After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

"There's still... one month left."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengmian was overjoyed!

One month! He had just received the disciple token, and the timing was perfect!

He looked down at Gu Qingge, who was tired but still gentle in his arms, and couldn't help but ask:

"Qingge, why are you giving me something so important?"

Gu Qingge raised her head and looked at him, her gaze clear and firm:

"I have no idea."

She shook her head, then smiled gently, revealing an extremely tender expression.

"I just feel... that you don't belong to this world."

"I always felt that you shouldn't be stuck here."

"So, I will give you the best of everything."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengmian felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He reached out and pulled her closer, remaining silent for a long while before whispering:

"Qingge, don't worry. Once I find a way to leave, I will definitely take you with me."

Gu Qingge did not answer, but simply nodded gently in his arms.

Lin Fengmian sighed inwardly. He knew that although Gu Qingge's mind had become more open under his guidance, she was still bound by the local customs and beliefs because she had grown up in this Sealed Spirit Land.

He was determined to find a way to leave and take her to see the outside world.

at the same time.

Qingyun County, Cang Family.

"Useless! They're all a bunch of useless trash!"

Having just recovered from his injuries, Cang Lan was cursing loudly at his subordinates below.

But this scolding seemed to aggravate his injury, and he immediately began to cough violently, his face turning a deep purplish-red.

The men below didn't dare to breathe loudly, their heads bowed, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.

"Sister!" Cang Lan finally caught her breath and looked at Cang Xuan beside her, her face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. "That Lin Fengmian... that bastard! He really became Gu Qingge's husband?!"

"No! Gu Qingge is mine!!!"

Cang Xuan's face was equally gloomy, her eyes flashing with cold light:

"Brother, don't worry. That kid's like a coward now, hiding in the Gu family's place. But as long as he dares to step out of the Gu family's gate..."

She slowly closed her fingers, clenching them until her knuckles turned white, her voice chillingly cold:

"I will make him wish he were dead!"

At the same time.

The Gu family mansion, the council hall.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

A middle-aged woman, dressed in official robes, with a dignified face and bearing a resemblance to Gu Qingge, sat regally in the main seat.

She was Gu Yuru, the Prefect of Qinghe County and Gu Qingge's mother!

She had just returned home from official business when she heard the news that nearly made her explode with anger.

His most cherished daughter had secretly married a refugee of unknown origin, and it was a formal marriage!

"Snapped!"

Gu Yuru slammed her hand on the table, and the fine sandalwood table was instantly covered in cracks!

"Nonsense! Absolutely nonsense!"

Her voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Go! Bring the young lady here to me immediately!"

A moment later, Gu Qingge strode into the hall, her expression calm:

"Mother, you were looking for me."

"Kneel down!"

Gu Yuru shouted sternly:

"Gu Qingge! Do you even care about me, your mother? Do you even care about the Gu family?!"

"My family lineage is of the highest nobility! How dare you treat it so lightly, choosing a lowly vagrant as your husband?!"

"You must immediately kick him out of the Gu family and write a letter of divorce! Otherwise—"

Gu Qingge stubbornly raised her head, unwavering, her voice firm:

"Mother! Lin Fengmian is my husband, the man I've chosen for this life! I will never divorce him!"

"You...you're being insolent!"

Gu Yuru was so angry that she trembled all over, pointing at Gu Qingge, almost unable to speak.

Just then, Gu Qingge's two older sisters, who had heard the commotion, rushed over.

The eldest sister, Gu Qinglian, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, gently advising:

"Third sister, don't make Mother angry. Even if Lin Fengmian has some martial arts skills, he is ultimately of unknown origin and of low status. How could he be worthy of you, worthy of my Gu family?"

"Take my advice, elder sister. Get rid of him now. Mother will find you a better husband."

The second sister, Gu Qingyu, spoke in a much sharper tone, with a hint of schadenfreude:

"Third Sister, have you been bewitched by that boy? What else does a refugee have besides his strength?"

"You are the hope of our Gu family, the future pillar of our family! How can you so willingly degenerate?"

Faced with her mother's pressure and her sisters' persuasion, Gu Qingge felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

But in her mind, she couldn't help but recall Lin Fengmian's domineering figure as he fought for her alone at the husband selection banquet, as well as his gentleness and doting on her in daily life.

Her gaze grew increasingly resolute.

With a "plop".

She knelt directly on the hard ground, her graceful back ramrod straight:

"Mother! Eldest sister! Second sister!"

"Qingge has never asked you for anything since she was a child! But this time—"

Her gaze swept over her closest relatives present, and her words, spoken with firm conviction, were clear and resolute:

"I, Gu Qingge, will marry no one but Lin Lang!"

"If the family won't accept him, then... I'll leave the Gu family with him!"

A deathly silence fell over the hall.

Only Gu Qingge remained stubborn, kneeling on the cold ground like a green bamboo standing tall in the cold wind.

Gu Yuru was furious when she saw that her daughter was threatening to leave the family!

"You wicked child! You've been completely bewitched!"

Her face turned ashen with rage, her chest heaving violently, and she had lost all patience.

"It seems I've spoiled you too much, which has made you so arrogant!"

She abruptly flicked her sleeve and shouted sharply towards the outside of the hall:

"Someone come here!"

Two female guards with calm demeanor and stern faces immediately entered.

"Take the Third Miss to the Gu family ancestral hall and lock her up! Without my order, she is not to step out of the ancestral hall! Furthermore, no one is allowed to visit her!"

Lin Fengmian sat cross-legged in the room, his eyes slightly closed, his muscles twitching slightly, and a faint, hidden energy could be seen flowing beneath his skin.

These past few days, he has been diligently practicing the "Ninefold Mountain Collapse Technique".

This technique was his greatest asset in the Sealed Spirit Land. Lacking spiritual energy, he poured all his energy into tempering his body. Day after day of arduous practice deepened his understanding of this technique.

At that moment, he slowly opened his eyes, clenched his right fist, and gently pushed it towards the air in front of him.

"Buzz—"

As the fist passed, a muffled thud reverberated through the air! Three layers of hidden force overlapped on the fist's surface, like waves, each stronger than the last!

"The third layer... is complete."

Lin Fengmian withdrew his fist, feeling the surging power within his body, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

The Ninefold Mountain-Crushing Technique doubles the power of a punch with each breakthrough. The first level is 300 jin, the second level is over 1,000 jin, and by the third level—a single punch unleashes the combined power of three layers of internal energy, resulting in a force of 10,000 jin!