Dan Feng couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it.
'No, where did this extra step even come from?'
'Didn't you two already get the marriage certificate? Why are you still thinking about proposing?'
'Jingliu, are you still the decisive Sword Champion who used to dislike flashy sword tricks? Why are you suddenly chasing a sense of ceremony now?'
The corner of Dan Feng's mouth twitched.
'What a coincidence. Zero happened to like this so-called sense of ceremony.'
'Jingliu learned this from Zero.'
'You two really are a match made in heaven!'
Baiheng also guessed the truth.
[Baiheng: Wow! Are you planning to propose to Zero?]
Yingxing and Jing Yuan were extremely shocked and sent several stickers in a row.
Baiheng accepted it pretty easily.
As a top-level player whose friends were spread across the Xianzhou, her typing speed was extremely fast. Before the others even reacted, her messages quickly filled the chat screen.
[Baiheng: Come on, what year is it already? Can you stop sticking to those old feudal ideas?]
[Baiheng: What a coincidence, the owner of this flower shop is my friend. Jingliu, remember to mention my name later]
[Baiheng: When are you planning to propose? We absolutely can't miss such an important moment]
Dan Feng switched to his chat with Zero. Just as he was about to tell him about this, another message from Baiheng popped up on the screen.
[Baiheng: Don't worry, with me around, we definitely won't miss a single moment. I'll take photos the whole time!]
Dan Feng stared at the words "take photos the whole time," silently deleted the unsent message, and switched back to the group chat.
He thought this was normal.
Even across the entire universe, this kind of thing wasn't common.
And the person being proposed to was the former Marshal.
It was Zero.
Who could refuse? Who would refuse?
Dan Feng couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud.
As he laughed, his expression froze.
He almost forgot.
The current Marshal had once given him an order.
When welcoming Zero, he had to do it sincerely.
Before leaving, the other party had even specifically mentioned Dan Feng's sixteen attendants.
Then at the very least, he had to send out thirty-two attendants.
Dan Feng let out a deep sigh.
'What a pity.'
If not for this order…
He could have witnessed the happy moment between his two friends.
If he watched Jingliu's proposal, then turned around and arranged thirty-two attendants for Zero…
Zero would definitely get angry from embarrassment.
Dan Feng lowered his head and looked at the jade abacus screen.
Jingliu replied briefly to Baiheng's message, saying that Zero had proposed to her before, and this time, she wanted to make up for the proposal ceremony today.
At the end, she rejected her friends' suggestion to witness the proposal.
[Baiheng: What? Today? Then you need to order the flowers quickly. Right, when Zero proposed to you, did you take photos?]
[Jingliu: No]
Dan Feng sighed.
How could that person possibly propose?
Jingliu really was… giving Zero plenty of face.
[Baiheng: Eh? What a pity]
[Baiheng: A proposal ceremony belonging only to two people is also very romantic. Jingliu, this time you must remember to take photos as keepsakes]
Next, Baiheng started analyzing the flowers in the picture, and Dan Feng also joined the discussion.
From the memories of one of the "Imbibitor Lunas," he recalled the dozens-of-meters-high flower wall at the former Marshal's funeral and ruled out several flower types.
In the end, Jingliu decided on peonies as the main flowers.
Yingxing and Jing Yuan didn't say a word the entire time and privately messaged Dan Feng at the same time.
[Yingxing: Jingliu is actually going to propose to that strongest human?!]
Dan Feng: "..."
He didn't reply and opened Jing Yuan's message instead.
[Jing Yuan: Do adults become like this after falling in love?]
[Imbibitor Lunae: No]
Facing the confusion of a minor, Dan Feng replied carelessly with two words, then silently added the second half in his heart...
'It's just that neither of them are normal people.'
Dan Feng was filled with emotion.
If even one of them had been normal, they probably wouldn't have made it to marriage, right?
[Jingliu: Would only sending flowers be too cliche? @Imbibitor Lunae]
Dan Feng found himself at a loss for a moment.
From checks handed out at annual meetings to the entire Xianzhou Alliance…
What gifts hadn't Zero received? What gifts hadn't others given him?
Dan Feng fell into thought and quickly got an idea.
Cash.
Surely nobody had ever given Zero patrol tokens.
He had always been frugal, so he would definitely like this special gift.
Dan Feng confidently replied.
[Imbibitor Lunae: Then add patrol tokens]
[Jingliu: Patrol tokens won't work]
Dan Feng understood.
The shape of patrol tokens was too sharp. Too dangerous.
[Imbibitor Lunae: Then use credit points to make a cake tower]
The three discussed back and forth and confirmed all kinds of details about the flowers and cake tower.
Next, they needed to figure out Zero's schedule, then finalize the proposal location.
Dan Feng volunteered himself and opened Zero's chat window.
By complete coincidence, the other party sent him a location.
It was a restaurant inside a hotel.
Dan Feng had been there once and casually recharged some patrol tokens there.
The restaurant's prices were acceptable, the waiters had excellent attitudes, and its only flaw was that a meal there took at least four system hours.
[Zero: Come]
[Zero: I'll introduce you to someone]
Whether in the Xianzhou or the entire universe, there were hidden rules everyone followed.
For example, with dinner invitations, sending one only half a day beforehand, or waiting until mealtime itself, was extremely rude behavior.
The High Elder had attended many banquets. People would notify his attendants at least one month in advance.
Even Zero was no exception. The Marshal's residence would send invitations ahead of time.
But this time, Zero only contacted Dan Feng after arriving at the restaurant.
The High Elder instantly understood.
The person Zero wanted him to meet was the Number One member of the Genius Society, Zandar One Kuwabara.
Dan Feng felt mixed emotions.
Back in Scalegorge Waterscape, he hadn't noticed anything unusual at all. He had been no different from those ignorant, greedy people and had nearly driven the other party to death.
Now, separated by the jade abacus, it was even harder to judge Zero's state.
Had Zero given up his original choice?
Or was he simply still thinking about the agreement between himself and the Vidyadhara? Would he leave them after fulfilling the agreement?
Dan Feng didn't dare gamble.
Without hesitation, he refused the chance to meet Zandar.
As for the reason for refusing? Of course it was for the current Marshal.
When immortals fight, mortals suffer.
The current Marshal was determined to mess with Zero. What else could Dan Feng do? He could only hint at it indirectly beforehand.
Although Dan Feng didn't attend, he still had to show sincerity.
He called over a clan member and had him contact the hotel on his behalf.
"Reserve the highest-grade suite for Mr. Zandar. Make it… one hundred years."
"I previously recharged patrol tokens at the restaurant. Start serving dishes first, then send over two bottles of wine later."
"Don't make it obvious. If anyone asks, use Zero's name and put it on his tab."
As Dan Feng spoke, he switched back to the group chat and typed a message.
[Imbibitor Lunae: He's eating. It'll take at least four system hours to finish]
Dan Feng put down the jade abacus and continued giving orders to the clan member.
"And all the properties across the Luofu. Sort them out and pick the ones in the best locations."
The clan member accepted the order and turned to leave.
The next second, Dan Feng's jade abacus rang.
He opened it and saw an invitation from the current Marshal.
The wording was especially official, inviting the friends and family of Zero and Jingliu to arrive at a certain restaurant on the Luofu at seven tonight.
Dan Feng checked the time.
Less than half a day away.
Then he looked at the unread messages.
His friends had also received messages from the current Marshal and were already making noise in the group chat.
Dan Feng: "..."
'Not a single moment of peace!'
———
On the other side, Zero patiently stayed with Guanliang and accompanied Zandar through a full four system hours of eating.
Zandar swallowed the last bite of dessert, picked up the bill, and glanced at it. The total was six digits, and even the waiters could receive a ten percent service fee.
Smiling, he said, "Eric, if you work one year at the Divination Commission, you can only afford this one meal."
"Your monthly salary is only slightly higher than the service fee."
"You still need to study hard."
Zero: "…Oh. I won't come to this restaurant again."
The corner of Guanliang's mouth twitched.
For the sake of convincing his boss to study, Zandar really used every possible method.
Distracted, Zero picked up his jade abacus.
[Jingliu: I didn't feed Jade]