Three days later, Phoenix City was in an uproar of celebration. All the high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and renowned figures who had been away had returned to Phoenix City.
Today was a day of great joy — Shangguan Ya, the future head of the Shangguan family, was taking as his bride Su Mei, the youngest daughter of Phoenix City's City Lord, Su Hen.
However, while firecrackers popped and drums thundered outside, the atmosphere inside a room within the City Lord's estate was suffocatingly somber.
Su Mei wore a crimson dress today. The gown was beautiful, bringing her sweet features to an exquisite pinnacle — she was truly a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.
Yet no matter how her handmaidens fussed over her appearance, no matter how laughter and merriment echoed from beyond the walls, not a shred of joy graced Su Mei's face. Instead, two glistening trails of tears slid down her fair cheeks.
The handmaidens were beside themselves with worry, constantly dabbing at her tears and trying to retouch her makeup. But the weeping only grew more relentless until every last trace of her carefully applied cosmetics had been completely ruined.
Boom!
"Get out of my way!"
A deafening crash erupted from the doorway. The sturdy door was blasted to splinters, and two City Lord's estate guards tumbled into the room, unconscious before they hit the floor.
"Aahhhh!" The sudden violence sent the handmaidens into terrified screams. But when two figures strode through the entrance, the servants froze in place, struck dumb.
A man and a woman walked in. The woman wore a white dress and was stunningly beautiful — her voluptuous figure and bewitching face were enough to ensnare the heart of anyone who looked upon her, capable of bewitching even other women. She was none other than Su Mei's elder sister, Su Rou.
Standing beside Su Rou was a tall, powerfully built man with thick brows, large eyes, and dark skin. He was no stranger either — he was the eldest brother of both Su Rou and Su Mei, Su Hen's firstborn son, Su Long.
Su Long was twenty-five this year. He had long since married and established his own household. Possessing a cultivation of the second level of the Xuan Martial realm, as the eldest son of the Su family, he spent most of his time away from Phoenix City, managing the family's connections and affairs. He rarely returned.
But the moment Su Long learned that his youngest sister was to be married to Shangguan Ya — and that she was being forced into it — he had rushed back immediately.
"Big Brother, Sister — why are you here?" At the sight of the two of them, Su Mei panicked and hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.
"Little sister, come with me." Su Long glanced at Su Mei's tear-streaked face and, without another word, grabbed her delicate hand and began pulling her toward the door. Su Rou followed close behind without uttering a sound.
"Big Brother, Sister — what are you doing? Let me go!" Su Mei struggled with all her might, but she couldn't summon any real strength at all. Before her eldest brother, her Spirit Martial realm cultivation was utterly powerless.
"Silly girl — you don't love that Shangguan Ya at all. How could you marry him? I won't stand by and watch you walk straight into a fire pit!" Su Long declared as he dragged Su Mei out of the chamber. But the moment they reached the palace entrance, he froze mid-step and came to an abrupt halt.
Before him stood several dozen people — all of them Phoenix City's top experts. Leading the group was Phoenix City's own City Lord, their father, Su Hen.
"What do you think you're doing?" Su Hen's sword-like brows knitted together as he spoke in an ice-cold voice.
"Father, I'm taking Xiao Mei away. I won't let her marry that bastard Shangguan Ya!" Su Long shouted.