Chapter 78

### Arranged Marriage

The autumn sun was casting a warm glow, and the surrounding trees were adorned in a variety of red and yellow hues. At this time, when even the flowers seemed to be preparing to bloom, a young man was walking around a well-tended flower bed. Though he seemed to be looking at the flowers around him, as most men do, he was also feeling the season of autumn in his own way.

The young man, dressed in a fine silk robe that fluttered in the breeze, was Ximen Ji, the next generation's expert in the Ximen family. As evidenced by the broad sword at his waist, the Ximen family was a renowned school of swordsmanship. At the young age of 29, he had achieved the fifth level of the Lightning Sword Technique, a prodigy who had gained the title "Lightning Sword Guest" by slaying the notorious Henan Mad Demon, Yu Chunji, when he first emerged in the martial world.

Yu Chunji, known as the Mad Demon, was a villain who committed countless atrocities, but his martial arts were so high that no one dared to challenge him. In reality, Yu Chunji was not a madman or a fool. When a superior expert came to eliminate him, he would flee, and when the expert gave up and left, he would reappear like a bear waking from hibernation, tormenting those weaker than himself. As he often said, "Others' misfortune is my happiness."

However, he made his first and last mistake by underestimating the young Ximen Ji. Thinking that a young man driven by vanity and heroism had come to eliminate evil, he took him lightly and ended up losing his head. In fact, their skills were evenly matched. If Yu Chunji had not underestimated his opponent, a draw might have been possible. But when he felt the low rumble of thunder and the sword flying towards him, it was already too late.

In any case, by eliminating Yu Chunji, a notorious villain who had committed countless crimes, Ximen Ji made a grand entrance and soon became one of the "Seven Dragons," a group of the most eligible bachelors in the martial world.

To join the Seven Dragons, the conditions were very strict.

First, one had to be a man, though being ugly was forgivable.

Second, one had to be unmarried and not a widower. This meant that as married individuals left, new, fresh faces would replace them.

Third, one had to be available for marriage. Even the most talented young masters, such as monks, Taoists, or beggars, who could not marry, were excluded.

Fourth, one had to have exceptional martial arts skills.

Fifth, one's family and lineage were also considered. For instance, Murong Ming and He Lianyun, though highly skilled, might not have met the fifth condition strictly, but they were included in the Seven Dragons for their martial prowess.

It was said that when all the young men of the Bai family gathered to attend a meeting at the Martial World Alliance, they all returned to their respective factions and went straight to their training rooms when the meeting was canceled. Ximen Ji was no exception. He was on his way to his father, Ximen Jizhi, after being called from his training room. It was said that the only person who did not go straight to the training room was He Lianyun, who, upon arriving at the Yellow Dragon Sect, locked himself in his room and slept for several days.

In any case, Ximen Ji stopped his martial arts practice due to his father's call. First, he took a bath to wash off the grime and shaved his stubble. He then changed into a fresh, crisp robe and hurried to his father's quarters, worried that he had taken too much time to prepare.

His father, while good in many ways, had a flaw in that he acted before he spoke. If things went wrong, it could end in a single blow. Though he married late and had a late-born son, his philosophy was that even a beloved son needed discipline to become a man. Ximen Ji's father was known for implementing this theory rigorously.

"Father, I am here as you called."

A deep, resonant voice came from inside the room, one that made people think he was capable of leading the family.

"Come in."

"Yes."

When he entered the room, his fearsome father was sitting on a tiger skin, polishing his beloved sword, the Black Dragon Sword, with a silk cloth. Ximen Ji sat one zhang (about 3 meters) in front of his father, as it was a rule in this era not to approach an armed person without permission, even if they were family.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

Ximen Ji knelt and waited for a question, but his father was focused on polishing his sword. After waiting for a full hour, Ximen Ji's patience was completely drained. Suppressing his urge to curse, he spoke with a slightly angry tone.

"Father, if you called me, you should speak."

"Hmm..."

Finally, Ximen Jizhi sheathed his sword and looked up.

"In fact, I called you to ask a question."

"..."

"How old are you now? Twenty-nine, right? It's a bit early, but what do you think about marriage?"

"Um... Are you asking for my opinion, or is this just a formality?"

Ximen Jizhi smiled but his voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Of course, it's just a formality. Do you really think your opinion can influence the affairs of this family?"

Ximen Ji's response was subdued.

"Then why did you call me if there's nothing to discuss?"

"Hmph, we still need to go through the formality of 'discussion.' So, what do you think about marriage?"

Ximen Ji had a betrothed, Zhongli Yulan of the Zhongli family, whom he had never met. She was 28 years old, and Ximen Jizhi had chosen her as a suitable bride when he saw her charming beauty and talent at the age of 12. He had subtly discussed it with Zhongli Yingwu, who agreed to marry their children when they came of age.

Among the five great families, the Ximen family was at its peak, closely followed by the Zhongli family. Both were renowned schools of swordsmanship, and they might have more in common with each other than with those who wielded flashy swords.

Ximen Ji thought his father was referring to Zhongli Yulan. Since his father had asked, he had to give the most exemplary answer.

"I am still young and my training is not complete. How can I marry now? I think it's not too late to marry after my training is complete."

After hearing his son's model answer, Ximen Jizhi remained silent for a long time, staring at him intently. Ximen Ji worried if he had answered incorrectly, as he did not want to be beaten by his father, even at this age. His father claimed it was a "loving beating," but it was almost as bad as being beaten by a dog. Was it really a loving beating?

After a moment, Ximen Jizhi spoke.

"Hmm, Ji."

"Yes, Father."

"What do you think of Mei Ying, the daughter of the Wuying Sect?"

"Excuse me? But I am already betrothed to Yulan..."

"Whether there is a prior agreement or not doesn't matter. That agreement isn't that important. It was just a verbal agreement when we were very young, and no formal matchmaker was involved. If you meet Yulan and find her not to your liking, you can subtly suggest it, and it will naturally be resolved.

Even if Yulan is shocked and falls ill, it won't be a significant obstacle to the family's major decision of marriage. The important thing is how much the Zhongli family or the Wuying Sect can benefit our family. And the character of the bride is also important. Yesterday, a matchmaker from the Wuying Sect came and asked if you were interested in marriage."

The idea of having to go and reject the proposal himself... Ximen Ji imagined a woman fainting upon hearing "Frankly, Miss, you're not my type." He wondered how he would clean up the mess if such a thing happened, but then he remembered his father, a convenient safety net.

"What do you think, Father?"

Looking at his son, who was trying to pass the problem to him, Ximen Jizhi replied.

"I discussed it with your mother and the family retainers. Both sides have their pros and cons, so it's hard to reach a consensus. The Zhongli family is a powerful school with 6,000 disciples, similar to our family in some ways. If we combine our forces, we will be almost invincible. And Zhongli Yingwu is sworn brothers with the head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Qi. If the Zhuge family is also on our side, that's a significant power.

In contrast, the Wuying Sect has 4,000 disciples. While they have the Jade Flower Martial Emperor, their martial arts are not as impressive as the Zhongli family. They have achieved rapid growth thanks to the Jade Flower Martial Emperor. However, as an information network, they can be a significant force in the shadows, even if they don't provide much help in the open. That's why there are differing opinions. What do you think? Since she will be the woman you live with, I wanted to hear your opinion."

Ximen Ji was at a loss for words at his father's absurd question.

'Hmm, break the engagement and arrange a new marriage? When I met Mei Ying, she seemed fine, but this arranged marriage... And the agreement isn't important? And I have to go and break the engagement with that terrifying old man? Ugh, he'll try to kill me!'

His father, who could beat him like a dog when angry, was scary, but Zhongli Yingwu was known to be even more temperamental. Some called him "righteous" because he couldn't tolerate injustice, but that was just a polite way to describe his "dog-like" personality.

Ximen Ji, who had spent considerable time and effort to understand Zhongli Yingwu's character, could easily imagine what would happen if he went to break the engagement. It wouldn't end with just a few broken bones.

His aversion to arranged marriage and fear of Zhongli Yingwu's temper made it feel like he had only one choice.

"Father, you've always emphasized the importance of agreements. I don't think a verbal agreement from long ago can be broken for trivial reasons. There's nothing wrong with Yulan's physical or mental health."

"Do you have no complaints about Yulan, then?"

Ximen Ji was momentarily flustered but had to answer.

'Why is this conversation going this way?'

"Well, I suppose not."

"Hmm, then let's set a date to visit the Zhongli family soon. If you find any issues with Yulan, let me know. I'll replace her with Mei Ying. Understand?"

"Yes."

Ximen Ji's response was lukewarm. The conversation seemed logical, but he felt like he had been tricked.

"Go now."

"I will take my leave."

As his stubborn son left, Ximen Jizhi called out.

"Bring me some tea."

"Yes."

After the servant left, Ximen Jizhi sipped his tea and smiled.

'Heh, he fell for it again. I just used Mei Ying to make him choose Yulan, as I knew he would jump at the chance to marry someone he likes. He fell for his own trap.'

"Phew, my only son is growing up, and why is he so disobedient? I have to use all sorts of tricks to get him to listen... Oh, my fate. Maybe I was too lenient with the beatings?"

Ximen Jizhi regretted not beating his son more severely when he was younger.

Originally, Ximen Jizhi and Zhongli Yingwu were not close friends. The betrothal between Ximen Ji and Zhongli Yulan was largely a strategic move.

Ximen Jizhi had hinted to his son about a good match, but Ximen Ji had argued that the betrothal was unnecessary and that he would find his own wife in the martial world. This led to a heated argument, and Ximen Ji, fearing his father's temper, fled the family at the young age of 26. This experience of leaving home early had led him to join the Seven Dragons.

So, Ximen Jizhi had included the proposal from the Wuying Sect to complicate the situation. Both were arranged marriages, but one was an old agreement, and the other was a new proposal. The new one seemed more strategic, so by playing on his son's sense of duty, Ximen Jizhi had made Ximen Ji choose the old agreement without realizing it.

"Failure."

The head of the intelligence division, sitting before a woman, seemed bewildered and asked again.

"What do you mean? Did both sides reject the proposal to form an alliance with the best information network in the Central Plains?"

The head bowed his head. Normally, he was a wise, polite, and considerate superior, but when he lost his temper, he was terrifying. He had hesitated a lot before making this report, but since it had already started, he continued carefully.

"Unfortunately, that's the case. The Sword Lord politely declined, saying his son was already betrothed. While this was known, it was surprising that Ximen Ji, who had fled to avoid an arranged marriage, would reject it. Yulan is one of the best marriage prospects, and the Bai family had even met the young lady. It was a bit unexpected."

"There's nothing we can do. You can't force a marriage if the other party doesn't want it. What about Moxiang?"

The woman's anger at her beloved granddaughter being rejected was not yet fully visible, as she still had another option.

"Ah, yes. The... The treatment was even worse. He couldn't even meet her, and only met a military official named Xue Wuzhi. Xue Wuzhi politely declined, saying it wasn't the right time to discuss marriage."

"Hmph! He wouldn't even meet her? What a disrespectful brat! Wait, could there be something wrong with him?"

She was about to lose her temper but then had a thought, calming down. This was a good reaction for the head, as she was very curious and would easily be distracted by something interesting.

"I don't think so. I have reports that the branches of the Devil Sect in the Central Plains have gone into hiding. The high-level experts from the Shaanxi branch, who were involved in various businesses, have all returned to the Shaanxi branch. This suggests that all the Devil Sect's combat forces are concentrated in two places: the main headquarters and the Shaanxi branch. A full-scale war is expected to break out between them soon."

"Who will win, then?"

"It's hard to say. The main headquarters have the overall advantage, but the Shaanxi branch has Moxiang. His power is equivalent to a major school. The outcome will depend on his performance. I expect Zhang Jingjie to do his best to prevent Moxiang from acting."

"Can you make a more accurate prediction?"

"Unfortunately, we don't have more information. We recently obtained some information due to internal strife at the main headquarters, but the Devil Sect has always been difficult to gather information from. After Zhang Jingjie took full control, even the limited information that used to leak out has been completely blocked. We had high hopes for the Shaanxi branch, as they were recruiting a lot of martial artists, but even after sending ten spies, they were only doing menial tasks and couldn't provide any useful information. Both sides are thoroughly prepared for espionage and assassination."

"What is the scale of the Shaanxi branch?"

"It can accommodate about 4,000 people."

"4,000 people... That must require a lot of food, right?"

"Yes, a huge amount of food is being delivered. The guards escorting the food are highly skilled, so it's impossible to tamper with it. They are also purchasing a large amount of weapons. My subordinates report that the purchases are going smoothly due to the proximity to Chongqing."

"What about the financial situation of the Shaanxi branch?"

"Based on the reports, they are not particularly wealthy. However, the Devil Sect members don't have families and don't receive high salaries, so it's sufficient. The main headquarters are the same. The fact that they have hidden the branches underground to protect them suggests that both can fight for several years without external support."

After a moment of thought, the Jade Flower Martial Emperor asked the head.

"Ah, you mentioned a facility for 4,000 people?"

"Yes."

"The numbers don't seem to match, though."

"Excuse me?"

"By absorbing the Tianlang and Yanwang groups, they have about 3,000 people. Adding the later arrivals from the Black Wind Gang, it should be around 6,000 people."

"Hmm, yes. But martial artists don't need much space to sleep, as they consider it part of their training."

"That might not be the case. Investigate the amount of food, hay, clothing, and weapons being delivered to the Shaanxi branch more accurately. Focus on items that can help estimate the number of people, such as clothing and shoes. If it's a cover, these areas might be more vulnerable. I suspect some forces might be elsewhere, possibly the real main force of the Shaanxi branch."

"Understood."

The head was relieved that his superior was no longer focused on the matter that had hurt her pride. However, he didn't know that she had no intention of letting the two men who had humiliated her off the hook. She would either make them submit or seek revenge to restore her pride.