A chill seized Luo Qian'er's heart as she stared blankly at Luo Tong's handsome, heroic face.
Although she knew her younger brother had been spoiled by their parents since childhood and was not particularly close to her, hearing these words still pierced her heart.
Marrying down to Zhou Can was not as simple as an ordinary wedding or bearing children.
It was practically no different from breeding—she was expected to continuously bear offspring, strengthen his lineage, and help him establish a local village clan.
Village clan, village clan! Without a flourishing population, how could one establish a clan!
But she, Luo Qian'er, had always lived in luxury, delicately raised in the palms of others. She would rather die than live such a swinish existence!
"Since I have entered the 'Gate' class of dharma lineage, I am one of the Dao tradition.
In the days to come, I should cultivate the Dao and refine my arts, clad in rosy light, riding ethereal clouds, passing in and out of the azure void... How could I plunge back into the mundane mire to wallow?!"
Whenever she thought of this, her entire body turned cold, as if she had fallen into an icy cavern.
One of her jade-like quality and gorgeous bearing—even if she truly had to marry, it must be to a "School" class dharma lineage like those on Beimang Ridge, becoming a Dao companion to a true inheritor of a major school!
Even if her fate was ill-starred and her fortune poor, condescending to become a concubine to a direct-line descendant of the Fu or Kang Clans would still be better than her current situation.
At the very least, she could still eat spirit rice and refined meals, wear clean dharmic robes, and reside in a cave abode rich in spiritual essence...
Seeing Luo Qian'er's expression turn sour, Luo Tong immediately drew close, his face taking on an ingratiating look.
"Elder Sister, you're muddled! That Zhou Can is at most an outer sect attendant at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement! He even practices the ninth-grade 'Minor Seven Fiend Needle-Piercing Art' in fits and starts, and there is much he doesn't understand—he still requires Elder Sister to explain and guide him."
His voice lowered, every word dripping with contempt for that attendant of the laundry room on Needlework Peak.
"How could this younger brother truly let Elder Sister marry down and ruin your life?
I've discussed it with Father and Mother. Elder Sister might as well deal with Zhou Can insincerely and pretend to agree to the marriage.
But he must first show his sincerity and produce two hundred thousand talisman coins! Once the money is in hand, as for marrying into the Zhou family and helping him establish his clan... by next spring, I will have become an Inner Peak disciple, and the clan will also have several elders at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement to back us.
By then, whether Elder Sister marries or not—how could Zhou Can have the final say!"
Luo Qian'er's beautiful eyes flickered slightly. After careful consideration, she felt these words made quite a lot of sense.
Only, she was inwardly surprised—when had her younger brother become so calculating?
"I won't hide it from Elder Sister—this was not my idea, but actually Father and Mother's plan."
Luo Tong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Luo Qian'er with eyes full of anticipation, as if this elder sister were his ticket to the Inner Peak.
"Elder Sister may not know—the clan's situation has been poor these past few years. The spirit fields on Beimang Ridge are mostly 'Purple Soil Fields,' yielding two harvests a year with limited output.
Several clan elders are nearing the end of their lifespans. Our Lianxi Luo Clan may not be able to maintain its stability... Father and Mother sent me into the Qianji Sect in the hopes that I could enter the Inner Peak, find a master, and hold up the heavens for our village clan."
Luo Tong employed both soft and hard tactics, enlightening her with reason and moving her with emotion, finally causing Luo Qian'er's resolve to waver.
She hesitated, saying, "But how do we gain Zhou Can's trust? He is not some ignorant mundane laborer who can be easily deceived."
Luo Tong had clearly come prepared, having carefully planned with Father and Mother before entering the Qianji Sect.
"Elder Sister can use local customs to sound him out, simply saying that for a Lianxi daughter to marry, they require a base of three hundred eighty thousand talisman coins, and see how he reacts.
If his face shows difficulty, Elder Sister can weep and lament about the weight of your parents' nurturing grace, how you have been unable to fulfill your filial duty, and the unbearable guilt in your heart.
If he is still unwilling, Elder Sister can then put on a slight act..."
At this point, he smoothly recited his prepared lines:
"Elder Sister can then weep beautifully like pear blossoms in the rain, asking him through tears: 'My Lord Zhou, if you truly pity me and wish to treat me well, why begrudge these few hundred thousand talisman coins? Could it be that in your heart, I am worth less than these mere worldly possessions?'"
Luo Qian'er lowered her head and pondered, feeling her brother's speech was quite cleverly crafted.
Zhou Can was a stingy and petty man, yet he was obsessed with face and putting on airs. If provoked with these words, it might work.
"Younger Brother's words are too direct. Men generally respond to softness, not hardness. We must add a bit more tender feeling."
She deliberated a moment, then spoke in a delicately soft voice:
"'If my Lord Zhou is unwilling, I will not force it, lest you take me, Luo Qian'er, for one who covets vanity. Let us simply consider that our fated bond is shallow, to be continued in the next life'—Younger Brother, what do you think of saying it thus?"
Luo Tong clapped his hands and laughed uproariously. "Wonderful! Wonderful! Elder Sister's methods are truly superior! Even if that Zhou Can is as treacherous as a ghost, he will still have to drink Elder Sister's foot-washing water!"
Luo Qian'er rolled her eyes at him and said, "Zhou Can is petty and small-minded; he doesn't get up early without profit. If Younger Brother wishes to extract two hundred thousand talisman coins from his purse, you must promise him some tangible benefits.
It's like riding a donkey on a journey—you must dangle a carrot before its eyes."
Luo Tong frowned. He had wanted to say that with Elder Sister's looks, a bit of soft and tender words would be enough to move Zhou Can—why add further cost?
But upon second thought, those two hundred thousand talisman coins were ultimately crucial, so he asked, "What does Elder Sister plan?"
Luo Qian'er's tone was gentle and soft: "Zhou Can's aptitude is mediocre. Though he received the 'Minor Seven Fiend Needle-Piercing Art' from the Inner Peak, several years of bitter cultivation have failed to grasp its essence. He has never managed to practice it to a profound level.
Later, write a letter and send it back to Lianxi, asking Father and Mother to give the clan's ninth-grade spiritual object, the 'Pureflood Lotus Root,' as dowry, along with two mu of spirit lotus paddy fields."
Luo Tong hesitated at once. These were all "resources" that the village clan would use to support him in the future—how could they be cheaply given to Zhou Can for nothing?
"It's merely a plan to draw a cake to stave off hunger," Luo Qian'er consoled him.
"Once you secure a supplementary Inner Peak disciple seat, receive the true arts, and achieve success in cultivation.
In the future, when Zhou Can sees you, he will also have to respectfully call you 'Senior Brother.' Naturally, no one will dare look down on our Lianxi Luo Clan."
Luo Tong's heart burned hot upon hearing this. He clapped his hands and said, "We shall do as Elder Sister says!"
The brother and sister exchanged smiles, as if they already saw a future of splendid brocade and a smooth road ahead.
Luo Tong suddenly recalled something and asked, "Right, Elder Sister, in the past I heard you mention that on Crimson Flame Peak there was a mundane laborer lusting after swan meat, who once harbored longing for you. Was that person called 'Jiang Yi'?"
Luo Qian'er frowned and thought carefully; it seemed there truly was such a person.
"Yes, I have some impression. That person came from a humble background and had studied Daoist learning for a few years.
When he first entered the sect, I trained with him in the Lower Court, waiting to be assigned to a workshop.
He was quite attentive to me then. Later, after I went to Soul-Nourishing Peak, he would still come seeking me from time to time, giving me some talisman money..."
Speaking of this matter, a trace of displeasure still showed in her expression.
"I originally took him for a kind-hearted person. Who would have expected that when he heard I was transferred to Needlework Peak and was getting close to Zhou Can, he actually ran over to interrogate me, thinking I was being forced by Zhou Can, and even wanted to elope down the mountain with me! Utterly unreasonable!"
Luo Tong's gaze turned strange. According to Elder Sister, this person was clearly a lowly, incompetent nobody.
How had he become an inspector of the Quenching Workshop?
And was going to compete with him for an Inner Peak disciple seat?
"I was afraid he would cause a disturbance, and idle gossip would displease Zhou Can, so I sternly refused him.
Who knew he was so stubbornly fixated, convinced I was being forced by Zhou Can. Heartbroken, he even left behind ten thousand talisman coins, saying that every month from then on he would send money to me, only wishing that if I lived well, his heart would be at peace."
Luo Qian'er spoke unhurriedly, and in her mind the youth's appearance gradually became clear.
It was quite a handsome face, but unfortunately it couldn't conceal an aura of impoverished meanness, appearing useless and cowardly.
"Why does Younger Brother suddenly ask about him? Speaking of which, it's strange—I didn't receive the talisman money he sent last month.
Hmph, the promises men make casually truly cannot be taken seriously."
Luo Qian'er gently shook her head.
The talisman money sent monthly by that youth surnamed Jiang was not even enough for her to rent a detached courtyard at the summit of Needlework Peak.
But clearly having no real ability, yet insisting on swelling his face to play the part of a fat man—this made her despise and look down on him even more.
"Not long after I entered Crimson Flame Peak, I inquired about who else, aside from the Forging Workshop, was scheming for the Inner Peak through attendant connections.
Jiang Yi is one of them! I don't know what methods he used to catch the eye of Attendant Yang of the Quenching Workshop. Not only was he promoted to inspector, but some time ago he even went to attend lectures at the Inner Peak..."
Jiang Yi? Inspector? And still aiming to ascend the azure-cloud path to the Inner Peak?
Luo Qian'er's beautiful eyes widened round, her mind buzzing as if struck by a heavy blow.
Immediately after, a surge of indignation rushed to her heart; she felt she had suffered the greatest grievance.
"Back then he spoke so prettily before me, saying, 'Though the talisman money is little, it is my sincere heart!' Hmph, I originally thought that although he was useless, he at least had some sincerity. Now it seems it was all feigned affection!
Men under heaven truly cannot be relied upon! He has money to spend currying favor with attendants and scheming for supplementary seats at the Inner Peak... completely casting me beyond the ninth heaven, forgetting me entirely!"
Seeing Luo Qian'er's anger hard to suppress, Luo Tong softly consoled:
"Elder Sister, calm your anger. That Jiang Yi encountered fortune and suddenly turned his situation around—he can be considered to have some potential.
Perhaps we can squeeze a bit more oil and water out of him... If the chance arises, Elder Sister might as well show him a pleasant face."
Luo Qian'er kept her pretty face cold, remaining silent.
In the past it was Jiang Yi doing everything to please her; now she was being asked to lower her own stature—naturally she was utterly unwilling in her heart.
"Elder Sister, this younger brother will return to Crimson Flame Peak first."
Seeing this, Luo Tong said no more, cupped his hands, and took his leave:
"Waiting quietly for good news."
P.S. Thanks to [Flash-Fading Speckles] for the 1000-point reward, thanks boss~
P.S.2 Two updates today, six thousand words!