Planet Eve contained eight continents, and the Moon Flower Continent could be considered one of the strongest. On this continent, the Immortal Sage Sect reigned supreme with a hundred eight Nascent Soul elders, thirty-six Spiritual Lamp grand elders, and the great Ascendant sect leader. Below them were the many disciples of lesser cultivation stages categorized as chore disciples, outer court disciples, inner court disciples, and core disciples.
Yang Xiaolong was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, making him an inner court disciple. He was also under twenty years old, a considerably high cultivation base for someone at his age.
On the way to Ice Jade Peak from Iron Sword Peak, Yan Xiaolong and his servant, Zhong Yun, were riding on a flying carriage. Flames ejected from the backside of the carriage to propel it forward.
“Young Master, do you want more books to read?” Zhong Yun brought out some more book from an interspatial ring on his left hand.
Yan Xiaolong nodded his head while keeping his eyes on the book he was currently reading. As Zhong Yun placed the books down, he said, “Young Master, why are you reading books now?”
“No particular reason. I just felt like reading.” Yan Xiaolong said.
“But Young Master, you never read.” Suddenly, Zhong Yun slapped his own thigh. “Aha! You must be trying to read so you can enter the state of a scholar. By infusing your aura with the aura of knowledge from these books, you can look more impressive to Young Lady Han. Brilliant, Young Master!”
Zhong Yun flicked his interspatial ring and stacks of books appeared in the flying carriage. He took in a deep breath and let out a mighty exhale. “Ah! The smell of books is so nice. I have all kinds of books here for you, Young Master. Good thing I keep my own library in my interspatial ring. I was waiting for the day you finally pick up a book and now that you did, I can’t be any happier, Young Master.”
Tears welled up in Zhong Yun’s eyes and he dried it off with the sleeves of his robe.
“Holy crap. How illiterate was I to make someone cry tears of joy from picking up a few books?” Yan Xiaolong kept a composed face as he stared at the books. “Good thing that guidebook has an translator in it. Or else, I would be a fool as well.”
The truth of the matter was that Yan Xiaolong could not read the books, but the guidebook inside his sea of consciousness would absorb the information and translate it for him so he could process it. That was one feature of the guidebook, and another would be remembering whatever content he read.
Of course, that was only remembering the content; comprehending the content was an entirely different topic.
Eventually, the carriage arrived at a palace on Ice Jade Peak. It belonged to Han Xiaolong, an outer court disciple, but because she had connection to the master of Ice Jade Peak, she was gifted this palace. Other outer court disciples would have to live in the dormitories below the mountain.
The sounds of bells and joyful laughter echoed out as dozens of servants stepped forward. “Greetings, Young Master Yan Xiaolong! We of the Han Clan are honored by your arrival!”
A red carpet rolled out and the servants stood to the side of the carpet with their backs bended at an angle to show their respect. Yan Xiaolong walked on the red carpet while Zhong Yun followed him, walking exactly three paces after his young master.
Deep inside the palace was an indoor garden where a circular stone table was placed in the center of it. There were exactly four bamboo chairs and two of them were occupied by two young women. One of them was slightly older-looking than the other and exuded a natural charm. Her smile was like the calmest and warmest of breezes during summertime.
The other young woman was beautiful as well, but her aura was cold and her eyes were icy blue. She seemed to be the personification of winter, a young fairy that was both wicked and righteous.
When the two young women saw the young men approaching them, they stood up and greeted them.
“Han Feng’er greets Young Master Yan Xiaolong and Sir Zhong Yun.” The gentle young woman had a soothing voice.
“Han Xiaoling greets Young Master Yan Xiaolong and Sir Zhong Yun.” The cold young woman had a hoarse voice. On her side, the gentle young woman gave her a frustrated pinch on the thigh, something that did not escape the young men’s eyes.
Yan Xialong and Zhong Yun gave their greetings and they both sat down on the other chairs. Under the warm sun while drinking some aromatic tea, the group began discussing the marriage of Yan Xiaolong and Han Xiaoling. Well, only Han Feng’er and Zhong Yun were talking.
Han Xiaoling was looking at the flowers in the distance with a grumpy expression on her face. Yan Xiaolong was also looking into the distance, but with a blank expression on his face. However, in his head, he was thinking over this marriage meeting while using the guidebook.
“Oi, guidebook, what’s with this scenario, huh? I thought engagement or marriage meetings were between the main hero and another chick. Why the hell is this happening to me?”
[Arranged marriages are quite common in this world. As a member of a great clan, it is only natural that you are paired up with someone who is from a great clan as well.]
“Hold on, I thought situations like this is for someone from a family fallen from grace? My clans are still here and so is my powerful uncle so how does this make sense?”
[You may have a tragic past, but in no way has your status or your family’s status fallen from grace. If anything, the presence of your talented uncle had brought greater glory to your family on the Tie Clan side. You, a young master, is engaged to a young lady. Your fate is sealed along with this marriage.]
“Sealed? Wait, what? What do you mean sealed?”
[Well because you are a ‘young master,’ being engaged to a ‘young miss’ means that you’ll...]
Reading the words in the guidebook, Yan Xiaolong’s face ashened.
“Young Master Yan Xiaolong!” Suddenly, Han Feng’er brought him into the conversation. He looked at her with shocked eyes.
“Yes,” He said. “My apologies, did you say something?”
An awkward smile flashed on Han Feng’er’s face. “Well, Young Master, what do you think about the marriage being three months from now?”
On the side, Zhong Yun was looking at him expectedly while Han Feng’er was eyeing him intensely. Han Xiaoling kept an indifferent expression, but under the table, her feet were moving around. She would flash her eyes at Yan Xiaolong, anticipating his answer. A nuance of hope could be seen in her eyes.
“Marriage?” Yan Xiaolong shivered. If what the guidebook stated was correct, then there was really only one way for him to handle this situation. In the coolest of voices, he said, “Not happening.”
Looking gobsmacked, Han Feng’er asked, “Not three months from now? How about six months from now?”
“No way.”
“Then, a year from now?”
“Nope.”
“How about-”
“I should clarify. What I mean... is that this marriage will not happen!”
Gasp!
The other three people around the table all simultaneously gasped. Everyone looked at him with wide eyes and loose jaws. Breaking the long silence that followed the gasps, Han Feng’er said, “But why?”
Yan Xiaolong flicked his sleeve and put his hand behind his back. He stood tall and straight like a spear and protruded his jaw to look as proud as possible. “I have no need for marriage or women in my heart, that’s why. In my heart, there is only the Dao. My Dao is my everything, the very reason why I am here. How can I have someone enter my life and replace the Dao inside me!?”
Although he appeared very noble and arrogant, the remaining words inside the guidebook had simply scared him to playing a charade.
[Well because you are a ‘young master,’ being engaged to a ‘young miss’ means that you’ll... encounter a main character-type person who will fall in love with your fiancee. Eventually, those two will hook up or elope and your clans would hunt them down. Then, that person will come back for revenge and kill you and your clan!]
Inside his heart, a slight trace of guilt surfaced, but it could topple over his fear. “Don’t blame me, little heroine. You’re cute and all, but I need to cut my ties with you because I don’t want to die yet!”
Finally a wise man... there are so many jade skinned beauties out there why bother with a troublesome one...
Little correction:
from an interspatial ring on in left hand. --> from an interspatial ring on his left hand.
“Sealed? Wait, what? What do mean sealed?” --> “Sealed? Wait, what? What do you mean sealed?”
Thank you!
i only hope there is not gonna be too mutch comedy
Nice chapter
Sigh why does every single novel like this one must have a cowardice MC? It is the same as the ones on royal road, there are actually two novels with the same settings and a cowardice MC afraid of dying because cultivation novels troops. Meh you have a good writing skills but this novel is not for me.
I dislike beta MC with passion.
...It's not really about being a beta. Is it worth marrying this chick so that some dude off the roadside will slaughter all your relatives in a month? Cultivation worlds are hell.
@Xiaoshen It is the way he handle it which makes him another beta MC. He already died once, the fear of the unknown (death) should have lessen greatly in his heart. Take a step back, act like an adult and actually consider things calmly instead of retreating beyond the mountain like a Japanese MC.
@lordjoseph7 I think a couple chapters is a bit too early to sentence him to the japanese MC betahood... but that's just me.
@Xiaoshen The following chapter did not help.
It added more to my confusion. First the book tells him she hates him and she will cuckold him then she turns out to be a yandre. Yeah I'm sticking with my early assessment, 100% Japanese beta MC with Yandre(s) behind him.
I get what you mean but do consider that the MCs reaction is a gag, a joke for fans of cultivation novels.
Also amateur authors tend to be copycats and just copy the reactions and tropes from other authors.
Its too early to judge and this seems a lot different from similar stories I have read. Hopefully this is a lot different from the "arrogant young master template number 4" and the mc does not get a disciple nor does it goes into a hiatus.
@endlessdreams A shame really since the author appears to have a bit of talent, at least English wise. I for one can't stand any kind of beta MC even if it was for comedic purposes.
First off yes i am disappointed the mc doesn't have a spine. It seems in these types of novels the mc is either prideful face-slapper who is a complete ass or the complete opposite. Rarely is there an mc outside of the young master or coward trope.
However, if I was in his situation I wouldn't marry the girl either but it wouldn't be because some mc like character is coming. It would be the fact that SHE RAN OFF WITH HIM! Why would I want a wife that would elope with another man?
Really guys let the MC alone
@lordjoseph7 The thing with "He already died once, the fear of the unknown (death) should have lessen greatly in his heart." ---- Yeah but if he die this time he lose all memory AND the book who is his only way to become strong. And really if you was him will you take the girl who end with and Plot-armoured MC who can literally come back several times from the dead with his heaven defying luck just to kill you ??
For your spoiler part, that normal she change. The story changed with his decision, so normally her meeting with the main character-type have less chance to happen. For say more, the girl being rejected like that and certainly having confidence in her appearance wants to prove that she can have the one who refused her. Just my opinion.
@KidBuu699 I don't think the MC is a coward. Like, in their face, he clearly state than he will not do it and just give a lame excuse that all. He fear for his life yeah but that would the same for all in his situation.
Relax mate. It's a gag story. Just enjoy the comedy ?
I enjoy it man no prob. The yandere part is even better. I even hope for more yandere here
@lordjoseph7 Alpha and beta are traits that describe behavior. Everyone always gets this wrong. An "alpha male" is a person who displays alpha traits. It's not some sort of inherent thing, like "he's an alpha" and "he's just a beta".
Any male can act 'alpha' or 'beta' in any context and at any given moment because we're talking about traits, behaviors etc.
No man is 100% alpha or 100% beta. In fact, men are inherently neither of them.
I don't understand why he is beta... I mean yes the girl is beautiful but he is not crazy inlove of the girl yet heck its just their first meeting & he knows nothing of the world yet how can he risk a potential Hero who have all the plot armour & cliches on his side be his enemies and slaughter everything for Revenge against him?....
While I do agree I don't like the way he did this as their might be other Option available... I also understand his rush decision as he is in a state of panic
It's not necessarily about being cowardly but if you knew what was going to happen and you don't really have attachments to the girl would you not try to avoid unnecessary trouble?
She's certainly pretty but I wouldn't stake my life on keeping her especially knowing she doesn't want to stay either...
@Reciful The answer is that beta and alpha mean different things to different people, most of which don't describe real things. An average person (aware of the tropes in cultivation worlds, which isn't normal) would be scared of dying and do the thing to not die.
Realistically speaking, you have to consider risk vs. reward. The risk is high(Clan getting wiped) and the reward is little(marrying some random chick you've never met before). So what's the point? If you wanna read a novel where the MC isn't afraid of death and just does whatever they want, there's like hundreds of those out there. Just read the translated ones from Chinese.