Two weeks ago.
"Zhou Xu, I have come to see you today only because we are fellow disciples and also rivals who respect each other. I have no romantic feelings for you, or for anyone else in the world."
"Moreover, since I am cultivating the path of ruthlessness, I naturally cannot indulge in lust, leave the mountain and stop cultivating, lest all my efforts over the years be in vain."
"Zhou Xu, I have never overstepped my bounds, nor have I ever been affectionate. Take good care of yourself, and I will have nothing to do with you again."
An Zhengzheng had already left, but her words still lingered in Zhou Xu's ears.
He left the pavilion in the middle of the lake, looking utterly dejected.
He had walked this road countless times before, but this was the first time he felt that the way back to his room was so difficult.
Upon entering the room, he was already suffering from a splitting headache. He had never been born with feelings and had never been moved by love.
But I never expected that once I started, I would be so persistent.
At this moment, Zhou Rongsheng entered his son's room with a radiant face.
He immediately asked, "What about An Zhengzheng? How is that girl named An Zhengzheng doing?"
He had never taken An Zhengzheng seriously before, assuming she was just a female cultivator trying to curry favor with the Zhou family. It wasn't until he discovered she knew about tea that he sent a message to the steward to investigate her carefully.
The details were investigated in no time.
This girl wasn't actually supported by the An family from the very beginning!
He became the top scorer in the joint entrance examination entirely on his own merit, and even cultivated to the eighth level of Qi Refining.
As for her duel with Xu'er, and how she later won the new disciple trial, it wasn't because Xu'er deliberately let her win.
That's real, genuine skill!
This girl is only fifteen years old.
Moreover, the Hundred Women Pavilion was also her creation, and the magazine held by his wives and concubines was also said to be her achievement.
You know, how many clothes and cosmetics did this magazine make popular in the An family? I heard that An Mao was not well received by his clan because of his daughter's succession, but he later saw the benefits of the Hundred Women Pavilion, so I won't go into details.
If the Zhou family can marry a daughter-in-law like this, what does it matter if she comes from a less prestigious family?
"Does she have feelings for you? It's too early for you to get married now. Waiting a few hundred years won't hurt, but you should arrange the marriage as soon as possible..."
Zhou Rongsheng was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law, and he wanted to settle down with this hidden gem as soon as possible.
She has no feelings for me.
Zhou Xu felt a lump in his throat, experiencing embarrassment for the first time in his life.
Zhou Rongsheng couldn't believe his ears: "How is this possible?"
In the entire cultivation world, is there any male cultivator more outstanding than Xu'er?
Those with higher cultivation levels than Xu'er are not as young, handsome, or promising as him.
In terms of family background, the Zhou family is comparable to a martial arts sect.
She said that she was cultivating the path of detachment from emotions in this life, and was not involved in love, so naturally she could not get married.
Zhou Xu pursed his lips, his voice trembling as he spoke.
Zhou Rongsheng found it utterly ridiculous: "A woman... who doesn't get involved in love, and doesn't get married?"
Could it be that she cultivated the Path of Ruthlessness not to get closer to Zhou Xu?
That's utterly absurd.
“Xu’er, you don’t know. You are born without feelings, and you are too young to understand matters between men and women.” Zhou Rongsheng thought of his many wives and concubines and said with a sneer, “What woman can sever feelings and love? They are just using petty tricks.”
He had seen through the tricks of playing hard to get and feigning reluctance to please men after years of wandering the world.
Zhou Rongsheng said, "The marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. The cultivation world is no longer the same as it was a thousand years ago. The secular ways have long been brought up... She has to obey."
Would the An family really refuse the opportunity to marry into the Zhou family?
She's just a young girl who doesn't know any better, but how could the other members of the tribe not know any better?
Zhou Xu was not stupid; he immediately understood the reasoning behind it.
Those dim eyes suddenly lit up again.
Perhaps, perhaps she really could become his wife.
“But this…” Zhou Xu realized his own despicable behavior. If it were before, he would have definitely refused righteously.
But in the past six months, he has experienced too much, suffering in the illusion day and night.
Zhou Rongsheng then took out another martial arts manual and gave it to Zhou Xu. With a look of confusion in his eyes, he said, "Try this manual again. I found it for you. See if it can help you sever your desires. If not, we'll come and propose marriage."
The book lay quietly in Zhou Xu's hands, his eyes unfathomable.
Zhou Rongsheng immediately began making plans.
For the past six months, Xu'er has been unable to overcome her lustful desires, and the love roots she has grown are thicker and stronger than those of ordinary people.
If they could sever all desires, that would be ideal. An Zhengzheng would marry him to be his youngest son's wife, and Zhou Xu's sister-in-law. The eldest son born to the first wife would ascend to godhood, and the eldest son born to the second wife would marry and inherit the family business—it would be perfect.
If Xu'er can't control his desires, then let him marry An Zhengzheng and bring her into the family.
Men are always fickle and easily bored. Once she becomes pregnant and gives birth, and grows old and loses her beauty, Xu'er's feelings for her will fade. He can simply divorce her and start a new life of ruthlessness. It will only take a hundred years at most.
What does it matter if a genius is missing a hundred years?
At that time, Xu'er will ascend to immortality by re-cultivating the Path of Ruthlessness, and An Zhengzheng will have to plan for her children to stay in the mortal world to assist the Zhou family.
Zhou Rongsheng left with a satisfied expression.
Zhou Xu was left alone in the room. He looked at the book in his hand and made his final decision.
“An Zhengzheng, I’ll try this once. If I can sever my desires, that’s good. If I can’t, then it’s fate…”
Despite his physical discomfort, he took the medicine and began practicing his martial arts again.
He was quick to grasp the concepts and soon entered the illusion.
In the illusion, it was still the same pavilion in the middle of the lake.
He sat in the center of the pavilion in the middle of the lake, watching the bright moon and starlight complement each other in the sky.
The calm lake reflected the bright moon in the sky, and the babbling water sounded like celestial music. In the darkness, a familiar figure could be faintly seen walking from the lake onto the pavilion.
An Zhengzheng remained aloof and beautiful, but when she saw Zhou Xu, her eyes became unfocused, no longer displaying the coldness she usually showed.
Her figure was outlined by the thin, gauze-like clothes she wore, and she slowly crawled toward Zhou Xu's side.
Zhou Xu forced himself not to close his eyes; he had to get through tonight.
An Zhengzheng looked at him delicately, placed her hand on his chest, and said softly, "Zhou Xu..."
Zhou Xu: "You're fake."
"What in this world isn't fake?"
Zhou Xu: "She's the real one."
An Zhengzheng smiled softly: "I can be real too. As long as you're here, I'm real."
She slowly moved closer to him, and the familiar scent of medicine instantly wafted up to her.
Her soft body, soaked with lake water, was cool, but the temperature beneath her clothes was warm.
Just like back then in the snow.
Zhou Xu's heart wavered again.
But before he could correct it, An Zhengzheng spoke again.
"If she marries you, she'll end up like me."
The familiar voice carried a seductive quality as An Zhengzheng whispered as she slid her hand down his clothes.
"Don't you want to marry her...? If she marries you, she'll call you 'husband' in a sweet voice."
With tears in her eyes, she leaned on An Zhengzheng's face, looking incredibly vulnerable: "Zhou Xu..."
Zhou Xu's throat was dry.
Boom!
At that moment, the illusion shattered.
Zhou Xu felt a metallic taste in his throat and actually spat out a mouthful of blood.
"It seems we really can't get past this hurdle."
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