Chapter 775: Ma Fu

Arriving in the parlor, Ma Fu indeed saw a man from the Zhu family—a servant in the guise of an old steward.

Upon seeing Ma Fu arrive, the old man bowed deeply again and again, showing utmost respect.

"You are from the Zhu family?" Ma Fu asked.

"In reply to Master Ma, I humbly serve as steward of the Zhu household and have come on behalf of our master to deliver a formal proposal." The steward replied quickly.

Ma Fu took the proposal, examined it closely, and understood at once: "So they truly intend to seek a marriage alliance."

He looked at the steward and asked: "I heard your Zhu family's daughter once attended a private school and lived among men—is this true?"

"Master Ma, you must not speak such nonsense—it damages the Young Lady's reputation! The Young Lady has remained within the inner chambers, never stepped outside," the steward said angrily, "Who is spreading such slander about our Young Lady? It's utterly despicable!"

"Enough, enough," Ma Fu waved his hand. "I merely heard a rumor from the streets and asked out of curiosity. Since the Zhu girl has no such issue, then let your master come in three days to discuss the marriage."

"Yes, Master Ma."

The Zhu family steward left Ma's household with mixed feelings.

After the Zhu family's man departed, Ma Fu clapped his hands, and moments later, an older man in the guise of a steward entered the parlor.

"Old Xu, the Zhu family wishes to form a marriage alliance with my Ma family. Investigate their background thoroughly. This matter is critical—do not be careless. If you fail, you know the consequences!" Ma Fu said sternly.

"Master, rest assured—I've served the Ma family for over thirty years. When have I ever slipped up?"

"This is different. You must be a hundred times, a thousand times more cautious than usual," Ma Fu emphasized sternly.

Giving gifts to curry favor requires great care.

If the other party's reputation is tainted or they harbor other flaws, sending someone to them is not an act of goodwill—it is an insult.

As head of the Ma family, Ma Fu had handled such gift-giving many times and possessed rich experience.

"Yes, Master."

Two days later.

Steward Xu returned, beaming with joy.

"Master, I've inquired through every channel. The Zhu Young Lady has never left her home, nor has any scandal ever touched her."

"And her appearance and character?" Ma Fu's heart settled, and he asked further.

Steward Xu praised: "Master, the Zhu family enforces strict household discipline—their daughter has received excellent upbringing, no issues at all. As for her appearance, I paid heavily to learn from the Zhu family's maidservants—she is indeed stunningly beautiful. That is precisely why the Zhu family has the confidence to seek marriage with our Ma family."

"Good." Ma Fu clapped approvingly. "Go collect your reward."

"Yes."

The next day.

The Zhu family master arrived, beaming with delight, and greeted Ma Fu with obsequious smiles.

Though the Zhu family was also wealthy, their influence fell far short of the Ma family's.

This marriage alliance was the Zhu family seeking to attach themselves to the Ma family—he naturally had to tread carefully.

In the parlor, the two sat down.

Ma Fu waved his hand, dismissing the servants.

"I understand the Zhu family's intentions," Ma Fu smiled. "But I have another proposal—would you care to hear it?"

"What proposal might Master Ma have?"

The Zhu family master's expression froze. He had assumed the matter was settled, yet now something had changed—he wondered inwardly where he had gone wrong.

"Your daughter is a beauty of heavenly grace, and she has caught the eye of a Dao Lord. Might you be willing to offer her to that Dao Lord?"

Upon hearing this, the Zhu family master's anger flared instantly.

I sought this marriage only to climb the ladder of power.

And now your Ma family wants to hand my daughter over to a Daoist Priest? What is your true intent?

Would this not mean losing the chance to ally with nobility—and losing my daughter for nothing?

"Master Ma, your words go too far!"

Ma Fu laughed heartily: "It's no surprise you think this way. Look here!"

He placed a silk scroll before the Zhu family master.

"Recite it with focused intent, and you will sense its mystery."

"The Great Radiance Mantra?" The Zhu family master stared, utterly speechless.

He never expected the Ma family master to be one who dabbled in mysticism.

He must have meditated so long he'd gone mad!

How could such a shrewd man believe in such nonsense?

Though doubts lingered, he could not withstand Ma Fu's burning gaze—he began to recite.

After all, circumstances forced compliance. He could still negotiate the marriage later—if he refused outright, the two families would be irreparably damaged.

No—his Zhu family might suffer catastrophic losses.

As he recited, the Zhu family master first felt shame, but gradually his mind grew calm, a warm current flowed through his body, filling him with comfort, as if he had returned to his youth.

As the recitation began, the head of the Zhu family initially felt a hint of shame, but gradually his mind grew calm, a warm current flowing through his body, filling him with comfort, as if he had returned to his youth.

After one full recitation, he felt his strength multiplied manyfold, boundless energy surged within him, and the wrinkles on his hands had smoothed noticeably.

After completing one recitation, Zhu's father felt his body had grown stronger by several times over, with endless strength, and even the wrinkled skin on his hands had become smoother.

Ma Fu smiled: "How is it? Does this Dao Lord still fail to impress you?"

"Could there be a true immortal here?" The Zhu family master's voice trembled. "I once thought Daoist Priests were merely charlatans. I never imagined real spiritual arts existed. Too late—I should have sought the Dao long ago."

"Slow down, slow down," Ma Fu chuckled. "This is not from our world—it was created by a Dao Lord from another realm. Even if you had sought the Dao in your youth, you could never have obtained such true immortal teachings."

"Earlier, you said you wished to offer my daughter to the Dao Lord—was that the very Dao Lord who created this true teaching?" The Zhu family master's breath quickened. "Is this truly true?"

"Earlier, when the Ma family head said he would offer his daughter to the Dao Sovereign, was it this very Dao Sovereign who created the True Law?" The Zhu family head's breathing quickened. "Are those words still true?"