Chapter 26 (1/2)
Translator: Exodus Tales
Editor: Exodus Tales
Translated by Mianbao
Edited by RED
Baiqi spent most of his time in slumber.
Occasionally, he would fly out from Zhu Minglang’s spirit domain when the latter was free, turning his embrace into a warm little nest and continuing to sleep.
Heiya, on the other hand, experienced great changes. He grew from two meters to over three meters, nearly four, comparable to an adult crocodile. He was now a big crocodile spirit!
Of course, Heiya had the blood of dragons in him. If he came across wild crocodiles, he would not have any problems taking on a group of them by himself.
The two hundred year old demonic pearl’s effects were obvious!
“Come, put on this collar. Since your neck is so thick, I’ll put it around your tail. That way, others won’t mistake you for a wild black crocodile.” Zhu Minglang helped the big crocodile put on the spiritling collar given by the Academy.
Since Zhu Minglang was going to go on a trip, Baiqi would be fine, since he could be kept in his spirit domain.
Heiya wasn’t convenient to bring around, however. It wasn’t a good choice to leave him cooped up in the little pool behind his house, either. As such, Zhu Minglang decided to leave this big guy in the wild for a few days!
“Go to the front of the bridge every morning; there’ll be a dark girl like you who’ll feed you silkworms. I have an excursion class coming up, and will be gone for a few days,” Zhu Minglang instructed seriously, caressing Heiya’s big head.
With their soul bond in place, Heiya wouldn’t be stolen from Zhu Minglang, not to mention he would be more intelligent than other creatures.
No one would try to hurt little Heiya as long as he didn’t leave the Academy’s territory. The Academy was very strict in its management of recognized spiritlings. Even Dragon Tamers with real dragons would be severely punished by the Academy if they attacked spiritlings for no good reason.
“Ououou…” The big crocodile spirit understood he had to act as a left-behind child for a few days.
——-
At the Li Clan’s royal courtyard…
Green pines surrounded a towering hall, the silvered outer walls giving off a solemn presence.
The city state’s royal troops were clad in silvery black armor, lined up along the wall in an imposing manner, like statues standing in the court.
This place was the Ancestral Dragon City State’s Affairs Office. All matters within the borders, big and small, were decided by the people inside.
Today, Li Yunzi, who had been under house arrest for a long time now, appeared in the Affairs Office. She was dressed simply, her makeup not as exquisite as usual. Even so, her natural beauty still shone through, leaving her fellow clanswomen in the hall feeling ashamed…
However, due to the shameful incident which would never be forgotten, the clanswomen didn’t feel like they were worthless like they did in the past, where Li Yunzi’s beauty completely outshone them. Now, they could even sit together and smile mockingly at her.
“We’re all women, after all. We can’t get over the barrier that is men,” Li Kongxi started the discussion, seeing that the other women around her didn’t dare to speak bluntly.
“I, Mu Qing, prefer to keep to my role, stay at home and keep myself clean. When I come of age, the seniors will take charge of my marriage matters, and that will be considered my contribution to the clan,” the woman named Mu Qing agreed.
Li Yunzi didn’t mind those people’s mockery, nor did she pay them any heed. She only observed her fellow clansmen quietly.
The reason for her appearance here today wasn’t to seek humiliation, but because she knew her enemy would come out, right here in the clan, in this hall.
However, her enemy was obviously not these Li Clan young misses who only knew how to gossip and talk smack.
“Sister Kongxi, I heard you’re marrying into the Zong Palace. I wonder which young talent from Zong Palace it is? Can you tell us in advance?”
The traditional view of men being superior to women wasn’t as popular in Ancestral Dragon City State. Basically all women with certain statuses had to participate in the affairs of the clan. Even so, most of the women’s marriage affairs would be decided by the clan’s elders. In fact, men with little or no achievements were in similar positions.
Earlier, they were discussing military affairs. The topic mainly revolved around the disturbance in Lingxiao City State, as well as the Wutu rebels who had wanted to force their way inside Ancestral Dragon City State’s borders.
At present, the elders were discussing marriage affairs of the younger generation.
The marriage affairs of the Li Clan and Nan Family had always been discussed during official meetings. After all, the Ancestral Dragon City State was surrounded by enemies. Their relations with neighboring city states, cities, and strongholds needed to be maintained through important marriages.
The prestigious clans viewed connections by marriage with importance. Things like promises, contracts, and alliances were nothing more than scrap paper to those in power. When benefits were involved, those things could be destroyed or discarded at a whim. Connection by blood was the only thing difficult to sever.
It was only when two families give birth to descendents, sharing the same blood, that they could truly advance and retreat as one.
At that moment, the Lady of the House, Kong Tong said, “Today, I’m announcing two marriages. Listen carefully; I said ‘announce’.”
The Li Clan’s patriarch discussed the city state’s military and state affairs, while marriage would be discussed by the Lady of the House.
“Last year, Li Kongxi accompanied the Old Madam to the Zong Palace’s annual feast, and their Fourth Young Master took a fancy to Li Kongxi at first sight. After discussions, it’s been decided that the Old Madam and I will bring Li Kongxi to Zong Palace next month to facilitate this marriage,” Kong Tong announced.
“That is a great marriage! If we make connections with the Zong Palace, the Lingxiao City State won’t dare to mobilize their troops against us, no matter how crazy they are!”
“As expected of Madam Kong. You’ve finally opened the doors to Zong Palace for us. From now on, we won’t have to worry about the south of Lichuan. Perhaps we can even open many trade routes.”
Everyone in the hall smiled, one after another, their gazes falling onto Li Kongxi.