"Patriarch, Xu Ran is far stronger than we imagined." The first elder was rather excited. For Xu Ran to fight at this level at his age, probably only those freaks from Spirit Hall could manage the same.
He knew that the Qian Family of Spirit Hall had a daughter named Qian Renxue, who was born with rank-twenty Soul Power. At twelve, she could possess this kind of fighting strength too.
Qian Renxue was the Supreme Pontiff's daughter, possessed the six-winged angel martial soul, and had all of Spirit Hall's resources supporting her development. It was nothing unusual for her to achieve this. But Xu Ran had nothing. He had not even received resources from the Zhu Family. A Soul Master without many resources could still reach this level-that was the most frightening thing about Xu Ran.
Did this mean Xu Ran's talent was even greater than that of the legendary Qian Renxue?
"If nothing happens to Xu Ran, he will at least become someone like Sword Douluo in the future," the second elder said with a sigh of wonder. Once, he had even wanted to punish Xu Ran for getting close to Zhu Zhuqing. Now that he thought about it, that idea had been utterly ridiculous.
How could a genius like Xu Ran be someone they could punish?
Xu Ran was only a Zhu Family collateral line disciple. He could refuse to acknowledge himself as a member of the Zhu Family, too. After all, his surname was Xu.
Their Zhu Family ought to be thankful that this connection still existed between Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing, that they still had something capable of attracting him. Otherwise, he could not imagine what the Zhu Family could use to keep Xu Ran.
Without Zhu Zhuqing, Xu Ran could go to Spirit Hall, or to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, where Sword Douluo resided. Why would he need to stay with the Zhu Family?
"Zihao, you have a good daughter." The first elder patted Zhu Zihao's shoulder and spoke meaningfully. What they ought to do at this moment was already obvious.
Dai Mubai was a piece of trash. If Zhu Zhuqing stayed with him, the odds were that her fragrance would fade and her jade would shatter in death.
Xu Ran was a peerless genius, a future powerhouse at the pinnacle of the continent. Zhu Zhuqing was a genius too. If both of them became Titled Douluos one day, the Zhu Family's power and influence would rise another level.
When that time came, even the Dai Family would have to take them seriously.
"I know what to do." Zhu Zihao was immensely excited, looking at Xu Ran as though he were a priceless treasure. With Zhu Zhuqing together with Xu Ran, he would have no regrets in his lifetime as her father. Unless forced into it, who would want to see Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Yun turn against their own flesh and blood?
The family gathering continued until the afternoon. This so-called family assembly was only a matter of recording the strength of the family's younger generation and rewarding those with outstanding strength or noticeable improvement along the way. That was all.
When the family assembly was nearing its end, Zhu Zihao walked straight to the head of the hall. His gaze swept over the young faces below before finally settling on Xu Ran.
"Today's family assembly ends here."
"Xu Ran has outstanding strength and exceptional talent. From this day forward, Xu Ran will be a core disciple of the Zhu Family, with a monthly allowance of three thousand Gold Soul Coins. All of the family's resources will be made available to him."
"All Zhu Family disciples must follow Xu Ran's example, become powerhouses in the future, and protect our Zhu Family so that it may prosper for ten thousand generations."
Zhu Zihao spoke solemnly, his voice somewhat stirring.
As soon as he finished, everyone in the hall looked at Xu Ran and firmly committed his name to memory.
They knew that Xu Ran would receive the Zhu Family's full support from now on. His future would be boundless.
"Patriarch, could I have a different reward? I want..." Xu Ran said, looking at Zhu Zhuqing. The corners of her lips were slightly raised, and her exquisite long black dress beautifully revealed the curves of her figure, making one want to hold her in his arms and lavish affection on her. But upon hearing Xu Ran's words, the smile on her face abruptly vanished.
Zhu Zhuqing stood there blankly, motionless, recalling what Xu Ran had said that night. Surely Xu Ran was not about to ask her father to break her engagement to Dai Mubai?
"Xu Ran, don't." Zhu Zhuqing grew anxious, her pretty face paling. She hurried to Xu Ran's side and tugged hard on his sleeve.
How could Xu Ran be so impatient? Did he not want to live?
Even if he wanted her, they could secretly elope. Was going to her father not courting death?
"I don't want to wait anymore. If I keep waiting, I'm afraid someone else will carry you away. So I want to try. Even if mountains of blades and seas of fire lie ahead, I'll brave them," Xu Ran said.
Many people could not help feeling surprised at the sight.
What was going on?
Was there really something going on between Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing? Perhaps they already had that sort of relationship.
But Xu Ran was far too bold. Zhu Zhuqing was a woman who was supposed to marry into the imperial family. To think Xu Ran's pursuit of women had actually led him to Zhu Zhuqing. Was he not putting a cuckold's green hat on Dai Mubai and bringing shame upon the imperial family?
Still, they had to admire Xu Ran's courage. Die beneath a peony, and even as a ghost, one would be a romantic. Zhu Zhuqing had such a fine figure, and her features could certainly be called delicate and breathtakingly beautiful. Winning her over was definitely no loss for Xu Ran. Even if the imperial family held him accountable, spending a wonderful night with such a beauty and enjoying Zhu Zhuqing's attentions would make death worthwhile.
They could not help surveying Zhu Zhuqing's figure, slender where she should be slender and full where she should be full. With such a voluptuous figure, a girl like her was simply a treasure. At this moment, they all felt they had suffered a tremendous loss. Why had they never thought of this before? Winning the heart of such a beauty would be worth execution by the imperial family.
Feeling the gazes around her, Zhu Zhuqing blushed. That bastard Xu Ran had made everyone misunderstand their relationship again. But she had no time to dwell on that now. She only knew that if Xu Ran kept speaking, he would definitely face severe punishment. The marriage alliance between the Dai and Zhu Families had always been considered the family's most important matter. It was easy to imagine how angry her father and the elders would be if Xu Ran wanted to destroy it.
"Xu Ran, come with us. Zhu Zhuqing, you come too," Zhu Zihao said. He looked at Xu Ran with great satisfaction. He could tell that Xu Ran was serious about Zhu Zhuqing. Xu Ran's character was far better than Dai Mubai's. Giving Zhu Zhuqing a good marriage while winning over a peerless genius for the family was an enormous gain no matter how he looked at it!
Inside the study.
Zhu Zihao and the three elders stood at the head of the room, looking at Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing below them.
"Xu Ran, what did you mean just now? What reward do you want? With your talent, whatever reward you ask for, we will do our best to satisfy you," Zhu Zihao said, an inscrutable meaning in his eyes.
"I want nothing from the Zhu Family. All I want is for Zhu Zhuqing's engagement to Dai Mubai to be broken. Dai Mubai is nothing but a piece of trash. He is unworthy of her. If you insist on marrying Zhu Zhuqing to a piece of trash, Patriarch, I will regard the Zhu Family as my lifelong enemy. If I survive, I will spare no effort in taking revenge," Xu Ran said, straightening his chest. The sword in his hand seemed to sense its master's summons and let out long, ringing cries.
"Xu Ran, you mustn't say things like that..."
"Father, Xu Ran was just too worked up. He spoke in anger. He didn't really mean it... Please don't punish him." Zhu Zhuqing was moved beyond measure by Xu Ran, but she was also deeply afraid, even terrified. She was moved because Xu Ran disregarded his own safety and did everything he could to restore her freedom. She was afraid because he might be punished or even executed for it. Without her realizing it, Xu Ran had already come to hold a very important place in her heart. She did not want anything to happen to him because of her.
She stood there, lightly biting her teeth together, crystalline tears shimmering in her eyes. If her father wanted to punish Xu Ran, she would share his punishment.
Whether in life or death, she would stay with Xu Ran.
"Zhu Zhuqing, tell me honestly. How do you feel about Xu Ran?" Zhu Zihao asked, his face full of smiles. He could tell that Zhu Zhuqing had already developed feelings for Xu Ran. They were both geniuses, and their union would be a match made in heaven.
"I... I like Xu Ran," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, looking at him with a trace of resolve in her beautiful eyes. Since they were going to be punished, they would face it together. If her father's punishment for Xu Ran was too severe, she would say she had seduced him. She was not afraid of what others might call her. So what if they called her a shameless woman? As long as Xu Ran was safe, that was enough.
"Good." Zhu Zihao nodded.
"In that case,"
"From this day forward, the Zhu Family will no longer recognize the relationship between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Henceforth, Zhu Zhuqing will have only one fiancé, and that is Xu Ran," Zhu Zihao said without the slightest hesitation. He knew what a genius like Xu Ran meant. The benefits he could bring the Zhu Family were far beyond anything Dai Mubai could offer.
Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at her father, her beautiful black eyes wide.
Since when had her father become so open-minded?
And she was now Xu Ran's fiancée? What was going on?
Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face reddened. For a moment, she could not process it. Weren't they supposed to be punished together? Otherwise, she would never have said she liked Xu Ran.
"Uncle, I have a marriage certificate here." Xu Ran smiled and hurriedly produced the marriage certificate he had prepared, even switching straight to calling Zhu Zihao "Uncle."
Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing watched this unfold and stared blankly at Xu Ran, embarrassed and annoyed. By now, she understood what had happened. Her engagement to Dai Mubai had been broken, and she would have nothing more to do with him. From now on, she would be Xu Ran's fiancée.
But had this fellow Xu Ran anticipated this scene from the very beginning? He had even prepared the marriage certificate in advance.
"Zhu Zhuqing, what do you think? If you agree, your relationship with Xu Ran will be settled from now on." Zhu Zihao smiled, looking at his precious daughter beside him.
"Mm..." Zhu Zhuqing murmured her assent, her chest rising and falling slightly, too embarrassed to raise her head. At this moment, she did not dare say no either. If she refused, she would have to marry Dai Mubai. Thinking of it that way, she would rather marry Xu Ran. His character was a hundred times better than Dai Mubai's.
After Zhu Zihao handed the marriage certificate to Xu Ran, Zhu Zhuqing felt embarrassed and restless all over under Xu Ran's burning gaze.
"Father, I'll be leaving first," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, bending slightly in a bow before quickly leaving.
"Uncle, I'll be leaving too," Xu Ran said, observing the proper courtesies.
"All right. You young people can do whatever you want, but Zhu Zhuqing has been somewhat frail since childhood," Zhu Zihao reminded him, recalling his own romantic exploits back then. In those days, he had not yet needed to rely on steeped goji berries to get by. Ah, best not to speak of it. Any more, and there would be nothing but tears.
"All right." Xu Ran nodded in acknowledgment, then hurried out to catch up with Zhu Zhuqing.
"Are you angry?" Xu Ran stepped forward and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
"Hmph. Shameless Xu Ran, you even lied to me." Embarrassed and annoyed, Zhu Zhuqing shook off his hand and looked at him with a flushed face. She suspected Xu Ran had known all along that her father would agree to his request, yet he had still made her worry so much.
"What else can you do? The marriage certificate is already signed." Xu Ran smiled, holding the freshly signed marriage certificate. With it in his hands, his precious Zhu Zhuqing was his woman. No one could change that.
On the Douluo Continent, a marriage certificate was an important proof. With a marriage certificate, nothing could be changed.
Even Dai Mubai had never had a marriage certificate with Zhu Zhuqing. The Dai and Zhu Families had intermarried for generations and enjoyed a close relationship. Over all these years, their marriages had been agreed upon verbally. It was just that a sovereign's words were no jest; with the emperor making the decision, no one had dared object before. But Xu Ran was a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. With enough nerve, even Sadako would go on maternity leave.
Xu Ran's grand goal in coming to the Douluo Continent was to woo the most beautiful girls, drink the strongest wine, and walk the wildest dogs.
"Hmph, shameless." Zhu Zhuqing lifted her head and stole a glance at the contents of the marriage agreement, then became too embarrassed to speak again.
Was she going to be Xu Ran's fiancée from now on?
How had Xu Ran done it?
Why had her father agreed to Xu Ran's request? He had even married her off to Xu Ran directly. She had not been mentally prepared at all.
"How did you do it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked quietly, a little curiosity in her beautiful eyes.
"It's a secret. Give your fiancé a hug first, then we'll talk." Xu Ran smiled and put away the marriage agreement. With this agreement, he could flaunt it right in Dai Mubai's face when he went to Shrek Academy.
"No, you can't hug me." Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face reddened. She tapped her delicate foot against the ground, shifted her long, shapely legs a few steps, and dodged him outright. Xu Ran was so shameless. He had even tricked her and made her worry for so long for nothing. She certainly would not let him hug her.
"Wow, you're already my fiancée, and you still won't let me hug you. I might be the most miserable fiancé in the whole world. My fiancée is so beautiful, yet I can't even hug her. Life is too hard," Xu Ran complained with a slight smile. He knew he still needed to give Zhu Zhuqing some time to adjust. Once she accepted this identity, wouldn't he be able to hug his own fiancée whenever he wanted?
"Anyway, no. I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow." Blushing, Zhu Zhuqing ran off as though flying, a hint of joy on her face. A marriage certificate carried more weight than a verbal engagement. On the Douluo Continent, once a marriage certificate was issued, it meant her relationship with Xu Ran could never be changed again.
What Xu Ran knew nothing about, in fact, was that even on the Douluo Continent, the importance placed on marriage certificates was unparalleled. With a marriage certificate, even if he died, Zhu Zhuqing, as the girl, would never marry anyone else. Although it did not show on the surface, Zhu Zhuqing was very traditional in the importance she placed on her chastity. When she agreed to sign the marriage certificate, it also meant she was willing to give everything she had, including those things, to Xu Ran.