Chapter 297: Conflict with Qi Shan
Who is this man!?
As the silver-eyed young man approached Qing Lin, everyone was filled with curiosity. Why would she reject the invitation of Mo Ya, the young master of the Black Emperor Sect and a Six-Star Dou Huang genius, for this person? Could it be that this man had some significant background as well?
Mo Ya's gaze followed Qing Lin's steps, and when he saw the youth's silver eyes, his brows furrowed slightly. He recalled the report from Elder Huang at the city gates a few days ago. Could it be...?
At that moment, Qing Lin stepped gracefully toward Mo Yu, her green eyes fixed on the young man before her. What she said next stunned everyone.
Standing obediently by the silver-eyed youth, her green eyes filled with tender affection, Qing Lin softly spoke, "Young Master, I'm here."
"What? Young Master!?"
The crowd was shocked to see Qing Lin, who was previously thought to be a woman of mysterious and powerful background, acting like a servant girl by Mo Yu's side and addressing him as "Young Master."
Even the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, his expression dark, turned his sharp gaze on Mo Yu. It was now clear to him who this youth was.
The Heavenly Serpent Mansion had detailed records of Qing Lin's background. According to those records, before she was brought to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, she had a significant relationship with a certain young master from a small family named Mo Yu.
When Qing Lin was taken in by the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, they were informed by Lu Man that Mo Yu held an unusual place in her heart. However, none of the high-ranking members of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion paid much attention to this.
The mansion's upper echelon, including the Grand Elder himself, assumed that this Mo Yu was merely a fleeting figure in Qing Lin's past. After all, Qing Lin was now the future leader of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, destined to become a renowned figure in the northwest continent. How could she still remember a former young master from a small family?
Yet now, as Qing Lin stood humbly by Mo Yu's side, the Grand Elder's brow furrowed. Her actions contradicted their assumptions. The proud young lady of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was behaving more like Mo Yu's servant than its future leader.
Qing Lin noticed the Grand Elder's displeasure but didn't seem to care. Instead, she playfully winked at Mo Yu. Though she hadn't seen him in the past few days, Qing Lin had learned more about Mo Yu's Yuan Manor and just how powerful it had become in the Black-Corner Region. It had even defeated the Black Alliance, led by the renowned Han Feng.
Knowing this, Qing Lin admired Mo Yu even more and no longer worried about bringing him trouble. She was now unafraid to show their relationship openly.
Seeing Qing Lin and Mo Yu's intimate interaction, the Grand Elder, Bai Han, couldn't hide the gloom in his eyes. Qing Lin wasn't just representing herself; she symbolized the entire Heavenly Serpent Mansion. She shouldn't lower herself in front of so many people. Moreover, her marriage to the Sect Leader's eldest son had already been decided by the higher-ups of the mansion. This union was crucial for the future of the mansion, particularly if they could produce another child with the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes, an event that would shape the next hundred years for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. This marriage could not be altered.
Though Mo Yu's sudden appearance had complicated things, Bai Han believed that if they could either buy off or subdue Mo Yu, the situation might still be salvageable.
While Bai Han was contemplating how to deal with Mo Yu, Mo Ya's eyes flashed with a strange light. With a smile, he said, "So you're the Lord of Yuan Manor, Mo Yu. Please forgive the Black Emperor Sect for not welcoming you properly."
Mo Ya stared at the silver-eyed young man before him, and inwardly, his emotions were churning. From the report by Elder Huang and the imposing presence of the Yao brothers behind Mo Yu, he now knew that this youthful silver-eyed figure was none other than the recently famous Lord of Yuan Manor, Mo Yu! This realization left him feeling somewhat uneasy. From a young age, Mo Ya had always been celebrated as a genius. His sect had invested countless resources into him, grooming him to become the next Sect Leader. They had hoped that he would reach the Dou Zong level, and by the age of thirty, he had successfully advanced to the Dou Huang class.
Reaching Dou Huang before thirty was Mo Ya's greatest pride. After all, the elders in his sect had been in their forties or fifties when they achieved the same. However, this pride was now slightly wounded. The silver-eyed youth before him was clearly younger than he was, yet Mo Yu had built a massive faction that rivaled the Black Emperor Sect. This comparison left him feeling a bit disheartened.
Nevertheless, Mo Ya quickly pushed aside those feelings. To achieve the Dou Huang rank at his age was still a tremendous accomplishment, and he wouldn't let external factors influence him.
"Lord Mo, you're too kind. I came here today to seek the help of your sect's chief alchemist, Elder Qi Shan, so there's no need for such formalities between our two factions," Mo Yu replied, smiling faintly.
"Oh? You've come to see Elder Qi Shan? In that case, I'll be happy to introduce you," Mo Ya replied, smiling back.
"Thank you, Young Sect Leader," Mo Yu said, his silver eyes glinting as he looked at Mo Ya's polite but calculated smile.
"You're too polite," Mo Ya said, waving his sleeve gently. He then turned toward Qing Lin, still smiling. "I couldn't help but notice, Lord Mo, that you and Miss Qing Lin seem quite close. If I remember correctly, Miss Qing Lin is the heir of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. Why does she address you as 'young master'?"
Hearing this, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Qing Lin before smiling and saying, "My relationship with Qing Lin is exactly as you see it. As for why she calls me 'young master,' it's because I was her young master before."
Mo Ya frowned slightly. Could Mo Yu be from some mysterious and powerful family? Otherwise, how could a mere servant girl become the heir of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion?
While Mo Yu and Mo Ya were talking, the crowd inside the hall erupted in whispers.
"What? This young man is the Lord of Yuan Manor, Mo Yu!?"
"Isn't he the one who defeated the Black Alliance and nearly killed the Pill Emperor Han Feng?"
"No wonder those silver eyes seemed familiar. It's Mo Yu! In the Black-Corner Region, silver eyes are a symbol of the Lord of Yuan Manor!"
Hearing the murmurs around him, Grand Elder Bai Han's face tightened as he looked at Mo Yu in shock. So, the young master Qing Lin used to serve was the Lord of Yuan Manor?
Though the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was far from the Black-Corner Region, rumors about Yuan Manor and Mo Yu had spread quickly. Even Bai Han had taken an interest in the newly risen Yuan Manor after hearing the stories. After all, the Black Alliance, led by Han Feng, a powerful Sixth-Grade Alchemist, was nearly as influential as the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.
Yet, this powerful faction had been crushed by Yuan Manor. It was nothing short of astonishing.
But what shocked Bai Han even more was that the master Qing Lin had once served in the Jia Ma Empire turned out to be the Lord of Yuan Manor. Wasn't she said to have come from a small, weak family? How could such a family produce a force that rivaled the Heavenly Serpent Mansion?
As Bai Han wrestled with these thoughts, he stepped forward and said, "So you're Mo Yu. I remember hearing from Lu Man that when she found Qing Lin, you were just a young genius being chased by the three elders of the Mulan Valley. It's surprising to see how much you've grown since then. No wonder Lu Man spoke so highly of you."
Bai Han scrutinized Mo Yu, who nodded casually and replied, "Yes, I am Mo Yu. Grand Elder, I'm grateful for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion's care of Qing Lin over these years. And if you ever see Lu Man, please thank her on my behalf. Tell her I owe her a favor."
At this, Bai Han's face darkened. "Qing Lin is the future leader of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. It is our duty to care for her. However, Lord Mo, while you were her young master in the past, that relationship ended when she joined the mansion. Moreover, our leadership has already arranged for Qing Lin to marry the Sect Leader's eldest son. This marriage is well-known throughout our mansion and the entire Heavenly Serpent Nation. For the sake of Qing Lin and the bond between our factions, I hope you can respect this decision."
As Bai Han spoke, an imposing pressure suddenly emanated from his body, causing even Mo Ya to grow serious.
"A Dou Zong… how terrifying," Mo Ya thought.
However, Mo Yu remained calm despite the chilling aura. He gently stopped Qing Lin from speaking out and turned to Bai Han, saying coldly, "Grand Elder, I appreciate the care the Heavenly Serpent Mansion has shown Qing Lin. But if you think that entitles you to force her into a marriage she doesn't want, I won't allow it. As long as Qing Lin still acknowledges me as her young master, her affairs are my concern. In the Black-Corner Region, I don't even fear the Black Alliance, so let's see if your Heavenly Serpent Mansion dares to cross me."
Mo Yu's cold gaze met Bai Han's, his words carrying a mocking tone.
Initially, Mo Yu had some goodwill toward the Heavenly Serpent Mansion and hoped to resolve Qing Lin's situation peacefully. After all, if it weren't for Lu Man, he wouldn't have escaped the Mulan Empire so easily. However, Bai Han's stubbornness left Mo Yu with no choice. If words wouldn't work, then he'd use force!
"Hmph, a mere boy relying on a Dou Zong puppet dares to act so arrogant. Let's see if you, Lord of Yuan Manor, are truly as capable as they say!" Bai Han's expression darkened further as he unleashed an even more terrifying pressure from his body.
The atmosphere in the hall grew cold, and even Mo Ya felt the suffocating power.
Though Bai Han had heard of Mo Yu's Dou Zong puppet, he wasn't afraid. The puppet was strong, but it couldn't match a true Dou Zong expert like himself.
Seeing the tension rise, the Yao brothers behind Mo Yu readied themselves, though they knew they were no match for Bai Han. They were loyal to Yuan Manor and couldn't let their lord fight alone.
Mo Ya watched the confrontation with narrowed eyes. He was surprised to learn that Qing Lin was already engaged, but his disappointment quickly faded. As the young master of the Black Emperor Sect, he had no shortage of eligible women.
Instead, he was more curious about how strong Mo Yu really was. As the host, he didn't intervene, eager to witness the outcome of the impending clash.
"Forgive me, Young Master. I've caused you trouble," Qing Lin said softly, her eyes misty with guilt as she stood by Mo Yu's side.
"Don't worry, Qing Lin. Leave everything to me. I won't let them force you to marry someone you don't want," Mo Yu replied firmly.
"Arrogant!" Bai Han sneered before turning to Qing Lin. "If you continue to act so recklessly, I'll have no choice but to take you back to the mansion and confine you until you marry the Sect Leader's eldest son!"
Hearing this, Mo Yu's expression turned cold. Just as he was about to summon his Dou Zong puppet, a loud laugh suddenly echoed from the staircase above.
"Haha, apologies for keeping everyone waiting!"
The sudden voice cut through the tense atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention to the staircase.
Heavy footsteps approached, and moments later, a red-faced elder dressed in light yellow robes appeared before the crowd.
Mo Yu narrowed his eyes as he looked at the red-faced elder and murmured, "That must be Qi Shan, the Black Emperor Sect's chief alchemist."
(End of Chapter)
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