Chapter 1590 - The Sympathy of a Fellow Sufferer
Chapter 1590 - The Sympathy of a Fellow Sufferer
Within a grand palace, all manner of piping-hot delicacies were laid out across the table.
But the only diners were Su Yi, Fang Han, Liang Wenyu, and Fang Yourong.
“Fellow Daoist Su, allow me to be the first to offer you a toast.” Liang Wenyu raised his cup and smiled. “You saved Fang Han’s life. Yourong and I will be sure to repay you!”
With that, he drained his cup.
Immediately afterward, Fang Yourong raised her cup. She too was welcoming and respectful.
Su Y raised his cup. He didn’t refuse their toasts.
After several rounds of wine and delicacies, Fang Han suddenly couldn’t take it anymore. “Big Sister, how did you and Big Brother Liang meet?”
Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong looked at each other and smiled. It seemed they’d been expecting this question.
“Let me tell him.” Fang Yourong’s starry eyes shone with a hint of reminiscence as she told the full story.
Three years ago, after human traffickers sold her into slavery, a heretical cultivator purchased her. He called himself the Azureflame Daoist, and he was the leader of his faction. He had numerous other heretical cultivators serving as his subordinates.
The Azureflame Daoist planned to use Fang Yourong’s fresh blood to refine a batch of medicine.
Fang Yourong sensed the danger, caught the Azureflame Daoist off guard, and fled for her life.
Before she got far, he and his subordinates caught up to her. Fortunately, Liang Wenyu just happened to be passing by. He cut down nineteen heretical cultivators before saving Fang Yourong from the Azureflame Daoist’s clutches.
By then, Fang Yourong was already badly injured, so Liang Wenyu brought her back to the Liang Family estate and meticulously took care of her.
That was how the two of them got acquainted.
Fang Yourong had lived with the Liang Family ever since, and as time passed, she and Liang Wenyu gradually grew closer and more intimate.
After learning all this, Fang Han looked enlightened. “So, you saved my big sister’s life! No wonder she’s willing to marry you.”
Liang Wenyu shook his head. “Don’t put it like that. It has nothing to do with me saving her life. We’re getting married because we love each other and see each other as kindred spirits and confidants.”
Fang Yourong smiled and nodded, her gaze utterly tender.
It was then that Su Yi spoke up for the first time. “Kindred spirits? How so?”
This wasn't exactly polite, but Liang Wenyu thought nothing of it. He smiled and said, “To tell the truth, after we met, I told her my situation, and she told me hers, leaving nothing out. Our decision to be together isn’t emotional or impulsive.”
Fang Yourong nodded. “That’s indeed the case. Big Brother Liang has an incurable illness, and his status in the Liang Family is low. He was worried he’d let me down, and he repeatedly refused my advances out of concern for me.”
Fang Han was flabbergasted, and Su Yi was quite surprised too.
Fang Yourong continued, “It was then that I opened up and told Big Brother Liang that I’m a descendant of the Bi’an Spirit Race, that my clan was annihilated, and that I’ve lived plagued with countless misfortunes. I told him that I was highly likely to implicate anyone I was with.
“But he didn’t care about any of that. If anything, he was even kinder to me.” Here, Fang Yourong seemed overwrought. She took a moment to steady her heart, then said, “After that, he and I thought it over carefully and decided to get married.”
Liang Wenyu nodded, his expression conflicted. “You might laugh at me for saying this, but my family attaches little importance to me. I lost my parents at a young age, and my extended family has disdained and disregarded me ever since. Not even the servants take me seriously. Furthermore, I am plagued with illness. I likely only have a few years left.”
Su Yi’s gaze was strange. A clan member of little importance? Is he perhaps the son of a concubine? His situation is somewhat similar to what I experienced with the Jade Capital’s Su Family in this lifetime...
“But Yourong said she wanted to be with me anyway,” said Liang Wenyu, his gaze solemn but tender. “We’ve decided that after we get married, she’ll bear me a son. That way, even if I die of illness, I’ll at least have an heir.”
Fang Yourong hurriedly said, “I have my selfish reasons for wanting this too. I was planning for the worst and terrified I’d never find my little brother. I thought that if we got married, I could pass on my Bi’an Spirit Race bloodline and ensure that it wasn’t lost forever.”
Su Yi finally understood. Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong had feelings for each other, but they each had other goals, too. It was because they were fellow sufferers that they could accompany each other.
Fang Yourong’s gaze softened. “Furthermore, I told Big Brother Liang that I plan to do everything in my power to avenge my clan. He understands, and he said he’d do everything he could to help me.”
Waves of emotion coursed through Fang Han’s heart. He rose, then faced Liang Wenyu and clasped his fist. “Big Brother Liang, thank you for taking care of my big sister!”
Liang Wenyu hurriedly waved the gesture away. He laughed bitterly, “Your sister and I are two unfortunate souls. I wouldn’t describe either of us as ‘taking care of each other.’ Don’t be so polite. Stay here with us, and no matter what, I’ll ensure your prospects!”
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He’d only just said this when Yu Ting came and requested an audience.
Yu Ting said softly, “Young Leader, the family head sent word that you were only to be allotted three invitations.”
Liang Wenyu’s expression instantly darkened. “And why is that?”
Yu Ting lowered his head, not daring to meet Liang Wenyu’s gaze. “He said that this is out of consideration for the clan’s reputation. He’s worried that you’ll invite stray dogs and other riffraff and make a laughingstock out of the family.”
Bang!
Liang Wenyu’s fist slammed the table. “Uncle... thinks far too little of me!"
The atmosphere was instantly oppressive.
Fang Yourong hurriedly tried to comfort him. “Big Brother Liang, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.”
Liang Wenyu laughed bitterly, then waved to Yu Ting. “You can go back for now.”
“Yes.” Yu Ting turned to leave.
Liang Wenyu looked at Su and Fang Han apologetically. “I’ve embarrassed myself.”
“Big Brother Liang, what exactly is going on?” Fang Han couldn’t help but ask.
Liang Wenyu said with an air of self-mockery, “It’s because of low status in the clan. I can’t even make the decisions at my own wedding. Everything is up to the family’s higher-ups!”
Here, he let out a long sigh.
Fang Yourong said warmly, “Big Brother Liang, no matter what, they at least agreed to host a wedding for us. That proves that they at least see you as family.”
Liang Wenyu snorted derisively. “Yourong, don’t you understand? They agreed to host the wedding simply as an excuse to invite guests from across the province and collect presents. You and I... are just their pawns!”
He shook his head in frustration. “But you’re right about one thing: it’s enough that we can get married.”
Fang Han couldn’t help but be disappointed. He’d thought that since his big sister and Liang Wenyu had feelings for each other and wanted to become each others’ Dao Partners, their wedding was sure to be a grand occasion.
Who’d have thought that wasn’t the case at all?
He certainly wouldn’t have guessed that Liang Wenyu, a seemingly glorious scion of the Liang Family, would be in such an awkward spot. He couldn’t even make the rules at his own wedding!
Su Yi remained silent this entire time. Rather, he was like an outsider, and he never expressed his opinion.
Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong were in no mood for wine, so the banquet soon came to an abrupt end.
“Fellow Daoist Su, if possible, I’d love for you to stay a few days longer. That way, you and my brother can both attend my wedding.”
Before they parted ways, Fang Yourong extended an invitation. “You might laugh at me for saying this, but I have no relatives in this world except for my brother. I need someone to serve as a witness at my wedding.”
Weddings were extraordinarily complicated things. They involved wealth, manpower, and reputation. Ordinarily speaking, if the bride had no relatives to congratulate her, others would look down on her.
Of course, Fang Yourong didn’t care about all that. She just wanted her little brother and the man who’d saved him to witness one of the most important days of her life.
Su Yi nodded. “I’ll be there.”
He thought for a moment, then beckoned to Fang Han. “Let’s have a private chat.”
Fang Han was confused, but he nonetheless agreed.
Once they’d found a private spot, Su Yi formed a hand seal and created an invisible barrier around them, separating them from the outside world.
Only then did he say, “Your sister is undoubtedly full of questions about my origins, and she’s sure to ask you about me. Prior to this banquet, I wouldn’t have cared, but now, I’ve changed my mind.”
Fang Han was confused. “Senior, what do you mean?”
“All you need to do is remember this: don’t divulge anything about me. When your sister gets married, I’ll give her a gift so generous that no one will make fun of her anymore.”
Fang Han nodded eagerly. “With you to support her when the time comes, there’s no way the Liang Family higher-ups will dare look down on my big sister! You might even be able to improve Big Brother Liang’s position in the clan!”
He’d witnessed Su Yi’s unbelievable abilities. He was naturally eager now that he knew Su Yi planned to give his sister a gift.
Su Yi smiled and patted the boy on the shoulder. “It’s settled. I’ll be back to see you in a few days.”
Fang Han was briefly stunned. A moment later, he said hurriedly, “Senior, where are you going?”
“Into the city,” Su Yi said casually. “I’m going to go for a walk, and while I’m at it, I’ll figure out what kind of gift to buy your sister.”
When they learned Su Yi planned to leave, Fang Yourong and Liang Wenyu tried to keep him, but it was to no avail.
Before Su Yi left, Liang Wenyu gave him a wedding invitation.
After seeing Su Yi off, Liang Wenyu couldn’t help but sigh. “This Fellow Daoist Su might seem relaxed and low-key, but I can tell he’s an extraordinary person.”
“Of course!” Fang Han blurted. He was just about to continue when he remembered what Su Yi had just told him and clamped his mouth shut.
Fang Yourong sensed that her little brother’s behavior was a bit out of the ordinary. She said softly, “Come on, let’s find a place to have ourselves a chat.”