Chapter 72: Between Heaven and Earth, There Is Also Master Zhao

Chapter 72: Amidst Heaven and Earth, There Is Yet a Zhao Lang

Cui Wenjing had left.

Zhao Changhe sat alone in the pavilion, drinking in a daze, his gaze still vacant.

How had things turned out like this... wasn't I here to refuse?

Was there something wrong... that final proposal was clearly meant to give the Cui family a graceful way out, to smooth things over for now, and in three years, we could just pretend nothing happened. Shouldn't Cui Wenjing have taken the hint and ended it there?

But somehow, after being twisted around, it ended up like this... yet it seemed the words were all my own, and he had already been very reasonable...

To be honest, Zhao Changhe could hardly believe the person he had just spoken with was the ninth on the Heavenly Ranking, the master of a great clan. There wasn't a trace of oppressive pressure to be found. Apart from a few initial exchanges of veiled words and subtle jabs, afterward he was entirely a father worried sick for his daughter, negotiating kindly and amiably.

Having seen countless novels and films about how noble families treat the poor boy who steals their daughter, Zhao Changhe felt his own experience was utterly unreal.

Yet when he examined the outcome, the other party had gotten everything he wanted. Though the words were his own, they had been guided by the other party all along. A few lofty compliments had left him unable to back down, forcing him to rack his brains for a solution everyone could accept.

Actually, the proposal of sworn siblings had been feasible, and it was the relationship Zhao Changhe himself wanted most. But the old man had subtly shifted the concept—originally, the issue was about Yangyang's reputation. If he truly acknowledged him as an adopted son, then an adopted brother escorting his adopted sister would be perfectly normal, solving the reputation problem. How had the concept been twisted into whether sworn siblings could marry? Those were two different things, but at the time, he had been led astray...

In the end, it became this: if in three years he amounted to nothing, the other party would naturally treat it as if nothing had happened; if he truly managed to make the Human Ranking, he would be a peerless genius, and they would marry on the spot, with the Cui family laughing all the way to the bank.

No matter how you calculated it, the Cui family didn't lose.

He had been sold and was still counting the money, even feeling the other party was quite decent... Zhao Changhe finally woke up, amused and exasperated.

This was Qinghe Cui.

A great clan that had stood for so many years had its own ways. You couldn't view them as mere martial artists; the ninth on the Heavenly Ranking didn't apply in such matters. In Cui Wenjing's heart, this was his daughter's lifelong affair, a critical matter for the Cui family, and also a political one—with Zhao Changhe's suspicious identity, how could the old man dare to recognize him as an adopted son!

He had treated it as a grave affair, handled with care, while Zhao Changhe was just a green youth who couldn't outmaneuver him.

He wondered how Chi Chi would react when word got out.

Headache.

"Brother Zhao! Brother Zhao!" Cui Yuanyang's voice came from afar.

Zhao Changhe turned to look. The young girl, lifting her skirt, ran joyfully through the flowers like a butterfly flitting among blossoms, her smile more beautiful than the surrounding trees.

If only for her to show that smile, wasn't it worth it?

Perhaps he should even thank Cui Wenjing, the old fox who had handled things so deftly, not turning the matter into a blade.

As for the future, he had no strength left to think about it.

"Brother Zhao!" Cui Yuanyang happily ran into the pavilion. She looked as if she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but then seemed shy, stopping abruptly before him, blushing and lowering her head: "My father said, said..."

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but ruffle her hair: "No matter what he said, at least I don't have to pack up and run now. I can stay as a guest for a few days."

Cui Yuanyang lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes: "In my father's eyes, if the conditions aren't met in three years, it's a natural way to end this. But I... I know Brother Zhao has a stubborn temper. Saying it like that means you intend to accomplish it, not just to give everyone an out."

Zhao Changhe smiled: "That's not something I can just will into being. Don't underestimate the Human Ranking."

Cui Yuanyang's head drooped even lower, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "I... I also want you to accomplish it. I think you can."

That was as good as saying "I hope you marry me," yet it was even more stirring than a direct declaration.

Zhao Changhe sighed, unable to hold back: "Yangyang, have you ever thought that you've grown up at home, rarely ventured into the world, and seen too few people?"

"Brother Zhao means that Yangyang might not truly like Brother Zhao, that it's just a momentary feeling from our shared life-and-death experience. In the future, when you meet other outstanding men, you might realize who you truly love?"

"How have you become less naive? Is that the emotional awareness you should have?"

"Because last night, many people buzzed those words in my ears until I was sick of them. I thought Brother Zhao was free and easy, but you're just like those gossiping aunties."

Zhao Changhe laughed despite himself.

"Does this trouble Brother Zhao... In Brother Zhao's heart, Yangyang is just a child, and you don't feel that way about me. That's why you say the same things, trying to persuade me... But..." Cui Yuanyang finally lifted her head, bravely meeting his eyes: "I will grow up, and I will make Brother Zhao like me!"

The soft light in the girl's eyes could melt even an iron heart, like a silken thread winding around, never to be untied.

Zhao Changhe knew he could never untie it. Whether he had felt that way before or not, now he did.

So this was what it felt like to be liked and confessed to by a girl.

Using this to test a cadre—who could withstand it!

His thoughts drifted aimlessly, not knowing what he was thinking, but the words that came out were already: "Yangyang doesn't need to grow up. Brother Zhao likes Yangyang just as she is."

Cui Yuanyang's smile bloomed, the joy in her brows and eyes brightening, making the surrounding riot of colors pale in comparison.

She happily took Zhao Changhe's hand and strolled casually through the garden, speaking softly: "Yangyang has seen not a few young men. My father is on the Heavenly Ranking, uncles and cousins on the Earth and Human Rankings. My brother, at twenty, is third on the Hidden Dragon. Through generations of close ties, I've seen many, a gathering of talents. I thought the heroes of the world were no more than this..."

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but interject: "But amidst heaven and earth, there is yet a Zhao Lang? Sounds like that's the direction."

Cui Yuanyang looked at him in surprise for a moment, then giggled: "So shameless."

"Hmph."

Cui Yuanyang made a teasing gesture: "Since Brother Zhao wants that line, let it be that line. It's close enough."

"Hey... that sounds so perfunctory."

"I just want to say, no matter how good they are, no matter how coarse and rogue Zhao Changhe might be, Yangyang is set on you." Cui Yuanyang didn't look at him, her eyes darting to watch butterflies among the flowers: "In three years, if you don't succeed, I'll... I'll elope with you."

Perhaps the sight of butterflies and flowers inspired her, and paired with the word "elope," her rosy cheeks at that moment shone like the morning glow.

Zhao Changhe didn't answer that. He couldn't say he would fail and wait for her to elope... nor could he boast that he could truly meet that requirement—that would be arrogance.

But at that moment, his reason for cultivation had indeed gained another item, and he knew that now he wouldn't have to grope in the dark as before. The Cui family would surely help, openly or covertly. To them, this was an investment; they wouldn't let him develop on his own and wither.

Sure enough, the next moment Cui Yuanyang said: "Wei County is just our sphere of influence. Magistrate Zhang is our man, but this isn't Qinghe. Today, Father will set off back home; there are matters to attend to... Brother Zhao, come with us to Qinghe and stay for a few days as a guest. There will be some things for you at home. Don't say no this time... Even if it's just as thanks, it's only right."

Zhao Changhe didn't stand on ceremony and nodded: "I also want to see Qinghe... Besides, I think your father is playing the old fox. The one imprisoned is probably not the real culprit. It's more likely your father is putting on an act to lure the snake out of its hole..."

Cui Yuanyang was startled, her eyes widening in surprise.