Yi Chen's mind started working in overdrive the moment he heard this question. Several suitable answers began popping up in his mind, but it all came to a sudden halt the very next moment. The reason you ask? Her eyes.
Looking at the fragile eyes filled with both fear and hope, Yi Chen couldn't help but feel guilt-stricken. The hope those eyes carried was similar to that of a person who had found water for the very first time in a barren desert.
"This…" Yi Chen's expression faltered a little, and hesitancy appeared on it.
Seeing this, Feng Yu's forehead creased as her heart started to grow heavy. Various doubts that had been lying dormant inside her once again surfaced, and she couldn't help but ask shakily, "W-Why aren't you answering?"
'No! This isn't the time to be guilt-stricken! If I don't answer properly, then I'll incur her wrath and lose my life…'
Yi Chen tried to think of suitable answers once again, but due to the urgency of the situation, he was finding it even more difficult to recall them now.
Noticing Yi Chen was still not answering, Feng Yu felt a piercing ache in her heart as disappointment clouded her whole being.
'That's right…How could someone make such an expression while seeing an abomination like me? It's my own fault for having expectat-'
"Your brightness…" just then Yi Chen interrupted her train of thoughts, "…you shone the brightest, that's why,"
'Shit…I messed up. What the hell does that even mean…'
Yi Chen wanted to bang his head on the ground a few times out of frustration.
However, to Yi Chen's surprise, Feng Yu's expression regained brightness as she repeated those words to herself while looking at Yi Chen inquisitively, "I shone the brightest? What do you mean by that?"
'It can't be helped then. I'll just add on to it!' Yi Chen took a deep breath and tried to infuse logic into his earlier statement.
"T-the way you carried yourself on the stage, the subtle tremor in your commanding voice, the gentleness in that fierce gaze and a thirst for love in that lonely soul…it all became apparent to me when I saw you on stage, Yu'er…
…What I saw was not just the burnt part of your face but the person inside as a whole, the person whose soul has reached the epitome of compassion and gentleness. That's why I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration at that time,"
Yi Chen paused a little, not daring to meet her eyes and immediately continued while scratching the back of his head, "I'm sorry for hesitating earlier. It was just too embarrassing to say things like that."
'Please be satisfied with this answer…' Yi Chen kept repeating to himself in his mind.
And as if his prayers were finally answered, a gentle fragrance enveloped his whole being the very next moment, as an expression of disbelief appeared on Yi Chen's face.
'This…'
Feng Yu's figure was tightly embracing him right now, leaving Yi Chen at a loss for words.
"T-Thank you…" A voice that was almost on the verge of breaking down entered Yi Chen's ears, and the next moment, Feng Yu pulled back and immediately left the dining room with a word.
Her tear-filled emerald eyes that carried affection while looking towards him were still very vivid in Yi Chen's mind and lingered even after she had long left the room.
Cough Cough
It was at that time that Yi Chen's attention was attracted by Master Ru, who was standing at the door.
"Let's go for an evening walk, shall we?" He asked with a smile.
A few moments later, Yi Chen was walking alongside Master Ru in the residence's vast garden. Lanterns were lit every few meters, so the place was well illuminated and looked very scenic.
"So how did the talk go?" Master Ru asked after a while.
"I-I don't know…it was all too sudden for me," Yi Chen stated his confusion.
"Haha, it's understandable since you're young. Although unintentionally, I did overhear the conversation between you two, and I must say, I'm glad that Yu'er chose you, haha!" Master Ru laughed loudly and patted Yi Chen's back a few times, making Yi Chen almost groan out in pain.
A few seconds later, Master Ru sighed deeply and muttered, "Just how long has it been since that girl has hated herself. No matter what I told her to uplift her, she never really believed my words and kept drowning herself in the belief that she's not meant to be loved by anyone."
Master Ru gazed at the starry sky and exhaled once again.
"Yi Chen…no Chen'er, I'm really thankful to you. Your heartfelt words were able to do what mine never could. Therefore, I have a request for you tonight. Not as the town head but as a father. Please give my daughter the joy and happiness which I never could as her father."
Hearing such emotionally infused words, Yi Chen couldn't help but sympathise with the man who only wanted his daughter to be happy.
Fully understanding by now that all roads of escape have been shut for him, Yi Chen replied in a serious manner, "I'll do my best…father-in-law,"
Master Ru smiled when he heard Yi Chen's words and said while lightly patting his back, "Good, you must be exhausted after a hectic day. Go and rest properly. Starting tomorrow, I'll personally teach you martial arts."
"Martial arts?" Yi Chen's eyes widened in surprise the moment he heard this.
Satisfied with the reaction, Master Ru chuckled and said, "Indeed, now that you're marrying my daughter, you'll eventually have to take the responsibility of the town and become the next town head.
For that to happen, you need to become a martial arts cultivator like me. Worry not, I'll make sure to be slow so that your body isn't burdened and quickly gets used to the training intensity."
'This is great!' Yi Chen thought with an excited expression. What was the most important thing to do in a cultivation world? Was it to explore the huge world? To build a large harem? No! It was to get stronger!
"I'll be sure to wake up early, then father-in-law," Yi Chen bowed towards Master Ru, who nodded in return.
"It's good that you're enthusiastic. Rest well then," Master Ru waved his hand, and Yi Chen soon left for his quarters.
Now that he was all by himself, Master Ru looked up at the crescent moon and muttered with a reminiscent expression on his face, "Our daughter is finally going to get married, Xing'er"