Chapter 110: Ultimate Love, Ultimate Hate, Heaven-Mandated Emperor

“Senior Brother, you absolutely won’t believe the outcome of my trip.”

Li Sifeng looked at Li Qingqiu and said seriously, holding his wine bowl with both hands as if warming himself.

Li Qingqiu stared at him calmly and said, “Beating around the bush like this, it’s obvious you didn’t destroy the Pei Clan. You’re not even angry; I suspect you were fed the Pei Clan’s sweet dates.”

Li Sifeng looked embarrassed and said, “Listen to my explanation. Wait until I finish before deciding whether to scold me!”

Li Qingqiu wasn’t angry. He knew Li Sifeng’s nature too well. This kid was petty. If the Pei Clan had harmed Li Sifeng so badly, and Li Sifeng could let it go, there must be another reason.

He noticed Li Dongyue entering the courtyard, so he waved her over.

Li Sifeng turned his head, saw Dong Yue, rolled his eyes, and stopped rushing to speak.

Only after Li Dongyue sat down next to Li Qingqiu did Li Sifeng recount the whole story.

“I traveled all the way to Zhengyang Imperial City, and along the way, I found out that the Pei Clan had moved to Dongling Prefecture. So I turned around and rushed towards Dongling Prefecture. I was originally ready to start a massacre, but I happened to find the Pei Clan widely distributing grain. The common people were profoundly grateful to them. Of course, I saw these actions as a performance.”

“However, I decided to wait for the Pei Clan to finish distributing the grain, as that would benefit the people. So I waited a few more days. It was then I heard that there was a local tyrant in the city who forcibly kidnapped common girls and snatched away people’s wives to take them into his residence, resulting in one woman dying tragically inside. When her husband went to look for her, he was beaten to death outside the mansion gate. Her parents reported it to the authorities, but the officials ignored them and later died sick in bed, leaving only a small child alone and helpless.”

“Who am I? Li Sifeng, the Young Hero of the Qingxiao Sect! How could I stand by and do nothing when faced with such evil? Just as I was about to go severely punish the tyrant, I arrived at his residence and saw many common people gathered there. It turned out someone had acted before me to severely punish the tyrant, and the people were cheering. After asking around, I learned it was the daughter of the Pei Clan Chief who had taken action.”

The more Li Sifeng spoke, the more excited he became. Li Qingqiu and Li Dongyue exchanged a knowing glance.

“Early the next morning, I charged into the Pei Clan Ancestral Residence, demanding their Clan Chief come out for confrontation so I could give them a quick death, lest someone smear our reputation. Who would have thought that when I stated my purpose for coming, that Clan Chief actually apologized to me and handed over the Pei Clan members who wanted to seize the di xuan sword for me to kill? Even when other clan members tried to stop him, the Clan Chief ignored them.”

Hearing this, Li Dongyue couldn’t help but ask, “So you didn’t kill them?”

Li Sifeng looked insulted, his eyes wide as he angrily said, “Fourth Senior Sister, who do you take me for? Could a Qingxiao Sect Disciple die for nothing? I immediately killed that clan member with a single sword strike! Not only that, I felt it wasn’t enough, so I demanded that everyone involved in this matter be executed!”

“The Pei Clan Chief was also straightforward. He ordered a thorough investigation. In less than an hour, several Pei family members were tied up before me. They initially cried injustice, but later started cursing the Clan Chief. I waited until they finished arguing before making my move.”

“I killed thirty-four people in that exchange—it was extremely satisfying. However, the Jianghu figures hired by those individuals were much harder to track down and kill.”

After finishing, he looked anxiously at Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu sighed with emotion, “The Pei Clan Chief truly has excellent methods—decisive and ruthless.”

Li Dongyue frowned, staring at Li Sifeng, and said, “Do you think the grievances are over? You killed so many people in their ancestral residence. Put yourself in their shoes: if it were you, would you consider the matter settled? Even if the Clan Chief truly thinks so, what about the other clan members? Don’t underestimate the foundation of an aristocratic clan.”

Li Sifeng shook his head and said, “I’m not that foolish. But what the Clan Chief said really moved me: it’s better to resolve enmity than to let it fester. He immediately promised his daughter to me. To prevent me from worrying, he asked me to bring his daughter back to Qingxiao Mountain to discuss the marriage with Senior Brother. If it is settled, the wedding will be held on Qingxiao Mountain, and the Pei Clan will surely come bearing heavy gifts.”

“A marriage alliance?” Li Dongyue was astonished, as if seeing Li Sifeng for the first time.

Li Sifeng’s face flushed. He said, “I am not easily swayed, but I investigated the Pei Clan. They have countless branch families spread across the world. If I wanted to kill them all, I could never finish. If we can resolve the conflict, it’s a good thing.”

Li Qingqiu asked, “Are you certain that woman is the daughter of the Pei Clan Chief?”

“Yes, I’m certain. The Pei family girl who punished the tyrant was her. I saw it with my own eyes. Furthermore, I hadn’t exposed my whereabouts then, so the Pei Clan couldn’t have known I was coming, making it impossible for them to set up such a huge scheme. Also, on the way here, Pei Miao told me that her father disdains the martial arts and divine weapons of the Martial Forest and has long been unhappy with those clan members who incurred grievances with Jianghu figures. My trip for revenge actually helped him.”

Li Sifeng quickly replied. As he finished speaking, his voice softened, “Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Sister, I have arranged for Pei Miao to stay in the Guest Courtyard. I wonder if you agree to this marriage?”

Li Qingqiu was somewhat dazed.

The little brat from back then has grown up enough to start a family and career. Time truly flies.

Watching the twenty-year-old Li Sifeng act shyly—a rare sight—Li Qingqiu felt both relieved and worried.

Li Dongyue tilted her head toward Li Qingqiu and said, “Senior Brother, his words do make sense. If the grievances can be resolved, that’s best. Whether the marriage happens or not, why don’t we meet Miss Pei Miao first?”

Li Sifeng cast a grateful look toward Li Dongyue.

Li Qingqiu’s expression was calm, but precisely because it was so calm, it made Li Sifeng feel guilty and uneasy.

“Ask her if she is willing to join the Qingxiao Sect. If she is, let her become a Qingxiao Sect Disciple first, and we can discuss the marriage later,” Li Qingqiu said.

Li Sifeng was overjoyed. He quickly stood up, bowed in thanks to Li Qingqiu, then turned and ran, immediately using his movement technique to leap over the courtyard wall.

Li Dongyue shook her head, then looked at Li Qingqiu and asked, “Senior Brother, what are your thoughts?”

Li Qingqiu replied, “If everything he said is true, then this marriage is indeed the best way to resolve the grievances. If it’s false, then the Pei Clan has malicious intentions, daring to set up such a scheme, and must be eradicated.”

Li Dongyue nodded and sighed, “I used to wonder which of the seven of us would get married first. I thought it would be Third Senior Brother, but I didn’t expect it to be Sixth Junior Brother.”

Li Qingqiu chuckled and asked, “Why Third Junior Brother?”

“He’s handsome and has a cold personality, which easily attracts women.”

“Is he more handsome than me?”

“Naturally, he’s slightly inferior to Senior Brother.”

“Then why didn’t you think I might get married first?”

“I just had a feeling you wouldn’t.”

“Then your feeling was right. I, your Senior Brother, won’t bend my knee for romance. My goal transcends worldly love.”

“Yes, Senior Brother is the most amazing.”

…That night, Li Qingqiu gathered his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters and explained the situation. Everyone reacted differently.

Li Sijin immediately bristled, angrily cursing Li Sifeng and calling him obsessed. She instantly wanted to go confront Pei Miao but was held back by Li Dongyue.

Zhang Yuchun, however, was happy, feeling that if the matter was true, it was a good thing.

Jiang Zhaoxia stated that he was willing to make another trip to the Pei Clan to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Wu Maner looked at everyone with a simple, honest smile, saying nothing.

“Senior Brother, Junior Sister, I believe Pei Miao. Can you give me, give her, a chance? The marriage isn’t being settled immediately. Just as Senior Brother said, we can observe things first,” Li Sifeng stood up and said anxiously.

Hearing this, Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but summon the dao lineage panel to look for Pei Miao’s portrait.

The arrangement of Disciple portraits was based on the time of entry, so Li Qingqiu only needed to look at the last batch of portraits.

Soon, he found Pei Miao.

【Name: Pei Miao】

【Gender: Female】

【Age: 17 years old】

【Loyalty (Sect Master/Sect): 83/72 (Max Value 100)】

【Cultivation Aptitude: Good】

【Comprehension Ability: Average】

【destiny: Ultimate Love, Ultimate Hate; Empress of Two Dragons】

【Ultimate Love, Ultimate Hate: For the one she loves, she can give everything, including her life. If she is betrayed, ultimate love will transform into ultimate hate.】

【Empress of Two Dragons: Possesses the Luck of a Mother of the Nation. She will give birth to two Heaven-Mandated Emperors, signifying an extraordinary destiny.】

…When Li Qingqiu saw Pei Miao’s Loyalty value, the tight string in his heart immediately loosened. High Loyalty meant there was a high probability she was telling the truth.

As for why it was high, it was clearly because Li Sifeng had told Pei Miao many stories about himself and the Qingxiao Sect on the way back.

Her Aptitude and Comprehension Ability were decent.

But when Li Qingqiu saw her destiny, he frowned.

Ultimate Love, Ultimate Hate—that was fine. If Li Sifeng failed her and was hated by her, he would deserve it. As long as Li Sifeng treated her well, this destiny actually made Li Qingqiu more satisfied with her.

And the Empress of Two Dragons destiny… Pei Miao will become an Empress?

So, should this marriage proceed, or not?

If it doesn’t proceed, Pei Miao will become another man’s wife. What should Li Sifeng do then?

If it proceeds, wouldn’t that mean… Li Qingqiu’s mood grew heavy. He didn’t want to see either outcome.

Rather than becoming an emperor, Li Qingqiu hoped Li Sifeng would pursue immortality with him. After all, if Li Sifeng became an emperor, it would inevitably delay his Practice.

Li Qingqiu then thought of Li Sifeng’s destiny: wolfish ambition and unscrupulous methods.

If he gained the assistance of the Pei Clan, it was indeed very likely that a great ambition would grow.

If he stopped this marriage, the Pei Clan might invest in someone else, making Pei Miao another man’s wife, who would eventually become Empress. Would the Ultimate Love, Ultimate Hate destiny cause her to become Li Sifeng’s enemy, or even the enemy of the Qingxiao Sect?

At this moment, Li Qingqiu even felt a murderous intent, wanting to eliminate Pei Miao.

But it was only for a brief instant. He knew he couldn’t do that; he had to consider Li Sifeng’s feelings.

Moreover, Pei Miao can give birth to two Heaven-Mandated Emperors, signifying an extraordinary destiny. Could she be a Peerless Genius comparable to Zhao Zhen?

Li Sifeng, who was arguing with Li Sijin and Jiang Zhaoxia, noticed Li Qingqiu frowning. His heart sank, and he instantly became fearful, losing the desire to argue further with his Senior Brother and Junior Sister.

Senior Brother was equivalent to a father in his heart. If Senior Brother disagreed, there was no way he would marry Pei Miao.

Earlier today, Pei Miao suggested they could elope if his Senior Brother disagreed. He immediately became furious then; he could never betray his Senior Brother.

If Senior Brother truly disagreed, he definitely wouldn’t settle the marriage.

The reason he quieted down now was that he didn’t want to make Senior Brother angry.

He felt he might not understand the hearts of women or the hearts of the world, but he was certain of one thing: Senior Brother would never harm him.

Seeing his sudden silence, Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sijin couldn’t help but follow his gaze. When they saw Li Qingqiu’s displeased expression, they both chose to shut up and slowly sit down.

First update of the deep night!