The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 308 Almost

"With your words, I can rest assured."

After Zhang Si finished speaking, he bowed deeply:
"Please accept Zhang Si's bow. I will never forget your great kindness today!"

Although the elegantly dressed young man was puzzled as to what had gone wrong, he waved his hand and smiled:
"I was just spreading my karma. Besides, although this is said to be the ancestor's possession, I actually made it myself. After all, I can't get the ancestor's own. I just used the technique left behind by the ancestor."

The "No Lending" technique is divided into two parts: the technique itself and the sword box. He passed one part down to his successor, so naturally he couldn't obtain the main lineage's ancestral treasure. However, borrowing the ancestral technique to create one himself was still no problem.

The elegantly dressed young man suddenly froze as he looked at the sword box in Zhang Si's hand.

No lending. No lending?
After a moment of stunned silence, the elegantly dressed young man, having carefully considered the situation, couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

He thought to himself, why did our ancestor spend a hundred years researching and developing the "no lending" principle for such a trivial matter?
Does the sword cultivator's "Ten Thousand Swords Return to One" technique really anger him that much?

They even called him by the name 'Bu Jie' (不借).

"Ugh"

Ok?
The elegantly dressed young man suddenly turned around and asked curiously:
Why do you sigh, fellow Daoist?

Zhang Si asked, even more curiously:

"Why do you say that, fellow Daoist? Why would I sigh? I just received a great opportunity from you, why would I sigh?"

These words puzzled the elegantly dressed young man greatly; he didn't think he had misheard.

He wanted to make a move, but he had no cultivation at all and didn't even know where to begin.

He could only look up and around, wondering if it was caused by some old man in the neighborhood losing his composure.

After pondering for a long time without finding a solution, he could only shake his head helplessly and say:

"Fellow Daoist, farewell!"

"I am bound by duty and cannot accompany you. Please forgive me, fellow Daoist. If it is convenient for you, please leave your place of residence. I will certainly pay you a visit in the future!"

The elegantly dressed young man did not answer, but merely smiled and waved his hand dismissively:
"We are not of the same generation, there's no need for this."

After saying that, he turned and walked away, but just as he reached the corner, he suddenly caught sight of a person walking slowly towards him—it was Cui Yuancheng.

He sighed inwardly, but concealed his helplessness on his face, quickly stepped forward, and bowed respectfully.

"Brother! I never expected to meet you here!"

The moment Cui Yuancheng saw Wang Chengsi, his eyes lit up, and he quickly went to greet him:

"Brother Wang! It's been a long time!"

As he spoke, he took out a yellowed ancient book from his sleeve, presented it with both hands, and smiled sincerely: "If it weren't for your reminder, I wouldn't have known that Brother Wang's wedding was imminent. This is just a small gift, please accept it with a smile!"

"A wedding?" The elegantly dressed young man was taken aback at first, then recovered and a bitter smile crossed his face: "Yes, it's time for an engagement."

He had indeed unwittingly arranged a marriage for himself in the southwest, and he remembered that the other party was a young lady from the Xiao family.

He hadn't had a chance to properly deal with this matter since he returned. Suddenly, he sensed something was amiss and subconsciously touched his neck—why did it feel inexplicably tight?

Cui Yuancheng noticed something was off about his expression, so he cautiously asked, "Brother Wang, do you perhaps dislike this marriage?"

Upon hearing this, the elegantly dressed young man simply nodded slightly, his tone calm and unwavering: "I can't say whether I like it or not, it's just that this is something I should have agreed to."

For scions of noble families, such a marriage is quite common; even the celestial couples on the mountain are not much different.

Arranged marriages and intermarriages offer little choice. Genuine mutual affection is even rarer. It's often just a matter of being forced to be together and then having no choice but to love each other. But this marriage, Brother Wang, shouldn't be like this.

Cui Yuancheng pondered to himself: Although he didn't know which master would ask him to specially send a jar of Xishen Wine as a congratulatory gift, the fact that a master who could bring out such a rare treasure must mean that this marriage was a match made in heaven!
Otherwise, why go to such lengths to send such an expensive gift?

So he couldn't help but ask:

"Brother Wang, are you sure you haven't made a mistake? This marriage should have been a perfect match. That gentleman asked your cousin to deliver a jar of wine to you."

At this point, Cui Yuancheng suddenly stopped, quickly stepped forward, and whispered in his ear, using a technique to focus sound into a line:

"A jar of the Dawn God's Wine as a congratulatory gift? Such a generous gift, and given by such a distinguished person, your marriage is undoubtedly a blessed union!"

Upon hearing these words, the elegantly dressed young man felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his vision almost went black—a shock as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had caved in instantly swept over him.

What do you mean by sending me a jar of the Dawn God's Wine as a congratulatory gift?

He asked himself, when had he ever met such a master who could produce the wine of the god of dawn?
Even if I sold myself, I couldn't get a jar of it!

Who is so generous? Could it be that Cui Yuancheng conspired with others to make fun of him?

Countless thoughts surged through his mind, almost bursting out of his mouth. But just as these words were about to rise to his throat, he abruptly stopped himself.

In a daze, he suddenly remembered that he seemed to actually know a master who possessed such a treasure, and that master also knew about his engagement!
He held a high position and also had connections in Qingzhou.
Startled, and to Cui Yuancheng's bewilderment, he was astonished to see the elegantly dressed young man suddenly raise his hand and slap himself hard across the face.

"I'll teach you a lesson for your foul mouth and your gossiping!"

"Oh? Brother Wang, what's wrong with you?"

Startled, Cui Yuancheng rushed to stop him, and Zhang Si followed suit.

"Yes, fellow Daoist, why bother?"

The elegantly dressed young man, prevented from continuing to whip himself, couldn't help but ask in his grief and indignation:

"Brother, may I ask you, approximately how long ago was this?"

"Just a short while ago."

These words made the elegantly dressed young man feel a little better. It had been so long since he'd been chosen; it seemed he truly wasn't destined for such a privilege.

Just as he was about to let go, he heard Cui Yuancheng say uncertainly:
"However, this is when I found out. But perhaps yesterday, around noon, that gentleman had already asked your cousin to pass on this matter?"

"Huh?! It's almost noon?!"

“Yes, I remember you arrived at this time, and not far from my house is the gate of the Cui family of Qinghe. Aren’t they your only relatives?”

Wasn't that when I made those boastful promises to those bastards?!

Upon realizing this, the elegantly dressed young man almost fainted on the spot.

Even a difference of one day can be attributed to fate, since the difference is too great to make up for in time.

But now, it might just be that little bit off.
"Brother! Brother!"

"Fellow Daoist, hang in there! What's wrong? Old Meng, what on earth has made you so distraught?"

Before Cui Yuancheng could decide how to answer, they heard the richly dressed young man suddenly break free from their support and cry out in anguish to the heavens:

"How can it be just a little bit off!"

(End of this chapter)