Wang Ming sat quietly in his room, legs crossed, a faint spiritual stone resting in his palm. Threads of spiritual energy flowed from it into his body, gradually being absorbed with practiced precision.
Suddenly, the air around him trembled.
A strange phenomenon unfolded as a sword—ancient and unfamiliar manifested out of thin air. Without a sound, it floated into the room and came to a halt directly in front of him, its cold aura silently pressing down on the space around them.
Opening his eyes, Wang Ming calmly examined the blade before him. It hovered motionless, as though observing him. But rather than panicking or reacting rashly, Wang Ming simply rose to his feet and clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
"I don't know which elder has granted this junior the honor of meeting him so early in the morning?" he said courteously.
A burst of laughter echoed through the room, hearty and confident. A flash of blinding light followed, forcing Wang Ming to squint for a moment. When his vision cleared, a middle-aged man stood before him dressed in regal robes, eyes gleaming with a subtle power.
Wang Ming's thoughts stirred.
Seventh Elder? Why is he here? I don't recall offending him... What could he want from me now?
His expression remained composed, but his mind raced to decipher the reason behind this unexpected visit.
The Seventh Elder observed Wang Ming's deep contemplation and wary gaze, then spoke with a small smile.
"Don't overthink it, kid. I'm just here to give you an offer—one that could be quite... beneficial to you."
Wang Ming remained silent for a moment, then asked with a thoughtful expression, "I wonder what kind of offer the esteemed elder is referring to?"
Without mincing words, the elder responded directly.
"How about marrying into my bloodline?"
Wang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained neutral.
So that's the reason.
The fog of uncertainty lifted as his mind swiftly pieced things together.
No wonder he came unannounced, suppressing his aura. Among all the elders, the Seventh Elder is the only one known to have had a single wife ,whom he deeply loved. After her death, he never remarried, choosing instead to raise his only daughter, Wang Mei, alone.
It's also the reason she's so unruly... spoiled to the bone. There are records of her razing entire villages just because someone dared to offend her over trivial matters.
But why me? Why now? In my past life, this proposal was never made. He never once accepted a marriage proposal for his daughter—not from anyone. Yet now, he's offered her hand himself. What's changed?
His thoughts grew more cautious.
Could it be that my slight changes in this life small victories here and there have shifted certain fates?
The idea of marrying his daughter to a Rank Three talent to strengthen the next generation isn't new. But selecting me... that's strange. Could he have changed factions? Maybe he's now aligned with the Clan Leader and trying to test my loyalty? No, that wouldn't make sense. Sending a powerful elder to test a junior's loyalty would be overkill like slaughtering a village just to kill a rat.
Still, his proposal is suspect. There are better choices out there—Wang Shui, for instance. This needs to be approached carefully.
Maintaining his respectful tone, Wang Ming asked, "I wonder... what are Wang Mei's thoughts on this?"
As he spoke, he subtly observed the Seventh Elder's expression, watching for the slightest reaction.
If this proposal is merely a formality,perhaps a trap or pressure from other factions then he'll likely brush off his daughter's opinion entirely. But if he's serious...
A small, invisible smile tugged at Wang Ming's lips.
If this is genuine... then I wonder what benefits await the man who becomes the son-in-law of a powerful elder?