The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

The clamor outside had nothing to do with Chen Dong. Feigning illness, he was carried to Wang Xian'Er's chambers under the watch of a full twenty guards.

Hearing the announcement that the ceremony was complete, Chen Dong felt his teeth ache with annoyance. He hadn't realized that he, the groom, would have been made to wear a red bridal veil. If he had, he would have praised himself for his quick thinking.

He knew that Wang Yang had been roped into taking his place for the wedding ceremony. But obviously, no one could take his place for the wedding night—otherwise, he wouldn't have been carried here.

And so, Chen Dong now found himself waiting in a crimson room, just like a bride. Logically, this should have been the perfect time to escape, but he had heard that several of Master Wang's senior martial brothers had arrived, so he quickly abandoned the thought.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he clutched the embroidery needle. Taking his, Chen Dong's, chastity was clearly not going to be an option. To deal with one Wang Xian'Er, this needle would be more than enough.

After a long wait, the sky outside darkened. Suddenly, a commotion erupted. A moment later, the door was pushed open by a plump hand. The astonishingly built Wang Xian'Er peered inside hopefully, but in the end, she didn't enter. Instead, she pushed Wang Wan'Er in and personally shut the door behind her.

This whole maneuver left Chen Dong completely baffled. 'What is going on?'

Dressed in the bright red attire of a handmaiden, Wang Wan'Er looked almost like a bride herself. Her expression was sorrowful and conflicted, and she gazed at Chen Dong with such innocence it was as if he had been the one to wrong her.

"What is all this?" Chen Dong couldn't help but ask.

Wang Wan'Er steeled herself and said, "If it's Brother Dong, then actually..." As she spoke, she began to undo her clothes.

Watching the naive girl's actions, Chen Dong chuckled. "What, do you moonlight as a bed-warming maid?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wan'Er's expression became even more pitiful.

"My lady is truly fond of you. Ever since she first saw you, you're all she thinks about. She knows you might have trouble accepting her right away and fears you don't like her, so... she sent me to take her place for the wedding night!"

Hearing this, Chen Dong actually started to admire Wang Xian'Er.

But this seemed like an opportunity. Chen Dong said teasingly, "And what about you? What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Wang Wan'Er's actions seemed to speak for her. In moments, her outer robes were on the floor, leaving only a red dudou embroidered with a pair of azaleas.

As if trying to convince Chen Dong—and perhaps herself—she said, "I am my lady's handmaiden. Whether she marries a man or takes a husband, I am to serve them both. Sharing the master's bed... it's something that would happen sooner or later."

'Why didn't they mention this perk sooner?' Chen Dong complained internally. 'If this was part of the deal, there'd be a line of men in Drunken Immortal City eager to marry into the Wang Family. It would never have been my turn!'

Seeing that Wang Wan'Er was about to strip herself bare, Chen Dong quickly stopped her. "Alright, that's enough. I can tell you're not willing to do this, so why force yourself?"

Wang Wan'Er looked up, two streams of tears running down her cheeks. "I don't know! I just don't want to disappoint my lady!"

'Does Wang Xian'Er really have that much charisma?' Chen Dong wondered. 'To captivate this naive girl so completely!'

He picked up Wang Wan'Er's robes from the floor and draped them over her shoulders, shaking his head. "You have such great strength and talent. You should act according to your own will."

Hearing this, a glimmer of clarity appeared in Wang Wan'Er's eyes. "Really?"

Chen Dong gave her an encouraging nod.

Wang Wan'Er's brow furrowed as she made her decision. In the next instant, she threw her arms around Chen Dong.

Caught off balance, Chen Dong tumbled onto the bed. Wang Wan'Er landed astride his waist, her mischievous hands immediately starting to undo his groom's attire.

Chen Dong grabbed her hands, stopping her from going any further. He frowned and asked, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm acting on my own will! My lady said I have to make you happy tonight!"

'Happy my ass, you naive girl!' Chen Dong was going crazy. 'If this girl were back in my old world, she'd have been scammed out of everything she owned and then some.'

But how could his strength compare to Wang Wan'Er, whose cultivation was nearing a breakthrough? His broad chest was forcefully exposed.

"Stop! I'm very happy now!"

Wang Wan'Er's brow knitted. "Don't think I'm completely ignorant," she said, her tone a mix of coldness and pique. "An old matron already taught me what's supposed to happen on the wedding night!"

"Wait, wait! Let's talk for a bit first. We need to build the mood. The atmosphere is very important, you know."

Wang Wan'Er remained planted on his waist and said bluntly, "Fine. We can talk just like this."

Chen Dong knew it would be difficult to change Wang Wan'Er's mind, but he had identified a key leverage point: Wang Xian'Er. As long as it was for Wang Xian'Er, Wang Wan'Er would do it without hesitation, even something like taking her place on the wedding night. By that same logic, if he could frame something as being beneficial to Wang Xian'Er, Wang Wan'Er would surely not refuse.

And so, Chen Dong asked, "The Cultivation Technique I gave you... you haven't been practicing it, have you?"

Wang Wan'Er shook her head slightly, looking apologetic. "I was afraid."

"Afraid of what? My family's ancestral Cultivation Technique is no worse than those of the five great sects!" Of course, Chen Dong had never actually seen a technique from the five great sects, but when you're promoting your own goods, you don't talk them down.

Wang Wan'Er continued to shake her head. "It's not that. I'm afraid that if I break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, I'll become one of those high-and-mighty Immortal Masters."

"What's so bad about that?" Chen Dong was baffled. He couldn't believe someone was actually afraid of becoming an Immortal Master.

"'Immortals and mortals are worlds apart; the Great Dao is without sentiment.' That's the first line in the General Principles of Qi Cultivation. Once you become an Immortal Master, you must sever all mortal attachments. I was worried about my lady, so I never practiced!"

Chen Dong sighed internally. 'What a truly naive girl.' This Wang Wan'er would put on a cold and aloof act in front of outsiders, but once you got to know her, you realized she was just incredibly simple-minded.

"Did those Immortal Masters from the Qixia Sect who came today look like they'd severed their mortal ties?"

Wang Wan'Er shook her head again.

Chen Dong smiled. "I'd say not only have they not severed them, they seem to be quite friendly with Master Wang. Otherwise, how would the Wang Family dare to use their name so openly?"

The candlelight flickered in the room. Wang Wan'Er stared blankly, lost in thought.

Chen Dong revealed his first objective. "I have a way to help Wang Xian'Er solve her problems, but it requires a Foundation Establishment cultivation base. Are you willing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage for Wang Xian'Er's sake and be the one to carry it out?"