At noon, Wan Yunting arrived at the Emei Sect's refectory and found many people from various sects gathered, making it even livelier.
"Hall Master Wan has arrived, quickly..."
Tan Song, the Sect Master of Mount Tai Sect, seeing Wan Yunting enter with Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, hurried to greet him with a smile. "Hall Master Wan, there are quite a few people here today. Shall I introduce them?"
Wan Yunting looked at the table inside, where many unfamiliar faces were seated. They wore different attires, clearly representatives from various sects sent to attend the wedding of the Emei Sect's prospective sect leader. There were sect leaders, sect masters, and elders...
"This is Sect Master Liu of the Diancang Sect!"
Tan Song pointed to a man in a splendid long robe, around fifty years old, with a rosy complexion. This was indeed Liu Songnan, the Sect Master of the Diancang Sect.
Wan Yunting smiled and cupped his fist in greeting. "Greetings, Sect Master Liu."
"Greetings, Hall Master Wan," Liu Songnan reciprocated, cupping his fist and politely saying with a smile, "I have long heard of Hall Master Wan's youthful talent. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."
"Sect Master Liu is too kind," Wan Yunting waved his hand humbly.
Tan Song continued to introduce him to the sect masters and sect leaders he didn't recognize. Wan Yunting responded with humility and politeness, greeting everyone present, creating an atmosphere of harmony...
Outside, a group of young male and female disciples were also gathered, pointing and discussing Wan Yunting, who was seated with the sect leaders and sect masters of various sects.
Especially many young female disciples from various sects gazed at Wan Yunting with infatuation. After all, he was renowned, with legends of him both in the outside world and the martial arts community, so many female disciples from various sects were fond of him.
"Elder Zuoqi of the Wudang Sect has arrived!" someone shouted from outside.
Then, Elder Zuoqi, clad in a grey robe, entered with Xian Yun and Zi Qing, Huo Fei and Chong Ling'er followed by Lan Xin and the others. Simultaneously, Grand Elder Master Jun Xuan and Third Elder Guo Yu accompanied them into the refectory and directly into the hall.
The sect leaders of various sects seated with Wan Yunting rose and cupped their fists in greeting upon seeing Elder Zuoqi, the representative of the Wudang Sect. "Greetings, Elder Zuoqi..."
Facing the representatives of the Qingcheng Sect's Sect Master Liu, the Huashan Sect's Sect Master Shi, the Shaolin Sect's Master Huikong, the Diancang Sect's Sect Master Liu, the Kunlun Sect's Sect Master Yuan, the Kongtong Sect's Sect Master Lu, and other sect leaders and sect masters, Elder Zuoqi cupped his fist and smiled, greeting everyone one by one.
"When did Hall Master Wan arrive?" Elder Zuoqi asked with a smile.
Wan Yunting cupped his fist and smiled, "I arrived yesterday."
Lan Xin then said, "You came to the Emei Sect without telling us in advance. My master and I were planning to go to the capital to find you."
Wan Yunting's expression faltered. He glanced at Zi Qing, who stood beside him, her beauty like a divine stroke of genius, with naturally innocent phoenix eyes. She seemed unfazed by the lively scene around her. He said, "Senior Sister Zi Qing, why were you looking for me in the capital?"
The people from various sects around, especially the young male disciples, were astonished by Zi Qing's divine and ingenious beauty.
Although they had heard that Zi Qing, the foremost sword prodigy of the younger generation of the Wudang Sect, was a great beauty, seeing her in person made them feel that the term "great beauty" was insufficient to describe her grace. Only "astonishingly beautiful" was fitting.
"We'll talk about that later," Lan Xin said with a mysterious smile, keeping him in suspense.
"Does Elder Zuoqi know Hall Master Wan?"
However, Master Jun Xuan, Elder Guo Yu, and the sect masters of other sects looked curiously at Elder Zuoqi of the Wudang Sect, wondering why he knew Wan Yunting.
Elder Zuoqi smiled and said, "Hall Master Wan visited our Wudang Sect before the new year."
"Oh, so that's how it is," everyone finally understood.
Zuoqi did not elaborate on what Wan Yunting had done at the Wudang Sect, as he had almost lost his life there. If this matter were to spread, it would cause significant damage to the Wudang Sect's reputation.
Therefore, the Wudang Sect had also prohibited their disciples from discussing Wan Yunting's affairs at the sect, and had not even publicized the fact that he had attained enlightenment at Sword Cliff and inherited the Grand Dao Sword Art from their sword ancestor.
Thus, people from various sects were unaware that Wan Yunting had inherited the Grand Dao Sword Art from the Wudang Sect's sword ancestor.
Most of the invited representatives from various sects had arrived. Master Jun Xuan was busy attending to the sect leaders and elders of the major sects, and did not have time to pay much attention to Wan Yunting.
After lunch, Wan Yunting led Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong back to the guest courtyard. Coincidentally, Elder Guo Yu had also arranged for the people of the Wudang Sect to reside in a nearby guest courtyard.
"Hall Master Wan, who are they?" Lan Xin, accompanying her master Zi Qing, approached Wan Yunting proactively and asked curiously upon seeing Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong.
Wan Yunting was sitting in a pavilion in the courtyard with Lu Xiaodie, while Zheng Rong was preparing tea. The two women were also observing the approaching Master Zi Qing and Lan Xin. Wan Yunting smiled and invited them to sit before introducing them. "These two were disciples of the Hengshan Sect, but they are no longer. Sister Lu and Senior Sister Zheng!"
"Oh, so they are senior sisters from the Hengshan Sect." Lan Xin nodded. She knew that Wan Yunting had visited the Hengshan Sect some time ago, and then the Sect Master of the Hengshan Sect had an accident. The martial arts world was now abuzz with this news...
Zi Qing was not concerned with these matters. She sat to Wan Yunting's left, while Lu Xiaodie sat to his right. Her bright eyes were observing Zi Qing. Lu Xiaodie had certainly heard of Zi Qing's great reputation as the foremost sword prodigy of the younger generation of the Wudang Sect, but she hadn't expected Wan Yunting to have a connection with her!
"Heh, I really want to spar with the Wudang Sect's sword prodigy!" Lu Xiaodie said with a smile.
Wan Yunting's expression paused. He glanced at her and chuckled, "Sister Lu, you should forget about it. Even I cannot defeat Senior Sister Zi Qing's sword techniques."
Lu Xiaodie's pretty face was stunned. She knew Wan Yunting's skills. "Is that true?"
"Yes," Wan Yunting pouted and nodded solemnly.
"Alright then." Lu Xiaodie had initially thought that the martial arts world had exaggerated Zi Qing's prowess, but since Wan Yunting said so, she had no choice but to concede.
At this moment, Chong Ling'er and Huo Fei also arrived. They sat down without any pretense and teased Wan Yunting, "Hall Master Wan, rumors are spreading outside that you are going to crash the wedding tomorrow. Is it true?"
Wan Yunting looked at Chong Ling'er and smiled, "What do you think?"
Lan Xin exclaimed in surprise, "Hall Master Wan, you're not actually going to crash the wedding, are you?"
"That's right, I've come to the Emei Sect this time to crash the wedding!" Wan Yunting said with an arrogant and nonchalant smile.
This statement caused Zi Qing, who had been indifferent, to slightly raise her delicate eyebrows. She took a sip of tea from her cup and said in her soft and pleasant voice, "I advise you not to do it!"
Wan Yunting's expression was taken aback. He turned to look at Zi Qing, knowing her indifferent nature, similar to how he described Elder Jin Yu of the Emei Sect the previous night, as someone who did not concern themselves with worldly affairs. However, he was surprised that Zi Qing would so readily advise him. This was truly rare.
Chong Ling'er and Huo Fei exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
The rumors had spread widely outside, and Wan Yunting had said he would crash the wedding tomorrow to cooperate with Master Jun Xuan.
In time, the matter became more credible, and many people believed that Wan Yunting might actually crash the wedding tomorrow.
This afternoon, someone saw Wan Yunting swaggering to Zhou Ruoxi's residence, and even having a clandestine meeting with her in a forest on the back mountain. This was witnessed by disciples from other sects!
This further solidified the rumors, and many people eagerly awaited tomorrow's spectacle of Wan Yunting causing a scene at the Emei Sect's prospective sect leader's wedding.
In the reception hall of Master Jun Xuan's residence, Zhang Xincai was also reporting to her about Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi's clandestine meeting in the bamboo forest on the back mountain.
Master Jun Xuan squinted her eyes and smiled, "Let them have their private meeting. We'll see how I deal with them tomorrow!"
Just then, a female disciple approached and stood at the doorway. "Grand Elder, Heavenly Master Lin of Longhu Mountain requests an audience."
Master Jun Xuan looked at Lin Yiping outside and nodded, signaling him to enter. Zhang Xincai bowed to Lin Yiping as he entered and discreetly withdrew.
After everyone else had left, Lin Yiping turned to look at Master Jun Xuan, who was seated in the main seat. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Jun Xuan, cancel this wedding!"
Master Jun Xuan, who was about to drink her tea, paused at his words and looked directly at Lin Yiping, huffing displeasantly, "Yiping, what are you talking about?"
Lin Yiping gazed at Master Jun Xuan, his tone very calm. "Jun Xuan, I know that your arrangement for Xiao Bao to marry Zhou Ruoxi is not a genuine attempt to compensate Xiao Bao, but rather to achieve another goal of yours!"
Master Jun Xuan, who had put down her teacup, snorted coldly and said, "Yiping, you don't need to be so tactful with me, but you are right. I might as well tell you directly, I am indeed using Xiao Bao, under the guise of his marriage to Zhou Ruoxi, to secure her succession as the Emei Sect's Sect Leader!"
Lin Yiping raised his eyebrows, his gaze darkening slightly, and his tone grew colder. "Jun Xuan, Xiao Bao is your son. For over thirty years, you have not fulfilled your responsibility as a mother. Now, you are using him as a tool to achieve your ambition of becoming the Sect Leader. Don't you think you have gone too far?"
Master Jun Xuan stared at him with her old eyes, remaining silent for a moment. After about thirty seconds, she stood up and walked to Lin Yiping, her tone softening slightly. "Yiping, this matter is not entirely as you perceive it."
"Yes, I admit that doing this is a bit excessive and unfair to Xiao Bao, but my intention in having him marry into the Emei Sect is genuinely to compensate him and fulfill my duty as a mother. However, this is just a secondary consideration."
"Hmph." Lin Yiping saw through her and snorted coldly, "Jun Xuan, I know you have always wanted to be the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect, and I won't say anything about that. But the worst thing you could have done is to use Xiao Bao and arrange such a conniving marriage for him!"
Seeing that Lin Yiping was resolute in his opposition, Master Jun Xuan's old face darkened slightly. "Lin Yiping, it is too late now. Tomorrow is Xiao Bao and Zhou Ruoxi's wedding. Representatives from various sects have already arrived at our Emei Sect. If you try to ruin this wedding now, you will be destroying me, and our entire Emei Sect!"
These words left Lin Yiping speechless and rebutted. He also understood that Master Jun Xuan was right; it was too late to say anything now.