Section 35: To Refuse or Accept?
2013-02-09 Author: Gu Zhenren
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In Chu Yun’s original plan, the Gem Secret Passage was one of his fallback options. He wouldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary.
This was because he had always been unable to understand why the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen favored him so much, giving him special attention.
Everyone acts with a purpose. What was the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s purpose in approaching him? And what was the reason for gifting him the miniature Gem Secret Passage?
Chu Yun couldn’t figure it out. If it were to mentor a junior, that would be the Wine King’s style. The mysterious and eccentric Ten Thousand Poisons Queen would never play such a game.
He never expected that while he was gazing at the night sky, preoccupied with confronting a powerful enemy, the miniature Gem Secret Passage would open on its own. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen appeared before him, and her very first words were for Chu Yun to marry her granddaughter.
She even looked as if she would force him to agree if he didn’t.
This was utterly inexplicable and preposterous!
Even with his past life experience, Chu Yun, who was usually unflappable, was stunned on the spot and couldn’t accept it for a while.
“Little one, you are blessed. During that trip to the Dragon Gate World, my granddaughter took a liking to you. Marrying her would be a great bargain for you, you brat. Let’s not delay, come with me quickly,” said the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen.
“Senior Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, what is going on?” Chu Yun narrowed his eyes, subtly stepping back. In an instant, he understood the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s motive, which explained why he couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he tried. Because the motive was simply too bizarre – the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen wanted to choose a son-in-law for her granddaughter!
Wait, Mermaid Island?
Among the major Island Countries of Xingzhou, Mermaid Island was quite special. Its land area was only considered third-rate in Xingzhou, but it possessed the strength of a first-rate Island Country. This was mainly because the island was guarded by an elder Mermaid King.
Mermaid Island’s system was vastly different from other Island Countries. Women were revered, and men’s status was lower than women’s.
Over the years, the Mermaid King had served as Country Lord. Although she lived in seclusion, she made bold decisions in national policy and diplomacy. Every year, she would hold a Marriage Recruitment Drive, marrying off the young women of the royal family to form alliances with various forces in Xingzhou. After decades, the Mermaid Country’s status in Xingzhou had become increasingly stable and prosperous.
Everything had its pros and cons. This kind of political marriage prioritized the greater good at the expense of personal happiness.
These Mermaid Country princesses had no freedom to choose their own love. After marriage, most of them naturally did not live happy lives. It could even be said to be a tragedy.
“It seems the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s granddaughter is also a member of the Mermaid King’s lineage, being pushed forward as a political pawn for an alliance. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s intention is for me to propose marriage to her granddaughter, thereby avoiding a potential future tragedy.”
In an instant, Chu Yun’s mind cleared, and he understood the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s intentions. However, new doubts quickly arose.
“What is the relationship between the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and the Mermaid King? With the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s King level strength, she could completely take her granddaughter away by force. Why would she need to abide by the rules set by the Mermaid King? There must be more to this!”
Chu Yun followed the Dao of Humans, possessing a unique talent for understanding human affairs. With the wisdom of a high-level Marquis, a moment’s thought was enough to deeply analyze the situation and uncover the intricacies.
“Why are you still hesitating? This is a stroke of luck for you, something you’ve cultivated for eight lifetimes. If you help this old lady, I’ll block the trouble from the Land Whale King for you.” Seeing Chu Yun’s eyes flicker and his hesitation, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s tone turned cold.
Her granddaughter was so well-behaved and charming, with a gentle personality. For Chu Yun to marry her was his good fortune. Ordinary people couldn’t even hope for it. But she never expected that after coming all this way, the brat in front of her would show her no respect and still look hesitant.
“If it weren’t for the fact that my lifespan is nearing its end, and I don’t have much time left to look after Wan’er. The Mermaid King is my old rival. If I were to take Wan’er away, it would undoubtedly spark a war between Kings and implicate Wan’er. Most importantly, Wan’er’s temperament is too gentle, and she has a strong sense of belonging to her family, believing that marrying out is a contribution to the family. Even if it means sacrificing her own happiness, she wants to repay the family’s upbringing. Alas, this silly girl is too kind!” Thinking of this, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen sighed inwardly. Looking at Chu Yun again, she became even more irked.
Since raising his Six Desires Scorpion cultivation to the level of a five-million-year-old Tribulation Demon, Chu Yun had developed an innate sense for the emotional changes of others.
Coupled with the fact that he followed the Dao of Humans, he could clearly sense the fluctuations in the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s emotions.
However, even when facing the wrath of a King, he had to state his case clearly: “Senior Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, I’m afraid I cannot fulfill this request. As you must know, I and the current Country Lord of Dunhuang Country are deeply in love and I already have someone in my heart. How could I possibly change my affections? Setting aside your cultivation level, you are also a woman and should understand this: a woman marrying a man who doesn’t love her is undoubtedly a misfortune. Do you want your granddaughter to face such a misfortune?”
Hearing this, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen felt a surge of anger. She thought, “I traveled a thousand miles to offer my granddaughter Wan’er, and this brat actually fusses and refuses to accept! Is my Wan’er not good enough? Is she not to your liking! And you talk about misfortune. Of course, I know that political marriages are almost always unfortunate. But what can I do?”
“It’s not that I haven’t advised her. I’ve tried my best. But that silly child is so stubborn. Alas, my love for her is so deep. Before my imminent death, I learned that I had such a granddaughter. Even with my King level cultivation, I am powerless in this regard.” The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen sighed deeply in her heart. Her voice softened as she said to Chu Yun, “Brat, your words make me look at you with even greater admiration. With the Land Whale King as a looming enemy, you are not afraid of offending me and falling into difficult circumstances, nor are you tempted by other things. You are devoted to the one in your heart. Frankly, in this vast world, men like you are rare. If you were to treat my Wan’er with the same devotion, she would surely be happy, and I could rest in peace even after I die.”
Chu Yun shook his head slightly. “Lately, I have gained some insights from comprehending the Dao of Humans. When a person can face the world with integrity, they can live with integrity. When they face their true selves, they can truly live. When you proposed this request, the image of Jin Bihan appeared in my mind. Your granddaughter is naturally exceptional, a rare talent. Any man in the world would be moved. It would be a lie to say I am not moved.”
“This is a huge temptation. If I agree to your request, I would not only gain a beautiful wife but also establish relationships with the Mermaid King and you, two Kings. This would be of great help to the Shu Family in their current predicament. However, if I were to yield to this temptation, I would find it difficult to face Jin Bihan in my heart. That is to say, I would not be able to face myself, and I would be betraying my true self. How can I live with integrity and face the entire world?”
As he spoke, Chu Yun’s body suddenly trembled. Bright spiritual light erupted from within him, and his soul pulsed with an indescribable Dao rhythm.
The moment he refused the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s proposal and clarified his resolve to face his true self and remain true to himself, his realm finally reached completion.
His Dao of Humans, which had been at the peak of the Marquis level, now reached the perfected stage of the Marquis level!
A good man can withstand temptation. A good woman can endure loneliness.
Chu Yun wasn’t afraid of Jin Bihan finding out later; he was afraid of the questioning from his own inner conscience. Would he yield to the current situation, driven by beauty or the pressure of powerful enemies, and do something against his true intentions?
Impossible!
Back then, when the Ning family proposed marriage, and Ning Yiyi’s reputation spread throughout the Archipelago, he had refused on the spot.
Later, at Tie Ao’s funeral, Ning Yiyi had thrown herself at him, but Chu Yun did not accept.
This was because he did not love Ning Yiyi in his heart. Doing things out of love was merely yielding to physical instincts and lust, betraying his true intentions.
If it were the Passionate King, he might have readily accepted. But Chu Yun was not the Passionate King; his true intentions were completely different from the Passionate King’s.
The suffering of his past life and his earnest efforts in this life had given Chu Yun a detached, world-weary gaze.
He would never compromise with the world, let alone with himself.
He had emotions in his heart, which naturally blossomed. When his adoptive father was in danger, he would risk death to rescue him. His romantic connection with Jin Bihan also naturally developed over time.
He never compromised, but that didn’t mean he acted recklessly. At appropriate times, he would choose to make concessions. The agreement with the Immortal Pouch King was an example of this.
“This child’s comprehension is extraordinary! How long has it been since he reached the Marquis level? He has already achieved perfection at the Marquis level. I wonder what path he has chosen, for it to align so perfectly with his spirit and will.”
A step further from perfection at the Marquis level was the King level!
Sensing the aura that Chu Yun suddenly exuded, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen was deeply shaken, her heart in turmoil, astonished by Chu Yun’s achievement.
From Chu Yun’s gaze, she sensed a resolve, a brilliance of the Dao of Humans. Her anger suddenly vanished without a trace because, at that moment, she realized that nothing in this world could make the young man in front of her compromise. Everything he did was from the heart, in accordance with the will of his true self.
“Since you are unwilling, I will not force you.” The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen had to back down. “However, I cannot simply watch Wan’er be married off to some mediocre individuals and face a lifetime of unhappiness. Young Master Chu, don’t you have a good brother named Wushuang?There’s a lot of buzz about him lately. Call him here. He’s a candidate that would barely meet my approval.”
This…
Chu Yun blinked, momentarily speechless.
“What is it? You’re not even willing to help with such a small favor?” The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s voice turned cold again.
“It’s not that I’m unwilling to help. It’s just…” Chu Yun cupped his hands, shaking his head with a wry smile. “It’s that Wushuang’s true identity is actually me. I secretly participated in the Academy Competition under a false name to obtain the right for free exchange among the winners. Wushuang and Chu Yun are both me.”
“What, you brat are Wushuang?!” the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen exclaimed, her gaze shifting again, filled with astonishment, shock, admiration, doubt, and other emotions.
There was no reason for Chu Yun to lie. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen thought about it for a moment and understood this.
This forced her to admit that the young man before her was, in her estimation, the most outstanding genius she had ever encountered, without exception.
At only eighteen years old, he had cultivated to the Marquis level. Furthermore, he was proficient in almost everything, with seven Master-level skills recognized by Xingzhou. Who else in history, besides figures like the Three Sovereigns and Four Emperors, could achieve such a feat?
“Perhaps, in the future, this young man will truly be able to surpass Kings, reach the Emperor level, or even the Sovereign level?” Suddenly, this thought flashed through the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen’s mind and lingered for a long time.
“No, this young man is so outstanding, and the Marriage Recruitment Drive is imminent. Even if Wan’er is not perfectly happy in the future, at least she will be able to live a life of comfort and respect under his protection. Forget it, forget it. In Xingzhou, it’s traditional for men to have multiple wives and concubines. I originally wanted Wan’er to be the main wife, but now I can accept her being a co-wife.”
The more the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen thought about it, the more reliable Chu Yun seemed, and the more she felt that only Chu Yun would do.
She possessed King-level wisdom and knew that forcing him now would not work, so she immediately changed her strategy and spoke to Chu Yun in a gentle tone. “In that case, let me ask you for a favor. Participate in this Marriage Recruitment Drive under Wushuang’s name. Don’t worry, you won’t have to take responsibility. You just need to help Wan’er resolve a knot in her heart and allow her to leave Mermaid Island. Alas, I am half a foot in the grave, about to be buried. My last concern in life is my granddaughter Wan’er. Young Master Chu, please do this favor for me, I beg you.”
Chu Yun was moved.
Humans are not plants or trees; who can be without feelings?
Although the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen had a peculiar temperament, her love and maternal affection for Wan’er as her life neared its end was heartbreaking.
Despite her King-level status, she was softly pleading with Chu Yun for help. At this moment, in Chu Yun’s eyes, she was no longer the terrifying Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, but merely a pitiable old woman.
Chu Yun had refused earlier because he didn’t want to marry a woman he didn’t love. But now, the nature of the matter had changed. He was simply being asked to help fulfill the wish of an old woman who was about to die and save a young girl from misfortune.
“Alas, Senior has spoken to this extent, and I too feel sympathetic. I received the Gem Secret Passage as a gift from your favor. It would be inhumane not to agree to this. I can help with this favor. However, I cannot leave abruptly. I need to make arrangements with others.” Chu Yun sighed and finally nodded.
He was upright and honest; he would inform Shu Tianhao of this matter and be transparent with Jin Bihan.
“That is only right. But you must go and return quickly. I will wait for you here.” The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, seeing that Chu Yun had finally agreed, was secretly delighted. “Brat, you’re still too naive. My wisdom is far deeper than yours. I’ll let you walk into my trap first, then get you entangled, and finally, you’ll be in too deep and it’ll be a done deal! Alas, for Wan’er’s happiness, I’ll play the villain this time.” @.
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