From Gongsun Ming's perspective, Qin Yang's threat was truly too great. This was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him completely.
"Since no one objects, I issue the order!" the Qin Family patriarch declared sternly. "All members of the Qin Family, abandon your current tasks. Even if you must excavate the secret realm three feet deep, you will find Qin Yang and slay him!"
The elders accepted their commands and began deploying personnel.
Soon, everyone had departed, leaving only the Qin Family patriarch and Qin Wuyi behind.
Qin Wuyi asked curiously, "Father, why use a meat cleaver to kill a chicken? We could simply send two elders—no, even one elder would suffice to bring Qin Yang's head. After all, Elder Qin Li died at the hands of a beast. No matter how talented Qin Yang is, he can't be that strong."
The Qin Family patriarch chuckled softly. "Child, you're still too young. Consider this: if we wish to return to the Celestial Continent and integrate with the Eight Divine Clans, can we rely on fragmented cultivation techniques and martial arts alone?"
Qin Wuyi pondered this. The patriarch continued, "Moreover, how will we explain the absence of the Heavenly Realm Secret Key?"
The Qin Family Patriarch paced slowly, his eyes gleaming with certainty. "Even if we could claim the Heavenly Realm Secret Key was lost a thousand years ago, that alone wouldn't suffice. But with this Eight Divine Clans' Ultimate Kill Decree, we're now directly connected to the Eight Divine Clans..."
Qin Wuyi's eyes lit up. He thrust his thumb upward in admiration. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! You're truly worthy of being Father - your plans are always so thorough!"
The Qin Family Patriarch roared with laughter. "Focus on preparing your wedding with the Lou Clan's girl! With this alliance and the Ultimate Kill Decree, we'll be the Qin Family of the Eight Divine Clans!"
In the inner courtyard, within a small courtyard:
Jin Wanshan urgently pounded on Lou Mengyu's door.
"Disaster! That imposter Qin Family issued an Eight Divine Clans' Ultimate Kill Decree against Qin Yang!" Jin Wanshan gasped, his breath ragged.
"What?" Lou Mengyu froze, the pill she held clattering to the ground as the porcelain bottle shattered. The premium pill crafted by Qin Yang for her lay scattered across the floor.
"The elder pursuing Qin Yang... his severed head was delivered here..." Jin Wanshan relayed every detail he knew.
"How could Nangong Ling and the others speak for their clans?" Lou Mengyu's delicate brows furrowed. "This execution decree..."
Jin Wanshan waved his hand. "It's merely a formality now. The matter's settled. Besides, Qin Yang has long been the target of Nangong Ling and Gongsun Ming's envy. We should focus on how to save him."
"Save Qin Yang? I suggest you stop daydreaming!"
Gongsun Ming and Lou Qinru entered the courtyard and approached the door.
Gongsun Ming glanced at Lou Mengyu and sighed. He still harbored resentment over her refusal to become his concubine.
Lou Qinru sneered at Lou Mengyu. "I hear you've driven away the Qin Family's maidservants? And torn up the phoenix crown and wedding robes?"
"I'll never marry Qin Wuyi!" Lou Mengyu declared firmly.
"That's not your decision to make! With Qin Yang's fate sealed, you'd do well to accept reality. Should Qin Wuyi discover your improper relations with him, you'll face consequences. Don't blame the Lou Clan for failing to protect you then!"
Lou Qinru's voice dripped with venom. "Think of your parents in the clan. Defy this marriage, and they'll share your grave!"
"Are you threatening a forced marriage?" Jin Wanshan's face darkened.
Gongsun Ming chuckled, "Jin Wanshan, this is a matter of the Eight Divine Clans. You shouldn't interfere."
Lou Qinru spoke up, "Forced marriage? This isn't forced marriage. Ask Lou Mengyu if this isn't her sacred duty!"
"Qin Wuyi is an imposter!" Jin Wanshan roared.
"If he's an imposter, then who's the true heir?" Gongsun Ming's laughter carried a dangerous edge.
"Obviously, Qin Yang!" Lou Mengyu declared.
Gongsun Ming's expression froze as he met Lou Qinru's gaze. A chilling realization took shape in his mind...
Considering the Qin Family's absolute extermination order against the Eight Divine Clans, this...
His eyes narrowed dangerously. If this is true, then Qin Yang must die even more decisively!
Gongsun Ming's voice cut through the tension. "Qin Yang cannot be the Qin Family's true heir. Moreover, the identity of the true Qin Family among the Eight Divine Clans isn't determined by your say-so. Only when recognized by the other clans can one claim true lineage."
Lou Mengyu's heart turned to ash at these words.
Jin Wanshan found himself speechless.
Indeed, who was genuine and who was false - their claims held no weight!
Even an imposter could be accepted as truth. Whether Qin Yang was truly of the Qin Family mattered not to the other clans.
After all, no one would believe Qin Yang possessed the Heavenly Realm Secret Key. Without that key, even if Qin Yang were genuine, what use would he be?
As Lou Mengyu thought of her parents and family, her expression grew somber.
"Lu Mengyu, you must believe in Qin Yang!" Jin Wanshan said anxiously, seeing her resolve waver.
Lou Mengyu shook her head. "I... am not alone in this."
Jin Wanshan choked on his words, his anger turning toward Lou Qinru.
Lou Qinru smiled smugly and clapped her hands. A maid entered carrying a new phoenix crown and wedding robes.
This time, Lou Mengyu didn't chase them away.
"Hmph! You're getting married, yet we have to prepare your gifts and dowry. We'll be busy these next few days. Make sure you're ready!" With that, Lou Qinru and Gongsun Ming left.
Jin Wanshan's fists clenched in fury. He wanted to pummel both Gongsun Ming and Lou Qinru.
Prepare gifts and dowry in just a few days? This is an insult to Lou Mengyu! They're trying to dismiss this matter so casually.
Marriage was the most important event in a woman's life!
"Qin Yang, what are you doing?!" Jin Wanshan shouted inwardly, feeling utterly helpless.
"Lou Mengyu, you should leave first," she said.
Jin Wanshan glanced at the numerous maidservants in the room, then looked deeply into Lou Mengyu's eyes. "Are you really going to..."
Lou Mengyu remained silent. Jin Wanshan sighed in frustration and walked out. If Qin Yang wouldn't come, he'd go find him himself!
Lou Mengyu stared blankly at the sky outside the window, her gaze unfocused as she recalled every moment she'd shared with Qin Yang.
Her face cycled through expressions of shame, anger, warmth, until finally settling on heart-wrenching loneliness.
She picked up the scattered pills one by one, wiping each clean before storing them away. She murmured, "I was supposed to go to the underworld with you..."
Remembering her previous agreement with Qin Yang, Lou Mengyu smiled, but two crystalline trails silently traced down her beautiful face.
"Now I can only go alone..."
The maidservants assisted Lou Mengyu, who moved like a doll being manipulated. She would fulfill her family's mission, but she would never surrender completely.
Her gaze burned with unwavering determination.