The Liu family manor was brightly lit that night, with nearly all the Liu family disciples present.
All of this was because tomorrow was the wedding day of Su Shiyun and Zheng Fei!
Su Shiyun was the granddaughter of Liu Shicheng, the patriarch of the Liu family.
Under normal circumstances, Su Shiyun's wedding should have been held at the Su family home. However, Su Shiyun and her mother, Liu Guifang, had been driven out of the Su family twelve years ago and returned to the Liu family.
In a room on the west side of the Liu family manor, Su Shiyun stood by the window, gazing absentmindedly at the lotuses in the pond outside.
Tonight, she was wearing a qipao with a landscape ink painting design, which perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure.
Judging by her figure alone, she was the kind of woman who could make any man's blood boil, no matter the era or the place!
As for her appearance, she had a perfect oval face, exquisite features, eyes as bright as stars, and fair skin. Even without makeup, she could instantly outshine many plastic surgery-enhanced internet celebrities.
"Shiyun, I'll go and talk to your maternal grandfather again and cancel tomorrow's wedding!"
Seeing her daughter's forlorn back, Liu Guifang felt a pang of heartache, coupled with an undeniable anger.
Su Shiyun possessed outstanding business acumen. Since taking over the Liu family's business, she had reversed the Liu family's previous decline, allowing them to remain among the prominent families in Guishan.
Even when the Zheng family, Guishan's foremost family, launched a devastating offensive against the Liu family not long ago, Su Shiyun had withstood the immense pressure and prevented the Liu family from total ruin.
As a result, the Liu family, in order to cease hostilities, agreed to the Zheng family's demands—that Su Shiyun marry Zheng Fei, the dissolute scion of the Zheng family!
"Mom, it's no use. If Grandpa wasn't willing to abandon me from the start, he wouldn't have agreed. It's a done deal now, how could he possibly go back on his word?"
Su Shiyun turned around and spoke softly, her delicate face devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"Shiyun, since you know all this, why did you agree to marry that Zheng Fei at your grandfather's request? Is it just because your family told you this matter originated with you?"
Liu Guifang's eyes were red, and there was a hint of bewilderment in her expression.
After the Zheng family proposed that Su Shiyun marry Zheng Fei as a condition to end the conflict, the Liu family not only agreed immediately, but Su Shiyun's uncles and cousins also put pressure on her, urging her to prioritize the greater good of the Liu family.
"Yes and no."
Su Shiyun sighed softly.
"What do you mean?" Liu Guifang instinctively asked.
"Mom, as you said, I've done a lot for the Liu family these past few years, which is enough to repay the affection and kindness Grandpa and the Liu family have shown us."
As Su Shiyun spoke, she turned back, her gaze once again falling on the window, looking towards the distant horizon. The figure of a young boy appeared in her mind. "The Liu family adopted Wuming and agreed to protect him eight years ago. I will repay this kindness for Wuming!"
Hearing Su Shiyun's words, Liu Guifang also thought of the boy named Wuming and immediately burst into tears.
Wuming was a child she and her husband had adopted.
Years ago, when her husband died in an accident, Su Shiyun, for the sake of Wuming, committed a grave mistake. She, along with Su Shiyun and Wuming, were driven out of the Su family and returned to the Liu family.
One day eight years ago, Zheng Fei of the Zheng family was about to assault Su Shiyun.
On that day, the twelve-year-old Wuming, armed with a wine bottle, smashed Zheng Fei down. Then, like a rabid dog, with bloodshot eyes, he grabbed shards of the beer bottle and stabbed Zheng Fei eighteen times, only stopping when Zheng Fei had fainted.
That day, Zheng Fei was rushed to the hospital and underwent ten hours of emergency treatment to save his life. The Zheng family demanded that the Liu family hand over Wuming, or face their unyielding opposition!
That day, Liu Guifang and Su Shiyun, mother and daughter, knelt in the Liu family manor, begging Liu Shicheng to protect Wuming. Liu Shicheng eventually agreed, but Wuming's whereabouts became unknown.
"Shiyun, you should know that your maternal grandfather was willing to go to war with the Zheng family to protect Wuming because the Liu family's strength at the time was still superior to the Zheng family's. Moreover, Zheng Fei, that beast, was in the wrong first. If the Liu family had compromised with the Zheng family then, they would have lost all face."
Liu Guifang wiped away her tears and spoke again.
"Mom, of course, I know. At that time, whether it was Grandpa or others in the Liu family, their willingness to protect Wuming was for the sake of the Liu family's reputation. But the Liu family did indeed have a nurturing debt towards Wuming.
Su Shiyun sighed softly as she said this, "Now, the Liu family is no match for the Zheng family. If the war is not stopped, they will inevitably perish."
Liu Guifang remained silent.
She knew that since Zheng Liying married the head of the Sujiang Military Region, the Zheng family had begun to prosper.
"Shiyun, why don't we ask Su Yuanshan to intervene and stop the wedding?"
Liu Guifang suddenly made a suggestion.
Su Yuanshan was Su Shiyun's grandfather. It was he who had made the decision to drive their family of three out of the Su family years ago.
"Mom, it's useless. If the Su family cared about family ties, they wouldn't have ignored us for so many years. Even if the Su family did care about family ties, they wouldn't offend the head of the Sujiang Military Region to help us."
Su Shiyun gave a self-deprecating smile.
The Dragon Country Military Region was an organization responsible for managing Dragon Country's martial artists, as well as safeguarding the country.
In today's era of martial arts prosperity, the Military Region held immense power!
"But, Shiyun, Zheng Fei, that beast, marrying you is clearly intended for revenge and torment. This will ruin your entire life! You might even wish you were dead!"
Liu Guifang had also heard that the Military Region was the most powerful department in the Dragon Country today, and she felt a deep sense of powerlessness, her tears flowing like rain.
Su Shiyun's mind was clear, and she remained silent.
Furthermore, she thought further ahead than Liu Guifang—even if she refused to marry Zheng Fei, would the Zheng family and Zheng Fei let her go?
No!
Moreover, the Zheng family and Zheng Fei would even target Liu Guifang!
She had already decided to commit suicide after the wedding ceremony with Zheng Fei tomorrow.
At that time, even if the Zheng family was dissatisfied, they would not target the Liu family and Liu Guifang again in order to preserve their reputation—the two families would be in-laws, and Su Shiyun would have died in the Zheng family's hands!
In this way, she would not only protect Liu Guifang but also help her younger brother repay the debt owed to the Liu family.
"Brother, I really wish I could see you one last time before I leave this world."
Suddenly, Su Shiyun faintly saw the blurry figure of the young boy in the distant sky. Her heart ached, and she couldn't help but lament silently, two lines of tears streaming from her eyes, down her unadorned face, and into her mouth.
The tears were very bitter.
"Su Shiyun, open the door and kneel to welcome your husband!"
Just then, a mocking voice suddenly sounded outside the door.
Zheng Fei, his face flushed, reeking of alcohol, led a group of dissolute youths towards Su Shiyun's residence.
Just moments ago, he had been drinking at a nightclub with the scoundrels around him. Someone had congratulated him, saying that he would be able to play with Su Shiyun's beautiful body tomorrow night!
Fueled by the alcohol, upon hearing this, his lust was ignited, and he decided to take Su Shiyun by force tonight, bringing his men with him directly.
This marriage, for the Zheng family, was a means to force the Liu family to surrender and abandon their resistance, thereby achieving the objective of conquering without fighting and maximizing their profits.
For him, it was to avenge the past. After he had thoroughly ravaged Su Shiyun, he would discard her like trash!
"According to custom, the bride and groom should not see each other tonight. Take your men and leave!"
Liu Guifang walked out of the room, her expression grim as she faced Zheng Fei and his entourage.
"What is this custom nonsense? Get lost!"
Zheng Fei shouted angrily, then walked directly towards the door.
"I won't let you see Shiyun tonight!"
Liu Guifang stood at the door of the room, unmoving, like a mother hen desperately trying to protect her chicks.
"Scram!"
Seeing this, Zheng Fei coldly roared and kicked Liu Guifang to the ground. Before Liu Guifang could get up, he gestured to the scoundrels behind him, "Pin down this old woman for me!"
"Zheng Fei, what are you doing?!"
Before the scoundrels could respond, the door opened again. Su Shiyun saw Liu Guifang clutching her stomach and lying on the ground, and angrily shouted at Zheng Fei.
"Doing what a husband and wife should do."
Zheng Fei grinned lewdly, stepped forward, and grabbed Su Shiyun's arm.
"We're not married yet, let me go!"
Su Shiyun struggled fiercely against Zheng Fei, saying loudly.
"An early day or a late day, it makes little difference," Zheng Fei said with a playful smile.
"Zheng Fei, you beast!!"
Seeing this, Liu Guifang immediately became furious. Struggling and crying, she roared at Zheng Fei, wishing she could tear him to shreds, but she couldn't break free from the grasp of the two scoundrels.
"Su Shiyun, you willingly close the door, take off your clothes, and obediently serve me, and I'll have them let your mother go, ensuring her safety. Otherwise, you can send your mother to the hospital."
Zheng Fei ignored Liu Guifang's roaring and looked at Su Shiyun playfully, as if she were a plaything. "Tell me, what is your choice?"
Su Shiyun's pretty face turned ashen, her body trembling violently. She bit her lip tightly, remaining silent.
At this moment, blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth, and her face was filled with humiliation and despair!
Originally, in order to protect Liu Guifang and repay her brother's debt to the Liu family, she had decided to commit suicide after the wedding ceremony with Zheng Fei tomorrow. However, she hadn't expected that plans would change so quickly—Zheng Fei, in order to possess her body in advance, was directly threatening Liu Guifang's life!
"Shi... Shiyun, don't agree to this beast. Even if I die, I won't let him succeed!"
Just then, Liu Guifang, with bloodshot eyes, roared, struggling frantically as if to smash her head against the ground to prevent her daughter from being brutally harmed by Zheng Fei because of her.
"I..."
Su Shiyun's eyes were red, her whole body trembled, and despair was written all over her face.
However—
Before Su Shiyun could finish her words, a furious roar, like a bolt of thunder, suddenly exploded in the sky above the Liu family manor!
"Bastard, tell me, how do you want to die?!"
Under the night sky, Jiang Wuming's figure appeared at the Liu family manor, rapidly approaching Liu Guifang and Su Shiyun, mother and daughter!