"Brother, do we really have to lock up Qinghe?"
Watching her nephew being taken away, Meng Wanyang felt a pang of worry. She knew her nephew's temperament best. This would not teach him a lesson; instead, it would only ignite his fighting spirit.
"The rules of our Meng family must not be broken." Meng Yi had no choice. These were rules that true disciples had to abide by.
No matter who it was, if Qinghe did not adhere to this rule, he would not hesitate to reconsider their identity.
Their Meng family had many descendants, and they were not short of excellent disciples.
"I know, it's just that Qinghe happened to meet a woman he liked and couldn't control his heart." Meng Wanyang sighed. They had all experienced such things.
Matters of the heart were the most difficult to control.
"Yang'er, do not let emotions get the better of you. This is a crucial moment for our Meng family. No one can afford to make any mistakes." Meng Yi's eyes were filled with warning. "You are not allowed to visit Qinghe. If he remains stubborn, perhaps he is not suited to be the Young Master."
Meng Wanyang was stunned upon hearing her brother's words. She never expected him to say such a thing so easily.
Qinghe was someone they had nurtured since childhood, yet he was considering abandoning him for such a trivial matter.
"Yang'er, a person's character is determined from a young age and does not easily change." Meng Yi sighed. Qinghe was exceptional in some aspects, but he might not necessarily be a good Young Master. He lacked the ability to lead their Meng family further.
"Yes, Brother." Meng Wanyang took a step back, knowing that her brother's judgment was likely correct.
Thinking of Meng Qinghe's actions upon meeting Chu Lingwei, Meng Wanyang's eyes darkened. Women, indeed, could be destructive.
Just like herself, they could unknowingly ruin someone.
"Did they really not come to our doorstep?"
Chu Lingwei's eyes remained fixed on the street outside, waiting for the Meng family to appear. But they didn't. They had been sitting here for an hour, and the outside was calm.
"They will not come." Leng Xingzhi answered with certainty. "Meng Qinghe dared to covet you. It is already giving them face that we haven't gone to their doorstep to settle the score."
Thinking of Meng Qinghe, Leng Xingzhi's eyes were filled with coldness. How dare he harbor thoughts of his junior sister? He was truly tired of living.
Hearing the word "covet," Chu Lingwei's face flushed. It wasn't that the word itself had any issues. It was that these words coming from her senior brother's mouth made her heart inexplicably pound.
"Senior Brother, are they really not going to trouble you?" Chu Lingwei was still a little uneasy.
"No, the Meng family has a rule that they cannot marry women from outside the family." Leng Xingzhi shook his head and explained to his junior sister, "Meng Qinghe, as the Young Master of the Meng family, how could he not know this rule? Knowing that he cannot marry a woman from outside the family, yet still wanting to pursue you, is this not deliberately provoking our Xiuling Academy?"
"So that's how it is." Chu Lingwei immediately understood why the Meng family dared not come to their doorstep.
This was their mistake from the start. If they dared to come knocking, it would be too arrogant, clearly indicating they wanted to antagonize their Xiuling Academy.
"I didn't expect the Meng family to be no more than this." Chu Lingwei stood up in anger upon hearing this explanation. Did she look that gullible?
"Don't worry, Senior Brother will definitely seek justice for my junior sister." Leng Xingzhi's eyes darkened. The Meng family would pay the price for their actions today.
With her senior brother's explanation, Chu Lingwei was no longer worried. She was the victim.
If the Meng family wanted to cause trouble, they would be doing it intentionally.
"In a few days, there will be an auction here. Junior sister, would you accompany me?" Leng Xingzhi's voice softened. The entire island was now filled with experts at the Supreme Realm and Dominator Realm. He was worried about leaving his junior sister alone.
"Senior Brother, do you know where my father went?" Chu Lingwei always felt that her senior brother knew many things but was unwilling to tell her.
"Your father should be safe now." Leng Xingzhi sighed and reached out to stroke Chu Lingwei's head. "How about this: after this auction, Senior Brother will take you to find your father?"
Chu Lingwei's eyes lit up upon hearing her senior brother's words. She suddenly remembered that his injuries might not have healed yet, and she shook her head. "No need. Senior Brother, just tell me my father's whereabouts."
Leng Xingzhi felt helpless. Nothing could escape his junior sister's discerning eyes.
Songchenglou Dungeon.
Meng Wanyang arrived at the dungeon where her nephew was imprisoned. Seeing the spiritual energy punishments being inflicted upon her nephew, she felt a pang of sympathy. "Qinghe."
"Aunt."
Meng Qinghe's face lit up upon seeing his aunt. "Are you here to let me out?"
Meng Wanyang shook her head. Without her brother's permission, no one dared to release Qinghe. "Qinghe, at this point, do you know you were wrong?"
"Aunt, do you also think I was wrong?" Meng Qinghe looked at his aunt in surprise. She should be the one who hated this rule the most. Why was she willing to give up the person she loved?
"Yes, you were wrong. As a member of the Meng family, you must abide by the Meng family's rules." Meng Wanyang nodded. "Qinghe, do not think about that Chu Lingwei anymore. She is not someone you can afford to provoke."
"Why? Is it because of the Leng family?"
The more others wanted him to admit his failure, the more Meng Qinghe wanted to prove himself.
"Yes, not just the Leng family, but also Xiuling Academy. You should know that Chu Lingwei is a direct disciple of the Dean of Xiuling Academy. He will not allow you to bully his disciple as you please."
Meng Wanyang was exasperated. Why couldn't her nephew understand? If their family didn't have this rule, it would be fine for him to like Chu Lingwei. But now, it was not allowed. If he insisted on his own way, he would be harming their Meng family.
"Our Meng family is so powerful, why should we be afraid?" Meng Qinghe knew in his heart but refused to admit it.
Meng Wanyang felt disappointed listening to her nephew.
"Qinghe, you are the Young Master of the Meng family. Whatever you do, you must consider our Meng family." After saying her final words, Meng Wanyang turned to leave. Perhaps her brother was right. Qinghe was truly not suited to be the future patriarch of their Meng family.
Meng Qinghe watched his aunt leave decisively, and anger surged in his eyes. As the Young Master of the Meng family, he would definitely destroy this rule.
The day of the auction arrived.
Chu Lingwei had prepared early, waiting to depart with her senior brother.
"Strange, Senior Brother, why haven't I seen anyone from our Xiuling Academy?" Chu Lingwei remembered they had mentioned that there was a treasure at this auction that many Dominator Realm experts were determined to obtain.
"Even if they came, you might not necessarily see them," Leng Xingzhi said with a smile.