Free Web NovelChapter 81: Chapter 81: The Sky Over Jizhou Has Changed
"Elder Du, why are you crying?"
At this moment, Jiang Xinghai leisurely raised a hand and lit a cigarette, his expression one of confusion.
"I..."
Du Jingsong hadn’t even realized he’d been angered to the point of tears.
He wiped the tears from his face. "The wind must have blown some sand into my eyes."
Even he didn’t believe that line.
"Yes, a wind has picked up. The skies over Jizhou are changing, too."
Jiang Xinghai went along with Du Jingsong’s flimsy excuse, glancing up at the vast night sky. "Wouldn’t you agree, Elder Du?"
"Indeed. The skies over Jizhou have already changed." Du Jingsong’s expression faltered.
’Jiang Xinghai’s words have a double meaning!’
"Here I am in Jizhou, and I can’t help but feel besieged on all sides. Do you think this change is for the better or for the worse, Elder Du?" Jiang Xinghai turned around with a serious expression and leaned over the table with both hands.
"It’s a long story." fгeewebnovёl.com
A sad look appeared in Du Jingsong’s eyes. "Jizhou may be small, but it has all the essential parts. The Yu, Song, Wang, and Du—the Four Great Martial Arts Clans. Since our founding, we have weathered countless hardships and finally reached our zenith several decades ago. But ever since that incident five years ago..."
"Drink." Jiang Xinghai raised his glass.
Du Jingsong also raised his glass and drank deeply, his eyes fixed on Jiang Xinghai. "Three years ago, the Yu Family was wiped out in a great fire. Not long after, the Song Family moved out of Jizhou overnight... And just a few days ago, the Wang Family was also burned to the ground in a fire..."
"Then you must know why such misfortune befell those three families, correct, Elder Du?" Jiang Xinghai’s expression grew serious.
"I only heard that five years ago, those three families joined forces to kidnap a mysterious couple. Perhaps this is the karmic result of that act." Du Jingsong raised his glass again.
Jiang Xinghai asked, "And what else do you know, Elder Du?"
Du Jingsong shook his head. "My Du Family had no intention of getting involved, so we did not investigate the reason."
He said this, but it was a lie.
Just last night, he and Du Fangfei had witnessed firsthand how Jiang Xinghai crushed Wang Yuan.
Jiang Xinghai didn’t expose the lie. He slowly raised his glass and drank, his gaze drifting back to the pavilion in the middle of the man-made lake.
He felt more and more that the place held an aura that was incredibly familiar to him.
"Grandpa Zeng, we’re back."
Just then, Du Fangfei and Du Fangqing returned together, having changed into simple tank tops and shorts.
If before, in their form-fitting dresses, the two women had looked like goddesses descended to earth, sacred and inviolable...
Then now, their attire was far more down-to-earth, giving them a gentle air that made one want to pull them into an embrace—or even rough them up a little first.
"That outfit is unbecoming. Go back and rest." Seeing them, Du Jingsong’s brow furrowed.
"Since they’re here, they might as well stay."
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xinghai beckoned to the two women. "If the two Misses Du don’t wish to drink with me, you can also keep me company under the moon and flowers while we chat about life."
The two women blushed and lowered their heads.
’Chat about life under the moon and flowers?’
’Isn’t that a blatant come-on?’
They had only returned to say a quick hello before leaving, simply because Du Jingsong was there.
As for their casual outfits, there was truly no ulterior motive; they had simply washed up and were getting ready for bed.
"Duke Jiang, I have failed in raising them properly. Allow me to send them back."
At that, Du Jingsong suddenly stood up, as if he had made a new decision.
"Elder Du, why must you make things so difficult?" Jiang Xinghai laughed.
"Huh?"
Du Jingsong was completely baffled. "I’m making things difficult?"
"The two young ladies came back to talk with me after freshening up. It’s clear they have some affection for me, yet you want to stand in their way. That’s hardly appropriate." Jiang Xinghai watched as the expressions on the two women changed, and he began to spell things out more clearly.
As expected, Du Jingsong’s eyes lit up.
’Are we finally getting to the matter of the marriage proposal?’ freeweɓnøvel.com
"It is I who was foolish."
Du Jingsong’s expression gradually brightened. "Duke Jiang, my two great-granddaughters have reached the age for marriage. In recent years, many talented young men have come to propose, but I’ve spoiled them both rotten. They insist they won’t marry anyone less than a peerless genius. Don’t you think they’re aiming a bit too high?"
He deliberately put the ball in Jiang Xinghai’s court.
If Jiang Xinghai agreed that his two great-granddaughters’ expectations were indeed too high, then the matter of the marriage proposal would go no further.
On the other hand, if Jiang Xinghai believed that such standards were not too high, but simply what one should expect from the young ladies of a Martial Arts Clan, then everything would proceed smoothly!
’This old fox!’
Jiang Xinghai cursed inwardly.
He had come here to issue a veiled warning, but the other man had simply endured it with forbearance.
From beginning to end, neither of them had once mentioned the marriage proposal.
He had hoped Du Jingsong would be the first to bring it up.
But in the end, he was the one who had been put on the spot.
"Duke Jiang, are you listening?"
At that, Du Jingsong raised his glass, feeling extremely pleased with himself.
He eagerly awaited Jiang Xinghai’s response.
"Oh, I was busy trying to guess the identity of that peerless expert you mentioned and didn’t quite catch what you said, Elder Du. Could you say it again?" Jiang Xinghai said with a half-smile.
