"Meng Yue, once you've joined the Sect, I will have my father propose to the Zhou Family on our behalf," Wang Tianyu said excitedly.
"That's wonderful, Tianyu brother, on our wedding day, Meng Yue will give herself entirely to you. You'll need to be gentle with me then," Zhou Mengyue cooed with a seductive look in her eyes.
"Haha, of course, I wouldn't dream of hurting you," Wang Tianyu laughed heartily, sweeping Zhou Mengyue's slender waist into his arms.
"Tianyu brother, you're so bad!" Zhou Mengyue playfully punched him on the chest and then flung herself entirely into Wang Tianyu's embrace.
Xu Ping'an watched all of this with a chilling gaze.
"What a pair of treacherous lovers," Xu Ping'an thought, his heart surging with killing intent.
...
"My heavens, isn't that Wang Tianyu of the Wang Family and Zhou Mengyue of the Zhou Family? They truly are a match made by fate."
"Indeed, I've heard Tianyu is ranked among the top ten in strength among the Inner Sect Disciples and is likely to be promoted to an elite disciple, a deserving genius indeed."
"Zhou Mengyue is so beautiful too; truly worthy of the Innate Charming Physique, every smile and frown brimming with allure."
"It's said that Zhou Mengyue also has an incredible innate talent, having awakened the Mysterious Yin Body, a step above her previous Innate Charming Body and has successfully entered the Second Layer of the Sea-Splitting Realm. Sixteen years old and in the Sea-Splitting Realm, she is only a little behind the Sect's number one female prodigy, Li Qingyi."
"Did I hear that Zhou Mengyue got married? And the groom is some good-for-nothing who can't cultivate and was taken in by marriage? Something like Xu Ping'an, right?"
"Your news is outdated. I heard the Zhou Family already divorced that worthless son-in-law. On the wedding night, that trash spouted nonsense while drunk, claiming he had an affair with Li Qingyi. The Zhou Family was furious and divorced him."
"Pah, having an affair with Li Qingyi, as if he's worthy?"
"Eh, isn't that the good-for-nothing Xu Ping'an?"
...
The onlookers were abuzz with discussion when suddenly someone pointed in Xu Ping'an's direction and shouted.
Zhou Mengyue and Wang Tianyu also looked over at Xu Ping'an, their eyes flashing with surprise.
"Xu Ping'an, I didn't expect you to be alive. Seems like you've got quite the luck," Wang Tianyu said as he approached, his eyes sizing up Xu Ping'an with an odd expression.
Zhou Mengyue followed behind Wang Tianyu, her gaze equally strange.
Stricken with Five Poisons Powder, his spine extracted, and yet not dead, standing right here, alive?
How is that possible?
"None of you died, so how could I possibly be dead?" Xu Ping'an retorted with a cold laugh.
"Xu Ping'an, where is Zhou Xiaoqing?" Zhou Mengyue asked coldly, glancing past Xu Ping'an at Su Chan.
She had not bothered to deal with Su Chan herself as she was working towards breaking into the Sea-Splitting Realm.
Now that Zhou Xiaoqing hadn't returned for a night, it was clear something untoward had happened.
"Of course, she's been killed by me. Anyone who dares to touch my aunt shall be spared by no means," Xu Ping'an said coldly.
Zhou Mengyue's brows furrowed, but she didn't believe Xu Ping'an's words.
She didn't think Xu Ping'an stood a chance against Zhou Xiaoqing.
It must have been someone else who helped Xu Ping'an. The fact that he could stand again must have been through someone else's help as well.
"Xu Ping'an, I'm not sure why you've come here, but if you think I'll let you return to the Zhou Family, then you can put that hope to rest. And you don't need to pretend to be stronger just to draw my attention. In my eyes, you will always be worthless," Zhou Mengyue scoffed.
The people around them all looked at Xu Ping'an with disdain upon hearing her words.
What shamelessness. Kicked out of the Zhou Family and still clinging on hopelessly.
Wang Tianyu also looked at Xu Ping'an with extreme derision, clearly thinking that Xu Ping'an was here because he hadn't given up.
"Beg you to return to the Zhou Family? Act strong to attract your attention?" Xu Ping'an laughed in fury.
He came here, and Zhou Mengyue actually thought he was here to beg her to let him return to the Zhou Family.
How ludicrous!
"Is it not so? Or do you perhaps wish to join the Beichen Sword Sect?" Zhou Mengyue asked with a cold laugh.
"Why not?" Xu Ping'an responded coldly.
However, as soon as these words were uttered, many nearby people could not help but snicker.
With him being a waste, he still wants to join the Beichen Sword Sect?
"You don't even have the qualifications to sweep the floors for my Beichen Sword Sect, yet you still delude yourself with thoughts of joining?" Wang Tianyu said, full of mockery.
It seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants to join our Beichen Sword Sect.
"Xu Ping'an, who here do you think would believe your words? And you plan to bring along a… nun to join the Beichen Sword Sect?"
Zhou Mengyue turned her head towards Su Chan standing behind Xu Ping'an, and then said with heavy sarcasm.
"Haha, this woman is really bald, she wore a hat, I didn't notice it before."
"Bringing a nun to the Beichen Sword Sect, is he trying to disgrace our sect?"
"Truly bad luck, a waste and a nun, really a match made by heaven."
"You know, the nun is quite pretty."
...
A strong wave of discussion immediately arose all around.
Su Chan, ashamed, hung her head low, her eyes slightly red, and tightly hid behind Xu Ping'an.
"You're courting death!" Xu Ping'an erupted in rage, his eyes brimming with intense killing intent.
"Ping'an, you mustn't be impulsive."
Quickly, Su Chan grabbed Xu Ping'an, fearing that he would strike Zhou Mengyue right there.
This place was the gateway to the Beichen Sword Sect; if a fight were to break out, the sect would certainly not let it slide lightly.
Moreover, considering that Su Chan and Wang Tianyu were so strong, Ping'an was sure to come out worse for wear.
Having been pulled back by Su Chan, Xu Ping'an also knew that this was not the time to make a move.
"Zhou Mengyue, you will regret your actions." Xu Ping'an said coldly.
"Oh? I'll be looking forward to that." Zhou Mengyue replied disdainfully, turning around and leaving.
Wang Tianyu, too, gave Xu Ping'an a contemptuous look before turning around with a flick of his sleeve.
"Can't we just kill him?" Zhou Mengyue asked.
"That would be inappropriate. After all, this is the Sect, and private fighting is forbidden. If I were to act, I would face severe punishment. But don't worry, he's just a waste; squashing him would be as easy as squashing an ant. I'll have someone drive him out in a bit. Once outside the sect, killing him will be as easy as turning my hand over," Wang Tianyu said.
"Good, then let him live a little longer," Zhou Mengyue said with a cold laugh, looking at Xu Ping'an as if he were a dead man.
"Ping'an, maybe…I should just go. Staying here only brings you shame," the aunt said, lowering her head.
"Don't worry, Auntie, I will shut up everyone who mocks you." Xu Ping'an said with a determined look in his eyes.
The aunt looked at Xu Ping'an and finally nodded heavily, though her eyes still held worry.
Xu Ping'an felt an extreme pang of heartache; those who dared to hurt his aunt deserved death.
Just then, an elder approached, followed by a young man dressed in the attire of a Beichen Sword Sect disciple.
"Third Rank of Meridian Opening Realm, First Layer?"
Xu Ping'an immediately recognized the elder's cultivation level and a look of surprise crossed his face.