Chapter 47

Chapter 47: The Proposal

By the time Elder Yang Xiang Tian arrived, You Yan and the others had already brought Ling Bu Fei back. He hadn’t seen Bai Meng Jin at all.

Hearing the name, he turned to You Yan.

You Yan lowered her voice. “When Second Lady Hu seized the Young Sect Master, a Cinnabar Cloud Palace disciple happened to be there. Second Lady Hu took her too.”

“Oh.” Elder Yang’s expression eased. “No wonder there were people from the Cinnabar Cloud Palace here.”

“Hey.” Ling Bu Fei cut in, visibly annoyed. “I just told you—she hasn’t officially entered. She’s not a Cinnabar Cloud Palace disciple. Are you ignoring me?”

You Yan laughed awkwardly. “Young Sect Master, she may not have officially entered, but she’s already been claimed. Perfected Chang Ling picked her.”

Ling Bu Fei didn’t blink. “Not entering is not entering. How is that ‘claimed’?”

He spoke with complete confidence. “Besides, even if she had entered, so what? I’m marrying her, not taking her as a disciple.”

You Yan opened her mouth, then shut it again.

Ling Bu Fei’s expression sharpened. “Since no one has objections, it’s settled. Find someone to help me propose.”

His gaze slid to You Yan. “Senior Sister You, you’ve been so eager to speak. Why don’t you go?”

You Yan pointed at herself. “Me?”

*

Compared to the tense hall next door, the reception room on the Cinnabar Cloud Palace side had been almost gentle.

After they brought Bai Meng Jin back, Elder Yi Ming questioned her carefully.

Bai Meng Jin cooperated, recounting what she could from start to finish: how Second Lady Hu interrogated Ling Bu Fei, how the Devil-Suppression Cauldron appeared, what illusions she’d seen in the valley, and what she’d understood.

As for Fang Xu Cheng’s poisoning of Second Lady Hu, she hadn’t been present when it happened. She couldn’t say anything about it.

She also placed the final illusion Formation entirely on Second Lady Hu. She was a Golden Core cultivator who’d advanced by luck—how could she possibly interfere in a fight between Divine Transformation and Nascent Soul?

Elder Yi Ming and Elder Qiu Zhen exchanged a glance and nodded.

By that logic, the girl really had survived by stumbling into their infighting—and by being protected by the Limitless Sect’s Young Sect Master.

Even if he couldn’t cast spells, a Young Sect Master surely carried more life-saving treasures than an entire small clan.

The elders filled in the gaps on their own, making the story sound reasonable enough.

They were about to let Bai Meng Jin go when a disciple announced You Yan.

Elder Yi Ming stood to greet her politely. On the surface, the relationship between the Limitless Sect and the Cinnabar Cloud Palace was cordial. They had to cooperate to guard the Devil-Sealing Barrier, after all.

But beneath that, there was always testing, always competition for advantage.

You Yan didn’t want to be here.

It felt like swallowing pride—sent to propose for a disciple who hadn’t even officially entered the Cinnabar Cloud Palace yet.

But the Young Sect Master had named her directly.

So she came, teeth clenched behind her smile.

“Elder Yi Ming,” You Yan said, cupping her fists, “I came on behalf of our Young Sect Master… to propose a marriage.”

Elder Yi Ming froze.

Elder Qiu Zhen reacted first. His hand slammed the table as he stood. “Fellow Daoist You, this disciple was chosen by Senior Brother Chang Ling first. If you want to snatch her away, don’t use such a crude excuse. Who are you trying to fool?”

Elder Yi Ming’s expression darkened. “It’s one thing if you want the Bai Family junior to assist with Young Sect Master Ling’s condition, but proposing marriage?”

He stared at You Yan. “Do you think we’re fools?”

You Yan blinked, genuinely confused.

Assist with his condition?

She hadn’t heard a word of that.

“Fellow Daoists,” she said carefully, “what are you talking about?”

Elder Qiu Zhen’s anger flared hotter. “She hasn’t officially entered the sect. If you want her, come openly and compete for her. If she chooses to go to the Limitless Sect, we won’t stop her.”

He pointed at You Yan as if she were personally responsible for every Limitless Sect arrogance he’d ever endured. “But this—proposing marriage as if we’re children to be played with—are you bullying people?”

“It’s not—” You Yan started.

“With your Divine Transformation elders sitting next door, you really are impressive,” Elder Qiu Zhen cut in. “We two junior brothers can’t afford to offend you, so we have nothing to say.”

He turned sharply. “But we will report this to our Sect Master. We will demand an explanation.”

Elder Yi Ming’s jaw tightened. He turned to Bai Meng Jin. “Bai Family junior. Did Young Sect Master Ling ask you to go to the Limitless Sect?”

Bai Meng Jin nodded. “He said that, yes.”

“What benefits did he offer you?”

Bai Meng Jin answered slowly, carefully. “He said that if I can help him cultivate, then whatever the Cinnabar Cloud Palace can give me… he can give more.”

Elder Qiu Zhen let out a bitter, humorless laugh and looked at You Yan as if she were dirt. Then he asked Bai Meng Jin, “And what do you think?”

Bai Meng Jin lowered her gaze and put on a troubled expression. “Perfected Chang Ling was willing to recommend my siblings and me into the sect. I’m grateful. I naturally want to go to the Cinnabar Cloud Palace.”

She hesitated, then added softly, “It’s just that in the valley… Young Sect Master Ling kept protecting me, and as a junior…”

She didn’t need to say more.

A Golden Core cultivator with no backing, faced with a sect Young Sect Master who’d decided he wanted her, couldn’t refuse easily.

And if the Limitless Sect truly offered more resources, it would be tempting.

For the Cinnabar Cloud Palace, even if Bai Meng Jin was special, they didn’t lack Golden Core disciples.

Elder Yi Ming pressed his anger down until his voice came out steady. “We won’t make things hard for you. Since Young Sect Master Ling offered better terms, then go to the Limitless Sect.”

He flicked his sleeve, bitterness sharpening his eyes. “As for Senior Brother Chang Ling, I will explain it.”

Bai Meng Jin bowed. “Elder Yi Ming, I’ve caused you trouble.”

Elder Yi Ming waved her off, then turned to You Yan with a sour expression. “You can have the person. But don’t dress it up with pretty words.”

His voice turned cold. “The Cinnabar Cloud Palace will remember this debt.”

He left the reception room without another glance, Elder Qiu Zhen following like a storm cloud.

You Yan stood there, staring after them.

“Hey… you…” she muttered helplessly.

She had really come to propose.

And somehow, she’d walked out owing a debt.