Chapter 260: The Second Screening

However, families like the Bai family, with some status, naturally set higher standards for their sole heir’s husband, and soon a guard came over, roughly “inviting” Ceng Wanxiong out.

“It’s up to you now, Brother Lu.”

Ceng Wanxiong’s attitude was surprisingly good—he still smiled broadly as he was escorted out, sending a private message to Lu Yunzhan to encourage him.

Lu Yunzhan sighed helplessly; this was nothing but a farce. Perhaps he shouldn’t have come here at all—he never believed he’d become the Bai family’s son-in-law.

Thinking this, he felt even more certain that staying here was a waste of time.

The group that entered with Lu Yunzhan totaled ten people; eight were gradually escorted out by Bai family guards.

Lu Yunzhan had expected to be escorted out too, but to his surprise, he and another well-dressed young nobleman both advanced to the second trial.

Though many had entered, very few made it to the second stage—often, out of ten entrants, not a single one passed, a common occurrence.

Before the second trial stood another arena, where dozens sat—each appearing either of noble birth or with a cultivation base around the sixth rank.

Without exception.

Lu Yunzhan scanned the crowd and shook his head with a wry smile; even if the Bai family chose a husband by tossing a embroidered ball, they still had standards—only those of noble lineage or with a sixth-rank cultivation base were barely acceptable.

The thought made him feel utterly uncomfortable.

Add to that the fact that Ceng Wanxiong, who had dragged him here for the spectacle, had been eliminated, and Lu Yunzhan decided that since he wouldn’t be chosen anyway, there was no point wasting more time.

“Excuse me, where can I leave from?”

Lu Yunzhan approached a guard and lowered his voice to ask.

“Leave?” The guard’s voice rose sharply; he frowned. “You’ve already passed the preliminary screening—why leave?”

The guard looked at him as if he were an idiot; someone who passed the first round yet wanted to leave was truly unprecedented.

Whoever succeeded in entering here—

Their faces beamed with joy, as if they’d glued their buttocks to their chairs.

“I withdraw,” Lu Yunzhan said calmly.

The guard raised an eyebrow. He didn’t think Lu Yunzhan looked foolish—so why make such a request? After thinking for a long while, he finally said uncertainly, “Sit there and wait. I’ll ask my superiors.”

Clearly, the Bai family hadn’t anticipated anyone voluntarily withdrawing, and this guard didn’t know how to handle Lu Yunzhan.

Lu Yunzhan opened his mouth to speak again, but the guard waved him off impatiently. “Talking to me won’t help. For the young lady’s safety, everything we do must be reported upward and approved before anyone is allowed to leave.”

“Otherwise, if there’s even a slight misunderstanding—”

“You might get arrested.”

The guard spoke with solemn gravity.

Seeing how serious the guard was, Lu Yunzhan realized he wasn’t lying—he could only return to his seat and wait. He guessed the guard had no intention of reporting upward anytime soon; he’d probably be eliminated in the second trial before being allowed to leave for withdrawing.

Just as he was thinking this—

A sturdy woman stepped onto the arena, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Please proceed to the passage ahead in order, from left to right, according to your seats, for the second screening.”

As before, the red curtain before the arena was pulled aside, revealing ten passages—ten people entered each time.

Soon it was Lu Yunzhan’s turn.

As he entered the passage, he found himself in another small room wrapped in red cloth, where a veiled maid sat waiting.

“The guard said you wish to withdraw and leave? May I ask why? My young lady is curious—today, you’re the first to withdraw. Was our hospitality inadequate?”

The maid’s tone was hesitant; her large, misty eyes glanced at Lu Yunzhan with curious shyness.

Lu Yunzhan laughed helplessly. “Please don’t misunderstand—I’m just a wanderer with no real chance. I thought it better to leave early than waste more time here.”

“I mean no disrespect to the Bai family, nor do I find your young lady lacking.”

“To be honest, I came only to accompany a friend. First, I never expected to be chosen; second, I’m uneasy—I’m used to wandering. If I were chosen, I’m not sure I could settle down and build a life in Beicheng.”

The veiled maid burst into a laugh, covering her mouth. “Then you’d better decide quickly—my young lady is quite pleased with you.”

“Huh?” Lu Yunzhan’s head was full of question marks.

The veiled maid smiled. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Yunzhan paused, then chuckled awkwardly. “Miss, you’re joking. I’ve done nothing special—why would your young lady be pleased with me? I haven’t even seen her.”

“You have,” the veiled maid smiled sweetly. “When you all sat before the arena, my young lady observed each of you.”

“Since you were the one who wished to withdraw, she looked at you longer.”

“Others here only seek her wealth and beauty. But you—you withdrew. She thinks you’re unusual. If nothing goes wrong, the embroidered ball will be thrown to you in the next round.”

“This…” Lu Yunzhan didn’t know why, but hearing the maid’s words, his heart suddenly fluttered with unease.

As if he were about to do something incredibly foolish.

That if he did this, he’d regret it forever.

Seeing Lu Yunzhan flustered, tongue-tied, unable to speak, the veiled maid smiled—she assumed his reaction was due to overwhelming excitement.

But Lu Yunzhan suddenly said, “This must be a misunderstanding. Your young lady misjudged me—I’m not special at all…”

The veiled maid’s smile froze. She hadn’t expected him to say this. Bai Yu was famed for her peerless beauty, and the Bai family was the undisputed top house in Beicheng.

What on earth made this Lu Yunzhan reject her?

Why?!

“Are you rejecting my young lady?”

The maid’s voice turned icy. Her smile vanished; her eyes blazed as if she’d strangle him the moment his answer failed to satisfy.

“N-no no!” Lu Yunzhan waved his hands frantically, his voice shaky. “I’m just blunt—I say what I think. I really am not special, and I’m used to wandering. I have no confidence I could settle down and build a life in Beicheng.”