Luoyun City was home to two great lineages and four major families.
The two great lineages were the Fang and Li families.
The four major families were the Cheng, Yang, Luo, and Gao families.
Beneath them were lesser clans of varying foundation and heritage, though none possessed enough influence to shake the four major families.
Of course, compared to a sect, the families of Luoyun City amounted to nothing. Even measured against Luoyun City's Yunqian Division, they seemed rather ordinary.
In the past, the Luo family had enjoyed immense glory. In recent years, however, a dearth of capable successors had caused their standing to deteriorate by the day. Their entire position rested upon their second master, who resided within the sect.
With lowered eyes, Luo Xuan arrived at the main gate of the Luo residence. Acknowledging the guards' respectful bows, she stepped into the estate.
Following the path to the main hall, she saw a middle-aged man with graying temples seeing off three men of similar age. They appeared to have been discussing business; their warm expressions suggested the conversation had gone well.
Passing by Luo Xuan, they remarked with smiles on how quickly she had grown. Luo Xuan kept her head down and greeted each of them in turn before the three took their leave.
Once the guests were gone, the middle-aged man walked back inside and looked at Luo Xuan. "You're back?"
"Yes," she replied, keeping her gaze down.
Sitting down in the hall and taking a sip of tea, the man said, "No need to be disheartened. A qualification was never easy to secure."
"There were actually plenty of spots, yet I couldn't even obtain one," Luo Xuan said softly.
"A fair number from the Luo family managed to secure spots. You don't need to take it to heart," Luo Huaili said, setting down his teacup.
Luo Xuan lowered her eyes and asked in a quiet voice, "Are those uncles of mine putting pressure on Father?"
"They don't matter." Luo Huaili looked at her. "Word recently arrived from Wuyun Sect. Your second uncle has gone missing. His chances are grim."
At those words, Luo Xuan's pupils contracted. She parted her lips to ask about his condition, but in the end, she merely said, "The Luo family was counting on Second Uncle."
"Indeed. But few know the news, so the Luo family can still hold out for a while." Luo Huaili let out a heavy sigh. "If we cannot find a sufficient deterrent before the truth gets out, our family won't be able to keep its footing."
Luo Xuan clenched her fists. If only she had obtained the qualification and then entered the sect in one leap...
Then...
Things would not have been so passive.
In truth, with her talent, she had been entirely qualified to contend for a spot.
Yet...
Sometimes what held one back was not talent at all.
Still, saying anything more was futile.
"What arrangements does Father have in mind?" Luo Xuan asked.
The moment she suffered defeat, she had already prepared herself mentally to calmly accept the clan's arrangements.
"Two choices." Luo Huaili looked at his composed daughter and sighed. "The Luo family currently lacks geniuses. The first choice is to find a commoner prodigy and have him marry into our family as a matrilocal son-in-law.
"The Luo family will devote full resources to nurturing him. As long as he enters the sect with exceptional results before the news about your second uncle leaks out, the crisis can be alleviated."
Looking at Luo Xuan, Luo Huaili continued, "The second choice is to forge a marriage alliance with an important member of the other three families to secure their protection, until our family produces a genius capable of shouldering the burden."
Luo Xuan fell silent. Though she had long anticipated this outcome, hearing it aloud still struck a tremor of fear into her heart.
"Give it careful thought. If you choose the first option, you can suggest a candidate, and I will find a way," Luo Huaili said.
Luo Xuan nodded. "I will consider it and give Father an answer as soon as possible."
Afterward, she rose, curtsied, and excused herself from the hall on the pretext of feeling unwell.
Luo Huaili sat in the hall for a long time before letting out another deep sigh.
"First, investigate how many of those from the villages managed to secure qualifications."
***
For the past two days, Jiang Man had stayed in the stable courtyard to cultivate.
He had not even visited the Spirit Gathering Hall, focusing entirely on bolstering his body and spirit.
Over those two days, his physical cultivation finally broke through the third tier and reached the fourth.
Yet the bottleneck remained, so he planned to keep advancing.
Plenty of the Flawless Qi and Blood Pill's efficacy still lingered; perhaps reaching the sixth tier wouldn't even be an issue. After that, he could use the Flawless Spirit Concentration Pill to strengthen his spirit.
He had to admit that aside from hastening his demise, this fate was blameless in other respects. It offered a great deal of good stuff.
During the two-day recess, Little Fatty had come by to pass along a message and handed him a sheet of paper.
It was the same offer as before: his family had learned about Jiang Man, and if he needed any resources, he was free to ask. They were willing to provide whatever he required.
However, Little Fatty also cautioned him that this was a customary ploy used by his clan, designed solely to bind outsiders to the Gao family.
Regardless of how enticing their words sounded now, their methods would prove vicious down the line.
Jiang Man had no doubt about this.
Not a single one of these clans acted out of genuine kindness. Their offer of resources was predicated on retaining absolute control at all times. In the future, he would have to do their bidding. It was not that fairness did not exist, but with his current showing, he would never receive fair treatment. Frail and insignificant as he was, entering a deal with them would only force him to pay far steeper prices later on. Worse still, the vast majority of recruits ended up as stepping stones for the main family's scions.
The sheet of paper detailed precisely those conditions.
It had not been given to Little Fatty by his parents; rather, Little Fatty had stolen it. These were the binding terms imposed on outsiders, laid out with utter clarity.
If one succeeded in entering the sect, one had to serve the direct Gao lineage within the sect and, when necessary, act as their stepping stone. Put nicely, it was an unconditional favor—even at the cost of one's life.
Jiang Man could never agree to such terms.
In addition, Little Fatty had shared another piece of news: after failing to secure a spot, Luo Xuan would likely have to submit to her clan's arrangements, the most probable being taking in a matrilocal son-in-law.
"Closeness brings advantage! Brother Jiang, there's a strong chance a guard like you could become their live-in son-in-law," Little Fatty said excitedly.
"They should look for Song Qing," Jiang Man replied casually.
"Song Qing only wants to be a guard, but the Luo family doesn't want him," Little Fatty said with regret.
Jiang Man sighed. "I won't do either."
Little Fatty looked puzzled. "Why not?"
"Because I'm already married," Jiang Man answered honestly.
Little Fatty's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
"I told you last time, I married an immortal maiden," Jiang Man said earnestly.
Little Fatty: "..."
It seemed Brother Jiang simply had no desire to be a matrilocal son-in-law.
After Little Fatty left, the old yellow ox finally ambled over.
A faint light emanated from its body.
"A letter came from your wife," the old ox said.
Speak of the devil.
Jiang Man wasn't surprised. She seemed to check in every few days to confirm whether he was still alive. If he failed to draw out the item, the old ox would be in danger. Furthermore, she could pinpoint their location more accurately and descend upon them.
Thinking of this, Jiang Man suddenly realized that only upon his death would his wife actually arrive. It seemed he wouldn't even get to see her one last time before dying.
Perhaps that was a blessing.
Without delay, he carefully extracted the ball of light.
The light blossomed, enveloping him.
That melodic voice belonging to her echoed once more: "Does Husband wish to leave behind an heir? I can help you, Husband, so long as you hand over the evil god you harbor.
"Then I can come over and bear an heir of your bloodline.
"Furthermore, has that evil god been bewitching Husband, offering to find you another wife?
"It is deceiving you, seeking only to strengthen itself through such means.
"Husband, once the Magpie Bridge opens, I will cross over. We shall meet again very soon."
Jiang Man: "..."
Her voice held an ethereal cadence, vibrant and clear as flowing spring water.
Yet it carried an inexplicable chill.
"What did she say?" the old ox asked curiously.
Chapter 49