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Chunma sat at the dinner table, slowly chewing a mouthful of tasteless food. The dish was sweet-and-sour-pork, one of his favorites in his past life, but now it was about as appetizing as cardboard.
'I can eat normal food, but it's not nutritious to me at all.'
The reason he was even bothering with it was because he and his parents were entertaining the Mu family. The time had arrived for them to discuss the engagement between him and Xuanyin.
He involuntarily gazed to where she was sitting. The girl in question wore a listless expression. Her face was a little pale and she hadn't touched her lunch yet.
Chunma had to admit, she was a lot prettier, now that he got a decent look at her. He didn't notice it last night, but she had many faint, light-brown freckles, dotting her nose and cheeks. Her hair and eyes were both brown, but the plain coloring didn't detract from her appearance. Rather than that, it gave her an unpretentious kind of beauty, pairing well with her tomboy disposition. Her exposed hands and wrists were slender but strong, evidencing her athletic lifestyle. Her fingernails were unpainted and short, but with a natural luster, like sea-shells.
'I don't dislike the no-nonsense type, but she doesn't seem to think very favorably of me.'
Naturally, he'd noticed her attitude toward him. When the Mu family arrived, she'd greeted his parents, but had ignored him. As the luncheon continued, she hadn't even looked at him once.
'If this isn't working out, then it's better to just leave it.'
Ultimately, the marriage was a lot more beneficial to the Mu clan than to them. On top of that, being married was bothersome to him. He'd already decided to leave the Mount Hua sect for a while, to wander the world. If he was married, he wouldn't be able to come and go as he pleased. It wouldn't look good, leaving his wife behind while he went gallivanting all over the country.
He decided to speak up.
"Sorry for interrupting, but I was wondering what Ms. Xuanyin's opinion was, regarding all of this?"
The conversation between his mother and Mu Xiaoyi immediately came to a halt. Up until now, the two ladies were solely responsible for keeping the atmosphere from turning awkward. Being the ones most excited for the marriage, they'd hit it off immediately and started chatting like old friends.
Everyone's heads turned to look at him.
Chunma understood that Xuanyin's attitude hadn't gone unnoticed by his parents, but they didn't say anything, out of consideration for their guests. Most likely, they would discuss it with him once everything was over, but he didn't have the patience to wait.
In his peripheral vision, he observed everyone's expressions. The two ladies looked similarly uncomfortable, while their husbands remained stoic and unreadable. Mu Yuze , the only one of Xuanyin's siblings who hadn't stayed behind in Floating Cloud city, looked unhappy.
Xuanyin lifted her chin and looked at him. Her face was blank, but Chunma didn't miss the hint of gloom that appeared between her eyebrows.
"If you already know, why are you asking?"
Her reply clearly showcased her attitude.
Lady Mu's face immediately turned black, like the bottom of a pot. Anger practically rolled off her in waves.
"Xuanyin! Remember what we talked about last night."
Her voice was icy cold, enough to send chills down the spectator's spines. She stared at her daughter like she was trying to drill holes into the side of her head.
When the girl heard her mother's reminder, her blank expression changed. In a moment, her face underwent many changes until finally settling on a look of resignation. With a barely-concealed sigh, she lowered her head towards him.
"Please pardon my rudeness. I do not object to… the marriage."
Her voice sounded thin, barely managing to deliver the final sentence.
Chunma involuntarily rolled his eyes at her before looking over at Mu Xiaoyi.
"Lady Mu, my parents and I appreciate your good intentions, but there's no sense in forcing things if she's unwilling."
He idly took a sip of his green tea while meeting the woman's eyes.
The mother revealed an expression of helplessness. She looked at her daughter, but the girl stubbornly kept her head down. She looked to her husband for help, but when he remained silent, she sagged in her seat.
"I apologize, young master Jong. It seems I've made a fool out of myself today."
She put her face in her hands, looking humiliated.
The Jong family husband and wife secretly exchanged glances. They'd expected this marriage to be a done deal after taking the initiative to propose on their son's behalf, but it seemed the Mu clan was far more divided over the issue than they'd expected. As the Mu patriarch, Mu Sima's poor attitude was particularly displeasing to them.
Hyung Jong, the Jong patriarch and the Mount Hua sect master, stood and looked at his guests. His expression was the picture of displeasure.
"On our side, we've expressed sufficient sincerity, but it seems you father and daughter think otherwise. Since you don't put my son in your eyes, then I ask that you please return to Floating Cloud city before the week end."
His response shocked everyone at the table. The fact that he would simply chase the Mu clan out after their disagreement was inconceivable! It was important to understand that hospitality was practically ingrained in the culture of The Great Tang—to treat one's guests with such disregard was bound to invite the scorn of others!
Frowning, Mu Sima stood up.
"I, Mu Sima, will not be forced by anyone, no matter their background. Neither will I let my daughter be forced into a marriage she doesn't agree to. If that makes me a villain in your eyes, then so be it."
His self-righteous tone sounded ridiculous to everyone but himself. Hadn't the Mu family showed up on their own? How was that 'being forced'?
Hyun Jong's expression sunk further.
"Don't blame me for not showing you the door."
He disdainfully waved his hand before turning and exiting the venue. This situation had upset him to such an extent that he feared he wouldn't be able to stop himself from slapping the man.
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While this was going on, Xuanyin was staring at Chunma with resentment. The look on her face was that of someone being wronged.
"Why would you say something like that, young master Jong, when I already agreed?"
Naturally, she was referring to his 'forcing things' comment.
Chunma raised an eyebrow at her, seemingly unimpressed.
"Tell me, Ms. Xuanyin, do you think you're doing me a favor by marrying me? If that's the case, then you're simply looking down on me."
He didn't think he was being arrogant. Not only was he stronger than her, but he had a stronger background, as well. His appearance was nothing to scoff at, either.
The girl wasn't stupid and she knew how to read between the lines.
'You may be a peerless fairy in the eyes of your local 'young masters', but to me, you're nothing special.'
This was basically what Chunma was saying. Xuanyin was unable to refute his claim, but that didn't mean she was happy about it.
She'd inherited her father's stubbornness and, while it was an invaluable trait when it came to cultivation and martial arts, it didn't serve her well during negotiations.
The girl bit on her lower lip before sighing softly.
"If you can promise me one thing, then I don't mind marrying you."
Chunma expelled a puff of air through his nose.
"Since you're levying conditions, it seems you still don't understand the difference between us. However, I'm not someone who doesn't know magnanimity. Say what you want to say."
He rested his chin on his palm, looking at her with thinly veiled interest. Unexpectedly, bullying this girl was bringing him a lot of joy. Was he secretly a sadist?
Xuanyin gritted her teeth before speaking.
"As long as you promise not to interfere with my cultivation, I'll marry you without making a fuss."
Her large, brown eyes stared into his. She was doing her best to showcase her sincerity.
Chunma raised his eyebrows. He'd thought that she was simply arrogant, but it seemed she was worried about something else entirely.
"In the first place, I'm not interested in a wife who's nothing more than a decorative vase. If you're able to become a top figure in the world of martial arts, then that's naturally a good thing."
A princess who always needed to be rescued sounded extremely bothersome to him. If she could take care of herself and her family, he'd be more than satisfied. He certainly didn't want to do it.
Xuanyin's expression didn't change, but the tension in her posture quickly evaporated.
"Then can you please clear up this misunderstanding."
Her gaze scanned the dining room. Mu Sima had already vanished to somewhere unknown. Now, only the mothers remained, as well as Mu Yuze. They were silently observing the interaction between the two of them.
Chunma smiled genially before turning and addressing the two ladies.
"Mother, lady Mu—it seems I spoke too hastily. Xuanyin and I barely know each other, so it's only normal if we don't immediately get along. I think we should postpone the decision until the end of the week, before the Mu clan's departure."
Xiaoyi Mu nodded enthusiastically, looking like someone who'd just been granted amnesty.
"Since it's an arranged marriage, it's only normal for you two to have some reservations. Xuanyin, why don't you accompany young master Jong for the rest of the day? I'll go have a talk with your father. You know how he is—as stubborn as an ox when it comes to his little girl!"
After delivering that statement, she glanced apologetically at lady Jong.
"I'm very sorry about what happened today, lady Jong. I hope sect master Hyun doesn't take it to heart."
She respectfully lowered her head before the other woman, doing her best to showcase her sincerity.
Chunma's mother shook her head, wearing a troubled smile.
"There's no need to go that far. Since it involves our children's futures, it's only natural if tempers get a bit heated. I'll speak with my husband—as long as Chunma is happy, he won't have any complaints."
Hearing her words, Xiaoyi heaved a sigh of relief.
"Then I'll be taking my leave. I'll need to placate that husband of mine—it wouldn't be good if he did something reckless. Come along, Yuze."
Standing up, she took her son by the arm and hurried out of the dining hall.
The boy in question wore an expression of extreme disappointment, like he'd just fallen out of heaven and into depths of hell. He desperately tried to make eye contact with his sister, but she ignored him. In the end, he had no choice but to leave with his mother.
When only the three individuals remained, Jong Min, Chunma's mother, made her way over to the two children. When she arrived in front of Xuanyin, she stretched out her arms and took the girl by the shoulders.
"If Chunma bullies you, just tell Auntie. I'll teach him a lesson for you."
She smiled kindly at the girl before looking at her son.
"You two should go for a walk in the gardens. The flowers are beautiful, this time of the year."
Chunma nodded at his mother.
"All right. However, since our dinner was cut short, would you please ask a servant to bring some tea, and something to eat?"
Jong Min looked ashamed. She hadn't thought of that—how inhospitable!
"You're right. I'll have them prepare some spicy noodles, with chicken broth. Are you fine with that, dear?"
At the end of her sentence, she looked questioningly at Xuanyin.
The girl shook her head while waving her hands.
"I'm not really hungry, Auntie."
However, Jong Min wasn't having any of it.
"It's fine, even if you don't eat it. Now, I won't keep the two of you any longer."
After giving the two of them a parting smile, she turned and left, likely intending to go soothe her husband.
When they were alone, Chunma turned to Xuanyin.
"Well, come along, then. Since I was the one who soured the mood earlier, I've resolved to make it up to you."
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