Chapter 587: Laurel of the Sword Pool
"Hmm?"
Hearing the sudden rushing sound, Su Muqing's clear, icy eyes flicked sharply, a cold light flashing within them. Who dared appear so brazenly in the Su Clan? Immortal Power surged around her as she watched the figure descending at breakneck speed.
Their gazes locked—his eyes reddened with excitement, hers cold and frowning.
"Ying Xiaoxiao…"
Li Hao stared at the girl before him. That face—it was identical to hers, right down to the blue-green dress she wore, as if time had never passed, as if she had never left nor changed.
"Who are you?"
A surprised voice rang out beside her. It was a young girl about two years younger than Su Muqing, her quiet eyes radiating gentle warmth, but her delicate face now filled with astonishment. Her features shared some resemblance with Su Muqing's—about thirty percent—but she was clearly a stunning beauty in her own right.
Li Hao snapped out of his daze. Seeing her rejecting, indifferent gaze, he immediately understood what Ying Xiaoxiao had meant by "not yet awakened." It was like when he first met her past self: she hadn't yet regained Shimiaodi's soul memories.
His eyes grew complicated as he forced down his emotions. "My name is Haotian. May I… know your name?" he asked softly.
A familiar stranger—meeting again but not truly meeting—left a bitter taste in his heart.
Hearing what sounded like the most ordinary of pick-up lines, Su Muqing's eyes grew colder still. Her gaze drifted to the immortal Power trail he'd used to rush here—it came from the Small Guest Garden, meaning he was an outsider.
She said icily, "Since you are a guest, you should stay obediently in your courtyard."
With that, she flicked her sleeve to brush past him.
Li Hao had waited so long to see her—how could he let her leave so easily? "Please, tell me your name," he implored.
Su Muqing's face turned frosty. A man brazenly approaching her while pretending ignorance, then persistently pestering her—such tricks were beneath contempt, the lowest of tactics among her many suitors. "How dare you! Someone come—throw him out of the Su Clan!" she snapped.
The younger girl beside her hesitated, glancing at Li Hao with a hint of sympathy but ultimately staying silent, only shaking her head slightly as if pitying him.
Li Hao stared at Su Muqing's frosty expression in a daze. He didn't even notice the whistling of an incoming presence until an Immortal Lord Ninth Level guard landed beside them. Only then did he snap out of it, his eyes locking onto her face. "Please, just tell me your name," he pleaded.
"Where did this brat come from, daring to offend Miss Su? Get lost!" the guard roared. His eyes flashed with admiration for Su Muqing as he turned his wrath on Li Hao. Sensing Li Hao's mere first-level Immortal Lord cultivation, he exuded a crushing aura—finally a chance to show off before Su Muqing and perhaps earn a flicker of favor in her gaze.
But Li Hao didn't retreat. His own immortal Power flared, clashing against the guard's pressure. Though his Daoyuan Immortal Seal didn't show, his perfectly unified Dao aura let him withstand the guard's force head-on.
The sudden surge of Li Hao's aura stunned everyone present—Su Muqing, the younger girl, even the guard himself. They couldn't believe a mere first-level Immortal Lord could project such might.
"Impressive… it's like he has the pressure of at least a fourth-level Immortal Lord," the younger girl whispered in shock. Clearly, the boy was an extraordinary human genius.
Yet seeing him use such power for something so foolish only made her feel regretful.
Su Muqing's brows rose slightly, the icy look in her eyes thawing a little. Just then, the steward from Haiyue Hall came rushing over, panic written all over his face as he grabbed Li Hao's arm and stammered apologies. "Miss Muqing, Miss Wanqing, please forgive him. He's a new guest—he doesn't yet understand the rules."
Su Muqing glanced at Li Hao, his eyes locked onto hers with a strange, intense mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe. Something inside her heart rippled faintly, unsettling her. She shook it off with a flick of her wrist. "Forget it," she said coolly.
She turned to the younger girl. "Wanqing, come. Let's go see what Brother Qiyu is up to."
With a flash, their figures vanished from sight, leaving Li Hao reaching out uselessly as the two girls disappeared in the distance.
Li Hao tensed, ready to follow, but the guard's aura slammed down before him like a wall. "You're lucky Miss Su forgave you. Don't push your luck," he warned coldly.
Li Hao froze, watching the fading streaks of blue-green in the sky, his heart a storm of conflicting feelings. He knew he'd lost control of himself; he should never have acted so rashly.
Turning to the steward, he asked urgently, "They… they are Su Clan ladies?"
"You really didn't know?" the steward stammered, shocked. On Gusu Emperor Star, who didn't know the Su Clan's famous daughters?
The guard also raised a skeptical brow. With Su Muqing gone, he saw no need for pretense. He looked at Li Hao with obvious disdain—this must be some cheap attempt at flirtation, and a pathetic one at that.
Seeing Li Hao's sincere confusion, the steward sighed and explained in a low voice, "The one who pardoned you is Miss Su Muqing—our Su Clan's True Phoenix. Her talent is unmatched; there's no one on Gusu Emperor Star among the younger generation who doesn't know her. Only the Lin Clan's imperial heir could rival her—and maybe two or three others at most."
"And with her was her half-sister, Su Wanqing—one of the Su Clan's Four Little Phoenixes."
"Four Little Phoenixes…" Li Hao's mind flashed back to what Madam Su had said about her four daughters, realization dawning. He remembered the whispers he'd heard outside the Su residence—so those men had been talking about her!
His expression shifted, urgency overtaking him. "I need to see Madam Su now," he demanded.
The steward looked startled. "This…"
"Please, help me send word. I must see her," Li Hao pressed, his tone earnest.
"I… I can only report to Miss Yaoqin. Whether Madam Su agrees to meet you…" the steward began hesitantly. Truthfully, he'd only shown up because he was responsible for Li Hao's stay—if the boy caused trouble, he'd share the blame.
The guard snorted derisively before turning away, striding off with obvious contempt.
Back at Haiyue Hall, the steward sent word to Yaoqin. Li Hao sat on edge, his mind churning with impatience.
Meanwhile, deep within the Su Clan's inner court, in the Zhu Rong Garden…
This was home to an Earth-Rank Martial Arena, reserved for Su family disciples, with an Immortal King elder seated nearby to instruct them in cultivation.
Today, many figures had gathered around the arena, filling the area with excitement. Inside the sealed formation barrier, two combatants were locked in fierce battle, drawing cheers and calls of encouragement from the watching crowd.
Before long, their duel ended in a draw, neither able to best the other.
If the fight continued, they would have to use their trump cards, turning it into a life-and-death battle.
"Fang Xiu is incredible. As a member of the main family, he's only at the second level of the Immortal Lord Realm, yet he can fight evenly against Yun Shan, who's three levels higher."
"Of course. The main family practices techniques we're not allowed to learn unless we achieve extraordinary merit."
"Now that it's a draw, I wonder whom Brother Qiyu will choose as his personal guard."
Outside the arena, the crowd murmured quietly, their eyes frequently glancing at a tall young man standing beside an Immortal King elder. The youth wore a moon-white robe, his calm eyes exuding a gentle elegance, giving him a scholarly air.
"Brother Qiyu is close to reaching peak Immortal Lord Realm. If we become his personal guards, we could learn higher immortal Dao arts and body techniques."
Many showed envy in their eyes. Even though they were all Su Clan disciples, there were great differences in status. Following the main family—even as a close servant—was a rare opportunity, far from shameful. After all, their mothers had served as concubines before the matriarch, and the gap in status was ingrained.
"Qiyu, what do you think of Yun Shan?" the Immortal King elder asked with a gentle smile, turning to the young man.
This youth, Su Qiyu, was one of the Su Clan's leading talents, older than the Four Little Phoenixes and naturally higher in cultivation, though his talent didn't quite match theirs. Strangely, in this generation of the Su Clan, the monstrous prodigies were all female.
Before Su Qiyu could answer, two rainbows streaked down from the sky. One figure wore a moon-blue dress, and faint illusions of drifting osmanthus blossoms appeared around her—a natural manifestation of her Dao's influence on heaven and earth.
The crowd instantly fell silent, eyes turning toward the two girls. When their figures became clear, the onlookers gasped before exploding with excited whispers.
"It's Miss Su Muqing—she actually came!"
"And Miss Su Wanqing! As expected of sisters, both are stunning."
"Why are they here? Could they be planning to test our skills with a sparring match?"
The young Su Clan disciples grew restless with excitement. These two were among the Four Little Phoenixes, unrivaled among their peers, rarely seen even within the clan, and famous across all of Gusu Emperor Star.
"Muqing," Su Qiyu greeted, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his two younger sisters.
Beside him, the Immortal King elder beamed kindly. "What brings you both here?" he asked.
The girls nodded politely to the elder, offering a brief greeting. Su Muqing then said directly, "Brother Qiyu, I came to invite you to join the Sword Pool Laurel event six years from now. Would you be willing?"
"The Sword Pool Laurel?" Su Qiyu's eyes flickered with surprise before a smile spread across his face. "If I haven't reached the Immortal King Realm by then, I'd be glad to attend and see how the other clans fare. But if I do break through, it would be unfair to participate."
He knew it would be inappropriate for an Immortal King to compete in a contest meant for Immortal Lords.
Su Muqing nodded, understanding perfectly. "That's natural. So… you agree?"
"How could I refuse my dear sister?" Su Qiyu replied with a warm smile.
Su Muqing's cold demeanor softened visibly, and she nodded in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, back at Haiyue Hall…
Yaoqin arrived with a cold expression. "What do you want?" she snapped, eyeing Li Hao with thinly veiled impatience. "I heard you almost offended Miss Su. Is that true?"
Li Hao was surprised by how swiftly news traveled in the Su Clan—no detail escaped them. He realized just how closely the estate was monitored, especially by those close to Madam Su.
"I need to see Madam Su," he said urgently.
Yaoqin's brows knitted tighter. "Madam is extremely busy. You can't see her just because you wish it. Wait until you're summoned."
"I must see her now," Li Hao insisted, his tone sharpening as he remembered the whispers he'd overheard outside the mansion.
Yaoqin's eyes narrowed with anger. Guests in the Small Guest Garden never dared speak to her this way. But recalling Madam Su's special instructions, she took a deep breath, suppressing her fury. "I will report your request. Until then, stay here quietly," she said coldly.
Before Li Hao could reply, she turned on her heel and vanished.
Deep within the Su residence…
A tall, broad-shouldered man appeared silently, stepping out of space-time itself without disturbing a soul. As he entered the main hall, he found the noblewoman waiting, dressed in robes adorned with shimmering golden threads, her breathtaking beauty enhanced by the luxurious attire.
"Have you been waiting here all this time?" Su Zhenyuan, the Su Clan's patriarch, asked softly, his previously stern eyes softening as he gazed at his wife.
Seeing the faint disorder in his concealed aura, Madam Su's face paled slightly as she rose. "What happened—did it fail?" she asked anxiously.
A trace of pain and helplessness crossed Su Zhenyuan's eyes. He sighed, shaking his head. "I was too hasty."
Madam Su's eyes fell on the few strands of white in his hair, her heart aching. "It's all right. Don't carry everything alone," she said gently. "There's still Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother…"
Su Zhenyuan shook his head firmly. "Our eldest brother is gone. As the second son, it's my duty to take his place and lead the clan. How can I hide behind them?"
Madam Su knew how stubborn he was on this matter and understood it was impossible to change his mind. She shifted the topic. "It's good you're back. There's something I need your counsel on."
Seeing her serious expression, Su Zhenyuan's eyes sharpened. "What is it?"
Madam Su quickly reassured him with a small shake of her head. "It's just a minor matter—a youth came with an ancient marriage agreement from our ancestor."
She handed him the ancient scroll.
As Su Zhenyuan unrolled it, golden light flared like countless divine rays. Each character exuded profound Dao intent, and imperial script appeared before his eyes.
He scanned it quickly, his expression morphing from surprise to delight. "I remember Father mentioning this when I inherited the clan seat—our ancestor arranged a marriage that might be claimed one day. I can't believe it's really happening."
A broad smile spread across his face. "This is wonderful! And with Muqing's marriage approaching, this is a double blessing!"
Madam Su rolled her eyes at him, a flash of exasperation breaking through her usual poise. Her husband could be meticulous on the battlefield, leading campaigns against demon clans with flawless strategy—but when it came to marriage, he was clueless like a clumsy boar.
"You'd truly agree to this? All four of our daughters are once-in-a-millennium talents. Can you bear to see them married off?" she asked sharply.
Su Zhenyuan chuckled. "Daughters can't stay home forever. They'll marry eventually—would you rather chain them up? Besides, this marriage agreement came from an Imperial Monarch. Even if the one coming to claim it isn't of imperial blood, they're likely his disciple or someone he values highly. Such a person would be an extraordinary match."
He paused, eyes shining with optimism.