Marriage Alliance?

"This... forced melons aren't sweet. Matters concerning the children should be left for the children to decide themselves." After pondering for a long while, Yao Dan finally spoke slowly. "I'll invite Miss Yao Ling over and let her meet Young Clan Leader Shi Wei. No matter what, the final outcome of this matter should depend entirely on her own wishes."

If he had known nothing of what would happen in the coming years, he would certainly have agreed gladly to this marriage. Unfortunately, he knew those future events like the back of his hand. There was no way he could entrust the Yao Clan's treasured jewel to the Shi Clan. Yet the Shi Clan still held a certain value as an ally, so it was inconvenient for him to refuse outright. He could only laugh it off with an ambiguous attitude.

"Then I'll trouble you. This old man thanks you in advance." Rather than being disappointed by that answer, Shi Gandang looked delighted. In his eyes, the two were a perfect match in talent, looks, and status—a couple made in heaven. As long as Yao Dan helped bridge the gap between them, all these problems would resolve themselves.

A day later, the three of them sat quietly in Fayuan Pavilion, waiting for Yao Ling's arrival. They did not have to wait long. A graceful figure first knocked on the door, then gently pushed it open.

"Ling'er, this white-haired elder is the Shi Clan's Clan Leader, Shi Gandang. The young man beside him is the Shi Clan's Young Clan Leader, Shi Wei," Yao Dan introduced.

"Yao Ling greets Clan Leader Gandang and Young Clan Leader Shi Wei. May I ask why you summoned me here?" Yao Ling gave a deep bow. After straightening, she seemed to casually study Shi Wei. She had heard his name before, but had never met him in person. Seeing him today, she found him handsome and dignified, and could not help developing a favorable impression of him.

He really is quite handsome... Yao Ling thought to herself.

Shi Gandang noticed Yao Ling's reaction and secretly rejoiced. In his view, this marriage was already a sure thing. Before Yao Dan could say anything more, he hurriedly said, "It's nothing too important. I invited you here this time simply so that you and Shi Wei could get acquainted with one another. That's all."

"Ah? Clan Leader Gandang, you couldn't possibly have summoned me here solely for that, could you? I have my own matters to attend to as well." Hearing Shi Gandang's rather baffling words, Yao Ling thought for a moment before laughing awkwardly. She turned an inquiring gaze toward Yao Dan, waiting for him to explain further.

"Clan Leader Gandang is too embarrassed to state the matter plainly, so I'll say it directly." Yao Dan gave an awkward smile as well. "Clan Leader Gandang noticed your outstanding performance at the ceremony some time ago and admires you greatly. He hopes that Young Clan Leader Shi Wei can get to know you better. Of course, if the two of you could become husband and wife, that might... be even better."

He forcibly held back his laughter. After enduring for quite some time, he finally managed to finish those words. The two men beside him also nodded together in relief.

"Getting acquainted is naturally fine. Mr. Shi Wei is such an outstanding man; being able to meet him is my good fortune. But as for becoming husband and wife, let's forget that. Before today, I had never even met Mr. Shi Wei." Yao Ling smiled helplessly. "Besides, Clan Leader, I have no desire whatsoever to become a disposable pawn drifting about on the Yao Clan's diplomatic chessboard."

"Ling'er, don't worry. The Clan Leader will never force you to do anything. Inviting you here this time was merely to ask for your opinion. There was no other meaning behind it." Yao Dan nodded at her answer. "Clan Leader Gandang, you've seen it yourself. Forced melons aren't sweet. Let us end today's matter here."

Shi Gandang stood stunned for a while, unable to accept such a reversal. Shi Wei, however, reacted quickly. Taking over the conversation, he said, "Miss Yao Ling, my Shi Clan is a martial clan. Even trivial matters such as marriage must ultimately be settled with fists and feet. Although you have rejected my proposal, I still wish to spar with you a little. Only if you can defeat me in this spar will I be truly convinced by your rejection."

"That's fine, as long as this spar does not affect the final result." Yao Ling gave a strained smile. "Even if you defeat me in this spar, I will not change my mind."

"No, no. I naturally wouldn't dare force Miss to do anything," Shi Wei readily agreed.

"Brother Gandang, let's not interfere in the younger generation's affairs. We should trust in the wisdom of our juniors." Seeing this outcome, Yao Dan nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go somewhere else and catch up."

"Mr. Shi Wei, I believe your words just now were not much different from a provocation." After Shi Gandang left, Yao Ling spoke with a trace of anger in her voice. "I didn't want to embarrass your clan's Clan Leader, but to me, all of this is truly inexplicable."

"Clan Leader Gandang has always clung to those outdated ideas of arranged marriage from thousands of years ago. In that regard, he truly ought to learn from Clan Leader Yao Dan." Shi Wei spoke slowly. After thinking for a moment, he added, "However, Clan Leader Gandang does genuinely admire you. He bears no ill will, and he even specially prepared a gift for you."

Shi Wei took an exquisite jade vial from his Storage Ring and handed it to Yao Ling. Her anger faded by seventy percent at those words, replaced by pure curiosity. She peered into the vial, only to find a single drop of essence blood lying within.

"Don't underestimate this drop of essence blood. The Clan Leader personally extracted it from his own body." That simple sentence alone conveyed the weight of this gift.

"I will accept Senior's goodwill for now. However, I will definitely have the Clan Leader prepare a suitable return gift. I am truly very moved, but I do not wish to owe Senior this favor." After pondering for a long time, Yao Ling silently placed the jade vial into the Medicine Gourd at her waist and turned to leave. "Mr. Shi Wei, let us meet at the arena on the edge of the Lesser Medicine Realm in five days."

Five days later, beside the arena at the edge of the Lesser Medicine Realm, the two locked eyes and exchanged cupped-fist salutes before flashing together into a small space beside the arena.

The force unleashed when Saint Stage experts sparred was often enough to destroy the entire arena. To solve this problem, several previous Yao Clan Leaders had put considerable effort into opening dozens of small spaces beside the arena specifically for fighting. Today, those small spaces finally came in handy.

"If you win, I'll tell the Clan Leader that I was inferior in skill, that I willingly admit defeat, and that I'm unworthy of taking you as my wife. If you lose, I'll say that your strength is lacking, and that there's no need for me to hang myself from a single tree. Either way, I'll have an explanation for the Clan Leader." Shi Wei grinned.

"Mm, but I will definitely go all out and strive to defeat you." Yao Ling smiled. At the same time, with a thought, she activated every last bit of Soul power she could command, preparing for any contingency. She knew very well that the handsome man smiling before her was anything but easy to deal with.