A second letter from the Zhao Alliance, giving him one last chance to surrender with even more outrageous terms, sat in Wu Jian’s hands. He committed their words to memory, so he knew exactly why he wouldn’t be showing mercy to any of them before summoning water to his palms and drenching the parchment until it was nothing more than sludge. He then looked up at the servant who had brought him the letter and extended his hand. A second letter was deposited within it, and he opened it up to read.

To Patriarch Wu,

It has come to our attention that you possess a significant amount of arms and armour that you wish to sell. Our Feng Clan has need of such items but does not have the liquid funds available to purchase them. However, we have noticed that your clan is under threat by a force significantly stronger than your own and offer aid instead.

Of course, to prove that we don’t just speak empty words, or take without giving back, we propose a marriage alliance between our two clans, binding us together by blood. We offer Feng Lin’s hand in marriage to you, Patriarch Wu Jian, and have sent her to deliver this letter so that should you give her your response, we will be informed of it immediately. She has also brought with her, her dowry, so that should you accept you may wed within the week.

From, the Feng Clan

Wu Jian raised an eyebrow at the servant as soon as he was finished reading.

"There is a woman waiting for me?"

He asked.

"Yes Lord Patriarch. She is in the waiting room outside of the main hall."

Was the servant's reply.

"Have her sent here, to my office. I wish to speak with her in private."

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He ordered.

"Yes Lord Patriarch."

And the servant moved to carry out his will.

Not five minutes later, a knock came from his office door, but his attempts to use his divine sense to see who it was were rebuffed by another’s.

"You may enter."

He spoke, prompting the door to open and reveal the person who stood behind it.

The first thing he was drawn to were her eyes, smouldering red embers surrounded by the halo of the setting sun. They seemed to sear themselves into his mind as he was sure he would never forget them. As he watched, the embers in her pupils danced, subdued currently but threatening to burst into a wildfire at any moment. Rosy, warm cheeks and a small nose sat under her eyes, unblemished like the rest of her skin. Her mouth was formed into a frown, her delicate lips seemingly unable to frown any deeper. Flowing, gold-trimmed, red robes adorned her person, hugging close to her body, the bottom of it floating above the ground. She looked at the room’s only occupant and spoke.

"Are you the one I am to marry?"

She asked, voice sweet like bird song but filled with resentment. Her fiery eyes flicked up and down Wu Jian’s body as her divine sense probed at his own.

"I suppose I am."

He replied, inspecting her in turn.

"Are you going to accept the alliance?"

She questioned.

"Maybe, if I find the terms favourable."

His guest raised an eyebrow as he responded.

"Do you not find me favourable already?"

She twirled once, her dress spinning with her and making her look like a fire fairy descended from above. She stopped when her turn was complete and glared at him, eyes daring him to say anything to the contrary.

"I find one of the terms most beneficial."

Wu Jian let out a chuckle.

"But what military aid can your clan provide?"

He pressed. Feng Lin looked a little taken aback by his question, as if she wasn’t expecting it, before she regarded him with a new light in her eyes.

"Two elders, one in the Late Nascent Soul Stage and the other in the Mid Stage, as well as myself."

She informed him.

"Then I accept the alliance."

He held out his hand for her to shake but, instead of taking it, she took a spatial ring off her finger and placed it in his palm.

"My dowry."

She explained.

"I will go and inform my clan of your decision."

She then left the room, leaving a stunned Wu Jian behind. He did not need calming, so his bell did not ring, but his mind wondered if he had made the right decision in agreeing to marry someone who he had just met, especially since that person didn’t seem to have the highest opinion of him. Still, he would do what he had to do for the sake of his clan, and it wasn’t like he was losing out on much. On the contrary, it would be hard to find another woman of such pedigree who would marry him, so he thanked the Dao for the opportunity to wed a talented cultivator who would bring much to the clan.

His divine sense picked up the transmission of a long distance message from outside his office before Feng Lin stomped back into the room.

"So where am I staying?"

She demanded. Wu Jian called a servant over and bid that they escort the lady to her room, a well furnished cottage usually reserved for elders of the clan, before heading towards his cultivation chambers.