Volume 3, Chapter 266 – I Agree to Marry Him

When the wolf clan princess declared she would kill every man who came to seek Lu Zhuxin’s hand, Lu Zhuxin had almost convinced herself she was looking at Qu Qingtang in disguise.

The resemblance was uncanny. Simply too uncanny.

Lu Zhuxin and Qu Qingtang had spent ten years as devoted companions in that dream.

A dream, yes, but one woven together by tens of thousands of fox demons into something that had drawn infinitely close to the real world.

She had lived day and night with Qu Qingtang in that dream, and knew her intimately.

The tone Bu Lianshuang had just used, the exact expression on her face, had been nearly identical to Qu Qingtang.

And then there was the system’s strange attitude on top of it all. It was difficult not to let her mind drift in that direction.

Was Qu Qingtang truly dead?

Lu Zhuxin couldn’t find a firm answer to that question.

The system had said Qu Qingtang was already dead.

The Demon Venerable had also told Lu Zhuxin that a Venerable Saint had indeed fallen on fox clan territory.

And Qu Qingtang’s body lay quietly in the ruins of the Bliss Demon Sect.

In this world, a Venerable Saint was nearly impossible to kill, unless the one doing the killing was herself.

And yet Lu Zhuxin still couldn’t be certain that woman was truly gone.

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That woman had laid so many plans. She had even been willing to become Lu Zhuxin’s devoted companion. Lu Zhuxin could hardly imagine her giving up so easily.

Even in death, she would have left a contingency.

“Could that contingency be you, Bu Lianshuang?” Lu Zhuxin murmured to herself.

“Or, is Bu Lianshuang Qu Qingtang?”

She couldn’t confirm either way. Not yet.

But since the wolf clan princess had come to her on her own, Lu Zhuxin had all the time she needed to probe slowly.

***

On the other side of the residence, Chi Xiyan arrived at Chi Jingwen’s study.

She stood before the quiet room and drew a slow, steady breath.

Only after steeling herself did she step inside.

“Father.”

Chi Jingwen stood at his desk, brush in hand, moving across a painted scroll.

Chi Xiyan caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye. A beauty in red, dancing barefoot.

The painting was unfinished. The woman’s face was blank, indistinguishable.

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At the sound of Chi Xiyan’s voice, Chi Jingwen set down his brush.

“Xiyan, why aren’t you keeping your sister company? What brings you here?” He smiled and sat down. “Come to beg a cup of tea from me?”

“Father,” Chi Xiyan said. “There is something I would like to ask your permission for.”

“What is it? Tell me.” Chi Jingwen said. “Is it about Muxue?”

“Yes.” Chi Xiyan gave a small nod. “Since I brought Muxue back to the Chi family, she has encountered danger more than once. She is only a mortal, with no cultivation at all. To prevent her from facing similar danger again, I would like to ask Father’s permission to teach her to cultivate.”

“Teach her to cultivate?” Chi Jingwen tapped his desk lightly with the thumb ring on his finger. “She has already passed the best age for beginning cultivation. If you’re simply afraid of her running into danger, haven’t you already bought her a capable maidservant from Five Immortals House? That maidservant’s cultivation isn’t weak, if I’m not mistaken.”

Chi Xiyan’s expression did not flicker with surprise.

Chi Jingwen was the Chi family head. Nothing that stirred within the Chi residence escaped his notice.

Chi Xiyan and Lu Zhuxin had brought that female martial artist home openly. It would have been strange if Chi Jingwen didn’t know.

That said, Lan Shuang’er had already taken the cultivation-suppressing pills. Even the Chi family head couldn’t know her true cultivation level.

It was precisely having those high-grade pills as a hidden card that gave Chi Xiyan the confidence to act without fear.

“Her cultivation is indeed not weak,” Chi Xiyan said. “A Fourth Realm martial artist is a capable fighter, but far from enough.”

Lan Shuang’er’s true cultivation was the Fifth Realm, but the pills had suppressed it to the Third. That level of suppression would have seemed suspicious to Chi Jingwen, so Chi Xiyan had claimed Fourth Realm instead. It was more convincing, and easier for him to accept.

To teach Chi Muxue cultivation, she needed Chi Jingwen’s approval.

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Without the family head’s permission, Chi Xiyan could not simply begin instructing Chi Muxue on her own.

Within the Chi family, the family head was the absolute authority.

“Ha, a Fourth Realm maidservant. That is rare.” Chi Jingwen said. “Reaching the Fourth Realm at such a young age, that kind of talent is almost on par with yours. If the great sword sects knew of her, I imagine they’d be competing to take her in.”

“With such a capable personal maidservant at her side, what more could she need?”

Chi Xiyan said evenly, “Shuang’er’s strength is genuine, but relying on one person alone will always leave gaps in protection.”

“So I hope Muxue can also have the ability to defend herself.”

“It’s true she has passed the ideal age for tempering her foundation. But even if she can cultivate even the faintest sliver of spiritual energy, enough to gather qi within her body, she would then be able to use the spirit artifacts and medicines I’ve gifted her. That way, she could have the means to protect herself.”

“I see.” After listening, Chi Jingwen stroked his beard thoughtfully.

His eyes held a quiet deliberation. He said nothing.

Chi Xiyan didn’t dare interject. Having grown up in the Chi family, she knew Chi Jingwen’s temperament better than anyone.

After a long silence, Chi Jingwen spoke unhurriedly. “That’s true. How could a Chi family young lady have no ability to protect herself at all?”

“Very well. I permit it.”

Chi Xiyan’s eyes brightened with quiet relief.

“But, Xiyan.” Chi Jingwen looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly. “Is this truly the only reason you came to see me today?”

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Chi Xiyan frowned. “What does Father mean?”

Chi Jingwen’s expression became measured. “The senior disciple of Lingxiao Sword Sect’s sect master came to find me earlier.”

Chi Xiyan’s gaze grew subdued. “Regarding the young sect master’s marriage arrangements?”

“Yes. Lingxiao Sword Sect’s position is that the union between the Chi and Song families cannot be delayed any further. They want the news of the match to be announced soon, and for you and Song Shixuan to be wed without further delay.” Chi Jingwen’s fingers tapped lightly against his thumb ring. “Xiyan, this marriage concerns the rest of your life. So I want to hear your thoughts.”

A faint flicker of surprise crossed Chi Xiyan’s face.

She hadn’t expected Chi Jingwen to ask her this.

Chi Jingwen was the Chi family head, holding absolute authority within the family. Since when did the Chi and Song family union require Chi Xiyan’s say?

So there was really only one answer to give.

The answer Chi Jingwen most wanted to hear, the same as she had always done.

“Father, I have no reason to object,” Chi Xiyan said. “A union with Young Master Song would be a good thing, for me as much as for the Chi family.”

Chi Jingwen’s gaze grew slightly heavy. “So you agree?”

“Yes, Father,” Chi Xiyan said. “I am willing to marry Young Master Song.”

“And I agree to move the wedding date forward.”