Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 6.6. Cutting off the fuel supply
Two days later.
The Crane Mansion welcomed back the cultivators from its residence.

Song Chen returned from Jinxia Mountain.

Before he returned, the Pei sisters had already ascertained his performance at Jinxia Mountain, which could be described as outstanding.

Now he has returned.

He walked through the alley and arrived at the gate of the Crane Mansion.

Today, the He Mansion is brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with festive lanterns hanging everywhere.

Que Chan's son-in-law was brought in through marriage. Madam Pei Qianxue wanted to strengthen this branch of the family, so she chose self-reliance rather than a marriage alliance with another family. The son-in-law was the second son of a merchant guild; his family was very wealthy, but lacked social standing. In this way, Que Chan gained both status and financial resources, and also received support for the development of the family business.

The Crane Mansion was bustling with activity, with crowds of people coming and going.

Fuchu
Que He was greeting guests one by one, but his young face clearly showed dissatisfaction. He felt that the family was not like this when his father was still alive. Although it was lively now, it was as lively as a vegetable market. Those coming and going were just ordinary people with a few stinking coins. There were no cultivators, no disciples of other powerful families, and not even immortal guards. After all, this was just a marriage recruitment event for the He family.

Finally, Que He got fed up.

He didn't want to see these people again; it was beneath him!

So he instructed his servant, "When someone else comes, tell them I am unwell!"

The servant asked in astonishment, "The Madam instructed us to speak."

"Madam, Madam, Madam is my mother, I am the master of the Crane Mansion." Que He was somewhat displeased.

The servant quickly replied, "Yes."

But just then, the front yard suddenly became lively.

It was incredibly lively!

A message came from afar.

"Second Master is back!"

Que He looked somewhat displeased and said, "Something happened in the family, that's why you're back so late, hmph."

He sat there casually, waiting for Song Chen to come and pay his respects.

He refused to believe it. He was the true master of the Crane Mansion. If it weren't for his father, Song Chen would have died long ago. The Crane Mansion had done a great favor for the Song family, and he had to maintain a proper attitude. If it weren't for his father's appreciation, this Song family member would have died in the cannon fodder camp long ago.

Hmph, he should have just frozen to death under the bridge. So what if he becomes a cultivator? Can he wash away the smell of mud? What makes such a peasant worthy of having a aunt? Does he even deserve her?

"He's just clinging to the coattails of the Que family. If he takes off that coattails, who will still recognize him?" Que He muttered, sitting with his sword drawn, waiting.

But Song Chen did not come over.

未几
The entire front yard suddenly fell silent; the noisy commotion, like that of a bustling market, vanished without a trace.

Que He paused for a moment, then looked at the servant with some suspicion and said, "Go and see what that guy surnamed Song is up to."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of voices rang out from outside.

"The Zhong family has come to congratulate Miss Zhong on her wedding!"

"The Bai Tang family of the Que clan has come to congratulate Miss Qu on her wedding!"

"The Que family has come to congratulate Miss on her wedding!"

"The Zhao family has come to congratulate Miss Zhao on her wedding!"

"Gift list presented."

Immediately afterwards, the resounding announcement of congratulatory gifts rang out again.

Que He was stunned, and he quickly sat up straight.

After waiting a while longer, none of the distinguished guests came to the hall.

After waiting a while, footsteps finally came from afar, and a young man was seen coming from afar surrounded by a crowd of guests, chatting and laughing, while his mother was also smiling radiantly beside him.

In that instant, Que He felt a rush of heat to his head, and he sat there with his hands ice-cold, watching.

After the distinguished guests entered the house, Madam Pei Qianxue called out, "He'er, why don't you come and greet your elders?"

After saying that, she pointed to each of them and said, "This is your uncle, who held you when you were little; this is the fourth gentleman of the Zhong family, a master calligrapher, haven't you admired him for a long time?"

"This"

"This"

She introduced them one by one.

For Que He, today's daytime was a nightmare.

He endured it all and barely made it through the day.

Even after his sister and brother-in-law entered the bridal chamber, he still felt like he was dreaming. He strolled into the courtyard, and then, as if possessed, wandered off to a small courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, the lights were off, and her mother was not in the room.

He then walked towards the Second Master's courtyard as if possessed, hid behind a tree, and quietly peered into the distance.

The house was lit up in the courtyard.

The bright candlelight illuminated the oil paper on the window, making it appear snow-white. Three figures were clearly visible inside. Who else could they be but Song Chen, Pei Qingyue, and Pei Qianxue?

The three figures seemed to be merging together.

Pei Qianxue was pouring tea and serving it to Song Chen. Her dignified and beautiful face showed a hint of joy as she said, "Second Master is truly remarkable. So many distinguished guests have come to visit today. Even if Que Shenyun were still here, he wouldn't be any different. They are all eyeing your future, Second Master."

If it weren't for the [Taibai Sword Intent] incident, Song Chen would have really gotten carried away.

But at this moment, there was nothing at all.

He took the tea and glanced at the First Madam.

The First Madam's eyes held a smile, but also a hint of worry.

Song Chen finished his tea and then said, "Zhong Xu, Que Tan'er is my junior brother and sister. We have a very good relationship, and they just happen to know what happened when the patriarch ascended the throne." The First Madam sighed softly.

Her legs were pressed together, and she leaned to the side like a willow swaying in the breeze, her delicate face reflected in the candlelight. Her eyebrows, nose, small mouth, snow-white neck, high breasts, slender waist, and full hips all displayed a very feminine curve in the candlelight.

Just then, Qingyue grabbed Song Chen's hand, held it, and said with a smile, "Sister, what are you worried about? Husband is a member of our family. The better husband is, the better our family will be."

The First Madam looked at Song Chen and said, "Second Master, please don't take He'er to heart. I've told this child off to many times."

After saying that, she hesitated for a moment, then raised her pretty face, looked at Song Chen quietly, and said softly, "Second Master, if you are unhappy, you can come to me anytime and tell me."

Qingyue was stunned for a moment. She felt her elder sister's eyes shining as she looked at her husband.

As a sister and a woman herself, she knew very well what that light signified.

That's the kind of radiance a woman exudes when she's interested in a man, like a female animal emitting a seductive, inviting aura towards a male.

But the light vanished in a flash.

Qingyue rubbed her eyes.

That light is gone.

She wasn't sure if she had seen it.

However, Song Chen was certain that he had seen it.

He scratched his head and chuckled, "Shall I call you 'sister' like Qingyue does?"

"kindness."

"Then you shouldn't call me Second Master anymore, just call me Little Song, or just Song Chen."

"Xiao Song."

"Sister, don't worry. He'er is immature, but he's still a child. As he experiences more, he'll naturally know who treats him well."

Madam Pei Qianxue was completely stunned. Wasn't this her line?

She suddenly looked up and said earnestly, "Xiao Song, thank you."

Song Chen said, "Sister, you should go to sleep early."

Pei Qianxue then got up to say goodbye and went outside. After leaving the courtyard, she turned her head to look again and saw that the candles in the Mingtang Hall had been blown out. She knew that the young man had become one with her sister.

Tonight, in the darkness of that house, two young bodies will burn fiercely, like flames engulfing them.

Pei Qianxue couldn't help but squeeze her legs together, causing the smooth fabric of her trousers to wrinkle slightly. She sighed softly, composed herself, and walked forward gracefully.

Several days later.
Song Chen was drinking tea at a teahouse in the south of the city.

My lady is a celestial guardian, and she has many things to do during the day.

At this moment, a member of the Forging Gang pushed open the door of the private room, sat down opposite him, and quietly reported the results of the surveillance.

"Boss, that kid Que He has indeed been acting strangely. He met with the Yu family twice and they seemed to have talked about quite a lot. The Yu family is a powerful clan that we can't afford to offend, and we don't dare to get close. We can only watch from a distance."

Song Chen closed his eyes and pondered.

A moment later, another gang member entered the room and leaned closer, saying, "Boss, I have compiled the information the brothers have received, but it's all just fragmented information we've vaguely heard."

Song Chen said, "Tell me about it."

The group members, their faces showing signs of recollection, spoke haltingly.

"Deceitful."

"Mother."

"I support you."

"Marriage."

"That's how it should be, so it's settled then."

These words didn't reveal much information. The gang member said, "Boss, that kid must feel he's been bullied and wants to form a marriage alliance with the Yu family to get back at you, right?"

Song Chen countered, "What benefits would the Yu family receive?"

One of the gang members said, "That kid is definitely going to give a lot of his family's assets to the Yu family, right?"

Song Chen slowly shook his head.

Family business?

The Yu family is getting involved in other people's family affairs for the sake of some family business, and they also have to deal with a cultivator with great potential and who is already well-established.
If it were him, he definitely wouldn't do it.

Moreover, the Yu family wants to marry one of their clansmen to him? To form a marriage alliance with him?

Does the Yu family want to control this lineage?

Makes no sense.

He rubbed his forehead. Since he couldn't figure it out, he might as well cut off the source of the problem, so that the kid wouldn't be unable to distinguish friend from foe and would cause trouble indiscriminately.

Song Chen waved his hand, and the two members of the Forging Gang who had come to report immediately approached.

Song Chen asked, "Has Wang Xiongchuan ever ordered you to kill anyone before?"

One of the gang members said, "Yes, we've killed people. Our hands are stained with blood."

Song Chen asked, "What about kidnapping people?"

Another member of the gang said, "It's nothing."

Song Chen said, "The day after tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), Que He is going to inspect a batch of fragrant wood outside the South City. He will have no more than two guards with him. Go and tie him up, lock him up, and remember to cover his face."

(End of this chapter)