124: Pressed for marriage by the entire clan, Ling Qingzhu ran away in shame and anger!

On a rocking chair in the back garden of Divine Son Peak.

Su Chen's entire body froze.

The Seventh Elder's words about picking her up were like a bolt of heavenly lightning striking precisely on the crown of his head.

The expression on his face froze, cracked, and finally turned into a deathly ashen white.

[It's over... It's BBQ'd... My life is forfeit!]

[Seventh Elder! I'll call you Seventh Grandpa! You're my real grandfather, okay? Please don't pit your grandson like this!]

[I just made up the excuse of entering 'Death Seclusion' due to 'Dao Wounds,' the ink isn't even dry yet, and you've brought her straight up the mountain?]

[How am I supposed to talk my way out of this now?]

[Do I have to spit blood on the spot and perform a 'sitting up startled from a deathbed' just to see my Fiancée one last time?]

Su Chen's brain completely shut down.

He could even clearly sketch out the scenes that would follow.

When Ling Qingzhu saw him alive and kicking and thought of the lie about 'Death Seclusion,' that ice-cold face of hers would blacken instantly.

He hurriedly performed a hand seal, and a Water Mirror condensed in front of him.

In the mirror was the bustling 'bridal reception' scene outside the Su Family's mountain gate.

[Let me see... Let me see exactly how I'm going to die...]

Clinging to the last shred of luck, Su Chen stared at the Water Mirror with a look of someone facing death... Meanwhile.

Outside the mountain gate of the Everlasting Su Family.

The sea of clouds billowed, and immortal light shone in ten thousand rays.

A magnificent Phoenix Carriage, carved from Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Crystals, tore through the Void Realm and floated quietly.

That pure and holy aura unique to the Yaochi Holy Land caused the Su Family's Mountain-Protecting Formation to hum in response.

In front of the Phoenix Carriage, Ling Qingzhu stood elegantly in a Plain White Palace Dress.

Her cold face was filled with an anxiety that even she hadn't noticed.

She had come for Su Chen!

Ever since that shocking parting at the auction, her mind had been haunted by the image of Su Chen being 'abducted' by that demoness, with a look of despair yet forced composure on his face.

She was burning with anxiety.

She had used the power of the Yaochi Holy Land to investigate for several days, but found nothing.

She had even imagined countless possibilities.

Su Chen being tortured by the demoness, having his essence drained, or even... having his corpse destroyed and all traces erased!

Every conjecture was like an invisible ice blade, ruthlessly gouging at her heart.

In the end, she could only set aside all her reserve and visit in person.

She wanted the Su Family to know that their Divine Son was in mortal danger!

"Please announce that Ling Qingzhu of Yaochi is here for an urgent matter and requests to see the Su Family Elders!"

Her voice was cold, yet it couldn't hide a slight tremble of urgency.

Before her voice had even faded.

A streak of light shot out from the depths of the Su Family at a speed inconsistent with his age.

The newcomer was none other than Seventh Elder Su Qi.

As soon as he saw that familiar Phoenix Carriage, his old face instantly bloomed into a radiant smile like a withered chrysanthemum.

Where was there even a hint of the majesty of a Great Sage Peak Elder?

"Oh my! If it isn't Niece Qingzhu? What wind has blown you here?"

Su Qi rubbed his hands together, grinning from ear to ear, his gaze like a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law—the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

Ling Qingzhu's delicate brows furrowed.

She was in no mood for pleasantries right now; suppressing the urge to explain, she got straight to the point.

"Seventh Elder, to make a long story short, Su Chen..."

"I understand! I understand!"

Su Qi slapped his thigh hard, directly interrupting her.

He showed a knowing expression of 'you don't need to say anything, I understand everything,' as if he had seen through it all.

"Niece Qingzhu, you don't need to make excuses! This old man understands everything!"

"Since we last parted, you've been thinking about our Chener in your heart, missing him day and night, tossing and turning, right?"

Ling Qingzhu: "?"

She was completely stunned, her brain unable to process this erratic information for a moment.

Su Qi, however, thought he had hit the nail on the head and that she was admitting it by default.

He became even more smug and continued on his own, his voice full of pride he couldn't hide.

"Sigh, it's all because our Chener is too outstanding! This old man told you long ago, he has you in his heart too!"

"Have you come this time because you've thought it through and are ready to finalize the marriage with him?"

"No! Seventh Elder, listen to me!"

Ling Qingzhu was so anxious her Dao Heart was becoming unstable; what on earth was he talking about!

She took a deep breath and almost roared it out.

"Su Chen is in danger! He was captured by a very powerful demoness!"

She finally roared out this sentence, feeling a surge of relief in her heart, waiting to see the Seventh Elder's shocked reaction.

However, after hearing this, Su Qi not only didn't show a hint of panic but instead laughed even more happily.

He even looked at her with a commending gaze that said 'this child has really put in some effort.'

"Hahaha! Good! What a 'captured by a demoness'!"

"Niece Qingzhu, just to see Chener and give him a surprise, you even thought of such a convoluted and bizarre reason. It's clear your affection runs deep!"

Su Qi stroked his beard, his face full of emotion.

"Don't worry, Chener is perfectly fine, he's right there on Divine Son Peak!"

What?!

Ling Qingzhu was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen on the spot, her Divine Soul seemingly shaken out of her body.

He... he's at home?

Then was what I saw at the auction an illusion?

No!

Impossible!

That coerced look, that expression of despair, that resolute signal for help—it was all so real!

A thought suddenly cleared her mind!

Could it be... could it be that Su Chen had already escaped using his own heaven-reaching methods?

He knew he would be abducted by the demoness, so he set a trap in advance, even playing along to turn the tables and scheme against her instead?

He didn't tell me because he was afraid I'd worry?!

In an instant, Su Chen's image in her heart was once again elevated infinitely.

He became increasingly mysterious and unfathomable.

And increasingly... reassuring and fascinating.

Seeing Ling Qingzhu dazed and lost in thought, her cheeks somehow stained with two blushes of bashfulness, the Seventh Elder was completely convinced of his theory.

He cleared his throat and waved his hand at the Su Family Disciples and Elders who had rushed over to watch the excitement, crowding the mountain gate.

His voice was as loud as a bell, filled with unquestionable joy.

"What are you all still standing there for?!"

"Don't you see the future Divine Sons Consort is here?!"

"Hurry and pay your respects!"

Boom!

The words 'Divine Sons Consort' exploded like a thunderclap in Ling Qingzhu's Sea of Consciousness!

Her protective Spiritual Qi even flickered for a moment due to the violent shock to her Dao Heart!

"Welcome, Divine Sons Consort!"

"May the Divine Sons Consort enjoy eternal immortal blessings and spring eternal alongside His Highness the Divine Son!"

"Greetings, Divine Sons Consort! Seventh Elder, when do we get to drink the wedding wine?"

"Divine Sons Consort, please come inside! His Highness the Divine Son is waiting for you on the peak!"

Greetings and cheers surged from all directions like a mountain tsunami.

Every voice was like an invisible needle, making Ling Qingzhu feel completely ill at ease.

That perpetually frozen face of hers turned red from her ears to her neck in an instant, like a ripe immortal peach that looked as if it could drip water.

She felt the world spinning, her mind a complete blank.

She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right then and there.

She wanted to explain, but those enthusiastic cries of 'Divine Sons Consort' were stuck in her throat, making it impossible for her to say a single word.

She had cultivated for many years with a heart as calm as still water; when had she ever suffered such 'grievance'!

This was practically more exhausting than fighting someone for three hundred rounds!

"I... I still have things to do!"

Ling Qingzhu finally squeezed those few words out from between her teeth.

The voice was as small as a mosquito's hum, filled with shame, indignation, and panic.

Before her voice had even faded.

She turned abruptly like a startled little rabbit, using her fastest speed ever to flee back into the Phoenix Carriage almost in a state of disarray.

She didn't even dare to look back.

"Depart! Quick! Return to Yaochi at the fastest speed!"

The Ice Luan let out a clear cry, as if it were also mocking its master's embarrassment.

The magnificent Phoenix Carriage hurriedly tore through the Void Realm and vanished without a trace.

Leaving behind only a group of Su Family members looking at each other outside the mountain gate, and a Seventh Elder stroking his beard with a face full of gratification and a smug smile.

"See that? Niece Qingzhu is just shy! Hahaha! Our Chener's charm is truly irresistible!"

On Divine Son Peak.

Watching the Phoenix Carriage flee in panic through the Water Mirror, Su Chen was so excited he almost jumped up from his rocking chair.

[She ran! She actually ran!]

[Seventh Elder! You are my god! For this move, I give you 101 points—that extra point is to let you be proud! Hahahaha!]