Li Guanqi spoke in a soft voice.
"I must take her back to the Great Xia Domain."
Meng Jiangchu's brows furrowed, and he said in a heavy voice, "That won't do. We still have to take her back to the Shenbao Domain. If she stays with you the whole time, people will think Old Meng's daughter is cheap and throwing herself at you!"
Meng Jiangchu spoke at a blistering pace, with even a trace of petulance in his tone.
Li Guanqi set down his chess piece, looked up at the man, and said with complete sincerity, "Wanshu... hasn't seen my mother yet.
"I want to take her back to see her."
Meng Jiangchu's open mouth snapped shut. He looked down, pretending to ponder the state of the board.
Clearing his throat, he muttered, "Cough... Mm... Then yes, you must make that trip."
Li Guanqi smiled. Gently setting his piece aside, he laughed. "I lose. Father-in-law's skill at chess is truly profound; your son-in-law cannot match even half of it."
Tidying up the board, Meng Jiangchu declared with pride, "Of course! You still need practice. You should learn more from me in the future."
Drying her hands, Meng Wanshu stepped out of the kitchen and couldn't help laughing. "Father, you won?"
"Of course! Your father crushed him in just a few quick moves. This kid's chess game stinks."
"Hahahahaha."
Seeing the smugly proud man, Meng Wanshu and Li Guanqi exchanged a look, both holding back their laughter.
"You should head back. I'll sleep here with Mother tonight," the young woman said softly and gently, reaching out to straighten Li Guanqi's collar. "Go share the news with Ye Feng and the others too. You'll probably be drinking tonight, so I won't go back with you."
Li Guanqi nodded slightly and chuckled softly. "Indeed, none of them know yet.
"Wait for me. I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Mm, go on."
Meng Jiangchu instructed, "Go get to it. You'll have plenty to keep you busy over the next few days. If anything comes up, contact me."
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile, bowed, and took his leave.
The moment Li Guanqi left, Meng Jiangchu immediately sat in a chair and pulled out a large pile of jade slips.
Holding one in his left hand: "Old Li, hahahaha, it's Old Meng! By the way, my daughter Wanshu is getting married in ten days at the Great Xia Sword Sect! Make sure you come!"
With another in his right hand:
"Hahaha, Sect Master Zhao, it's been a long time! My daughter Wanshu is getting married in ten days at the Great Xia Sword Sect. Oh, right—my son-in-law is Li Guanqi."
Setting down the jade slip, Meng Jiangchu wore a look of smug satisfaction.
"Tsk, claiming that brat as my son-in-law really gives me one hell of a lot of face..."
After muttering to himself, Meng Jiangchu picked up the first jade slip again and spoke into it:
"Ah, Old Li, I forgot to mention—my son-in-law Li Guanqi has already reached the Ascension Realm. Don't bring too lavish a congratulatory gift, but make sure to come drink some wedding wine!"
Inside the room, Meng Wanshu and Li Guilan watched this spectacle, unable to keep from laughing.
"Father really loves to show off."
Li Guilan held the girl's hand and smiled. "This time, let him show off. After all, my daughter is so exceptional. The more people who come, the livelier it will be."
Meng Wanshu lowered her head with a smile and said softly, "Mother, he said he's going to invite everyone from Fulong Village who is still around. You'll be able to see the others then."
Li Guilan's eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. "Ah? Zhao Dafen and the rest are still alive?!
"And Niu Cuihua and the others are around too?"
Hearing these rustic yet familiar names, Meng Wanshu found it rather endearing.
"Don't worry, Mother, they're all still around.
"A few years ago, after some incidents, he brought everyone to the Great Xia Sword Sect.
"The place is blessed with spiritual energy, and whenever they fell sick, the sect provided medicinal pills.
"Though they show their age, their average lifespan reaches a good hundred years or more.
"The last time I saw Auntie Niu, she looked no older than someone in her fifties."
Li Guilan was thrilled, her face brimming with excitement and delight.
"Oh my, oh my goodness, as long as they're alive, that's wonderful! I thought they had all been buried by now..."
Seeing this, Meng Wanshu couldn't help praising her, "None of them are as beautiful or youthful as you, Mother."
Li Guilan reached up to touch her own face. Though somewhat plump, her skin was fair, completely unlike that of ordinary mortal women in the streets.
Rising to her feet, she turned in a circle and said with a touch of fretfulness, "Then should I lose some weight...?"
"Mother~ There's really no need for that, is there?"
"No, I must lose some. You... don't worry about it. You barely have two ounces of meat on you; lose any more and you'll disappear completely."
Meng Wanshu pursed her lips in a stifled giggle. Watching her father busy sending out messages in the courtyard, a swell of emotions stirred in her heart.
Li Guanqi arrived at the Mortal Sojourner tavern. Looking at Li Qingchan, he smiled softly.
"Get me some wine. Also... in a few days, I might need an enormous amount of wine. I wonder if Mortal Sojourner will have enough?"
Li Qingchan looked at Li Guanqi with a hint of surprise and said softly, "Mortal Sojourner has plenty of wine.
"All these years, I've brewed wine every single day. So don't worry—however much you need, I have it.
"Still, what do you need so much wine for?"
The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curled upward, and he replied via voice transmission, "To host a banquet."
Li Qingchan's eyes widened. Clearly guessing what was happening, she pursed her lips and smiled.
"Congratulations! However much wine you need today, it's on the house."
Li Guanqi waved his hand and quickly said, "That won't do. If Second Brother Ye finds out you're running a losing business, he definitely won't stand for it."
Li Qingchan rolled her eyes at him. Although she and Ye Feng kept their relationship quiet, it was merely that they hadn't openly publicized it.
"What's the Sword Venerable whispering about over there with the proprietress?"
Li Guanqi turned back to look. Mortal Sojourner had quite a few patrons today.
Li Guanqi gave a hearty laugh and waved his hand grandly.
"There's good news today! Drink all you want—put it on my tab!"
Hearing this, the patrons cheered and bantered.
"Could it be the Sword Venerable is getting married? Hahahahaha, then we'll definitely have to crash the wedding for some wine!"
"Exactly! For an occasion this grand, we have to be there!"
Li Guanqi cupped his hands in gratitude toward the crowd all around.
"Ten days from now at the Great Xia Sword Sect, I look forward to your gracious presence."
Upon returning to the White Jade Tower, Li Guanqi looked at the guys glaring hungrily at him and couldn't help shrugging his shoulders.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Ye Feng put on a fierce face and charged forward first with a wave of his hand.
"Brothers, get him!!!"
"Such a massive thing, and we brothers are the last to know!!"
"Charge!! Take him down!!"
"Hehe, I got a kick in!!"
The crowd swarmed him, tackling Li Guanqi to the floor with flurries of punches, kicks, and even bites.
Li Guanqi wailed, "Who the hell is aiming below the belt?!"
After the rowdy roughhousing, Li Guanqi and the others gathered in the spacious study at the top of the White Jade Tower.
The table was laden with spirit fruits and meats, and jar after jar of spiritual wine was hauled out.
Li Guanqi looked around at his brothers with glowing eyes, raised a wine jar, and shouted, "Brothers! Today we drink until we drop!! Down the hatch!"
Gulp, gulp!
Not a single person moved. That jar was their penalty for Li Guanqi, so none of them were going to touch it.
Setting down the empty jar, Li Guanqi cursed with a chuckle, "You bastards. When you said it was a penalty drink, you really didn't touch a drop..."
*Phew...*
Li Guanqi sat down and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"Brothers... all these years, you've all had it hard.
"Xiao Chen hasn't gone back to accompany his family or see Qing'er.
"Second Brother Ye hasn't gone home either, and has kept avoiding things with Li Qingchan.
"Tang Ru hasn't gone back to visit Uncle Tang in a long time.
"Gu Li has been constantly consumed by battles, never having the chance to enter seclusion properly to comprehend his Dao."
At these words, everyone grew pensive, yet felt as if some heavy shackle had finally been lifted.
Li Guanqi pulled Cao Yan into an embrace and looked at everyone, saying softly:
"Third Brother's situation is a bit special. All of you have family, lovers, people you hold dear.
"But Old Third... he only has us!
"So in the future, take extra care of him. You hear me?"
The moment the words fell, Cao Yan's eyes reddened instantly, and tears rolled down his cheeks as he bowed his head.
The others raised their wine jars and roared in unison:
"We hear you!!"
"What's Boss even talking about? Old Third is our family too! Our blood brother!"
Chapter 1503