Lin Mu was surprised by the unexpected treatnt he received.
If it hadn't been for the fact that he sensed no danger from her—and that i Nienzhen had brought him here—he wouldn't have allowed the woman to co so close, let alone touch him.
"Who..." Lin Mu began, but the woman interrupted.
"I am i Zhaoshi," the mature woman introduced herself, her voice steady yet graceful. "The Matriarch of the i Clan and i Nienzhen's mother."
"Ah, so you're her mother," Lin Mu said, realization dawning. He now understood why i Nienzhen had brought him here: it was to introduce him to her family.
The i Clan, ruling over Iridescence Peak, was one of the most influential powers in the Dao Wind Empire. Their strength was evident, especially in Matriarch i's formidable cultivation base. She wasn't alone in her prowess; several other won in white were present, three of whom were at the Sixth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm.
The Crown Prince, seated nearby, watched the interaction with an amused smile.
"To what do I owe this pleasure, Matriarch i?" Lin Mu asked, suspecting there was more to this eting.
"I wanted to et the man who managed to inspire my lazy daughter to work hard," i Zhaoshi said with a warm smile. "And also to see if her taste in n is as good as mine." She added the last part teasingly.
"Uh, what?" Lin Mu was baffled, while the Crown Prince chuckled quietly.
"The i Clan is matriarchal," i Zhaoshi continued, her tone turning informative. "We cultivate a unique cold technique that is best suited to won. Because of its nature, we cannot marry just anyone; we require partners who can complent us."
Lin Mu's confusion deepened, and the Crown Prince decided to step in.
"Matriarch i is here to matchmake you with Miss Nienzhen," Crown Prince Feng Shun explained, a teasing grin on his face.
Lin Mu exhaled deeply, recognizing the familiar situation of elders ddling in his affairs. He'd encountered it often enough before and was slowly learning how to handle it.
"I'm flattered by the offer," Lin Mu said diplomatically, "but I don't think it's possible for to settle down."
"Oh? Do you not like my daughter?" i Zhaoshi asked, her gaze sharp but not unkind. "Or... perhaps you already have soone in mind?" Her piercing eyes seed to search his soul.
Lin Mu's thoughts wavered montarily, and an image of flaming red hair flashed in his mind.
"I see..." i Zhaoshi said softly, her experienced eyes discerning everything. "It appears this won't work out after all."
"Mother..." i Nienzhen tugged gently at her mother's sleeve and whispered sothing in her ear.
"If you say so, then it should be fine." i Zhaoshi nodded before addressing Lin Mu again. "I have another proposal for you."
"What is it now?" Lin Mu braced himself, half-expecting another outrageous suggestion.
"It's simple," i Zhaoshi began. "While you might not marry my daughter, perhaps your descendants could form an alliance with our clan. With your vitality, your lineage is bound to be extraordinary."
Lin Mu was taken aback. "My descendants? What do you an?"
i Zhaoshi smiled, producing a token that resembled a lotus carved from solid ice. Its surface bore the i Clan's emblem.
"This token represents our clan," she explained, placing it in his hand. "As long as you or your descendants possess it, the i Clan will always welco you. This is my way of ensuring our paths might align in the future."
Lin Mu examined the icy token, its cold touch contrasting with the warmth of her words.
"Thank you," he said sincerely, recognizing the significance of the gesture.
"I won't take more of your ti," i Zhaoshi said as she gestured for her clan mbers to follow her. "I understand you're leaving soon, so I wanted to make this one last attempt on behalf of my daughter. Farewell, Lin Mu."
The other won left the room, leaving only i Nienzhen behind.
Lin Mu looked at her, uncertain of what to say, when she suddenly stepped closer. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Mmm..." she murmured before grabbing his shoulders.
"Wha—" Lin Mu barely reacted as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
Before he could process what had just happened, i Nienzhen turned and ran off.
Laughter erupted in the room, one voice external and the other internal.
"Hahahaha..."
"HAHAHAHAHA..."
Both Crown Prince Feng Shun and Xukong, Lin Mu's companion, were thoroughly amused.
"So, there is sothing that can make you lose your composure," Feng Shun teased, barely containing his laughter. "Though I must say, for the i Clan to personally propose a marriage alliance—not just for you but for your descendants—it's unheard of! This hasn't happened in thousands of years."
"They don't do this?" Lin Mu asked, his hand brushing the lingering coolness on his cheek.
"No, not at all," Feng Shun replied. "Quite the opposite. The i Clan mbers are fad for their beauty and are courted by tens of thousands each year. Most of those suitors fail to et their requirents.
"The i Clan only accepts partners with exceptional vitality or those cultivating Fire or Yang-elent techniques," he added.
Xukong chid in, his tone sagely. "It's a common situation for clans specializing in extre techniques. Their choices are limited, and they have to be ticulous."
Lin Mu sighed, still holding the token and feeling the weight of yet another twist in his journey.
"You can consider this an achievent." Crown Prince Feng Shun stated. "If others were to find out, the n of the Dao Wind Empire would all be extrely envious of you. Perhaps even the rest of the Rust Sky World's n might co to challenge you in order to catch the attention of the i Clan's won." He added.
"That would be a pain." Lin Mu shook his head.
"Perhaps it would be a greater pain for the n. First they would experience Heart ache and then they would feel the body ache after you crush them." the Crown Prince continued to laugh.
User Comments
0 comments from readers