085 Passing the Torch—She Will Not Run Away! (Please Add to Your Favorites)

"Aunt Qiao, you don't need to take it so personally."

Su Yunjin smiled, neither showing concern nor indifference.

After lunch, Su Yunjin went to the airport to pick up her Fifth Grandfather.

Though he was seventy-five this year, his vigor and bearing made him seem like a man barely past fifty. From afar at the airport, Su Yunjin spotted her Fifth Grandfather, dressed in a traditional Zhongshan suit, cheerfully walking toward her.

When the two met, the warmth of their family bond was evident, and they chatted animatedly about home affairs as they drove. Only upon their return to the villa did the conversation turn to Lu Yiqing.

"That Lu Yiqing boy is truly unreasonable. If not for his grandfather saving your Seventh Grandfather years ago, what is the Lu family to us? How dare they think themselves worthy to forge ties with our Seven Gates? Earlier, all your grandparents and I considered that although the Lu family wasn't the best, they weren't exactly lacking either. If you married into their family, you wouldn't suffer, and besides, Lu Jingzhi once saved your Seventh Grandfather; his character is decent. But who would have thought the Lu family would be so ungrateful? After this Mid-Autumn Festival, I'll go with you to break off this engagement."

"But wouldn't that make us look petty?" Su Yunjin asked, still a little worried.

So far, her plan had only just begun. The rumors about Lu Yiqing and Song Yazhi were a source of gossip for outsiders, but in the circles of the elite, such talk seemed trivial. Breaking off the engagement over this made them appear narrow-minded.

"Petty? Lu Yiqing would rather die in his own living room than marry you. If we don't break it off, it looks as if we're desperate to wed into their family. What is the Lu family in the eyes of Seven Gates? If Lu Yiqing doesn't want to marry, we certainly won't cling to them."

Anger flickered across Fifth Grandfather's face, unable to be contained. He had endured enough over the years. Since the founding of Seven Gates, they had adhered to the principles of self-restraint and propriety. For the sake of Lu Yihong, he had spent years descending the mountain, rarely seeing Lu Yiqing. In ordinary families, saying one is busy might be believed, but in their circles, he knew well what tricks Lu Yiqing was playing. He tolerated Lu Yiqing's deliberate avoidance, thinking perhaps the younger man simply found it difficult to interact with elders. But when Lu Yiqing knelt in the family hall, declaring he'd rather die than accept the marriage, it was as if he had trampled all the elders beneath his feet. What is the Lu family, really? Did they believe Seven Gates would tolerate such disrespect?

As for Lu Yuanhang's intentions, they understood them well enough. He coveted the status and resources of Seven Gates, hoping to use the elders as connections to elevate the Lu family further. They had seen enough of such self-interest. Yet, the initial choice of the Lu family hadn't been theirs, but that of the old patriarch.

With the engagement, the future would bring expectations; without it, any attempts to manipulate them would come at a price. Su Yunjin was a cherished child, raised with love from the beginning—how could mere interests compare?

"Lu Yiqing knelt in his own hall, refusing to marry?" Su Yunjin looked truly shocked.

"It happened before your training camp. Though we elders live on the mountain, we're not blind to the outside world. Lu Yuanhang thought no one would speak of it, but he forgot—what Seven Gates wishes to know, no one can conceal."

Fifth Grandfather snorted coldly.

From his words, Su Yunjin understood the full story. Things had unfolded more smoothly than she expected; Fifth Grandfather's words even made her see Lu Yiqing in a new light. She had thought him a coward, but now it seemed this was all Lu Yuanhang's doing. Someone who would force his own son for the family's benefit—there was no reasoning with such a person.

Still, this suited her fine. With the engagement broken, she would no longer have to be summoned by Lu Yiqing, nor fear marrying him.

With the matter settled, the next event was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Not being in the sect, preparations were simpler than usual; Su Yunjin expected a quieter celebration. Yet, she hadn't anticipated that within hours of Fifth Grandfather's arrival at the villa, visitors would begin to arrive.

The guests were all from families befriended by Seven Gates, and Su Yunjin knew most of them. After the customary greetings, more arrived. It was not until nine in the evening that the guests gradually took their leave. Some departed, leaving behind invitations; without exception, all invited Fifth Grandfather to their family banquets.

"Every festival, there’s an abundance of these things. What was once our traditional holiday has now become something else entirely. Banquets, private parties—hmph, no wonder even the tiniest regions claim all sorts of things as theirs these days."

Looking at the pile of invitations, Fifth Grandfather’s irritation was palpable. Su Yunjin agreed silently.

Just then, Fifth Grandfather turned to her. "Yunjin, come, sit here. I want to ask you something."

"What is it, Fifth Grandfather?"

Su Yunjin obediently took a seat beside him.

"This time, as you enter the entertainment world, besides your poor impression of Lu Yiqing, what thoughts do you have about the industry?"

"Thoughts?" Su Yunjin reflected seriously and shook her head.

Ten years ago, when she became the online singer known as "Fire," she had indeed harbored ambitions for the entertainment world. But those ambitions were about showing off her skills, wanting everyone to see how extraordinary she was. She fought for rankings, pushed herself relentlessly.

But after ten years, at this point, Su Yunjin had no particular aspirations for the entertainment industry. Even this time, as the lead mentor—though she held the central position, she cared little for the title. She simply did her duties, with no thought of competition. If she had any wish, it was only to return to the sect after the program and resume her cultivation, living up to the hopes of her elders.

"But why do you ask, Fifth Grandfather?"

After indicating her uncertainty, Su Yunjin looked at him curiously.

In her recollection, her grandparents had little interest in the entertainment world. Such an unusual question surely had a reason.

"It's not that we ask out of nowhere; we've long had such thoughts. This time, sending you down from the mountain wasn't only to interact with Lu Yiqing. There is another hope: that Huaxia's cultural current might claim a place in the world.

Decades ago, our nation resisted the invaders, and the people stood tall again. Over the years, we've made remarkable progress in the fields of economy and military. Recently, national confidence has risen, and our cultural sphere is developing too. Yet inevitably, too many are stirring up trouble here. These capitalists muddy the waters with their wealth, fishing for fast profits.

Ten or twenty years ago, your grandparents and I discussed that modern China had a glaring gap: the entertainment industry. After so many years, that prediction has come true. We lose immeasurable sums in the entertainment industry each year. If those funds stayed within the country, at least they'd churn the GDP. But much is siphoned abroad. Now, seeing the profits, more people stir the waters, losing both money and responsibility."

Fifth Grandfather gazed at Su Yunjin. In his aged eyes, a fearsome brilliance flashed, startling her into straightening her back.

He went on, "The rise and fall of a nation is everyone's responsibility, and Seven Gates was founded to uphold the roots of our country. Seventy years ago, when the invaders came, the sect lost over a thousand disciples. Though these are not times of war, the struggle continues, and so does our duty. Now, we elders can no longer shoulder it; it falls to you, Yunjin."

Fifth Grandfather looked at her. She met his gaze, seeing in his eyes an unyielding determination. Gradually, her own spirit ignited.

Her expression grew resolute, and Su Yunjin spoke, "Fifth Grandfather, I understand. I will take root, and be the one to clear away the fog."

Seven Gates was founded to be the nail driven into the enemy's heart. Wherever needed, they would take root. Before, it was life and blood; now, it is cultural inheritance and continuity. The spark must be passed on—she would not turn away.