Marrying In (Please Vote)

"My name is Jiang Fu'an. Greetings, Head of the Wang Family."

Outside the crowd, Jiang Fu'an stepped forward, bowed, and saluted the woman before him.

He had not actually wanted to curry favor with this female cultivator at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, but the look she had given him earlier clearly meant she had business with him.

With all eyes upon him, he could only squeeze out of the crowd and approach her.

Wang Zhiyue raised a hand in a token gesture of support. Her voice was crisp, like a stream flowing through a mountain ravine:

"Fu'an, there is no need for such courtesy. This time, thanks to the whereabouts of those people from Mountain-Calming Martial Hall that you provided, our Wang Family was able to wipe them out in one stroke."

"Since we have met today, let me play host and invite you to Gathering Immortals Tower for a drink. Would you be willing to honor me with your presence?"

Jiang Fu'an was taken aback.

He was not surprised that Mountain-Calming Martial Hall had been completely wiped out.

Ever since he had revealed that group's hideout to Ma Ping half a month ago, he had already guessed this would be the outcome.

For a cultivation family to deal with a band of mortal martial artists was no more difficult than reaching out to pluck fruit.

But why was Wang Zhiyue being so courteous over such a trivial matter?

She was even offering to treat him to food and drink.

He had not forgotten that, some time ago, when he had wanted to rent several mu of the Wang Family's Spiritual Fields near Clear Dew Mountain, this very woman had turned him away with a single sentence: "Other arrangements have already been made."

Several thoughts turned in Jiang Fu'an's mind. Outwardly, he hesitated only briefly before cupping his hands and saying:

"Head of the Wang Family, I am deeply honored by your personal invitation. Naturally, I have no reason to refuse."

"However, I brought several fellow villagers with me on this outing. I am afraid it may be somewhat inconvenient."

Wang Zhiyue smiled and immediately replied:

"What inconvenience is there? Have them come along as well!"

Seeing that he could not decline, Jiang Fu'an could only agree.

He understood that this meal would not come for free; she must be after something.

But in the current situation, aside from handling matters cautiously, he had no other choice.

He turned and returned to where Miao Ruolan, Stone, and the others were standing. He briefly explained that Wang Zhiyue was treating them, then finally looked at Miao Ruolan.

"Ruolan, would you like to come too?"

Miao Ruolan lifted her eyes, her gaze falling upon Stone's face, as though she had thought of something.

But in the end, she said nothing of it and merely shook her head lightly.

"Ruoshan, Ruohai, and I won't be going. Take Stone with you."

Jiang Fu'an knew that she was feeling down at the moment and likely had no appetite, so he did not press her further.

Inside a private room on the second floor of Gathering Immortals Tower.

Stone sat beside Ma Ping. Both had their heads lowered, concentrating on dealing with the dishes before them.

Jiang Fu'an, however, had barely eaten a few bites.

He sat opposite Wang Zhiyue, his mind wholly occupied with handling the conversation.

After several rounds of wine, Wang Zhiyue turned her gaze toward Stone and spoke gently:

"Stone is actually a child with decent talent. Although the great sects look down on False Spiritual Roots, among ordinary families, he is still a rare seedling of immortality."

"Fu'an, have you considered letting him cultivate?"

Here it comes.

Jiang Fu'an's heart stirred. He knew the real topic had arrived.

He put down his chopsticks and carefully chose his words.

"To be honest, Head of the Wang Family, Stone having a False Spiritual Root caught me completely off guard. How could I have had time to make any long-term plans?"

Wang Zhiyue nodded slightly, then said:

"Since you have not made any plans yet, why not let Stone cultivate in Sparrow Forest?"

"Our Wang Family's Spiritual Vein is a first-grade high-quality vein. Supporting his cultivation through the Qi Refining Late-Stage would be more than enough."

To anyone who had cultivated in the mortal lands, those words were immensely tempting.

Jiang Fu'an was indeed somewhat moved. Cultivating on a Spiritual Vein for one day could probably equal more than ten days of hard work at home.

But with her intentions still unclear, he did not dare respond rashly. He merely probed:

"Being able to cultivate on a Spiritual Vein would naturally be Stone's good fortune."

"But as an outsider, if he were to occupy your family's spiritual land for a long time, would that not invite criticism from your clansmen?"

Wang Zhiyue seemed to have anticipated that he would say this. She nodded in agreement.

"Fu'an, you have considered matters thoroughly. In that case, I do have a way to satisfy both sides."

"Do you still remember that girl, Zhao Yun, who tested her Spiritual Root alongside Seedling back then?"

Jiang Fu'an thought back for a moment.

Back when Spiritual Roots had been tested at the Wang Family, three children had ultimately been found:

Seedling, Sun Zhiwei, and one other little girl.

However, that girl had a Five-Element Spiritual Root and had not been selected.

He vaguely recalled Ma Ping mentioning before that her name did indeed seem to be Ruyun.

"I have some recollection."

He nodded.

Wang Zhiyue continued:

"That child Ruyun has now grown into a graceful young lady. Why don't we settle the marriage between these two children today?"

"Once they become family, Stone cultivating in Sparrow Forest will be perfectly justified, and no one will have any gossip to spread."

A marriage alliance?

Jiang Fu'an was greatly astonished.

The Jiang Family was no more than an ordinary farming household. Why would Wang Zhiyue be so eager to form a marriage alliance with them?

And she was even offering a child with a Spiritual Root.

There was only one explanation:

This was not a matter of marrying a daughter off or taking a wife. They wanted Stone to marry into their family.

Having understood this, he almost did not hesitate before raising his head to meet Wang Zhiyue's eyes.

"Head of the Wang Family, I am truly sorry. Our branch of the Jiang Family is still relying on Stone to carry on the family line."

There was no surprise on Wang Zhiyue's face. She nodded in agreement.

"Carrying on the family line is indeed a major matter. But if I remember correctly, Fu'an, you later had another son, did you not?"

"Besides, you are still young. You can have more children in the future, so there is no need to worry too much over your bloodline."

"If you agree to this marriage, our Wang Family will certainly prepare a generous dowry."

"I hear that you are cultivating as well now. The Spirit Rice and Half-Spirit Beasts in the dowry are cultivation resources that you should find useful."

"Furthermore, the thirty mu of Spiritual Fields near Clear Dew Mountain can also be rented to you for cultivation at a low price."

Jiang Fu'an's breathing paused slightly.

To be honest, the value of this offer even exceeded the reward the imperial court had granted last time.

Spirit Rice and Half-Spirit Beasts could both increase his cultivation speed. They were precisely the things he longed for beyond measure.

But sending a child into a sect and having him marry into another family were fundamentally different matters.

The former brought glory to one's family; the latter inevitably invited people to point and whisper.

And there was also Stone's future—Seedling was in the Melodious Sound Sect, and might one day achieve Foundation Establishment. Even Core Formation was not beyond imagining.

But if Stone entered the Wang Family, he would likely be trapped in the Qi Refining Period for the rest of his life.

Jiang Fu'an took a deep breath and politely declined once more.

"Head of the Wang Family, I appreciate your kindness."

"However, I once promised my late wife that I would raise this child well, see him take a wife, and have children."

"I truly cannot comply with the matter of marrying into your family."

Ma Ping, who was picking up food beside them, paused briefly. He glanced at Jiang Fu'an in surprise, not expecting him to withstand such temptation.

But he said nothing. He soon lowered his head again, as though the plate before him was the whole world.

A flicker of surprise also crossed Wang Zhiyue's eyes.

She had originally thought that with such terms laid out, a country farmer who had never seen the world would have no reason to refuse.

Yet she still did not give up persuading him.

After pondering for a moment, she turned her gaze toward the small figure who had been silently stuffing himself and asked warmly:

"Stone, do you want to become a cultivator who can fly through the heavens and vanish into the earth, just like Sister Seedling?"