Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with both hands, as if she couldn't bear to look at Jiang Shaoguang any longer. She turned her head and looked at her father.

Su Yu doesn't lie, at least not to her parents.

“Yu’er…recognizes her.”

As soon as she opened her mouth, everyone involuntarily gasped.

I originally thought he was just someone who was stirring up trouble, but now that the person involved has said so, things have become complicated.

Su Wubin frowned, staring at his daughter with some annoyance.

He and Su Ziyan had clearly forbidden Su Yu from contacting any outsiders, but they never expected that their daughter would still cause such a mess!

If this hadn't happened in front of others, Su Wubin would probably have already taught Su Yu a lesson.

"Hmph!" He snorted coldly, turned his head, and stared at Yun Ping with an unfriendly expression: "Sir, even if my daughter knows your esteemed disciple, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to propose marriage at the wedding of our two families?"

That's true—

Yunping rubbed his chin and looked at Duan Yu, who was standing next to Su Yu with a very strange expression.

He chuckled and said, "But I can't stand seeing lovers not get together. Although you have already arranged a wedding, I think if there is someone outstanding in every way who is in love with your daughter, why not let them give it a try?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Duxiu's expression darkened slightly.

In their eyes, Yunping was now just a nouveau riche with no real power, so they spoke without much restraint.

"Are you implying that my master Duan Yu is inferior to your esteemed disciple?"

"Hey, sir, please don't misunderstand—"

Yunping waved his hand with a smile, revealing a smile full of provocation.

"What I mean is, among all of you here—if we're really talking about it, there's no one more suitable to marry Miss Su than my disciple."

"As for what you said about whether your Duan Yu is really inferior to our disciple..."

The old rogue seemed to have achieved his initial goal—

"Let them have a competition, then we'll see who wins."

—That's the old rogue's real goal.

If he were to demand a contest right off the bat, the Duan and Su families would probably not bother with this madman who suddenly appeared.

However, if one first elevates one's own status slightly, and then takes advantage of the fact that Jiang Shaoguang and Su Yu are in love, there is an opportunity to create a showdown between Jiang Shaoguang and Duan Yu.

This is the most fair and square way to determine the winner.

What Yunping needed was to solidify the relationship between the Su family and Yuntian Academy, so he did not let Su Yu step forward to choose her ideal husband—no matter how much he guided her, he could not be sure that Su Yu would choose to ignore the family's orders.

If we can't get to Su Yu, then we'll have to start with the Duan family.

Anyway, whatever fate befalls the Duan family, whether they lose face or not, has nothing to do with the old rogue. After all, he still has to consider Su Yu in the Su family, but he has nothing to consider in the Duan family.

Next... we'll see if the Duan family falls for it.

Duan Duxiu's cold gaze lingered between Yun Ping and Jiang Shaoguang, and then he glanced at Su Yu, who was looking down as if admitting her mistake.

He gave a cold snort and said, "To make such a request at our wedding, isn't that...?"

Before he could finish speaking...

A hand landed on Duan Duxiu's shoulder.

He turned around in surprise and found that Duan Yu had stood up at some point.

The elegant young man gazed at Jiang Shaoguang, looking into his eyes that seemed to yearn for something rather than show off, and he seemed quite pleased.

"I agree."

Duan Yu stepped forward himself, standing next to his father, and under the stunned gaze of the entire Duan family, uttered words he shouldn't have said.

"If we really want to have a competition—"

"I agree."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

I had something to do today, so I was a little delayed.

I'm so sorry~

29. Similar People

Duan Yu's sudden promise surprised all the guests present.

Given the obvious provocation from the young man in white, anyone should have been able to understand it.

Could it be that his fiancée was angered by the sudden marriage proposal from another man, which then ignited her anger?

—But looking at Duan Yu's face, which showed no sign of anger whatsoever, he didn't seem to have been provoked at all.

Since that's the case—

"Yu'er?"

Duan Duxiu stared at his son with an unusually cold expression.

That gaze, filled with a hint of annoyance and disgust, was not at all like that of a scholar cultivating the Way of Literature, nor did it resemble the gaze one would give to their own son.

Normally, he could reprimand Duan Yu for his foolishness, but this was in public, not to mention that the Forging Saint and the prince of the Lantian Empire were watching. Once the words were spoken, they were like spilled water—difficult to take back.

However, Duan Yu showed no sign of regret in the face of his father's cold gaze, and his clear eyes fell on Jiang Shaoguang.

The two stared at each other, but there was no hostility in their eyes.

"Since they've already said they want to fight me, if I avoid the battle and run away, wouldn't that be confirming their claim that I, Duan Yu, am inferior to others?"

Duan Yu turned his head to the side and looked calmly at Duan Duxiu.

Duan Duxiu stared coldly at Duan Yu, his words seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "You don't need to pay any attention to that rude person."

“These rude people are disrespectful to my Duan family. Since that’s the case, for the sake of the Duan family’s reputation, I have no choice but to fight.”

"Yu'er!"

Duan Duxiu roared angrily, as if warning Duan Yu.

"Father."

Duan Yu was not afraid at all. For some reason, ever since Jiang Shaoguang appeared here, he seemed to have become a different person, no longer as wooden as when he was serving tea.

He lightly opened his folding fan, his steps were light and graceful, and his eyebrows were full of spirit: "Since the other party is so confident that he is the best candidate to marry Miss Su, how can I, as a person who is involved in the marriage alliance between the Su and Duan families, turn a blind eye?"

"You're right, aren't you, Father?"

Duan Duxiu's face was so black it looked like ink was about to drip from it.

He originally intended to use the identities of the two guests, the Forging Saint and the Prince of the Lantian Empire, to put Yun Ping in a better position and end this farce quickly. He knew that the Saint was not a patient guest, and if he became impatient, his Duan family would definitely suffer the consequences!

However, just now, Duan Duxiu glanced at the Forging Saint and saw that the other party did not seem to be showing any signs of agitation, which was somewhat good news.

but--

What angered him even more was that Duan Yu, who had never disobeyed him before, had taken it upon himself to make decisions on such an important day!

That brat!

“Nephew, you…”

Seeing his old friend Duan Duxiu in such a state, Su Wubin wanted to offer some words of advice.

But before he could finish speaking, Duan Yu cut him off with a single sentence.

“Father-in-law, this matter is also a matter of a man’s dignity. Moreover, the other side has shown contempt for you to some extent. Yu’er… has no choice but to fight.”

"This……"

Su Wubin was obsessed with martial arts, and when it came to eloquence and debating skills, he was no match for a scholar. Although he still felt something was strange, he couldn't come up with any rebuttal.

On the other hand, Duan Yu stood up against all odds, glanced at Su Yu behind him who was bowing her head and trembling, and then exchanged a look with Jiang Shaoguang.

He could see the dazzling starlight in the other person's eyes...

It has a starlight that he envies.

"I don't know if you and Miss Su Yu are truly in love and destined for each other—" He turned his head and noticed that Su Yu's body was trembling more and more violently. Instead of being angry, he smiled slightly: "But judging from Miss Su Yu's appearance, you must... have indeed had something going on."

Jiang Shaoguang remained silent, his expression unchanged, standing quietly in place.

"I can roughly understand your feelings."

He understood better than anyone else.

Duan Yu's smile deepened, as if he were looking forward to it: "However, since you have dared to provoke the Duan and Su families, you should naturally be prepared."

"Since ancient times, beauties have been paired with heroes. Cultivation level is what cultivators pursue throughout their lives. This is true for Martial Emperor Gu Tianren and Literary Emperor Xuan Lei. They have many suitors. In other words, those with outstanding cultivation are defined as 'excellent' in this world. Since you want to have a contest, I am naturally not afraid."

"Father--"

Duan Yu turned around and smiled as he looked at Duan Duxiu, whose face was full of gloom.

You wouldn't think I'm inferior to the other person, would you?

……

It cannot be denied.

Duan Duxiu took a deep breath. Faced with Duan Yu's question, he simply couldn't make any other choice.

Silence, even if it means acquiescence.

The origins of the other party are unknown, but given the name Yuntian Academy, it should not be a major sect.

Although the black dragon's sudden appearance had indeed shocked them, since Chu Aotian had admitted to the existence of black dragons being sold on the black market, the other party might actually have a considerable fortune.

But in this world, money alone isn't enough to establish yourself.

Might makes right.

The Duan and Su families have enough power to fight.

"Humph."

Duan Duxiu snorted coldly, waved his sleeve and left, returning to his previous seat.