With just one look, I was completely thrown into disarray.
Could it be that Mulan really wants to marry me?
I looked incredulously at the woman's eyes, cold as frosty stars, trying to find a trace of jest or emotion.
However, I failed. Mulan's expression was unmistakably serious!!!
She was actually serious!!!
So, I was utterly confused. Why?
Because I'm handsome? For twenty years, the first thing I've done every morning is to look in the mirror, but after twenty years, I've never found anything about myself that would make a woman fall for me head over heels. Especially not a woman as beautiful as her, who just by standing there could cause disaster, an unstoppable force!
So, am I rich?
Thinking about my bank balance, which is less than six figures after buying that hundred-chop saber, I immediately dismissed the thought. I can't afford LV, nor can I get into high-end parties. All my savings could barely buy a luxury car... tire. With just that, could I really attract a woman?
Then, am I talented?
In terms of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, except for chess, I'm clueless about the rest. My calligraphy is so bad that if I ever have a son, his teacher might mistake his signature for mine and punish him. As for chess, I only know how to play Gomoku.
All things considered, I really can't find anything about myself that women would like. So... she still wants to marry me?
I tried to widen my eyes, making myself look more innocent and cute, then asked, "Are you sure you're not joking?"
Mulan raised her beautiful eyebrows, smiling yet not smiling, "What? Don't tell me you're unwilling!?"
Her question really stumped me.
Am I willing?
To be honest, I am quite willing to spend my life with such a woman. Although we are as different as life and death, and she can never give me a complete family like a normal woman, the inexplicable thrill she brings me and the deep impression from our first meeting make me willing to stay with her for life. It might be impulsive, but I believe my impulse can withstand the test of time.
But...
Every time I remember the mural of her nestled in another man's arms, my heart aches, bleeding!
I can't get over this hurdle. Although I admit I'm a nobody, I believe I'm a nobody with a difference. At least I have my dignity. I won't be like those tragic spare tires who, when the goddess of their heart is tired of playing and turns to them, would still eagerly agree, even though they clearly know she doesn't love them and just wants to marry a good man. I can't fall into such a sentimental trap.
I can accept a woman's past, even embrace it, but I will never accept my woman still loving someone else. If that's the case, no matter how much I love her, I would decisively cut off our ties, even if it kills me. This is my unchangeable decision because I am a man with my own pride and dignity!
After pondering for a while, I decided to have a frank talk with Mulan. So, I simply shared my thoughts with her.
"Riches cannot corrupt, poverty cannot sway, and might cannot bend. You are still you, no matter how the world changes, how life reincarnates, you are still the one who never forgets his original intention."
After hearing what I said, Mulan sighed softly, spoke some inexplicable words, and then looked at me seriously, "Don't worry, what you're worried about will never happen. Marrying you as a wife, I will be your wife for life, and my heart will only have room for you, no one else."
Hearing her say this, I finally felt a bit more at ease. I stared at her for a long time and finally agreed after realizing she wasn't lying.
"Let's go, meet your friend."
Mulan said, "He's a minor celestial master now. If he really tries, Xueru and Tiezhu might not be able to stop him. It wouldn't be good if he gets hurt."
Tiezhu is the male ghost guarding the main tomb for Mulan.
I thought her reasoning made sense, so I nodded and agreed. With a wave of Mulan's sleeve, the heavy tomb door boomed open.
Sure enough, Qingyi was fighting fiercely with Xueru and Tiezhu at the tomb entrance.
Qingyi looked completely different, abandoning his usual taciturn demeanor for a ferocious attack, forcing Xueru and Tiezhu to retreat continuously. Around them, Zhang Jinya, Wu Pangzi, and Rosa, who had arrived at some point, surrounded Xueru and Tiezhu, ready to strike at any weakness.
Mulan guessed right; under these circumstances, Xueru and Tiezhu were no match for Qingyi, their yin energy dissipating significantly. If we hadn't come out, they might have been scattered to the winds soon.
However, Qingyi also looked quite ragged, his robe torn and bloodstained, though the blood had dried, indicating it wasn't from fighting Xueru and Tiezhu but likely from the flying corpse and corpse fiend. It seems Qingyi must have faced a fierce battle in Gao Xianzhi's main tomb chamber, otherwise, he wouldn't look like this. In fact, I've never seen him so disheveled before!
"He's at his limit."
Mulan sighed softly, looking at Qingyi, "Despite his fierce attacks, he can't hide the fact that he's running out of steam, which is why he's so desperate to end the fight. His body is heavy with yin energy, probably because he used a Taoist summoning technique, invoking powers from the underworld that he can't handle, likely at least two ghost kings to make this minor celestial master so powerful."
With that, Mulan pushed me hard, "Aren't you going to stop him? If this continues, Xueru and Tiezhu will be scattered, and even your friend will die here!"
Reminded by Mulan, I finally snapped out of it. Seeing the deadlock between the two sides, I was at a loss for a moment, not knowing how to help.
After hesitating, seeing both ghosts and Qingyi fighting fiercely, I knew I couldn't delay any longer, so I shouted "Stop" and, with a burst of courage, rushed between Qingyi and the two ghosts. It was a desperate move, risking being mistakenly killed by them, but fortunately, Qingyi and Xueru restrained themselves in time and stepped back.
"Don't fight, it's like a flood hitting the Dragon King Temple, family fighting family!"
I said with a wry smile, "Although Xueru and Tiezhu don't have much affection for Pangzi and the others, they're definitely not enemies. Let's all take a step back!"
I was the best person to mediate this conflict, having relationships with both Qingyi and Xueru. I explained my meeting with Mulan to Qingyi, and he finally ceased fighting.
Seeing the tension between the two sides finally easing, I quickly pulled Qingyi aside to ask about what happened after we escaped from Gao Xianzhi's tomb. After hearing Qingyi's story, I learned he actually used the summoning technique twice to deal with the corpse fiend and flying corpse!
Fortunately, he dealt with those two nuisances, and the evil energy node in Gao Xianzhi's tomb was sealed. Then, following our tracks, Qingyi easily found this place. Since most of the attention was on us, he didn't encounter much trouble along the way. Hearing that I was taken away by the tomb's owner, Qingyi didn't hesitate to come to the rescue. The rest, as I witnessed, was a case of "a flood hitting the Dragon King Temple, family fighting family."
Now, the ten tombs providing evil energy to the Ten Dire Tombs have been destroyed. Strictly speaking, the Ten Dire Tombs are finished. As for the main tomb, we never intended to enter it. If we still went after hearing Mulan's description of its dangers, that would be truly foolish.
Zhang Jinya said their mission was completed, so they started discussing leaving.
Seeing this, I suddenly became anxious and called out, "Hey, wait a minute, can you guys witness my wedding first?"