The two fought until dawn!
Yan Lixue lay weakly on the bed, flushed with shyness. Ming Zhantian kissed her bare back, then helped her dress, afraid she might catch a cold.
A knock sounded at the door. Ming Zhantian, already dressed, called out, "Who is it?"
"Young Master! Miss. Master and Madam sent me to wake you both."
Ming Zhantian smiled faintly, "Understood."
Yan Lixue, however, felt terribly embarrassed. Staying the night meant her parents would surely tease her.
Ming Zhantian gently patted Yan Lixue's jade shoulder, "Xue'er wife, time to get up. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law are calling for us."
Yan Lixue shyly replied, "No, I want to sleep a little longer."
Ming Zhantian slapped her large backside hard!
Yan Lixue jolted awake, her mind suddenly clear. "Husband, you!…"
Ming Zhantian feigned anger, "Are you getting up or not? I'm finding my Xue'er wife is quite lazy in the mornings, needs to be disciplined?"
"I won't," Yan Lixue stubbornly refused to move.
Ming Zhantian slapped her again, "Pa!" The impact was palpable, and Yan Lixue could only let out a soft, "Mmmph…"
Ming Zhantian continued, "Xue'er wife, do you want more? Husband is willing to serve."
Startled, Yan Lixue leaped up. "Don't, husband, spare Xue'er…"
The two went to wash and dress, changing into new clothes. They walked out of the room, a scene that Yan Fei happened to witness. A pang of inexplicable sadness struck her.
After breakfast and some idle chat, Ming Zhantian revealed his background: he was an orphan, primarily entrusted with a mission by his deceased master.
After bidding farewell, Yan Zhengchi and his wife, who had agreed to entrust Yan Lixue to Ming Zhantian, said, "Son-in-law, we entrust Xue'er to you. Please take good care of her."
This was the first time Yan Zhengchi and his wife had called him son-in-law. Ming Zhantian acknowledged the title, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please do not see us off."
He then produced five million Divine Martial Coins from his storage bag, nearly making them kneel in shock. "So much? You don't need to offer this much even for selling your daughter."
Yan Lixue instantly grew angry, "Father! Mother! What are you saying?"
Ming Zhantian waved his hand, "Please accept it, it's just a small token from your son-in-law."
They couldn't politely refuse. Ming Zhantian, holding Yan Lixue's hand, waved goodbye to them.
On the Sky Hawk, Yan Lixue asked, "Husband, where are we going?"
Ming Zhantian looked south, "First, we'll return to Zhang Tianyue of Qishan to beg forgiveness. I used the name of the Five Peaks Sect Master to cause chaos at Lan Shan Lake and Sea. I doubt they will tolerate me."
Yan Lixue, linking her arm through his, said, "Xue'er will go wherever Husband goes."
Upon returning to Zhang Tianyue of Qishan, Nan Xingkong flew into a rage and expelled Ming Zhantian from the Heavenly Gate, stripping him of all his privileges. "Not punishing you is the greatest mercy I can offer. You may leave."
The three thousand disciples of the Heavenly Gate wished to follow him. Ming Zhantian said, "I currently have no place for you to settle, and my actions at the Tiannan Sect will make it difficult to speak for me there."
They vowed to follow him as soon as he established his own sect.
Ming Zhantian clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, "Ming Zhantian thanks all the senior brothers, sisters, and junior disciples of the Heavenly Gate here. May we meet again!"
…
In the Sect Master's mansion, Jie Qingxia knelt before Tian Nan Jie. Tian Nan Jie asked, "You wish to plead for Ming Zhantian? The Grand Sect Master has spoken, and I am powerless."
Jie Qingxia shook her head, "Thank you, Master, for your care and nurturing over the decades. Qingxia is deeply grateful. Please forgive me!"
Tian Nan Jie scrutinized her carefully, "Are you bidding me farewell?"
"Yes. I request Master's permission to descend the mountain."
Tian Nan Jie pursed his lips, "A grown daughter cannot be kept at home. Go then."
Jie Qingxia had been contemplating how to escape secretly if Tian Nan Jie refused, but her worries were unfounded. "Thank you, Master, for your blessing!"
"Go, go, alas."
Jie Qingxia abandoned the sect, determined to follow Ming Zhantian. Ming Zhantian looked astonished, "Senior Sister Jie is… done with this?"