Chapter 417: The Yu Family Comes Calling
Chapter 417: Chapter 417: The Yu Family Comes Calling
"Yes, I understand." Faced with Ning Xuan’s firm declaration, Ying Yaoshi could only nod in agreement.
"Can you have Lan Xin come back right away now?" Ying Yaoshi pressed.
"I’m curious, why are you in such a hurry to have Lan Xin return? As far as I know, the Ten Thousand Meteor Star Domain Battlefield has been relatively stable recently," Ning Xuan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I have things for him to do. Since I plan to use him, I naturally have to train him well." Ying Yaoshi’s eyes flickered.
"Hmph, I’m starting to regret letting Lan Xin work under you. He was away for a year and his temper has gotten wild. I’ll have to observe him carefully and see if I should even let him go back to you." Ning Xuan’s tone revealed a hint of dissatisfaction with Ying Yaoshi.
Lan Xin’s Contract is under Ning Xuan’s name. According to Federation law, he belonged entirely to Ning Xuan. If Ning Xuan didn’t want him to serve in the military, even Ying Yaoshi would be completely powerless.
Hearing Ning Xuan’s words, Ying Yaoshi felt a headache coming on. After so many years, Lan Xin was the most satisfactory candidate for a deputy he had ever scouted. With Lan Xin’s qualifications, potential, and Talent Skill, he could hold his own in any situation that wasn’t exceptionally dangerous.
"Xuanyuan, I promise I’ll let him take his family leave on time from now on, and I’ll train him according to your requirements. There definitely won’t be any more problems, okay?" Ying Yaoshi helplessly promised Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan nodded. "You said it. If there are any problems with Lan Xin in the future, I’ll hold you accountable."
After some negotiation, Ning Xuan finally told Ying Yaoshi that she would let Lan Xin return to the army in a few days, after the Contract ceremony was over.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the Contract ceremony arrived. Because theirs was a traditional Contract, Ning Xuan, as the Contractor, held the dominant position and stood openly at the entrance to welcome guests.
The Bonding Relationship Management Center had long since stamped and notarized their marriage certificate, which was displayed at the entrance for arriving family and friends to see.
According to formal procedure, an elder from Ning Xuan’s clan should have been present to test the husband on certain customs. However, since Ning Xuan had no direct elders, this task was entrusted to the Controller Protection Association.
The Controller Protection Association took this matter very seriously, dispatching an entire team to verify whether Yu Mingche had satisfactorily completed the required education for his role as husband.
Because of Yu Mingche’s special physical condition, Ning Xuan had already spoken with them in advance. Therefore, while the evaluations were tedious, they were not excessive.
Yu Mingche passed all the various checks and, having put on the intricate ceremonial robes piece by piece, was now waiting to make his grand entrance.
Ning Xuan was dressed in a silver-white Contract gown embroidered with gold, its lapels adorned with fine pearls and its cuffs embroidered with cranes spreading their wings. She looked as noble and ethereal as a banished immortal. Chairman Wang of the Controller Protection Association was already waiting on the high platform, holding an ancient Contract Scroll. He was just waiting for the auspicious moment to arrive to read the blessings for the new couple.
Yu Mingche stood in a side hall off the main ceremonial hall, looking at the lavish and festive decorations all around him.
Glazed lamps entwined with gold thread hung from the dome, their warm light flowing like water and illuminating a room full of flowers. A vermilion carpet embroidered with a twin lotus pattern covered the floor tiles. The raised platforms on either side were filled with White Jade Lilies symbolizing a hundred years of happy union, Red Silk Unity Branches signifying eternal devotion, and Golden Edged Peonies representing wealth and fortune. The elegant scent of Agarwood and the sweet warmth of flowers floated in the air, weaving together a solemn yet gentle ceremonial atmosphere.
Just as the Nine-tailed supporting Yu Mingche finished straightening his collar, ready for him to step onto the stage, a deep, cold voice abruptly shattered the room’s peaceful atmosphere. Immediately after, the heavy doors were thrown open with a BANG. "Stop everything."
A group of people strode in, dressed in black brocade robes with gilded jade belts at their waists. The man in the lead was built like a mountain—broad-shouldered and wide-backed, with sharp, chiseled features and a pair of piercing, hawk-like eyes. He carried himself with an immense, immovable presence, and every step seemed to land with tremendous force. Behind him followed several equally tall and imposing young men from the Yu Family, all with a dignified bearing and handsome faces. Their expressions all held the unique pride and authority of a great, established family.
"A man of my Yu Family is entering a Contract, and no one saw fit to inform the Yu Family?" The leading man sneered, his gaze sweeping like lightning across the hall before finally landing on Ning Xuan. "What, did you think the Yu Family has no one left?"
The hall fell instantly silent, so quiet that even breathing could be clearly heard. The guests exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. Chairman Wang of the Controller Protection Association frowned slightly but maintained his composed demeanor, his grip merely tightening on the Contract Scroll in his hands. He was aware of Yu Mingche’s relationship with the Yu Family and had previously reminded Ning Xuan to communicate with them.
’Even if Yu Mingche’s relationship with the Yu Family was poor, he still carried their blood. No matter how many misunderstandings there were in the past, he should have informed his clan of such a major life event.’
Yu Mingche’s eyes flickered. The joy that had filled his face moments before was instantly replaced by an icy coldness. His fingertips trembled slightly inside his sleeves as he raised his head to meet the man’s gaze, a surge of intense hatred rising from the bottom of his heart.
Ning Xuan grabbed his trembling hand, holding it gently to soothe him.
"Uninvited guests are considered unwelcome. I don’t care which family you’re from. Since you weren’t invited, you have nothing to do with us. Yan Fuzhen, Feng Linran, see them out." Ning Xuan’s face was like frost as she scanned the group, paying them no mind whatsoever.
"Yu Mingche, haven’t you been hiding in the Realm of Chaos all these years? What, did the contamination levels get too high for you to hide anymore?" Yu Shouxin ignored Ning Xuan, instead staring at Yu Mingche with a mocking tone.
Yu Mingche looked up. "I’ve said it before, I am not a member of the Yu Family. I have nothing to do with you. I have already established a spiritual connection with my Contractor, which means I have even less to do with you in the future. You’d best leave here at once."
"How could you have nothing to do with us? Your father’s Companion Spirit was a Nine-tailed Fox! He was the hope of the clan, the one the clan poured all its resources into cultivating. He died because of you. Shouldn’t you be held responsible for that?"
"I know you inherited the Nine-tailed Fox bloodline. If that’s the case, how can you marry into another family? You cannot leave the clan. You must pass on the Nine-tailed Fox bloodline for the sake of the clan." Yu Shouxin’s expression was very strange, a mixture of jealousy and anger.
Yu Shouxin was the third younger brother of Yu Mingche’s father, Yu Shouyue. The age gap between the two brothers wasn’t very large, and they had grown up together, always having a good relationship.
Later, when something happened to Yu Shouyue, Yu Shouxin transferred his anger to Yu Mingche. Right after Yu Mingche had just lost his father, Yu Shouxin deliberately gave him the cold shoulder. With his own uncle, his closest blood relative, showing him no concern, Yu Mingche’s life during those years was very difficult.