That was right. He hadn't agreed to this plan at first; Bibi Dong had proposed it.
But somehow, in the end, Qian Renxue had agreed too—and she'd seemed quite determined.
Though he didn't know why, he could be certain it had something to do with that woman, Bibi Dong.
Thinking of this, he let out a long sigh, his voice tinged with a weariness that was difficult to detect. "Xue'er, do you think your grandfather hasn't considered what you've said? But you must understand: in this world, especially when it comes to the two forces inheriting divine legacies, what kind of pact is truly unbreakable? Interest? Interests change with time. Oaths? Oaths can be broken. Only the merging of bloodlines can bind the futures of two forces together completely, creating a true community of interests and even producing a shared heir. That is the strongest bond!"
He looked at Qian Renxue, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Tell me, apart from marriage, what could ensure that Sea God Island and Spirit Hall, the Angel God's lineage and the Sea God's lineage, would remain on the same side through the long years ahead, even willingly pay a heavy price for one another? And what could make the gods behind us give their highest approval and tacit consent to this partnership?"
Qian Daoliu's barrage of questions struck Qian Renxue's heart like a series of heavy blows.
She parted her lips, only to realize she couldn't refute him.
Her grandfather was right. In the world of the gods, in the struggle over the future shape of the continent, marriage—especially marriage between divine bloodlines—was indeed the least costly, most effective, and most widely accepted method.
In the face of the gods' long lives and absolute power, all other pacts seemed so feeble.
Qian Renxue fell silent again. She lowered her head and looked at her somewhat pale face reflected on the polished floor.
It wasn't that she didn't understand this reasoning, nor that she truly valued feelings above all else.
It was just... accepting a strange young boy as her future partner, a little brother so much younger than her, was a hurdle she simply couldn't bring herself to cross.
She was Qian Renxue, Spirit Hall's Saintess, who had spent over a decade undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, with a mind as hard as iron. She wasn't a doll to be pushed around at will.
Seeing his granddaughter's tightly pressed lips and the struggle in her eyes, Qian Daoliu knew that taking a hard line would only stir up even stronger resistance in her.
The sharpness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a loving, earnest warmth. He stepped before Qian Renxue and gently patted her shoulder.
"Xue'er..."
His voice was low and gentle as he said softly, "Your grandfather isn't trying to force you. I've been through this myself, and I can see further than you. Think about it: for Spirit Hall's eternal legacy, for the continued glory of our Angel Clan, and for your own future... that boy, Li Qing, is an excellent choice. He might even be the best choice."
He gazed into Qian Renxue's eyes, his words striking straight at the heart of the matter. "Do you really want to grow old alone and never marry? Or... marry a man whose talent, strength, and background are all far inferior to yours, someone you'd have to lower yourself to accommodate? Your grandfather believes that with your pride, you'd never be willing to do that."
Qian Renxue's delicate body trembled slightly.
Her grandfather's words had struck precisely at the deepest, most private thoughts in her heart.
She really was proud and held herself above everyone else.
While disguised as the crown prince in the Heaven Dou Empire, she had met countless so-called young talents and noble scions. In her eyes, they were either mediocre, hypocritical, or short-sighted. Not one of them measured up.
Even within Spirit Hall, she had never thought the young talents who once fawned over her were worthy of her, Qian Renxue, much less worthy of her Angel Bloodline.
If she had to settle, she would rather remain alone for her entire life.
But... was she really going to marry a twelve-year-old child?
The thought left her feeling absurdly helpless.
Seeing his granddaughter waver, though still clinging to her final reservation, Qian Daoliu's eyes flashed. He proposed a compromise. "How about this, Xue'er? Since you still have doubts, let's take a step back. We'll go to Sea God Island together first and meet the Sea God Inheritor."
He paused to study Qian Renxue's expression, then continued slowly. "You can see with your own eyes what sort of person he is and whether he really is as astonishingly talented as the rumors claim. We can also sound him out and hear what he truly thinks of this marriage. If he has no interest in you, or if the two of you simply aren't meant for each other, then we'll drop the matter. We can use the opportunity to speak frankly with Sea God Island about cooperation instead. If we're the ones to propose the marriage and are turned down, the initiative will return to us, and Spirit Hall will be in a stronger position in the negotiations that follow. What do you think?"
This proposal gave Qian Renxue a way out, avoiding the fierce resistance that a direct demand to marry might provoke. It also kept the possibility of marriage open, while turning a potential rejection into a bargaining chip. It was a solution that accomplished several things at once.
After hearing him out, Qian Renxue's furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
At least this plan gave her room to observe and choose, while preserving her dignity and her say in the matter.
Seeing him for herself would be better than sitting here making baseless guesses.
If Li Qing really proved to be insufferable, or had no interest in her at all, then she'd have ample reason to refuse.
But if... he really was as outstanding as her grandfather described, perhaps...
A tangle of thoughts circled in her mind.
At last, she sighed again, the sound filled with helplessness and resignation.
"All right, Grandfather."
Qian Renxue lifted her head, her violet eyes once again calm and clear, and agreed. "We'll do as you say. Let's go to Sea God Island first and meet the Sea God Inheritor. Everything... can wait until after I've met him."
Seeing that his granddaughter had finally relented, Qian Daoliu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Good, then it's settled. Rest for the next two days and get yourself ready. We'll set out for Sea God Island in three days."
Qian Renxue nodded and said nothing more. She turned and walked toward her quarters in the depths of the Worship Hall.
Her back was still straight, but her steps seemed heavy.
The radiance of the Angel God Statue fell over her, draping her in a sacred halo, yet it also illuminated the turmoil and confusion in her heart.
Watching Qian Renxue walk away, Qian Daoliu sighed softly, his handsome face full of helplessness.
Born into a family like this, marriage was arguably the best—and only—way forward.
Unless you had the strength and means to suppress everything, you couldn't make every decision for yourself.
Before you continue