Substitute Bride

Qian Daoliu's words plunged all the offerings into silence.

On one side was Spirit Hall's little princess; on the other was the grandson of Qian Daoliu's sworn elder brother.

What was more, when Frost Sword had traveled the continent back then, he had passed through Spirit Hall.

He had even exchanged moves with several of these offerings.

The offerings present had all benefited greatly from Frost Sword Douluo's guidance in those days.

Naturally, neither side could be offended.

Inside the room,

the old men were suddenly at a loss.

Among the offerings, Guang Ling was the first to speak.

"Boss, do you think there's a chance..."

"that Frost Sword Douluo's descendant might also be here to break off the engagement?!"

"If he's here to break it off too, there's no need to force Xue'er. We can just let her cancel the engagement."

Guang Ling's words made Demon Subduer's eyes light up as well.

"Yeah, Boss. I don't think what Guang Ling said is impossible."

"If he's here to break off the engagement too, we can save ourselves all this trouble. Everyone can just go back to doing what they should be doing. Wouldn't that be great?!"

Demon Subduer's words brightened everyone's expressions.

"That's right! If Frost Sword's descendant is also here to break off the engagement, what are we still agonizing over?!"

But before they could celebrate for long,

Qian Daoliu's face darkened slightly. He slammed his palm heavily onto the table. "Are you all fooling around?!"

"Since ancient times, marriage has been a matter of great importance. How can you treat it so frivolously?"

"I think you've spoiled Xue'er too much in the past, which is why she has become this willful."

"She's being unreasonable, and you're joining her in this nonsense too?!"

"How many people on the continent would casually break off an engagement?! Xue'er's willful decision to do so has already been surprising enough!"

"And now you're actually hoping the other party came to break it off too?!"

"How could that be possible?!"

"If Frost Sword's grandson heard that you were hoping he would break off the engagement, how heartbroken would he be?!"

At the mention of Frost Sword,

the people present could not help recalling that peerless genius who had once roamed the land and defeated Spirit Hall's great offerings in a single day.

That day, several great offerings had been defeated by the same man on the very same day. They had then been utterly convinced by Frost Sword's blade, and the old men had recognized him as their sworn elder brother on the spot.

Yet Frost Sword had accepted only Qian Daoliu.

Though the others had been refused, they had secretly made a vow in their hearts.

Even if Frost Sword did not acknowledge them, they would still always treat him as their elder brother.

Qian Daoliu's earlier words left the offerings present momentarily speechless.

They did not know how to respond.

If Qian Daoliu had not reminded them, none of them would have realized that after only a little over a decade, they had grown so distant from their sworn elder brother, Frost Sword...

They had even subconsciously hoped that Frost Sword's descendant would come to break off the engagement...

Guang Ling was the first to lower his head.

"I'm sorry, Boss. I was talking nonsense earlier."

"I shouldn't have spoken so carelessly about Senior Frost Sword's descendant."

Qian Daoliu glanced at Guang Ling and comforted him.

"Forget it. Just be more careful next time."

"Don't speak nonsense again in the future."

After all, they had worked together for more than several decades. Guang Ling was not only his subordinate, but also his younger brother.

Qian Daoliu naturally would not truly blame him; he was merely reminding him to exercise some restraint.

Qian Daoliu looked once more at the silent crowd.

"Everyone, do you have any new ideas? Something that won't slight Frost Sword's descendant while also taking Xue'er into consideration?!"

Everyone lowered their heads, unable to speak for a long while.

In the eyes of the great offerings,

one person had come to propose marriage, while the other did not want to marry. These two inherently conflicting sides made for an utterly unsolvable problem!

Even if the offerings racked their brains, they could not think of any way to resolve this crisis.

Lion had the most explosive temper. After thinking for a long time without getting anywhere, he angrily slapped the table.

"Damn it, this is torturing me to death."

"Boss, I really can't think of any solution."

"If I were a woman, I'd marry in Xue'er's place."

"Why would we need to agonize over all this? Why make things so difficult?!"

"Yet among us brothers, mine is the biggest. Even if I wanted to marry, I couldn't."

Qingluan could not help sneering. "Fourth Brother, have some shame. Mine is obviously the biggest among us brothers."

"Besides, if someone is going to ease Xue'er's burden, it should be my turn to marry."

Golden Crocodile responded with utter disdain. "How would it be either of your turns?"

"In terms of age, I am the eldest person here. As the saying goes, elders come first. I should marry in Xue'er's place."

"I'll marry first!"

"Bullshit, I'll go first!"

Seeing the offerings on the verge of fighting, Qian Daoliu could not help coughing.

"You've gone off topic..."

"None of you can marry. The one who is supposed to marry is Xue'er."

"The problem is that she refuses to marry, while the other party has come to take a bride."

"You old men are discussing who gets to marry first at your age. What kind of behavior is that?!"

Qian Renxue's room was not far from the Council Hall.

Naturally, she could hear the arguments among the offerings within the secret chamber.

As the central figure in this story, she was currently sitting on her bed.

Her two small, fair feet dangled in the air.

They swayed gently without purpose.

Qian Renxue held a mirror in one hand and a jade hairpin in the other, which she was placing in her hair.

"Is this jade hairpin's color a little too heavy..."

"Will it clash with his clothes when the time comes?!"

Thinking that she would soon meet Qingkong as his older sister, Qian Renxue could not stop the joy rising in her heart. The words of her offering grandfathers drifted through the walls and into her chamber.

Hearing her grandfathers scrambling to marry in her place, Qian Renxue let out a laugh as crisp as silver bells.

"Grandfathers, please forgive Xue'er for being willful this time..."

"But I really like Qingkong too much..."

"Once Qingkong and I are together, I'll definitely treat all of you to the sweetest wedding wine in the world..."

As her words fell, Qian Renxue stretched out her little hand, picked up the rouge box beside her, and began applying it while looking into the mirror.

"This makeup is rather light. Not bad."

"I'll wear this makeup when I meet Qingkong."

Inside the Council Hall.

Qian Daoliu seemed to sense something, and his expression abruptly changed.

"This is bad. Frost Sword's descendant is about to reach the entrance."

"Everyone, hurry up and think of something?!"

"If we don't come up with a plan, how am I supposed to answer to him later?!"

Demon Subduer said in a deep voice, "Boss, how about we first say that Xue'er isn't home and has gone out on a mission?"

"Let him stay at Spirit Hall for a while. We can find a way to stall him first, then slowly figure out how to persuade Xue'er later. What do you think?!"

Hearing Demon Subduer's words, Qian Daoliu nodded. "Seventh Brother, we'll do as you say!"

"At this point, we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive!"

"Come, go with me to meet Frost Sword's descendant."

With that, Qian Daoliu was the first to rise.

The great offerings all stood and followed behind him.

Only Guang Ling remained seated where he was.

"What is it, Fifth Brother?!"

"Aren't you going to meet Frost Sword's descendant?"

With a casual gesture, Guang Ling used Soul Power to seal the Council Hall.

"Boss, that plan won't work. If Frost Sword's descendant truly cannot see Xue'er, I'm afraid he won't let the matter rest."

"Having him stay for a day or two is fine, but if he stays here indefinitely, that won't do either."

"I have a way that can both ease this crisis and safely send Frost Sword's descendant away. It can also buy us enough time to persuade Xue'er."

"Even if Xue'er truly refuses, it can still keep you from breaking the promise you made with Frost Sword."

"What method?"

"A substitute bride!"