Like an eager lackey, Li Guanqi came scampering back.
Sidling up behind the man, he chuckled. "I'm here, I'm here! What's going on, Father-in-law?"
Meng Jiangchu found the boy's easy use of "Father-in-law" grating no matter how many times he heard it.
Yet on second thought... a nineteen-year-old in the middle Void Refining Realm didn't seem like such a damn bad deal after all.
One had to remember this kid had received almost no help from his grandfather since childhood.
Had the Lord of Mingchuan not displayed such overwhelming murderous intent back then, his grandfather likely wouldn't have permitted Long Hou to intervene at all.
Reflecting further, Meng Jiangchu couldn't help but feel a flicker of shock.
Practically speaking, from the moment this boy embarked on the path of cultivation, he had never received his grandfather's backing!
The Great Xia Sword Sect in the Great Xia Domain was as small as a sect could possibly be.
Yet from such a modest sect had emerged a monster like him.
And then there was that golden-haired youth outside, who seemed even a bit younger than him.
Yet he had walked out alive from the Taiqing Domain's Purgatory Abyss, with a cultivation base just as monstrous.
Moreover, after the cold poison inside Wanshu had flared up earlier, Li Changqing had reconstructed the scene.
Meng Jiangchu had seen for himself how Li Guanqi, reduced to skin and bones, had stood his ground amid the storm.
It was clear that Li Guanqi truly loved Wanshu.
For her sake, he was willing to sacrifice and take any risk.
At these thoughts, the look Meng Jiangchu directed at Li Guanqi softened considerably.
Now that he had acknowledged the boy in his heart, he certainly couldn't let him be bullied in the future.
If he were bullied, wouldn't his daughter suffer alongside him?
With that in mind, the majesty of a Domain Lord reappeared on Meng Jiangchu's face.
In a low voice, he said, "From now on, if anyone dares bully you, tell me."
Li Guanqi grinned, finally setting his mind at ease; those words clearly meant he had received the man's approval.
Feeling lighter, he straightened his posture slightly.
With a smile, he asked, "Alright, Father-in-law. From what you said earlier..."
Meng Jiangchu scoffed coldly. "It's just some sacred clans and major factions from the Shenbao Domain.
"Every single one of their disciples and scions holds their nose in the air!
"Hmph! A bunch of dissolute dandies, yet they dare dream of ending up with Wanshu?"
Li Guanqi understood the situation at once. Licking his lips, he chuckled softly.
"Then... what does Father-in-law intend?"
The corners of Meng Jiangchu's mouth curved slightly into a strange smile.
Turning to fix Li Guanqi with an intense gaze, he said quietly, "Beat them into submission!
"No matter who they are or which faction they belong to, beat them until every last one of them is on their knees, acknowledging you as their better.
"If my son-in-law can't even deal with these mongrels, I'll be sorely disappointed."
Li Guanqi's lips twitched upward into an eager smirk. "Heh, how far can I go?"
Meng Jiangchu waved a broad hand. "As long as you don't kill them or sever their road to immortality, do as you please."
Hearing that, Li Guanqi was completely reassured. With such a massive backer having his back, what the hell was there to fear?
Outside, Li Changqing was receiving the guests—eleven factions had arrived together.
It seemed they were truly getting anxious...
Xiao Chen and Ye Feng had come along as well; after all, how could two troublemakers like them miss out on watching such a spectacle?
Xiao Chen said excitedly, "Good grief! Everyone who should come has come, and those who shouldn't have showed up too.
"Heh-heh, Old Li has his work cut out for him this time. A few among them are seriously strong."
Ye Feng curled his lip. "Stronger than you?"
He asked because he had fought Xiao Chen at his peak and knew in his bones just how formidable Xiao Chen truly was.
Xiao Chen pondered for a moment before replying softly, "Yes. And more than one!"
The two flew side by side, whispering behind Li Guanqi and Meng Jiangchu.
*Whoosh!!*
Having heard the news, Meng Wanshu rushed over as well. Coming to Meng Jiangchu's side with a face full of concern, she said, "Father... are you really going to let him go?"
Meng Jiangchu felt an uncomfortable twinge at her obvious bias, deliberately retorting, "If he can't even handle a trifle like this, how can he be my, Meng Jiangchu's, son-in-law?"
Li Guanqi quickly chimed in beside them. Taking the woman's soft, jade-like hand into his own, he gave it a gentle squeeze, shooting her a reassuring glance that told her not to worry.
Soon, the group flew to the boundary of the pocket realm.
*Buzz!!!*
The space of the boundary parted instantly, revealing eleven enormous, opulent cloud boats stationed outside.
*Buzz!!!*
Waves of immense, crushing pressure erupted with a roar.
Figures materialized one after another, as powerhouse after powerhouse with auras as deep as abysses revealed themselves.
Accompanying them were young men with hostile expressions.
Every one of these youths looked at Li Guanqi with sheer enmity.
A few even let out sneers upon seeing that he was blind, the disdain in their eyes completely undisguised.
Observing their varied reactions, Li Guanqi let the corners of his mouth curl upward. As if flaunting, he raised Meng Wanshu's hand high.
Making sure they had an unobstructed view, he pulled her out from behind Meng Jiangchu.
Seeing the fury ignite in their eyes made him all the more amused.
Without hesitation, he hooked an arm around her slender waist, his broad hand boldly caressing her hips.
How could Meng Wanshu endure such public intimacy?
Her eyes lowered immediately as a crimson blush flushed her cheeks, every inch of her expression drenched in bashfulness.
At this sight, even the young men who had managed to maintain their composure could no longer hold back. The glares they directed at Li Guanqi looked sharp enough to kill.
Every single one of them glared venomously at him.
Li Guanqi acted entirely unbothered, looking even more smug.
Just as he was wondering whether he should pull her in and kiss her right in front of them, a man's voice hissed through gritted teeth beside his ear:
"You little brat! That's quite enough!!"
Li Guanqi felt a sudden twinge of awkwardness and quickly extinguished the thought.
Meng Wanshu let out an inward sigh of relief. As if in flirtatious reprimand, she lightly thumped his chest and shot him a scolding look, reminding him with her eyes that her father was standing right there.
One stern-faced man clad in lavish golden robes stepped forward at a measured pace.
Cupping his hands with a smile, he greeted, "Brother Meng, long time no see! Have you been well?"
Meng Jiangchu clasped his hands behind his back, answering with a cold, insincere smile.
"Well, well. If it isn't Lame Wei. Not seeing you for a mere two hundred years, and you've already reached the Mahayana Realm?
"Tsk-tsk, how come the lightning tribulation didn't strike you dead? Wait, that's not right... you didn't break through in the Shenbao Domain, did you?"
Known as Lame Wei, Wei Qing merely smiled at the man's barbed remarks, showing no offense.
"Haha, there was no helping it. I have too many enemies to dare undergo tribulation in the Shenbao Domain."
Li Guanqi keenly sensed the thick scent of gunpowder between the two.
His gaze shifted slightly toward the tall, austere young man standing behind Wei Qing, who radiated a chilling, sinister aura.
Chapter 541