The Nine-Heart Begonia family, much like the Po clan, was one of the families with a true apothecary heritage. Their greatest skill lay in cultivating medicinal herbs.
Although Yang Wudi knew a bit about this field, his real expertise was in refining medicine. Thus, after Ye Haitang joined the Sword Sect, she took charge of managing the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and overseeing herb cultivation.
Originally, Yang Wudi had already planned out the medicine fields within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, but with Ye Haitang's more professional knowledge, she reorganized the layout, making full use of the place's potential.
After settling the matters concerning Ye Haitang and the others, a week passed. In the mornings, Oscar trained with Gai Yue to merge his Sword God Domain, in the afternoons he cultivated to condense his soul core, and in the evenings he rested briefly in the sect's gardens.
Watching the sky filled with red clouds, Oscar felt peaceful and content. Sitting cross-legged on the rooftop with a small wine flask beside him, he took a sip of green bamboo wine and admired the beautiful sunset, quietly thinking about his future plans.
Suddenly, a gentle fragrance drifted by, and a slender figure appeared beside him.
Turning his head, Oscar saw Ye Lingling, dressed in a green long dress, sitting not far away, hugging her knees and gazing at the sunset.
Ye Lingling was only a year older than Oscar,eighteen. Unlike Dugu Yan's mature charm, she looked calm and gentle, though Oscar knew her personality was not as docile as it appeared.
Everyone appreciates beauty, but Oscar never indulged in flirtation. Since he had gotten together with Dugu Yan, he had no interest in other women,having her was enough.
Dugu Yan's personality and bond with Oscar matched perfectly. Because of that, he had never been swayed by anyone else.
Of course, he had barely interacted with other women in recent years. The only "woman" he frequently interacted with was Ao Yue, his avatar,and that was purely for practical reasons, not emotional ones, or so Oscar told himself.
When his eyes met Ye Lingling's, Oscar quickly turned away and took another sip of wine. There wasn't much to say.
He had already invited her into the sect, and all the polite words had been said.
Ye Lingling probably came up simply because she saw him watching the sunset. Oscar stayed silent, and she also watched quietly beside him.
As the sun disappeared and the sound of cicadas grew louder, Oscar was about to get up and leave when Ye Lingling suddenly spoke.
"So, after tricking me into joining your sect, you don't even want to talk to me anymore?"
Oscar paused, turned toward her, and smiled faintly. "I just thought the sunset was beautiful and wanted to enjoy it a little longer. I was just about to invite you to dinner, but you spoke first."
Hearing that, and seeing the smile on his handsome face, Ye Lingling tilted her head. "I have a serious question for you."
Oscar nodded. "Ask away. I'll answer honestly."
Ye Lingling turned her head toward the grand mountain gate in the distance. "What do you think about Grandma's proposal?"
Oscar froze, his expression stiffening as he remembered what Ye Haitang had suggested three days earlier.
Back then, after confirming the Nine-Heart Begonia clan's integration into the Sword Sect, Ye Haitang made a small request,she wanted Ye Lingling and Oscar to marry.
Even after learning that Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, already shared strong feelings with Oscar, Ye Haitang didn't mind Ye Lingling being a concubine. She even said that their union would permanently tie the Begonia family to the Sword Sect.
At the time, Oscar had felt a headache coming on. Though Ye Lingling was indeed a top-tier beauty, he had never entertained any improper thoughts,his heart belonged solely to Dugu Yan.
What made it worse was that Ye Lingling, despite blushing shyly, hadn't objected to her grandmother's idea and had secretly glanced at his reaction.
Oscar was sharp enough to read people's feelings. Even though he had only ever loved Dugu Yan, he could tell when a woman liked him.
But what surprised him was that he and Ye Lingling had only met twice and spent less than a week together. How could she already have feelings for him,especially knowing he had a girlfriend?
He understood his own attractiveness, but he hadn't expected someone as excellent as Ye Lingling to fall for him.
Then he remembered that Ye Haitang herself had two husbands. Perhaps Ye Lingling's indifference toward him already having a girlfriend came from that influence.
Could something like that be inherited?
Oscar hadn't given a direct response back then. He simply said he was in a crucial cultivation period and would consider it after spending more time with her. He hadn't expected Ye Lingling to confront him directly just days later.
He had wanted to refuse outright, but before he could, Dugu Bo had stepped in, saying he would talk to his granddaughter himself.
The old man even encouraged Oscar to interact more with Ye Lingling,and so did Gai Yue.
That left Oscar no chance to refuse outright, only to agree to "think about it."
Dugu Bo's reasoning was simple. Though he would prefer Oscar to have only Dugu Yan, he now cared deeply for Oscar. Thanks to him, both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had solved their poison problems and grown far stronger.
Now, Oscar had a chance to secure an alliance with the Nine-Heart Begonia clan, and Dugu Bo naturally supported the idea.
After all, nothing binds people closer than family ties. A political alliance could shift with interests, but marriage would cement kinship.
Ye Haitang's motives were also pragmatic. She had asked her granddaughter for her opinion first,and Ye Lingling had admitted that she genuinely liked Oscar.
She had first noticed him during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament over a year ago, when Oscar's dazzling performance had left a deep impression. It was love at first sight, though she never expected to meet him again.
When Oscar and Gai Yue later visited the Begonia family, she finally got the chance. Even though they only interacted for a few hours and barely spoke, she couldn't forget the excitement she'd felt.
So when Ye Haitang asked her about Oscar, Ye Lingling confessed her feelings and said she didn't mind his existing relationship.
Having two husbands herself, Ye Haitang's attitude had clearly influenced her granddaughter.
For Ye Lingling, as long as Oscar was good enough, she didn't mind sharing him. Her grandfathers had coexisted peacefully, even like brothers, so she believed it could work.
Ye Haitang had her own calculations too. Although her clan had joined the Sword Sect and benefited greatly, they hadn't yet contributed much. A marriage alliance would secure their place long-term.
And now, faced with Ye Lingling's straightforward question, Oscar ran through everyone's perspectives in his mind,Ye Haitang's, Dugu Bo's, Gai Yue's,and thought carefully.
He had planned to ignore the issue and let time dissolve it, but now that the girl herself asked directly, he couldn't avoid giving an answer.
Ye Lingling waited silently, looking into the distance at the grand gate of the sect, her expression calm but expectant.
She knew forced love wouldn't last, but with her grandmother and both elders supporting the match, she wanted to try. Happiness, she believed, must be pursued.
After a long silence, Oscar finally spoke. "Lingling, I won't lie to you. I'll just say it plainly."
Ye Lingling turned to meet his gaze. "Okay."
Oscar didn't avoid her eyes. "I never thought about having multiple relationships or forming a political marriage. Ever since I got together with Yan, I've only had her in my heart. I'll probably only have her in this life."
Ye Lingling frowned slightly. It wasn't the answer she wanted, yet in a way, it was the one she most wanted to hear.
It meant Oscar was a loyal man,once he chose someone, he wouldn't change. That kind of man gave her no reason for fear.
Still, part of her wished he could accept her too, that he could love both her and Dugu Yan wholeheartedly.
Oscar noticed her expression and smiled wryly. "Lingling, you really are amazing,in beauty, talent, and heart. But I can't lie to you. You're a wonderful girl, but right now there's no room for you in my heart."
Before he could finish, Ye Lingling interrupted him with a bright smile. "That's fine. We can just be friends for now. As long as you know I like you, that's enough. The rest is my problem. I promise I won't get between you and Sister Dugu Yan. How about that?"
Her smile and those words left Oscar speechless. He had made his stance clear, but he hadn't expected her to respond like that.
In some ways, her words made him happy,but deep down, he felt guilty toward Dugu Yan.
Was Ye Lingling a good girl? Of course. Oscar couldn't deny his admiration for her.
If he had met both women at the same time, perhaps he would have pursued them both.
But reality was different. He and Dugu Yan had been together for years. His heart belonged to her alone, and even if he met someone better, he wouldn't pursue her.
Finally, Oscar smiled faintly. "I can't promise I'll ever fall for you."
Ye Lingling stood up. "That's my problem, not yours."
Glancing at the starlit sky, she brushed imaginary dust from her dress and said softly, "So, when are you taking me to get my fifth spirit ring?"
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