A Marriage Proposal

Chapter X: Proposal

Seven days later, the South Gate of Spirit City.

Before a soul could even catch sight of people, the loud, piercing notes of suonas blasted through the air.

The gate guards spotted a procession in the distance and initially assumed a merchant caravan was approaching.

Once the group drew closer, the lead guard realized something was amiss.

A massive banner unfurled in the wind, bearing four striking characters: Clear Sky Sect, Tang.

The guard swallowed hard. "Go report to His Holiness the Pope! And... the Worship Hall must be notified as well!"

The convoy halted outside the South Gate, carriage after carriage lining the official highway.

Tang Xiao flipped down from his horse and raised his gaze to the city gate.

"Hold up for a moment."

"We're not going straight in?" Tang Hao asked.

Tang Xiao shot him a sidelong glance. "I'm afraid Bibi Dong might tell you to scram again."

At the rear of the procession, Seventh Elder also dismounted.

He stared fixedly at the carriages laden with betrothal gifts, his expression dark as it had been the entire journey.

"I stand by what I said." Seventh Elder declared. "Even though we all came and brought betrothal gifts, my Clear Sky Sect has not bowed to Spirit Hall."

"Understood." Tang Xiao pressed a hand to his forehead, truly at his wits' end with this stubborn old man.

Seventh Elder glared at Tang Hao. "If you dare utter a single disgraceful word at the city gates..."

"Just pretend you don't know me." Tang Hao chimed in swiftly. "Besides, the sect used to do that all the time anyway."

The corners of Seventh Elder's mouth twitched, leaving him utterly speechless.

Tang Hao stepped forward, hooked an arm around Seventh Elder's neck, and lowered his voice. "Don't you worry, Elder. Once I marry Bibi Dong, I guarantee we'll never bow down!"

Seventh Elder scratched his head, not entirely following the logic.

Tang Xiao's mouth twitched as well, unable to resist landing a direct smack on the back of Tang Hao's head.

"What did I tell you before we set out?"

"Speak less." Tang Hao nodded. "I remember."

"And would you call what you're doing right now speaking less?"

"Wasn't I just practicing with one of our own? Once I see Bibi Dong in a minute, I promise to pick only the sweetest things to say."

Tang Xiao grew increasingly uneasy.

A crowd quickly gathered outside the city gate.

The South Gate was a vital thoroughfare for merchant caravans, and news of Tang Hao's marriage proposal had just swept through Spirit City.

Now that the Clear Sky Sect had arrived unfurling banners and blowing suonas, everyone knew precisely what was afoot.

"They really came to propose?"

"Didn't they say a few days ago that the Pope chased him out?"

"Just because he was chased out doesn't mean he can't come back."

"Is that Tang Xiao standing over there? The Clear Sky Sect Master came in person!"

Someone began counting the carriages, but by the ninth one, the ones in the front were already out of sight.

Others pressed toward the roadside, trying to guess which carts were filled with Gold Soul Coins and which held rare minerals.

Tang Hao listened for a moment before edging closer to Tang Xiao. "Brother, just how much stuff did you bring?"

"The gift inventory is with Second Elder. I haven't looked at it either."

"Still, there's no need to bring this much." Tang Hao looked back at the convoy. "If Bibi Dong won't accept it, we're going to have to haul it all the way back."

Second Elder barked angrily, "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? This matter concerns the dignity of my Clear Sky Sect, we cannot afford to be sloppy!"

The Pope's Hall.

Bibi Dong finished listening to the attendant's report, her brush pausing over the paper.

"Tang Xiao came too?"

"Yes, not only Tang Xiao, those elders are all here as well."

Bibi Dong put down her brush.

Tang Hao had said last time that he would go back and talk to Tang Xiao.

She had considered that Tang Xiao might agree to cooperate, and she had even considered that the Clear Sky Sect might send representatives to Spirit City.

Yet she never expected them to roll out this kind of formation.

"It seems Tang Hao's standing in the Clear Sky Sect is higher than I anticipated." Bibi Dong stated.

Yan Zheng, standing to one side, remained silent.

He had long since grown accustomed to Tang Hao's refusal to play by conventional rules; nothing the man did surprised him anymore.

"What about the Worship Hall?" Bibi Dong asked.

"They should have received the news by now."

"Prepare the carriage." Bibi Dong stood up. "To the South Gate."

Yan Zheng followed her for two steps. "Your Holiness, if they publicly ask you to accept the betrothal gifts..."

Bibi Dong glanced at him. "Then I'll accept them!"

Accept them?!

Yan Zheng drew in a sharp breath. The Lord Pope was actually planning to marry the man!

Good heavens above! By what right did that scoundrel Tang Hao deserve this?!

Meanwhile, the Worship Hall had also received the urgent report.

Qian Daoliu finished reading and handed the slip of paper to Yue Heng. "What do you think Tang Hao's purpose is this time?"

Yue Heng stared at the words over ten carriages of betrothal gifts, instantly struck speechless.

He thought to himself that the man's betrothal gifts were already sitting right at their doorstep, so why was His Holiness still asking such a brain-dead question!

"Go see how Bibi Dong responds."

Yue Heng acknowledged the order, but as he turned to leave, he heard Qian Daoliu add: "If Tang Hao provokes you, don't get into a shouting match with him."

Yue Heng's footsteps paused. "Why?"

"You can't out-curse him."

Outside the South Gate, the crowd cleared a path.

The Pope's Hall carriage pulled to a stop, and Bibi Dong slowly stepped out.

Tang Xiao led his people forward and executed a solemn bow.

"Your Holiness the Pope, the Clear Sky Sect has come to your gates today to propose marriage on behalf of Tang Hao."

The words were spoken clearly, the volume sufficient for those standing nearby to hear.

An irrepressible wave of gasps instantly erupted through the crowd.

Bibi Dong's gaze landed first on Tang Xiao before shifting to Tang Hao standing beside him.

Tang Hao was neatly dressed today, his hair properly tied up.

Seeing her look over, he even flashed her a smile.

Bibi Dong spoke. "Sect Master Tang, when Tang Hao brought this matter up last time, I did not agree."

"I know." Tang Xiao said. "We brought gifts today to ask you to reconsider, not to demand an on-the-spot nod."

Bibi Dong looked toward the long line of carriages. "And asking me to reconsider requires blocking the South Gate?"

Before Tang Xiao could reply, Tang Hao chimed in: "My brother says this is called sincerity!"

Bibi Dong sneered. "You certainly know how to pick your spots."

"After getting burned once, a man has to learn some sense."

Though Tang Hao spoke those words aloud, he quietly used sound transmission to provoke her. How's that? There's no way you can tell me to scram this time.

Tang Xiao lowered his voice. "Tang Hao."

"I'm speaking the truth."

"Even the truth should be spoken in moderation."

Bibi Dong watched the brothers, nearly laughed out of her composure.

At that moment, Yue Heng arrived with the men from the Worship Hall.

The crowd receded to the sides once more.

Yue Heng strode up close, caught Tang Hao making a face at him, and watched his complexion turn pitch black.

"Brother Turtle, did you get the shield fixed?"

Yue Heng took a deep breath, ignored the remark, and bowed to Bibi Dong. "Your Holiness the Pope, the Great Enshrined has ordered me to come and witness the ceremony."

"Witness the ceremony?" Bibi Dong said. "I haven't accepted the gifts yet."

Yue Heng lowered his head. "My tongue slipped."

"Well, well, it looks like your Worship Hall strongly approves of this match, sending you directly to witness the ceremony."

Yue Heng gritted his teeth. "Tang Hao, spare me your nonsense! When has my Worship Hall ever agreed to this marriage?"

"Then you mentioned witnessing the ceremony."

"Can't I have used the wrong word?"

"You can." Tang Hao spread his hands. "Sorry to trouble Elder Yue to take me to attend Qian Daoliu's funeral."

"Tang Hao, don't go too far!"

"Ah, my apologies, I used the wrong word again. It's not a funeral, is it? That makes it a wedding, then?"

"You... Pu!~"

Yue Heng already harbored internal injuries, and this surge of anger caused him to cough up a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot, passing out cold.

Tang Xiao covered his face in speechless exasperation, subtly stepping a couple of paces away from Tang Hao.

"Ahem..."

Bibi Dong suppressed the corners of her lips, her voice cool and detached as she spoke. "We can discuss the specifics of the wedding later. If Sect Master Tang is willing, you may enter the city to discuss matters concerning the Clear Sky Sect and the Pope's Hall with me in detail."

The surrounding onlookers fell silent in an instant.

Was this... a consent?!

Tang Hao tilted his head to look at her. "What about me?"

Bibi Dong turned her gaze upon him as well, and unbidden, a reprimand slipped from her lips. "Go do whatever you want!"

Yet at a moment like this, that very reprimand sounded to everyone else's ears rather like lovers' banter.

The Pope's carriage turned around and headed into the city, with the Clear Sky Sect's convoy following closely behind.