Yishan County is located in the southern mountainous region of the southwest, surrounded by mountains. Due to inconvenient transportation, it was once one of the poorest counties in the southwest and even in Long Country.
Later, with the rise of martial arts, the ancestral land of the Li family, Medicine God Valley, unveiled its mystery, and martial artists began to cultivate medicines. Yishan County soared, becoming the most prosperous county in the entire southwest, without exception.
Yishan Grand Hotel is located in the center of the county town. It is a super five-star hotel, with hardware facilities no less than those in big cities, and its prices are equally high.
However—
Even so, Yishan Grand Hotel does very good business, especially these past two days. Due to Li Guyi's birthday, influential families and martial arts sects from all over Long Country have sent representatives. All rooms at Yishan Grand Hotel are fully booked—the attendants and drivers of those representatives did not go to Lizhuang.
As night fell, a taxi pulled up to the entrance of Yishan Grand Hotel. The doorman stepped forward and opened the rear door of the car. Jiang Wuming alighted.
Jiang Wuming came uninvited to attend Li Guyi's birthday celebration, but he did not go directly to Lizhuang.
Because tomorrow is Li Guyi's eightieth birthday.
"Sir, are you checking in or visiting?"
The doorman bowed and asked Jiang Wuming with a smile.
"Checking in."
Jiang Wuming looked at the doorman with a hint of surprise and replied.
"I'm sorry, sir, all our rooms are booked for the next two days." the doorman said.
"I see. Thank you."
Jiang Wuming was momentarily stunned, then realized that it was likely the drivers and others accompanying the representatives who had taken up the hotel rooms.
As he spoke, Jiang Wuming keenly sensed several pairs of eyes falling on him from people sitting in the hotel lobby's lounge area.
This discovery surprised Jiang Wuming, but he didn't think much of it. He turned and left, heading for another hotel.
...
Lizhuang.
In a villa within the villa complex.
Ye Zheng sat on the sofa in the villa's living room. Ye Feng poured Ye Zheng a cup of tea, his expression hesitant.
Ye Zheng saw this and said, "Xiao Feng, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Grandpa, I just noticed that Gu Lu, his son Gu Tianlong, and Long Yongjie have left the villa and gone to the main villa in the manor. They should be going to see Li Guyi."
Ye Feng hesitated before revealing his observation, then asked in confusion, "Grandpa, among the guests here, your status and prestige are the most prominent, and your generation is the same as Li Guyi's. Why is Li Guyi seeing the Gu father and son first?"
"We had just arrived at Lizhuang when Li Guyi sent me a message, wanting to come and see us proactively, but I refused," Ye Zheng explained.
"Why?" Ye Feng became even more puzzled.
"I am waiting for some news," Ye Zheng said.
"What news?"
Ye Feng continued to ask, as if he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"Ding—"
This time, a soft ding answered Ye Feng. Ye Zheng's phone chimed.
As if prepared, Ye Zheng directly took out his phone, saw the message content, and handed it to Ye Feng: "This message."
Ye Feng took the phone and clearly saw the message content: "Chief, Jiang Wuming has arrived in Yishan County."
"Didn't the Li family not invite Jiang Wuming? Why is he here?"
After reading the message, Ye Feng exclaimed in surprise.
"He came uninvited."
Ye Zheng smiled gently, his eyes gleaming. He seemed to be contemplating something.
Ye Feng's heart stirred. Seeing Ye Zheng's rare smile, he vaguely felt that his grandfather's special trip to Lizhuang was not primarily to congratulate Li Guyi, but because he guessed Jiang Wuming would come!
As this thought crossed his mind, Ye Feng hesitated. Ultimately, he did not dare to verify it with Ye Zheng. Instead, he wore a dejected expression.
The sights and sounds from his trip to Nangang had deeply impacted and shocked Ye Feng. His entire mindset had collapsed, and he had not yet recovered from the blow.
In this state, meeting Jiang Wuming here felt like facing an execution.
Ye Zheng saw the change in Ye Feng's expression and understood his thoughts, but he said nothing.
At the same time.
Just as Ye Feng had predicted, Gu Lu, his son Gu Tianlong, and the elder of the Dragon Gate, Long Yongjie, arrived at the main villa of the manor together.
The main villa was where the Li family had prepared accommodation for Li Guyi within the manor, but Li Guyi had never stayed there.
In the villa's hall, Li Guyi sat on the sofa. Upon seeing Gu Lu, Gu Tianlong, and Long Yongjie enter the hall, led by Zhu Mo, he rose to greet them: "Minister Gu, Master Long, Young Master Gu, welcome to Lizhuang!"
"Elder Li!"
"Divine Physician Li!"
"Grandpa Li!"
Gu Lu, Gu Tianlong, and Long Yongjie greeted Li Guyi in unison.
"Please, sit down." Li Guyi invited the three to take their seats.
"Please have some tea."
After Gu Lu, Gu Tianlong, and Long Yongjie were seated, women in Hanfu immediately brought over freshly brewed tea and served it to the three.
After this, the women withdrew from the room, and Zhu Mo also left. Only Li Guyi and the three guests remained in the room.
"Elder Li, it's been several years since I last saw you. You've hardly changed over the years, and you even look younger. Have you been taking elixirs?" Gu Lu broke the silence first, speaking in a relaxed tone.
"Heh, Minister Gu jokes. I haven't taken any elixirs, but I occasionally drink some nourishing wild mountain tea. If Minister Gu is interested, I can have someone prepare some for you later," Li Guyi chuckled.
"Elder Li, my grandfather originally intended to come, but due to his busy schedule, he couldn't leave the capital. Before I set out with Tianlong, he repeatedly instructed me to convey his blessings and apologies.
Now, I haven't even conveyed my grandfather's blessings, and Elder Li is already sending him wild mountain tea. If he knew, he would have to apologize to Elder Li later," Gu Tianlong said with a wry smile. His words were skillfully crafted, conveying the respect of the Gu family head and the entire Gu family for Li Guyi, while subtly bringing the two parties closer.
"Minister Gu is too kind."
Li Guyi smiled and stroked his beard, his mind as clear as a mirror, waiting for Gu Lu to bring up the main topic.
"Divine Physician Li, before I left the sect, my senior brother temporarily came out of seclusion and specifically instructed me to convey his blessings," Long Yongjie also conveyed the blessings of the true sect leader of the Dragon Gate, Zhuge Lingjun.
"Master Long, after the battle at the ancient city of Loulan, your senior brother was seriously injured. How is his condition now?" Li Guyi asked with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Divine Physician Li. My senior brother took the healing medicine you personally prepared for him years ago, and combined with years of closed-door recuperation, his injuries have healed. Currently, he is in seclusion to cultivate," Long Yongjie replied.
"It seems your senior brother is aiming for that legendary realm. If he succeeds, it will be a blessing for Long Country and for humanity. I truly hope he succeeds," Li Guyi sighed.
Long Yongjie cupped his hands and said no more.
Because he knew that in this meeting, the main protagonists were Gu Lu and his son Gu Tianlong.
"Elder Li, some time ago, Qingyuan approached me and mentioned the matter of our children, Lianyi and Tianlong. Our entire Gu family hopes that the two children can walk the path together.
Today, after I arrived at Lizhuang, Qingyuan said he had already reported this matter to you. What do you think about this?" Gu Lu, seeing that the time was right, no longer waited and began to get to the point.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
As Gu Lu finished speaking, Gu Tianlong and Long Yongjie also fixed their gazes on Li Guyi, awaiting his response.
"Minister Gu, Qingyuan did indeed mention this to me."
Li Guyi's smile faded, and his expression became calm. "However, I cannot give you an answer now. I will have to wait until after tomorrow."
"Grandpa Li, why do we have to wait until tomorrow?" Gu Tianlong, unable to contain himself, blurted out.
"Because, I just received news that Lianyi's fiancé, Jiang Wuming, has arrived in Yishan County! If nothing unexpected happens, he will come to Lizhuang tomorrow!" Li Guyi explained.
"Grandpa Li, I heard Uncle Qingyuan say that the Li family did not invite Jiang Wuming. Why did he come?" Gu Tianlong frowned upon hearing this.
"The Li family did not invite Jiang Wuming, but Lizhuang is here. If he wants to come, the Li family cannot stop him," Li Guyi said.
"Elder Li, are you suggesting that Jiang Wuming wants to use the opportunity of your birthday celebration to discuss his engagement with Lianyi with the Li family, and that is why you want to give us, the Gu family, a reply after tomorrow?" Gu Lu asked, gazing thoughtfully at Li Guyi.
"Mm."
Li Guyi responded softly, inwardly sighing. If his precious granddaughter hadn't insisted on having the entire Li family support young Jiang, he would have simply refused in one sentence. Why all this trouble?