418 Ch 418 - Since We're Here, Shouldn't We Speedrun This?
In such an environment, Ruoning's initially optimistic attitude would naturally be gradually beaten down.
She really didn't know how to solve the family problems, so Ruoning simply chose to retreat and stay at the Liuli Sect to cultivate.
In a way, the path Yino had originally suggested to Ruoning was very correct. Without the Liuli Sect as refuge, staying home every day really might have driven Ruoning crazy.
Even more, Ruoning felt the emotional barrier problem her master mentioned was related to family conflicts.
Anyway, Ruoning had some psychological trauma now.
If her mother and sisters knew Ruoning was embracing men outside, they'd definitely scold and lecture her angrily when she got home!
Thinking of this, Ruoning couldn't help glancing up at Yino and imperceptibly twisting her waist to escape his embrace.
"This is Liu Town. There'll be more people on the street if we keep walking. We should be more careful. Wait until we go to the Liuli Sect in a couple days, then you can hug me all you want..."
Perhaps worried Yino might overthink, Ruoning explained in a slightly lowered voice as she pulled away.
But Yino disagreed when her words finished and continued reaching out to embrace her:
"Come on, today's New Year's Day. You haven't even eaten before sneaking out of the Liu mansion. Do you really think your mighty Liu family would be stingy about a few shadow guards tailing you?"
"Shadow guards...?"
"Yeah, I sensed several killing intents the moment I made my move back at the bridge. Those shadow guards probably would have subdued me the instant I attacked you if not for my little fox's excellent illusion talent."
Yino rubbed the girl's waist playfully while his expression remained focused ahead, describing the situation flatly.
The snow-robed girl in his arms widened her eyes at these words, finally remembering details from their earlier fight.
No wonder... Ruoning hadn't caught Yino's scent at all back then...
So Jinyue had been using illusions to provide cover from behind.
Thinking of this, Ruoning pouted slightly with grievance: "Well there's nothing I can do about it. Liu Town is my family's territory after all. Having shadow guards planted here is pretty normal. You're the one who insisted I come to town to meet you!"
"That's precisely why I specifically wanted to come to Liu Town, because we'll be monitored."
At some point, Yino suddenly smiled brightly, his embrace becoming unprecedentedly intimate.
Ruoning was pressed into his arms. She'd instinctively wanted to struggle a bit, but thinking of what Yino just said, their intimate gestures were already being monitored. So Ruoning simply gave up and linked arms with Yino, resting her small face on his shoulder.
"Yino, you're still so scheming..."
The girl complained quietly.
Yino glanced down at her. Snow was falling in Liu Town, gradually covering Ruoning's blue hair with white frost.
He pressed his left hand to open a bamboo umbrella, his right hand taking over to shield the girl in his arms from wind and snow.
"What scheming? Your husband is declaring ownership in advance! Those men secretly coveting you will naturally see reality clearly once gossip about you spreads through Jiangnan."
Yino spoke these words boldly, completely unbothered by attracting hostility.
At first listen, this overly ostentatious personality didn't match his usual values for doing things.
But Yino was just passing through Liu Town to plant some seeds along the way.
If he remembered correctly, this time period was exactly the honeymoon phase when the Lin and Liu mansions were flirting with each other. The martially robust Lin mansion had several young masters eyeing the Liu mansion's various daughters...
Yino was currently at the peak of his explosive strength growth, with a vast information gap from his reputation six months ago.
This information gap was essentially an opportunity for Yino.
Yino needed to use this chance to attract more villain hatred, so he could ruthlessly harvest them when they came looking for trouble later!
This way, he could both abduct the Liu family daughter to take home as his wife, and conveniently use the destiny daughter as bait for entrapment. Afterward, Ruoning would even have to thank Yino for helping her clear away troubles...
Thinking of this, Yino couldn't help turning to stare into Ruoning's eyes, saying seriously word by word:
"Don't worry. I take responsibility for my own actions. I'll openly and honorably marry you from the Liu mansion now that I promised to marry you back then!"
Ruoning couldn't help lifting her face to gaze into Yino's eyes when his words fell.
Her expression shifted from hesitation to being moved to tears, pressing her cherry lips together with utmost seriousness.
Ruoning finally raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes after a long silence at the ancient town's street entrance: "Do you truly mean these words?"
"Truly."
Yino nodded in reply.
But this time, Ruoning suddenly pouted with slight resentment after a brief pause: "Hmph, you men's mouths are all lying ghosts!"
"?"
The corner of Yino's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
His mind was rapidly reviewing what oversight might have been caught by Ruoning to expose his lie in those few seconds.
But just then, Ruoning suddenly cupped the young man's face with both hands, giggling like a prank: "But my beloved's mouth is different! Even if you're lying, it still make me happy!"
"Where... did you learn such cheesy pickup lines?" Yino's mouth twitched slightly, his smile strained as he imperceptibly wiped a few drops of sweat from his cheek.
But the girl became even more intimate, giggling as she nuzzled into his arms: "I don't know, I made it up on the spot!"
"It's getting late, Yino. Let me treat you to our Liu Town's most famous restaurant!"
The rich lady took her fiancé's arm with one hand and raised her embroidered purse with the other, generously offering to pay.
Yino glanced at her and smiled faintly:
"I came all this way to Jiangnan. Aren't you going to invite me to dinner at the Liu mansion tonight?"
"Eh...?"
The sweet moment had just begun, but the happy smile on the girl's face came to an abrupt halt.
Yino stopped walking and gazed at the Liu family estate at the end of the street, smiling coldly:
"Shouldn't meeting my future father-in-law be expected since we're here?"
"Moreover, I've prepared my gift already."
His left arm was suddenly covered with blood-red scales as his words fell, while he summoned a black-red demonic blade radiating evil energy from his waist.
Instantly, Ruoning felt unprecedented murderous aura and couldn't help but pale as she looked at Yino: "You, where did you get another evil sword! And you call this a greeting gift? Are you here to destroy my Liu clan!"
"Hey, silly girl, you don't understand anything. This thing works way better than bringing fruit baskets or milk!"
"????"
"Relax, I'm really strong now."
----
After all, tonight was New Year's Day.
The Liu mansion naturally valued traditional festivals. Holiday family banquets were almost essential events.
However, tonight's banquet atmosphere clearly lacked some festive cheer.
Liu Yuliang listened to a shadow guard's report with a furrowed brow on one side of the long table. His peripheral vision caught the Lin mansion sons-in-law and in-laws on the opposite side of the banquet, making his expression extremely difficult.
"Who would have thought..."
The Lin mansion elder sitting opposite sighed heavily at some point: "The Jiangnan Liu mansion has been famous for generations for scholarly culture and literature, but looking at it now, even their own daughters lack proper upbringing!"
Bang!
The Liu mansion elder at the head table couldn't bear the humiliation any longer and slammed the table, throwing down his chopsticks in fury.
Li Shauna sitting beside Liu Yuliang quickly chimed in sternly, seeing the elder's anger:
"Outrageous!"
"This girl has truly gone mad! Skipping the family banquet to run around the streets embarrassing the Liu family!"
"Someone! Send the shadow guards to drag Ruoning back right now!"