The Li Clan's main courtyard buzzed with gossip long after the marriage announcement ceremony ended.
Disciples and servants whispered among themselves as Li Ming strolled past, hands clasped behind his back, his smile positively glowing. The golden sun seemed to shine brighter just to match his mood.
"Did you hear? Young Master Li Ming actually agreed to the arranged marriage."
"Hah, the same young master who once said he'd rather cultivate to immortality alone than be shackled by women?"
"Indeed. The heavens must've reversed themselves today!"
Li Ming's lips curved higher with each whisper he overheard.
He didn't even try to suppress it.
Let them talk.
Let them choke on their words when they saw his destined greatness!
The Heavenly Marriage System pulsed faintly in his consciousness, and for the first time in his life, the words Wife sounded sweeter than Spirit Stones.
As he pushed open the carved wooden doors to his private chambers, the lingering fragrance of sandalwood greeted him. He stretched leisurely, his eyes glimmering with self-satisfaction.
"Not bad, Li Ming. Not bad at all," he murmured to himself, admiring his reflection in the polished jade mirror. "A divine marriage, a mysterious wife of celestial temperament, and a system that rewards me for it… Truly, Heaven has impeccable taste."
He then poured himself a cup of spirit tea and sat comfortably, savoring the rising steam like a scholar admiring his calligraphy.
That's when the door burst open without ceremony.
"Oi, Cousin Ming!"
A blur of green robes dashed in — Li Cheng, the clan's infamous chatterbox, whose cultivation talent was only slightly better than a mortal chicken's.
"Ah, Cheng'er," Li Ming greeted, not even turning around. "You're supposed to knock before entering a man's chamber. What if I was cultivating?"
Li Cheng snorted. "Cultivating? You mean bragging to yourself in front of the mirror again?"
"…You little rascal."
Li Ming gave him a sidelong glance. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? I want to ask!" Cheng slapped the table and leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "You, my virtuous cousin — the man who once rejected three sect beauties, the one who said marriage dulls the sword of cultivation — actually agreed to an arranged marriage? You have to tell me what happened!"
Li Ming sipped his tea slowly, feigning deep wisdom. "Sometimes, fate doesn't ask for permission. It simply delivers a wife."
Li Cheng stared at him as if he had just announced enlightenment through napping. "...A wife? You? The guy who once said women are distractions crafted by Heaven to test men's determination?"
Li Ming's smirk widened. "Indeed. And I passed the test , by embracing the distraction."
Li Cheng groaned dramatically. "This can't be real. You must've hit your head during meditation."
"On the contrary," Li Ming replied, "I hit enlightenment."
He rose, clasping his hands behind his back, pacing slowly like a profound elder narrating the Dao of Wisdom.
"Cousin, do you know what true cultivation is?"
Li Cheng blinked. "Uh… sitting cross-legged for hours and inhaling spirit Qi until your butt goes numb?"
Li Ming sighed. "Foolish. True cultivation is about harmony. Yin and Yang. Emotion and spirit. Heaven and…"
He paused for dramatic effect, turning toward his cousin with a glint in his eyes.
"…wives."
Li Cheng's mouth fell open. "Wives?! You're founding your Dao on women now?!"
Li Ming raised his cup again, the picture of leisure. "Precisely. The Dao of Marriage. Through unity of heart, spirit, and shared pillow talk, one reaches enlightenment."
There was silence.
Then—
"Pfft—HAHAHAHAHA!" Li Cheng almost fell off his chair laughing. "Oh, Cousin Ming, I swear the heavens will strike you down for this blasphemy!"
Li Ming took another calm sip. "They'll have to catch me between my wives first."
Li Cheng wiped a tear of laughter. "So tell me, how did this Dao of Marriage nonsense start? Did your fiancée brainwash you already?"
Li Ming set his teacup down and straightened slightly. "I wouldn't expect you to understand, Cousin. The world looks at me and sees another idle young master. But destiny… destiny saw a visionary."
"Uh-huh."
"A cultivator of harmony, unity, and mutual ascension."
"Right."
"A man destined to ascend through love itself!"
"...You've gone mad."
Li Ming ignored him, lost in his own narration. "Imagine it, Cousin Cheng — dual cultivation that shares comprehension, energy, even physical tempering! Every wife, a partner on the path to immortality. Every marriage, a step toward the heavens. Tell me, how can mere solitary cultivation compete?"
Li Cheng gawked. "You're serious, aren't you?"
Li Ming's grin was infuriatingly confident. "I'm dead serious."
Li Cheng threw up his hands. "And how many wives do you plan to take for this so-called 'Dao of Love'?"
Li Ming stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… I'll let fate decide. But judging by Heaven's generosity, I'd say... at least five."
"Five?! Are you building a harem or a sect?"
Li Ming's tone turned solemn. "A sect founded on affection. The Dao of Marriage Sect."
Li Cheng stared, speechless. "You've gone from delusional to legendary."
After a long pause, Li Cheng slumped into a chair, muttering under his breath. "Hmph. You and your big dreams. Still, that fiancée of yours… I heard she's from the Frost Phoenix Palace? Must be quite the beauty."
Li Ming smirked. "Of course. The heavens wouldn't pair me with anyone ordinary."
Li Cheng rolled his eyes. "Careful, Cousin. Those frosty women are known for freezing men with a glare. You might end up cultivating in an ice coffin."
"Then I'll melt her with my charm," Li Ming replied smoothly.
Cheng groaned. "You really believe that, don't you?"
"Believe it? I've already begun it."
A faint trace of pride colored his voice as he touched the silver token hanging from his belt — the symbol of his engagement.
Li Cheng caught the expression and sighed dramatically. "Ah, it's official. My cousin has fallen in love before even spending real time with his bride."
"Love?" Li Ming chuckled softly. "No, Cheng. I've found something greater."
He turned toward the open window, where sunlight streamed through the gauze curtain, painting his silhouette in gold.
"I've found my Dao."
Li Cheng made a gagging noise. "Ugh, you sound like an old hermit trying to sound profound."
Li Ming ignored him, smiling faintly. "You'll see, Cousin. When you're still stuck trying to open your second meridian, I'll be cultivating through moonlit nights with my wife, advancing realms with each heartbeat."
"Moonlit nights, huh? You mean dual cultivating?"
Li Ming paused. "Of course. Why waste time breathing Qi when we can breathe together?"
Li Cheng froze. Then he covered his face with both hands. "Heaven help us. Cousin Ming has truly gone perverted."
"Enlightened," Li Ming corrected.
Then,
As the argument spiraled into another round of banter and teasing, a servant knocked lightly at the door.
"Young Master, the Clan Head requests your presence for the evening banquet. The elders wish to toast your marriage agreement."
Li Ming nodded, stretching leisurely. "Tell them I'll arrive shortly."
The servant left. Li Cheng followed him with his eyes, then looked back at Li Ming, smirking. "Well, Cousin, seems like everyone's expecting you to play the dutiful husband now."
Li Ming chuckled, brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve. "A husband? No, Cousin Cheng. Soon, they'll call me something far greater."
Cheng blinked. "What?"
Li Ming's smile deepened, his eyes glimmering with self-assured arrogance.
******
[A/N:] Thanks for reading this far, as things go, I have been enjoying writing this. And yes this will be another plea for support, as your power stones and comments give me the motivation I need to continue. And if you like what you see, why not add to library?