Chapter 119: A Pact of Unity
Hearing her words, Wang Yunmeng's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise, then she felt she understood and chuckled, "So Miss Xie is quite the person with her own ideas. I thought you and Master Su had such a good sibling relationship. After all, Master Su gave you the Master's token, so after he dies, the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion will be yours, won't it?"
After speaking, she chuckled twice. Xie Huailing met her piercing, scrutinizing gaze directly, realizing she wasn't entirely convinced and needed to give her another reason. Since that was the case, she might as well put on a show. So, seemingly weary, she said, "This isn't the same thing, and it has nothing to do with affection. It's only natural for a woman to drag down a meaningless man. As for anything else, I won't kill him."
This was a rather intriguing explanation, and also the one that would best appease Wang Yunmeng. She seemed to think that only such a complex relationship could make sense, and that Xie Huailing's words would be without flaws. She began to examine Xie Huailing's words again, and shook her head: "But Miss Xie, if I only do business with you, how can you ensure that you can help me? As far as I know, you don't know any martial arts at all, and before you returned from beyond the Great Wall, you knew nothing about the ways of the martial world."
She continued, "I'm afraid you're not qualified. When I was your age, I had few rivals in the martial arts world. Fang Geyin, whom you respect now, was my equal when I was your age. So back then, how many people in the martial arts world dared to challenge me, and how many dared to disrespect me? I'm afraid there were fewer than two palms' worth."
Xie Huailing's expression remained unchanged, and he only replied, "Am I not?"
Wang Yunmeng's smile froze, her doubts abruptly halted by those words.
Xie Huailing repeated, "Am I not?"
She spoke of it more and more casually, as if it were nothing that needed to be emphasized. But it really didn't need to be emphasized, because it was the truth.
There had never been a junior before who could look Wang Yunmeng in the eye and sit in front of her, uttering such "bold words." This made Wang Yunmeng feel absurd. After the absurdity, she sat up straight and finally began to take the guests she had invited tonight seriously. Then she suddenly realized that it was indeed true. Her mind, which had not been drinking, was also filled with a drunken stupor.
Yes, there are fewer than two people who dare to challenge her. Are there really that many people who dare to challenge Xie Huailing? She has indeed been in the martial arts world for a short time and is indeed weak and inexperienced. But what is a flaw in an ordinary person is a flaw in a prodigy who has already achieved great things. Her brilliance, which allows her to turn the world upside down and look down on all the heroes, has already overshadowed everything else.
She recalled the words that came from Bianjing City when Xie Huailing became famous: "First place in the world for appearance, second place for wisdom."
She used to think it was just empty talk, but after seeing it with her own eyes today, she knows it's true.
Only then did Wang Yunmeng truly grasp the passage of time. She was now at the forefront of the previous generation, and a junior she could take notice of, a junior who, like her, could command the wind and rain and was no less capable than any man, was right before her eyes.
“Alright!” Wang Yunmeng’s voice suddenly rose. She laughed and said, “Alright! I underestimated Miss Xie. It was my fault. Then I will do this business with Miss Xie. Let’s continue our conversation. I have many ideas to change since Miss Xie is here tonight.”
"Please speak, Madam Wang," Xie Huailing said calmly.
Wang Yunmeng was more friendly, and her tone was softer: "After all, this is a crucial cooperation, and the reward I've staked is extremely generous. There can be no rift between us. So, my original plan was to personally prepare a poison for Miss Xie, have her take it, and then give her the reward and the antidote together after the matter is settled. But now, I don't think so anymore. I have a better idea."
She stared intently at Xie Huailing. Just now, she had been looking at the presence of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion on Xie Huailing's body, but now she was looking at Xie Huailing as a person. As a result, her gaze became even more chilling, and surprisingly... it also contained a sense of pity, appreciation for talent, and a surging lust for power.
Wang Yunmeng said, "I've met many juniors, but most of them are arrogant and incompetent. Even the outstanding ones are only passable. Now, my eyes are finally at ease. Of all the juniors I've met, including my own good-for-nothing son, Miss Xie is the one I like the most. I doubt even the Six and a Half Hall can match Miss Xie. When Master Su steps down, Miss Xie will rise to the pinnacle of the martial world—"
She sighed with deep emotion, "At that time, with a little more help, no one will be able to surpass Miss Xie. She is truly a hero of heaven and earth."
She continued, "So I thought that the original idea should not have been used on Miss Xie. Since I like Miss Xie so much, there should be a better way to make our relationship even closer."
Upon hearing this, Xie Huailing suddenly felt a premonition and followed her gaze, only to find that the former number one female demon of the martial arts world was looking at her son.
“I only have this one child, and I haven’t paid much attention to him over the years, which has made him a good-for-nothing. But he has been quite talented since childhood. Whether it’s calligraphy and painting, martial arts, medicine and poison, or mechanical contraptions, he is exceptional in all of them. He also inherited my looks. In any case, he will not disgrace Miss Xie.” Wang Yunmeng looked back at Xie Huailing, this time with a gentle smile instead of her usual coquettishness. “The closest relationships in the world are those arranged by marriage. I will propose this marriage to Miss Xie. What do you think, Miss Xie?”
As if afraid she wouldn't agree, Wang Yunmeng added, "I am willing to give Miss Xie the 'Heavenly Cloud Five-Flower Cotton' and the 'Bewitching Mind and Dreaming Technique' as betrothal gifts. They can be handed over to you tonight. From now on, Miss Xie will be like my own daughter. Whatever my good-for-nothing child has, Miss Xie will also have."
Xie Huailing: "..."
Her head buzzed for a moment, and no one knew what she was thinking. Wang Lianhua, who had witnessed the entire conversation, could no longer hold back. She opened her mouth, but fear of her mother held her back. Finally, her hand trembled, and she spoke: "Mother, I—"
Wang Yunmeng slammed her hand on the table beside the soft couch. If Xie Huailing hadn't been there, the table would probably have shattered into pieces in the next second. Her authoritative demeanor, which brooked no disobedience from her son, was clearly displayed in the loud crash. Wang Lianhua had nothing more to say. He lifted his robe and, despite his reluctance, knelt down, staring intently at Xie Huailing, hoping he would say something.
Wang Yunmeng smiled again and gazed at Xie Huailing. The girl who had been randomly paired up by her seemed to be in a daze, as if she had been pulled by a thread, and slowly came back to her senses. She turned her head to look at the kneeling boy, and then looked at Wang Yunmeng.
Xie Huailing asked very sincerely, and indeed no one could figure out her thought process. She asked, "Could you ask him to remove the disguise? It's really important to me."
Wang Yunmeng was stunned for a moment, having never seen such a request before. But it was harmless, and she quickly understood Xie Huailing's meaning, laughing and saying, "Why not? It's only natural for young people to be attracted to beauty."
Then she said to Wang Lianhua, "Go on, expose all your little tricks. You've made a fool of yourself in front of Miss Xie for so long, and you've embarrassed me."
Wang Lianhua pursed his lips, lowered his head deeply, and the beauty in his eyes, like falling flowers, far surpassed the physical appearance plastered on his face; he was truly slender and graceful. He probably hadn't expected things to develop this way tonight. After glancing at Xie Huailing's face, he turned around, opened the door, and left.
Xie Huailing waited in place, listening to Wang Yunmeng say "Just a moment." She glanced at the doorway and waited, but didn't say anything, keeping her thoughts and plans to herself.
Wang Lianhua was, after all, like Wang Yunmeng. Once the disguise was removed, it would be difficult to tell that he was not Wang Lianhua. However, it was only after seeing it with his own eyes that Xie Huailing understood why Wang Lianhua had smiled like that when Xie Huailing said "handsome man".
The figure that returned was handsome and tall.
Such an appearance can only be described as beautiful. A little more frailty would make him seem feminine, a little more stern would make him seem masculine. He alone is just right in the world, just right like a flower in spring, like music on a zither. Beyond that, his clear, jade-like face hides a hazy, otherworldly beauty, and the vermilion within it is enough to paint a vivid picture. Therefore, to compare him with anything else in the world would seem inappropriate.
Wang Lianhua closed the door with one hand and stopped there, refusing to go any further. Xie Huailing, seeing this, was even more puzzled by his disguise in the ancient tomb and said to Wang Yunmeng, "Alright, I have no more questions."
Wang Yunmeng was very satisfied, and smiled, her smile seemingly radiant: "Then Miss Xie, please remember to write a letter to Master Su, send him our family's betrothal letter, and also send him your birth date and time. Xie Huailing doesn't want Master Su to know about our affair, so just find a good reason. I believe in Miss Xie's abilities. I will handle your marriage properly. From now on, Miss Xie will be like half a daughter to me."
Throughout this entire process, she didn't care about her son's thoughts at all. It seemed that the words "rebel against one's mother" didn't exist in Wang Lianhua's dictionary. The marriage was settled just like that: "Miss Xie, you should go back and rest well. I will have the child send the 'Heavenly Cloud Five-Flower Cotton' and the 'Bewitching Mind and Dreaming Technique' to you tomorrow. You two will be husband and wife in the future, so you should cultivate your relationship properly."
Xie Huailing couldn't quite put her finger on what kind of déjà vu Wang Yunmeng gave her. Since Wang Yunmeng told her to leave, she didn't want to stay in the room any longer, so she turned around and walked out.
As the door closed, she heard Wang Yunmeng's extremely cold and harsh "Come here," which should have been directed at Wang Lianhua.
Xie Huailing's eyes flickered, but she still brushed past Wang Lianhua. After going outside, she felt much better. She saw someone waiting outside the door, leaning against the wall and tucking away her stray hairs. It was Bai Feifei, who had been invited up by a maid.
Seeing her come out, Bai Feifei immediately went to her side. With a maid leading the way, Bai Feifei didn't ask her anything until they left the secluded mansion, at which point she asked, "What happened? What does Wang Yunmeng want with you?"
"That's hard to say." Xie Huailing paused for a moment. "Simply put, I'm getting married."
Bai Feifei: ?
Ignoring her confusion, Xie Huailing continued, "I still need to write a letter to Su Mengzhen to tell him that I'm getting married... On the bright side, at least I don't have to come up with a reason to fool Liufenbantang about why I haven't returned to Bianjing yet. That would probably give Leisun a seven or eight-day brainstorming session." Maybe she can even give Di Feijing a good thrashing.
But it wasn't just Di Feijing who would be blown up; Su Mengzhen would probably be blown up too, and she herself, who was going to personally write the story of her love affair with Wang Lianhua, would also be blown up. Having said this, Xie Huailing realized she couldn't even fool herself, and closed her eyes.
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This is what I was saying—I really want to write a scene depicting Di Fei's reaction; it seems very interesting…
Actually, everyone's reaction was quite interesting, but Di Feijing's was the most interesting, followed by Su Louzhu's.
The two people who despise each other will then begin to scheme against each other, making it their mission to disgust each other to death. In their fragile alliance, they will engage in intrigue and use all their acting skills to fight for the top spot in the martial arts world.
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