Banshee Family Training Record

Page 286

As she spoke and emphasized this, she couldn't help but frantically replay the plan she was about to reveal in her mind, and instantly, two lovely blushes appeared on the girl's face.

Yun Chu'an held her small hand, but didn't rush to agree. Instead, he carefully observed her expression and suddenly asked, "Linglong, is there something else you want to tell me?"

He asked tentatively, and upon hearing this, Sheng Linglong immediately lowered her head, her face flushed with shyness, unwilling to say more: "No... I... um..."

Yun Chu'an didn't rush to ask further questions, quietly waiting for her to adjust her mindset. Sheng Linglong pursed her lips, a surge of courage rising within her. She suddenly raised her head and nodded gently: "Yes, I do have a few other thoughts."

Her eyes trembled, clearly showing extreme nervousness and shyness: "Have you ever heard of a special ceremony called... a martial arts contest to find a husband?"

Yun Chu'an nodded: "Of course I've heard of it, uh..."

His eyes widened as he stared at the girl in front of him: "Could it be..."

Sheng Linglong lowered her head, her face flushed red as if it were about to bleed: "My father and mother have urged me time and time again, saying that I am almost two hundred years old and should have gotten married and had children long ago. If I don't get married and have a few children while my father still has the energy to govern the country, then if I inherit the throne and become king in the future, I will have even less time and energy to have children."

“I agree with their point of view, but I haven’t found a suitable one yet, and it’s been delayed until now. I really can’t delay any longer.” She made up a reason to cover up her shyness. “So I think this martial arts competition can also be my marriage proposal ceremony. Whichever young talent comes out on top and becomes the champion, then I will marry him.”

As she spoke, she turned around to face him, grasping Yun Chu'an's hands in both, but dared not look him in the eye. She turned her face away, her voice trembling: "So, you must win the championship in this martial arts tournament. Only then can I ask my father to grant me marriage and marry me to you."

Chapter 571 Rejection, Parting on Bad Terms Towards the end, Sheng Linglong's voice was barely audible, but her true thoughts and turbulent emotions were still clearly revealed to him.

Yun Chu'an felt a pang of emotion, yet she could also sense the girl's nervousness. She was clenching her hands, but her palms were already sweating.

Knowing that she was worried, Yun Chuan squeezed her hand and said, "I understand. I will do my best to win the championship."

Sheng Linglong looked up at him, feeling shy, but her gaze was extremely gentle.

She gazed at him tenderly, feeling her heart belong to him. A flood of thoughts raced through her mind: their future life together, where they should live after moving to the capital…

Imagining that bright future, she continued softly, "Well, then I'll go back now and write an edict, allowing you and Fellow Daoist Qi Qiao to divorce peacefully. After we're married, you can take her as a concubine again..." (The rest of the text is a jumbled collection of characters and phrases, likely due to OCR errors. A direct translation isn't meaningful without context.)

Yun Chu'an was stunned for a moment: "What?"

Sheng Linglong thought he hadn't heard her clearly, so she repeated, "It means you and Qi Qiao should divorce first, and after we get married, you can bring her back as a concubine."

"That way, you've given her an explanation." She said, a smile playing on her lips, feeling that her arrangement was quite thorough and appropriate. "Don't worry, I don't mind."

Yun Chu'an's heart sank to the bottom, and in that instant, he realized many things.

Although Sheng Linglong liked him and wanted the Prince of Jin to make him her consort, she was, after all, a princess of a country, the daughter of the Duke of Jin, with a title conferred by the Zhou emperor, and represented the face of the entire Jin state.

Therefore, there is absolutely no way she could become someone's concubine. Even if Yun Chu'an marries her and says she is the empress, in reality, she will probably have to take the lead in everything in the future.

Therefore, the prerequisite for their marriage was that he had to divorce his wife first and let her become his legal wife.

He divorced Qi Qiao and then took her as a concubine.

The thought of this process made Yun Chu'an feel as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

He can't.

Therefore, at this moment, he only has one choice.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” he said, then lowered his head, feeling sad but having no choice but to do so. “I am honored to receive Your Highness’s favor, but my wife and I have a deep love that started from humble beginnings and has supported each other. How can I abandon her so easily?”

"I am truly unable to fulfill what Your Highness has said."

Sheng Linglong felt a chill in her heart, thinking he had misunderstood. She quickly said, "You've misunderstood. I didn't mean for you to abandon her. It's just a difference in etiquette. She's nominally a concubine, but in reality, she can still stay by your side..."

She tried to make amends and ease his pain. However, Yun Chu'an slowly bowed to her and said, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I cannot do that. Please take back your words."

Sheng Linglong was speechless.

She suddenly realized she had miscalculated. She assumed the other person shared the same feelings and thoughts as her, and was so excited to come and talk to her about it that she overlooked the possible feelings between him and Qi Qiao.

She never expected that Yun Chu'an would refuse such a simple change in status, rejecting her so decisively!

He refused the Duke of Jin's appreciation, but afterwards he enjoyed immense power, wealth, and numerous privileges.

In all her years, Sheng Linglong had never been rejected so bluntly. She felt as if she had been slapped hard in the face, and a surge of intense anger suddenly rose from her chest.

She looked down at Yun Chu'an, who was bowing in front of her, wanting to scold him for being ungrateful. But as soon as the words were on the tip of her tongue, seeing his composed demeanor, as if he was prepared to accept all the consequences, she froze.

Upon careful recollection of what he had just said, it seemed to be true. Sheng Linglong had also secretly inquired about some information and knew that Yun Chuan was originally an adopted son-in-law, and that Qi Qiao took great care of him. They were a couple who had gone through thick and thin together, having been together even before embarking on the path of cultivation. Their deep affection and loyalty were quite normal.

On the other hand, his unwillingness to abandon his wife, even in terms of a change in status, for fear of hurting her feelings, is a testament to his deep affection and loyalty.

Moreover, given the many generous offers he has made, he is unwilling to betray his beloved wife and destroy his original family. This is a manifestation of loyalty. Therefore, even if an enemy country tries to bribe him with high-ranking positions, generous salaries, and beautiful concubines in the future, he will not be able to betray them, will he?

Thinking about it carefully, I already knew he was loyal and trustworthy, and that's precisely why I admired him. So, his answer, though unexpected, was still...

That seems reasonable.

Sheng Linglong lowered her head, staring blankly for a long time. Her anger had mostly dissipated, replaced by an indescribable sadness, even a sense of grievance.

Looking at Yun Chu'an, who was standing with his head down and a resolute expression, she felt a sudden loss of interest. She no longer had any desire to scold or punish him; all she felt was resentment.

Why couldn't I have met such a wonderful man sooner? By the time I met him, he was already married to someone else…

She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her bad mood. Her face was no longer flushed, but rather pale, and her voice gradually calmed as she said, "Yes, I understand."

As she spoke, her tone grew even colder: "Just pretend I never said those things. You will still participate in the martial arts tournament as usual, and all subsequent arrangements will be handled as official business."

She tried to remain calm, but the more she spoke, the more her voice trembled. She felt her eyes gradually warming, as if tears were about to flow, so much so that she had to tilt her head slightly to prevent them from falling.

Yun Chu'an was also filled with mixed feelings, but unfortunately, he couldn't fulfill Sheng Linglong's demands: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Sheng Linglong didn't say another word. She was afraid that if she stayed in front of him any longer, she would lose control of her emotions and shed tears in front of him.

She turned and got out of bed, walked out of the room, and quickly disappeared into the sycamore trees outside, leaving no trace of her figure.

Yun Chu'an saw her off at the door. After she walked away, he felt a mix of emotions, and in the end, all that remained was a sigh.

I am still not strong enough.

If it were even stronger, these concerns would no longer be necessary.

The pace of cultivation needs to be accelerated.

He clenched his fists, making a plan in his mind. He thought that when he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future, he could have the best of both worlds.

While both men were feeling downcast because of what had happened in the princess's courtyard, the situation was completely different in another household.

Another family in the capital of Jin.

The Sima family was practically celebrating. In front of the spacious mahogany dining table, the Sima family patriarch, Sima Zong, was holding a wine glass with a smile on his face. He looked at the young man at the end of the table and said, "Lixin, I have already set up the stage for the martial arts competition for you. Now, it's up to you to perform."

At the end of the table sat a young and handsome man with black hair, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and a dignified appearance. But most importantly, his body was surging with the spiritual power of the Golden Core stage. Despite his young age, he already possessed the cultivation of the late Golden Core stage.

This man was Sima Lixin, the most outstanding young man of the Sima family in this generation, whom they regarded as a prodigy and their future successor. At this moment, he sat upright in his chair. Upon hearing Sima Zongzheng's words, he immediately nodded and said loudly, "Of course, Grandpa, I have completed my studies and returned. I will definitely achieve the most amazing results on the stage."

Sima Zongzheng looked at his grandson, becoming more and more satisfied. He nodded slightly, then emphasized, "Remember, in this battle, you must not only win, but win beautifully, cleanly and decisively, so that everyone will look at you with new respect."

As he spoke, his voice lowered: "In this way, amidst the cheers and exclamations of all cultivators of the same realm across the country, if you then propose to Sheng Linglong, she will certainly not refuse."

This was their family's goal, and with such a brilliant talent emerging in their family, their ambitions swelled accordingly. At the same time, they also saw the weakness of the Jin royal family: the King of Jin was too old; he had long exceeded the lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and was now only barely clinging to life with the help of cultivation techniques and powerful elixirs. No one knew, not even himself, how many more years he could live.

Unfortunately, his sons either died in battle after reaching the Core Formation stage or failed to achieve it. Although Sheng Linglong was equally talented, she was still young and far from the Nascent Soul stage. Therefore, the power of the Jin Kingdom was not stable. If they wanted their royal power to last forever, they urgently needed a new pillar.

Chapter 572 The Martial Arts Tournament Begins

Sima Lixin would definitely be a good choice for the Duke of Jin. If this political marriage can be achieved, both sides will benefit from it.

Through this relationship, the Sima family could also begin to dabble in royal power, become familiar with the basic rules governing a vassal state, and even in the future…

They could also establish their own states and kingdoms!

This is the Sima family's desire. Of course, the establishment of a nation is still a long way off. The first step they need to take now is to win first place in the martial arts tournament!

Around the round table, all eyes were on Sima Lixin, who held high hopes for the youngest heir in the family.

Sima Lixin nodded and said in a deep voice, "Your son will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Around the round table, the elders burst into laughter, their satisfaction evident. Beside them, another elder added, "I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, other families will be there to support us at this grand event."

"Lord Zhao has already made an agreement with me. He will bring out his family's treasures as a reward and support for the champion. Then, when you propose to the princess, she will have no choice but to agree!"

He smiled, and with a single sentence, he saw through some of Sima Lixin's little schemes. The latter blushed for a moment, then nodded and said, "Thank you for your help, Second Uncle!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Linglong's image flashed through his mind. Imagining himself kneeling before her and proposing, he was filled with an indescribable excitement.

Your Highness, please...

Marry me!

Unlike his elders who craved power, Sima Lixin longed for a feeling that had been buried deep in his heart since childhood, a feeling he dared not express.

He longed for Sheng Linglong's favor.

……

Time passes day by day.

Since rejecting Sheng Linglong, Yun Chuan could clearly sense that the princess had become much colder towards him.

Although she still allowed him to live in her garden and had the maids serve him daily as usual, and to meditate and cultivate himself, she never appeared in front of him again, nor did she say a word to him.

This is normal. After all, any girl would feel upset if she excitedly proposed marriage plans to the man she liked, only to be rejected.

Moreover, as a princess of a nation, she naturally possessed pride, so it was understandable that she felt resentful after being rejected by him in that manner.

Yun Chu'an was also helpless about this. After all, he could not agree to Sheng Linglong's request. He had already made Qi Qiao suffer too much and owed her too much. He could not let her suffer any more in this matter.

Given his current strength and status, he has no right to make Sheng Linglong his concubine, and given her mindset, he probably wouldn't agree to it either.

So, I can only give up.

When he sat in meditation under the sycamore trees in this garden, his heart could never find peace. Occasionally, he would open his eyes and see that Sheng Linglong was not in the garden, and he couldn't help but sigh.

It seems I've botched this whole thing. This trip to the capital probably wasn't very fruitful.

The moment he had this thought, a maid in the Qi Refining stage quickly came up behind him, bowed her head, and whispered, "Lord Yun, the preliminary rounds of the Martial Arts Tournament are about to begin. Please be sure to arrive at the venue within a quarter of an hour."

Yun Chu'an snapped out of his daze and nodded slightly. Although his progress was not good, everything outside was proceeding as usual, or even very smoothly, and the martial arts tournament was in full swing.

Sima Zongzheng announced the martial arts tournament to the entire nation, promising rewards to all who achieved a ranking, which immediately caused a nationwide sensation. Over the past few days, a massive number of Golden Core cultivators have flocked from all directions, eager to showcase their skills, hoping to sell their literary and martial arts to noble families and secure a better future for themselves.

Because this competition is aimed at Golden Core cultivators, there will be no preliminary selection; anyone can participate directly by registering.

The maid turned and led the way, with Yun Chu'an quickly following her out of the city. If Golden Core cultivators were to engage in a full-scale battle, the area affected would be immense; even the vast capital city wouldn't be enough to wreak havoc on them.

Therefore, the venue for the tournament was set up outside the city, in the vast wilderness, with three venues set up for cultivators in the early, middle and late stages of the Golden Core realm to participate and compete.

Each arena is a hemisphere with a radius of one kilometer, and the official cultivators maintain the barrier to prevent the battle between Golden Core cultivators from causing too much damage to the environment.

Around each venue, numerous floating seats were set up as spectator spots. At this moment, the chairs around each venue were almost full of people, ranging from Qi Refining to Golden Core cultivators. These were all cultivators who had come from all directions, some to watch the competition, and others to participate.

Not only on the ground, but also above the clouds, the Duke of Jin and his ministers and nobles were overlooking the three arenas, waiting for the games to begin.

The maid led Yun Chu'an straight to the registration area for the early-stage Golden Core cultivators. There, an elderly man in the late-stage Golden Core realm was sitting on a futon, testing the age of each cultivator who wanted to participate in the martial arts competition.

The original purpose of the martial arts tournament was to select young talents; those who were older than a certain age were no longer considered.

In the early stages of the Golden Core competition, the age limit was one hundred. Of course, given Yun Chu'an's age, he passed without any surprises.

After passing the test, Yun Chuan went to the back of the arena to prepare for the competition.

At this moment, on the edge of the arena, several other Golden Core stage cultivators were warming up and preparing for the competition. They were also cultivators who had entered the Golden Core stage before the age of one hundred. As rogue cultivators or descendants of small families, they could already be considered the pride of heaven.

However, since the competition has an age limit of one hundred, there are not many people here. Including Yun Chuan, there are only seven people who are qualified to participate.

Seeing that the time had come and all the contestants had arrived, the old man in the late Golden Core stage who had been in charge of measuring bone age stood up, glanced around, and said, "You have all heard about the rules of this competition. We will use a round-robin format to ensure that everyone has a chance to fight. In the end, the ranking and the final winner will be determined according to the number of wins and the head-to-head results."

"The conference is now beginning. Who would like to be the first to come up on stage? If no one is willing, we will draw lots."

He said this, clearly indicating that he was also a referee for this competition. The people present exchanged glances, none willing to be the first to go on stage, fearing they might reveal their hand or expend too much energy, only to have someone else benefit from it.

Seeing this, Yun Chu'an took the initiative to walk to the center of the arena and said, "I'll go first. Since everyone has concerns, why don't you let me defend the title today and finish all my matches in one day?"

He spoke casually, but his tone was quite arrogant, which immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.

Normally, in such a grand gathering, a cultivator can fight a maximum of two battles a day, since participants need ample time to rest and recuperate after each fierce battle.

However, he actually planned to finish the fight in one day, having everyone take turns attacking him. This meant he believed he not only wouldn't lose, but could even defeat them without expending too much effort! Mei, I have you, Lin Kong, you Lin Zai Zai, not here...

This tone was undeniably arrogant, truly showing no regard for the other participants. The six early-stage Golden Core cultivators exchanged glances, all feeling resentful, yet they knew he must have his reasons for doing this.

Therefore, none of them wanted to go first, but rather let others go first to deplete Yun Chu'an's spiritual power, so that they might be able to take advantage of the situation at the end.

The elderly man who organized the event looked appreciative, but when he saw the hesitation of the other six people, he looked dissatisfied: "Does anyone want to go first? If not, let's draw lots."

As soon as the words were spoken, one of the six people stepped forward, a simply dressed young woman with silk threads wrapped around her fingertips, manipulating the six wooden puppets: "No need, I'll go first."

With a resolute look in her eyes, she walked to the center of the arena, cupped her hands to Yun Chu'an, and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind!"

Yun Chu'an glanced at her with his "Qi Observation Method" and saw that her aura was strong but her cultivation technique was rudimentary. Her spiritual power was solid but she didn't have many magic treasures. He guessed that she must be a rogue cultivator who didn't have many resources to cultivate and had achieved her current success through hard work. He immediately felt a sense of compassion.

He nodded slightly, assumed a fighting stance, and said, "Come on, fellow Daoist."