Chapter 275 - 261: Right Now, Su Ling’er Is the Holy Daughter of the Guixi Sect
Halfway through the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Su finally shifted some of their attention from their daughter to this "friend" of hers with the surname Lin.
Mr. Su raised his wine cup, gestured to Lin Qingfeng, and prepared to offer some pleasantries.
"Mr. Lin, with our daughter out on her own, we’re so glad she has a friend like you. You must have taken good care of her."
Mrs. Su chimed in, "That’s right. She’s been a stubborn child since she was little. If she’s done anything thoughtless, I hope you’ll forgive her, Mr. Lin."
They were just making polite conversation.
Lin Qingfeng, however, accepted their gratitude matter-of-factly, drained his cup in one gulp, and then waved a hand.
"You’re both too kind."
"You have no idea what kind of status your daughter holds in the Guixi Sect these days."
He deliberately left them in suspense.
"Right now, Su Ling’er... is the Holy Daughter of the Guixi Sect!"
Mr. and Mrs. Su were stunned speechless.
Holy Daughter?
Lin Qingfeng didn’t give them time to react, launching right back into his spiel.
"You don’t understand. I’ve witnessed the Holy Daughter’s processions as an honored guest, and the sheer spectacle is unbelievable! Gongs and drums thunder, firecrackers roar!"
"Countless disciples line the streets to welcome her, shouting the Holy Daughter’s name! And the sky fills with paper money, dancing in the air!"
Su Ling’er was sipping her soup when she heard the words "paper money" and nearly choked.
’No...’
’Senior Brother! Don’t you dare use my "funeral" as some glorious deed to boast about!’
’You’re talking about that kinship ceremony with the Dawa Sect, aren’t you?!’
’Don’t treat a funeral procession and something so bizarre as a point of pride to show off!’
Su Ling’er went rigid, her toes curling up inside her shoes. She wished she could carve a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor right then and there to hide in.
Mr. and Mrs. Su had also heard the mention of "paper money."
"Paper money?" Mr. Su frowned. "Mr. Lin... for a celebration among Immortals, why would they use paper money?"
They were reminded of the An Mansion, where paper money was also being scattered at this very moment.
But her younger sister, Su Wenjing, spoke up innocently, "I know! Storybooks say that some powerful Immortals can turn paper money into spirit soldiers! Sister, can your sect also create an army from scattered beans?"
Su Ling’er’s scalp tingled with dread as she felt her parents’ and Lin Qingfeng’s eyes all focus on her.
She hurriedly cut in, forcing an explanation.
"Ahem! That... It’s not ordinary paper money!"
A profound, mysterious smile formed on her face.
"It’s a kind of... a kind of blessing Spirit Talisman unique to our Guixi Sect!
It may look like paper money, but it’s actually made from the pulp of spirit wood and inscribed with blessed runes.
When they’re scattered, the power of the runes disperses into the world, bestowing blessings and good fortune upon the land!
In our sect, this is considered a rather high honor!"
"Ooooh—!" her younger siblings exclaimed in realization, their eyes full of admiration.
Mr. and Mrs. Su also nodded, as if they half-understood.
’So that’s how it is. You really can’t judge the ways of Immortals by mortal standards.’
Seeing that Su Ling’er was apparently so pleased with the "paper money" ceremony, Lin Qingfeng decided to add more fuel to the fire!
"Exactly! And when the Holy Daughter travels, the vehicle she rides in is the very pinnacle of luxury! It’s carved from a single block of ten-thousand-year Warm Jade. It’s warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and can even nourish one’s spirit!"
Her brother Su Wenxuan’s eyes lit up like two stars.
"A carriage made of ten-thousand-year Warm Jade?!"
"Wow! Sister! Is it carved with dragons and phoenixes? And when it moves, do rainbow-colored auspicious clouds follow behind it?"
Su Ling’er: "..."
’How am I supposed to explain to you that it’s actually a coffin?’
’It’s not like I’m using a coffin as a vehicle. If I could control it, I wouldn’t be so bad at steering it. I’m basically just a piece of freight being shipped.’
’I have to admit, Senior Brother is pretty impressive. He can somehow spin the story of me being carted off in a coffin for my own funeral into something so ridiculously glamorous.’
Her mind raced.
"Uh... our sect’s aesthetic is more... more understated.
The vehicle has a simple, archaic design. The greatest truths are the simplest, after all. There are no dragons or phoenixes, but... but when it’s moving, it is indeed surrounded by a protective aura of light that can ward off all evil!"
Listening from the side, Lin Qingfeng was surprised that Su Ling’er was so pleased with his coffin and understood it so profoundly. He decided to continue bragging.
"And what’s more, every time the Holy Daughter makes a procession, there are dedicated Guardian disciples at her side, shouting to cheer her on and proclaim her holy might!"
Under the table, Su Ling’er’s hands had clenched into fists.
She was reminded of Ji’s mournful face, shouting with all his might like a professional wailer.
She desperately wanted to retort, but seeing her parents’ relieved smiles, she swallowed all of her sarcastic comments.
’As long as Mom and Dad are happy, as long as they think their daughter is doing well... I’ll just let Senior Brother say whatever he wants!’
She forced the corners of her mouth into a stiff smile and looked at her senior brother. "Oh, my dashing, dapper, and peerless boss."
"Shouldn’t... shouldn’t you hurry and have some food? My family’s cooking is quite good. Please don’t just talk, the dishes are getting cold."
As she spoke, she was frantically signaling him with her eyes. ’Senior Brother, I’m begging you, quit while you’re ahead! If you keep this up, I’m afraid I’ll start to believe it myself! Besides, what happens if we get exposed?!’
Mr. and Mrs. Su snapped out of the vision Lin Qingfeng had painted. Mrs. Su, however, looked at him with a hint of confusion.
"Mr. Lin, listening to you talk, how is it you’re so knowledgeable about our Ling’er’s life in the sect?"
The younger siblings also tilted their heads up, their eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Yeah, mister! Can you do Cultivation, too?"
Hearing this, Lin Qingfeng’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
"Ah, you two may not know, but while I am not a Cultivator, I run a large business and travel all over. Naturally, I hear things."
"This Guixi Sect... it’s incredibly famous even in our mortal business world! They’re the legendary leader of all righteous Immortal sects!"
"I’ve heard that within the Guixi Sect, its members are as close as siblings. They help one another, full of camaraderie. Seniors guide their juniors, and juniors respect their seniors. It’s a picture of perfect harmony!"
Su Ling’er listened, feeling too drained to even begin to argue.
’Brotherly love between sect members? Mutual aid? Senior Brother, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about daily life in our sect?’
’How did you watch scenes of people throwing their sect-mates into furnaces for Alchemy and Artifact Refining and somehow see "brotherly love" in it?! Okay, fine, they were mostly willing volunteers, but it’s still plenty weird.’
But Lin Qingfeng’s words had ignited the enthusiasm of Su Wenxuan and Su Wenjing.
"Wow! What an amazing Immortal sect!"
"Mister! Can we go? Can we join the Guixi Sect, too?"
Lin Qingfeng looked at the two children’s hopeful eyes and shook his head.
"Alas, what a shame. When Immortal sects accept disciples, they place the greatest importance on innate potential. You two... don’t have that gift."
"Even with just a Pseudo Spirit Root, you might have a chance to enter the sect. But alas, it’s a pity."
’A real shame. Our sect is practically defunct, but we still have to be picky about quality when we recruit!’
’Besides, they have no Spirit Root and no special traits. What would be the point of me recruiting them?’
Su Ling’er also spoke up at once, shattering her younger siblings’ fantasy.
"You can’t go."
Seeing their instantly crestfallen faces, she felt a pang of pity but still hardened her heart.