Chapter 373: Chapter 126: Huo Wen’an’s Betrothal Token (Part 3)
Xu Xingguang cooperated with Huo Wen’an’s arrangement and didn’t expose him.
Receiving the Divine Concealment Tea handed over by a young maid, Xu Xingguang took a sip.
But seeing Uncle Xia still staring eagerly, Xu Xingguang hesitated, then tilted her head back and drank the entire cup of tea.
Seeing this, Uncle Xia finally showed a smile.
The group continued to move forward and arrived at an open-air fountain pool.
At the bottom of the fountain pool, there was a bowl-sized hole, through which the water flowed downwards, its destination unknown.
A maid carrying a golden basin stood beside the fountain pool, clearly indicating another ceremony was to take place here.
Indeed, Uncle Xia said to Xu Xingguang, "This fountain pool is connected to the sea of Divine Concealment Island. Miss Xu can choose a Longevity Turtle to release here for blessing."
Xu Xingguang found these traditions quite interesting, so she picked a medium-sized turtle from the golden basin, made a wish, and released it into the fountain pool.
The little turtle slowly crawled toward the bowl-sized hole and swiftly slipped through it.
Seeing this, Uncle Xia smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and recited loudly, "Longevity Turtle enters Longevity Sea, safe, smooth, and long-lived!"
Xu Xingguang: "..."
Very superstitious.
After walking for several more minutes, they finally arrived at the Pilot Mansion where Huo Wen’an resided.
A gray-black Gothic high tower stood atop the island’s mountain, like a sleeping demon. Before entering the Pilot Mansion, one must first pass through a majestic palace wall gate.
The gate was closed tightly, with no key inserted in the lock.
Xu Xingguang stared at the two heavy, pitch-black iron doors and immediately saw the countless mechanisms hidden within; if forced entry were attempted, one would surely be riddled with the concealed traps within.
At this moment, Huo Wen’an suddenly supported himself with a wheelchair, and stood up shakily.
He leveraged his cane and slowly approached Xu Xingguang, looking at the door, saying, "Inside the Pilot Mansion is a mysterious passage leading to the sea of Divine Concealment Island for escape. When Divine Concealment Island is besieged, the Pilot Mansion is the last retreat."
Huo Wen’an pointed at the two black doors in front of them, saying, "This door is the final safety guarantee for the Huo Family. Since ancient times, the Captain wields the Serpent Pattern Authority Ring, and the Lady Captain holds the Life Gate Key."
Huo Wen’an looked toward the steward.
Uncle Xia shivered internally and hurriedly handed over an old wooden box to Huo Wen’an.
Huo Wen’an took the box and said to Xu Xingguang, "Inside here is the Life Gate Key."
The Huo Family has developed to such an extent today that they no longer fear any threats from any forces. This Life Gate might never truly activate its function.
However, for the Captain to hand over the Life Gate Key to the Lady Captain is a tradition on Divine Concealment Island.
This is the most romantic courtship method of the Huo Family.
Even when Huo Canghai married his first wife, he had to follow the Huo Family’s generations-old rules and hand the Life Gate Key over to his bride.
Later, when Huo Canghai met his true love, the Princess, he couldn’t give the same key to two women, but didn’t want to wrong his Princess either, so he built a palace on Lan Yue Mountain and installed another Life Gate.
He then gave the Moon Palace’s Life Gate Key to his Princess.
This Life Gate Key was originally held by Huo Canghai.
Last night, Huo Wen’an dispatched Zheng Lie overnight to retrieve this key from Huo Canghai, expecting resistance from Huo Canghai. But surprisingly, Huo Canghai readily handed over the key to Zheng Lie.
Clearly, Huo Canghai had already accepted Xu Xingguang as the prospective granddaughter-in-law.
Huo Wen’an gazed deeply at Xu Xingguang and solemnly asked, "This is the token of my proposal to you. Xu Xingguang, do you dare to accept it?"
Upon receiving the Life Gate Key from Huo Wen’an, from that moment on, Xu Xingguang would become the true Lady Captain of Divine Concealment Island.
Xu Xingguang saw her reflection in Huo Wen’an’s dark eyes.
It turned out that in Huo Wen’an’s eyes, she appeared so bright.
Xu Xingguang suddenly took a step back, raising her hands, palms up, bravely and fearlessly meeting Huo Wen’an’s gaze, and powerfully responded, "Thanks to Captain Huo’s trust and favor, Xu Xingguang is willing to accept this heavy gift!"
"From now on, I will stand with you, sharing joys and hardships!"
Huo Wen’an laughed genuinely.
He solemnly placed the box into Xu Xingguang’s palm. "Go and open the Life Gate."
"Alright."
Xu Xingguang took the weighty, intricate key from the box, inserted it into the lock, turned the key, and heard a series of operatic sounds coming from within the door.
