Sniffing subtly, Li Daoqiang glanced at the two strikingly similar yet distinct, stunning faces.
He smiled warmly. "Mother-in-law, Yuyan, this is our first meal together as a family. It should have been more elaborate. But I thought, why bother? We're family now, and formality would only create distance. It's better this way—sitting close, eating, chatting—that's what truly feels warm."
Li Qingluo had already heard similar words that afternoon. Though she usually disliked such small-table banquets and found them a bit plain, this was Li Daoqiang's arrangement, and his words were pleasant to hear, so she nodded in agreement.
Wang Yuyan, however, was different. Having barely met any other young men, she suddenly found herself face-to-face with the man who would soon become her husband, listening to his intimate words. It was naturally overwhelming. Her jade-like face flushed crimson, she kept her head down, barely daring to breathe. The next moment, she reached out and grabbed Li Qingluo's clothes, as if clinging to a lifeline.
Li Qingluo glanced sideways, somewhat exasperated. Her daughter was far too shy.
"Li... Daoqiang." Awkwardly uttering the latter name alone, Li Qingluo said calmly, "Yuyan has never left Mantuo Villa, so she's shy by nature. She'll get used to it with more time together."
"Mother~!" Wang Yuyan felt embarrassed, pouting as she tugged at Li Qingluo's clothes.
"Haha, Yuyan is pure-hearted and adorable. Rest assured, Mother-in-law, from now on, I will never let anyone bully Yuyan," Li Daoqiang declared firmly.
Wang Yuyan grew even shyer, stomping her feet on the ground, her body itching to stand up and flee. But Li Qingluo saw through her and grabbed her wrist, preventing her escape.
"Come, don't be shy. Let's eat." Li Daoqiang picked up his chopsticks first, serving a piece of fish to both Li Qingluo and Wang Yuyan. This gesture, so different from the etiquette of the Great Song noble families, was somewhat abrupt. Li Qingluo merely frowned briefly before dismissing it. Li Daoqiang was a martial artist; he wouldn't care about such formalities, and with his strength, those rules couldn't bind him anyway. She nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and took a taste.
Wang Yuyan, though initially reluctant, could only follow suit obediently.
"Mother-in-law, I can see Yuyan doesn't drink. Today, let's just have a toast between us. I'd like to thank you for giving Yuyan to me in marriage." Li Daoqiang picked up the wine jug and personally poured for Li Qingluo.
Li Qingluo hadn't intended to drink, but seeing Li Daoqiang pour for her, showing great respect, she took the cup, lightly clinked it, and drank. A flush of red flashed across her fair face before fading.
Li Daoqiang downed his drink and immediately refilled. After a few more rounds, his tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Mother-in-law, Yuyan, to be honest, the moment I first saw Yuyan, I wanted to marry her. Besides being captivated at first sight, there's another small reason."
Wang Yuyan kept her face red, head down, not daring to look at Li Daoqiang. If not for Li Qingluo holding her, she would have fled in embarrassment. Having had a few drinks and loosening up a bit, Li Qingluo was naturally more curious about the reason. She looked at Li Daoqiang and asked calmly, "What reason?"
"A few months ago, I was at a place called Langhuan Blessed Land on Dali's Wuliang Mountain, where I saw a jade statue." Li Daoqiang spoke slowly, noticing Li Qingluo's expression change instantly, but he continued as if he hadn't seen it. "That statue was incredibly exquisite, very similar to you, Mother-in-law, and Yuyan. Isn't that fate?"
Hearing this, Wang Yuyan couldn't help but feel curious. Langhuan Blessed Land? A jade statue resembling Mother and me? She couldn't resist sneaking a peek at Li Daoqiang, then immediately looked down like a child caught misbehaving, her ears perked up, listening intently.
Li Qingluo, however, frowned, looking at Li Daoqiang with hesitation and complexity.
"What's wrong, Mother-in-law?" Li Daoqiang asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Li Qingluo averted her gaze, her eyes flickering as she feigned composure.
Li Daoqiang acted as if nothing had happened, continuing with a smile. "I found many empty martial arts name markers there, as well as two divine skills. Mother-in-law, I'd like to give one of them to you. After you learn it, I'll feel more at ease when Yuyan and I aren't by your side. Of course, I also hope you can teach Yuyan, since being with me, knowing some martial arts would be better."
As he spoke, he took a book from his bosom and handed it to Li Qingluo. The cover read "Lingbo Weibu" (Rippling Steps).
Instantly, Li Qingluo's expression shifted again. She took the book, her eyes filled with unconcealed complexity. Even Wang Yuyan noticed, looking up at her mother with curiosity and concern. Li Daoqiang wore an expression of puzzled concern but didn't interrupt, watching quietly.
"What's the other divine skill called?" Li Qingluo suddenly asked in a low voice.
"Beiming Divine Skill, but it's a bit peculiar. It's better not to practice it," Li Daoqiang said without hesitation, then frowned as if advising Li Qingluo against it.
"Beiming Divine Skill, it can absorb others' power for one's own use, right?" Li Qingluo held the book in both hands, her red lips parting as she spoke abruptly.
Li Daoqiang's eyes widened in surprise. "Mother-in-law, you know this skill?"
Wang Yuyan grew even more confused, looking at her mother.
"Of course I do, because it's the skill my father practiced," Li Qingluo said coldly, not looking at either of them.
"Mother!" Wang Yuyan couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
Li Daoqiang said nothing, but his expression mirrored her surprise.
"That jade statue is of Yuyan's grandmother. Langhuan Blessed Land—I lived there as a child. The martial arts there were all present, but I moved them to Mantuo Villa and established a new Langhuan Jade Cave." Li Qingluo spoke slowly, her tone eerily calm, carrying a mix of coldness and complexity.
Wang Yuyan covered her mouth in surprise, her innocent eyes wide. It was the first time she'd heard her mother mention her grandparents and her past.
"So that's how it is. The world's twists and turns are truly wondrous," Li Daoqiang sighed lightly. Then he smiled. "I never imagined that Langhuan Blessed Land was so deeply connected to you, Mother-in-law, and Yuyan. And I discovered it—this must be fate, destined that we become a family."
Wang Yuyan's shyness returned, her face flushing as she pouted and lowered her head. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder inwardly: Is it really fate? Her eyes grew a bit dim and dazed.
Li Qingluo glanced at Li Daoqiang, frowned, and said nothing more. But she too felt a pang of emotion. Sometimes, things in this world were just that coincidental. Perhaps Yuyan marrying Li Daoqiang truly was destined. Some of her lingering doubts and stubbornness quietly faded away.
She placed "Lingbo Weibu" on the table, paused, and said, "I'll teach Yuyan Lingbo Weibu. I'll also teach her a suitable divine skill to practice. You're right—being with you, knowing martial arts is better. Also, take all the martial arts from Langhuan Jade Cave. Consider it Yuyan's dowry."
Wang Yuyan pouted even more. Deep down, she still didn't want to marry.
Li Daoqiang felt a surge of joy, almost wanting to hug his mother-in-law in gratitude. All his acting had been worth it. His mother-in-law had finally brought out her hidden treasures. Langhuan Jade Cave alone would be immensely beneficial to the entire Black Dragon Fort, and it also had plenty of uses for him. The divine skill she planned to teach Yuyan was, no doubt, that particular martial art. He had sensed the aura of a Daoist divine skill within her the first time they met, though her temperament didn't align with Daoism, so her cultivation was far from mastery. This skill would be greatly useful to him too. He had long been searching for suitable divine skills for his women. Currently, he had two targets, and this was one of them. If Li Qingluo taught it to Wang Yuyan, wasn't that the same as teaching him?
Joyful inside, he feigned surprise on his face. "Mother-in-law, this..."
"It's all yours anyway, sooner or later. I have no use for it." Li Qingluo's tone was final.
"Very well, I won't say more. We're family after all." Li Daoqiang said boldly and generously. With that, he poured another cup for Li Qingluo.
Without hesitation, Li Qingluo picked up the cup and drank, as if recalling something unpleasant. She didn't volunteer to talk about it, and Li Daoqiang had no interest in asking. He simply kept drinking with her, cup after cup.
Martial artists had strong constitutions, and their alcohol tolerance was generally higher than average. Li Daoqiang, of course, could drink it like water. Li Qingluo's tolerance wasn't bad either, but drinking with a heavy heart made her tipsy easily. By the time the several jugs Li Daoqiang had prepared were empty, a hint of haziness had crept into her beautiful eyes.
"Mother-in-law, let's stop here for today. Yuyan, help your mother back to her room." Li Daoqiang directly instructed Wang Yuyan.
Wang Yuyan had long wanted to persuade Li Qingluo to stop drinking but hadn't dared. Hearing Li Daoqiang speak, she forgot her shyness and nodded repeatedly, moving to support Li Qingluo.
"I'm fine. Don't bother with me. I'll go back on my own." Li Qingluo shook off Wang Yuyan's hand, stood up, and walked out without swaying or any sign of trouble.
Li Daoqiang watched curiously for a moment, then grabbed Wang Yuyan's small hand and followed. "Let's go with her, just in case something happens."
Wang Yuyan's entire body went limp, even her neck flushing red. She tried to pull her hand free, but that large hand held firm, pulling her along.
"Can you... let me go?"
A barely audible voice came, shy and anxious.
Li Daoqiang turned to look. Under the moonlight, that face was astonishingly beautiful—crystal clear, tinged with red. Utterly adorable, making one want to hold her close and dote on her.
"Heh."
He smiled openly, gently shaking her hand. "In three months, we'll be married. Now, we're the closest of people. Don't be shy; just get used to it. Come on, let's follow your mother. She's drunk; we don't want anything to go wrong."
(Chapter 2, asking for votes, asking for subscriptions.)
......
I owe a chapter
I can't hold on anymore. Came back from gift-giving today with no energy. I owe a chapter; I'll make it up later. Please don't say the updates are slow. I'm really trying—with two books, it's 13,000 words a day. Finally, begging for subscriptions. Right now, at 500 average subscriptions, I don't know what to say.