"With Qi Long?"
"Anyone is fine as long as you marry into my clan. However, I have to say that Qi Long is the most talented boy amongst his peers here in the clan and he seems to be interested in you. So if you are okay with him, then it will be perfect."
"I see. To be honest, I'm really interested with the method but it is not to the extent that I will sacrifice my lifelong happiness." Erza spoke frankly as she looked at Grandaunt Qi in the eyes. The old ancestor was surprised with Erza maturity. She was not like any other naive 12 years old girl and this pleased the old ancestor.
"Do you have someone in your mind?" Grandaunt Qi words brought certain someone into her mind, but Erza quickly shook her head.
"No."
"Then why don't you try with Qi Long?"
"I don't mind to try with Qi Long, but I can't promise grandaunt that I will love him and end up marrying into Seven Colour Pagoda clan."
"It's a pity though that the later you start to cultivate your eyes, the harder it is to improve." The old ancestor tempted again.
"Then how about this, Grandaunt Qi give me the method now, then I will date Qi Long, in addition to telling grandaunt the reason why Emperor Lin rejected your advance on that night in Eastern Ancestor Valley."
The old ancestor was visibly shaken. Her mind swiftly went back to recall that fateful night.
"How do you know? From Ash?" As the sworn sister of the Emperor, the old ancestor surely knew a lot of things about him. Besides that, she had actually met with Ash face to face when the Emperor executed the ultimate move of Heavenly Flame Sword.
"Yes." Erza admitted. She did not dare to lie in front of the old ancestor. Someone of her age was very keen in sensing a lie.
If Grandpa Qing was pestered by Erza on numerous occasions in the past, then there was no need to say much about Ash. As the Emperor partner, Ash was always there with the Emperor. He knew much more than a subordinate. As a result, Erza spent her childhood times hearing the stories of Emperor Lin from both Grandpa Qing and Ash.
The old ancestor sighed. She planned to tempt the girl in front her, but now, she was being tempted instead. If only she was willing to become her granddaughter in law, then it would be perfect.
The old ancestor was silent for a moment. She was seriously thinking about Erza proposition. At first, she wanted to help the clan by obtaining Erza bloodline but now her ego started to outweigh her feeling to the clan. In addition, Erza was still willing to date Qi Long. The girl did not actually close her door to be married into Seven Colour Pagoda clan.
"Fine, I accept your proposition." The old ancestor took the bait.
"You have no idea how much I really wish you are my granddaughter in law. Now tell me about the true reason."
"It is my honour to be thought so highly by grandaunt. First of all, please let me apologize for taking advantage of grandaunt feeling to Emperor Lin." Erza said politely. The old ancestor just wryly smiled.
"As for the reason, it was actually because of Elder Qi Mei."
"My older sister?" The old ancestor was confused.
"Yes, she told Emperor Lin about the matter of 'Eternal Pagoda Art'. As a result, the Emperor was not sure whether grandaunt truly loved him or not."
Grandaunt Qi expression totally changed after hearing what Erza just said. She did not expect that the Emperor knew about the art and it was actually her own sister who destroyed her happiness!
'That bitch! I did not expect that she backstabbed me!'
Even though it was a past event and now she was already very old, the old ancestor still exploded in anger!
Actually since her childhood, the old ancestor was already aware of 'Eternal Pagoda Art'. However, she never cared about it. She truly loved Emperor Lin for what he was, not because of his bloodline. She knew that her sister also liked Emperor Lin and already confessed her love, though her sister was rejected in the end.
The old ancestor did not expect that after being rejected by the Emperor, her sister actually told him about the matter of Eternal Pagoda Art. Her sister clearly did not want her to obtain happiness!
Erza kept her mouth shut as she was waiting for the old ancestor to calm down. However, soon, Erza was not able to hold on anymore. Her knees were starting to bent and she was sweating a lot. In her anger, the old ancestor subconsciously released a terrifying pressure to her surrounding. A pressure exuded by a saint was not something that a knight like her could withstand.
*cough*, *cough*, *cough*
Erza coughs caused the old ancestor to realize her mistake. Grandaunt Qi then waved her hand and Erza suddenly found a book appeared in front her. "Take it."
Erza trembled inwardly as she knew what it was. This was the book which contained the method to cultivate her Eyes of Chronos. She quickly grabbed the book and put it into her storage ring.
"So what do you know about 'Eternal Pagoda Art'? Is that why you are not so keen to marry Qi Long?"
"It is partly due to that reason. I will marry someone I love and he must also love me the way I am, not because of my bloodline. If in the future Qi Long truly love me and I love him back, then I will marry him. Otherwise, I won't."
"As for Eternal Pagoda Art, I heard that it was a dual cultivation art between Seven Colour Pagoda clan and Eastern Sage Imperial clan members. Originally, it was created for the benefit of two clans. However, over time, it was found that the art had negative effect on the Eyes of Chronos owners. It actually stalled their practices and in worse scenario, it could reduce their abilities."
"On the other hand, it would substantially improve the effect of the support skills of Seven Colour Pagoda clan members. And in the best scenario, the effect would be permanent."
"Since the art did not mutually benefitted both parties, it was later forbidden and being forgotten. However, it seemed like a copy of that book managed to survive and it was known to a few members of Seven Colour Pagoda clan." Erza concluded her answers.
"I see. Looked like that damn older sister of mine really told everything to Big Brother Lin Dong. To think that I even cried when she died, damn!" The old ancestor gritted her teeth. Erza did not speak any more because she knew that Grandaunt Qi was currently in a bad mood.
Not long after that, Erza excused herself and left. The old ancestor also had nothing else to speak with her. In the end, she did not meet Qi Long and managed to safely arrive at Valentine clan.
Inside a small room in the third household residence, Erza was sitting on a chair while telling her two aunts about what she was doing nowadays. Of course, she did not tell them about her deal with Beel and the true nature of Cloak of Aztaroth. She also did not tell them about her meeting with the old ancestor in details.
She just told them that she chose the cloak as her reward because she liked it. When she told them that she was on a date with a senior yesterday, Victoria and Violet were both surprised and worried. They then asked her a lot of questions from his name, origin, until his personality.
Similarly, they were also shocked to hear that Seven Colour Pagoda clan old ancestor was looking for Erza. When they asked for details, Erza just told them that the old ancestor asked her not to tell other people about what they were talking about. She assured them that there was no issue and told them not to worry. Hearing that, Victoria and Violet decided not to pursue the issue further.
They kept talking about a lot of things until it was late night. Erza was planning to ask them about Ash, but she decided to ask them tomorrow because it was already too late.
As Victoria and Violet returned to their rooms, Erza also went back to her room and took her shower.
Later on when she checked her phone, Erza found a new message from Beel asking how was her day and if she was okay. She then told him that everything was alright and she would tell him in details when they met up. After saying good night to him, Erza turned off her phone and went to sleep.
Soon, Erza found herself in a dream.
"Hey…."
"Ash?"