Chapter 267: Nether Flame Clan, Yun Zhenyue Providing Backup
"Thank you, Ma’am, for offering your assistance."
Outside the SSS-rank instance of the Nether Flame Clan.
Yan Ran cupped her fists and spoke respectfully to Yun Zhenyue.
Her clear and crisp voice made it difficult to discern her gender.
This was the Purgatory Factory employee who insisted on marrying the young mistress of the Nether Flame Clan.
She wore a sharp, simple, ink-black outfit, her hair tied back with a steady silver ribbon. A few raven-black strands swept across her chiseled, jade-like nose. Her eyebrows, as delicate as an ink painting, held a subtle, sharp intensity at their peaks.
If not for the slight swell of her chest,
anyone would have mistaken her for a handsome boy.
Hearing this,
Yun Zhenyue glanced at the three stars on Yan Ran’s shoulder.
And the navy blue stud on her earlobe.
She subconsciously took half a step back.
This was the first time she had ever seen a real-life butch.
Although her strength was only that of a mid-tier Evil Star, she gave off a dangerous feeling.
’Mainly, it’s because I’m not into girls.’
Seeing this, Yan Ran showed no change in her expression, as if she were long used to it. Her face remained calm and composed.
But Xiao Jiu, who was following behind Yun Zhenyue, couldn’t hold back.
"Whoa!"
"So girls can marry other girls?"
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and an eagerness to try it herself.
"Master, why don’t we give it a try?"
Xiao Ba looked at her silly sister, grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, and threw cold water on the idea. "No, don’t even think about it. Master is already married."
"How could this be!" Xiao Jiu pouted, aggrieved.
Li Ruxue ignored the two, her voice colder as she asked, "From what I know, after the Factory failed to assimilate the Nether Flame Clan, you were the one who proposed using a marriage alliance as an indirect way to take over the instance."
"You’re only a 3-star employee, and a woman at that. Why would the Factory agree?"
"There were clearly more suitable candidates."
Yan Ran nodded and said slowly, "That’s a reasonable question. To avoid any misunderstandings, I can tell you the reason clearly..."
"I visited the Nether Flame Clan when I was very young. I was childhood sweethearts with their young mistress. Back then, she even said she would marry me when we grew up."
"Perhaps because I’ve always liked wearing boys’ clothes, the clan’s elders didn’t realize. So, they made a verbal marriage agreement. I’ve kept it in my heart ever since. I like the young mistress very much."
"So, having me go through with the marriage alliance now makes me the most suitable candidate."
Everyone: "..."
’So it wasn’t that Yan Ran had her sights on the young mistress and was using the Factory’s power to force her!’
’Instead, the Nether Flame Clan was the one that led her astray since childhood?’
’Childhood sweethearts, a verbal marriage pact!’
’And to think she actually remembered it all this time!’
’Good heavens.’
’So, in that case...’
’The Nether Flame Clan brought this upon themselves, didn’t they?’
’A bunch of old fogies couldn’t even tell if she was a boy or a girl and just arranged a marriage?’
The expressions on their faces were all a bit complicated.
’What a terrifying lesbian!’
...
「Inside the Nether Flame Clan’s main hall.」
Several elders sat on their chairs, their faces heavy.
The Ghost Patriarch, a top-tier Evil Star, looked a little pale.
Especially when he saw Yun Zhenyue and her group, who had just arrived to demand the marriage alliance, his face was filled with apprehension.
’To think that old joke actually came true!’
Seeing the six stars on Yun Zhenyue,
The Ghost Patriarch took a deep breath.
’This is someone my clan cannot afford to offend.’
’The manager of the Purgatory Factory!’
’Someone who can already influence the Factory’s strategy and objectives.’
’A single word from her could annihilate our entire clan!’
After all,
if the Factory employee who came last time hadn’t been so reasonable, and if he hadn’t adopted a do-or-die mentality—threatening to self-destruct rather than let the Factory gain an inch—the Factory wouldn’t have retreated so easily.
But if they truly angered this manager,
she could very well issue a mission with the sole purpose of destroying their clan.
In short, they could not let her become hostile to the Nether Flame Clan.
As for the marriage alliance?
The Ghost Patriarch’s mindset was actually quite calm.
He believed that even if Yan Ran took over the entire clan,
with her steady personality, she wouldn’t let the Nether Flame Clan fall to ruin.
The only thing giving the Ghost Patriarch a headache was...
his daughter.
She didn’t seem to want to marry Yan Ran.
And several of the clan elders also disagreed.
"Ran, long time no see."
"How have you been?" The Ghost Patriarch tried to sound friendly.
But Yan Ran just nodded lightly, politely called him "Uncle," and then cut straight to the point. "Where is Yan’er? I’m here to marry her."
"I’ve brought the betrothal gift."
As she spoke,
she took a Ghost Bank card from her pocket.
"There are three hundred thousand Ghost Coins that I’ve saved in here."
"We are childhood sweethearts, and our feelings are mutual. According to the marriage agreement, please let Yan’er marry me."
"I hope the Patriarch will grant our wish!"
Yan Ran placed the bank card on the table.
Three hundred thousand Ghost Coins!
This was no small sum, even for the entire Nether Flame Clan!
The elders stared at the bank card in shock.
Yun Zhenyue, however, felt nothing.
She’d long since lost interest in Ghost Coins; only watching the drama unfold could bring her any joy.
Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu didn’t usually use Ghost Coins either.
They were all waiting eagerly for the Ghost Patriarch’s response.
Only Li Ruxue, who was used to being poor, was different.
She discreetly glanced at the elders.
She noticed they had all clenched their fists, seemingly torn over whether to accept Yan Ran’s marriage proposal.
"You must be joking." After a moment of silence, a stiff smile appeared on the Ghost Patriarch’s face. "I’ll be honest with you, and don’t you blame your uncle for it. Let’s just lay everything out on the table today."
"That marriage agreement was just a joke I made offhandedly."
"Besides, you’re a girl, and Yan’er is a girl. How can the two of you be together?"
"In this matter, our clan has wronged you. As long as you agree to call off the engagement, you can pick anything from these."
From beginning to end,
the Ghost Patriarch never once glanced at the Ghost Bank card.
As a patriarch, his perspective was naturally broader.
He didn’t embarrass himself like the other elders.
The Ghost Patriarch ordered a few clansmen to bring in several chests of treasure.
There were priceless Ghost Artifacts, extremely rare Yin Qi Elixirs, and even a skill card...
It was clear that
the elders’ breathing had become ragged.
They looked like they wanted to say something, pained by the loss.
But under the Ghost Patriarch’s suddenly icy gaze, their lips merely twitched a few times before clamping shut.
"These items together are worth over a million Ghost Coins!"
The Ghost Patriarch waved his hand grandly.
An air of stern pride instantly filled the hall.
"As long as you drop this matter of the marriage agreement, you can choose whatever you want. From now on, you and Yan’er can still be friends, and I won’t hold what happened before against you. Ran, Uncle hopes you will think this over carefully before making a decision."
Faced with this grave situation,
and treasures worth millions,
Yan Ran’s expression remained perfectly calm.
"Fortunes change. Don’t you dare bully a girl for being poor!"
Her voice rang out!
The entire hall was stunned!
Yan Ran said with solemn coldness, "Indeed, I am only a 3-star employee right now and can only offer three hundred thousand Ghost Coins."
"But that doesn’t mean I’ll be a 3-star employee for the rest of my life."
"I believe you can see my potential."
The Ghost Patriarch: "..."
’That may be true...’
’If the marriage could actually be arranged, what a wonderful thing it would be!’
’The key problem is that my precious daughter isn’t willing!’
At that moment,
Yan Ran extended a single finger
and pointed at one of the clansmen who had just carried in the chests.
"You ask what I want. There is only one thing I desire—"
That clansman was wearing a light veil, had a slender figure, and held her hands behind her back. Her emotions seemed rather complicated, and she had been secretly peeking at Yan Ran the whole time.
"Her!"
Seeing that finger point at her,
and hearing Yan Ran’s resolute words,
the one disguised as an ordinary clansman—
the young mistress of the Nether Flame Clan—could no longer sit still.