Chapter 651 - 219: A Change in the Marriage Alliance, A Change of Heart

Jintai Prefecture, the Lin Mansion.

In an elegant courtyard in the rear garden.

Lin Shuhua sat by the window, her slender hand resting lightly on the latticework. Her gaze fell upon the artfully arranged flowers and trees in the courtyard, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.

A single thought circled endlessly in her mind: ’Now that Yang Jing has failed to be chosen as the Xuanzhen Sect’s number one prospect, how will Father and the Elders view him? Will the marriage alliance Father mentioned to me in private still move forward?’

Logically, she should have been happy if the marriage alliance were called off.

After all, the alliance was more for the family’s benefit than her own desire.

Yet for some reason, as her thoughts wandered, the image of Yang Jing at the Lin Mansion’s banquet involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

He had been dressed in sharp, practical attire, yet his posture was tall and straight. Facing the scrutiny of the Lin Family’s upper echelon, he was neither servile nor arrogant, but carried himself with a calm composure, his words possessing a natural integrity.

At this thought, a faint sense of loss welled up in her heart without warning, startling Lin Shuhua. She subconsciously clenched the corner of her robes.

Why would she feel a sense of loss?

’Could I actually have been looking forward to the marriage alliance with Yang Jing?’

The moment that thought appeared, a faint blush crept onto Lin Shuhua’s cheeks, even tingeing the tips of her ears pink. A strange shyness filled her heart, and she quickly averted her gaze, not daring to dwell on it further.

But on second thought, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for Yang Jing.

’If he had secured the position of number one prospect and received the full, devoted support of the Xuanzhen Sect, his future achievements would have been limitless—far beyond what they might be now.’

...

「Meanwhile.」

In the rear garden of the Hong Family’s estate in Jintai Prefecture City, ripples spread across the surface of a small, turquoise lake, its banks lined with weeping willows.

Patriarch Hong, Hong Shixian, was seated on a fishing stool, holding a rod. His calm gaze was fixed on the lake’s surface, where his float bobbed silently, perfectly still.

Standing beside him, the Hong Family Grand Elder reported with a solemn expression, "Patriarch, we’ve received definitive news from the Xuanzhen Sect. Yang Jing lost to Chu Yunhai in the contest for the number one prospect position. Chu Yunhai has now been officially named the top prospect and will exclusively receive the sect’s best resources for his training."

Upon hearing this, Hong Shixian’s brow furrowed slightly. He rubbed the wooden grain of his fishing rod with his fingertips and said in a low voice, "I am well aware of the Xuanzhen Sect’s rules. The support they give an ordinary genius versus the all-out backing for a number one prospect... the difference is like night and day."

"Grade-A Training Rooms, top-tier treasured pills, supreme Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures... these resources are enough to let Chu Yunhai’s cultivation advance by leaps and bounds." He looked at the reflection of the clouds in the lake, shook his head gently, and added with a tone of conviction, "It seems that from now on, the gap between Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai will only widen. It’s unlikely he’ll ever be able to stand as his equal again."

The Hong Family Grand Elder nodded slightly in profound agreement. "Chu Yunhai is truly worthy of his undisputed top rank on the Xuanzhen Sect’s Hidden Dragon List. After awakening his War Body, he became even more formidable. His talent and strength already place him at the pinnacle of his generation."

"Although Yang Jing’s rise was swift and his comprehension is astonishing, he is ultimately a step behind in terms of his foundation and innate talent."

After a pause, he looked at Hong Shixian and asked softly, "Patriarch, in that case, what should be done about the marriage alliance between Qing Zhu and Yang Jing?"

Hong Shixian pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Without the resource boost from being the Xuanzhen Sect’s number one prospect, it will be significantly harder for Yang Jing to break through to the True Qi Realm in the future."

"As for the higher Pill Realm, that would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens."

"Thus, his future prospects have changed dramatically. While he’s still quite outstanding compared to an ordinary Martial Artist, he falls far short of our previous expectations."

The Hong Family Grand Elder nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Hong Shixian’s assessment. "The Patriarch is absolutely right. Talent is important, but on the path of the Martial Dao, resources often determine one’s ultimate limit."

Hong Shixian sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Speaking of which, that girl Qing Zhu has been causing a huge fuss these past few days. When she learned about the marriage alliance with Yang Jing, she threw a tantrum on the spot and even threatened a hunger strike. No one can talk her out of it."

His tone shifted as he made his decision. "Since Yang Jing’s situation has changed, let’s put the matter of the marriage alliance on hold for now."

Hearing this, the Hong Family Grand Elder understood. ’The Patriarch has completely given up on the idea of an alliance with Yang Jing, he’s just not stating it in absolute terms.’

He nodded and suggested, "We should tell Qing Zhu as soon as possible. Otherwise, if she keeps this up, her body won’t be able to take it. She’ll just suffer for a couple more days for no reason."

Hong Shixian nodded slightly and chuckled helplessly. "Alright, I’ll go tell her in a moment. That girl is so stubborn. She’s truly angry with me this time, hahaha."

...

Hong Qingzhu’s chambers were decorated in a fresh and elegant style. Gauze curtains embroidered with an orchid grass pattern hung low, and the faint scent of incense permeated the air.

She lay on the bed, her face somewhat pale. A lingering trace of weakness clung to her brow, and her lips were dry and chapped from two days without proper food.

The hunger strike of the past few days had, after all, taken a considerable toll on her vitality.

Just then, the sound of steady footsteps approached from outside, growing closer as they fell clearly on the blue brick floor.

Hong Qingzhu remained motionless on the bed, not even lifting an eyelid. She was clearly still sulking over the marriage alliance.

Only when the footsteps entered the room, stopped beside the bed, and a familiar presence enveloped her did she reluctantly turn her head to look.

The gentle face of her father, Hong Shixian, came into view.