Chapter Forty-Four: Refusing to Marry Into Her Family

Chapter Forty-Four: Refusing to Marry In

Xia Zheng felt uneasy under Nalan Zhi’s gaze, uncertain what this old man was thinking. He glanced at Nalan Sheng, who kept her head lowered, as if shy about something.

Nalan Yun cleared his throat. It still fell to him to broach the subject. He asked Xia Zheng some questions about his family. Xia Zheng had already mentioned to his parents that he would be visiting the Nalan family, so his mother and father had advised him on what he could say—anything not too sensitive was fair game, and he could use his own judgment on the details.

Upon learning that Xia Zheng’s family consisted only of his parents and very few other relatives—a simple, honest, civilian household—it seemed things would be easier to handle.

Nalan Yun glanced at his father, Nalan Zhi, who now closed his eyes and nodded. Nalan Yun then formally asked, “Xia Zheng, do you like my daughter, Nalan Sheng?”

At these words, Nalan Sheng, sitting beside Xia Zheng, immediately blushed as red as a cherry, so embarrassed she couldn’t even look at him.

Xia Zheng looked at the young woman at his side, sensing her excitement. He turned back to Nalan Yun and replied, “Yes, I do.”

This answer nearly made Nalan Sheng swoon with happiness. Nalan Yun and Nalan Zhi, however, showed no surprise. Nalan Sheng was quite famous—beautiful and accomplished—and many of the Federation’s promising youths longed to marry into their family, even if it meant taking up residence as a son-in-law.

Nalan Sheng was essentially the Nalan family’s future head. To marry her meant a limitless future. How many young men in the world could resist such temptation? And to marry into the Nalan family was hardly considered a disgrace.

With this confidence, Nalan Yun pressed on, “Xia Zheng, since you and Sheng Sheng are devoted to each other, and both her grandfather and I are satisfied with you, why not join the Nalan family as our son-in-law?”

Xia Zheng was taken aback, then a surge of anger rose within him, making it hard to control his psychic power. Nalan Sheng immediately sensed the disturbance and hurried to stand between Xia Zheng and her elders, shielding them from his aggression with her own spiritual force.

“I apologize,” Xia Zheng said at once, withdrawing his power as soon as he felt Nalan Sheng’s shock and pain. The three members of the Nalan family looked at him with complex expressions.

Standing, Xia Zheng declared, “Uncle Nalan, Grandpa Nalan, Sheng Sheng—I want to make myself perfectly clear. I will not marry into the Nalan family. I will not become a son-in-law for any family. I, Xia Zheng, stand tall and proud and will not accept such humiliation. I am sorry for my earlier loss of composure and for making Sheng Sheng suffer.” With that, he turned to leave, but Nalan Sheng caught him in a tight embrace around the waist.

“Brother… please, don’t go. The Nalan family meant no insult,” she choked out, her voice trembling.

“I have never looked down on myself, nor do I believe my future achievements will be inferior to others. But the proposal that I marry in is something I cannot accept,” Xia Zheng said, more firmly than he ever had with Sheng Sheng before. It pained her deeply, but this was the will of the family, and she could not disobey.

Nalan Yun’s face now looked grim. He had not expected such a strong reaction from Xia Zheng and realized clearly that inviting Xia Zheng to marry in was impossible.

Nalan Zhi, the current family head, was also visibly embarrassed. He had not been contradicted in a very long time, least of all by a youngster.

“Xia Zheng,” Nalan Zhi said, his voice rising, “does my Nalan family’s status, wealth, and reputation not merit your acceptance? Countless promising young men wish to marry into our family—why do you reject it so vehemently?”

Xia Zheng replied, “Forgive my arrogance, but while I know the Nalan family is a great house and I am but a commoner, a person’s status or background may differ, but the soul is equal. I do not believe there is a single noble house in this world whose dignity is so great that I must bow my head and surrender my pride.”

“You—” Nalan Zhi rose, power swirling around him like a storm. For a moment, the old man seemed like a dragon awakened from a tempest, his eyes fixed on the unyielding youth before him.

Xia Zheng met his gaze without flinching. He knew he was no match for the old man’s strength, but he believed one should have integrity, even if pride must sometimes be set aside. When pushed to the edge, he would rather sacrifice himself for righteousness.

Seeing Xia Zheng’s unwavering resolve for the first time, Nalan Sheng was torn between pain and a deeper, more consuming love for him.

“Grandfather, please don’t hurt him…” Nalan Sheng stood up and placed herself in front of Xia Zheng.

Nalan Zhi looked at her. “Would you oppose the Nalan family for his sake?”

“Granddaughter does not wish to oppose you or the family. But if you are set on harming him today, then I will give my life for his!” With that, her psychic power condensed the dust in the air into a long sword, which hovered above her head.

“You—would dare?” Nalan Zhi was furious. She was the chosen future head of the Nalan family, the hope of their line, the one meant to inherit the main bloodline and leadership—she could not be allowed to die.

Xia Zheng was moved by Nalan Sheng’s resolve. He had not thought she would go so far for him.

“Sheng Sheng, I will marry you—but not as a son-in-law. I will take you as my wife, openly and honorably.” Xia Zheng reached from behind and embraced her.

Nalan Sheng seemed revived, her former resolve now shining even brighter. The sword of dust above her head radiated a deadly sharpness, causing the furniture and decorations around them to slowly crack.

At last, the house steward, Uncle Lu, could contain himself no longer and rushed in, only to be greeted by a scene beyond belief. “Master, what is happening here?”

Nalan Zhi seized the opportunity to withdraw his killing aura, and Nalan Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Had the patriarch truly killed Xia Zheng in anger, Nalan Sheng would surely have died with him. Not only would the Nalan family lose its greatest hope, but they would also face the wrath of the Profession Alliance, the military, and even the Federation itself.

Xia Zheng’s potential was immense. Through certain channels, Nalan Yun had learned that the military’s top brass were already paying attention to him, and even the Federation’s President had heard his name. If the Nalan family’s patriarch killed Xia Zheng simply for refusing to marry in, it would cause a political earthquake.

The Federation placed great importance on young talents with the potential to become S-class psychic warriors. For the Nalan family to kill Xia Zheng would be to make enemies of both the Federation and the military—an unacceptable risk, especially given the family’s previous tensions with these powers. The cost would be enormous. Moreover, the power of the Profession Alliance could not be ignored. Xia Zheng had received a “Dragon” rating as a new prodigy, meaning all twelve stewards and the Alliance’s leader had their eyes on him. Offending all three major forces would be catastrophic for the Nalan family.

Nalan Zhi withdrew his killing intent. His earlier fury had nearly driven him past reason, but Uncle Lu’s timely intervention had averted disaster.

“Show him out. Xia Zheng is no longer welcome in the Nalan family,” Nalan Zhi said, sweeping his sleeves and turning his back on Xia Zheng.

Nalan Yun nodded to Uncle Lu, who was bewildered. How did a joyous occasion for taking a son-in-law come to this? Did this young man really refuse the master? How could that be possible?

Nalan Sheng left with Xia Zheng, and the tense, unhappy outcome cast a shadow over the Nalan household.

After Xia Zheng’s departure, Nalan Zhi let out a long sigh and said to Nalan Yun, “That young man is indeed remarkable. Though stubborn to the core, I doubt the Federation could produce another youth who would dare face me down in such circumstances. Yun’er, your father is getting old…” His figure wavered as exhaustion overtook him, the aftereffects of his earlier anger.

Nalan Yun quickly stepped forward to help him sit and began to ease his circulation, comforting him, “Father, I admit I misjudged Xia Zheng. I thought he would be like the other outstanding young talents of the Federation, unconcerned with status and titles. I never imagined he would be so proud, rejecting the idea of marrying in without a second thought. Frankly, someone so proud would likely be impossible to control even if we brought him in. My suggestion is to give up on Xia Zheng and find another husband for Sheng’er.”

“Hmph. Can you find a better psychic than Xia Zheng?” Nalan Zhi retorted.

“Must it be a psychic, Father? As long as he is outstanding enough, what we truly seek is Sheng’er’s offspring—her sons, especially, as they are the blood of the Nalan family, the true heirs. Only a male child can inherit the Nalan bloodline, and the main branch will only entrust the legacy to us then, isn’t that so?”

“Ah…” Nalan Zhi rose and said, “You’re not wrong, but do you know how important a psychic is to the Nalan family? The founder of our house was a peerless psychic, the supreme power in the Federation’s predecessor, the Empire, who built the Nalan family with his own hands. Every family head since has been a psychic, at least in the main branch. But now, for the first time, we have no psychic as head. I do not wish to see the family’s legacy end with me. I want the future leader of the Nalan family to be a true psychic. Otherwise, do you think the main branch will ever willingly pass on the inheritance to us?”

This was the first time Nalan Yun had heard this, and he finally understood why his father valued the union of Xia Zheng and Nalan Sheng so highly. The offspring of two psychic prodigies would have a high chance of inheriting those abilities, maybe even surpassing their parents. That was the hope of the family’s revival.

“But what if Xia Zheng refuses to marry in? He’s as stubborn as Sheng’er,” Nalan Yun said through gritted teeth.

Nalan Zhi shook his head. “Let’s leave that for now, but we must place restrictions on how much Sheng Sheng sees him. Since he is so proud and claims he will marry her openly by merit, very well. I shall see if he can prove himself worthy of the Nalan family’s approval.”

Seeing this, Nalan Yun could only shake his head in helplessness. His father, too, was unyielding. He recalled something else and said, “Father, the Profession Alliance is planning the first Ability User Tournament, with both a Newcomer and an Adult division. Perhaps we can keep an eye on the young talents in the Newcomer division—maybe we’ll find someone even better than Xia Zheng.”

Nalan Zhi nodded noncommittally, though in his heart he doubted they would find a psychic more outstanding than Xia Zheng.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Uncle Chen, the driver, was escorting Xia Zheng away. Glancing in the rearview mirror at the two silent young people in the back seat, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for them both.