Chapter 61: Don’t Marry

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 61: Don’t Marry

Ding Ning frowned slightly.

Zhangsun Qianxue was right. This Changling was indeed full of favors and grudges. If one stepped in, they would be entangled in both favors and grudges. Favors and grudges were already troublesome, and if there were debts of affection, that would be even more troublesome.

He did not know what to say. Xie Rou looked at him and said, “I have cut my hair to seal my oath. Many people here have witnessed it; this is not a joke.”

Ding Ning stared at her porcelain-like face. His expression turned serious. He spoke in a voice so soft that only he and Xie Rou could hear him. “I understand. For some people, their words are worth a thousand pieces of gold, and some would rather lose their lives than tarnish their family name. However, we've never met before. Just for a bet, which others might not even take seriously… isn’t this a bit too out of line? I've also heard that the Xie Family is no ordinary family. Your family might not approve of your actions.”

Xie Rou looked at Ding Ning's serious and calm gaze. For no apparent reason, she felt much more at peace.

Perhaps this young man did possess some extraordinary qualities. At least, he did not disappoint her?

“Being stubborn in my actions and following my heart in my decisions was my fault, and I must bear the consequences.” She looked Ding Ning in the eye and said softly. “I will take responsibility for gaining my family's approval.”

Ding Ning's brow furrowed even more. His head lowered slightly, and his gaze fell on the Last Flower Sword. His heart trembled slightly.

Xie Rou was only a young woman with a few years of cultivation experience. But her seriousness and gaze, for no apparent reason, had drawn his thoughts to the master of this Last Flower Sword.

“The crux of the matter lies in your opinion.” Xie Rou hesitated slightly, then her gaze returned to firmness. Her next words were filled with sincerity. “This is only our first meeting, but I like you more than the geniuses around here because of your composure in the face of such attention. We can slowly develop feelings. I hope you won't take this too suddenly, and don't consider the issue of family status.”

Ding Ning felt that Xie Rou resembled the master of the Last Flower Sword even more. If this was a strange coincidence, he did not like this coincidence. He took a deep breath and steeled his heart. “This is impossible. I won't accept your offer. So, don't even think about it,” he said, directly and firmly.

Xie Rou's face turned pale again. She bit her lip and stubbornly remained silent.

Ding Ning looked up and stared deeply at her. “I will never marry you. So, it's best if we never mention this matter and let everyone slowly forget about it.”

Xie Rou's eyes reddened slightly.

She was still a young woman. No one knew how much courage it took for her to make such a decision. She took several deep breaths, her chest heaving. Then, she bowed deeply before Ding Ning.

“I was wrong in this matter… but you can't marry, but I can't not marry.”

After saying this, she turned and walked towards where the watching disciples had gathered.

Ding Ning's heart suddenly tightened.

Others might not have understood those words, but Ding Ning immediately understood from the brief moment when Xie Rou turned around.

She was more determined than he had imagined.

She would not force him to marry her, but she would definitely marry him. Thus, if he did not marry, she would not marry either; she would not marry anyone else.

This seemed laughable.

However, Ding Ning could not smile at this moment, let alone laugh.

“Honestly, she's a good match.”

Li Daoji and the others held their tongues. Nevertheless, he turned around and whispered his opinion into Ding Ning's ear. “The Xie family of Guangdong is very wealthy and will be of great help to your future cultivation. I'm very satisfied with her appearance and demeanor. I suggest you consider this seriously.”

“You're just creating a bigger mess. Are there any other elders like you?” Ding Ning said angrily. “How old am I? I just started cultivating, and I don't even know what this Green Vine Sword School is like. Suddenly, someone appears and talks to me about marriage …”

Li Daoji glanced at him and interrupted. “You can see the Green Vine Sword School and other sights later. But if you miss out on some people, they might never come back.”

Ding Ning grew even angrier. “Was what she did just now any good? As an elder, you also saw her ferocity. What you should do now is think of a way to persuade her to abandon this idea. Also, if you really like her, then marry her yourself.”

Li Daoji rarely saw Ding Ning this angry. He smiled slightly. “I want to, but she won’t want me.”

Instantly, Ding Ning felt a surge of annoyance.

 

“Sister, I’ve done well on this matter. Can this be said that you and Brother-in-law have officially met now?” Seeing Xie Rou walking away, Xie Changsheng spoke with false sincerity.

Xie Rou’s expression was as usual. She glanced at him and uttered one word: “Childish.”

Xie Changsheng almost did not expect to receive a single word response from his sister. His arrogance instantly vanished.

Even Xu Heshan and Nangong Caishu regarded Xie Rou with positive eyes. Both of them looked at Xie Changsheng and sighed. “We were careless in choosing our friends.”

 

In the eyes of Duanmu Lian and several other masters of the Green Vine Sword School, Xie Changsheng's actions were merely a farce. However, out of consideration towards the onlookers from other schools, they could not openly reprimand him.

But when they thought about how the sword trial festival, which had always been treated with such solemnity by the Green Vine Sword School, was now contaminated with this kind of atmosphere, their expressions became even uglier.

“It's almost time. Headmaster Di is waiting at the back of the mountain. The sword trial festival will begin in a moment. Sect master Xue, would you like to rest for a while or leave now?”

Duanmu Lian tried not to be affected by his bad mood. He stepped forward and bowed to Xue Wangxu.

Looking at the white-haired Xue Wangxu, all the young talents who had come to watch felt a slight chill, and suddenly realized that this old man was a realm seven cultivator, worthy of respect.

“I'm just an old man on the verge of death. I only came to watch. Li Daoji is in charge of all the affairs; you don't need to ask me any questions,” Xue Wangxu smiled slightly and replied to Duanmu Lian.

If it really was an old man on the verge of death who had come to watch, that would be great. If it were not for a realm seven cultivator like this, the Green Vine Sword School would not feel so constrained today.

Duanmu Lian cursed inwardly, but remained polite as he nodded to Li Daoji.

“The journey wasn’t long; we don’t need to rest. Cultivators don't need to be too particular about etiquette. I think everyone here feels it's best to get started as soon as possible.” Li Daoji was in a good mood, and a faint smile still lingered on his lips.

“Then, we'll be on our way.”

Duanmu Lian did not want to talk any further and called all the participating disciples to walk together. All the disciples who had passed the age limit and disciples from other schools followed behind.

“Master Duanmu.”

At this moment, many disciples of the Green Vine Sword School suddenly said, “He Zhaoxi isn't here.”

Gu Xichun, whose face had been gloomy since Ding Ning's arrival, suddenly looked coldly from the crowd.

He had never seen He Zhaoxi before, but he knew that He Zhaoxi was a worthy opponent. In the Min Mountain trial, he could pose a threat.

Duanmu Lian stilled slightly.

If an ordinary disciple had not arrived, he would have been furious. But when he was told that it was He Zhaoxi who had not arrived, his attitude became better.

“He Zhaoxi!” He turned and shouted towards the many buildings of the Green Vine Sword School.

A moment later, the sound of wind rustling could be heard.

A handsome teenager wearing a thin blue robe around his sturdy frame ran from between several stone buildings.

Steam rose from his body.

That was not his sweat. His sweat had been cleansed by his physical energy. His clothes were dry and clean. The white steam was due to his body temperature being enough to melt the white mist around him.

Such a high temperature indicated that he had just exercised vigorously.

Gu Xichun's gaze grew colder as he thought about the rumors about this person's perseverance.

“He's He Zhaoxi. Besides eating, he spends all his time cultivating. He knows that today is the sword trial festival, but he's still cultivating and only appeared now because he doesn't want to waste time.”

Ding Ning was observing this young man intently when Nangong Caishu spoke from beside him.

Nangong Caishu had already walked to his side.

Seeing Ding Ning turn around, Nangong Caishu said, “If you can avoid him in the trial, try to do so.” As every eyeball was fixed on the sprinting He Zhaoxi, she pushed a jade box she had long possessed into Ding Ning's hands. “This is a pill medicine that my father invented.”

Ding Ning stilled. This was unexpected.

“Just delivered today. This is the Yellow Court Gold Pill of Yellow Court Pill Sect. My father has another uncle I am familiar with who told me that this pill medicine is extremely effective in increasing cultivation. If you use it with your current cultivation, you will reach realm two second class: Bone Washing, but it will also have some adverse side effects. Your vital energy may become impure.” Nangong Caishu then whispered in his ear. “I only heard this from my uncle and haven't researched it yet. So I think you should wait until the Sword Trial Festival is over and research this pill medicine before deciding whether to use it.”

Ding Ning nodded.

Although he had never heard of this obscure pill medicine, he was confident that he could use it. With this kind of pill medicine in hand, he was even more confident that he could reach the top three of the Sword Trial Festival.

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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