The Red String Of Yearning

The King's Proposal (Re-written)

An elder man raises his hand to say, "Please, everyone calm down. We all know what they demand is unreasonable, but it was the King's direct order and His majesty has come personally for it. Do you know how much pressure we felt facing him?"

Another one says, "Clan head Jiang was saying that the enforcement he left has got increased. They have set up their camp near the bridge and blocked it. It has cut all our connection to main land. They have stopped the traders from coming in and getting out of our land. It almost seems like they are declaring a war on us."

Lian Shan, "How hateful!"

"Tell them that we have no maidens to offer. Every female is married and has children." a member speaks up.

Lian Chang, "They know about it. That's why King Cheng Sheng has offered two paths. Either we send a female healer and married her off to young master Zhu or we send Lian Jie to treat him."

"..." Lian Jie gets surprised. 'Why me? How am I a substitute of a female?' He ponders.

Lian Chang, "King Cheng Sheng has heard of Lian Jie's talent in diagonise and healing diseases, he also has come to know about his strength in defense. So he has offered if we send Lian Jie, they will teach and help him to cultivate his martial skill."

That older member says again, "To be precise, His majesty has kept these options in front of us and offered us rewards. If we send a female, she'll be the cultivation partner of HuoZhu Xiao Long- jun. And if we send Lian Jie, he'll be trained well in martial arts and will be awarded with wealth. Moreover, he can take a member of Huo clan as his cultivation partner if he wishes..."

Lian Shan speaks up suddenly, "Fine. We'll not send any female. We will send Lian Jie, the pride of our family."

Lian Chang snaps at his mother hearing her decision in hasten. "What are you saying? Did you forget our enmity? How can I send my only son to that demon's lair?"

Lian Shan says in cold voice, "It is fine, my son. Trust my decision. It will be for the best."

Lian Chang and others get completely puzzled.

Lian Shan says to Lian Jie, "A member of Huo clan as cultivation partner. It should be a good deal."

Before Lian Chang can say anything, they all hear a loud blast.

"The barrier... it's broken." someone cries out from the outside. Everyone shudders in the meeting and look outside.

Truly, they see a red thunder, followed by a crack on the barrier. The barrier is broken at the side where the Meng residence is situated.

A barrier, which was built by twelve eldest and strongest cultivators of Shui clan, maintained by another thirty cultivators of the clan, is now broken!

"What is going on? Did those Huo clan's demons attacked us finally?"

"Can you not see the red thunder? It must be those red demons, The Zhu family."

"But didn't his majesty give us five days time? Today is only the third day."

"Brother Lian, what should we do now?"

"Master Lian..."

There spreads the chaos in an instant. Everyone is waiting for Lian Chang's reply. But his face is fully darkened.

Lian Jie is also silent, he feels angry. "Fine. I accept grandmother's decision. I think it will be best not only for our family but also for our clan, our land. This humble Lian Jie will try his best to make you all proud."

Lian Chang clench his fist and grinds the words, "I will let the clan master Jiang know the decision."

**