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After Xiao Yu left, Mo Yu stayed behind in the hall, feeling the weight of all the eyes on him.
"Mo Yu bro..." Xiao Ning approached with an awkward expression, unsure of what to say. In the past, he was both older and had a higher standing than Mo Yu. But after the aptitude tests, Mo Yu's status in the Xiao family had clearly surpassed his own, and now he was even about to become his brother-in-law.
Though age gaps in marriages weren't a big deal on the Dou Qi Continent—especially since strong cultivators lived much longer—Xiao Ning still found it hard to swallow that his prideful older sister Xiao Yu was marrying Mo Yu, who was younger by several years.
"You can just call me by my name," Mo Yu said calmly, sensing Xiao Ning's discomfort. Mo Yu had a level-headed view of the arranged marriage between the two families. He didn't see it as a life-altering event.
After all, having already experienced death twice, even marriage seemed trivial in comparison. The world operated on a balance of power and benefits, after all. Mo Yu had come to understand this even more clearly after his near-death experiences. He even thought back to Xiao Yan's situation.
When Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, realized Xiao Yan's talent was returning, he was filled with not only joy but also relief. Why? Because he had never given up on his son. If Mo Yu had refused this marriage, the Xiao family might not have been so patient with him.
Refuse a family alliance and you'd be treated as a potential enemy. Could the Xiao family, despite its ancient roots and present decline, afford to let such insubordination pass? Mo Yu mused.
As Mo Yu pondered, the family's Grand Elder approached. His wise but sharp gaze studied Mo Yu before he placed a hand on the youth's shoulder. "Yu'er is now entrusted to you. Don't let me down," the old man said, his words carrying the weight of the entire family.
Mo Yu knew how much Xiao Yu's grandfather meant to her, so this sentence had tremendous significance. He responded with a solemn nod.
Mo Guan, Mo Yu's grandfather, approached with a warm smile. "Xiao Yu is both intelligent and beautiful. Treat her well, grandson."
Mo Yu, overwhelmed by the attention of the elders, could only smile and nod repeatedly, unsure how to navigate their well-meaning but pressuring guidance. Fortunately, Xiao Zhan appeared to defuse the situation. "Mo Yu, I've watched you grow up. I'm confident you'll treat Yu'er well."
Xiao Zhan gave the young man a reassuring pat on the shoulder, then waved his hand. A flash of light appeared, revealing a small golden pouch. "Here, take this. It contains five second-tier thunder elemental magic cores. Consider it part of Xiao Yu's dowry," Xiao Zhan said generously, his words revealing the family's high hopes for this union.
Mo Yu was momentarily stunned. Five second-tier magic cores, especially thunder-element ones, were valuable, worth thousands of gold coins. Even for the powerful Xiao family, this wasn't a trivial gift.
Realizing the importance of the gesture, Mo Yu accepted the magic cores, knowing they would help him advance to the next level of Dou Zhe in no time.
Seeing him accept, Xiao Zhan smiled, knowing the family's investment in Mo Yu was worthwhile. For a talented young man like him, fostering goodwill through alliances was always the preferred method. Force was only a last resort. Fortunately, Mo Yu's family had long been tied to the Xiao family, so this was a mutually beneficial relationship.
The banquet concluded on a lively note. Mo Yu bid farewell to his grandfather and left the Xiao family estate.
At the Xiao family's back mountain...
The once barren hills now felt more ethereal, thanks to the presence of a graceful figure. Xiao Yu stood there, gazing at the moonlight.
"You came," her cold voice cut through the silence as she spotted the approaching black-clad figure of Mo Yu.
Her features were illuminated under the moonlight. It was Xiao Yu. The young woman had changed out of her formal gown, back into her academy uniform. Her ample chest heaved slightly, as she clenched her teeth. "Do you know why I called you here?" she asked, her voice still cold.
"To talk about the marriage, I assume?" Mo Yu answered casually.
"You said you'd take care of it!" Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes blazed with anger as she glared at him.
Mo Yu scratched his head awkwardly and shrugged. "I was going to speak to the clan leader about it, but the family elders moved faster than I expected. They decided everything with my grandfather, and I had no way of rejecting it."
At his current strength, it was simply too dangerous for him to refuse. The family's expectations were too heavy to defy.
Xiao Yu bit her lip. She knew Mo Yu was telling the truth. Even she, as the clan's beloved granddaughter, couldn't oppose her grandfather's decisions. Still, despite her understanding, she couldn't quell the anger simmering inside her.
Mo Yu noticed her stubborn anger and, after a moment's thought, suggested: "The family might have decided our engagement, but there's no rush for us to marry. How about this? Soon, I'll be leaving the Xiao family to travel across the continent for a few years. Before I go, I'll write you a divorce letter. That way, you'll be free of me, and we'll have no further ties. How does that sound?"
This was the best solution Mo Yu could think of. Once he left the family and gained strength on the continent, the elders wouldn't be able to control him. In a few years, he'd grow powerful enough that the Xiao family would respect, rather than force him.
However, what Mo Yu thought was a perfect plan sounded utterly humiliating to Xiao Yu.
She took a deep breath, calming her anger. Her beautiful legs leapt down from the stone she had been standing on, and she gritted her teeth, snapping, "A divorce letter? Are you trying to insult me?!"
Though the Dou Qi Continent didn't enforce stringent rules on women's chastity, a divorce letter was still a stain on any young lady's reputation. If word got out, her pride would be trampled. Xiao Yu couldn't imagine holding her head high again, not in the Xiao family, and certainly not in the academy.
"You're supposed to be a family genius, right? Then let's fight. If you win, I'll marry you." A sly, playful glint appeared in her eyes as she added coldly: "If you lose, I'll be the one divorcing you!"
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Laoyao with L yeahh..thanks for the support.