"Miss Chu, I didn't expect it to be so difficult to see you?"
Meng Qinghe glanced meaningfully at the shopkeeper, this dog slave, daring to block his path, his days were numbered.
"Young Master Meng, why are you looking for me at this time?" Chu Lingwei stepped forward. Perhaps because of the auction incident, everyone was on edge, and there were no guests in the restaurant.
"I came to see Miss Chu, and there is something I wish to explain to you."
Meng Qinghe extended his hand, gesturing for Chu Lingwei to sit down and talk.
"Young Master Meng, do you know about the auction?"
The auction was organized by their Meng family. Such a major incident had occurred, yet he, the young master, wasn't handling the aftermath but came to find her.
Chu Lingwei genuinely worried that she would be branded a femme fatale in the future.
"I know."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qinghe's expression grew more somber. He looked up at Chu Lingwei again, a look of relief on his face, "Fortunately, Miss Chu is unharmed."
Chu Lingwei: "..."
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Meng. At such a critical juncture, you should be returning." Chu Lingwei didn't know what Meng Qinghe was thinking. If she were the head of the Meng family, she wouldn't want such a young master.
"They don't need me." Meng Qinghe shook his head. "Now that Song City is filled with Domain Realm powerhouses, a cultivator like me, at the Heaven Manifestation realm, can't do anything."
"But, the Meng family should need you."
Chu Lingwei felt deeply helpless. It seemed she would be hated by the Meng family from now on.
"Miss Chu, I came to see you today to tell you that I will not abide by the Meng family's rules." Meng Qinghe stood up, his expression solemn, his gaze firm, "I will not abide by the rule that our Meng family cannot marry women from other clans."
Chu Lingwei's heart skipped a beat. This Meng Qinghe constantly surprised her, and she truly didn't know how he became the young master of the Meng family.
"Young Master Meng, the entire Xuanyuan Continent knows that the Meng family is forbidden to marry women from other clans." By definition, even if he didn't abide by it, others wouldn't believe it.
"Miss Chu, do you not believe in my resolve?" Meng Qinghe's eyes held a sense of urgency, accompanied by a trace of hatred. "My companion must be decided by myself."
"This is Young Master Meng's thought, and it has nothing to do with me. Young Master Meng need not tell me."
The smile on Chu Lingwei's face disappeared. "I have no interest in Young Master Meng. Please do not overthink things in the future."
Meng Qinghe stared coldly at Chu Lingwei. She could so easily say she had no interest in him.
"Miss Chu, some things are best not said too soon."
"Young Master Meng, are you threatening me?" Chu Lingwei smiled. She feared threats the least.
"No, just a warning." Meng Qinghe snorted lightly, turning his head. His gaze inadvertently swept across the bright sky, his eyes as luminous as moonlight. "Song City is so beautiful, I believe Miss Chu will also like it."
"Heh."
At this moment, a light laugh came from behind Chu Lingwei.
"Young Master Meng, are you intending to keep all the cultivators here?"
"Eldest Senior Brother." Chu Lingwei turned her head and saw her Eldest Senior Brother walking over as usual, with Huan Mao beside him. Her eyes lit up; her Eldest Senior Brother's injuries should be minor.
"Junior Sister, in the future, it's best not to see unnecessary people."
Leng Xingzhi approached Chu Lingwei, his voice as gentle as water. He took her hand and pulled her behind him.
"Leng Xingzhi, do you think our Meng family fears you?" Meng Qinghe's face contorted with rage. Leng Xingzhi's "unnecessary people" must have referred to him.
"Meng Qinghe, do you think the Meng family will oppose our Leng family because of an abandoned son?" Leng Xingzhi's expression was calm. A surge of spiritual energy struck Meng Qinghe's body.
Unprepared, Meng Qinghe was sent flying like a rag doll.
"Someone, send Young Master Meng back."
"Leng Xingzhi, I will kill you." Meng Qinghe's voice, increasingly distant, echoed from outside.
"Junior Sister, let's go back."
Leng Xingzhi's hand had not let go of Chu Lingwei's. He led her back to the rear courtyard, "In the future, do not meet him."
"Eldest Senior Brother, are your injuries healed?" Chu Lingwei circled Leng Xingzhi twice, seeing no signs of injury.
"Junior Sister, Senior Brother is not injured."
Leng Xingzhi reached out and gently patted Chu Lingwei's head. "In the future, if you encounter such things, you must tell me immediately."
"Eldest Senior Brother, do you know who stole the Black Lotus? What is its purpose?"
Chu Lingwei knew there were ears everywhere. She pulled Leng Xingzhi to sit on a stone chair in the courtyard. Everyone had seen the Black Lotus being taken, and many who desired it had followed.
Now, no one knew who possessed the Black Lotus.
"Wait another month, and see which Domain Realm powerhouse disappears. That should give you your answer." The people who desired the Black Lotus today were limited to a few, so it was easy to guess.
"I truly don't understand what they want with that withered Black Lotus."
Even if the Black Lotus still had some poison, it wouldn't grant them longevity.
"Everyone has different ideas. Perhaps they believe the Black Lotus is useful to you." Leng Xingzhi took out spirit fruits and spirit tea and sat with Chu Lingwei in the courtyard, enjoying a moment of quiet.
At this time, Song City was divided in two.
One half was silent and dead, the other was bustling.
Meng Family.
"What should we do?"
Meng Yi sat in his room. Hearing the sounds of fighting from above Song City, he couldn't help but frown.
"Big Brother, why did the Black Lotus..."
It was fine when they took the Black Lotus out. How could it suddenly wither, and so rapidly?
"Someone must have done something?" Meng Yi stood up. He didn't believe the Black Lotus would wither on its own.
"Big Brother means, those who went to the auction today."
Meng Wan'yang's eyes darkened. The people who attended the auction today were the most powerful and influential individuals on the Xuanyuan Continent. If one of them destroyed the Black Lotus, there would be sufficient reason.
"What should we do now?"
Meng Wan'yang looked up, worried that by the time these people finished fighting, the Black Lotus would have long withered and become useless.
"Wait and see."
A black light flickered in Meng Yi's eyes, remarkably similar to the light emitted by the Black Lotus.
Meng Wan'yang nodded. There was nothing else they could do but wait.
Suddenly.
Meng Yi stood up, his expression drastically changing.
"Not good, they've destroyed our island protection formation." Meng Yi stood up and flew towards the sky. Once the island protection formation was destroyed, their Song City would be submerged in the sea.
"What's wrong?"
Chu Lingwei was quietly waiting for the powerful figures to finish their quick battle, after which the real show could begin. Suddenly, her vision went black, and then quickly returned to light.