Supreme Emperor of Mist

Cloud Plucking Sect.

It was located about a month's journey away from Fu-Rong Town on horseback.

The Cloud Plucking Sect is said to have a humble start. Three hundred years ago, it was merely a dojo where commoners practice some form of martial arts for their personal fitness and protection.

But it changed when a talented individual appeared in this small dojo, a small town, at the bottom of this mountain now known as the Zhai-Yun Men.

His name is Yang Yunzi, the founder of the Cloud Plucking Sect. And the small town where he grows up is now known as Fuyun City.

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Le-Xing Dwelling, under the jurisdiction of Eleventh Elder, Ouyang Jie.

They were called "dwelling" because it could benefit a cultivator living within its proximity. Almost nine out of ten buildings inside the vicinity of Cloud Plucking Sect is erected according to this requirement.

As for those exceptions, they're either unsuitable to be built or designated for insignificant commoners.

"I did not have high hope on the Jiao Household anyway from the start. You may dispose of them and move our base of operation to Su-Hang Town as soon as possible." elder Ouyang Jie said as he gently sips a mouthful of tea in his hand.

"By the way... Who's the winner of the Annual Hunting Festival this time?" the elder continued. His voice echoed around Xuan Fenglan's ears. It was transferred through the jade piece on her earring, to be exact.

"Hu Jia, from the Hu Household. Third-Level cultivation." Xuan Fenglan replied in a precise manner like that's how she usually speaks.

"Hmm... Any black horses?" elder Ouyang continued.

"Eight place's Yuan Kai and second place's Qin Lan. His three servants." Xuan Feng Lan added two more names to her list, with Lu Yi, Lu Qing Yun, and Huo Zunjie in her answer.

"Yuan Kai... Somewhat felt related to the damn old man from Zhou Treasured Pavilion Yuan Zhongkai. Did his beloved student, Zhou Mei, not participate in the festival?" elder Ouyang asked.

"No. Zhou Mei seems to have something bothering her, so she sent Yuan Kai to participate on her behalf," Xuan Fenglan replied.

"None of them is usable. Leave the Qins alone. Those people originated from the twelve elder's direct family, after all. I would like both of you to get out of trouble with Qin Fan and Qin Chan for now." elder Ouyang sighed as he speaks.

"Disciple... Understands," both of them softly acknowledged the words of Elder Ouyang.

"Then... Go ahead and do what you should. Fu-Rong Town is no longer worthy of our time. Invest more of our manpower at the Cave of Gong in Su-Hang Town. We'll invest further in the production of Treasured Metal from now on!" elder Ouyang ordered.

"Yes, teacher!" Xuan Fenglan acknowledged.

(Note: Cave of Gong also means the Cave of Centipedes. If you refer back to chapter 16, there's a description of how Essence Metal is collected from the demon subdivision. Since the story is moving on to another arc before entering the sect, it's a more to background building right now)

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After the reward has been given out, the Jiao Family left without exchanging a single word with the others.

"We'll be enough with two thousand points." Lu Yi, Lu Qing Yun, and Huo Zunjie left with twenty pieces of Fu-Rong Town knife tokens. They left the remaining two thousand eight hundred and sixty points worth to Qin Lan without saying anything else.

"Husband," Hu Jia came to Qin Lan's side without bothering about any percussion behind her words. In her mind, Qin Lan was everything to her right now.

"Look at this lass. Look at her!" Hu Yong, the patriarch of the Hu Family, sounds angry with his granddaughter. But his facial expression betrayed what he just said.

"Congratulation to the Hu Family for winning the Annual Hunting Festival this year," Qin Lan customary greets Hu Yong this time, like how a junior should.

"As long as you've recovered, young lad. Brother Qin Tian, the day you're waiting for is finally here." Hu Yong patted Qin Lan's shoulder as he speaks facing the Qin Patriarch.

"Brother Hu, Brother Qin, congratulations." the Chu Patriarch came into their conversation and delivered his part of congratulating sentences. Following by his side is Chu Heng, Chu Qian, and Chu Yun.

"Brothers and sisters!" the youths greet one another without any pretense in between them. Even Qin Huang and Qin Qin joined along, knowing that it was essential for them to be harmonious.

Qin Lan came to the side of the Chu Patriarch to deliver a bottle of medicinal liquid. After doing it to the same to the Hu Patriarch, the group of youngsters finally left, leaving the elders to have a conversation on their own.

"I've heard that there's a good selection of cultivation resources to be exchanged this time." Chu Heng, the oldest amongst the three young members of the Chus, said.

"Then we should take the opportunity and get inside the tent and start choosing! Brother Chu, after you!" Qin Lan reached for the curtain blocking their view and invited the Chus to enter before him.

"Brother Qin, sister in law, please!" unknown where did the idea came into his mind, Chu Heng already started to acknowledged Hu Jia as Qin Lan's wife. In fact, he's trying to match his younger sister, Chu Qian, with Qin Lan, using this opportunity.

But once they're inside the spacious tent, hell breaks loose. Except for Qin Lan and Hu Jia, everyone has scattered as they all have something they wanted in their mind.

"Thank you," Hu Jia whispered beside Qin Lan's ear again to show him her gratitude.

"What for? All I did is to stuff what you should get inside that Qiankun Pouch. Anything extra comes from your team effort and what you added while returning to the town." Qin Lan chuckled.

"Do you think I'm a muddled and vain little lass that has no idea about how the world works?" Hu Jia pouted and pinched Qin Lan's arm gently, afraid that she caused a hint of pain on the flesh of this man that captured her heart.

"You've tapped into a few of my blocked spiritual channels and unlocked them, am I correct? That's why my absorption and gathering of Spiritual Energy is much smoother than before." Hu Jia grabbed Qin Lan's palm as they walked across the stalls with herbs, metals, and trinkets.

The two of them walked around in their own world.

When they realized the time and place, it was already late at night. Luckily, they still managed to finished what they're supposed to do.

"I'll see you in the next few days." Qin Lan said as he completed his task of walking Hu Jia back to the Hu Manor. Without him knowing, Qin Lan's heart has started to yearn for Hu Jia's attention. Even letting her walk into the manor made him felt that the time passed ten times slower.

Qin Lan turned around and returned.

This marked the ending of his facade and the beginning of Qin Lan's journey in his cultivation as he aims to enter the Cloud Plucking Sect.

After the banquet to celebrate his and Qin Huang's result in this festival, their days returned to the usual. Except for the third elder's offensive attitude toward Qin Lan, everyone else started to accept Qin Lan's contribution to the Qin Household.

The eight little kits of Yellowtail Fox Demon were now under the care of a specialized group of servants. As for Lu Yi, Lu Qing Yun, and Huo Zunjie, their status has been promoted to Qin Lan's cultivation companion instead of a servant.

With a promoted social status, it means that they're now qualified to be registered as a local resident of this Fu-Rong Town too. The three of them received a registrar of their name with their affiliation the next morning.

And fast-forwarding the time a little, three days have passed.

Qin Lan shows himself right outside of the doorstep of Hu Manor along with few carts of gifts. Smiling amicably like how he was, he was ushered into the manor in full respect as Qin Lan was here for one reason.

"Junior Qin Lan would like to propose to the Hu Family! Please allow Qin Lan to wed Hu Jia and gives her an official title of the wife of the third young master of the Qin Family as I take care of her till death do us apart!"

Qin Lan chooses the most appropriate words as he asks for Hu Jia's hand in marriage. As there were eight siblings altogether in his generation, the Qin Family prepares eight carts of gifts to be presented to the Hu Household to show their sincerity.

"Jia-Er... What is your opinion about this matter?" Hu Yong knows what is inside Hu Jia's mind. But as the patriarch and because Hu Jia was currently the pearl of the Hu Family, they would have to conduct this according to the customary practice.

"Answering grandfather, Jia-Er is willing to be wed into the Qin Household as Qin Lan's official wife." Hu Jia walked over to Qin Lan's side with a beautiful box between her hands.

When it was opened, the hairpin Qin Lan attached to her hair bun is shown to the public again.

The only difference is that after today, her hair would be neatly rolled and tied on her back, which symbolizes her status as the wife of a man named Qin Lan.

"Beloved Husband," Hu Jia said.

"Beloved Wife," Qin Lan answered with a smile.