C15 Preparation for the Engagement

"Yang Rui, in three days, we have an auspicious day. I'm planning to hold an engagement ceremony for you and Xue then. Do you have any objections?"

Qin Ming had high hopes for Yang Rui's future. To avoid any unforeseen issues, he wanted to cement the relationship between Yang Rui and his daughter, Qin Xue, as soon as possible, hence the engagement ceremony was set for just three days later.

"I have no objections, Father-in-law. Your decision is fine by me!"

Having resolved to take Qin Xue as his wife, Yang Rui had no intention of backing out. The timing of the engagement, sooner or later, was of no consequence to him, so he responded without any hesitation.

"Excellent! Yang Rui, go back and get ready. Bring your family members over. We'll see each other at the County Seat in three days!"

Qin Ming, pleased with Yang Rui's affirmative response, spoke with a look of satisfaction.

"Yes, Father-in-law!"

Yang Rui responded gently, bid Qin Xue farewell, and then departed the County Seat with Yang Qianyu.

"Yang Rui, congratulations on becoming the mayor's son-in-law!"

Yang Qianyu, who had close ties with the Yang family, was overjoyed to see Yang Rui chosen as the mayor's son-in-law. Stepping out of the County Seat, she couldn't contain her smile as she congratulated him.

"Old Mr. Yang, your kindness to our family will always be remembered. No matter the future, you'll always be kin to me!"

Yang Rui spoke earnestly.

"Now that you're the mayor's son-in-law, you shouldn't call me Old Mr. Yang anymore. Otherwise, wouldn't that make me a generation above the mayor? If you still consider me family, just call me Uncle!"

Touched by the gravity on Yang Rui's face, Yang Qianyu felt a warm sense of satisfaction, knowing her past support for the Yang family had been worthwhile. She quickly responded with a beaming smile.

"Yes, Uncle!" Yang Rui nodded in agreement.

"Right you are! With your engagement just three days away, I won't keep you any longer. Go on and get ready!"

With a smile, Yang Qianyu parted ways with Yang Rui, each heading to their respective homes.

Upon Yang Rui's return to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters, the news of his upcoming engagement to Qin Xue, the mayor's daughter, had already spread rapidly throughout Brittlecoast, leaving countless townspeople in a state of shock and disbelief.

Countless residents of Brittlecoast, particularly those eyeing the Blood Wolf Gang's enterprises, assumed that Yang Rui would at least face censure from the County Seat, if not outright suppression. To their astonishment, not only did Yang Rui avoid suppression and reprimand, but he was also favored by the mayor, who chose to betroth his daughter to him.

This stark contrast left many in the city reeling in shock, their faces painted with disbelief, unable to trust the veracity of the news.

Yet, despite their shock and disbelief, the numerous factions within Brittlecoast quickly recovered. After their initial surprise, they dispatched their most trusted aides, laden with lavish gifts, to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters to pay a visit to Yang Rui and forge a favorable connection.

Yang Rui, however, declined to meet with any of the visiting factions. Instead, he instructed Yang Ann to accept the gifts on his behalf and extended invitations for the faction leaders to attend his engagement ceremony at the County Seat in three days.

Choosing to focus on his training, Yang Rui retreated to the Training Chamber to continue his regimen with the Body Tempering Potion, intent on enhancing his physical strength. He was determined to advance his Ninefold Body Forging technique to the ninth level as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, messengers from the County Seat, carrying Qin Ming's invitations, departed Brittlecoast on swift horses. They made haste to deliver Yang Rui and Qin Xue's engagement invitations to the mayors of the Ember Empire's eleven subsidiary cities and to the heads of their respective leading factions.

The Ember Empire spanned over three million square kilometers, with a population in the tens of millions, yet it comprised only the Imperial Capital, three upper cities, and twelve subsidiary cities—a total of sixteen cities.

The Imperial Capital stood as the largest and most bustling city of the Ember Empire, with a population exceeding ten million and a wealth of formidable individuals. It was directly governed by the imperial Zhao family.

The three upper cities were the next in prominence after the Imperial Capital. Though their populations did not reach ten million, each boasted around five million inhabitants and were home to big master warriors. These cities were under the stewardship of the Wang, Lee, and Qian families.

Together with the Zhao family, these influential families were collectively known as the four noble houses of the Ember Empire.

The twelve subsidiary cities are the ordinary municipalities of the Ember Empire, each with a population just over a million. The most powerful individuals in these cities only reach the pinnacle of the Innate Realm and possess the strength of a master. They are required to pay tribute to the four noble houses annually and receive their protection in return.

Despite the individual power of each subsidiary city paling in comparison to that of the four noble houses, the collective might of all twelve cities is formidable. Consequently, while they do pay tribute, they maintain significant autonomy and are not bound to follow the noble houses' commands without question.

To safeguard their interests, the twelve subsidiary cities have formed a loose alliance to fend off any incursions by the four noble houses. Should any one of the cities come under attack, the remaining eleven will provide unconditional support to repel the aggression.

This has fostered a close-knit relationship among the subsidiary cities. After finalizing the engagement date for Qin Ming's daughter, Qin Xue, to Yang Rui, messengers were promptly dispatched to invite the mayors of the other eleven cities to the ceremony.

In the backyard of the County Seat in Duskmond, one of the Ember Empire's subsidiary cities:

"What? Qin Xue is getting engaged?" exclaimed a young man clad in brocade, his face a picture of utter astonishment, eyes wide with disbelief.

This young man, Wang Peng, was the sole heir of Wang Qi, the mayor of Duskmond. Since laying eyes on Qin Xue a year prior, Wang Peng had been smitten, intent on making her his bride.

Yet, to his shock and anger, Qin Xue's engagement to another had been arranged before he could act, sparking a cold, vengeful glint in his eyes.

"Young Lord, the City Lord's daughter, Qin Xue of Brittlecoast, is set to be engaged to Yang Rui, the head of the Yang family from Oakenbreak Town, in three days. Our City Lord requests that you represent Duskmond at the engagement ceremony," the green-clad servant informed him cautiously.

"Who is Yang Rui?" Wang Peng, recovering from his initial shock, demanded of the servant, his voice edged with a lethal chill.

"Young Lord, the messenger from Brittlecoast has informed me that Yang Rui is the head of the Yang family in Oakenbreak. At just sixteen, he possesses the combat prowess of a peerless warrior—a true prodigy," the servant clad in green relayed the information he had gathered.

"To possess the strength of a peerless warrior at sixteen truly marks one as a prodigy! Yet, the world is overrun with such talents. A prodigy who fails to mature is worth less than nothing," Wang Peng murmured, his voice tinged with envy as a chilling intent to kill flickered in his eyes.

At sixteen, Wang Peng had already achieved the status of a first-rate warrior and considered himself a prodigy in cultivation. However, the revelation that Yang Rui was even more gifted gnawed at him with jealousy.

Fueling his resentment further was the fact that Yang Rui was soon to be engaged to the woman Wang Peng desired, igniting a furious rage within him and a deep-seated urge to eliminate his rival.

"Summon Wang Lei, the Head of the Thunder Dojo, for me. I'll be waiting in the meeting hall," Wang Peng commanded the attendant beside him, then strode off toward the County Seat, his face set in a grim scowl.

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