Early the next morning, Drake Ward arrived at the manor again and asked Ian Song which young lady had caught his eye.
Ian gave him his answer.
Drake Ward used a jade talisman to send word, and within half an hour, everything was arranged—the meeting with the chosen young lady would happen soon.
After half an hour, Drake Ward led Ian to the entrance of a garden, smiling, "She's inside. Go on in!"
"Alright!"
Ian nodded and stepped inside.
The garden was huge and exquisitely designed. Walking through it was genuinely relaxing, and the scenery instantly put him in a good mood. Honestly, it was a perfect spot for a date.
Ian didn't deliberately search for the young lady; he just wandered casually through the garden.
Before he knew it, he'd arrived at a sea of flowers—vivid colors everywhere, breathtakingly beautiful.
At the center of the flower sea stood a small glazed pavilion. Inside, a young woman in white stood with her back to Ian.
Just from her silhouette, Ian could see those stunning curves—and there was a faint, ethereal aura about her.
With a single step, Ian crossed dozens of feet and appeared inside the glazed pavilion.
The young woman in white slowly turned around. Her eyes were as clear and rippleless as a well, and she spoke in a calm, flat voice: "Evan Chu?"
"Hello, Lynne Ward. I'm Evan Chu!"
Ian smiled as he spoke. Yes, the girl he'd chosen was Lynne Ward.
"Alright, noted."
She replied calmly, her cold face and eyes showing no reaction at all. Then she simply turned away and stared off into the distance.
Most people would probably feel awkward or at a loss in this kind of situation.
But Ian was a veteran who's seen it all in several worlds—his skin was so thick it was hard to describe. He stepped forward to stand beside her: "Lynne, is this really how you treat your blind date, your future husband?"
"How should I treat you, then?"
Lynne Ward looked at him, her expression still perfectly calm.
"Don't you want to get to know me at all?" Ian met her gaze and asked with a smile.
"Once we're married, I'll naturally get to know you."
"Alright."
Ian felt a little deflated, but kept going: "So, are you satisfied with me?"
"I wouldn't say satisfied, but I don't dislike you either."
"If that's the case, why did you agree to this marriage?"
"It's a family arrangement. I can't refuse, so I just have to accept it."
"Heh, you really do know how to think things through!"
"I'll have to get married eventually. It doesn't matter who, since the family never gives me any choice. At least you don't disgust me."
"Alright, then."
Ian shrugged, feeling a bit helpless about meeting such a cold-tempered girl.
"That's settled, then. I'll head out now!"
"Take care."
Lynne said calmly.
"So?"
Drake Ward hadn't left; he was waiting outside the garden. "Want to try meeting another one?"
"No need, she's the one!" Ian replied.
"You really don't want to reconsider?" Drake Ward stared at Ian.
"Really, no need!"
"Alright, I'll go report in, then come back to find you!"
Drake Ward left, while Ian headed straight back to the manor.
Back at the manor, Ian called Cici, Joy, and Wei Le over, pulled out a set of mahjong tiles from his storage ring, and set up a game.
They hadn't played for long.
Yvette Ward stormed in again, bringing the same two young men from yesterday.
She looked furious. As soon as she saw Ian, she demanded, "Why didn't you choose me? What does Lynne Ward have that I don't?"
Ian was stunned, staring at Yvette Ward in disbelief. "Are you crazy? I didn't pick you, you should be happy! What's with this drama now?"
Yvette Ward shouted angrily, "I'm the most outstanding young woman in the Ward Clan! If you don't choose me, you're looking down on me. In terms of cultivation, I'm late Sun-Soul Realm; in terms of beauty, Lynne can't compare! Tell me, why didn't you pick me? Go tell Uncle Drake right now that you've changed your mind and want me instead!"
Ian asked, "Why should I? Give me a reason!"
Yvette Ward declared confidently, "Only if you choose me can I reject you and show you that a toad will never eat swan meat!"
Hearing that, Ian's face darkened and he spat out a single word: "Get lost!"
Cici and Joy couldn't help bursting into laughter, while Wei Le struggled to hold it in.
"You bitches! How dare you laugh at me!"
Seeing Cici and Joy laughing, Yvette Ward flew into a rage and sent two palm strikes at them from a distance.
"Get lost!"
Annoyed, Ian waved his hand, and an overwhelming force swept up Yvette Ward and her two attendants, tossing them out of the manor. As for the energy from her palm strikes, it dissipated on its own before coming within three feet of the girls.
Compared to Cici and Joy, Yvette Ward was way out of her league—her cultivation wasn't even enough to touch a single hair on them.
"Alright, let's keep playing!"
Ian said, and continued with the mahjong, while Yvette Ward, thrown out of the manor, couldn't stop cursing. She wanted to barge back in, but was afraid Ian would deal with her again.
After a while, seeing that no one responded, she could only leave in a huff.
That afternoon, Drake Ward came to inform Ian Song that his marriage to Lynne Ward was officially set—a month from now, they would wed directly.
Ian had no objections to this arrangement.
Three days passed in a flash, and today, the Ward Clan’s patriarch was about to summon him.
The Ward patriarch resided deep within True-Dragon City, in a massive palace.
Ian passed through corridor after corridor and garden after garden before finally arriving at the place where he would meet the patriarch.
The Ward patriarch looked to be in his thirties, dressed in pale moon-colored scholar’s robes, with a faint smile on his face that gave off a gentle, spring-like aura.
"Junior Evan Chu greets the elder!" Ian bowed respectfully. The patriarch gave him a powerful impression—if they fought at full strength, Ian wasn’t sure he could win. This confirmed his guess: half-god warriors were already comparable to immortals.
"No need for such formalities!"
The patriarch nodded approvingly, raising his hand in a gentle gesture.
After a brief conversation, the patriarch indicated Ian could leave. Ian was left puzzled—had he been summoned just for a meeting?
The days that followed were leisurely for Ian. He played mahjong and cards with his women in the manor, or strolled around True-Dragon City with them.
Meanwhile, news of his upcoming wedding spread rapidly throughout the Ward Clan, along with tales of his defeat of Victor Ward.
Finally.
A month passed by in the blink of an eye, and Ian’s wedding day arrived.
The wedding was held at Ian’s manor, which had been transferred to his name days earlier and decorated festively by the servants.
Around eight in the morning, Ian led the bridal procession prepared by the Ward Clan to fetch the bride.
By ten-thirty, the bridal party returned.
At eleven, under the witness of numerous guests, the formal wedding ceremony began.
After the couple performed the traditional husband-and-wife salute, the officiant called out, "Bring the Same-Heart Lamp!"
A maid carefully carried forward a bronze lamp, its flame a strange violet. An inexplicable aura emanated from the Same-Heart Lamp, making Ian instinctively wary.