Chapter 143 - 142: A Great Matter of Marriage
Wang Zongyao had originally wanted to invite Xiao Bai to stay for drinks that evening, but Xiao Bai refused him.
’Of course he refused. How could he not?’
Having just lost a piece of Earth-tier Armor, how could he possibly be in the mood for drinks?
Besides, Xiao Bai still had to lead the candidates from Wind Rain City, who were all looking dejected. How could any of them be in the mood to drink?
So, after bidding Wang Zongyao farewell, Xiao Bai left with the candidates from Wind Rain City.
After the people from Wind Rain City departed, the qualification exam resumed...
In the matches that followed, Tang Yi, as expected, maintained a perfect record. With fifty-one consecutive victories, he secured first place in the qualification exam and earned a spot in the West Mansion Headquarter’s House Entrance Examination.
The other members of the Tang Family also performed well. Tang Piaomiao won forty-two matches, Tang Baijie won twenty-nine, and Tang Shu won thirty-three.
When the final results were announced, all three of them had also secured qualification spots.
Including Tang Yi, a total of four members from the Tang Family earned spots and would be heading to the West Mansion Headquarter for the House Entrance Examination.
It had to be said that the Tang Family’s performance this time was dazzling. Moreover, with the emergence of a peerless genius like Tang Yi, the rise of the Tang Family was now inevitable. Nothing could stand in their way.
After the twenty candidates who had earned qualification spots were announced, the Fengyue City qualification exam officially concluded. In three days, they would all travel to the West Mansion to participate in the House Entrance Examination.
...
The next day, at the summons of Tang Haotian, Tang Yi arrived at the Tang Family’s main hall.
At that moment, Tang Haotian was the only one in the main hall. He was already seated at the head of the hall and had been waiting for some time when Tang Yi arrived.
Seeing Tang Haotian, Tang Yi said respectfully, "Father."
"Ah, Yi’Er, you’re here. Have a seat," Tang Haotian said, nodding with a smile.
Hearing this, Tang Yi found a seat and sat down before asking Tang Haotian, "Father, is there a reason you summoned me?"
’There was no one else in the main hall besides Tang Haotian. It seems this isn’t about clan business. If it were, the Elders should be here too. Yet, right now, it’s just the two of us, father and son.’
"It’s nothing important, I just wanted to chat with you. What? Do you think I’m too old to talk to now?" Tang Haotian put on a stern face, pretending to be angry. A second later, however, he broke into a laugh, unable to keep up the act.
"Of course not. I’m overjoyed that you wanted to chat, Father. How could I possibly be unwilling?" Tang Yi replied.
"Yi’Er, you’ve really become so composed. So composed I can’t find a single fault with you. But that’s a good thing. It proves you’ve grown up and can take care of yourself. In the future, these old bones won’t have to worry about you anymore," Tang Haotian said, shaking his head with a sigh.
"I am willing to share your burdens in the future, Father. I won’t give you cause to worry. And you’re still very young, not old at all," Tang Yi said respectfully to Tang Haotian.
"Haha, you just know how to say all the right things." Tang Haotian gave Tang Yi a look, then continued, "Alright, enough of that. Yi’Er, let me ask you, what are your intentions regarding the marriage arrangement with the Shangguan Family?"
"The Shangguan Family?"
Tang Yi was taken aback for a moment, not expecting his father to ask about this. He thought for a moment before answering seriously, "We agreed to a six-month period. Once those six months are up, I will personally go to the Purple Cloud Sect and right this wrong!"
"And after that?"
It seemed this wasn’t the answer Tang Haotian was looking for, so he pressed on.
"After that?" Tang Yi paused to think, then declared, "After that, in front of everyone at the Purple Cloud Sect, I will annul my engagement to Shangguan Siyu!"
Tang Yi’s declaration was incredibly domineering.
’To annul an engagement with the chief disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect’s Leader, right on the Sect’s own grounds? What incredible power would that require?’
Yet, when Tang Yi spoke, his words were not only domineering but also filled with boundless confidence.
It was as if he could achieve anything he put his mind to.
Tang Haotian was also taken aback by Tang Yi’s forceful words. However, considering Tang Yi’s strength, it wasn’t an impossible feat. With that thought, Tang Haotian relaxed and continued his questioning. "So, you’re saying you have no intention of marrying Shangguan Siyu?"
"That’s right. I would never marry a social-climbing woman like her," Tang Yi said with a firm nod.
"I see." Tang Haotian nodded, understanding his son’s feelings. He then said, "When you refused to annul the engagement back then, Yi’Er, I thought you had actually taken a liking to Shangguan Siyu. Since that’s not the case, things are much simpler."
Tang Yi glanced at Tang Haotian, not understanding what he meant.
Seeing Tang Yi’s confusion, Tang Haotian explained, "The reason I’m asking is that you’re no longer a boy. It’s time to consider marriage. Since you don’t like Shangguan Siyu, you’ll need to find someone else, won’t you? So, how about it? Yi’Er, is there anyone you have your heart set on? You wouldn’t believe it, but because of your performance yesterday, we’ve already had eight different parties come to our door with marriage proposals today!"
"Huh? Eight parties!"
Hearing this, Tang Yi was stunned. ’I’m that popular?’ he thought to himself.
’Then again, I’m a genius. Who wouldn’t like me?’
’But...’
’Marriage?’
The moment he thought of the word, a beautiful figure surfaced in his mind.
The image of that sweet, gentle beauty, who thought only of him, was impossible to dismiss.
’Lian’Er, are you doing well?’
Tang Yi murmured softly in his heart as a wave of longing washed over him.
He looked up slightly, and it was as if Lian’Er’s stunningly beautiful face appeared before him in the air.
The moment he thought of Lian’Er, Tang Yi felt his heart was full, leaving no room for anyone else. He had little interest in other women.
’So, marriage?’
’I’d rather not.’
With this in mind, Tang Yi immediately replied to Tang Haotian, "Father, my heart is set on pursuing the Martial Dao. I don’t wish to marry for the time being."
"Well..."
"Don’t be so quick to refuse. I’m not telling you to get married right away, just to find someone you like to have by your side. Besides, aren’t you curious about who was in those eight parties?" Tang Haotian said.
"Oh? Who were they?" Tang Yi asked, his curiosity piqued.
Seeing Tang Yi’s curiosity, Tang Haotian shook his head and said, "Six of them were from minor clans and merchants. I won’t bother mentioning them, as you likely wouldn’t be interested. But the other two..."
Tang Haotian paused, looking at Tang Yi with a wide grin. "One was from the Zhu Family of the Fengyue City’s West Mansion Branch. The other... was from the Mu Family."
"Oh?" Tang Yi said, puzzled. "Who are these two families proposing a marriage for? I don’t believe I’ve had any contact with either of them."
"Just because you don’t know them doesn’t mean they don’t know you!" Tang Haotian shot his son an exasperated look before continuing, "As for the Zhu Family, it was Master Zhu himself, on behalf of his daughter. The proposal from the Mu Family came from their Patriarch, and the person he came for... is someone you should know."
"Mu Xianling? How could it be her?"
Tang Yi was shocked.
’I can’t believe the Mu Family actually came to propose a marriage for Mu Xianling.’
’She...’
’...doesn’t she look down on me?’