Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 740 - 329, two unexpected congratulatory gifts

In the year 1327 of the New Yu Era, the seventh day of the sixth month, at the Xu hour

Crack... Pop... Whoosh...

More than ten miles away from Hexi Prefectural City, Zhao Qingxue could already hear the lively sound of fireworks and firecrackers along both sides of the road. As the procession drew closer to the city, the areas they passed through buzzed with increasingly boisterous human voices.

"The lady has returned!"

"The Family Head has brought the lady back, hahaha..."

"It's the wedding procession, go and join in the excitement."

"Certainly, the Red Flame Army is here, both Fourth Master and Fifth Master are present."

"What a grand sight, there must be more than thirty thousand Red Flame soldiers."

"Not just that, over a hundred thousand city guards have all come out."

"They're all here to welcome the Family Head. And so many other people, they must be here to see the new bride."

"Will we get to see her, will we get to see her? This new bride will henceforth be our main lady of Hexi, won't she?"

"I heard her name is Zhao Qingxue. They say she is a Sacred Land Successor!"

"Such an impressive background?"

"Nonsense, otherwise how would she be a match for our Family Head?"

......

Peeking through the curtains, Zhao Qingxue saw the trees along the Official Road decorated, the carpets of red laid on the ground, and the huge welcoming procession formed not only by the members of the Hou Clan but also those from the city. She couldn't help but turn her head towards Hou Yuxiao, who was riding on a horse beside the carriage, her eyes suddenly filled with a touch of emotion.

A night-time wedding procession ought to be a very strange affair, but when the number of people involved reached tens and hundreds of millions, nearly filling the entire Official Road, the situation changed entirely.

The ten-mile journey was filled with the sounds of fireworks and crackers, which nearly never ceased.

The entire sky was lit up by the firelight, the whole Official Road was bright as day. Though it was the Xu hour, it was livelier than daylight; and as the noise grew louder, more and more people from the city ran out to watch the excitement. If not for Gao Changlong leading the Red Flame Army to clear the way, the procession would probably have taken two hours to reach the Prefectural City.

Hou Yuxiao, who had prepared small silver red envelopes in advance, scattered them along the way as people congratulated him, regardless of who was offering well-wishes, responding with smiles. Hou Yuduan and Hou Yujie, who followed close by his side, promptly handed out red envelopes, thereby taking the opportunity to showcase the Hou Clan's image as generous and friendly to the people.

The wedding procession was already grand outside the city walls, but upon returning to the city at Zishi hour, the scene was even more extravagant. Streets and alleys were filled with spectators; wherever the procession went, the Hou Clan's red envelopes followed, prompting waves of cheers.

Tonight was destined to be a night without sleep.

Upon entering the Prefectural City and returning to Hou Mansion, it was already Zishi.

Hou Yuxiao arranged Zhao Qingxue in the rear of the main hall where he usually resided. After bidding her farewell, he returned to the front of the main hall and summoned Hou Yujie, Hou Yuduan, and Hou Yucheng and Hou Yuling, who had just come back as well. freewёbnoνel.com

"Big brother, what exactly happened at Wanglong Mountain?"

"Leiyin Temple's people made a move, wasn't that too much of a commotion?"

...

All the questions that the four of them had held in all the way finally came pouring out. Hou Yuxiao had planned to discuss these matters with them, and finding tranquility at last, he recounted everything that happened at Wanglong Mountain.

"The Wuwei King, the River Lord, the people from Ziqing Holy Sect, none of them showed their faces right up until Shitian made his move!"

"Zhao Qingxue... no, my sister-in-law's father, Lin Xuangan, has the strength to threaten the Shitian Buddha?"

"No, didn't you hear? Big brother said Lin Xuangan detonated the Star Sea Sacred Core and set off the Treasure Map, inflicting damage on Shitian."

"All the leaders of the nine sacred places showed up?"

"Nine fragments, one taken by Shitian, leaving eight in the custody of Great Jin. The other eight sacred lands... whoever takes the fragment from Shitian's hand gets to open the Treasure Map. Does this mean Leiyin Temple is about to face great misfortune?"

...

The events at Wanglong Mountain were indeed perilous, but Hou Yuxiao had returned safely after all. After hearing the account, Hou Yucheng and the others each expressed their questions, but only Hou Yuduan remained silent for a long while. After Hou Yuxiao provided explanations to the first three's queries, Hou Yuduan finally spoke in a low voice: "Big brother, you said at the end, Shitian was probably wounded by Lin Xuangan's self-destruction, which is why he fled with the fragment. Do you know how seriously Shitian was injured?"

At this question, a cold gleam flashed through Hou Yuxiao's pupils.

He knew Hou Yuduan was on the same page as him.

"I don't yet possess the strength to see how seriously Shitian was injured, but the leaders of the Nine Sacred Lands who arrived later must be aware. Their unwillingness to share proceeds with Shitian is one thing; their fear may stem from the possibility that Shitian was gravely injured by Lin Xuangan's final strike."

As soon as Hou Yuxiao finished speaking, Hou Yuduan immediately took over the conversation.

"If that's the case, then Leiyin Temple's situation will be quite dire going forward. With Shitian carrying an injury, and having to guard against other leaders coming for his Treasure Map Fragment, Leiyin Temple is likely to be on the defensive for some time."

Hou Yucheng also caught on to the implications and immediately brightened up, saying, "If that's really the case, then Hexi's opportunity is coming!"

As those words fell, the entire main hall fell into silence, and although no one spoke for a long time, their breathing uncontrollably quickened.

"If we truly don't have to worry about Leiyin Temple, and with the River Lord and the Wuwei King to the east posing no threat to us, then not only can we Hou Clan rest easy for quite some time, but we can also set our sights... southwards. If we can..."