Chapter 475: One Hundred Percent!
Ye Guan wasn't thrilled about the idea of arranged marriages, but he needed the support of the Eternal Night Empire, so he decided to compromise.
They decided to have a marriage of convenience—a bond wherein they wouldn't have to fulfill their marriage vows. It would be a win-win situation.
Ye Nanqing appeared surprised by Ye Guan's proposal. She couldn't help but doubt whether Ye Guan was serious or not, so she decided to ask, "Is this really okay for you, Young Master Ye?"
Ye Guan nodded with a confident smile. "We just have to work together, and it's all going to work out in the end."
Ye Nanqing was silent.
"Why do you look like you're hesitating?" Ye Guan asked.
Ye Nanqing met Ye Guan's gaze and suggested, "Why don't you approach my sister? She's powerful, and she should be a better partner."
"I did consider her," Ye Guan replied, "However, I didn't like her personality at all."
Ye Nanqing nodded. "Okay, I understand what I have to do, Young Master Ye."
Ye Guan grinned. "It's settled, then. We'll have a marriage of convenience, and we'll go our separate ways once everything has been sorted."
Ye Nanqing nodded.
"Let's go outside," Ye Guan suggested and led Ye Nanqing out of the grand hall.
Ye Nanqing nodded at Ye Jun.
Ye Jun smiled instantly. The marriage alliance was established, and they stood to gain a ton, as Ye Guan's backers were the True Universe and the Guanxuan Universe.
"The wedding will be in three days! Ye Jun announced decisively.
The sudden announcement astonished both Ye Guan and Ye Nanqing.
Noticing Ye Guan's surprise, Ye Jun explained, "Young Master Ye, don't be surprised. I want Nanqing to get married to you as soon as possible because I want her to contend for the throne!"
Confused, Ye Guan asked, "Aren't you interested in continuing your term, Senior?"
Ye Jun smiled and explained, "It is unnecessary. I've reached a bottleneck, and the King Dao Destiny Aura is no longer that useful to me. I'd stand to gain more if I were to step back and focus on my cultivation.
Ye Guan nodded and went silent.
Meanwhile, Ye Nanqing hesitated briefly before saying, "Father, I..."
Ye Jun chuckled."Don't worry. Now that Ye Anjun and Ye Shurou have both fallen from grace, you no longer have any competitors. And even if there were, I believe Young Master Ye here would help you navigate through any challenges!"
Ye Nanqing glanced at Ye Guan but chose to remain silent.
Ye Guan glanced at the Great Daoist Brush Master, and the latter nodded.
Ye Guan smiled wryly. Getting married in three days is just... it's so soon!
Ye Jun laughed and said, "Young Master Ye, let's keep the marriage simple given the circumstances. Don't worry, we will handle everything!"
Ye Guan nodded. "Sounds great."
"I suggest you stay here in the palace, Young Master Ye. I've heard reports from the imperial guards that a few Time Reversers are still in the Eternal Night Empire. I don't think they're going to give up that easily."
Ye Guan acknowledged. "Understood."
And you two are going to stay together," Ye Jun added.
Both Ye Guan and Ye Nanqing looked at Ye Jun in surprise.
Ye Jun explained solemnly, "Don't overthink it. I'm just concerned that the Time Reversers will target Nanqing. If something were to happen to her, our plan would be ruined."
Ye Guan chose not to say anything in response.
"That's a great idea," the Great Daoist Brush Master chimed in, "It might also help foster a deeper connection."
Ye Guan turned to face Ye Nanqing, who lowered her head without uttering a word.
Ye Jun said, "Nanqing, take Young Master Ye downstairs to rest!"
Ye Nanqing nodded and looked at Ye Guan. "Young Master Ye, please."
Ye Guan nodded and followed Ye Nanqing away.
"Senior..." Ye Jun muttered, "I've put everything on the line for this."
The Great Daoist Brush Master remained composed as he replied, "I did the same, so what's there to fear?"
Ye Jun sighed. Truth be told, if it hadn't been for the Great Daoist Brush Master, he wouldn't have dared to collaborate with Ye Guan. The Time Reversers were truly powerful, and Ye Jun knew that there were even more powerful Time Reversers.
The Time Reversers were beings capable of reversing the flow of time, which was a feat that Ye Jun found difficult to accomplish himself.
If it hadn't been for Eternal Night City's powerful arrays and the King Dao Destiny Aura on him, those Time Reversers would have killed him last night.
In other words, Ye Jun was gambling here, and the stakes were the entire Eternal Night Empire.
"Everyone's going to die if he fails," the Great Daoist Brush Master said, "If he succeeds, countless beings will lose their cultivation base due to the Universe Tribulation, but you will undoubtedly be safe as one of his relatives.
"You will be grateful for the choice you made today."
Ye Jun nodded. "I hope so."
The Great Daoist Brush Master nodded and turned around to leave. He still had other matters to handle.
Just then, Ye Jun's countenance changed, and his voice changed as well as he shouted, "Guards!"
A figure in black appeared before him and knelt down. "Your Majesty!"
Ye Jun calmly said, "Pass down my decree: henceforth, the imperial palace is under strict lockdown. All cultivators in seclusion must come out; defensive arrays are to be set and be ready to be activated at any moment.
"Furthermore, dispatch all scouts and notify the leaders of the seventeen states to bring their elites to the imperial city. Those who defy this order will have to bear the consequences."
The figure clad in black acknowledged the command with a bow and disappeared.
Ye Jun looked up at the vast sky with an expression tinged with concern. The Great Daoist Brush Master had been a crucial figure in the founding of the Eternal Night Clan's Eternal Night Empire. In addition, the Great Daoist Brush Master could be considered the individual closest to the Great Dao.
Ye Jun had willingly decided to stand on the Great Daoist Brush Master's side.
Ye Jun turned around and left.
...
Meanwhile, Ye Nanqing led Ye Guan to her room.
Ye Nanqing's room was cozy rather than spacious, and the subtle fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air.
Ye Nanqing felt a bit uneasy, as this was the first time she brought someone into her personal space. However, she steeled her resolve and poured a cup of tea for Ye Guan.
"Young Master Ye, please," Ye Nanqing said.
Ye Guan smiled at Ye Nanqing. "Lady Nanqing, please take a seat as well."
Ye Nanqing hesitated briefly before sitting across from Ye Guan.
Ye Guan revealed a friendly smile and asked, "Lady Nanqing, do I give off a villainous vibe?"
Ye Nanqing shook her head.
"Then, why do you seem a little apprehensive around me?" Ye Guan asked.
"I'm just a bit... uncomfortable."
Ye Guan remarked, "You don't like this, do you?"
Ye Nanqing met Ye Guan's gaze and nodded.
"Your father seems like he's in a hurry to marry you off, and he even instructed you to bring me to your room. You feel as if he's treating you as if you're a commodity, and he's so eager about marrying you off to the point of disregarding your feelings."
Ye Nanqing revealed a thoughtful look at Ye Guan's words, but she chose not to say anything.
Ye Guan pondered briefly over the situation and suggested, "Lady Nanqing, how about you look at this from a different perspective?"
Perplexed, Ye Nanqing asked, "A different perspective?"
Ye Guan nodded. "Indeed. Isn't this an opportunity to change your destiny? You can choose not to marry me, but do you really think that you can avoid marriage completely?
"Your father is probably going to arrange another marriage for you in the future. If you want to avoid being treated as a mere pawn, you have to become a player."
Ye Nanqing pondered silently over Ye Guan's words.
"If everything goes according to plan, you'll ascend to the throne and become the Empress of the Eternal Night Empire. By then, the entire Eternal Night Empire is in your hands. However, you're too weak, so you have to become even stronger before then so that you won't get manipulated by others.
"I can assist you in that regard. I'll elevate your bloodline and take it to a whole new level. This way, not only will your strength experience a significant upgrade, but your status in the Eternal Night Clan will become rock solid as well," Ye Guan said.
Then, he took a sip of the tea in his teacup and grinned before continuing, "Everything seems brighter now that you're looking at it from a different perspective, right?"
Ye Guan glanced at the quiet Ye Nanqing and said, "I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I won't take advantage of you nor even attempt to control you. Once everything is settled, I'll make a public statement, and we can part ways amicably. I'll also bid farewell to this place."
"You're a good person, Young Master Ye."
Ye Guan laughed heartily.
Ye Nanqing frowned in confusion and asked, "What's funny, Young Master Ye?"
Ye Guan chuckled. "I once visited a place called the Milky Way. Being a good person in that place has a unique connotation."
Ye Nanqing was intrigued. "A unique connotation?"
Ye Guan nodded. "In that place, if a woman isn't interested in a man, she might say, 'you're a good person... but we're not suitable for each other.'"
Ye Nanqing was stunned, and then she smiled. Of course, she quickly composed herself.
Ye Guan felt the urge to offer a compliment upon witnessing Ye Nanqing's smile, but he remembered Little Jia's advice about how he had to avoid complimenting women in case they might misunderstand him. Ye Guan didn't dare to compliment Ye Nanqing. In the end, Ye Guan said, "Lady Nanqing, I have to cultivate."
"Sure," said Ye Nanqing with a nod.
Ye Guan walked away and entered the world inside the tiny pagoda. Ye Guan remained silent for a long time as she stared at where she last saw Ye Guan before the latter disappeared into thin air.
Eventually, Ye Nanqing stood up and left.
Ye Nanqing's face became exceedingly calm, and her submissive demeanor from earlier had vanished.
Ye Nanqing soon arrived at a hall and found the one and only figure inside the room—Ye Jun.
Ye Jun stared at Ye Nanqing and asked, "What do you think of him?"
Ye Nanqing responded, "He doesn't seem to have many ulterior motives.”
"He has ulterior motives, but it's not many?" Ye Jun frowned.
Ye Nanqing nodded.
"What are your chances of defeating him in a confrontation?"
Ye Nanqing calmly responded, "My chances are a hundred percent.”
Ye Jun's eyes flashed sharply. "Even a Great Destiny Sovereign is an ant before him."
Ye Nanqing calmly repeated, "My chances are a hundred percent.”
Ye Jun smiled. "If you can take advantage of his three bloodlines to shatter the constraints of that woman's bloodline, then your power will soar to new heights. Perhaps you may even become as strong as her."
Ye Nanqing remained composed, but she didn't say anything in response.
"Nanqing, the reason I want you to marry him is to prevent the Eternal Night Empire from becoming someone else's lackey. He's a remarkably astute young man, but your sister couldn't get along with him. If you can..." Ye Jun trailed off.
Staring into Ye Nanqing's eyes, Ye Jun continued, "Do you understand?"
Once a woman fell for a man, it would be game over. The same was true for once a man fell for a woman. By then, true cooperation was impossible. However, the Eternal Night Clan wanted more than cooperation; they wanted to dominate and prosper!
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦