Chapter 446 - 370: Beicang Noble, The Matter of the Marriage Alliance (Part 2)

"So the famous prodigy from the Rising Star Chart, the renowned Mang Blade Mang Vajra, also judges people by their station," Gu Qingchan said, a faint smile on her lips.

Chen Ping’an maintained a respectful expression. He remained silent, holding his bow with hands clasped.

Fortunately, Gu Qingchan had no intention of pressing the issue. She changed the subject, returning to their original topic.

"Chen Ping’an, I summoned you here to discuss a marriage alliance!"

"A marriage alliance?" Chen Ping’an asked, his expression one of confusion, though in his heart, he knew exactly what this was about.

Gu Haoqing, a Candidate for Chief of the Canglong Province Garrison Command, had previously sent him a letter mentioning a possible marriage alliance. Therefore, Chen Ping’an wasn’t surprised to hear Gu Qingchan bring it up again today.

"That’s right. The Gu Family intends to offer one of our daughters in marriage. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Chen Ping’an hadn’t expected Gu Qingchan to be so blunt. ’Then again,’ he thought, ’she’s a Grandmaster. In her eyes, I’m not worth beating around the bush for.’

"I thank Grandmaster Gu for this kind offer," Chen Ping’an said, tactfully refusing. "However, my ambition lies solely in the Martial Dao, and I have no plans to start a family at this time. I’m afraid I must turn down the Gu Family’s generous proposal."

Gu Haoqing’s letter had mentioned that since ancient times, it has been the natural order for a great man to first establish a family before building his career.

He noted that Chen Ping’an was growing older and had accomplished much, yet remained without a suitable betrothal. Knowing Chen Ping’an had lost his father young and had no one to handle such important matters, Gu Haoqing felt a protective affection for the talented young man. Thus, he wished to select a daughter from the Gu Family’s direct lineage as a worthy match for Chen Ping’an, so they could be bound by the red thread of fate and grow old together.

The letter had concluded by asking for Chen Ping’an’s thoughts on the matter.

At the time, Chen Ping’an had considered the matter carefully. He wasn’t as opposed to the idea as one might think.

But not being opposed to the idea was one thing. His prerequisite for agreeing to any alliance was that his own feelings would be considered; it couldn’t be a forced arrangement.

’Now that Gu Qingchan has brought it up, if I reveal my true thoughts and lay out my conditions, it would be inappropriate. It would only create resentment.’

’After all, on paper, my status is far inferior to Gu Qingchan’s. I’m in no position to be making demands of her.’

’Instead of doing that, it’s better to state my position and refuse tactfully. This back-and-forth might give me some room to negotiate.’

’Worst case scenario, even if the matter is dropped entirely, I don’t lose anything.’

"Hm?" Gu Qingchan’s brow furrowed, her displeasure evident.

She had imagined a thousand different responses from Chen Ping’an, but she had never expected such a decisive refusal.

A subtle, almost imperceptible pressure began to fill the room, bearing down on Chen Ping’an.

"Chen Ping’an, you have some nerve! To refuse so decisively without even asking who the prospective bride is... Where do you think that leaves the honor of my Gu Family?"

Profound Light flickered between Chen Ping’an’s brows as his Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent coalesced, resisting the Grandmaster’s Will that radiated from Gu Qingchan.

’With my true Martial Arts Realm, this level of pressure is nothing. But since I’m trying to hide my real strength, I have to play the part.’

"Grandmaster Gu, you misunderstand. I have no such intention! The noble ladies of the Gu Family are beyond precious. Any one of them is like a flawless pearl, brilliant and dazzling, admired by all the world! My refusal stems only from my sole ambition for the Martial Dao and my current lack of desire to start a family! I implore Grandmaster Gu to understand!"

Even under the pressure of the Grandmaster’s Will, Chen Ping’an’s expression remained unchanged. His words were respectful but not sycophantic, his tone earnest and sincere.

Gu Qingchan’s expression softened slightly. Her bright, star-like eyes fixed on Chen Ping’an, and she remained silent.

’If he had seen me get angry and immediately started begging for forgiveness, I would have thought less of him. But he didn’t. His words have actually earned him a bit of my respect.’

"What a ’Mang Blade Mang Vajra’ you are," Gu Qingchan said coldly. "A moment ago, I asked why you were so reserved, and you claimed you wouldn’t dare be presumptuous in the presence of a Grandmaster. But you seem quite presumptuous now!" Yet, her cold words were delivered in a voice so delicate and clear, so soft and gentle, that it still held a trace of youthful sweetness.

"Grandmaster Gu, please quell your anger. I wouldn’t dare!" Chen Ping’an said, lowering his head and clasping his hands.

’Looks like I’m through the worst of it.’ He could tell she wasn’t truly angry. If she were, things wouldn’t have gone this smoothly.

’Ultimately, though, my confidence comes from my own strength. If I were merely an ordinary peak-level expert, I doubt I would have had the courage to reject a Grandmaster’s offer to her face.’

"Hmph!"

Seeing Chen Ping’an, who just a moment ago had been so proud and unyielding, instantly transform into this meek and submissive figure, Gu Qingchan couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.

"Chen Ping’an, who told you that pursuing the Martial Dao and starting a family are mutually exclusive?" Gu Qingchan demanded, her face cold. "If you find a worthy partner, bound by fate to grow old together, you could spar with one another, hone your skills, and cultivate the Martial Dao as a team. Would that not be a wonderful thing?"

"Grandmaster Gu is right. I was being shortsighted," Chen Ping’an conceded quickly, bowing his head in submission. "I am willing to choose a worthy partner and cultivate the Martial Dao together!"

"Indeed. Having a worthy partner to cultivate the Martial Dao with would be of great benefit to both of you. Why would you..." Seeing Chen Ping’an back down, Gu Qingchan’s expression relaxed. She had only spoken a few words before her face fell, realization dawning on her.

’He wasn’t rejecting the marriage alliance at all! He was using retreat as a way to advance, creating an opportunity to choose his own partner and secure benefits for himself!’

’"I am willing to *choose* a worthy partner and cultivate the Martial Dao together!" The emphasis wasn’t on cultivating the Martial Dao, it was on the word *choose*!’

True Essence circulated around Gu Qingchan’s body, and she began to glow with a faint blue light.

"What a ’Mang Blade’! Everyone says you’re reckless and act without thinking of the consequences. It seems the ’reckless’ part might not be entirely true, but the ’acting without thinking of the consequences’ part certainly is! You dare to play games with a Grandmaster to her face? Aren’t you afraid you won’t be walking out of here today?!"

"Grandmaster Gu, please forgive me! I had no intention of playing games. It’s just that in your presence, your aura is too overwhelming. How could I dare to speak my mind so directly? It’s why I had to resort to such a clumsy strategy!" As he spoke, Chen Ping’an’s stiff demeanor vanished, replaced by a playful, wheedling grin as he begged for forgiveness.

Standing there, bold yet perceptive, he could see the situation clearly. ’She looks angry, but she’s not truly enraged. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be wasting her breath on threats; she’d have just slapped me by now!’

’Since she’s not really angry, I might as well lean into the junior role and close the distance between us. If this marriage alliance works out, Gu Qingchan and I will be family. And she wouldn’t be so harsh on family, would she?’

THUMP!

Chen Ping’an had barely finished speaking when a streak of pale blue light flashed, and he was sent sprawling to the floor.

"Oww, that hurts!" Chen Ping’an clutched his chest, slumping onto the ground with a grimace. "Grandmaster Gu, I’m injured!"

Gu Qingchan hadn’t been that angry, and she had barely used any force in that palm strike.

She was rendered speechless by his dramatic cries of pain. ’With his Martial Arts Realm and Horizontal Training Skill,’ she thought, ’my palm strike shouldn’t have even left a scratch!’

"Alright, stop pretending. Get up."

"Oww, oww, oww..." Chen Ping’an cried, putting on a convincing show of agony.

"If you don’t get up now, believe me, I’ll make sure you *can’t* get up!" The faint blue light swirled around Gu Qingchan again as she made a show of raising her palm.

The moment Gu Qingchan’s hand began to rise, Chen Ping’an scrambled to his feet.

"Haha, just a joke! Don’t be offended, Grandmaster Gu."

Staring at the man before her, Gu Qingchan was at a complete loss for words.

’This ’Mang Blade’... At first, he was so reserved and polite, claiming he wouldn’t dare be presumptuous in front of a Grandmaster. How did things get like this in just a few minutes?’

"Chen Ping’an, since you’re also amenable to the idea of an alliance, we’ll consider the matter settled!" Gu Qingchan said, deciding to cut to the chase.

"Ah, about that..." Chen Ping’an’s expression soured.

Gu Qingchan glanced at him. "Relax. I won’t just pair you with someone at random. Before any marriage alliance is finalized, I’ll ask for your input."

’This first meeting... Chen Ping’an is not at all what I imagined. He’s not the reckless, thoughtless brute from the rumors. There’s a method to his words and actions. He’s brave but also strategic, bold but also perceptive.’

Gu Qingchan found herself rather impressed by this, so she didn’t mind giving him that small assurance.

...