Since you're worried she's not good enough for me, why don't you just marry me instead!

Objectively speaking, Qian Renxue was absolutely top-tier in terms of appearance, talent, strength, and background. As a candidate for a political marriage, she was flawless from a worldly perspective.

But the problem was... he, Li Qing, was no ordinary person!

He was a transmigrator! He knew Qian Renxue's performance in the original work all too well!

While her early disguise as the Crown Prince was indeed brilliant and calculated, her later actions—especially regarding her emotions and certain decision-making—were, to put it mildly, difficult to describe...

He had no desire to keep a ticking time bomb by his side in the future, especially one that was destined to be crushed by the protagonist's plot armor.

Bo Saixi listened quietly to Li Qing's reasons for opposition, a flicker of understanding passing through her sapphire-like eyes.

She did not answer immediately. Only after Li Qing finished speaking did she open her mouth, unhurriedly: "Regarding the past grievances between Spirit Hall and my Sea God Island... the Sea God once bestowed an oracle teaching that there are no eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests. Past hatred is not insurmountable when faced with a shared future. As for the people of Sea God Island, they trust me, and they trust the guidance of the Sea God."

She looked at Li Qing, her tone becoming solemn and certain: "As for the Sea God's will... I can tell you clearly that the Sea God is aware of this matter, and furthermore... he has consented to this marriage."

"What?!"

Li Qing was truly shocked this time. That old geezer, the Sea God, actually agreed?

Just how desperate is he to retire?!

He actually gave the nod to this kind of arranged marriage?

Bo Saixi keenly captured the fleeting resistance and helplessness in Li Qing's eyes.

Her heart stirred. She took a step forward, leaned in slightly, and looked at Li Qing with her beautiful eyes full of inquiry, asking softly: "Why? Judging by your tone, you seem... not very satisfied with this Miss Qian Renxue? Or is it that you don't trust your sister's judgment? Although I have never met her, with Qian Daoliu's granddaughter's bloodline and the foundation of Spirit Hall, she cannot be anything less than exceptional in both appearance and talent. You are the Son of God of my Sea God Island, the successor chosen by the Sea God himself; how could an ordinary woman be worthy of you?"

Bo Saixi's words were reasonable and logical, even carrying the concern of an elder for a younger generation.

In her view, Li Qing's refusal was perhaps merely the stubbornness of youth, a repulsion toward a stranger, or a worry that the other party might not be good enough.

Li Qing scratched his head and sighed helplessly: "Sister, that may be true. But... we haven't even met; we know nothing about each other. Besides, she is the Saintess of Spirit Hall, proud and aloof. She likely feels the same way I do and may not be willing to accept such an arranged marriage, right?"

He tried to struggle by using reasons like mutual affection and free love.

Upon hearing this, Bo Saixi smiled brightly, a smile that carried a worldly indifference: "You need not worry about that. Since Qian Daoliu proposed it himself and is willing to bring his granddaughter here, he must have already prepared to persuade her. As for whether you are willing..."

She blinked, a flash of cunning light passing through her deep blue eyes like a calculating little fox. She lowered her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear: "Even if you are truly unwilling, you cannot show it immediately. Since they took the initiative to propose the alliance, we on Sea God Island must naturally maintain our dignity. We shall first observe Spirit Hall's attitude, see how much Qian Daoliu values his granddaughter, and how much he values the alliance with Sea God Island."

Her implication was already very clear: "If Qian Renxue holds a transcendent position in Qian Daoliu's heart, then he will certainly not let her suffer any grievances easily. If the marriage goes through, the dowry and sincerity must naturally satisfy us. If they only mentioned it casually without sincerity, or if Qian Renxue herself firmly opposes it, leading to the failure of the marriage... that is not a loss for Sea God Island. On the contrary, we can take this opportunity to make Spirit Hall pay for their invasion decades ago with some sincerity. Do you understand what I mean?"

Listening to Bo Saixi's scheme, which was akin to extortion, Li Qing was stunned at first, then suddenly enlightened, a wry expression appearing on his face.

He finally understood—Bo Saixi wasn't just here to ask for his opinion.

She was clearly here to give him a lesson, teaching him how to fight for the maximum benefit in negotiations!

"Sister, you want to... take this opportunity to make Spirit Hall bleed and compensate for their past mistakes?" Li Qing pointed it out directly.

Bo Saixi's smile grew even more brilliant, like a rose blooming in the sun—breathtakingly beautiful, yet dangerously heart-stopping: "That is only natural. The marriage was proposed by Qian Daoliu, not begged for by my Sea God Island. If they go back on their word and are unwilling to pay a sufficient price to settle this matter, wouldn't that be looking down on my Sea God Island and disregarding the majesty of the Sea God?"

Looking at Bo Saixi's stunning yet slightly unscrupulous merchant-like smile, the gloom in Li Qing's heart caused by the arranged marriage suddenly dissipated quite a bit.

His eyes rolled, and a bold, suicidal thought popped into his head.

He suddenly stepped forward, reached out, and to Bo Saixi's surprise, firmly grasped her soft, delicate hand, which felt like the finest warm jade.

Bo Saixi's hand trembled slightly, and she instinctively wanted to pull it back, but Li Qing held it tight. He stared at her with burning eyes, a smile on his face that was unprecedented—a mix of a youth's sincerity and cunning—as he took the initiative to speak:

"Sister, since you're afraid that others aren't worthy of me... then I think, why don't you just marry me instead!"

"???"

Bo Saixi, from body to soul, seemed to freeze completely at this moment.

The sunlight, the sound of the waves, the solemnity of the great hall... all external sounds and sights seemed to vanish.

In her world, there remained only the warmth of Li Qing's palm and that sentence which had exploded in her ears like a thunderclap—Why don't you just marry me instead!

This wasn't an inner thought!

It was something Li Qing had said out loud!

Clear, loud, and carrying an unquestionable seriousness!

Bo Saixi's mind went blank. Her deep, ocean-like eyes were wide open, filled with extreme shock, bewilderment, and a trace of panic she hadn't even noticed herself.

Having lived for over a hundred years, experienced countless storms, held the authority of Sea God Island, and even faced peerless powerhouses like Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen with composure, she was, at this moment, completely dumbfounded by the marriage proposal of a twelve-year-old boy.

It felt as if a long time had passed, yet it was only an instant.

Bo Saixi finally snapped back to reality and, like a startled deer, pulled her hand back from Li Qing's grasp with force.

Her beautiful face was now as red as a ripe apple, and even her fair neck and delicate earlobes were stained with an alluring crimson.

"You... what nonsense are you spouting!" Bo Saixi's voice carried a tremor she hadn't noticed herself. She took a few deep breaths, struggling to calm her racing heart, and tried to use her elder's authority to suppress this absurd situation: "Xiao Qing, don't be mischievous! I... although I have yet to marry, do you know that between us... there is a most important, and most insurmountable problem?"