, let alone now, after having lost an arm to Bai Xuehua. Steeling himself, he shouted, "Why do you block my way? Do you seek my life?" He prepared to fight to the death.