Script of Reincarnation

Hearing those words, Lu Yang was momentarily stunned.

For a brief instant, he even wondered whether he had misheard.

"...Marriage?"

The word felt strangely unfamiliar coming from his own mouth.

Seeing his reaction, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder couldn’t help but laugh helplessly before stroking his beard.

"Yes."

The courtyard suddenly became much quieter, with only the gentle sound of flowing water from the nearby stream and the rustling of leaves stirred by the mountain breeze remaining.

Lu Yang slowly lowered the teacup in his hand.

To be honest, he had never truly considered such a matter, not because he rejected it, but because it had simply never crossed his mind.

Seeing his silence, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder spoke once more.

"Yang’er, you are almost thirty years old. There are some things that should at least be considered."

Lu Yang looked at him quietly.

The old man smiled bitterly.

"I know what you’re thinking. You probably believe cultivators shouldn’t concern themselves with such mundane affairs."

He shook his head slightly.

"That statement is correct, but only partly."

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder slowly looked towards the distant mountains before speaking.

"For those truly powerful cultivators whose lifespans are measured in several centuries or even thousands of years, they naturally possess enough time, but our Lu Family is merely a Spirit Awakening Realm force. We’re far from reaching that stage."

His voice remained calm as he continued,

"To a clan like ours, descendants are extremely important, especially descendants carrying outstanding cultivation talent."

Pausing briefly, he looked directly at Lu Yang.

"With your aptitude, there is an extremely high possibility that your children would also possess extraordinary talent, perhaps even stronger than your own."

Lu Yang remained silent, naturally understanding the reasoning.

The strength of a cultivation clan wasn’t merely determined by its current generation; bloodline, inheritance, future descendants, all of these were equally important.

Seeing Lu Yang listening attentively, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder slowly smiled.

"I know, such matters should normally be discussed by your parents, but unfortunately..."

His expression unconsciously dimmed as he sighed, "... they’re no longer here, and neither do you have any brothers or sisters, so..."

The old man looked somewhat embarrassed.

"This old fellow can only shamelessly take over the role of an elder."

Hearing those words, Lu Yang’s gaze softened slightly.

Looking at the old man before him, countless memories surfaced within his mind.

When he had first entered the main family, when his parents died, when he fought Lu Tianhe, when he broke through into the Spirit Awakening Realm, throughout almost every important stage of his life, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder had always been there.

Lu Yang naturally knew many things regarding the old man.

Among the various elders of the Lu Family, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder was perhaps the most unique.

Outwardly, many younger disciples believed he had always been alone.

Only after entering the family’s highest level did Lu Yang actually learn the truth.

The old man was never truly a lonely ghost.

In his youth, while traveling outside the clan to temper himself, he had encountered a female rogue cultivator.

She wasn’t born into any powerful clan, and neither did she belong to any great sect.

She wandered the cultivation world freely, helping the weak, punishing evildoers, and living according to her own heart.

The two gradually fell in love, but unfortunately, during one journey, she ultimately died protecting him, dying in his arms.

After returning to the Lu Family, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder refused every arranged marriage.

No matter how everyone persuaded him, he never changed his decision, swearing that he would never marry another woman throughout this lifetime.

Feeling guilty towards the Lu Family because of his selfishness, he devoted his entire life to the clan instead.

For decades, he had practically treated every younger generation member as his own descendant, especially Lu Yang.

Having watched him grow from a child into the greatest genius in the family’s history, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder truly regarded him almost like a grandson.

Therefore, the current conversation didn’t seem like it was spoken by a Grand Elder, instead, it was like being spoken by an old man fulfilling the responsibility of an elder within the family.

Several moments passed in silence.

Eventually, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder coughed lightly.

"Actually, there is another reason I came here today."

Lu Yang immediately raised his head.

The old man sighed lightly before saying.

"The Bai Family has proposed a marriage alliance."

"Bai Family?" Lu Yang’s eyes flickered slightly.

Naturally, he had heard of them.

Among all the Spirit Awakening Realm families throughout Canglan Prefecture, the Bai Family undoubtedly ranked among the strongest.

Although perhaps slightly weaker than the Lu Family, the difference wasn’t significant.

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder slowly nodded.

"The Bai Family Head personally sent an envoy; they wish to betroth their daughter to you."

Seeing Lu Yang remain silent, he explained.

"The Bai Family’s young lady is twenty-seven years old this year, currently at the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering Realm. Her talent cannot compare with yours, but throughout Canglan Prefecture, it is genuinely considered excellent."

The old man smiled faintly.

"If nothing unexpected occurs, Spirit Awakening is basically guaranteed for her."

Lu Yang listened calmly, not interrupting.

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder gently tapped the stone table.

"You should also know, our Lu Family and the Wu Family have competed for generations, they’re not weaker than us. In recent years, after news of your breakthrough spread, the competition has only become increasingly intense."

He sighed once more.

"If the Bai Family joins hands with us, the Wu Family will naturally think twice before acting."

Only then did Lu Yang understand that this wasn’t merely a marriage, it was also an alliance between two major cultivation clans.

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder continued, "Originally, the most suitable candidate should’ve been Tianhe, unfortunately..."

He shook his head.

"The age difference between him and the Bai Family girl exceeds ten years, and furthermore, the Family Head already arranged a marriage contract for him years ago."

Lu Yang looked somewhat surprised.

"A marriage contract?"

The old man nodded.

"One of the Family Head’s close friends serves as a high-ranking official in the Imperial Capital. When Tianhe enters the Spirit Awakening Realm, that official’s daughter will marry into our Lu Family and become Tianhe’s principal wife."

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder smiled bitterly.

"Naturally, aside from the age gap, we cannot possibly ask the Bai Family’s genius young lady to become somebody’s concubine, can we?"

Lu Yang silently shook his head, that was naturally impossible.

The Bai Family Head personally proposing marriage already demonstrated tremendous sincerity.

If the Lu Family suggested such a thing, it would practically be a direct slap to their face.

The old man spread his hands helplessly.

"After considering everyone within the younger generation, we ultimately discovered... you were the only suitable candidate."

He paused briefly before smiling.

"Perhaps a little too suitable."

Whether it be talent, status, age, or identity, every aspect matched and even exceeded the requirements.

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder quietly sighed.

"Yang’er... this old man truly feels somewhat guilty. You’ve only recently broken through, yet, we’re already placing another burden upon your shoulders."

The courtyard once again fell silent as Lu Yang slowly lowered his gaze, his fingers unconsciously rubbing against the empty teacup.

Marriage, family, children... these concepts had always seemed incredibly distant for him.

In his first life, he died while still a young man, having not even entered society properly.

During his second life, he spent almost every waking moment struggling merely to survive and grow stronger.

As an outer sect disciple, resources were scarce and danger lurked everywhere.

Cultivation alone already consumed everything he possessed, who would think about marriage under those circumstances?

Therefore, across two entire lifetimes, he had never truly imagined building a family of his own.

The first people appearing inside his mind were his parents.

If they were still alive, would they urge him to marry?

Lu Yang couldn’t help smiling faintly.

Probably yes.

They wouldn’t care much whether he eventually became an Essence Gathering cultivator or an even greater existence, instead, they would care more about whether he lived happily, if someone accompanied him through life and if he eventually had children.

Thinking this far, Lu Yang’s gaze gradually became thoughtful.

At the same time, there was also the Lu Family.

Ever since entering the main family, the clan had almost never truly asked anything of him.

Instead, it had continuously provided resources, protection, cultivation methods, and opportunities.

Now, for the first time, the family genuinely needed him.

How could he simply refuse?

Several breaths of time quietly passed.

Finally, Lu Yang slowly took a deep breath, raising his head as he looked at the Internal Affairs Grand Elder.

"I agree."

The old man’s eyes immediately brightened, however, before he could speak, Lu Yang calmly continued.

"But I have one condition."

The Internal Affairs Grand Elder blinked.

"What condition?"

Lu Yang’s expression remained as calm as ever as he said in a flat tone of voice.

"I wish to meet her first."

His voice carried neither excitement nor rejection as he continued.

"If we are to become Dao companions, then regardless of whether this marriage begins because of feelings or the interests of our families, I at least wish to know the person who will accompany me throughout the rest of my cultivation journey. If she is also willing... then I have no objections."