Su Yuanshan's Words

Lin Fan felt a trace of doubt in his heart. Following the instruction, he took a seat. After continuously refining more than ten batches of pills, he was somewhat fatigued as well. Once seated, he straightened his back and waited quietly for Su Yuanshan to speak.

Su Yuanshan's gaze slowly swept between Lin Fan and Su Qingwei. His expression was solemn, no longer carrying the hearty laughter from before.

"Lin Fan, your talent is outstanding, your temperament steady, and your pill refining skills are truly astonishing. I saw everything that happened in today's competition."

He paused, his tone gradually growing heavier as he looked at Lin Fan and continued, word by word.

"My daughter Qingwei is eighteen this year and has never discussed marriage. She is gentle and intelligent, educated in propriety since childhood, and more knowledgeable than ordinary young women. Her martial roots are fifth grade, which can be considered average. I wish to betroth Qingwei to you. If you are willing, then from this day forward, you will be the Su Family's dragon-riding son-in-law, and most of the Su Family's resources will be open to you. Should anything happen, the Su Family will also assist you with all our strength. What do you think?"

The moment these words fell, Lin Fan was stunned. He had never expected Su Yuanshan to say such a thing. Although he had a favorable impression of Su Qingwei, he had never given much thought to starting a family with her. Most of Lin Fan's energy was usually devoted to cultivation.

Seeing Lin Fan remain silent, Su Yuanshan assumed that Lin Fan was dissatisfied with Su Qingwei's martial roots or something else and was unwilling to agree. He could not help adding, "Qingwei may perhaps not be worthy of you. But if you wish to take other women as wives in the future, that is also acceptable. A great man having three wives and four concubines—Qingwei understands this principle as well."

Su Qingwei's entire body stiffened slightly. She lowered her head even further, the tips of her ears turning crimson as her heart pounded wildly. Beneath the stone table, her fingers tightly twisted the fabric of her skirt. She was both shy and afraid, her breathing so light it was nearly inaudible as she quietly waited for Lin Fan's answer.

Lin Fan was silent for a moment. His gaze fell upon Su Yuanshan's solemn expression, then he secretly glanced at Su Qingwei beside him, her head lowered in shy embarrassment and her ears flushed red. Under the powerful senses of the Bone Tempering Realm, every change in the young woman's expression was crystal clear to him.

Over these past days of interaction, Su Qingwei had treated others sincerely. She was gentle by nature, beautiful in appearance, and slender and graceful in figure. She had also provided him with considerable help, and Lin Fan remembered this kindness in his heart. The assistance the Su Family's influence could offer him was secondary, after all. He possessed the Cultivation Effect Doubling System, which doubled his cultivation results through the expenditure of silver. Sooner or later, he was destined to soar into the skies, and he did not need to rely much on the Su Family.

Lin Fan understood that if he refused now, he and Su Qingwei would likely have no future together. He did not oppose marriage, nor was he the sort of person who swore to remain single for life solely for cultivation. Su Qingwei was quite suitable. After considering it carefully, Lin Fan took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and gave Su Yuanshan a deep bow, his tone sincere and firm.

"Thank you for your favor, Patriarch. This junior is willing."

As those few brief words fell, Su Qingwei's shoulders trembled sharply. Her lowered head lifted once more, her long eyelashes fluttering gently as a flash of delighted radiance instantly rippled through her eyes. The heart she had held suspended finally settled. Surging joy flooded her chest, and her cheeks became even more delicately flushed, like peach blossoms in full bloom. After looking at Lin Fan for a moment, she hurriedly lowered her head again, though her heart was already sweet as honey.

Seeing this, Su Yuanshan immediately burst into delighted laughter, his face full of satisfaction. He raised a hand and slapped the stone table. "Good! Good! This truly is a match made by Heaven! Today, we shall settle this marriage agreement!"

Su Yuanshan seemed to think of something, then looked at Lin Fan again. "Lin Fan, should we send someone to inform your parents of this matter?" After all, such a major event ought to be handled solemnly.

"There is no need. My parents have already passed away. Other than my younger sister, I no longer have any family." Back then, Lin Fan's entire clan had been sentenced to extermination. As his branch family had relatively lax defenses, his parents had been able to desperately send him and his younger sister away amid the chaos.

After hearing of Lin Fan's background, Su Yuanshan's expression could not help growing heavy. He had not expected Lin Fan's circumstances to be so tragic, and he offered a few words of comfort. As for Lin Fan being wanted by the imperial court, Su Yuanshan did not consider it much at all. Strictly speaking, which martial arts expert in Zhao Kingdom did not have some troubles tied to them? The imperial court generally turned a blind eye to such martial arts experts. In the capital of Zhao Kingdom, the court's control was extremely strong, but by the time one reached this relatively remote town, that control had weakened greatly. Zhao Kingdom was now surrounded by powerful enemies, and when great war came, it would still need numerous martial arts experts to lend their strength. Once Lin Fan reached the Bone Tempering Realm, the imperial court might even seek to recruit and appease him.

At this moment, Su Yuanshan was extremely satisfied. Lin Fan's abilities were extraordinary, and his temperament was steady. If his daughter married him, she would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life. The Su Family would also gain a top expert and a top pill refiner to hold the fort. It was the best of both worlds. From now on, the Su Family would have two Bone Tempering Realm experts. Even if the other two martial forces in town joined together, the Su Family would not fear them. The Black Tiger Gang had two Early Bone Tempering Realm experts, while the White Ram Gang had only one Mid Bone Tempering Realm expert.

Su Yuanshan restrained his smile and said seriously, "Since the bond between you two has been settled, let us first establish the marriage agreement. Once we choose an auspicious day, we will formally hold the wedding. After the marriage agreement is made, you will remain a golden guest elder of the Su Family, and your previous monthly stipend of two thousand taels of silver will remain unchanged."

Lin Fan cupped his hands and replied, "Everything will be arranged as the Patriarch sees fit."

Su Yuanshan turned toward Su Qingwei beside him, his voice becoming gentler. "Qingwei, from now on, you and Lin Fan are bound by a marriage agreement. You may spend more time together and nurture your feelings. Also, prepare for the handover over the next few days. Once you and Lin Fan are married, you need no longer manage the shop. Your monthly salary of eight hundred taels of silver will be retained. From then on, you need only stay at home and accompany Lin Fan."

Su Qingwei softly answered, "Mm." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. Her hands still nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with a young girl's shyness and joy.

Su Yuanshan rose to his feet and waved his hand. "All right, then you two can talk more here. I will head back first. Once the wedding date has been chosen, I will send someone to inform you." With that, Su Yuanshan turned and left the Pill Pavilion courtyard. His footsteps gradually faded away, leaving only Lin Fan and Su Qingwei in the vast courtyard.

The surroundings were silent. The wind passed through the flowers and trees in the courtyard, and the leaves overhead occasionally rustled softly.

With the Patriarch present just now, Su Qingwei had still barely been able to steady herself. But now that her father had left, the blush on her cheeks deepened further. With her head lowered, she stared at the bluestone slabs beneath her feet, not daring to raise her eyes to look at Lin Fan. Her fingertips unconsciously pinched her clothing, her heart thumping wildly as a subtle air of awkwardness and shyness immediately filled the space.

Lin Fan felt somewhat uncomfortable as well. Before, they had merely been a guest elder and a young lady of a prominent family, or associates with some business dealings at the shop. Now that a single marriage agreement had been made, their identities had become entirely different. The woman before him had actually become his fiancée.

He coughed lightly, taking the lead in breaking the silence.

"The Patriarch's sudden mention of establishing a marriage agreement just now was truly unexpected for me." Lin Fan's tone was calm. Seeing Su Qingwei keep her head lowered, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, he softened his voice. "From now on, I will certainly do everything in my power to keep you safe. No matter what happens in the future, I will always protect you at my side."

Hearing these words, Su Qingwei slowly raised her head. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her clear, bright eyes looked toward Lin Fan, faint delight hidden in their depths.

"I will too. I will always stay by your side."

A gentle breeze drifted through the courtyard, scattering several flower petals across the bluestone ground, as though they too were offering their blessing to the two of them.