Chapter 71: Three-Year Agreement?

Chapter 71: A Three-Year Pact?

Only Cui Yuanyang truly understood Zhao Changhe’s feelings in this matter.

The flash of the *Book of Chaos* was a pain from the Cui family’s perspective, but from Zhao Changhe’s angle, wasn’t it just as maddening?

He had originally sent someone home, drifting away into the distance, a chapter of his wanderings that could be recalled with a “how delightful!”—now utterly soured. And all his previous efforts to preserve Yuanyang’s reputation? Wasted.

The whole world was wondering how Zhao Changhe would play the son-in-law, envying him endlessly. But did anyone ever consider that Zhao Changhe had never, from start to finish, wanted to be that son-in-law?

Everyone was imagining his relationship with Yuanyang—was he obligated to take responsibility? But he had only escorted her home, done nothing else! After braving thorns and brushes, surviving countless perils, was he now supposed to shackle himself to a future he had never planned for?

Who, besides Yuanyang herself, had ever thought of that? Everyone else just assumed he had struck it rich…

The young girl understood. That lingering, half-spoken glance she had cast back—it rippled in his heart, the waves still unquiet.

But unexpectedly, they had thought Cui Wenjing would rage at these words, yet the anticipated fury never came.

Instead, Cui Wenjing slowly sipped his wine, drawling, “The lover you speak of… Xia Chichi of the Four Symbols Sect? Or that ‘captive wife’ Yue Hongling, whom others mistake for a fake?”

Damn, you know a lot.

Zhao Changhe was surprised by Cui Wenjing’s attitude. His earlier defiant posture softened considerably as he replied, “Chichi. Lady Yue is a friend of noble character, both teacher and companion—nothing more. Others have misunderstood, including your son…”

“Naive.” Cui Wenjing sneered. “You’d be better off claiming Yue Hongling—that would at least be plausible. Yet you’re keeping a chastity pledge for a demon cult witch…”

Zhao Changhe pressed his lips together, a hint of defiance. He felt that Chichi was genuine with him. Though it might not be some eternal, unbreakable vow—who knows if it would fade later? When she left, she had said, “If you ever seek other women,” as if she didn’t care much—but he believed she cared then.

Cui Wenjing studied him for a long moment, growing more amused.

When he had put on airs, Zhao Changhe was rebellious, standing shoulder to shoulder, speaking freely. But when he didn’t mind the rejection and instead teased him, the boy turned docile, pouting silently in discontent—quite endearing.

What innate bandit nature, what rebellious bone? He was just a youth with clear grudges and unblunted edges.

Even his affections were typical of a young man—where was the bandit chieftain’s manner? When had you ever seen a mountain king treat a woman like this?

That identity… seemed more and more real.

He tapped the stone table leisurely with his index finger, then said slowly, “I questioned Yuanyang repeatedly last night. I believe you have no feelings for her. During the escape, there was some physical contact—emergency measures. The Cui family is not a bunch of fossilized fools; that’s no issue. But the problem is, Yuanyang seems to have feelings for you. Strong feelings…”

Zhao Changhe was silent.

This was why his heart had been so conflicted when he came to refuse today.

A beauty’s favor is the hardest to bear. The girl’s eyes, half-resentful, half-plaintive, echoed in his mind again and again. The words of refusal were indeed difficult to utter. If he had faced her directly, he wasn’t sure he could have said them. Fortunately, he faced her father instead.

Yuanyang herself knew this and had refrained from listening. She feared that if she were present, he wouldn’t be able to speak, and she also feared she might cry. She understood everything…

Cui Wenjing watched his expression, growing even more amused, and continued, “I don’t blame the little girl for being foolish and losing her heart. To be honest, the heroism you displayed this time is worthy of her affection.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help scratching his head, a bit bewildered. The more he spoke, the more reasonable he became, even praising him. Wasn’t I just rejecting you? Shouldn’t you be furious?

Cui Wenjing said leisurely, “For the sake of the family, everything must be weighed for gain and loss. But personally, who doesn’t value a hero? If you had sought the Cui family’s support, or simply coveted wealth and beauty to become a live-in son-in-law, we might have agreed, but we would have secretly looked down on you, feeling our daughter was wasted on a pig. But you refused. I pity my daughter, yet personally, I admire you—I find you worthy instead. Is that so hard to understand?”

Zhao Changhe: “Uh…”

Cui Wenjing smiled. “That said, since understanding requires mutuality… do you understand Yuanyang’s current situation? Or do you think you can walk away with a clear conscience, and how the world sees Yuanyang is her own affair?”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a long moment, then said quietly, “Honestly, if I did that, I would feel guilty… I can’t bear to see Yuanyang mocked.”

Cui Wenjing’s smile grew richer. “So, in this dilemma, what do you plan to do?”

Zhao Changhe suddenly said, “Yuanyang is still young. She’s not even at the age for marriage.”

Cui Wenjing stared at him without speaking.

Zhao Changhe scratched his head. “If we were sworn brother and sister, would you agree, Senior?”

Cui Wenjing twitched the corner of his mouth. “It’s not a matter of my agreement. You’re treating the whole world as fools. Even if I held a grand ceremony to adopt you as a son—does the Zhao custom forbid sworn siblings from marrying? The world has no such rule.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

Cui Wenjing: “…”

“Then… give me three years.” Zhao Changhe ventured. “The Cui family can announce to the world that Zhao Changhe, born of a bandit, must ascend the Earth, Man, or Heaven Ranking within three years to be worthy of marrying Yuanyang. What do you think, Senior?”

Cui Wenjing found it very interesting. This was actually one of his own backup plans. He had been wondering if saying it himself would make Zhao Changhe feel challenged, but Zhao Changhe had proposed it on his own.

According to this rhetoric, the Cui family was rejecting Zhao Changhe, preserving Yuanyang’s face, yet the words weren’t absolute—they left a hope, avoiding the appearance of harshness or ingratitude. The world was used to aristocratic families being picky about origins; they might grumble a bit, but it wouldn’t ruin their reputation.

Three years later, Zhao Changhe might be dead somewhere, or he might not meet the requirement. For the Cui family, the matter would be perfectly resolved.

This Zhao Changhe was very interesting. He wasn’t at fault in this matter, yet he felt guilty. His proposal also put himself in an awkward position—wanting to marry a noble lady but being rejected for his bandit origins was not pleasant gossip. Was this heartlessness toward Yuanyang? Clearly, he cared deeply for her, not caring about his own reputation.

“But the problem is… if you really ascend the Earth, Man, or Heaven Ranking within three years?” Cui Wenjing asked with a smile. “Will you truly come back to marry Yuanyang? What about Xia Chichi?”

Zhao Changhe said, “At that time, why couldn’t Zhao Changhe hold a grudge and refuse to have anything more to do with her?”

“If Yuanyang’s old feelings persist, would you really have the heart to ignore her?” Cui Wenjing laughed heartily. “We’re both men, why hide it? You’re thinking that when you have enough strength, you might be able to have both!”

Zhao Changhe blinked, saying nothing.

Actually, it was a bit unfair. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He wasn’t some strategist planning ten steps ahead. In this short time, coming up with a roughly acceptable solution was already difficult. How could he have laid such distant groundwork?

But Cui Wenjing laughed as he said this, showing no sign of anger. This attitude instead made him think… hmm…

Cui Wenjing said with a smile, “I originally considered this plan, but you brought it up first… However, your proposal differs from my idea in one point. Do you know what it is?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. How would he know?

Cui Wenjing said, “You said three years… I originally planned to give five.”

Zhao Changhe was twenty this year. The age limit for the Hidden Dragon Ranking was twenty-five. So Cui Wenjing had originally planned five years.

The *Book of Chaos* set these age limits for a reason. How many heroes were there in the martial world? Talent always had its limits. Everyone was on a certain level; how could a young upstart beat someone who had honed their skills for thirty or forty years? Youngsters were still judged by potential.

By twenty-five, one should have weathered enough storms. At that age, it was embarrassing to talk about potential. It was time to formally compete for the Man Ranking.

Of course, peerless geniuses always did what others couldn’t. At an age when others were still judged by potential, they had already become grandmasters and ascended the Man Ranking. Such people had existed in history, though rarely.

The last to achieve this was Xia Longyuan, who ascended the Man Ranking at twenty-two.

Zhao Changhe said three years, which would make him twenty-three. With Xia Longyuan as a precedent, it wasn’t too shocking, but it was still an achievement no one in the world would boast about. Especially since you only started martial arts at nineteen…

Cui Wenjing thought five years was already quite challenging. This fellow actually said three years. Did he even know what that meant?

Of course, Cui Wenjing wasn’t a kind-hearted man. A brat who had stolen his daughter’s heart—if he hadn’t killed him last night, it was only because he didn’t want his daughter to go mad. Since you said three years yourself, why would I give you five or ten?

He just smiled, raised his wine glass, and took a sip. “I have several concubines myself, so naturally I won’t tell you to have only one woman… If you truly have the ability to ascend the Man Ranking in three years, what’s so strange about having a few concubines?”

Zhao Changhe felt that this man was inexplicably easy to talk to, completely different from the various attitudes he had imagined beforehand.

After thinking for a while, he suddenly realized.

No matter how you twisted it, wasn’t this still a kind of betrothal? And the old fox had casually settled the position of the principal wife.