C20 The next Year on the 24th of August

Chapter Twenty: The Pledge for the Following August 24th

Lately, two events have sent shockwaves through the Royal Capital.

The first was the astonishing return of Liu Jitai, the long-deceased patriarch of the Liu Family, who single-handedly obliterated the Mysterious Immortal Sect, one of the Great Pine Kingdom's three major sects. Despite Liu Jitai's domineering approach, the public erupted in cheers and admiration, largely because the Mysterious Immortal Sect's conduct had been widely disapproved of.

The second event involved the Liu Family's patriarch, whose meteoric rise to power came to a crashing halt. After Dai Tianli insulted him, he exacted his revenge by killing Dai Tianli. When the Dai Family took his sister, he stormed their stronghold alone, sword in hand, and fought until the heavens dimmed and the celestial bodies lost their luster. When the Mysterious Immortal Sect shamed the Liu Family and his brother, he confronted them directly, returning the humiliation and leaving onlookers in awe.

However, it was Zhao Qinglong, the young master of the Dragon Saliva Sect, who dealt Liu Xingchang a devastating blow. Regardless of Liu Xingchang's machinations within the Royal Capital, his influence was on par with others, but the Dragon Saliva Sect stood supreme over the entire Great Pine Kingdom. The Liu Family, even with the full might of the nation, was no match for the Dragon Saliva Sect. The formidable Liu Xingchang couldn't withstand a single round against Zhao Qinglong.

The public humiliation of the engagement cancellation between Zhao Qinglong and the Fourth Princess stripped the Liu Family, and particularly Liu Xingchang, of all dignity. The Royal Capital buzzed with discussions about Liu Xingchang, filled with sighs and mockery.

Even more tantalizing was the tacit agreement that formed between Liu Xingchang and Zhao Qinglong. On the 24th of August the following year, the day of Zhao Qinglong and the Fourth Princess's wedding celebration, Zhao Qinglong provocatively invited Liu Xingchang, who accepted the challenge in a fury. This year-long agreement was clearly not for a social call but for a duel.

Gossip swirled with various tales, yet soon a consistent narrative emerged throughout the Royal Capital: On the 24th of August next year, Liu Xingchang would ascend to the Dragon Saliva Sect and face Zhao Qinglong in combat, seeking to avenge the dishonor of his lost bride.

Although this iteration of the rumor differed slightly from the accounts of Zhao Qinglong and Liu Xingchang, it remained the version that people were most eager to embrace!

The tale of a lowly youth, jilted in engagement, tossing and turning through the night, enduring hardship to hone his skills, and ultimately confronting his rival in love—such stories were commonplace in the street performances and operas of the Royal Capital, yet witnessing them unfold in real life was unprecedented.

The public was abuzz with anticipation, almost wishing that tomorrow would bring the 24th of August of the following year.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qinglong had let it be known through the Li Family that he had no intention of arranging an assassination of Liu Xingchang within the year. He held Liu Xingchang in such low regard that he preferred to await a direct challenge. Zhao Qinglong planned to crush Liu Xingchang once more in the presence of the world's heroes, presenting his triumph as a wedding gift to the Fourth Princess.

The Liu Family remained silent on the matter, but within Liu Xingchang, the seeds of vengeance had taken root.

...

Liu Family.

This marked Princess Qingyuan's inaugural visit to the Liu Family, and her first attempt to engage with Liu Xingchang under the pretense of a social call.

Princess Qingyuan sat with a serene grace in the Liu Family's parlor, awaiting Liu Xingchang's arrival. However, the news she eventually received filled her with profound regret.

Old Master Liu was the bearer of this news.

"The Royal Capital is rife with rumors, and Xingchang harbors a vengeful heart, yearning to grow stronger and reclaim his honor. The Dragon Saliva Sect is a formidable force, and for Xingchang to surpass Zhao Qinglong, he must venture beyond the Great Pine Kingdom to the vast expanses of the Azure Sky Realm. To this grand domain, the Great Pine Kingdom is but a speck in the corner."

"Will he return?"

"He will return, without a doubt. My grandson, Liu Jitai, will surely come back on the 24th of August next year, shining with a brilliance all his own, like the sun, for the entire world to witness. Even without the backing of a powerful sect's resources, he will defeat the young master of the Dragon Saliva Sect! Though the Liu Family may still rank below the Dragon Saliva Sect, he will have proven himself to the Fourth Princess. That is the proper way for a man to restore his honor, is it not?"

When Princess Qingyuan departed from the Liu Family, her demeanor remained dreamy and unfocused.

She could hardly recall how she managed to leave the Liu Family's estate.

Deep within Princess Qingyuan's heart, there lurked an ineffable feeling of loss and emptiness.

She had stumbled upon someone who captivated her attention and won her favor, yet she ultimately failed to seize the opportunity to share a drink or engage in a candlelit conversation with him.

She lamented her late arrival to meet him—had she missed her chance forever?

Liu Xingchang had left the Great Pine Kingdom.

A year could change so much.

Would she still have the opportunity to connect with Liu Xingchang then?

Who could assure her that, within the year, Liu Xingchang wouldn't find his true love amidst the splendors of the world?

This profound sense of loss was akin to tumbling off a cliff and sinking into a quagmire.

But what could she do?

Gazing at the fading sun on the horizon, Princess Qingyuan bit down on her teeth, her eyes shimmering with determination as she proclaimed, "Liu Xingchang, in life, we inevitably miss many opportunities. I missed the chance to get to know you, but I am ready to make amends and seize the moment! I will wait for you in the Royal Capital for one year. After that year, if you are defeated, I will be by your side in the Royal Capital for the rest of our days, or accompany you on adventures far and wide. If you are victorious, even if the entire Dragon Saliva Sect stands against you, it won't matter to me. I will stand by your side, determined to be with you!"

Liu Xingchang's decision to leave the Great Pine Kingdom came after extensive deliberation with Liu Jitai.

Had Liu Xingchang been a mere scion of a noble family, content with his current glory, power, and familial ties, he would have likely preferred to continue flourishing under the shelter of Liu Jitai. However, Liu Xingchang's youthful body housed the soul of the once sovereign of the Northern Polar Heaven Domain.

Liu Xingchang knew one thing for certain: an eagle must leave the nest to learn to soar, and a tree must withstand the buffeting of wind and rain to grow strong and sturdy.

Before leaving the Liu Family, Liu Xingchang was uncertain about his next destination or course of action. However, one thing was clear: he was determined to explore the ruins discovered by Liu Jitai in the Great Goose Mountain Range.

Liu Jitai had reaped the apparent benefits of the ruins within the Great Pine Mountain Range, but he always suspected that something remained undiscovered. After several years of fruitless searching, he eventually abandoned the quest, prioritizing his cultivation. It was only after breaking free from the Blue Light Dungeon that he managed to escape.

Liu Xingchang understood that the ruins, with their blue light and life-prolonging spiritual spring, offered more than just treasures to enhance a Cultivator's power. They surely concealed a genuine legacy.

This conviction was precisely why Liu Xingchang felt compelled to visit the ruins in the Great Pine Kingdom before his departure. Following Liu Jitai's detailed account, he swiftly located the ruins. With a torch in hand, he ventured into the depths of the pitch-black cavern.

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