The banquet commenced.
Guests repeatedly toasted Ling Fan and his wife, offering congratulations.
Ling Fan smiled faintly, accepting every toast.
The patriarchs of the Jiang, Nong, and Ding families, Jiang Qifeng, Nong Haichao, and Ding Yinfeng, approached with a touch of apprehension. They offered apologies, saying,
"Mr. Ling, we have offended you greatly before. We implore you to overlook our transgressions and not hold them against us. We were blind and failed to recognize your true stature. We have little else to say today; it is all in the wine!"
The three patriarchs drained three large cups of potent liquor in quick succession.
Afraid that Ling Fan might perceive their sincerity lacking, they dared not use their cultivation to sober up. As a result, the potent spirits quickly left them feeling dizzy.
Ling Fan waved his hand dismissively and said, "You may go."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Ling!"
The three patriarchs, Jiang Qifeng, Nong Haichao, and Ding Yinfeng, wisely withdrew.
Just then.
An announcement came from downstairs: "The Lan clan has arrived to congratulate Mr. Ling and his wife."
Manager Jin bowed respectfully to Ling Fan and said, "Mr. Ling, Lan Meili and others from the Lan clan are waiting downstairs with gifts. Do you wish to allow them in?"
Lan Junjie scoffed.
Utterly dismissive.
His second aunt had a truly thick skin.
Lan Tianxiong and his wife wore expressions of discomfort.
Ling Fan stated calmly, "Tell them to leave. They are not welcome."
"Understood!"
Upon receiving Ling Fan's instructions, Manager Jin immediately departed.
"What! We came with good intentions to offer our congratulations, and he won't even let us in, won't even let us have a sip of the wedding wine. His airs are too much!"
The second aunt, enraged, stomped her feet.
"I am Xueyi's paternal aunt! What right does he have to bar me from entering!"
Manager Jin's face was cold as he said, "Mr. Ling's intention is clear. Please conduct yourselves appropriately. Shall I call for people to escort you out?"
Manager Jin's words carried a subtle threat.
The second aunt immediately cowered.
Muttering curses, she led the younger aunt and others away.
"Ungrateful wretch, may he bear sons with no anuses! What is he, thinking I'm eager to attend this damn wedding? Just you wait, he's like a grasshopper in autumn, won't last a few days. Once the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain arrives, he'll be begging for mercy on his knees..."
Before the second aunt could finish her tirade.
*Slap!*
An invisible force slapped her across the face.
Five bloody finger marks immediately appeared on her cheek.
Half her teeth were knocked out.
The second aunt cried out in pain and was sent flying over ten meters.
"How did this little brat know I was cursing him!"
The second aunt, terrified, lost her wits.
Clutching her face, she urged, "Let's go, let's go quickly!"
-------------------------------------
Inside the Jianghe Tower.
Lan Xueyi stuck out her tongue and asked, "Was that a bit too harsh?"
Ling Fan replied, "Scoundrels fear might more than virtue. People like that are despicable and deserve a beating. See, after that slap, she's much more obedient."
As the wine flowed freely.
Suddenly, a streak of light shot rapidly into the Jianghe Tower.
It embedded itself deeply into a pillar.
Everyone was startled.
Ling Fan's gaze sharpened.
He saw a golden battle invitation embedded in the pillar, bearing the four characters "Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain."
*Bang!*
The battle invitation suddenly exploded.
A semi-illusory figure instantly coalesced within everyone's sight.
It was a middle-aged man wearing a tall crown, possessing a refined appearance and an extraordinary bearing.
Although it was merely a phantom, a faint, terrifying pressure emanated from him.
Divine Intent Manifestation.
A formidable expert, indeed.
Ling Fan raised an eyebrow slightly.
The illusory figure suddenly fixed its gaze on Ling Fan.
It boomed, "I am the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain. You killed my disciple and my subordinate. I order you to bind yourself and ascend the mountain within ten days to beg for forgiveness. Otherwise, once the ten days expire, I will kill your parents, wife, children, and all your loved ones!"
"Is this your wife? She is indeed beautiful. No wonder my disciple was infatuated with her. My disciple is dead; I shall kill this femme fatale first to accompany him!"
The illusory figure suddenly lunged forward with a palm strike.
A terrifying force erupted, causing the entire Jianghe Tower to tremble. Everyone felt a suffocating pressure.
This person was too terrifying.
Such power from a mere phantom; how strong would the person himself be?
Ling Fan's eyes narrowed sharply.
Killing intent surged forth.
The Green Cloud Emperor detested threats against his loved ones above all else.
No matter who it was.
They would all be slain!
Annihilated without a trace!
He flicked his sleeve, and a thunderous clap seemed to echo in the air. Two formidable forces collided, the shockwaves rippling outwards, shattering all the doors and windows of the Jianghe Tower.
"No wonder you could kill Ying Beifu. You do possess some ability,"
The illusory figure stated, staring at Ling Fan.
Ling Fan snorted coldly and replied, "A mere Divine Intent Manifestation. I shall first destroy this manifestation of yours, then ascend Misty Cloud Mountain to raze your stronghold and obliterate your lineage!"
He flicked his finger.
A condensed, unparalleled martial qi instantly dispersed the semi-illusory figure completely.
The illusory figure only managed to utter a slight "Oh?" before vanishing without a trace.
With the disturbance caused by the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain.
The guests' drunkenness was instantly dispelled.
They broke out in a cold sweat.
The Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain was truly terrifying.
If he had appeared in person today, could Ling Fan still contend with him?
Many began to question this in their hearts.
Especially families like the Jiang, Ding, and Nong, who were playing both sides, began to consider their escape routes.
Chu Tiange said, "Mr. Ling, are you truly going to challenge the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain within ten days? Why don't you and your family stay at our Governor's Mansion first. No matter how strong the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain is, he wouldn't dare trouble my father!"
Ling Fan shook his head.
As the dignified Green Cloud Emperor, how could he be a coward?
Furthermore.
What was the mere Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain to him, that he should retreat?
The others fell silent, their faces etched with worry.
They appeared as if facing a great enemy.
After all, everyone had witnessed the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain's terror just moments ago, a heavy stone pressing down on their hearts.
The banquet finally concluded amidst this oppressive atmosphere.
Ling Fan, however, remained exceptionally relaxed, as if the pressure from the Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain had not affected him in the slightest.
Lan Tianxiong worriedly said, "Xiao Fan, why don't we listen to Young Master Chu and seek refuge at the Governor's Mansion for a while? There's no need to confront that Lord of Misty Cloud Mountain right now!"
Ling Fan smiled and replied, "Father-in-law, you need not worry. He is but a minor mountain lord, not someone Ling Fan would even consider.
His voice then turned cold.
"He dared to threaten my wife and relatives. If I don't storm his mountain and destroy his lineage, would I not be doing a disservice to his audacity?"
Lan Tianxiong and the others wanted to say more.
But Ling Fan smiled and pushed them away.
"Alright, don't disturb my wife and me. We are in a hurry!"
"Especially you, young man. If you dare to show up at the wrong time again today, believe it or not, I'll break your legs. All three of them! I have pills to boost your yang, and pills to make you listless. Are you afraid?"
"I'm afraid! I'm afraid! Brother-in-law, spare me. I'll lock myself up today!"
Lan Junjie made a gesture of surrender.
Lan Xueyi blushed beside him.
After Lan Tianxiong and the others left.
Ling Fan, with a smile, took Lan Xueyi's hand and led her into the meticulously prepared bridal chamber.
Lan Xueyi was clearly a little flustered.
Nervously, she half-closed her eyes.
Her long eyelashes fluttered.
"Xiao Fan, can we just sleep tonight? I'm a little scared."
Lan Xueyi said nervously, begging for mercy.
"We are sleeping, yes. It's just that we're doing some pre-sleep activities that aid in slumber."
Ling Fan reached out and pulled Lan Xueyi onto the bed.
The bed curtains immediately fell.
Only faint, blurry figures could be seen.
Although the scene on the bed was obscured.
The sounds could not be contained.
"Don't..."
"Hmph, Xiao Fan, you've become naughty. Where did you learn such vulgar acts?"
"Ah!"
A soft moan.
As if her soul had departed her body.
It conveyed the twists and turns of the past few months, the turmoil in her heart.
-------------------------------------
Gazing at the exhausted, deeply sleeping beauty in his arms.
A smile of great accomplishment flickered across Ling Fan's lips.
The night passed without incident.
Three days later.
When Chu Tiange and others came to the Jianghe Tower to find Ling Fan.
They were informed that Ling Fan had already departed from Tianchu City.
As for where he went.
It was self-evident.