03 - Young Lady Yue Qing
Besides its luxurious design, being made from a special red wood embroidered with what seemed to be gold on its windows, corners, and doors, and with small dark floral patterns on its smooth wooden surface, this carriage also bore a well-recognized red flag with the image of a golden mountain made of numerous gold coins at its center.
That flag was the exact reason why the entire journey had been peaceful so far, where even while passing through bandit territories, unorthodox sects, and rival families, no one dared to show open hostility toward them. That flag was even more intimidating than the men escorting it, after all, it was the crest of none other than the renowned and wealthy Yue Family, one of the most influential merchant families in the northern region of the Yushu Kingdom.
Sigh... It's not enough that I have to visit them, the trip is taking so long... How much longer will it take until we finally reach Zhenlong City?
Extremely bored and carrying some frustration in her heart for having to go on such a journey, Yue Qing, one of the young ladies of the Yue Family, wondered while staring unfocused through the window in her door.
With a noble appearance, flawless skin, a slender body, long dark reddish hair which she wore in a bun, serene and calm blue eyes as striking as jewels and as deep as the vast ocean, and dressed in simple white clothes of a quality that most people could only dream of owning, she was truly a girl worthy of being the young lady of the Yue Family. But now, in front of only her mother, Yue Xi, she acted like an impatient child.
To her relief, however, it didn't take long before their destination could be seen in the distance, with the coachman of her carriage shouting as soon as he spotted the large walls of the city they had traveled so far to reach.
"Lady Yue Xi!! We are about to enter the lands of Zhenlong! Would you like to make a stop or should we head straight to the Star Sword Sect?"
Noticing the impatience clearly present in her daughter's gaze and also wanting to finish what she had come to do quickly since she couldn't spend much time away from her position, the beautiful lady opted not to make any stops. Following her orders, the coachman proceeded to enter the city gates, not stopping until they reached the sect's outskirts.
Yue Qing couldn't be happier to hear the news and her mother's response, barely able to hide her smile, with a sparkle appearing in her usually cold eyes, almost counting the minutes until she could finish the visit and return home.
Noticing the sudden shift in her daughter's thoughts as she seemed to be in a better mood now, and also wishing to avoid any future problems, Yue Xi began speaking in a falsely empathetic and hesitant tone without hesitation.
"Dear... I understand your thoughts regarding this engagement, but please try to understand that this is not only for the good of the family but also for your own well-being, so, please, just during this visit, try not to offend the Young Master Ming in any way, okay?"
She explained, already knowing very well her daughter's temper, which had taken after more than just her looks, hoping that she could understand since she was more mature than most people her age.
Yue Qing's reaction, in turn, was absolute silence for a few seconds. She understood what her mother was trying to say, especially after a few sleepless nights when she overheard her mother, stepmother, and father discussing the reasons behind her engagement.
However, even so, having her freedom taken away by marrying someone she didn't even love, and worse, someone as terrible and useless as Wang Ming, was simply difficult to accept, for very obvious reasons.
But still, in the end, she didn't have much choice. What could she do? Her only support was her sole servant and bodyguard; Yue Qing might be talented in martial arts, but that alone wouldn't be enough to earn her parents' support or anything like that, leaving her no other option but to face her likely fate.
"Alright, Mother..." She responded, nodding with a calm face on the outside but harboring great frustration and sadness inside, subtly reflected in her gaze.
Thus, they continued on their way, entering through the city's great walls without even having to wait in the long line of carriages, since, thanks to their high status, they passed without needing to undergo the guards' inspection at the city entrance.
Zhenlong City was incredible, at least compared to the other cities in its surroundings, it obviously couldn't compare to the city where the Yue Family was based, but it was large and developed enough to temporarily accommodate such important guests.
Despite it still being early in the morning, with most people theoretically just waking up and preparing to start their daily lives, a large number of people were already seen walking through the streets, selling their goods in stalls and shops, conducting business, or even walking around with weapons to carry out their training or missions.
Naturally, thanks to the luxury, the crest, and the number of strong martial artists around them, the carriage drew a lot of attention wherever it passed, attracting stares and becoming a topic of conversation among the crowds.
"Wow, isn't that one of the luxurious carriages of the Yue Family?! What are they doing here?" Asked a random worker in awe after seeing the carriage pass in front of him.
"Shhh, keep your voice down! Don't you know the Yue Family doesn't like people talking behind their backs?" His friend beside him whispered, pulling him closer by the shoulder. "You probably don't know because you've been out of town for a while, but apparently one of the Yue twins is engaged to the Young Master Ming."
"What!?!!" The man shouted.
"Hey! Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Ah, sorry! But it's hard to believe that disgraceful and arrogant young master would become engaged to one of the twins from such a great family, said by many to be destined to become the greatest beauties of the northern region." He explained, whispering to his friend as they continued on their way.
"I know, it's really crazy, isn't it?"
...
Occupying a large portion of the city's territory, with walls almost as high as Zhenlong's own surrounding it, there stood the entrance to the Star Sword Sect, up a few steps. Unable to proceed any further by carriage, they were forced to step out.
Wasting no time, Yue Xi ordered the escort that had accompanied them to remain in the city for a few hours until nightfall, when they would return to escort them back to Lingshan City, and the coachman, one of the family's servants, was tasked with covering their expenses during this time, using Yue Xi's money.
Although they did not show it, maintaining their professionalism at all times, bowing before the madame and stating they would follow her orders, internally they were all celebrating and could barely contain their joy at finally being able to rest after so long on horseback, they were ready to drink and eat as much as they could at the Yue Family's expense.
Back here again... Looking at these guards and the sect's plaque brings back some good and bad memories, as it was here where I met Long Shen... Speaking of which, will I get to see him again? It's been a while since the last time, hehe. Yue Qing thought briefly, with a subtle smile forming on her face.
Following her mother's orders, with only the two of them continuing from this point on, signaling the family's trust in the sect, they began ascending the white steps and presented themselves to the sword-wielding guards.
Though neither of them were great cultivators, the aura that Yue Xi, in particular, emitted was enough to intimidate even the two guards at the entrance, not because of her strength or anything of the sort, but due to her immense influence and cunning, possessing those calm and cold eyes that made the guards feel as though they were being pierced directly, as if their desires and sins were being seen by her.
Yue Qing did not go unnoticed either, also carrying that elegant and noble aura combined with that calm and serious gaze, which was rarely seen in someone only 14 years old, however, obviously, not being as experienced as her mother, she could not yet match her.
Recognizing the presence of both, one of the guards immediately left his post to inform the sect that they had arrived. In a matter of few minutes, alongside the guard and his son, appeared the extremely renowned, admired, and feared Wang Wei, the Master of the Star Sword Sect.
Despite rumors circulating about him being ill, the man, with a strong and robust appearance, short red hair, and sharp eyes as red and wild as fire, still maintained a strong presence without even releasing a single fragment of his internal energy.
What an amazing aura! So this is the presence of someone who has reached the peak of the Martial Master Realm... Will I ever be able to reach this level!? Yue Qing wondered, striving not to show a reaction of surprise before such a powerful figure.
With a small smile forming on her face, Yue Xi, looking directly into his eyes, introduced herself and her daughter to Wang Wei, who in turn, with a large smile on his face, reciprocated, introducing himself and his son.
"There's no need for all this formality, Yue Xi, we all know each other here, and soon we'll be family, right?"
"You're right, Wang Wei. Don't you agree, daughter?"
At that moment, all eyes turned to Yue Qing, looks that, to an outsider, might seem merely curious but which placed great pressure on the young girl.
Especially the gaze of Wang Wei's son, who looked like a weaker and less attractive version of his father, with far fewer muscles, long red hair, and wearing golden clothes to flaunt his wealth. He was staring at the girl so blatantly that it seemed as though he was devouring her with his eyes.
Tsk, scumbags.
"Yes, Mother." She responded, maintaining her composure.
"Hahaha, as I said. Now that we're done here, let's go inside! I'd like to show you a bit of my sect!" The sect master exclaimed with great happiness.
As they walked through the sect's grounds, passing by large buildings and areas, it was possible to see many of its disciples training, cultivating, or simply conversing with one another while carrying swords of all kinds. Yue Qing couldn't help but be interested in the sight, though she didn't show it directly, her attention was so focused on her surroundings that she didn't even hear what the sect master was saying.
Noticing this and deciding not to miss the opportunity to boast and try to melt the cold heart of the young lady, Wang Ming moved away from his father, who was talking to Yue Xi, and approached her, standing beside her and also looking in the same direction as she was.
"Impressed, right? This is the power I hold in my hands! When we get married and I become the new sect master, all these buildings will be yours, and all these people will follow you, Yue Qing!"
The young master was trying his hardest to display some sort of noble and elegant demeanor, attempting to appear grand and wise as he said all those words, however, in the end, he was merely boasting about something that wasn't even his yet, filling himself with pride and arrogance, thinking his attempt would work.
Strange, where could Long Shen be? By now, I would probably see him doing some favor for someone or training alone... Yue Qing, however, paid no attention to the young man's words, her thoughts focused on someone completely different from him.
Wang Ming, however, had not given up even after being ignored. It wasn't as if this was the first time he had been treated this way, he was already used to it, so he continued speaking as though it didn't bother him.
"Did you know, Yue Qing? I recently broke through to the eighth layer of the Purified Physical Realm, so I only have two more layers to go before I reach the Spiritual Awakening Realm. Once I'm recognized as the greatest genius in the entire sect, no one will dare mess with you while I'm by your side."
Despite her true thoughts, Yue Qing hid them and instead decided to make another comment, using the opportunity to clear up one of her doubts.
"Congratulations, Young Master Ming. But wouldn't the greatest genius be Long Shen? Speaking of which, I haven't seen him around. Do you know where he is?"
At that moment, Wang Ming's calm demeanor broke, and just hearing Long Shen's name was enough for rage to build up inside him. He struggled to keep it under control, and poorly concealing his true thoughts, he responded to the girl.
"... I don't know where he is, Yue Qing. I haven't seen him for a few days now..." A discreet smile began to form on his face. "... Maybe something happened to him? Who knows... This world is more dangerous than it seems, isn't it? Especially when we're talking about an orphan like him."
Fuck, Long Shen, even after your death you continue to torment me! Just wait, I'll make this bitch my wife and become a figure of grandeur in the northern region!!