Chapter 1085: What Do You Think of Me?
Chapter 1085: What Do You Think of Me?
Shen Xiao asked, "What about the matchmaking tournament? Clan Leader Jin, do you already have a wife?"
The moment she said this, if Tang San still didn't understand her intent, he might as well be a block of wood. He couldn't help but chuckle again. So you're here to "get to know me better," huh. Well, sorry about that.
"I'm not married. But I do have someone I admire. After tomorrow's match, I plan to make my choice directly."
Shen Xiao paused, and seeing the smile on Tang San's face, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. There was no doubt in her mind that she was not the one he admired. They'd barely met, and he'd never shown any special interest.
"It must be some great beauty that you admire, then?" she said teasingly.
Tang San smiled. "You'll find out tomorrow."
Shen Xiao blinked, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of me?"
Tang San froze. Damn, you really are direct. I'm not sure whether to praise your assertiveness or tell you off for not figuring out I'm rejecting you.
"You are, of course, a proud daughter of the Nethermoon Flower clan, future heir of your Emperor."
Shen Xiao replied, "Would you consider a union, then? If we were together, you'd gain the friendship of not just our clan, but also the Scorching Sunflower clan. That'd be a big help to your future, don't you think?"
Tang San nearly laughed out loud. This girl really knew how to advocate for herself!
He gave a helpless smile. "I've never really considered arranged unions. When it comes to love, I'm a bit of an idealist. I only want to be with someone I truly care for. Not because of alliances or benefits."
Shen Xiao spread her hands in a helpless shrug and stood up. "Alright then, I'll take my leave. At least I tried, and I can tell my master that I gave it my best. But I have to say, I am a little heartbroken. I hope we can still be friends. In the future, let's support each other."
Tang San stood up as well. Looking at this confident and forthright Great Nymph King, he couldn't help but feel some admiration. Those who were chosen as successors by Emperors really were no ordinary people. He smiled and said, "It's not that I consider you to be beneath me. It's just that my heart is already taken, and cannot be given twice. You are worthy of the absolute best."
Shen Xiao pouted. "Spare me. Don't try to soften the blow with pretty words. But tell me honestly—this person you like, does she know about it?"
Tang San hesitated. "She probably has an idea."
Shen Xiao smirked. "So… not certain. Well, I'll be frank. You Blue Gold Tree folks, with your blue skin, aren't exactly popular among other races. Only our Nethermoon Flower clan actually likes blue. Sure, you'll have the right to choose after tomorrow's match, and the girl probably won't turn you down. But what if it's one-sided? Wouldn't that be kind of sad?"
Tang San's mouth twitched. "You're cursing me now? Shouldn't you be wishing me luck?"
Shen Xiao rolled her eyes. "Why would I? You rejected me, remember? But hey, if things go south and she turns you down, you can pick me. At least I can promise you I'll work on our relationship. Love takes time, right?"
Damn, are you actually offering yourself as a backup plan?!
"Well, that's exactly it. Love might take time, but I'm willing to spend that time working on mine," Tang San said as he opened the door for her.
Shen Xiao huffed. "You're really giving me no chance at all, huh? You don't act like a tree nymph; you're more like a stubborn rock. Fine, I'm leaving. If we don't end up as husband and wife, maybe we can be brothers in arms. The dragons keep fawning over you, but their internal factions are a complete mess. I bet our clan could help you more. We've only got one voice."
Tang San chuckled. "I can feel your sincerity. If I get the chance, I'll definitely visit your Emperor."
"Mm. I'll see you tomorrow. Go win that championship and become an Emperor already. See, now I'm wishing you luck."
"Thank you."
As Shen Xiao walked out, she waved at him. "No need to send me off. Jin Miaolin, you know something? I think I like you more now. Such a romantic idealist is hard to find these days."
Watching her go, Tang San shook his head with a wry smile—only to spot, not far away, the Grand Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, and Jin Miaosen all peeking around the corner.
He shot them a glare. "What are you looking at?"
The Grand Elder asked cautiously, "Clan Leader… She came to propose marriage, right?"
Tang San rolled his eyes. "What else?"
Jin Miaosen immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "Big Brother, you're incredible. Even a proud race like the Nethermoon Flower clan came knocking. This is an honor for us!"
"Are they that proud?" Tang San asked curiously.
Jin Miaosen rolled her eyes. "I forgot your memory's bad. Before His Majesty the Sunborne came into prominence, the Nethermoon Flower clan was the number one clan in the Solstice Empire. Their heritage runs deeper than even the Scorching Sunflower clan. Every princess of the Nethermoon Flower clan is a chosen daughter of the heavens and the dream wife of every male in the empire. Marrying into that clan means receiving the blessing of moonlight, which greatly boosts cultivation. But they have sky-high standards. If you're not a true elite, they won't even look at you. I've never heard of a Nethermoon princess actively proposing. More importantly, Shen Xiao is the personal disciple of the Earthshade Nymph Emperor! She's immensely powerful, and she's known as the clan's First Princess. If word gets out that you turned her down, it'll shake the Ancestral Court!"
Tang San actually didn't know much about the major nymph clans of the Solstice Empire, so this explanation was news to him. Of course, he was not about to comment on it.
"You're still planning to pick City Lord Mei, huh? Yeah, a Crown Princess sure is something else. But from what I've seen, she doesn't seem all that into you."
Tang San faked a kick in her direction. "Even you are raining on my parade? Alright, enough with the chit-chat. If it's nothing urgent, don't bother me."
Jin Miaosen giggled. "Come on, Big Brother. Things have changed. Back then, nobody gave us the time of day, but it was just because they had no taste. Now you've made a name for yourself across the continent. I bet every unmarried woman, whether nymph or demon, wants to marry our future Emperor!"
Bang!
Tang San shut the door.
He didn't care much about his new status as the dream lover of the whole Daemon Continent, and he didn't think others would make much noise either. But the moment he stepped out the next morning, his perspective changed… dramatically.
As he exited the White Tiger Hotel surrounded by the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan, the scene that greeted him made him jump.
Over two dozen female nymphs and demons, all dressed in their finest garb, were waiting for him outside the hotel. The moment he appeared, they rushed toward him.
The Blue Gold Tree elders tried to block them, but it was pointless. These women were all Great Demon Kings or Great Nymph Kings, and they were no Blue Gold Trees. The elders were instantly pushed away, leaving a stunned Tang San smack in the middle of the chaos.
The women jostled each other to get closer, some even unleashing their bloodline powers to shove rivals aside. In seconds, the energy in front of the hotel went into full upheaval.
"Ladies, ladies, please don't push… What are you—hey!" Tang San stood helpless among the crowd, trying not to be trampled
No matter how many plans he made, he had never expected that a matchmaking tournament originally aimed at Mei Gongzi would end up backfiring on him. Now he was the one trapped in this battlefield of romance. Not even in his past lives had he encountered a scene quite like this.