Chapter 266 - 199: Li the Casanova?

Shee Anrong took the initiative to arrange a marriage...

Is she really going to make Li An and Shee Anqi become Daoist partners?

If it were merely Shee Anrong’s idea, Li An would likely agree.

There’s no question about it; it’s a profitable deal. As the Mountain Master, Shee Anrong holds a respectable position within the Demon Race. With this familial bond, Li An would have smooth sailing within the Celestial Killer Mountains.

A lot of the resources needed to reach the Nascent Soul stage could also be obtained through Shee Anqi and Shee Anrong.

But... Tan Qingxue is also involved, which makes him wary.

If this is Tan Qingxue’s idea, it means things are not that simple.

What does Tan Qingxue truly want Li An to do, to the extent that she needs to bind Li An through Shee Anqi?!

The thought is terrifying.

Once this marriage is agreed to, Li An is likely to face many troubles and dangers in the future.

He wouldn’t only be giving himself to Shee Anqi but also putting his life in Tan Qingxue’s hands!

Is he mad?

Conversely, if he declines, Lady Shee and Tan Qingxue might feel that Li An isn’t that reliable, but they won’t act against him directly.

After all, Li An still counts as one of their people and has the "merit of following the dragon." At most, they wouldn’t consider him in future developments.

But that’s completely acceptable!

Thinking of this, Li An sighed deeply, "For the Mountain Master to hold Li so highly in esteem, how fortunate Li must be!"

"What is Lord Lin’s decision?"

"Daoist Friend Anqi is as beautiful as the moon, understanding, and virtuous, truly worthy of the title ’Fairy’... but Lin An is not worthy of her."

Li An spoke, "Lin An’s cultivation is weak; in chaotic times, he can’t even protect himself, how dare he delay such a maiden... Besides, I swore long ago to never marry, please understand, Mountain Master Shee."

Ultimately, he refused.

Behind the beaded curtain, silence reigned.

After a long while, the voice of Mountain Master Shee finally sounded: "Understood, Daoist Friend Lin only cares for the Dao, not for worldly affairs."

"Anqi simply wasn’t fortunate enough."

Lin An bowed deeply, "If there’s nothing else, Lin An will take his leave--"

"Take care, Lord Lin."

Li An then exited the grand hall.

...

After he left.

"Master, I didn’t expect that he would dare refuse..."

Shee Anrong found it difficult to understand and finally said, "It seems he isn’t as reliable."

With Li An’s refusal to marry, their assessment of his loyalty was already diminished.

However, Tan Qingxue had a hint of an inexplicable smile in her eyes, seemingly quite pleased, saying, "Pay him no mind. If he wishes for a heart devoted to cultivation, let him have it."

Shee Anrong was astonished. In her view, her master placed great importance on Li An. He was bold enough to refuse; her master shouldn’t easily forgive him!

Yet it was dismissed so casually?

"You may leave, another Celestial Demon Secret Realm should be found by the Vermilion Bird King soon, and by then, he will launch a counter-attack on the Demon Realm. Prepare early."

Tan Qingxue said lightly, and Shee Anrong respectfully withdrew.

Left alone in the hall, Tan Qingxue’s lips curved into a subtle arc as she murmured, "Devoted to the Dao, you are still this way..."

Whatever she recalled brought her joy and sweetness, yet also a deep bitterness.

Arrange a marriage? She was unsure why she did it, whether truly to grant Li An a union, fulfilling his emotions, or was it merely a test?

But it didn’t matter. Li An refusing the marriage... brought her quite some joy.

"If you seek the Immortal Dao to remain Evergreen... then I shall wait and accompany you on this immortal path."

She rose with an elegant and majestic demeanor, akin to an enchanting queen of peerless beauty, albeit with a trace of demon qi flashing across her face.

...

Li An remained restless.

Though he had refused Shee Anrong and Tan Qingxue, he was still quite uneasy.

Yet months passed in silence, with Shee Anrong never seeking him out again, as if they had forgotten him.

Only then did Li An breathe a sigh of relief; it seemed his guess was correct.

He still held merit in their eyes, and even if he had offended the Shee sisters, nothing drastic would happen.

And in these few months, the reform of the Vermilion Bird King’s army finally concluded.

All Human Race cultivators became formal servant soldiers, no longer had to pay rent in Spirit Stones, and would receive a monthly stipend. True Core cultivators were given one Third Grade Spirit Herb each month, along with ten Upper Grade Spirit Stones and other resources as ration!

The conditions were exceptionally favorable!

The commanders received double this.

Li An pondered, with the Demon Race reform moving at a furious pace, giving away so many benefits... there’s only one possibility.

A war is about to start!

Moreover, he had heard some rumors that in another Mountain Master’s territory, a Celestial Demon Secret Realm had been discovered, and the Vermilion Bird King had obtained what he desired.

In summary, in Li An’s view, this was the calm before the storm.

"I hope to remain here..."

Li An certainly didn’t want to follow the Demon Race into the heart of the Demon Realm for a great battle; to him, the Celestial Killer Mountains were the most suitable place.

With abundant Spirit Veins and ample resources, spending two or three centuries here should be enough to reach the Nascent Soul stage!

Plus, he believed that when the Vermilion Bird King’s army set out, they would likely leave some behind to guard the Celestial Killer Mountains.

Shee Anrong set out with the army, surely taking her trusted aides along. After Li An refused the marriage, his loyalty might have significantly dropped in her heart. It’s very likely she won’t take Li An with her.

"Is Fellow Daoist Lin here?"

On this day, however, Shee Anqi came to visit.

Li An welcomed Shee Anqi into Spiritual Serenity Peak, feeling quite nervous internally.

After all, Shee Anqi surely knew about the refusal of marriage... What would she think about it?

Back then, Li An had refused Zhou Libai, offending her to death. Now, after refusing Shee Anqi, who knows if Shee Anqi would turn love into hatred and seek revenge?

"Fellow Daoist Shee’s visit brings glory to my humble abode."

Li An spoke politely.

"Brother Lin, I prefer you call me Anqi."

Shee Anqi was quite direct.

Li An was taken aback.

"Brother Lin, you rejected my sister’s proposal. How should Anqi feel? Heartbroken? Humiliated? Harboring hatred?"

Shee Anqi laughed, surprisingly carefree: "In truth, I expected this outcome from the beginning and even advised my sister, but she’s more stubborn than me and insisted on trying."

"Brother Lin, no matter what, can we continue to interact as before?"

Upon hearing this, Li An felt a sense of gratitude. Shee Anqi indeed had an open heart and was no petty person. So he said, "Anqi speaks rightly."

"Brother Lin, I’ve come to ask, what do you plan to do next? The Vermilion Bird King’s army is about to march into the Demon Realm..."

Li An said, "Does Mountain Master Shee have any arrangements?"

Shee Anqi smiled and said, "You don’t need to fish for information from me. I can tell you clearly that my sister will definitely go with the army, but someone still needs to guard Celestial Killer Mountain."

"I suggest you come with us to the Demon Realm."

"Opportunities abound in the Demon Realm. You should know that the land controlled by the Vermilion Bird King is not large. Even in defeat, they could gather so many Third Grade Spirit Medicines to recruit the Human Race’s servant army... It goes to show the richness of the Demon Realm."

"Moreover, this time the Vermilion Bird King obtained many items from the Celestial Demon Secret Realm, boosting morale tremendously. If the Vermilion Bird King stabilizes their position in the Demon Realm, everyone participating in this battle will be credited, and then, advancing to Nascent Soul might not be impossible—"

She smiled and said, "I was just thinking that Brother Lin has always been cautious and not a risk-taker. Given recent events with the marriage proposal, I was afraid you might feel reluctant, so I specially came here... Of course, whether to go or stay is up to Brother Lin to decide."

Li An couldn’t help but give a solemn bow, "Thank you, Anqi!"

"This matter is of great importance; Lin needs to think it over carefully."

Shee Anqi nodded, stood up, and prepared to leave. As she left, she suddenly said, "Brother Lin,"

"Hmm?"

"Always look forward. I know you have some unknown past that drags you into despair, but you’re still young. The immortal path is long; you can’t always immerse yourself in the past, right?"

Shee Anqi smiled brightly, "Even though you rejected me once... I will still wait for you. See you in the Demon Realm."

"After all, you’ve saved me many times."

Li An asked puzzled, "I’ve saved you? When?"

"In dreams."

After saying this, Shee Anqi floated away gracefully.

Li An was stunned for a long time...

So that’s how it is...

His heart felt complicated. Back when Shee Anqi came to explore Li An’s dream, he showed her many ’horror films,’ but in the end, he would always let her go. He never thought that this would make Shee Anqi develop feelings for him.

It makes sense, though. Shee Anqi entered his dream, representing her subconsciousness. In those moments of great terror, being saved by Li An, her heart was influenced gradually... it seems quite normal.

"Tsk, leaving love everywhere. Maybe you shouldn’t be called Li Gou, but Li Passionate instead?"

Shangguan Xiaoxiao spoke.

Li An replied calmly and indifferently, "I do wish there were more people who liked me. That way, I’d have more people to use, more resources and benefits to gain from them, and at critical moments, they could die for me. Why not?"

Feelings?

To him, they were just ripples on the long path of immortality.

Just look back, where have the old friends gone?

On Spirit Plant Mountain of the Profound Yang Sect, two solitary graves stand, the graves of Wang Dazhu who was harmed by Chen Qingling, and Mu Qingwan who married the wrong person and was tormented to death by Zhao Xian’s Story, and also Xu Qiuhui who was skilled at scheming, and Gu Hong who gave him everything...

None of them are here anymore.

If he had been a true friend, through life and death, when these people pass and turn to dust, how should he handle it?

The Immortal Dao is evergreen, and the path is heartless.

Who could accompany him to the end?

In a previous life, he saw through the love and hatred, life and death, so in this life, he seeks only a heartless immortality.

"Li Gou, Li Gou, everything is a calculated move, and in the end, only a heartless immortality remains. Don’t you find that too lonely?"

Shangguan Xiaoxiao mused with interest.

Li An calmly replied, "No."

Shangguan Xiaoxiao suddenly laughed, "No, you will."

"You’re afraid, you’re scared... You’re nothing but a coward. You’re afraid of feeling, afraid of emotions, because you know you’re weak as a dog, pathetic as a dog, aren’t you, aren’t you? You..."

Li An silently closed the Spirit Platform, no longer listening to her nonsense.

She was just talking nonsense!

...

Two months later.

The Demon Race army finally set out.

Li An, remained at Celestial Killer Mountain, acting as the mountain master, overseeing all affairs, guarding one side!

...