the dialogue that occurs during the act of stealing a bride goes :
However, today in the Mu Family Ancestral Hall, the order of this dialogue was reversed.
The entire hall fell into silence; the elders who had stayed up all night for the wedding had trouble believing their ears when they heard that voice.
In the original plan for today, there was never meant to be an instance for asking "Who opposes?"
But the person who came to oppose today in the Mu Family was too special.
So special that even though they were shaking with inner rage after hearing it, they could only remain silent on the surface.
When Han Dang saw the figure, he frowned.
The glint from his gold-rimmed glasses reflected the grim expression on his face... It was clear that no one would have expected such an uninvited guest to appear at an event .
Yesterday, Xu Yan had achieved breakthroughs in the Dream, setting new records.
Gu Shen had not appeared.
Today, when Xu Yan visited the Mu Family, Gu Shen appeared!
A warm chuckle sounded at this moment.
Xu Yan looked at the figure behind him and said with a narrowed-eye smile, "Brother Gu? I’ve long admired your reputation..."
Gu Shen slowly walked into the Mu Family Ancestral Hall.
He approached Xu Yan.
And then he walked past him.
From beginning to end, he never even glanced at Xu Yan...
As if the man were air.
The thin laughter echoed through the courtyard, but everywhere else was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; this made Xu Yan’s laughter... sound somewhat foolish.
The smile on Xu Yan’s face slowly faded, but there was no sign of annoyance. Only in the depths of his eyes was there a fleeting glint of cold light, which quickly disappeared. He remained the inscrutable new S-rank Transcendent from Changye.
The Great Elder Mu Zhong sent a message, seriously saying, "The Mu Family values our friendship with you, but today’s matter doesn’t concern you... I hope you can give me some face and step back."
Gu Shen came before the Great Elder.
He lifted his head, looking straight at the old man.
Gu Shen replied with spiritual power, "There are some things I cannot retreat from."
After a second of silence,
Gu Shen didn’t cause an open conflict but maintained basic courtesy as he calmly asked, "Where is Miss Mu?"
he didn’t expect to get an answer to this question from the Mu Family. He noticed that after he had stepped into the courtyard, several members of the Mu Family were nervously guarding in front of a certain ancient house in the ancestral hall, leaning towards the doorway.
A strand of spiritual power swept out.
Gu Shen could see the blurry scene inside the quiet house, likely covered by a spiritual seal. He could vaguely make out a slender figure... On a day when all the elders of the hall were outside welcoming guests, only one person was locked inside the house.
There was no need to mention her identity.
He walked towards that quiet house.
An elder sent a meaningful glance, and the two Mu Family members guarding the door immediately understood. As Gu Shen was about to reach them, they quickly reached out to stop him.
Gu Shen’s figure flickered and reappeared behind the two of them.
This scene caused all the Transcendents in the hall who had reached the third stage to narrow their eyes.
Han Dang squinted his eyes.
Xu Yan appeared contemplative.
The look in Great Elder Mu Zhong’s eyes grew serious... Gu Shen’s year of seclusion had yielded intelligence for the Mu Family, noting that although this S-rank youth often went to Qingzhong to learn Divination from the Tomb Guardian, whenever he was at the Spring Rain Temple, he appeared to be leisurely drinking tea and soaking up the sun, hardly the image of strenuous Cultivation.
But just a moment ago...
Gu Shen’s speed of movement had far surpassed that of the previous year.
"Is that... Complete Flash?"
Gu Shen did not conflict with the Mu Family members.
And he did not make things difficult for the two who had tried to block him.
He simply arrived at the quiet house’s door and pushed open the wooden door, the creaking noise resonating throughout.
Inside the quiet house, a woman with tears streaming down her face was bound by an invisible light rope, her expression one of anger as she glared towards the direction of the door... Mu Ya could clearly hear the sounds from outside.
Yesterday evening, the fourth elder, who had been very kind to her since childhood, sent her a message, telling her to leave Changye quickly and no longer stay with the Mu Family...
She had not reacted yet.
Then she was confronted by the Elder Council of the Mu Family.
After learning the news, she was struck as if by lightning.
What made her even more despairing was that this matter was merely a notification by the Elder Council!
Which meant... she only had the right to know, not the right to decide!
Then she was taken here.
At first, the elders soothed her, saying the "wedding contract" was just a piece of paper, not a big deal, not something that required her to marry immediately...
Latter on, they spoke with great earnest, telling her that Gong Zi also had a wedding contract, one of union with the Duke Duanyang of the North Continent, and if that contract was not dissolved, she could not possibly be with Gong Zi. They suggested she find another suitable family... and Xu Yan, was the youngest prodigy of Changye, the most suitable person...
In the end, the elders realized that nothing they said would change Mu Ya’s mind.
So they stopped being gentle.
They directly used a sealing artifact to lock her in this place, restricting her freedom.
No matter what, Mu Ya had to stay in the ancestral hall today... even if it was an act, she had to accompany the Elder Council and see the play through.
Gu Shen flicked his fingers
Arcing light shot forth, and with a crackle, the light rope binding Mu Ya instantly shattered to pieces, and the woman was on the verge of collapse.