Chapter 541 - Quite a Few Love Rivals

Chapter 541: Quite a Few Love Rivals

Li Guanqi scurried back like a loyal lackey, practically bouncing with excitement.

He leaned in behind Meng Jiangchu and said with a grin, “I’m here. What’s going on, Father-in-law?”

The way Li Guanqi called him “Father-in-law” so naturally made Meng Jiangchu uncomfortable. He just couldn’t get used to it.

But then again... Li Guanqi was nineteen and already at the mid Illusory Refinement Realm. Not a bad deal at all, really. The kid had received very little help from his grandfather since childhood. If the ruler of the Hell Rivers hadn’t been so bloodthirsty last time, his grandfather probably wouldn’t have let Long Hou intervene at all.

The more he thought about it, the more it shocked him. Li Guanqi hadn’t received so much as a shred of help from his grandfather since the day he started cultivating. The Daxia Sword Sect in the Daxia Territory was hardly more than a backwater sect, yet a monster like Li Guanqi had come out of it.

And that golden-haired kid outside seemed even younger than Li Guanqi. He’d emerged from the Dungeon Abyss in the Taiqing Territory, and his strength and cultivation were every bit as monstrous.

There was also the incident when Meng Wanshu’s cold poison flared up. Li Changqing had recreated the scene exactly as it unfolded, and Meng Jiangchu saw it with his own eyes: Li Guanqi standing in the storm, arms stripped to bare white bone[1]. Li Guanqi clearly loved Wanshu. For her sake, he’d endure any hardship and risk everything.

Meng Jiangchu’s gaze toward Li Guanqi softened. He’d already acknowledged Li Guanqi in his heart, so naturally, he wouldn’t stand for anyone bullying him. If he did, wouldn’t his daughter suffer right along with Li Guanqi?

At that thought, the imposing authority of a territorial lord once again surfaced on Meng Jiangchu’s face as he said softly, “From now on, if anyone dares to bully you, let me know.”

Li Guanqi broke into a wide grin. At last, he felt at ease. Those words meant Meng Jiangchu had accepted him. His heart felt lighter, and he unconsciously straightened up.

He smiled. “Alright, Father-in-law. Judging from what you just said...”

Meng Jiangchu snorted. “They’re all from the holy clans and major forces in the Divine Treasure Territory. Those disciples and clan scions, they act like they’re above everyone else[2]!

Hmph!

Just a bunch of spoiled wastrels, and they actually dare to harbor thoughts about Wanshu?”

Li Guanqi understood right away. He licked his lips and chuckled softly. “Then... what do you want me to do, Father-in-law?”

A thin, inscrutable smile played on Meng Jiangchu’s lips. He turned and fixed Li Guanqi with a steady gaze. “Beat them into submission. I don’t care who it is or which force they come from. Beat every last one of them until they’re on their knees and admit defeat. You’re my son-in-law. If you can’t even deal with those nobodies[3], that would truly disappoint me.”

Li Guanqi grinned. “

Heheh

. How far can I go?”

Meng Jiangchu waved his hand dismissively. “As long as you don’t kill them or sever their path to immortality, anything goes.”

That was all Li Guanqi needed to hear.

With a big shot backing me up, what’s there to be afraid of?

Outside, Li Changqing was already receiving visitors. Representatives from eleven forces had come calling.

Looks like these people are getting anxious...

Xiao Chen and Ye Feng were there too. How could two busybodies like them miss out on the spectacle?

Xiao Chen said excitedly, “Damn, everyone who should be here is here, and even those who shouldn’t be have shown up.

Heheh

, this time Brother Li’s in for it. A few of those guys are pretty strong.”

Ye Feng smirked. “Stronger than you?”

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

He asked because he’d sparred with Xiao Chen before, back when Xiao Chen was at his peak. It wasn’t easy to earn praise from him.

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then said softly, “Yes. And there’s more than one.”

The two darted forward, falling in behind Li Guanqi and the others, whispering between themselves as they went.

Whoosh!!

Meng Wanshu hurried over the moment she heard the news. With worry plain on her face, she went to Meng Jiangchu’s side. “Father... are you really going to let him go?”

The worry in her voice made Meng Jiangchu oddly uncomfortable, so he replied, “If he can’t even settle such a small matter, how could he possibly be worthy of being my son-in-law?”

Beside him, Li Guanqi quickly chimed in, taking Meng Wanshu’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze to reassure her.

The group flew swiftly and soon arrived at the edge of the domain.

Buzz!

The domain’s barrier opened. Eleven enormous cloud boats hung in the air outside, lavish and imposing.

Buzz!

Waves of crushing pressure erupted. Several figures emerged one after another, powerhouses whose auras ran as deep and unfathomable as the abyss.

Along with them came a group of young men with unfriendly expressions. The moment they saw Li Guanqi, hostility flared in their eyes. Some let out mocking snorts when they realized he was blind, their disdain practically overflowing.

Li Guanqi’s lips curved into a faint, proud smile as he surveyed the crowd. He made a show of lifting Meng Wanshu’s hand, then pulled her out from behind Meng Jiangchu, making sure every last one of them got a good look.

The anger burning in their eyes only amused him. He wrapped an arm around Meng Wanshu’s slender waist and gave it a brazen stroke with his large hand.

But how could Meng Wanshu bear such a public display of affection? She lowered her eyes shyly as her cheeks flushed crimson.

Until now, the youths had kept their composure, but this pushed them over the edge. They gave Li Guanqi looks that could kill, staring at him with savage intensity.

On the other hand, Li Guanqi looked utterly unconcerned, only growing more pleased with himself. Just as he was considering kissing her right there in front of everyone, a voice cut through the air, sharp with anger.

“Brat! That’s enough!”

Li Guanqi awkwardly cut off that line of thought.

Meng Wanshu breathed a sigh of relief and punched his chest lightly, half flirtatious, half scolding. She shot him a look, reminding him her father was standing right there.

Then, a stern-looking man dressed in a golden robe stepped forward slowly. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, “Mr. Meng, it’s been a long time. I trust you’ve been well?”

A stern-looking man in a golden robe stepped forward slowly. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, “Mr. Meng, it’s been a long time. I trust you’ve been well?”

Meng Jiangchu clasped his hands behind his back and put on a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. He replied, “Well, if it isn’t Wei the Limp. It’s been just two hundred years, and you’ve already reached the Mahayana Stage?

Tsk, tsk.

Why didn’t the lightning tribulation strike you dead? Wait... that’s not right. You didn’t make a breakthrough in the Divine Treasure Territory, did you?”

Wei Qing[4] only smiled faintly at the mockery, unbothered.

“

Haha

, there was nothing I could do. I’ve got too many enemies, so I didn’t dare undergo tribulation in the Divine Treasure Territory.”

Li Guanqi sensed the tension between them. His gaze drifted to the figure standing behind Wei Qing: a tall, stern-faced youth who exuded a chilling, sinister air.

1. The author wrote 行销立骨 here, but I’m assuming that it’s a typo and that the author meant to write 形销骨立.

The Chinese idiom 形销骨立 (xíng xiāo gǔ lì) describes an extremely emaciated or gaunt physical state. The idiom first appeared in

Nan Shi · Liang Benji

(History of the Southern Dynasties, Biography of the Liang Dynasty) in reference to Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi, and was later used in classical literature such as Qing dynasty’s

Liaozhai Zhiyi · Ye Sheng

.

Here, the author is referencing the scene of Li Guanqi’s hands being shredded to the bones to save Meng Wanshu in Chapter 533. ☜

2. The phrase “眼睛长到天上了” (literally “(Their) eyes have grown all the way up to the sky”) is a figurative expression, usually describing someone who is arrogant, conceited, and thinks they are above everyone else. It can also refer to someone who is snobbish or socially status-conscious. It is similar in meaning to the idiom “眼高于顶” (“eyes higher than the top of the head”).

Rather than translating it literally, I anglicized it to “they act like they’re above everyone else.” ☜

3. The Chinese idiom 阿猫阿狗 (pinyin: ā māo ā gǒu) literally means “any cat or dog” and is used figuratively to refer to insignificant, lowly, or unworthy people or things. The expression often carries a derogatory or dismissive tone, casting someone or something as trivial or unworthy of serious attention. ☜

4. 魏 (Wèi) is a common Chinese family name, historically associated with the Wei states and dynasties. In 2019, it was the 45th most common surname in mainland China. 青 (Qīng) literally means “green” or “blue,” but in names, it often conveys youthfulness, vitality, or clarity. To me, 魏青 carries a simple, classical feel. ☜