"You're embracing me, my dear sister-in-law, with such affection," he said, hugging Ming Yi tightly, his expression one of deep tenderness.
"Sister-in-law, what do you mean by 'I'll bear it'?" Ning Feng Zhi felt utterly wronged. "If I bear it, I'll be dead for sure!"
"You scoundrel, if you don't bear it, then he'll be dead for sure!"
"..."
Lin Xiao began to silently mourn for Ning Feng Zhi. With such a sister-in-law, he probably hadn't been spared much trouble. No wonder he had escaped.
"Ahem."
Ning Xue Sheng cleared his throat and immediately gave his wife a meaningful look. "Alright, it's fine now. You, go and eat first. We can talk later; we're discussing important matters here."
She was quite sensible, nodding and then planting a kiss on Ming Yi's forehead before leaving.
Sitting beside Ming Yi, Ning Feng Zhi waited until his sister-in-law was gone before speaking to Ming Yi. "Do you know why I left these great mountains to search for my love?"
"Uncle Seven, you've worked hard."
Ming Yi understood Uncle Seven's feelings perfectly. Just now, after his mother had spoken those words, he felt as if something inside Uncle Seven had shattered.
He thought, that must have been Uncle Seven's heart breaking.
"Ahem, Old Seven, don't take it to heart. Your sister-in-law is just like that. Don't mind her. I'll talk to her later," Ning Xue Sheng said somewhat sheepishly.
After this small interlude, Ning Yu fixed his gaze on Fang Qing. He pointed to the table laden with food and the bucket of wine that had just been brought over, saying, "Fang Qing, I won't make things difficult for you for now. Eat first. After you've eaten, I hope you can give me an answer."
"What I want, you know very well."
Fang Qing and Ning Yu's gazes met in the air. He desperately wanted to get up and leave, but as Ning Yu and Ming Yi had said.
He was the fish, and they were the knife.
He could only nod.
Some people ate ravenously during this meal. After all, they had been fighting earlier and were still a bit injured; eating more was essential to replenish their energy. For instance, Ye Chen had already eaten three bowls of rice.
Others ate elegantly, as if it were a normal meal, such as Qi Tian and Lin Xiao.
And some, with every mouthful of food, would pause for two to three seconds, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Ning Yu and Ning Xue Sheng clinked glasses and drank, enjoying the meal heartily.
After several rounds of drinks, Old Master Ning Yu finally looked at Fang Qing, who had put down his chopsticks.
The other two had long since lost their appetite.
"Fang Qing, speak. You know what I need you to commit to," Ning Yu slowly poured a bowl of wine and pushed it in front of Fang Qing. "The young master of the Qi Sect is here, and he can serve as our witness."
"...Alright."
Fang Qing finally made his decision. He looked at the bowl of wine in front of him, picked it up, and drank it down in one gulp. Then he spoke, "From this day forward, my Misty Immortal Palace will not obstruct your Ning family from learning the Ming Yi lineage."
"That's more like it!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Yu grinned. His objective had been achieved.
Without the restrictions of the Misty Immortal Palace, his Ning family's return to its former glory was just around the corner!
"But."
Fang Qing stared intently at Ning Yu. "If you intend to refine zombies, or use the harmful methods from your Ning family lineage to do evil deeds! My Misty Immortal Palace, even if we have to suffer heavy losses again, will not tolerate your transgressions!"
"I wouldn't do anything wrong," Ming Yi said to him.