Chapter 39: Engagement?
Two days later, as expected, the Dream God Palace sent someone to retrieve Arashigir, offering another O Wazamono grade tachi and some gifts in exchange.
Yan Zhen readily agreed. After all, a gentleman shouldn’t keep something that didn’t belong to him. Besides, Arashigir’s “Divine Wind Sword Intent” had already been transferred to his hand by his Beautiful Sect Master.
Without its Sword Intent, Arashigir was just an ordinary O Wazamono tachi, not particularly useful to him. He preferred his Extreme Flame Sword.
The new sword, named “Raikiri” (Thunder Cutter), looked brand new, forming a pair with Arashigir, their names taken from the Tsukushi Continent’s myth, The Tale of the Wind God and the Thunder God.
Raikiri didn’t possess Sword Intent, but it was cursed, an ominous blade. Those with insufficient strength who wielded it would gradually undergo a personality change, eventually becoming its slave.
Clearly, the Dream God Palace had malicious intentions.
However, it wasn’t a big deal for him. His Beautiful Sect Master had easily seen through Raikiri’s trick:
A “Thunder Beast’s” soul was trapped within the blade. Those with weak Spiritual Power would be influenced and controlled by it.
She placed a seal on the sword, weakening the Thunder Beast’s ferocity, then instructed him to carry it, using it to temper his Spiritual Power.
Strengthening his Spiritual Power was crucial for his upcoming encounter with the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire. That mysterious Extreme Flame possessed the ability to manipulate hearts and minds, far more dangerous than this Thunder Beast’s soul.
…
After the Dream God Palace’s representatives left, another group arrived.
This time, they weren’t here to cause trouble. They were here for the “future son-in-law.”
— It was the Ji family.
The Ji family, originally the largest shareholder family of the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce, had fallen into decline in recent generations, their position as Head Shopkeeper practically a figurehead.
Until Ji Ya’s mother had stepped in, replacing her incompetent brother, becoming the new Head Shopkeeper, gradually reclaiming the Ji family’s status and influence.
After her death, with no one else capable of taking the helm, Ji Ya had stepped up, shouldering the responsibility.
The reason for their visit was, of course, Yan Zhen.
Ji Ya had publicly announced their engagement, so the current head of the family, Ji Ya’s grandfather, wanted to meet him.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, Grandfather wants to see you. Will you accompany me back home?”
“Sure.”
The Ji family elders were surprised by her deferential tone, realizing she might have truly fallen for this young man. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be acting so… submissive.
However, he was a bit too young. They weren’t a good match.
But they didn’t voice their concerns. Ji Ya’s matters weren’t their business. The entire Ji family, hundreds of people, relied on her.
“I’m coming too.”
Yi Xian’er inserted herself between them, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Ji Ya didn’t react, her expression calm and composed.
Yan Zhen, however, was reluctant. Yi Xian’er’s tendency to improvise made him nervous.
“You can come, but you have to behave yourself. No more… incidents.”
She nodded.
…
They traveled to the Ji family’s ancestral home by carriage, then, led by the elders, met with Ji Ya’s grandfather.
The old man, named Ji Lin, was the least intelligent member of the Ji family in generations, but his cultivation talent was surprisingly good. Essentially, he was a brute.
In other families, this wouldn’t be a problem. But the Ji family was a merchant family. Intelligence was essential.
Unfortunately, not only was he lacking in that area, but most of his children had inherited his traits, becoming brutes as well, leading to the family’s decline.
If not for Ji Ya and her mother, the Ji family, once a prominent force in the Sunward Kingdom, would have been reduced to a second-rate family.
Upon meeting the old man, as expected, he proposed that Yan Zhen marry into the Ji family, setting a date for their engagement ceremony.
“Engagement?”
After the meeting, Yi Xian’er, curious about their conversation, was stunned by those words.
Ji Ya smiled triumphantly.
“Yes, Grandfather said that settling the marriage sooner would prevent a lot of trouble.”
“Did you agree, Yan Zhen?”
“Relax, it’s just a formality.”
He was following the script. Agreeing to the engagement was just a favor to Ji Ya, to protect her reputation.
Thanks to the Second and Third Shopkeepers’ efforts, everyone knew that the treatment for her illness involved dual cultivation with a Mystic Refiner who possessed an Extreme Flame.
Now that she was cured, it was obvious she had lost her virginity. Rumors would spread, damaging her reputation.
But marrying Yan Zhen would turn it into a beautiful story.
However, in the script, she had paid him to do this, and their relationship had grown closer as a result.
Yi Xian’er, however, didn’t believe it was just a formality. Ji Ya was clearly using this as an excuse to solidify their relationship, transitioning from “older sister” to “fiancée,” making it more… official.
— She’s using her elders again! How despicable!
She glared at Ji Ya, who remained unfazed.
This wasn’t her idea. It was her grandfather’s. She was simply going along with it.
She had always found her family to be idiotic, constantly needing her to clean up their messes. Now, she had a slightly better opinion of them.
“When is the ceremony?”
“After the treatment is completed.”
…
They stayed at the Ji family’s residence for a night, then returned to Elegant Courtyard the next day.
Yan Zhen felt a bit disappointed. Normally, there would be some arrogant fool who would challenge him, only to be swiftly defeated.
However, Ji Ya’s influence within the family was too strong. No one dared disrespect him. Nothing happened.
Sigh~
He excused himself, claiming he wanted to go for a walk, but he secretly went to the crystal space to practice drawing the Wind Rune with his Beautiful Sect Master, leaving the two women alone in the living room.
…
Ten days passed. He successfully drew the Wind Rune, his Soul Realm advancing to the second stage, “Concealed-Manifest.” When he circulated the Ancestral Talisman Scripture, a faint, solidified light appeared within the Spiritual Flame on his forehead, enhancing its beauty.
Unlike the Fire Rune, the Wind Rune possessed inherent power. Using the Wind Rune to maintain his elevation, combined with Starry Sky Dance, granted him temporary flight capabilities.
Ji Ya’s treatment was also nearing completion. On the final night, he “refilled” her four times. Even with her cauldron physique’s absorption rate, she was nearly overflowing.
The treatment lasted for two hours. Finally, before she fainted, the last trace of medicinal energy within her body was refined.
He was also exhausted, collapsing into Aunt Mu’s arms behind him. Jin Tong and Yu Nu crawled over, their tongues diligently cleaning him.
“You’ve worked hard, young man.”
Aunt Mu’s voice, usually indifferent, carried a hint of warmth. Her hand gently stroked his chest, her Mystic Power soothing his overloaded meridians.
He sighed contentedly, patting the twins’ heads as a reward, then closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.
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