148 The Hu Estate

Having encountered a tiger, Li Xintian and his companions had no choice but to take the main road, arriving outside the Hu family residence in two days.

Recalling the events that led him to Hu Qiuyan, Li Xintian could not help but smile wryly.

"You must be Young Master Li Xintian. My father has been waiting inside."

The person who opened the door was Hu Changyun's youngest son, Hu Jingliang.

"Sister, you've finally returned. Father has missed you for many days." Hu Jingliang said upon seeing Hu Qiuyan.

"Jingliang, when did you return from Green Hill?" Hu Qiuyan asked, somewhat surprised. After all, Hu Jingliang had never returned once since leaving for Green Hill, and she wondered what his purpose was in coming back now.

Li Xintian also caught the implications of her words; Hu Jingliang had actually come from Green Hill.

"Come inside first, we can talk then," Hu Jingliang said, turning sideways to let them pass.

Li Xintian walked straight in, determined to see what Green Hill was plotting.

Hu Qiuyan gave Hu Jingliang a deep, searching look.

"Sister, you don't need to look at me like that. You'll understand soon enough," Hu Jingliang said.

Tie Shan also wanted to enter the Hu residence, but Hu Jingliang blocked his path and said, "You wait outside."

"What did you say? We are responsible for my young master's safety!" Tie Shan barked, placing a hand against the door frame.

"Tie Shan, just wait outside. I'll be fine. They are too afraid of me to dare anything, besides, we are here to propose marriage, which makes us family now. We shouldn't stir up unnecessary trouble." Seeing Hu Jingliang block Tie Shan, and considering that Hu Jingliang was his prospective brother-in-law, Li Xintian felt there was no need to worry about coming to harm.

"Understood, Young Master," Tie Shan said, lowering his hand.

Inside the Hu mansion:

"What you are asking for puts me in a very difficult position, Elders. After all, my eldest daughter has already gone off with someone, and my youngest is already married. Now that you of Green Hill wish to take a daughter of mine as a wife, I simply have no daughters left," Hu Changyun said to the representatives from Green Hill.

"That is where you are wrong. Although your eldest daughter, Hu Qiuyan, has followed a man, she holds no proper title. Since she is not yet formally married, she can naturally still marry into Green Hill," said Hu Wanhua, the supreme elder of the Green Hill foxes, who had come with his grandson Hu Qingkong to propose marriage.

As for the proposal, Hu Qingkong had acted on Hu Jingliang's words that his elder sister Hu Qiuyan possessed peerless beauty. Hu Qingkong had then begged his grandfather, Hu Wanhua, to help him secure her hand.

"This... but that man has already accepted my daughter, and moreover, she has been gone with him for several months. If he hadn't accepted her, he would have sent her back to me long ago. I suggest the young master look elsewhere for a bride," Hu Changyun retorted. Having lived many years, how could he not know this was instigated by Hu Jingliang? When the heavenly tribulation struck not long ago, he had asked Green Hill for help only to be met with deafening silence; yet now they had the audacity to come and propose—his heart burned with anger.

"You need only summon your daughter back immediately. If her chastity remains unbroken, it proves that man has not truly accepted her," Hu Wanhua said, his expression shifting slightly as he spoke in an unyielding tone.

"Greetings, Uncle Hu. I am Li Xintian, and I have come to propose marriage to your esteemed family," Li Xintian announced as he walked into the main hall, cupping his fists.

"Father, your daughter has returned," Hu Qiuyan said, walking directly to Hu Changyun's side and bowing slightly.

"Grandfather, she is the one I want to marry!" Hu Qingkong's eyes dilated the moment he laid eyes on Hu Qiuyan. She was even more breathtaking than Hu Jingliang had described. Furthermore, because she had been traveling with Li Xintian and practicing righteousness, her aura had undergone a complete transformation.

However, Hu Wanhua ignored his grandson entirely. Hearing the name Li Xintian filled him with a sudden, sinking sense of doom.

Green Hill had already offended Li Xintian, and right now, Li Xintian wielded the legendary Immortal-Slaying Saber. He silently cursed Hu Changyun for being an old fox for failing to mention whom Hu Qiuyan had followed; had he known it was Li Xintian, he would have avoided this encounter at all costs.

"Shut your mouth!" Hearing Hu Qingkong's outburst, Hu Wanhua's expression flickered as he snapped angrily. He then hurried over to Li Xintian, bowed slightly, and said, "Please forgive us, Young Master Li. My foolish grandson was merely speaking with the unfiltered tongue of a child."

Hu Jingliang witnessed this scene, and a profound sense of foreboding gripped his heart.

"Grandfather, what are you talking about? He's just a mortal! What are you afraid of?!" Hu Qingkong cried out, utterly refusing to believe that Hu Wanhua could be so terrified of Li Xintian.

"Let me ask you, how old is this grandson of yours?" Li Xintian asked, fixing his gaze on Hu Wanhua.

"My grandson knows nothing of the world. I beg Young Master Li's forgiveness. I shall take him away at once," Hu Wanhua said, delivering a sharp slap across Hu Qingkong's face.

"Stop right there! Who gave you permission to leave? A moment ago, your grandson called me a mortal, but I can see that he is reeking of malevolent slaughter. Blood-red baleful energy covers his entire body, so thick it makes him look like a devil in my eyes. Aren't you going to explain this to me?" Li Xintian demanded.

"Young Master Li, I implore you not to push Green Hill into a corner, or things will turn very ugly!" Hu Wanhua was well aware of what Hu Qingkong had been up to. The reason he wanted to leave was precisely because he feared Li Xintian would see through Hu Qingkong, yet he had hoped Li Xintian was still in the dark.

"If you want to leave, so be it!"

Unfazed by the threat, Li Xintian raised his hand, a pale blue light gleaming in his palm like a sword qi, which he shot directly at Hu Qingkong.

"Oh no! It's that scoundrel Li Xintian's righteous aura!" Hu Wanhua was too close and too late to block it.

Hu Qingkong was equally unable to dodge. Having no comprehension of how a mortal could possess such power—let alone knowing of the existence of righteous energy—he was blasted straight out of the Hu residence by the aura, shattering a courtyard wall and tumbling outside.

"What is happening?" Hearing the explosion, Tie Shan and the others rushed over in full alert, fearing for Li Xintian's safety.

They found Li Xintian standing unharmed, while amidst the rubble lay a completely black fox, devoid of even a single patch of fur.

"Young Master Li, take care of yourself!" Hu Wanhua said with a hollow, apologetic bow, though boiling with silent rage.

"No need. I will certainly pay a visit to Green Hill myself. You are the ones who need to take care of yourselves!" Li Xintian replied, utterly dismissive of Green Hill's threats.

With a flash, Hu Wanhua appeared beside Hu Qingkong, scooped up his unconscious grandson, and transformed into a streak of rainbow light that vanished from the Hu residence.

"Tie Shan, keep waiting outside," Li Xintian commanded, not bothering to pursue Hu Wanhua. Had it not been an auspicious day for a marriage proposal—a time when bloodshed was to be avoided—he would have executed Hu Qingkong on the spot.

"Understood, Young Master!"

"Alright, brothers, fall back to your posts," Tie Shan ordered. Seeing that Li Xintian was safe, the others dispersed while marveling at how formidable their young master was.

"Uncle Hu, I truly apologize for the mess," Li Xintian said, cupping his fists.

"Haha, think nothing of it. Such a trivial matter is easily repaired by this old man." With a flick of Hu Changyun's sleeve, the scattered rubble flew back into place along the wall, slotting together like dozens of stonemasons at work until the wall was completely restored to its original state, showing not the slightest trace of recent damage.

"Jingliang, go and invite the young master's guards inside the courtyard," Hu Changyun instructed next.

"Yes, Father," Hu Jingliang replied. He finally understood why Hu Qiuyan had chosen to follow Li Xintian, suspecting that Li Xintian had also been the one who helped her survive the heavenly tribulation not long ago, making him far more compliant now.

Li Xintian was glad he had come in person. If he had sent a matchmaker instead, it probably would have turned into a dramatic rescue mission to retrieve a wife.

"Tie Shan, bring the gifts we brought from home into the main hall," Li Xintian instructed.

Tie Shan and his men carried several large chests into the main hall, all filled with betrothal gifts.

"Uncle Hu, I have come to propose marriage to your esteemed family, and I sincerely hope you will permit me to take Hu Qiuyan as my wife," Li Xintian said formally, cupping his fists.

Hearing Li Xintian's formal proposal, Hu Qiuyan could not help blushing fiercely.

"Haha, I am deeply gratified. My daughter will surely find happiness marrying Young Master Li. Tell me, daughter, are you satisfied with this arrangement?" Knowing that Li Xintian had proceeded with the proposal even after learning Hu Qiuyan's true identity, Hu Changyun felt thoroughly reassured.

"I leave it entirely to Father's decision," Hu Qiuyan murmured, her face flushed.

"Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations, Young Madam!" Tie Shan cheered aloud.

Li Xintian's face darkened slightly, as if he had just been congratulated on winning a prize in a lottery, though he soon chuckled in spite of himself.

"Alright, everyone, there will be no shortage of wedding wine for you all," Li Xintian said with a smile.

"Uncle Hu..." Li Xintian began, but Hu Changyun cut him off with a prolonged, thoughtful hum.

"Father-in-law," Li Xintian corrected smoothly, "your son-in-law will send over the wedding garments in a few days and come to fetch the bride. Qiuyan won't need to return with me today."

Knowing the business was settled, Li Xintian's thoughts turned to preparing the wedding attire.

"Wait... aren't the wedding garments supposed to be..." Hu Changyun knew full well that traditional customs dictated the bride's family prepare the wedding clothes; when had the groom's family ever taken that over?

"Father, on the way here, Xintian said he would handle the wedding preparations entirely so we wouldn't have to worry about a thing. Besides, Xintian's parents have already given their consent," Hu Qiuyan explained.

"Is that so? Very well then," Hu Changyun conceded, seeing that Li Xintian's personal arrival indicated he had everything well in hand.

"Father-in-law, we take our leave now. I will have someone deliver the items shortly." Li Xintian knew he could not linger.

"Jingliang, come with me to see them off. Daughter, you are preparing to be a bride now, so you mustn't run about outside," Hu Changyun said, pulling Hu Jingliang along behind Li Xintian.

"Walk slowly, virtuous son-in-law," Hu Changyun called out, casting a sharp sidelong glance at Hu Jingliang.

"Walk slowly, brother-in-law," Hu Jingliang stammered, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Since you are now my brother-in-law, you would do best never to set foot in Green Hill again. However, the choice is yours—whether you stay here or return to Green Hill is entirely up to you," Li Xintian said, having perceived the lingering trace of dark resentment on Hu Jingliang, likely tied to complicity in harming others—such as capturing mortals whose fates ultimately turned fatal.

"Brother-in-law, I know what I must do." Hu Jingliang was genuinely terrified of Li Xintian; after all, even supreme elder Wanhua hadn't dared to strike back, swallowing his rage despite his own grandson being beaten to the brink of death while maintaining a placid expression.

"Very well. Father-in-law, I'm leaving. There's no need to escort us any further; please stay your steps," Li Xintian said, cutting off further pleasantries as he led Tie Shan and his men away from the Hu residence.