Months slipped by in steady rhythm—training, hunting, and long days spent with his closest friends. Yet for Han Zhennan, beneath that normality lurked a quiet tension. Every time his father called for him, his chest tightened ever so slightly, waiting for the day the word marriage would be spoken again.
That day came while he sat on the Lu clan's training ground, running a whetstone carefully down the edge of his blade. The metal sang with each stroke, while beside him, Lu Zhenhai snored with his arms crossed behind his head, dead to the world as usual.
A servant appeared, bowing respectfully. "Young master, your father requests your presence immediately."
Zhennan's hand froze mid-stroke. For a brief moment, he felt something unusual coil in his stomach. Fear.
It was absurd—he had never once felt fear when facing beasts the size of houses, nor in the heat of battle when cultivators stronger and crueler than him sought to end his life. But marriage? That… unsettled him. Perhaps because it was unknown, something he had never prepared for. Perhaps because he knew it could change the course of his life forever.
He exhaled slowly, forced steel into his spine, and rose.
By the time he entered his father's chambers, his face was composed, though his heart was not. Han Zhenwu sat tall in his throne-like chair, eyes closed, his presence alone pressing down on the room like a mountain. When his gaze opened and fell upon his son, it was sharp and unyielding.
"Sit," he commanded.
Zhennan obeyed.
"I have decided on your brides," Zhenwu said without hesitation, his tone carrying no room for argument. "I narrowed the number to two. Do you know why?" He leaned forward slightly, voice cold and pragmatic. "Because of their clan histories. Their strength. Their resources. And most importantly—because of you."
Zhennan's back stiffened. His mouth went dry.
His father continued smoothly, as though reading from a script that had already been carved into stone. "Xue Lian and He Ruying, I have chosen these two for you."
For a moment, Zhennan thought he had misheard. His eyes widened. "...What?"
Zhenwu's gaze never wavered. "You are close to them. In fact, only Lu Zhenhai is closer to you than they are. Over the past year, I've investigated carefully. It is clear they cherish you deeply, and your own bond with them is strong. Add to that their talents in cultivation, their families' wealth, and their loyalty to you—it is only logical. They are the perfect choice."
Zhennan's jaw fell slack. His friends. His two closest companions aside from Zhenhai. Married to him? Both of them?
His thoughts scrambled, tripping over themselves. Even his father had only ever taken one wife. Just how many had he originally intended before "narrowing" it down to two?
"Father, I…" He swallowed, voice uneven. "I don't know about that. They're— they're my close friends. Wouldn't it be strange? For them too?"
Zhenwu's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "Strange for you, you mean. As for them, you need not worry. They will not refuse you, nor dislike the arrangement. Anyone with half a mind can see they already harbor feelings for you. Perhaps you failed to notice because you are too innocent. But the truth is plain to all."
Zhennan's face burned. "I—I—what?!"
His father leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing with amusement. "Would you like to hear something interesting? A week ago, I spoke with Lu Zhenhai's father. Do you know what he told me?"
Zhennan stiffened. "I… I don't know."
Zhenwu's smile widened, cutting like a knife. "He said your dear friend Zhenhai wagered with him—betting on which of the two girls would end up marrying you first. Would you like to know the amount? Or which one he bet on?"
Zhennan's face flushed scarlet, his ears burning as if set on fire. "That… that bastard!" He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. The thought that his so-called best friend not only knew of their feelings but made a bet out of it—rage and humiliation twisted together in his chest. "Just wait until I get my hands on him…"
But his father's expression hardened suddenly, amusement draining away. His tone grew sharp, commanding.
"I have already spoken with their fathers. Both agreed to the proposal. Most likely, the daughters already know. The only matter left undecided is the wedding date. I am allowing you to choose, but it must be within three months. Do not waste anymore time then that."
His words were final, each one heavy with authority. Then, without another glance, he closed his eyes again and resumed his cultivation. The conversation was over.
Zhennan stood, bowed, and left.
As he stepped back into the corridors of his clan's estate, his thoughts swirled in chaos. His father's will was absolute—since childhood, disobedience had never even been a possibility in Zhennan's mind. But this… this was different. Xue Lian and He Ruying weren't just names, weren't faceless political brides—they were his friends, women he had sparred with, laughed with, shared countless days with he didn't think he'd ever marry them but he couldn't disobey his father as he knew his father always knows what's best for him.
Would they truly accept this? Would they even want it? And even if they did… how could he face them? Wouldn't it tear their friendship apart, force jealousy between them?
He clenched his teeth, gripping his head as if trying to squeeze the thoughts out. "Damn it, Father… why put me in this situation?"
But deep down, he already knew the answer. Because in this world, a man desires were nothing before the will of the clan.
Han Zhennan sat cross-legged in his room, trying to focus, forcing Qi to circulate. But his mind was a storm, refusing to settle. Each time he closed his eyes, the same thoughts came back—the weight of his father's words, Xue Lian's laugh, He Ruying's calm gaze, his father's command echoing like a blade against his skull.
By the time dawn painted the horizon, he hadn't slept a single moment. His body was restless, his chest heavy. He needed answers—or at least someone to unload his frustration on.
And so, he made his way to the one place he knew he'd find his target. Sure enough, under the old elm tree at the edge of the training ground, Lu Zhenhai lay sprawled out, snoring softly, arms behind his head like he had no cares in the world.
"Damned bastard sleeps everywhere he goes," Zhennan muttered, stooping to pick up a small rock. He weighed it in his palm, then flicked it with sharp precision.
Thunk.
The stone bounced off Zhenhai's forehead and clattered harmlessly to the dirt. Zhenhai stirred, one eye half-open, and yawned as if he'd only been tickled. "The hell was that for?"
He had no time for more. Zhennan lunged at him like a beast, tackling him to the ground. The two rolled in the dirt, trading blows more like brothers brawling than cultivators sparring.
"Get off me, dammit!" Zhenhai roared, shoving him back. Zhennan retaliated with a sharp kick to his stomach, but Zhenhai caught his leg mid-swing and shoved him off, tumbling both of them apart.
Panting, Zhenhai sat up, brushing dust from his robes. "What the hell was that for? I didn't even do anything to you… at least not yet."
Zhennan's glare could have split stone. "You bastard. You made a bet with your father about who I'd marry, didn't you? Don't even think about lying. My father told me."
Zhenhai blinked, then smirked knowingly. "Ahhh, so that's what this is about i was just bored and i heard from him that your dad is trying to find you a bride." He leaned back against the tree, folding his arms. "And let me guess—he also told you why you're so blind you couldn't tell Xue Lian and He Ruying like you?"
Zhennan's fists clenched. "Why didn't you tell me?! Why keep it from me?"
"Tell you?" Zhenhai laughed, his grin wicked. "Brother, don't blame me for your stupidity. I gave you hints. They gave you hints. But you—" he jabbed a finger at him, "—you were too dense to notice. Too casual with them, treating them like brothers in arms instead of women. You're lucky they even had the patience for you."
Zhennan bristled. "Don't they treat you the same way?"
Zhenhai erupted in laughter, slapping his knee. "Me? Hah! Are you blind and deaf? Xue Lian would rather drown me in a river than marry me. The woman's spent half her life trying to bash my skull in. But you? She's been circling you like a hawk since we were kids. And I'll tell you one thing—she'll never get rid of me either. I'll be that fly buzzing in her ear until we're all old and gray, just to annoy her since she annoying with her loud mouth for all these years."
Zhennan groaned, rubbing his temples. "You're insufferable."
Zhenhai ignored him, continuing with a smug tilt of his head. "And He Ruying? She doesn't look at me with stars on her eye's and listens everything i say now does she?. But with you? She always listens to you and follows you everywhere she can. Every time she acts weak, who carries her back? Who helps her with her blade when it's broken? Who she always waits for to step in when things get tough? You."
Zhennan was struck silent. The memories rose unbidden—moments he'd dismissed as nothing more than friendship. He cursed under his breath.
"How are you this observant?" he muttered finally.
Zhenhai grinned ear to ear, puffing his chest. "Didn't I tell you? I'm an expert in these things."
Zhennan snapped back instantly. "You've never even held a woman's hand, how the hell would you know anything?"
The words hit Zhenhai like a spear. He froze for a second before a vein bulged on his forehead. "You… you blind imbecile!" he shouted, grabbing Zhennan by the collar. "Don't think I won't wring your neck for that!"
Zhennan smirked, pleased with himself, as the two immediately tumbled back into another wrestling match—rolling in the dirt like children, their shouts echoing across the training ground.
For all the weight of marriage and duty crushing down on Zhennan, at least here, with Zhenhai, he could breathe.