Chapitre 13: A Shocking Arrival and Mockery
"Oh please!" Zhao Ren scoffed, his laughter echoing through the hall. "Do you really think you all are in for some grand future with her? This… plain, unremarkable creature?"
Li Xian'er kept her composure, but inside, she felt a sting. (It's nothing. Just words. Let them laugh if they must.)
Wei Jun scratched his head, glancing uncertainly at the others. "I… don't know. We haven't even gotten to know her yet."
Zhi Rui sneered, rolling his eyes. "What's there to know? She doesn't exactly scream 'beauty,' does she?"
"Or power," Tian Ming muttered under his breath, looking away as if avoiding any eye contact with Li Xian'er.
Zhao Ren smirked, hearing their doubts growing. "Why waste your youth on someone so… mediocre? Allow me to introduce you to someone far more worthy of your attention."
With that, Zhao Ren clapped his hands, and the grand doors at the entrance opened. A woman stepped in, her heels clicking against the polished floor, her every movement exuding confidence. She wore a tight, shining armor that hugged her curves and highlighted her toned physique. Her hair, cascading in glossy waves, and her lips, painted a striking red, commanded attention.
Her figure drew the eyes of every suitor in the room, her beauty undeniable and her aura intimidating. She looked around the hall, an amused smile forming as she took in the sight of the stunned suitors, especially as her gaze fell on Li Xian'er, standing awkwardly by herself.
"This," Zhao Ren declared, sweeping a proud hand towards the woman, "is my daughter, Zhao Ling. Not only is she beautiful beyond compare, but she is also the Head of Martial Arts in the Mortal Realm. A woman of unmatched skill and charm."
The suitors couldn't hide their amazement. Wei Jun's eyes widened as he whispered, "Now, that's the kind of woman I'd want to be with."
Tian Ming, his mouth slightly open, murmured, "She's… stunning."
Zhi Rui nudged Wei Jun, smirking. "Why did we get roped into this in the first place? We could have had someone like her."
Li Xian'er clenched her fists, though she kept her face calm. (They're quick to forget their vows… it's only been minutes since our marriage.)
Zhao Ling's gaze finally landed on Li Xian'er, her expression filled with disdain. She let out a mocking laugh, looking Li Xian'er up and down. "Is this her? The one you're all married to?" She looked at the suitors, her eyebrows raised, and laughed again. "You all really settled for… this?"
Li Xian'er took a slow, deep breath, ignoring the way Zhao Ling's words pierced through her. She told herself it didn't matter, that she was above such petty mockery. But Zhao Ling wasn't done.
"Let me guess," Zhao Ling sneered, "you all thought she had some hidden beauty or magical power that made her worthy?" She chuckled. "I hate to break it to you, but she looks like she's barely made it past the basic realm of immortality!"
A few of the suitors shifted, looking embarrassed. Liang Chen shrugged, trying to laugh it off. "Well… it's true she isn't exactly… radiant."
Zhao Ling rolled her eyes. "You poor, misguided souls. If you were with me, you'd have a woman who not only looks stunning but commands respect across the Mortal Realm. Do you know how many warriors bow to me?"
Zhao Ren added, "That's right. My daughter's status alone would elevate each one of you. You'd be the envy of the entire realm."
Zhi Rui let out a frustrated sigh. "Why didn't we get an option before all this marriage business? We're bound to someone who looks like she hasn't stepped out of a library in years!"
Li Xian'er forced herself to remain calm, but Zhao Ling wasn't done yet.
She stepped closer, circling around Li Xian'er, her gaze mocking as she inspected every detail. "I must say, I'm impressed you even managed to capture their attention for five minutes. It takes a rare kind of woman to hold fifteen suitors' attention this long." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
Li Xian'er met Zhao Ling's gaze head-on, refusing to flinch. (I may not look powerful now, but looks aren't everything.)
Suddenly, Wei Jun raised his hand hesitantly. "So… if we wanted to… I mean, if we're considering… could we divorce?"
Zhao Ren smirked. "Of course. It would be a simple matter, and one I'd be more than willing to help you with." He turned his gaze to the ancestors and said, "Unless, of course, these old ones wish to meddle with your fates and doom you to a life with someone so… plain."
One of the elders stepped forward, eyes blazing with an inner fire. "You don't understand, young ones. Breaking this bond will not only bring shame but will invoke consequences that no amount of beauty or charm can counter. The woman you mock today may hold power that surpasses anything you could imagine."
Zhao Ling laughed, looking at the elder as if he were a foolish child. "Power? You mean this bookworm here?" She pointed at Li Xian'er, barely containing her laughter. "What power could she possibly hold? Look at her! She barely looks like she's left the confines of the basic immortal realm. And you call that power?"
The suitors exchanged uneasy glances. Zhao Ren saw their uncertainty and took the opportunity to strike again.
"Gentlemen," he said smoothly, "do you want to waste your future on an illusion? Or would you rather walk with my daughter, who stands here, strong and confident, a symbol of real power?"
Zhao Ling crossed her arms, raising her chin proudly. "It's a choice between a future of mediocrity or a life of honor and prestige. Think about it."
The suitors looked back and forth between Zhao Ling and Li Xian'er. Zhi Rui shook his head, muttering, "I don't want to be tied to someone who will just bring me down."
Liang Chen added, "I don't want my family looking down on me for marrying… well, this."
Tian Ming nodded, glancing at Zhao Ling with admiration. "It's clear where the better future lies."
Li Xian'er felt the sharp sting of their words, but she stood tall, refusing to let them see her pain. (They have no idea who they're rejecting. One day, they'll see.)
Zhao Ren stepped closer to the suitors, giving them each a long, meaningful look. "Now, gentlemen, let me make this simple. If you want to stay with her, fine, but be prepared to lose everything. And I mean… everything."
His gaze swept over each one of them, daring them to defy him. "Or, if you choose to walk away from this ridiculous union, you'll be welcomed into my family. You'll have respect, power, wealth beyond measure."
Zhao Ling took a step forward, smirking at Li Xian'er. "And a partner worthy of standing by your side. Not… someone who looks like she's barely reached adulthood."
Li Xian'er's face remained impassive, but her mind raced. (They think they hold all the power. But they don't know my true strength, or what lies beneath the surface.)
Wei Jun hesitated, his face twisted with doubt. "But… can we really trust him? He might just be saying all this…"
Tian Ming shook his head. "It's better than sticking with… her."
The ancestors watched the suitors with grave faces, one of them finally speaking. "Young men, you don't understand. This is not about appearances or temporary power. Rejecting her could alter your very destinies. She may hold the key to blessings you cannot even fathom."
Zhao Ren rolled his eyes, dismissing the ancestors' warnings. "They're just trying to scare you into staying bound to a woman who has nothing to offer you."
Zhao Ling smiled, looking at each suitor with a glint of victory in her eyes. "Well, gentlemen? What will it be? A life of luxury and honor… or a life tied to this?"
The suitors shifted uncomfortably, torn between the lure of power and the binding vows they'd just taken.
Li Xian'er clenched her fists, watching each of them struggle. (Let them choose. Their actions today will reveal their true selves. And if they choose against me, they'll see the consequences of that choice in due time.)
The suitors were about to speak when a commanding voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"Perhaps you should think carefully before making this decision."
Everyone turned, startled, as a masked man stepped out from the shadows, his aura radiating an intense power that silenced the room instantly. He walked with slow, deliberate steps, each one echoing across the hall.
Zhao Ren and Zhao Ling froze, their confident expressions faltering for the first time. The suitors looked on, wide-eyed, unsure of who this mysterious figure was.
The masked man's gaze swept over them all, and his words sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
"Are you truly prepared to face the wrath of rejecting her?"
— Un nouveau chapitre arrive bientôt — Écrire un avis
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone