Chapter 15: I Object!

In an instant, everyone remembered the name: Shuyuet. Here, splendid stories could be read without interruption or charge.

It was hard for these people to believe that such words had come from the esteemed and venerable Hou Yaodong. For the first time, Yi Jifeng wondered if this was truly Hou Yaodong himself. How could such undignified words come from his mouth, and moreover, directed as praise toward a down-and-out nobody? It was too unbelievable!

Yi Jifeng felt certain that this could not be the Hou Yaodong he knew. There was simply no reason for it.

The Ye family, too, couldn’t see any justification for Hou Yaodong’s staunch support of Chu Yun. Of everyone present, they knew best what sort of background Chu Yun had. This display was truly inexplicable.

“Second Brother Hou, is this really necessary?” Yi Jifeng chuckled lightly. “You’re lavishing such praise on a commoner—aren’t you afraid you’ll disgrace the Hou family?”

“Whether or not the Hou family is disgraced is hardly for you to decide,” Hou Yaodong retorted, looking directly at Yi Jifeng.

Yi Jifeng, unruffled, continued, “Second Brother, the women of the Hou family should at least be married into a second-tier family. That’s the bare minimum. What has this boy done to deserve your willingness to offer your granddaughter to him? Aren’t you shaming Linglong? You’re making even the Ye family hesitant to let him marry in.”

“You think I’m joking?” Hou Yaodong gave a slight, amused smile. “When I say something, I mean it.”

Chu Yun waved his hand. “Let it go, Mr. Hou. The old master has already agreed to this.”

“The elder agreed?” Hou Yaodong was momentarily stunned. In his mind, he figured the elder only did so to maintain the relationship between the Ye and Chu families. On reflection, perhaps the Ye family had learned of the elder’s existence as well, which might explain why they opposed the Yi family’s insistence on Chu Yun marrying in.

That seemed to be the only plausible explanation.

With that thought, Hou Yaodong sighed. He had hoped that, through Chu Yun, he might build a connection with that mysterious elder—or perhaps even form a marriage alliance. That would have been ideal.

“What a pity,” he sighed, then turned to Ye Linglong. “Linglong, you are fortunate. Perhaps this is also an opportunity for the Ye family.”

His words left the others in the room feeling utterly bewildered. Especially Ye Zhenhuan, who wanted to ask what opportunity he was talking about. Shouldn’t it be Chu Yun who was gaining an opportunity by marrying into the Ye family?

But since this was the elder’s wish, Hou Yaodong felt compelled to dissuade the Yi family. He looked at Yi Jifeng and said, “Since the engagement has been set, perhaps you should let it be. Let’s just drop this matter.”

“Uncle!” Yi Tianxing grew anxious. Was Hou Yaodong really here to ruin everything? This was exactly what he had feared. He looked at his uncle, hoping he would think of something.

Yi Jifeng glanced at Yi Tianxing and gave him a look to stay calm. He then turned to Hou Yaodong. “Second Brother, I heard that your cultivation went awry and you’re unable to continue anymore, is that true?”

Hou Yaodong frowned. “Where did you hear that?”

Yi Jifeng smiled. “The Hou family has spent lavishly to find specialists to treat your illness—even offering the family’s only reserve of advanced Body-Tempering Elixir. The whole city has heard. I hardly needed to enquire.”

Hou Yaodong asked, “What are you getting at?”

Yi Jifeng smirked. “I just want to know—are you cured?”

Hou Yaodong nodded. “I’m fine now.”

“Is that so?” Yi Jifeng was skeptical. “Then if I may be so bold, I’d like to spar with you today. I’ve heard you possess the strength of a level-five warrior, yes?”

“Do you simply wish to spar, or do you hope to win this marriage for your clan?” Hou Yaodong narrowed his eyes.

“Both,” Yi Jifeng replied. “I can let you have your way on other matters, Second Brother, but when you insist on meddling in affairs between the younger generation, I cannot stand idly by.”

“You mean I should stay out of this today?” Hou Yaodong asked.

“I think it’s beneath your dignity,” Yi Jifeng said, then turned to Chu Yun. “If I chose to intervene, do you think this young man would still be standing here? Is that not so? Let’s leave it—let the young people prove themselves.”

“That’s not fair to Chu Yun,” Ye Linglong interjected. “Besides, it’s my choice who I marry. My feelings are what matter.”

“There’s no such thing as fairness in this world!” Yi Jifeng’s tone sharpened. He looked to Ye Zhenhuan. “Am I right, Brother Ye?”

Ye Zhenhuan was clearly torn.

“I think it’s perfectly fair!” At this moment, Yi Tianxing spoke up. “I reached level seven as a warrior entirely through my own effort. I’m two years older than Chu Yun, but that’s no excuse for him to be a failure. I was a level-five warrior myself at seventeen! He’s only a level-one warrior now—are you saying fate has been unfair to us?”

He said this loudly, making sure the Ye family heard his own strength. The eyes of everyone in the Ye family lit up. To have reached this level at nineteen was impressive indeed.

Hou Yaodong, hearing this, looked at Chu Yun in surprise. He couldn’t understand why Chu Yun was only a level-one warrior. If he were truly the disciple of that mysterious elder, it shouldn’t be so. Or was his aptitude truly that poor?

“Master Chu, if you need help, just say so. I’m willing to risk my reputation today to drive the Yi family away for you,” Hou Yaodong whispered quietly in Chu Yun’s ear.

If Chu Yun really was only a level-one warrior, then Hou Yaodong would have to step in. Even though the elder hadn’t explicitly asked him to look after Chu Yun, the implication was clear enough. He was willing to bear the loss of face for such a debt of gratitude.

“Is this really necessary?” Ye Linglong frowned at Yi Tianxing. “Chu Yun is the one marrying in—you’re not. Is there any need to stoop to his level? Or do you want to marry into the Ye family yourself?”

“No man of the Yi family will ever marry in!” Yi Jifeng snorted. “Even saying such a thing is an insult to us.”

“Don’t be angry, Brother Yi,” Ye Zhenhuan soothed. “My daughter is simply spoiled.”

“Well, I’ll never marry into the Yi family!” Ye Linglong retorted stubbornly.

“You!” The Yi family erupted in fury.

“Silence!” Ye Zhenhuan glared at his daughter, not expecting her to be so provoked. But such was Ye Linglong’s stubborn nature. She’d said she would stand by Chu Yun, and she would—unless Chu Yun backed down, in which case she would have no choice but to marry out. As long as Chu Yun stood his ground, she had to make her own position clear.

“Are you even a man?” Yi Tianxing shouted at Chu Yun. “Second Uncle Hou is offering you his granddaughter, and you’re still willing to marry into another family and humiliate yourself?”

“Yes, I keep my word,” Hou Yaodong said to Chu Yun.

Ye Linglong trembled, gazing deeply at Chu Yun.

Chu Yun looked at Ye Linglong. “Bring out the marriage contract. I’d like to see it.”

Ye Linglong ordered a servant to fetch the contract from years before. Chu Yun examined it, then declared to everyone, “I will honor the marriage contract left by the Chu family, even if it means marrying in.”

Yi Tianxing slammed the table and roared, “Then I challenge you!”

“I object!” Ye Linglong said instantly.

Yi Tianxing jabbed a finger in her direction. “Objection overruled! I’m not challenging him because of you—I just can’t stand the sight of him!”

For him, the marriage itself no longer mattered. What stung was that a worthless nobody had left him humiliated and passive. He couldn’t stand it—especially with Chu Yun looking so calm and, he suspected, secretly smug thanks to Hou Yaodong’s backing.

“I object!” Hou Yaodong declared.

Yi Jifeng frowned. “Second Brother…”

Hou Yaodong cut him off. “I won’t make things hard for the younger generation. It’s you I can’t stand, Yi Jifeng!”

Yi Jifeng was left speechless.

(Updates resume today—please send some recommendations to keep me motivated. Another chapter is coming tonight.)