Chapter 173 Do I Look Like My Mother?

Chapter 173: Do I Look Like My Mother?

The sound of wind chimes echoed through the Daoist order, and Fu Yixue whirled around, her entire body trembling.

She seemed caught between weeping and laughing,

as a flood of emotions surged in her heart all at once.

"Grandmaster!" she cried.

"Grandmaster!! It's Mingli!!"

Her tangled thoughts were interrupted by Fu Mingli's shouting outside the door. Fu Yixue took a deep breath, betraying none of her inner turmoil.

At her mental command, the door swung open.

Fu Yixue spoke calmly, "Come in."

Fu Mingli demanded urgently,

"Grandmaster, why did you give the Demon-Slaying Cangxuan Sword to Yan Qi?"

Fu Yixue countered, "Why shouldn’t I give it to Yan Qi?"

Fu Mingli argued, "The SS-grade Demon-Slaying Cangxuan Sword is a peerless spirit sword, second only to the Blood Sword you wield.

Shouldn’t you have given it to the future successor of the Daoist order?"

Fu Yixue nodded, "Indeed, I did give it to the order’s successor."

Fu Mingli’s expression froze instantly. Wu Yue’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind, and a seed of dark resentment took root in his heart.

His eyes darkened, filled with gloom and fury.

Fu Yixue took note of all this but pretended not to notice.

She suddenly said,

"Mingli, the Huo family has been demanding my position recently. They say Yi Na is drawing more suitors by the day, with many seeking her hand in marriage."

Fu Mingli, his chest tight with emotion, countered, his voice odd,

"If Grandmaster hadn’t repeatedly delayed my engagement to Yi Na, the Huo family wouldn’t take offense and push so hard."

Fu Yixue nodded, "You’re right. Moreover, I also think it’s time to publicly announce the next leader of the Daoist order."

Fu Mingli’s heart skipped a beat. The dying embers of hope flared anew, and he turned hopeful eyes to Fu Yixue,

"What does Grandmaster mean?"

Fu Yixue smiled, "I’ve already directed the Grand Elder to announce publicly via the alliance networks that Yan Qi will be the next leader of the Daoist order.

As for you, Mingli,

having weighed the matter, since the Huo family has been insisting on my position, and you and Yi Na are so devoted to each other,

you might as well marry into the Huo family as a matrilocal husband. This will not only prove your devotion to Yi Na but also show your resolve to wed her.

I believe this will surely placate the Huo family."

Fu Mingli widened his eyes in disbelief, "*A...a live-in son-in-law?! Master Aunt, you actually want me to marry into their family?!*"

Fu Yixue nodded, "Mingli, a disciple who marries out is like spilled water—you can't take it back.

You won’t need to return after the third day, so the Huo family won’t doubt your sincerity.

Once the engagement is settled, you will have no connection to our sect whatsoever."

Fu Mingli’s voice grew venomous, "Master Aunt, are you expelling me from the sect?

After all my loyalty and devotion, all the effort I’ve poured into serving you—do you truly have no mercy, just to clear the path for Yan Qi to succeed you?!"

Fu Yixue had just received complete transaction records from Zhou Qianfeng, a reciprocal gesture for sending those darkness-corrupted disciples to the Secretariat.

The ledger contained records of all the trade dealings Fu Mingli had conducted on behalf of the sect over the years, with massive inconsistencies compared to what he had actually reported.

Over the years, Fu Mingli had embezzled at least trillions in alliance credits, not to mention countless rare treasures he had accepted as bribes.

He had even flaunted the world’s finest snow-paper at a fraction of its value on the free market, all just to win Yi Na’s smile.

With Fu Yixue’s authorization, Zhou Qianfeng had frozen all of Fu Mingli’s traceable accounts. Apart from what had already been squandered, about sixty percent could still be recovered.

Slamming the ledger down in front of Fu Mingli, Fu Yixue’s voice was icy,

"Mingli, if I truly had no affection for you, you'd be dead where you stand.

This engagement banquet is the final courtesy the sect will grant you and your fellow disciples.

The choice is yours."

Confronted with the damning evidence, Fu Mingli’s face paled. Clenching his fists, he forced out through clenched teeth,

"Mingli... thank you, Master Aunt, for sparing my life."

The moment he whirled to leave, his eyes were already consumed by endless darkness.

After Fu Mingli left, the Grand Elder materialized soundlessly.

"Why not kill him?"

Fu Yixue replied, "Killing him would be easy, but the connection to the dark energy would be lost.

Only by pushing him to the brink will he make a desperate move at the engagement banquet—a final, desperate strike.

This time, when Wu Yue and Yan Qi leave, you’ll go with them to Blaze headquarters and stay for a while. Return only after I’ve wrapped things up."

The Grand Elder asked, "Will it be dangerous?"

Fu Yixue gave a humorless smile, "If even I can’t handle it, then this alliance—this new order we’ve worked so hard to build—will truly come crashing down."

The Grand Elder shook his head, "I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you."

Fu Yixue cut him a sidelong look and handed over four letters, each addressed to a different recipient.

"You must go. Yan Qi needs you. And you must live to deliver these letters for me."

The Grand Elder took the letters.

He posed one last question:

"Fu Yixue, what if Fu Mingli didn’t do anything?"

Fu Yixue's eyes were icy.

"The seeds of hatred have already been sown. I will never leave any loose ends for Wu Yue or Yan Qi.

This engagement banquet—even if they don’t make a move, not a single person will leave my Daoist sect alive.

For killing my own sect members, the disgrace of this life... I, Fu Yixue, will bear it alone."

The Grand Elder wanted to persuade her further, but seeing the resolute look in Fu Yixue’s eyes, he sighed softly and left in silence.

....

Accompanied by the sound of wind chimes, Wu Yue slowly entered the pavilion, following a path until she reached a bedroom.

Pink walls, pink curtains, a pink bed—even the bed linens were entirely pink. In the corner, there was even a pink electric scooter parked.

Every shade of pink imaginable—pastel pink, light pink, milky pink, rose pink—it was nothing short of a massive visual assault on Wu Yue.

"Do you like it here?"

Fu Yixue’s voice suddenly rang out, startling Wu Yue, who turned in surprise.

After a moment of thought, she shook her head honestly, "It’s a bit... blinding."

Fu Yixue quirked her lips but said nothing more.

She stood by the door, silently observing, her gaze never leaving Wu Yue.

Especially with Wu Yue standing amidst this sea of pink, Fu Yixue’s eyes seemed to stare past her, as if seeing a ghost from her past.

"Do I look like her?"

Wu Yue suddenly spoke, leaving Fu Yixue momentarily frozen. "You... what did you say?"

Wu Yue smiled, her eyes curving. "I said, do I look like my mother?"

The unshakable Fu Yixue, who had just been plotting the murder of hundreds, was now completely dumbfounded by Wu Yue’s question, breaking out in a cold sweat.

She blinked guiltily, about to deny it—

Then immediately snapped, "Did Yan Qi tell you that?!

That brat, acting like some village gossip—can’t even keep a secret!"

Wu Yue shook her head. "Yan Qi didn’t say anything. I put it together myself.

Seems like I guessed right."

Seeing Wu Yue’s confident smile, Fu Yixue dropped all pretenses.

She didn’t question Wu Yue’s words for a second—in fact, she swelled with pride:

Naturally, her daughter would be this sharp!

No question!