As dusk approached, the setting sun dyed the sea blood-red, adding a touch of terror to this endless sea region.
Under the gaze of Gu Mengqi and the rest of the Gu Family members, the Gu Family's massive treasure ship finally approached Martial Gathering Island, immediately causing a stir.
Early this morning, Gu Mengqi personally led people to welcome them, which had already spread throughout Martial Gathering Island. Although there were still several days before the official start of the Martial Gathering, a large group of people had arrived early.
The reason for this was a piece of news that had spread not long ago: Wei Song of the Wei Family led a team of young Wei Family disciples and was completely annihilated by the Gu Family.
Such explosive news, coupled with the approaching Martial Gathering, naturally caused a sensation. In particular, this matter seemed to involve the Evil Wind Cave Heaven, one of the two great cave heavens. As a result, many powerhouses who either had plans or were not originally interested in coming to watch the battle rushed to Martial Gathering Island.
Because everyone knew that the outbreak of conflict between the Gu Family and the Wei Family, which also involved one of the two great cave heavens, was definitely a major event in the Sky Wind Sea Region. Perhaps the entire Sky Wind Sea Region's landscape would undergo a major change.
Faced with such a major event, there were naturally many people who came to watch the excitement. It was precisely because this matter had become so big that the Gu Family was completely determined to offer an incredibly generous dowry.
The Gu Family's idea was very simple: if the Gu Family doesn't have a good time, then neither will you. At worst, we'll give it all to someone else. Anyway, he's still the Gu Family's son-in-law, so the Gu Family won't lose out.
"That Gu Family ship, it should be Gu Yan of the Gu Family, right?"
"Tsk tsk, I have to say, the women of this generation of the Gu Family are all extraordinary. This Gu Yan actually eliminated Wei Song, along with a team of Wei Family elites, without leaving a single one behind. Ruthless enough!"
"Hehe, the Wei Family will definitely not swallow this breath. Just wait and see, there will be a show!"
"The Wei Family is a minor matter. This time, it seems that even the Evil Wind Cave Heaven has made a move. It seems that the Evil Bone Old Man's disciple also died at the hands of Gu Yan."
"Does Gu Yan have that strength? The Evil Bone Old Man's two disciples both have the strength of the Life Profound Realm!"
"That's right. Not long ago, I heard that the Evil Bone Old Man's eldest disciple seriously injured Gu Yuntian of the Gu Family, preventing him from representing the Gu Family in the Martial Gathering."
"If you ask me, the Evil Bone Old Man deserves it. He participated in the five great families' struggle and had a disciple killed. He brought it upon himself."
"Shh! You can't talk nonsense like that. Be careful that the Evil Bone Old Man comes knocking on your door."
"Is that Gu Yan of the Gu Family? I have to say, that Gu Yan is truly a peerless beauty. The Gu Family's twin pearls, their reputation is well-deserved, tsk tsk."
"I just don't know who will have such good fortune in the future to win the beauty's heart!"
"And there's also Gu Mengqi of the Gu Family. The Gu Family's twin pearls are both talented and have peerless beauty. Hehe, I just don't know if the Gu Family is looking for a son-in-law. Maybe we'll have a chance to get close to them!"
Gu Mengqi didn't pay any attention to the noisy voices around her. After the Gu Family's ship docked, she greeted them with a smile.
Looking at Gu Yan and Lin Dong, who were walking down the ship hand in hand, Gu Mengqi's face clearly showed a bit more smile. Then, her gaze fell on Little Marten and Little Flame behind Lin Dong.
Seeing Little Flame's iron tower-like figure, Gu Mengqi only felt an unspeakable sense of oppression, like a peerless fierce tiger, with a baleful aura coming at her, making Gu Mengqi's heart slightly cold.
What Gu Mengqi didn't know was that Little Flame heard the people around him talking about his sister-in-law, which made Little Flame very unhappy. If it weren't for his sister-in-law's face, he would have gone on a killing spree!
After glancing over Little Flame, Gu Mengqi's gaze stayed on the weird (strange/bewitching) youth in the purple robe. The youth was handsome and extraordinary, and his eyes also carried a bit of a cynical attitude, but Gu Mengqi had a feeling that this seemingly unreliable youth was the strongest of the three.
Because even she couldn't detect the other party's aura, and could only vaguely sense a faint hint of danger from him.
If others saw this, they might only think that the other party was very ordinary and not a big threat, but Gu Mengqi knew that this was not because the other party's strength was insufficient. On the contrary, it was because the other party was so strong that she could hardly detect the dangerous aura.
Gu Mengqi had never had this feeling even from the Clan Leader, who was at the Death Profound Realm Completion stage. In other words, the other party was very likely a young talent who was stronger than their Gu Family Clan Leader!
"Sister Gu Yan, are you alright?"
Thinking this in her heart, Gu Mengqi smiled and greeted Gu Yan at the front, and then shifted the conversation to Lin Dong and his two brothers.
"I presume you are my cheap brother-in-law, Lin Dong, Young Master Lin, right? These two should be Young Masters Lin Diao and Lin Yan? Gu Mengqi greets you!"
That 'cheap brother-in-law' line wasn't wrong at all. Lin Dong and Gu Yan had only known each other for a month. Moreover, Gu Yan and Lin Dong's meeting was quite bizarre, almost like picking her up on the road. At that time, Lin Dong was lost in the vast sea.
"Sister Mengqi!"
Gu Yan couldn't help but retort coquettishly upon hearing this. Although she and Lin Dong had confirmed their relationship, she was still a little embarrassed to be teased so openly by Gu Mengqi.
"Sister Mengqi!"
Lin Dong also chimed in. Little Marten only glanced at Gu Mengqi twice before ignoring her. Gu Mengqi simply smiled faintly and took the initiative to say,
"Brother-in-law, Young Master Lin Diao, Young Master Lin Yan, please. I have already had people prepare food and wine to welcome the three of you and wash away the dust!"
Under Gu Mengqi's lead, the group headed directly towards the Gu Family's territory.
Before long, they arrived at a vast manor. Gu Mengqi took the initiative to lead Gu Yan, Lin Dong, Little Marten, and Little Flame to the banquet hall to take their seats. Soon after, members of the Gu Family brought up the food and wine.
Gu Mengqi raised her hand, and everyone else withdrew. Gu Mengqi took the initiative to get up, pour wine for Lin Dong, Little Marten, and the others, then raised her glass and said,
"On behalf of my younger sister Gu Yan, and the many disciples of my Gu Family, I thank you three for your life-saving grace. Although Young Master Lin Dong directly saved my younger sister Gu Yan's entire being and heart, the thanks are still due."
Lin Dong was a little embarrassed upon hearing this. He hadn't expected that he would just be thinking of getting a sea chart at first, and asking for directions, but in the end, he got a wife.
Gu Yan was also a little embarrassed. In the beginning, she agreed to Lin Dong's condition mainly to retaliate against the Wei Family and for the benefit of the Gu Family. As for later, cough cough, she gave herself away.
"Speaking of which, I haven't congratulated my younger sister Gu Yan on finding such a good match!"
Gu Mengqi winked playfully at Gu Yan, making Gu Yan's face turn even redder.
After exchanging toasts, the smile on Gu Mengqi's face faded a lot, and her expression became more serious. She looked at Gu Yan and asked in a deep voice,
"Younger sister Gu Yan, tell me about this matter in detail."
Seeing Gu Mengqi's solemn expression, Gu Yan didn't hesitate and told everything as it was. During this time, Lin Dong also added some things. Of course, he didn't mention the matter under the lake heart island of Mystic Spirit Island, as that was a secret that even Gu Yan didn't know about.
"Alas!"
After listening to Gu Yan's account, Gu Mengqi couldn't help but sigh softly, saying with emotion,
"If it is a blessing, it is not a disaster, if it is a disaster, it cannot be avoided. It seems that this time, the Wei Family is determined to come at my Gu Family!"
"Sister Mengqi, it's just a Wei Family. Although our Gu Family's strength has declined somewhat in recent years, we are not afraid of their Wei Family. It's just the Evil Wind Cave Heaven..."
As Gu Yan spoke, her expression became more serious. The Wei Family was nothing. The strength of the five great families was similar. Although the Gu Family was considered to be in the middle to lower ranks among the five great families, and was even about to be at the bottom, the Wei Family did not dare to easily move against the Gu Family.
Yes, the Gu Family had not been doing well in recent years. The biggest problem was the lack of successors.
The most talented of the younger generation of the Gu Family was Gu Yuntian, but Gu Yuntian could only be considered mediocre. It was okay for him to take over the Gu Family, but he couldn't support the Gu Family, and there was no one to help him support the Gu Family.
In the Gu Family, there was Gu Yuntian, Gu Mengqi, and then Gu Yan. After that, Gu Ying, Gu Ya, and others were considered good clansmen, but most of them were women, and there were not many outstanding men.
These were nothing in forces like the Evil Wind Cave Heaven, especially those forces with Revolving Wheel Realm experts sitting in town, because the Revolving Wheel Realm was the real pillar.
But in a family like the Gu Family, the lack of male successors in the clan meant that the family inheritance might be cut off. Women would eventually marry out. Even if they recruited a son-in-law, would they find an outstanding son-in-law to take charge of the family in the future? What about the son-in-law's children?
In the end, there would be conflicts. This was also why the Gu Family never forced talented women like Gu Mengqi and Gu Yan to marry, but only hoped that in the future, they could let the married women, especially the talented women, think of the family's affection and help the family when it was in trouble.
"What are you afraid of? I killed the person. Could it be that the so-called Evil Wind Cave Heaven can continue to cause you trouble?"
Little Marten waved his hand and said impatiently. Gu Mengqi was not angry after hearing this, but shook her head and sighed softly.
"Young Master Lin Diao may not know, but this Martial Gathering Island actually had a battle for control back then. In the end, Evil Wind Cave Heaven had to retreat in the face of our five great families joining forces, thus allowing our five great families to take charge of Martial Gathering Island."
"This time, it seems that the Evil Bone Old Man sent his disciples here. Perhaps he has already begun to contact the Wei Family, or even sow discord among the five great families. Coincidentally, the death of the Evil Bone Old Man's disciple is also related to my Gu Family. After the Martial Gathering, the Wei Family and the Evil Bone Old Man will definitely demand an explanation from my Gu Family."
"An explanation? If they want an explanation, just say that Marten Lord killed him, wouldn't that be enough? Could it be that they dare to threaten our brothers with Gu Yan?"
Little Marten curled his lip and said. Gu Yan shook her head and said softly.
"They wouldn't dare to touch me. They still have to give face to you brothers, but the Gu Family, or rather, Sister Mengqi, I'm afraid that..."
"What do you mean? Your Gu Family directly sends out female members to protect the family, is that it?"
Little Marten's face turned cold. He hated this kind of thing that sacrificed family members the most. Back then, when he was in the Sky Demon Marten Tribe, who would dare to bully the Sky Demon Marten Tribe's people? He would directly go to their door.
"The Clan Leader wouldn't, but I can't just watch the Gu Family perish. Therefore, today, Gu Mengqi has a request."
Gu Mengqi shook her head in denial. Then, she stared at Little Marten with burning eyes and said, word by word.
"Gu Mengqi begs Young Master Lin Diao to marry me. As long as Young Master is willing to marry me, the entire Gu Family will listen to Young Master and my brother-in-law's orders, how about it?"
"Pfft!"
Lin Dong, who was drinking tea, directly spat out a mouthful of tea. He did not expect that Gu Mengqi would be so, uh, so bold and direct.
Not only did Lin Dong not expect it, but Little Marten, who was sitting beside him and found Gu Mengqi a bit long-winded, was also stunned. He quickly waved his hand and said.
"No way, Marten Lord won't do such a thing of bullying men and forcing women. As for that Evil Wind Cave Heaven, don't worry, with Marten Lord here, they wouldn't dare to do anything to your Gu Family."
Seeing that Little Marten did not agree, but had already made a promise, Gu Mengqi's face showed a sincere smile. At first, she took a fancy to Little Marten, just hoping to find someone with strong strength to protect the Gu Family, nothing more.
But looking at his seemingly innocent nature, Gu Mengqi really became a little more interested, and said with a light smile.
"What if I said I was willing?"
"What?"
Little Marten was directly stunned. This kind of thing, for a Sky Demon Marten who had just come of age, was something he had never been exposed to. Now, not only was he being chased to make a marriage agreement, but he was also being 'persistently pursued' by a woman, which instantly confused Little Marten.
"I said, I have taken a fancy to Young Master. The Clan Leader's intention is that if I and my younger sister Gu Yan's marriage are decided by ourselves, if we take a fancy to one of the three of you, we can make a marriage agreement. At that time, it will also allow the three of you to participate in the Gu Gathering. As for whether to dissolve the marriage agreement afterwards, we will discuss it later."
Originally, Gu Mengqi, who was still a little shy in her heart, became even bolder when she saw Little Marten's flustered appearance. She actually took the initiative to sit next to Little Marten, raised her hand to pour him a glass of wine, and said with a smile.
"And I, have taken a fancy to Young Master Lin Diao. If Young Master is willing, Gu Mengqi is willing to marry Young Master with half of the Gu Family as dowry. As for the other half, that is my younger sister Gu Yan's dowry, I can't make the decision, but I think my brother-in-law should not refuse, right?"
"No, you this..."
Little Marten looked at the woman getting married so close, and was even more flustered, not knowing how to deal with it. Gu Mengqi was very bold, directly grabbed Little Marten's hand, and sent the wine glass over. Seeing that Little Marten did not resist, she simply stayed by his side.
After a meal, Gu Mengqi directly subdued Little Marten. The young Sky Demon Marten who had just entered the world was directly captured and became someone else's mount.