Chapter 146: A Wave of Fiancees Approaches
At yesterday's Autumn Tournament, after Ji You's final seven swords struck, Chu River fell out of the arena once more.
But he quickly got up.
Although he was covered in blood, his numb expression suggested he was not seriously injured.
At that time, everyone thought Chu River was fine, believing the seven swords had only caused superficial wounds.
So they waited for the second match, waiting for more of the "Chu Worldly Family's hidden power."
But in fact, although Chu River appeared physically unharmed at the time, his hand bones had been broken by the heavy Sword Qi.
If he had raised his hands then, perhaps everyone would have seen the scene of two broken hands hanging by flesh and skin.
It is said that the Chu Worldly Family was very nervous at the time and did not allow outsiders to approach Chu River.
The Master's Courtyard then dispatched a Disciple to inspect Chu River's hands.
To say they were broken was actually no longer appropriate, because those hands were practically shattered.
What made the Master's Courtyard Disciple feel strange, however, was that Chu River showed no reaction and no expression of pain; his gray eyes kept staring blankly, as if he had lost his Divine Soul.
Whether out of love for his son or for some other reason, the Chu Worldly Family head directly refused the second match,
And hastily departed with Chu River.
If he couldn't fight, the match naturally ended.
Thus, there was no need for the so-called best-of-three match system to continue.
Out of respect for the Chu Worldly Family, the Master's Courtyard did not make this result public.
In fact, the results of previous Autumn Tournaments were not deliberately announced to the outside world, because this contest of the Tianshu Academy Outer Courtyard was, after all, a minor matter.
It was only because Ji You's reputation was too great, and Chu River had been highly anticipated since his admission, that this result attracted particular attention.
So from the autumn of Taichang Year Two to the autumn of Taiyuan Year One, lasting nearly a year, that renowned rural rogue cultivator successfully entered the Inner Courtyard, dispelling all speculation with his seven swords.
A rural rogue cultivator defeated a Worldly Family Disciple and ascended Ni Mountain.
During this time, Lu Qingqiu stood in the Instructor Building for a long time, seemingly oblivious even to the sound of the autumn rain drizzling outside the window.
Because although she knew Ji You was very strong, when the matter of entering the Inner Courtyard became a reality, she still felt as if she were dreaming.
No one would question Ji You's strength, because from the streets of Shengjing, to Qi Ridge, to Lingjian Mountain, and then to yesterday's Ascension White Jade Platform, Ji You's Dao of the Sword was evident to all.
The reason for her daze was still due to his background.
This feeling was like a farmer, toiling in the fields, defeating a noble from a prominent family.
Instructor Ma was right, Ji You was only just beginning to show his Divine Might; those close to him would always benefit first.
Lu Qingqiu slightly pursed her red lips, ripples appearing in her eyes.
"Have you heard? Ji You won."
"I heard at noon; it's said that after the first match, Chu River's hands were already broken and he couldn't fight anymore."
"So, Ji You is entering the Inner Courtyard—?"
"Who else could it be?"
Within half a rainy day, rumors of Chu River's shattered hands spread throughout the Outer Courtyard.
Many Outer Courtyard students, upon hearing this news, couldn't help but look at each other, and the seven swords from yesterday inevitably resurfaced in their minds.
And at this moment, their feelings were almost identical to Lu Qingqiu's.
Even though they had known Ji You was very strong, the matter of a rural rogue cultivator entering the Inner Courtyard still felt incredibly unreal to them.
But then again, if it wasn't him who entered the Inner Courtyard this time, who else could it be?
"A sword that even Chu River couldn't block—"
"Actually, we all know that to survive in an Immortal Sect, sometimes it's not about talent but background. Senior Sister Wen in the Inner Courtyard has talent comparable to He Lingxiu, but she still lost because the Wen Worldly Family is not as prominent as the He Worldly Family. So Ji You wasn't chosen to enter the Inner Courtyard; he actually cleaved his way into the Inner Courtyard with his sword."
"Cleaved his way into the Inner Courtyard with his sword"—this phrase, though its origin among the Disciples was unknown, was subsequently quoted by many.
And upon hearing this phrase, both Outer Courtyard Instructors and Master-in-charges of the Master's Courtyard felt complex emotions.
Because they all knew in their hearts that this statement was true.
Along his journey, he faced countless obstacles, truly cleaving open the gates of the Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard with a single sword.
And at this time, the news about "Chu River's hands being shattered" gradually spread out of Tianshu Academy, reaching Shengjing, and then the Worldly Families in the capital.
At this moment in Chunhua Alley, Dou Yuankong, accompanied by over a dozen family servants, was coldly staring at a small side courtyard around the corner, his eyes dark.
"Have you confirmed it? He lives here?"
"Confirmed, Young Master. All the letters Miss Wei sends out daily are delivered here."
Listening to his servant's reply, killing intent surged in Dou Yuankong's eyes.
He and Wei Rui of the Wei Xiang's Residence had been childhood sweethearts, and with the approval of their Elders, it was truly a match made in heaven.
But in recent days, Wei Rui had been sending letters to the residence of a minor official of the Immortal Supervisorate, to that scholar who was the top scholar from a poor, remote village.
Dou Shangshu's son felt himself being cuckolded; this was intolerable.
In fact, Dou Yuankong had known about the existence of the scholar surnamed Kuang since the spring when the refugees traveled north.
But at that time, because of that person from Tianshu Academy, he did not act rashly.
But there is always a limit to patience.
However, just as he waved his hand, signaling his servants to force their way in, three armed guards with sabers stopped them,
And then escorted Dou Yuankong from Xinghua Alley to Hongxiang Restaurant.
Dou Yuankong did not struggle, as he recognized these guards were from Prince Chong's Mansion.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Dou Shangshu's son was escorted to the restaurant, where he saw Princess Changle of Prince Chong's Mansion drinking tea by the window.
"Dou Yuankong greets the Princess."
Zhao Yunyue turned her head: "The Tianshu Academy's Autumn Tournament has concluded."
Hearing this, Dou Yuankong was momentarily stunned.
He thought the Princess had summoned him because the current court situation was complex and she forbade him from causing trouble, but he never expected her to speak of the Tianshu Academy's Autumn Tournament.
As the son of a high-ranking court official and a member of the pro-immortal faction, he naturally knew about the Inner Courtyard contest between Chu River and Ji You.
It was said that Ji You displayed great Divine Might yesterday, defeating Chu River in the first match, which truly exceeded Dou Yuankong's expectations.
But he also knew how profound the foundations of Worldly Families were, especially ancient Worldly Families like the Chu Worldly Family, whose existence was almost as long as the history of the Human Race's rise.
Even if he accidentally lost one match, in his opinion, Chu River would never lose.
But Princess Changle's expression at this moment caused his eyes to widen slightly, realizing a situation he did not wish to see.
"Ji You won?"
Zhao Yunyue put down her teacup and nodded.
Dou Yuankong was incredulous: "How could he have won? What about the second match?"
"There was no second match, because at the end of the first match, Chu River's hands were completely shattered. Tianshu Academy has a rule that if one cannot continue or voluntarily surrenders, the Autumn Tournament is considered over."
"Hands broken?"
Zhao Yunyue spoke after a long silence: "Actually, saying they were broken is a bit inaccurate. I heard a Disciple from the Master's Courtyard say that Chu River's hand bones were completely shattered at the time."
Dou Yuankong gritted his teeth: "How could someone from that poor, remote Feng Province win?"
"But that's the truth. It's useless if you don't want to believe it. Ji You's status will naturally be different after entering the Inner Courtyard. He's also very likely to become the only Worldly Family head in Feng Province. The scholar Wei Rui is in contact with is his close friend. You'd best be careful with your actions."
"Wei Rui and I were childhood sweethearts, but she—"
Zhao Yunyue looked at Dou Yuankong with cold, penetrating eyes: "Qingyun World has always prioritized immortal authority. Do you think you can offend an Upper Five Realms Inner Courtyard student of Tianshu Academy for the sake of romantic affections?"
Dou Yuankong fell silent after hearing this, never having imagined that events would unfold this way.
That rural rogue cultivator, with no background whatsoever, and facing the covetous gaze of a millennium-old Worldly Family, actually managed to enter the Inner Courtyard step by step.
Zhao Yunyue did not care how ugly his expression was at the moment, then gracefully departed to a painting studio and retrieved a parchment packet.
Yesterday, at the Tianshu Academy Autumn Tournament, He Lingxiu sent the original drafts from the Lingjian Mountain Disciples to be copied.
She also paid the painter to make an extra copy just for her.
At this moment, the second copied painting and manuscript were in this paper packet. Opening it, one could see a bare-chested swordsman in white robes leaping onto the paper, with unparalleled immortal grace.
Indeed, what Lingjian Mountain said was true.
Sword and youth were indeed a perfect match.
Zhao Yunyue placed the painting inside, pressed it to her bosom, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Cultivators have longer Lifespans than Mortals, so they do not marry as early as Mortals, but Zhao Yunyue's age was actually suitable for choosing a husband.
Chong Wang invited Disciples from the Seven Great Immortal Sects to his mansion every year, actually harboring such intentions.
In previous years, although there were many young talents, Zhao Yunyue had not felt any eager desire to marry, but at this moment, she had a change of heart.
When the Great Xia Dynasty was founded, Tianshu Academy was revered as a Sacred Sect, and the first emperor also originated from Tianshu Academy.
Therefore, it was not uncommon for Tianshu Academy Inner Courtyard students to marry into the Great Xia Imperial Family and noble clans. So Zhao Yunyue wanted to meet Ji You, explore his intentions, and then ask His Majesty to bestow a marriage.
Although Zhao Yunyue was not a Disciple of the Seven Great Immortal Sects, she had taken an Elder of Lingjian Mountain as her master.
From this perspective, she was already considered an Inner Courtyard Disciple of Lingjian Mountain, and could even be considered a direct Disciple of an Elder.
In her opinion, her status and Ji You's were an excellent match.
Thus, on this rainy early autumn day, many letters were sent from Shengjing, from the Outer Courtyard, and from various parts of the Nine Provinces, arriving at the small courtyard on the shores of Bi Shui Lake.
The letters contained personal items such as handkerchiefs and silk sleeves, and there was even a young lady from the capital, yet to be married, who enclosed a personal pink bellyband in her envelope.
The content of the letters was largely the same: inviting Ji You to meet alone at a certain place, on a certain day, at a certain time.
However, what these women did not expect was that all those letters were returned.
A few had been opened, but others still had their lead seals firmly intact.
And when Princess Changle received the returned letter, a hint of disbelief rose in her eyes: "He won't see me? Did you explain clearly to him why I invited him to drink alone?"
The maid beside Princess Changle nodded: "I used explicit words like 'wishing to become your Dao Companion'—"
"And he still refused?"
"Mm—"
Zhao Yunyue couldn't help but widen her eyes: "I am also a direct Disciple of a Lingjian Mountain Elder, my immortal lineage is even higher than his, and he comes from the countryside while I am a Princess of Great Xia. He actually looks down on me?"
The maid pursed her lips: "It is said that many women from the Outer Courtyard also sent letters, some even with bellybands, and even that Eldest Young Miss Lu from Yun Province."
"Whose did he accept?"
"Reporting to the Princess, Young Master Ji accepted none of them—"
Zhao Yunyue frowned slightly, then became indignant: "To establish a Worldly Family, offspring are key; he must continue his Bloodline, yet he looks down on even me? Does he intend to marry the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain?"
Among all women in the world, the most esteemed was the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain.
Princess Changle used her as an example to subtly mock his self-importance.
