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Would Ryo really marry Luo Hao?
He could say "no" all he wanted—but a certain part of him was being very honest about how he felt.
Still, he wasn't about to bring home an ancestral idol he'd have to worship every day, aka his wife. Life was hard enough—why add more weight to his shoulders?
Thinking that, Ryo shot Liliana a meaningful look.
Liliana blinked in confusion at first, then finally caught on when Ryo gave her another quick glance. She hesitated, bit her lip, and finally spoke up: "Master of the Holy Cult, with all due respect, talking about engagement after just one day of meeting seems… a little fast, doesn't it?"
"Why not?"
Luo Hao frowned slightly, glancing at her as though the question itself was strange.
"In my time, marriage was always arranged by parents and matchmakers. Most couples never even saw each other's faces until the wedding day."
"If not for my parents passing early, I would've been engaged long ago. Most girls were engaged before they were 8 in my time."
Liliana's cheeks flushed, but she still tried to argue: "But… that's wrong. Shouldn't the girl have a say in it?"
"Oh? Luo Hao finally turned and looked at her directly. "But when did I ever say this marriage went against my will?"
Right… she was the one who offered in the first place.
Liliana realized she was completely outmatched. Her debating skills were nowhere near Erica's.
She sneaked a quick look at Ryo.
'Sorry, my king—I couldn't save you.'
Luo Hao took a slow sip of tea and said casually. "So that's how it is. You're a funny little thing."
Liliana's face went stiff. She knew she'd been found out.
Then Luo Hao said, utterly calm. "I'm not some villain. Since you clearly like Ryo, I won't stop you. Sharing the position of first wife is something I can afford to grant."
Liliana's frozen expression cracked into a faint, secret smile.
Ryo caught her reaction and immediately gave her a sharp look, making her lower her head and stay quiet.
'Sorry, my king. I didn't mean to take advantage… but this is way more than I expected! I thought I'd have to settle for mistress at best…'
Ryo understood perfectly.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "Lily, you really accepted this?"
Liliana dropped her gaze even lower, not daring to respond.
Luo Hao let out a cold snort. "Ryo, if you have something to say, say it directly. Why bother using others to sound me out?"
Ryo just smiled at her, completely unfazed.
He never did like people who came at him head-on. He'd rather be the mage, not the fighter.
Luo Hao seemed to read his thoughts and sighed. "Fine. What you worry about is nothing more than those worldly entanglements. If that's the case, we'll do things your way."
"In the end, all I seek is the peak of martial arts. Household squabbles and family politics were never my concern."
'So Ryo could marry as many wives as he wanted without her approval?'
Liliana, with her limited knowledge of Chinese culture, barely managed to piece together what Luo Hao meant.
Ryo's face suddenly broke into a grin.
"Well, since you insisted, I'd be a fool to keep refusing something free. You are my fiancée now."
"Show a little respect." Luo Hao's voice was sharp, her displeasure clear.
"To be so distracted by beauty this easily and still reach this level of power—I honestly don't know how you managed it."
She had offered herself, yet he still hemmed and hawed, even using his subordinate to probe her feelings.
That kind of behavior really was rude.
But she didn't deny it—there was no one else in the world worthy of her but Ryo.
As for the other kings? They could never defeat her. How could she marry them?
Ryo didn't argue. He simply said with a faint smile: "When you carry too much, your heart gets heavy."
Luo Hao raised an eyebrow and gave him a look of renewed respect.
"So there is already someone in your heart. Then this is my fault."
But she had no intention of taking back what she said.
If she wanted a man, she would take him. If he objected, they could fight it out.
Ryo only shrugged and laughed. "No, I'm just a lecher."
He raised his cup and toasted her before changing the subject. "So, what's your opinion on the monkey king of Japan?"
Luo Hao frowned, "The Monkey King… I don't know how you learned about my grudge with that beast, but if I ever get the chance, I'll send it straight to hell."
The "Monkey King" she spoke of was none other than Sun Wukong—Son Goku—the Great Sage Equaling Heaven— he was now sealed in Japan.
Luo Hao had tried once, a hundred years ago, to force him out of "hiding." But she only managed to discover the method to break the seal.
Unfortunately, the seal could only be undone with the sacrifice of a Mother Earth goddess, or that's what her intel said.
And though she could kill gods, capturing one alive was beyond her ability. So she had to retreat to Mount Lu and continue her seclusion, letting her followers search for clues about the Mother Earth and the mastermind behind the seal.
"To this day, I still don't know who created this damn seal," Luo Hao said coldly. "If I did, I would tear them out by the root."
"Susanoo."
Ryo set down his teacup, a sly smile playing on his lips. "He's the one who sealed Sun Wukong. He's probably hiding in Netherworld right now."
Luo Hao nodded, suddenly understanding. "So you came here not just to visit, but to invite me to unseal the monkey? You want to kill him?"
"Yes and no."
Ryo nodded, then shook his head.
"I just think our newly Heavenly Court… feels a little too small."
Luo Hao's expression shifted as realization dawned. "Ah. If this is about expanding our territory, then of course I'll be the one to lead the charge."
She had once dominated China, crushed the Russians, and invaded India seven times—yet true expansion had never really been her focus.
After all, why bother with more land?
Still, the thought of a little world-shaking conquest didn't exactly bother her.
"Nope. China or Japan—don't really give a fuck about any of them. Why would I need territory for?"
"Luo Hao!"
Ryo smiled faintly, lifted his hand, and pointed toward the sky. "Tell me: Don't you think the ones up there have been sitting pretty for a bit too long?"
"Don't you think there are too many gods out there?"
"Personally, I think single digits are perfect."
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