Chapter 197 - 195: Father and Son Vying for Favor, Red Lotus Saintess

Chapter 197: Chapter 195: Father and Son Vying for Favor, Red Lotus Saintess

Chen Yuan had guessed the Heaven Returning Pavilion must be connected to the Red Lotus Sect, but he never imagined that the woman Young Pavilion Master Wu Sicheng was marrying was actually one of them.

As the Red Lotus dissipated, the surrounding auras vanished in an instant.

The members of the Red Lotus Sect probably thought one of their own had carelessly let their aura leak, never suspecting that someone was testing them.

"What’s the background of the woman Wu Sicheng is marrying?"

Qin Suguang said, "She doesn’t have any notable background. She seems to be just an ordinary woman. People were curious before why the Young Pavilion Master of the Heaven Returning Pavilion would marry a commoner.

The Heaven Returning Pavilion is, after all, quite well-known in the Jianghu, and Wu Daoquan is a Medical Grandmaster.

Even if he couldn’t marry a woman from one of the top Noble Families on the Jianghu Wind and Cloud Rankings, finding a bride from a family of equal standing should have been no issue.

However, Wu Daoquan’s response was that the Wu Family doesn’t consider background when it comes to marriage, only fate. Some people even praised him for being so open-minded and magnanimous."

"Open-minded and magnanimous? I’d say he has ulterior motives."

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "A moment ago, I activated the power of the Red Lotus Sect and, just as I expected, drew the attention of dozens of their auras. The strongest one emanated from the bride."

Qin Suguang’s expression changed instantly. ’He had already reached a conclusion.’

If the woman the Young Master of the Heaven Returning Pavilion was marrying was indeed a remnant of the Red Lotus Sect, then everything was just as Chen Yuan had suspected.

The killings of Martial Artists in Jieyang Prefecture to harvest their Qi and Blood began right around the time the Young Pavilion Master’s wedding was announced.

They announced the wedding to lure numerous Jianghu People here, making it convenient for them to kill at will.

With thousands of Martial Artists pouring into Jieyang Prefecture, the deaths of two or three hundred would barely be noticed.

Following that logic, today’s wedding at the Heaven Returning Pavilion was no simple ceremony either!

The Martial Artists killed in Jieyang Prefecture likely weren’t enough to satisfy the Red Lotus Sect’s appetite. There are over a thousand Martial Artists gathered here to offer their congratulations. The Qi and Blood contained in this hall is far richer than that of the scattered Martial Artists throughout the prefecture.

If the Heaven Returning Pavilion played its cards right, they could trap and slaughter every Martial Artist here in one fell swoop, harvesting an astonishing amount of Qi and Blood Power!

But many of the Martial Artists present were from top-tier factions. For the Heaven Returning Pavilion to do such a thing was utterly insane.

The more Qin Suguang thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine. As he looked around at the Heaven Returning Pavilion servants preparing to serve the food, he felt he had already guessed the Red Lotus Sect’s plan.

Up on the stage, the ceremony was halfway through. After the couple bowed to each other, they were to be escorted to the bridal chamber, and the banquet would begin.

Some of the Jianghu People in attendance were also a little confused.

From the outside, the Young Pavilion Master’s wedding seemed to be a grand affair.

But once all the guests had arrived and the ceremony officially began, it felt rather rushed.

Wu Daoquan, the host, had barely said a few words at his own son’s wedding.

The master of ceremonies was also just mechanically rushing through the proceedings, as if in a great hurry to start the banquet.

The guests, however, had no complaints. In fact, they rather appreciated it.

Most of the people attending the wedding were here for Wu Daoquan’s reputation as the "Life-Restoring Saint Hand." Their main purpose was to present a gift and show their goodwill, hoping that if they ever needed his help in the future, the Life-Restoring Saint Hand would be more inclined to put his full effort into it.

Otherwise, who would be willing to travel so far for such a boring wedding banquet?

For these guests, no ceremony, however grand, was more important than the feast itself.

Now, with less idle chatter and the prospect of eating sooner, they actually felt the Wu father and son were quite considerate.

Just as the ceremony was about to conclude, with servants from the Heaven Returning Pavilion already poised to bring out the food and wine, Qin Suguang suddenly stood up and shouted, "Hold on!"

Everyone present turned to stare at Qin Suguang with strange expressions.

It was their wedding day; what was there to hold on for? Did he want to join them in the bridal chamber, too?

Wu Daoquan’s expression flickered. In a low voice, he said, "Lord Qin, the Heaven Returning Pavilion and I have no past grievances or recent enmity with you. Why must you disrupt my son’s wedding?

It would be terrible to miss the auspicious hour on such a joyous occasion. Whatever the matter is, can’t we discuss it after the wedding is over?"

Qin Suguang said coldly, "I’m afraid there won’t be an ’after’!

Pavilion Master Wu, you are a master of the Medical Dao. Why would you collude with the remnants of the Red Lotus Sect?

You yourself lived through the Red Lotus Sect’s rebellion twenty years ago. Qin Province was a scene of utter devastation back then!

The recent murders of numerous Martial Artists in Jieyang Prefecture were all the work of those Red Lotus Sect remnants.

And today, you openly have your son marry one of their remnants and set this entire trap. I’m afraid your intentions are anything but good!

You are a master of the Medical Dao, which means you are naturally proficient in the Poison Dao as well. I fear that once this banquet begins, not a single person here will be able to leave the Heaven Returning Pavilion alive!"

As soon as Qin Suguang finished speaking, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

They had all heard of the Red Lotus Sect, of course, but how could the Heaven Returning Pavilion possibly be involved with them?

Wu Daoquan was known for being a kind man. The idea that he would poison the banquet to harm everyone present sounded like an absurd fantasy, no matter how you looked at it.

"Nonsense! Utter fearmongering!"

Wu Daoquan’s face was completely black. "Colluding with the Red Lotus Sect? Poisoning the banquet? Qin Suguang, I think *you’re* the one who’s been poisoned!

I have some acquaintance with the Chief Constable of your Qin Province Six Gates. For you to insult my Heaven Returning Pavilion and disrupt my son’s wedding today... this matter is far from over!"

The crowd began whispering amongst themselves.

Most people, however, sided with Wu Daoquan.

After all, Qin Suguang’s accusations were simply too outrageous.

Qin Suguang was about to say more, but Chen Yuan stopped him.

"Brother Qin, don’t waste your breath on them. Words are useless; they’re not going to just admit it.

They claim there’s no poison in the feast, right? Then let’s just grab someone from the Heaven Returning Pavilion and force-feed them. We’ll see if they drop dead from poison.

As for whether the bride is a member of the Red Lotus Sect, that’s even simpler.

Just go over there and stab her. We’ll find out the truth soon enough."

Chen Yuan’s method was crude, unbelievably so, but it was also exceptionally simple and effective.

Wu Daoquan’s expression changed completely.

Just as he was about to speak, the bride, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly stepped forward. She lifted her veil, revealing a bewitchingly beautiful and seductive face.

The woman was stunningly beautiful. Her eyes were captivating, like bottomless pools of spring water, and her full, plump lips were like a Red Lotus in bloom.

Every move she made exuded a charm that made it impossible for one not to be captivated.

Wu Sicheng, the Young Pavilion Master of the Heaven Returning Pavilion standing beside her, was handsome enough in his own right. But next to this woman, a single thought unconsciously surfaced in everyone’s mind.

’How could a mediocre man like Wu Sicheng possibly be worthy of such a woman?’

"Pavilion Master Wu, it looks like your plan has failed. A shame they won’t get to experience the wondrous poison concocted by you, the great Life-Restoring Saint Hand."

Beside them, Wu Sicheng actually sneered at his own father. "Dad, I told you this method of using poison was too crude. It was never going to work.

Even if we hadn’t been exposed, what if some people started eating before others? You never would have been able to get all of them."

As he spoke, Wu Sicheng turned to the woman with a fawning smile. "Mei Niang, if we had gone with my plan and laid an Array in a hundred-zhang radius around the Heaven Returning Pavilion, it would have been foolproof. You just want their Qi and Blood, right? It wouldn’t matter if they were blown to pieces; we could still extract it."

Wu Sicheng took half a step forward, inching cautiously closer to Mei Niang. Just the faint, sweet scent from her body made his face flush red and his body begin to tremble uncontrollably.

"Get away from her!"

But Wu Daoquan exploded in rage, sending his own son flying with a kick.

"You rebellious whelp, stay away from Mei Niang! And you talk about setting up an Array? Use that pig brain of yours for a second! Do you want to destroy the entire Heaven Returning Pavilion?"

Wu Sicheng cursed back, "The Heaven Returning Pavilion will be mine sooner or later anyway! You old goat, you’re just heartbroken over the Pavilion! I think you just don’t want to help Mei Niang!"

"Shut up! As if I wouldn’t sacrifice a mere Heaven Returning Pavilion for Mei Niang! But what if the Array interfered with opening the Blood Killing Realm? Wouldn’t that ruin Mei Niang’s grand plan?"

Wu Daoquan’s face was also beginning to flush an unnatural red. "Mei Niang, don’t you worry. Even without poison, I’m confident I can handle all of them!

When I sent out the invitations, I deliberately made sure none of the Primordial Pill Realm Grandmasters from the major factions would attend. Everyone here is just a junior at the Condensing Truth Realm.

Rest assured, I’ll slaughter them all right now and guarantee enough Qi and Blood for the Blood Killing Realm!"

The crowd watched in utter horror at the disgraceful display of the Wu father and son fawning over Mei Niang.

What in the world was going on?

Qin Suguang and Chen Yuan had actually been right. There was something truly wrong with Wu Daoquan of the Heaven Returning Pavilion. He had actually used his own son’s wedding as a plot to trap and kill all the Martial Artists in attendance.

They had to remember that some of the Martial Artists present were disciples from the top factions on the Wind and Cloud Rankings.

For Wu Daoquan to do this was tantamount to alienating the entire Jianghu!

Gu Lichuan, however, was watching with great relish. "Tsk, tsk. A father and son fighting over the same woman? My, my, they’re into some wild games."

"They’re not fighting over a woman. They’ve been trained like dogs by one."

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "That woman’s methods are incredibly potent. I can’t tell if it’s an Illusion Technique or some other Secret Technique that mesmerizes the mind.

Wu Sicheng is only at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm, so it’s normal for him to be enthralled.

But Wu Daoquan is a Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster and a master of the Medical Dao. For him to be so completely captivated is truly bizarre."

Qin Suguang said gravely, "The Red Lotus Sect rose with incredible speed, and they fell just as quickly. Many of their methods are unknown to the Jianghu.

Their techniques were always strange and mysterious. Heaven knows what kinds of Secret Techniques they possess, so it’s not surprising they have abilities like this."

Just then, Mei Niang’s gaze shifted to Chen Yuan. The corners of her lips curled into a bewitching smile.

"You must be the one who just revealed a trace of Red Lotus Willpower, correct?

Chen Jiutian of Zhenwu Hall, ranked among the top eighteen on the Hidden Dragon list. Your methods are truly extraordinary, capable of sealing and isolating the Red Lotus Willpower of my Red Lotus Holy Sect.

Tsk, tsk... Not only are your methods extraordinary, but you’re quite handsome as well."

Mei Niang’s eyes, faintly glowing with a crimson light, fixed on Chen Yuan. She gave him a slight curtsy, her smile growing even more radiant.

"Saintess Su Mei of the Red Lotus Holy Sect greets Master Chen. I wonder, would Master Chen be willing to join my Holy Sect and accompany me to the Red Lotus Pure Land to enjoy supreme bliss?"