Chapter 87 Betrothal
The two strayed from the main group and arrived at a lake deep in the jungle of Wuzhou.
The mist swirled around them, and after the two landed, the layers of white mist dissipated, revealing their figures, one in red and one in black, reflected on the tranquil lake surface.
Si Yao's anger hadn't subsided. "Why did you drag me here?"
She tilted her head to the other side and happened to see the reflections of the two of them on the lake. In the reflection, Li Ye was looking at her.
"Would you like to repeat what you just said?"
His voice lingered in her ears. Si Yao raised her head and said, "Wasn't what I said clear enough? We will eventually part ways. When your primordial spirit returns to its place, you will naturally return to the Demon Realm. At that time, we will go our separate ways, and I will naturally have to find another support."
Li Ye held his breath. "Rely on me? What do you mean? If I don't return to the Demon Realm and can't be the Li Ye I used to be, you plan to rely on me, is that it?"
Upon hearing this, Si Yao's eyes darted away. Feeling irritated, she blurted out, "That's not true. Don't overthink it."
At this point, she recalled that night on the giant ship on Tianchen Island, when Li Ye's identity was exposed and he looked like he wanted to kill her.
If it weren't for her primordial spirit, she would have already become a soul under his blade.
Si Yao's eyes turned cold. She took a deep breath. "Li Ye, can you tell me the truth? Once you get your primordial spirit back, will you kill me?"
Think about it calmly; after all, he is a demon.
It wouldn't be surprising if she were killed.
Li Ye's eyes flashed, his fists clenched tightly, and his heart was burning. This feeling made him very uncomfortable.
He had a thousand words welling up in his heart, but he couldn't bring himself to say them.
Before he could even speak, Si Yao was already furious. "If I could find Jiang Cifeng to be my backer, you wouldn't be able to kill me so easily, would you?"
"You—" Li Ye's eyes turned red with anger, "I knew it, you were very satisfied with the results of the Destiny Stone's sensing."
Si Yao smiled and said, "But I was just saying that. In this world, no one can always be anyone's support. The only one you can rely on is yourself. Li Ye, if you really want to kill me, I will do my best to fight back."
Si Yao had considered this concern quite thoroughly, but in the heat of the moment, she blurted out whatever came to mind.
She was unaware of how intense the anger in Li Ye's heart was at that moment.
He struggled to calm the turmoil in his heart and reached out to pull Si Yao back.
Once again, he took her flying.
The wind was howling, chilling to the bone.
Li Ye frowned, his chest heaving, and he remained silent, clearly still angry.
As the two drew ever closer to the deepest part of Wuzhou, Si Yao couldn't help but ask, "Where are you taking me?"
The two soared into the sky, with endless cold wind blowing against their faces.
Looking down, Si Yao saw a mountain range stretching into the distance, with dark clouds looming overhead and murky demonic energy constantly swirling around it.
Si Yao steadied herself and gasped, "This is a realm..."
The boundary is the border between the human realm and the demon realm.
Si Yao asked, "What is your purpose in bringing me here?"
"Look, beyond this boundary lies the Demon Realm."
Li Ye turned his head and lowered his eyebrows, "What you just said was meant to provoke me, wasn't it?"
Si Yao fell silent, unsure how to respond for a moment.
Just as Li Ye said, she said some angry things in a fit of rage, such as being willing to rely on Jiang Cifeng.
Seeing Si Yao's evasive gaze, Li Ye said, "Do you still have feelings for me? Why don't you wait until my primordial spirit returns to its place, then come with me to the Demon Realm and become my Demon Queen?"
Si Yao froze, staring at him in astonishment.
What did he just say?
Be his demon queen?
But why did he speak so casually, without a trace of warmth in his eyes, as if he were teasing her?
Si Yao clenched her fists tightly and looked down at the chaotic realm.
Li Ye's voice came again, "But I know you won't go. In the near future, you will accept the guidance of the Fate Stone and lead the five major sects to fight against the demon race together with your Jiang Cifeng."
He spoke each word carefully, with the coldest expression and the calmest tone.
Seeing Si Yao's complexion gradually worsen, he shook his head and gave a wry smile, continuing to raise the corners of his mouth, "Therefore, what I said just now was just to tease you. You didn't actually believe it, did you?"
Si Yao's breathing quickened, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. Just a moment ago, she had hesitated, and even felt a strange, inexplicable joy.
But hearing Li Ye say this now, he felt a strange sense of humiliation and intense anger.
She raised her hand in anger, and then a loud slap rang out.
Si Yao's handprint was clearly visible on Li Ye's pale right cheek.
"You are truly hateful!"
Si Yao uttered those five words, turned around, and rode the wind, flying back in the direction she would return to.
In just a few breaths, her figure had disappeared from Li Ye's sight.
A few days later, upon returning to Tianchen Island, Si Yao did not utter a single word to Li Ye.
Li Ye also wisely refrained from lingering in front of Si Yao.
However, they are still master and disciple, so after returning to Tianchen Island, their accommodation was arranged in the original guest courtyard, and the two of them still lived next door to each other.
The five major sects gathered once again on Tianchen Island, and the sect leaders and patriarchs held an important council to exchange the intelligence gathered during their trip to Wuzhou, analyze the purpose of the demon clan's unrest, and plan how to prepare for the next step in defending against the enemy.
The council lasted for a day and a night. In order to avoid a recurrence of the turmoil in the back mountain of Tianchen Island, the five major sects have decided to form an alliance, with the Wind Sword Sect, which has the strongest overall strength, as the leader of the alliance.
The five major sects have reached some consensus, both openly and privately, advocating that their disciples help each other and do their best to bring the five sects closer together.
For example, Elder Ling He of Tianchen Island actually proposed a marriage alliance between the Fengjian Sect and the Hehuan Sect.
He recounted the scene he witnessed in the Wuzhou jungle where the Fate Stone reacted, and mustered his courage to suggest to Jiang Cifeng that he should follow his fate and marry Si Yao of the Hehuan Sect.
The news spread quickly throughout Tianchen Island, becoming a hot topic.
"The Wind Sword Sect, Venerable Tianqi? And Elder Siyao of the Joyful Union Sect? No matter how you look at it, they don't seem to be on the same side."
"That's right, that's right. Venerable Tianqi is as noble as a god untouched by the mortal world, while Elder Siyao is from the Hehuan Sect. The Hehuan Sect... cough cough cough, I don't need to tell you, you all know how unrestrained they are on a daily basis."
"In short, they're a terrible match! It's not about their looks, they are indeed handsome and beautiful, but apart from that, they're just not compatible in any other way!"
"If this marriage can be arranged, Elder Siyao will probably be laughing in her dreams."
"Hey—who isn't? If it were me, I'd be happy to shorten my lifespan by several decades."
"You think you can exchange your lifespan of only a few decades for the Venerable Apocalypse to be your Daoist partner? I think you're still dreaming! Keep dreaming!"
Disciples from the major schools began gossiping; people have always been obsessed with gossip, no matter where they are.
This matter had naturally reached Si Yao's ears long ago, but she didn't take it seriously because she had no intention of marrying Jiang Cifeng at all.
However, once someone proposes a marriage alliance, other sects also begin to look for marriage partners.
Just a few days later, at dawn, Xiao Shengyuan, the island lord of Tianchen Island, personally invited Si Yao and Li Ye to the main hall on the island for a chat.
As soon as Si Yao entered the main hall, she saw Xiao Zhaoshui standing next to Xiao Shengyuan.
"Elder Si Yao, please have a seat."
Xiao Shengyuan was being overly polite. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned his gaze to Li Ye, who was standing next to Si Yao.
"Your son is truly a handsome young man." Xiao Shengyuan's face was kind, but his eyes revealed appreciation. He then glanced meaningfully at his daughter beside him.
He added, “Shui’er, the five major sects are now one, and the Hehuan Sect will also be staying on the island for a while. Since you have nothing to do on weekdays, you might as well take your junior brother Ye around the island and let him enjoy the island scenery of my Tianchen Prefecture.”
"Father, I've had this idea for a long time, but..." Xiao Zhaoshui blushed and secretly glanced at Li Ye, "I just don't know if Senior Brother Ye will do me the honor."
Si Yao narrowed her eyes slightly. The father and daughter's words were quite clear. She smiled and asked directly, "Island Master Xiao, have you taken a liking to my disciple?"
Unexpectedly, Si Yao was so direct. Xiao Shengyuan was taken aback at first, then chuckled twice, "It seems that Elder Si Yao prefers to get straight to the point. In that case, I don't want to beat around the bush."
He stood up and solemnly pointed to Xiao Zhaoshui beside him, "My daughter is quite well-behaved and gentle, and she is also pretty, intelligent, and of good character... Your son is handsome and outstanding. I intend to betroth my daughter to him. I wonder if Elder Siyao would agree to this marriage?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Zhaoshui's face turned even redder, and he called out shyly, "Father..."
Upon hearing this, Si Yao lowered her head, her gaze lingering for a few moments before she quickly looked up again, forcing a smile at Xiao Shengyuan.
“Island Master Xiao.” Her voice was calm, and if you didn’t listen carefully, you couldn’t hear the slight tremor. “Although I am Xiao Yezi’s master, I cannot make decisions about his marriage. Our Hehuan Sect has always advocated freedom of marriage. This matter requires the Island Master to ask him for his opinion in person.”
"Haha...it seems I haven't understood the rules of the Joyful Union Sect." Xiao Shengyuan laughed, looking at Li Ye, "Nephew Ye, what do you think?"
What do you think?
Xiao Shengyuan's voice echoed in the main hall. Si Yao, who was seated, stopped breathing and involuntarily gripped the armrest of her chair tightly.
She didn't turn to the side, nor did she turn her head to look at Li Ye.
But at this moment, she was more eager than anyone else to know Li Ye's answer.
A sea breeze swept across the island and wafted in through the door.
Li Ye walked straight to the center of the main hall, then bowed to Xiao Shengyuan with dignified and proper manners.
He replied earnestly, "Island Lord, you are too kind. Unfortunately, I cannot comply. I hope you will rescind your order."
After finishing speaking, he bowed again and then took his leave.
He stepped out of the main hall of Tianchen Island without looking back, decisively rejecting the marriage proposal.
Si Yao breathed a sigh of relief; this answer brought her an unprecedented sense of joy.
Even though she knew from the beginning that Li Ye would refuse.
After Li Ye left, Xiao Sheng stared blankly at Si Yao. His face was extremely ugly, but he couldn't lash out.
He chuckled dryly, then sighed, "It seems this marriage can't be forced."
“Uh…” Si Yao’s temples throbbed. As Li Ye’s master, she could only say, “Thank you for your kindness, Island Master Xiao, but my unworthy disciple has his own temperament. He has his own ideas about marriage. As his master, I cannot force him in this regard.”
At this point, Si Yao stood up and bowed respectfully to Xiao Shengyuan, saying, "This unworthy disciple has offended you greatly just now, and I hope that Island Master Xiao will not take offense."
Xiao Shengyuan shook his head, knowing that Si Yao wouldn't fight for his daughter, so he had no choice but to give up. "It's alright, I can only say that your disciple and my daughter are truly not meant to be."
The atmosphere in the main hall was extremely awkward. Xiao Zhaoshui's eyes reddened. From the day of the competition on Tianchen Island, to her first meeting with Li Ye, and then to her return from Wuzhou, she had been filled with a lot of thoughts.
She had thought that with her father Xiao Shengyuan's help, she could become a Daoist couple with Li Ye.
She thought she could get what she wanted.
It's just a pity...
Even though he knew that Li Ye never paid any attention to him, he was still able to refuse so decisively when Xiao Shengyuan intervened.
It seems she has no chance at all?
Tears welled up in Xiao Zhaoshui's eyes. She wanted to cry her heart out, but when she glanced at Si Yao who was present, she could only hold back.
After leaving the main hall, the first thing Si Yao wanted to do was find Li Ye.
She shook the small golden bell on her hand, which Li Ye had given her before.
"Where are you?"
As soon as Si Yao finished speaking, a gentle breeze swept by from behind, and Li Ye appeared.
"What is it?"
His voice was indifferent, which didn't seem strange to Si Yao, since he had always spoken in this tone since returning from Wuzhou.
Si Yao turned to look at him. In the gentle breeze, his black robes swayed lightly, and the strands of hair on his forehead floated, making the features of his handsome face appear even more resolute.
"What is it?" Si Yao raised her voice slightly. "Have you forgotten what happened in the main hall so quickly? How come you're acting like nothing happened?"
Li Ye did not walk towards Si Yao, but remained standing in the wind. "I have already taken care of it. What is your intention in bringing it up now?"
This question left Si Yao speechless for a moment.
She lowered her head, speechless for a long while, before raising her eyes again, "I want to know what you think. After all, she's the daughter of Tianchen Island, and a beautiful young lady."
Li Ye said coldly, "If you have nothing to say, you can remain silent. There's no need to say these useless words."
At this point, Li Ye flashed and, accompanied by a gentle breeze, arrived beside Si Yao.
His voice rang out slowly, devoid of any emotion, "Or perhaps, you also want to facilitate this marriage?"
Without thinking, Si Yao immediately replied, "No!"
She wanted to continue speaking, but a white shadow flashed not far in front of her. At that moment, Jiang Cifeng actually appeared.
Like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, he stood there quietly, his cold eyes looking at Si Yao.
Thinking back to how she had connected herself with Jiang Cifeng at the Fate Stone in Wuzhou a few days ago, Si Yao felt a headache coming on and decided to take a detour.
He then said to Li Ye beside him, "Let's go back to the guest courtyard first!"
Unexpectedly, Jiang Cifeng flashed and blocked Si Yao's path in an instant, standing between her and Li Ye.
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