Chapter 142: Subtle Changes in Feelings

"Sister Jing, are you alright?" Xu Deling asked with concern.

Xu Dejing's steps were somewhat unsteady, her eyes full of disappointment. "So what Father and Mother said was all true. Is this what great families are like?

"Whether children or marriage, neither can be decided by oneself.

"How tragic!"

"Sister Jing, great families have good and bad ones. Great families with strict clan rules probably have descendants with decent character."

"Perhaps. Let's go find Big Brother."

Xu Deling nodded slightly.

When Xu Dezhao saw Xu Dejing and noticed her expression, he said, "Now you know how well our Xu family elders have protected us."

"Yes. Yang Ruiyao is even a year younger than me, yet she knows so much. Meanwhile, I'm more like an ignorant sheltered young lady who doesn't understand the world."

Xu Dezhao sighed deeply. "So now, do you have an answer about marrying Wu Tao?"

"Huh!" Xu Deling exclaimed in surprise, looking at Xu Dejing in astonishment. "Sister Jing, why didn't you tell me about this earlier? You and Wu Tao? When did this happen?"

"It just happened today. Grandfather decided it, and Second Uncle and Second Aunt also support it. Only your Sister Jing is unwilling, wanting to marry a man she loves."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Xu Deling said as if suddenly enlightened. "No wonder you asked Cousin Ruiyao those questions earlier."

"Actually, Grandfather has already thought things through very thoroughly." Xu Dezhao said.

Xu Dejing raised her head to look at him. "Earlier, Brother Zhao, you said there would be a difference between Grandfather proposing this marriage versus my father proposing it. Why?"

"If Second Uncle proposed it, it should be to make your future life better, and also for the sake of his branch's descendants." Xu Dezhao said with a smile. "As for Grandfather proposing it, it's to make Wu Tao completely commit his heart. The person who marries him doesn't have to be you, but it must be a Xu family daughter."

Xu Dejing didn't understand, but Xu Deling seemed thoughtful.

"Future life? Descendants?"

Xu Dezhao sighed softly. "Forget it, I'll just tell you. Actually, the reason Wu Tao and Shen Qingyi were taken in by our Xu family since childhood and kept on the mountain to cultivate is because there's a reason.

"They are both immortal cultivators.

"Our Xu family is destined to become an immortal cultivation family above the Yang family. Only immortal cultivators are the true core members of the Xu family."

After a pause, he continued, "Perhaps in the future, some direct line members of the Xu family who don't walk the immortal path may not even have status as high as outside-surname immortal cultivators that the Xu family recruits and cultivates."

Xu Dejing's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing this. "Immortal cultivators?"

"The Xu family has recently been planning to become an immortal cultivation family, but only a few people know. Dejing, don't tell anyone.

"Of course, Second Uncle definitely knows. As for Second Aunt, I'm not sure."

Xu Dejing was somewhat dazed.

Though both were great families, she also understood how vast the difference was between martial families and immortal cultivation families.

Top martial experts had considerable strength, but facing immortal masters with their various methods, they would still feel reverence in their hearts.

Xu Dezhao continued, "Marrying someone with immortal cultivation aptitude increases the probability of descendants being born with immortal cultivation aptitude.

"If both parents have aptitude, then among four or five children, there's a high probability that one will be able to cultivate the immortal path.

"Among ordinary mortals, for someone with all five elements complete to appear, perhaps only one in tens of thousands.

"Among the commandery city's great families, many that have been passed down for hundreds of years have at least several immortal cultivators in the clan. They're also racking their brains, hoping to one day become an immortal cultivation family."

"Why make Wu Tao commit his heart?" Xu Dejing asked in confusion.

"As an immortal cultivator, who wouldn't yearn to establish their own immortal cultivation family?" Xu Dezhao gazed at the plants in the courtyard, his eyes also full of longing. "Grandfather had him marry in precisely to make him abandon such thoughts.

"Of course, Grandfather must have also given him considerable benefits."

"So that's how it is." Xu Dejing said. "Then Grandfather values Wu Tao quite a bit. Does he have high talent?"

"No, he only has the lowest grade of spiritual root aptitude. Most people with immortal cultivation aptitude in great families are like this.

"As for why Grandfather values him, it's simply because our Xu family is newly established, with only three generations and few family members. Those with immortal cultivation aptitude are naturally pitifully few.

"Another reason is that Wu Tao is considered one of the founding immortal cultivators of our Xu family. Our Xu family isn't the ungrateful type. Even if his aptitude is poor, we'll still support him somewhat.

"But this isn't unconditional. It requires absolute loyalty to the Xu family."

Hearing this, Xu Dejing finally understood completely.

After pondering, Xu Dezhao added, "Dejing, our Xu family's three generations don't have that many people, so the brothers and sisters are quite close. But by the fourth and fifth generations, there will probably be dozens of descendants at minimum.

"It's impossible for all family members to be close to each other.

"The closer one is to the center of family power, the higher one's voice naturally becomes. So my meaning is the same as Grandfather's and Second Uncle and Second Aunt's. We all hope you can accept Wu Tao.

"As for feelings, spending more time together will naturally develop them. After all, regarding Wu Tao as a person, Big Brother can guarantee his character is quite good and worth entrusting yourself to."

Xu Dejing pondered for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "Dejing understands. I will spend more time with Wu Tao in the future. Thank you, Brother Zhao and Deling, for taking me up to the Jade Cold Pool."

Xu Deling held Xu Dejing's hand and said with a smile, "I was just complaining about having no girls around my age on the mountain."

Xu Dejing nodded slightly.

At this moment, she had also come to terms with it.

Since great families were generally this corrupt, marrying into one would be meaningless anyway. She couldn't very well spend every day being affectionate with her beloved man without interacting with other ladies of the inner quarters.

The grandfather she respected, her father and mother, and even her big brother all supported her getting to know Wu Tao. What else could she say?

Moreover, after learning that Wu Tao was an immortal cultivator, Xu Dejing's heart underwent a subtle change.

After all, immortal masters were always lofty figures.

So Wu Tao and Shen Qingyi were immortal cultivators. Then were the others who frequently stayed on the mountain also?

She glanced at Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling beside her, keeping her doubts in her heart but ultimately, she didn't voice them.

Since the Xu family's goal was to become an immortal cultivation family, everything would be revealed when it was time to know.

The next day, Xu Dejing told the Xu Mingyuan couple her decision.

Xu Mingyuan was naturally gratified and informed Xu Chuan that same day.

After that, Xu Dejing also became one of the frequent visitors to the Jade Cold Pool.

Though most of the time she still silently practiced martial arts, since Wu Tao also focused mainly on cultivation. But when they had free time, the two would stroll through the azure bamboo sea.

After half a month, Xu Dejing had come to understand Wu Tao somewhat.

He was the taciturn type. Though not burly, his build was well-proportioned.

Immortal cultivators were generally like this.

His appearance was ordinary but was the type that grew more appealing the more you looked, perhaps partly due to the cultivator's bearing.

Though she couldn't say her heart was moved, she didn't feel averse to spending time with him either.

One day, after cultivation ended, the two unconsciously walked together through the mountain forest.

"Wu Tao, when did you come here?"

"I was selected to come to the Xu family when I was eight. My parents also moved to Dongxi Village. With the Xu family's help, they're living comfortably. Over the years, I've gained several younger siblings at home."

"Oh, I had just been born back then, only two or three years old."

"You've always stayed on the mountain. Don't you get bored?" Xu Dejing asked again.

Wu Tao smiled. "Miss Dejing, you practice martial arts. Do you get bored?"

Xu Dejing was startled. "Becoming a martial expert is what I aspire to. Naturally, I enjoy it."

"I'm the same." Wu Tao said. "What ordinary person doesn't yearn to become an immortal master? Ever since I was told I had immortal cultivation aptitude, I decided to dedicate my entire life to this path."

Xu Dejing smiled brightly and looked at him. "Then we're quite similar."

Wu Tao met her eyes and nodded slightly.

"Father said Grandfather wants us to marry and have you marry into the family. What do you think?"

"The Xu family enabled me to walk the immortal path. This grace is like being reborn. Even without marrying into the Xu family, I would dedicate my life to the Xu family to repay this debt."

"Is it merely repaying a debt?"

"Miss Dejing, I..."

"I don't feel like walking anymore today. I'm going back."

Xu Deling and Shen Qingyi saw the two return from their walk, with Xu Dejing huffing as she went down the mountain.

Xu Deling walked up to Wu Tao and asked in surprise, "What did you do to Sister Jing? She seems really angry!"

"Miss Deling, I didn't do anything. I wouldn't dare do anything to Miss Dejing."

Shen Qingyi smiled faintly. "Deling, let Wu Tao first explain what happened."

Shen Qingyi had gradually accepted her status as Xu Dezhao's fiancée, and naturally the way she addressed certain people had changed.

"Wu Tao, if you can't give a proper explanation, don't blame me for being rude." Xu Deling threatened.

Wu Tao had no choice but to recount everything that happened during today's walk from beginning to end.

"What, that's it?" Xu Deling was completely confused.

She herself was still an innocent young girl in her youth, with no experience, so she naturally didn't quite understand the subtleties between men and women.

Shen Qingyi seemed thoughtful. After a moment, she chuckled softly. "It seems Dejing has already accepted Wu Tao and has come to like him somewhat in her heart."

"So quickly?" Xu Deling was greatly shocked.

"Matters of the heart are very subtle. Sometimes after spending three or five years together, romantic feelings still won't develop. But sometimes in three or five days they will. Some people even fall in love at first sight."

"It seems I'm the one making a fuss over nothing." Xu Deling's wide sleeves hung gracefully as she sighed softly, her eyes showing helplessness.

Wu Tao also wore an expression of shock and astonishment.

Shen Qingyi looked at him with a faint smile. "Wu Tao, treasure this well. Dejing is a straightforward and genuine good woman."

"Let's go, Deling. Let Wu Tao think by himself."

Shen Qingyi pulled Xu Deling away.

It took Wu Tao a long while to come back to his senses.

He had originally thought that someone of Xu Dejing's noble status wouldn't take a liking to him, and that her agreement was merely compliance with the Xu family elders' arrangements.

He himself hadn't harbored any expectations either. Even after marriage, treating each other with courtesy as guests would suffice.

Never did he imagine that after only half a month together, she would develop feelings for him.

In an instant, his heart was also thrown into turmoil.

He didn't know how to respond.

While Qingjiang remained peaceful, the situation in Yuehu Commandery was becoming increasingly chaotic.

The Zhou family had launched multiple raids in succession, but the Su family had stayed huddled within their grand array, not venturing out.

Relying on the array's might, unless the Zhou family came out in full force to launch a fierce attack, the Su family's grand array could easily hold for several days.