Chapter Nineteen: A Haphazard Marriage

The villagers immediately began to whisper among themselves. "What on earth is wrong with Jiang Yun? Something feels off about him." A young girl chimed in, "He looks so scary."

This scene piqued the curiosity of the old man Chen Xun, who also stepped outside the courtyard. Li’s parents remained silent, as if everything was under their control, yet they sensed a fluctuation of energy emanating from Jiang Yun.

A little girl wildly shook the drunken village chief, "Grandpa Chief, Grandpa Chief, they’re fighting!"

However, the village chief was already so drunk he was unconscious; drinking with Chen Xun, a notorious drinker, was like a great sorcerer meeting a lesser one.

Outside the courtyard, Li Ziyuan and Jiang Yun stood apart, facing each other like two opposing forces, on the verge of igniting a fierce fight in the eyes of the villagers.

At that moment, a kind-hearted woman tried to mediate, "You’re all from the same village; you’ll see each other every day. Besides, today is the wedding day of the Li family’s young master. Jiang Yun, how can you be so unreasonable?"

Jiang Yun responded harshly, "Shut up." The woman was so frightened she quickly fell silent and crouched behind others, for Jiang Yun was truly unsettling.

Li Ziyuan was deeply curious about how Jiang Yun had come back to life. Could it be that he, too, had been reborn? But then he thought, it probably wasn’t that coincidental.

"Do you think I’m still the same as before, Li Ziyuan?" Jiang Yun said, then dashed forward and threw a punch aimed at Li Ziyuan’s face.

Li Ziyuan quickly blocked the blow and said coldly, "You’re not the only one who’s changed." Then, he struck Jiang Yun in the face with a punch that nearly unbalanced him.

Without hesitation, Li Ziyuan took a swift step forward and delivered a kick to Jiang Yun’s waist, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Jiang Yun got up with a faint smile, "Heh... not feeling pain—I don’t know if that’s good or bad."

With that, his spiritual power surged dramatically, instantly reaching the third ring of the Spirit Gathering Realm—one level above Li Ziyuan.

Though surprised, Li Ziyuan was curious to see what the difference would be with a one-level gap.

So, unafraid, he launched another attack, concentrating his spiritual power into his right fist, which emitted a faint yellow glow as he forcefully punched Jiang Yun’s chest.

Jiang Yun struck back simultaneously; their fists collided, but it was Li Ziyuan who was flung backward.

Riding his momentum, Jiang Yun leapt up, channeling all his spiritual power into his palm, ready to finish Li Ziyuan in one strike.

At this critical moment, old Chen Xun rushed to Li Ziyuan’s side and swung a palm imbued with powerful spiritual force, sending Jiang Yun flying to the ground.

Chen Xun shook his head, "Fighting over a woman doesn’t need to be so brutal."

The villagers, as if witnessing such fierce combat for the first time in their lives, were amazed. To see a single punch send someone flying, how much strength must that require?

Knowing he was no match for the white-haired old man, Jiang Yun backed down, hurling threats as he retreated. "Old man, just you wait. And you, Li Ziyuan—next time, you won’t be so lucky."

Li Yuer hurried over to help Li Ziyuan up, her face full of worry. She then looked fiercely in the direction Jiang Yun had fled.

"Thank you, sir," Li Ziyuan said to Chen Xun.

Chen Xun recognized this as a golden opportunity, having already seen Li Ziyuan’s immense potential. At less than sixteen years old, he had reached the first ring of the Spirit Gathering Realm—a prodigy indeed.

"If you truly want to thank me, then become my disciple! I am the sect leader of Fengling Sect. By apprenticing under me, you will gain great opportunities."

Although Li Ziyuan could not yet gauge the old man’s true power, he thought it would be good to have a foothold outside the village in the future.

"I can become your disciple, but you must first give me a gift—like a cultivation technique," Li Ziyuan said slyly.

Chen Xun began searching through his spatial storage bag for fire element cultivation techniques. After some time, he found one suitable for a fire spiritual root.

An intermediate technique: Flame Dragon Breaking Fist Manual. "Start by practicing this intermediate technique. When you break through your realm, I will give you a higher-level technique."

This was the highest-level fire technique he had at hand. Chen Xun thought it best to promise more later to secure the apprenticeship first.

Li Ziyuan accepted the manual without hesitation and knelt down, "Master above, please accept your disciple’s bow." Any call of “master” was fine if it could enhance his strength.

Chen Xun, as if having found a treasure, helped Li Ziyuan up, deeply moved. Finally, he had found a disciple. "Get up quickly. From now on, we are master and disciple. You are the young sect lord of Fengling Sect. We will rely on you to bring glory to the sect."

After a moment’s thought, Li Ziyuan said, "Come get me in a month. I want to spend some time with my family first."

Chen Xun agreed, "That’s right. Once you leave, you can always come back to visit."

Li’s mother called out, "The fight’s over and the master’s accepted—everyone, come inside to keep eating and drinking. There’s still food in the kitchen."

Hearing her call, the villagers filed back into the courtyard and resumed their chatter, discussing Jiang Yun’s strangeness, Li Ziyuan’s bravery, and Chen Xun’s prowess.

By evening, the wedding banquet had dispersed. Li Yuer sat stiffly by the bedside, somewhat nervous.

Li’s father pulled Li Ziyuan toward their room and kicked him inside. "On your wedding night, the bride shouldn’t be alone. That’s just not right." He smiled at Li Yuer, "Yuer, you don’t have to get up early tomorrow. Get some rest."

"Yes, Father," Li Yuer replied softly.

Inside the room, Li Yuer, seeing Li Ziyuan remain still, tactfully laid a simple bed on the floor.

Touched by her thoughtfulness, Li Ziyuan felt conflicted. He had married so haphazardly, and he thought how much better it would be if Yuer were Yu Tian.

When Li Yuer voluntarily lay on the floor, Li Ziyuan said, "I’ll sleep here on the floor. You take the bed."

Li Yuer obediently climbed onto the bed while Li Ziyuan lay on the floor. The two remained silent for a long while.

Breaking the silence, Li Yuer said, "Ziyuan, wherever you want to go, I will go with you. No matter how great the difficulties, I will walk with you, even if the path leads to an abyss."

Li Ziyuan replied calmly, "Get some rest early."

He recalled the sweet times with Yu Tian when they were full of hope and dreams.

Now, lying in the same room with Li Yuer—kind and gentle as she was—his heart was consumed only by revenge.