Chapter 114

Chapter 114: The Marriage Proposal

Shouchun Hall.

Lin Zhi Shou was instructing Lin Xin in pill refining.

Ever since returning from the Immortal Sect, the Third Young Lady seemed to have developed a tremendous interest in pill refining.

Shortly after she returned, she spent several consecutive days here, attentively and humbly receiving instruction.

Lin Zhi Shou actually understood this behavior well.

Because he knew the character of this Third Young Lady.

Her current diligence simply came from seeing her Senior Brother rise so quickly to the rank of top-level Pill Master, stirring her competitive spirit.

Regarding Lin Xin’s talent, however, Lin Zhi Shou was quite satisfied.

Her recent studies at the Immortal Sect had brought her significant progress.

"The heat is too low. Continuing like this won’t melt the herbs, it’ll cause the medicinal properties to dissipate," Lin Zhi Shou said with a stern expression, his voice grave.

Lin Xin said nothing, silently increasing the heat instead.

At that moment, Zhou Luo entered the alchemy room.

Seeing his beloved disciple, Lin Zhi Shou immediately beamed with joy: "Disciple, have you encountered difficulties in pill refining?"

"No, Master. I’ve come to discuss a matter with you," Zhou Luo responded.

"Oh? What matter?" Lin Zhi Shou inquired curiously.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Luo glanced at Lin Xin on the other side.

Seeing her concentrating fully on pill refining, he lowered his voice and said: "It’s regarding Fifth Miss and I’s marriage arrangement."

Boom—

The moment the words were spoken, a dull, heavy thud suddenly sounded, and the smell of burning instantly filled the air.

Lin Zhi Shou frowned, turning to Lin Xin: "I asked you to increase the heat, why did you raise it so high?"

Lin Xin pressed her lips together and lowered her head.

"Ai, start over," Lin Zhi Shou sighed.

He then turned back to Zhou Luo: "I heard about your marriage arrangement. How do you feel about it?"

"That’s why I’ve come to ask Master to help propose formally on my behalf," Zhou Luo replied with a gentle smile.

"Propose marriage? Of course I can. We can go right now."

Hearing it was actually a marriage proposal brought a wide smile to Lin Zhi Shou’s aged face.

"Don’t rush, Master. Let me prepare first. We can go tomorrow morning," Zhou Luo suggested.

Since it was a proposal, it needed appropriate formality; betrothal gifts were an absolute necessity.

"Good, good, good. But leave the matter of betrothal gifts to your Master. You needn’t worry about it," Lin Zhi Shou said, deeply gratified.

Although Zhou Luo was merely his disciple.

In his heart, this exceptional disciple was already no different from his own child.

Now, the child was going to propose marriage.

As an elder, how could he not be happy?

For him, a small betrothal gift was not a problem at all.

"Master, how can this be…" Zhou Luo wanted to refuse.

But Lin Zhi Shou was firm in his words.

Even though he repeatedly declined, it was of no use.

In the end, Zhou Luo could not resist the other party and had to accept.

He left Shouchun Garden.

Zhou Luo returned home and found that his wives and concubines were actually all waiting for him.

"Husband, when are you going to marry a wife?" Lin Yi Yi spoke first, with an expectant expression on her face.

What she expected was not the marriage itself, but the evening.

"Tomorrow I will go to the main family to propose marriage, then we can discuss the date," Zhou Luo said.

Hearing these words, all the wives and concubines were extremely happy.

Because they had previously made contact with Lin Xi and had already accepted her.

Only, Zhou Luo noticed that on everyone’s happy faces, there was a faint flash of gloom.

Although they appeared very joyful, that inner sense of loss from their hearts could not be concealed.

He understood that, except for Lin Jin Xuan, the others had not had a formal wedding when they married over.

Even though they knew it was due to their status, they could not help but feel a little sad.

"Tonight we’ll have a feast!" Zhou Luo suddenly raised his voice and said.

"Husband, what feast?" Lin Jin Xuan looked curious, and the others were all the same.

"Of course it’s a seafood feast," Zhou Luo said with a smile.

The so-called seafood feast was actually a feast composed of the meat of magical beasts from the sea, including Blue Phosphorus Shrimp, Snow Spirit Crab, Primordial Spirit Abalone, and so on.

These magical beasts lived in the sea for a long time; their meat was plump and rich in spiritual energy.

After consuming it, it would greatly nourish the body.

Only because the magical beasts in the sea were even more terrifying than those on land, and in addition, Maple Leaf City was a long distance from the sea, so these magical beast meats were very expensive in the market.

Ordinary families could not afford it at all; only those important figures in the Lin Family had the strength.

Last time at a banquet, the family had displayed a seafood feast, which attracted many family members to scramble for it.

Hearing that it was a seafood feast, all the women’s beautiful eyes sparkled, and they showed surprised smiles one after another.

"Husband, isn’t it too extravagant?" Lin Jin Xuan whispered.

She was currently the mistress of Zhou Garden, so she would subconsciously consider the cost-effectiveness.

"It’s for happiness; just treat it as a celebration of me being promoted to top-level Pill Master," Zhou Luo said generously.

The rewards from the family and the gifts from others had truly made him a fortune.

It was fine to indulge occasionally.

"Great! I know the department store has it. I’ve been eyeing it for so long. I’ll go buy it," Lin Yi Yi volunteered eagerly.

All the women smiled like flowers.

That evening, when the lavish seafood feast was laid out.

Both the women and the children wore expressions of astonishment.

"Wow, this crab is huge, bigger than my hand!" little Chang An exclaimed, standing on his chair and gesturing.

His action drew laughter from everyone.

After the seafood feast concluded, and after consuming over a dozen magical beasts resembling oysters from his previous life, Zhou Luo entered Lin Yi Yi’s room.

…

…

The next day, at first light.

Lin Jin Xuan knocked outside, saying, "Husband, the Sixth Elder is here."

Zhou Luo hurriedly got out of bed.

He hadn’t expected his master to be this impatient—it was like rushing to propose marriage for his own grandson.

He arrived in the main hall to find Lin Zhi Shou sipping tea.

"Disciple, are you ready? Let’s go now," he said, rising to his feet.

"Master, you’re too hasty. I’ve only just woken up. How about some breakfast first?"

Seeing Zhou Luo wearing only one robe, Lin Zhi Shou conceded he was indeed overeager and reluctantly agreed.

After breakfast, Zhou Luo donned his moonlight-white robe, tied back his hair, and walked briskly with Lin Zhi Shou toward the core district.

At the entrance to the core district, the guards not only didn’t stop them but greeted them with respectful bows.

They proceeded straight to the family head’s courtyard.

Inside the main hall of the courtyard, Lin Tian Xiong sat upright at the head.

Today he wore a Purple Gold python robe, his salt-and-pepper hair meticulously combed. His posture was tall and straight, shoulders broad, back as straight as a pine tree.

His composed face held a pair of deep eyes, his nose was high-bridged, and his lips were tightly pressed, radiating an aura of unapproachable authority.

"Family Head!"

Lin Zhi Shou and Zhou Luo entered one after the other, offering salutes.

"You’ve come quite early?" Lin Tian Xiong’s voice was calm and unhurried.

"Family Head, a junior’s marriage is a significant matter. As an elder, it’s only natural I feel some urgency," Lin Zhi Shou chuckled lightly.

Lin Tian Xiong’s gaze deepened slightly.

These seemingly ordinary words carried a different resonance in his ears.

Clearly, this elder before him was determined to appoint Zhou Luo as the next Sixth Elder after his death.

Hence his self-assumed "elder" status.

That itself wasn’t problematic.

After all, this man was already a top-level Pill Master at just over twenty and was certain to reach the Second Level eventually.

But.

What if he chose to align himself with the Great Elder’s faction?

Wouldn’t that mean Lin Zhi Shou himself would also stand on that side?

Yesterday, immediately after meeting with the Second Elder, he agreed to this marriage with such decisive finality…

It made Lin Tian Xiong overthink a little…