Aomi sighs as he looks at the spiritual stones scattered across the table.
“Forty thousand… Still not enough.”
He rubs his chin, contemplating his next move.
“Money and power. I’ll need both if I want to improve my aptitude.”
He stores the spiritual stones in his pouch before turning his gaze toward the window.
As he sits quietly, Seo’s playful voice suddenly echoes in his mind.
“Aomi~ Come on, don’t stuff your mouth so full! Aww, you’re so adorable!”
Aomi closes his eyes and rubs his temples.
“…What a headache.”
He dismisses the thought and returns to planning.
…
Several months pass.
Aomi cultivates in secret while gradually growing closer to Níng and learning more about the Xue sect.
Yet the marriage between the children of the two sects remains unresolved, delayed by the Huo sect leader’s daughter.
…
Aomi is still in bed when Níng suddenly crashes into him.
“GOOD MORNING!”
Aomi jolts awake, glaring at her.
“Remove the ‘good.'”
Níng chuckles and nudges him.
“Come on, your face is worth seeing first thing in the morning!”
She points at his irritated expression before rolling away.
“Anyway, get up! It’s already morning!”
Aomi sits up with a quiet sigh.
“Fine.”
After Níng leaves, he picks up a newspaper and scans its contents.
His eyes stop at a particular announcement.
The marriage between the Xue and Huo sects has finally been arranged.
Aomi tilts his head.
“After soo many months? A forced marriage, huh?”
Then, a sudden realization strikes him.
Wait…
I could use the Huo sect leader’s daughter.
A faint grin spreads across his face.
He rises slowly, his gaze fixed on the newspaper.
The article includes a portrait of the Huo sect leader’s daughter, Huo Xīng.
Aomi studies her face for a moment before folding the newspaper.
“Let’s see what I can find out about you.”
He leaves Níng’s residence and begins gathering information about her.
…
Later, Aomi sneaks into the Huo sect’s headquarters and conceals himself nearby.
Soon, the Huo sect master enters with his daughter.
“You can’t force me into this marriage!” Xīng protests.
“I don’t even like him!”
Her father regards her calmly.
“My decision has been made. You will marry the Xue sect master’s son. This marriage is necessary for the Huo sect.”
The sect master pauses.
“If I could, I would. Unfortunately, I’m a man.”
Xīng’s face flushes with fury.
“I REFUSE TO MARRY THAT UGLY SON OF THE XUE SECT!”
“Your refusal changes nothing.”
With those words, he turns and leaves, closing the door behind him.
…
Xīng collapses into a chair, groaning in disbelief.
“I have to marry that pig?! He’s ugly, and his personality is even worse! He’s practically a walking nightmare!”
Aomi listens silently from his hiding place.
Then he notices a cockroach crawling beside him.
He freezes.
“…”
The insect moves closer.
“GET AWAY!”
Aomi jerks backward, accidentally hitting his head.
“Ugh! I’m going to throw up just looking at that thing! If it were a spirit, I’d at least consider—”
He abruptly falls silent.
…Wait.
Slowly, he turns his head.
Xīng is staring directly at him.
Their eyes meet.
…
Xīng leaps to her feet.
“WHO ARE YOU?!”
Aomi hesitates.
“I-I got lost.”
Xīng stares at him in disbelief.
“Lost? And somehow you ended up in my bedroom?”
Aomi nods before quietly turning toward the window.
But before he can leave, Xīng grabs his shoulder and pulls him toward a chair.
“Hmm…”
She props her chin on her hand and examines him closely.
“Let’s start with the basics. Who are you? What’s your name?”
“Aomi.”
He answers briefly before attempting to stand.
Xīng pulls him back down.
“Oh, no, no. You don’t get to leave just yet.”
Aomi looks at her blankly.
Xīng grins.
“You chose to enter my room. Now, when you leave is entirely up to me.”
Aomi’s expression remains unchanged, but a familiar memory resurfaces.
‘You can enter whenever you want, but leaving?
That’s my decision!’
Aomi rubs his eyes.
“…Of course.”
Xīng leans closer, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
“So, young man, sneaking into a lady’s bedroom… You do realize what that implies, don’t you?”
Aomi looks at her awkwardly.
“I was just… lost.”
Xīng places a hand on his shoulder and leans toward him.
“Fine. Then listen carefully. If you want to keep your reputation intact, you’ll do exactly as I say.”
Aomi stares at her for a moment.
“No.”
Xīng blinks.
“…No?”
She straightens slightly, surprised by his blunt refusal.
“You really don’t care about your reputation, do you?”
Aomi gives her a vague look, offering no answer.
Xīng sighs and removes her hand from his shoulder.
“Fine. Have it your way, tough guy. But you’re not leaving this room without my permission—or my keys.”
…
A few moments later, Xīng sits bound to a chair, her mouth covered with tape.
Aomi sits casually in front of her, turning the keys between his fingers.
“Well?”
Xīng glares at him, shouting a string of muffled insults.
Aomi tilts his head.
“Sorry, can’t hear you.”
He reaches forward and swiftly pulls the tape away.
“Ow! YOU JERK!”
Aomi gives her a faint, mocking smile and crosses his legs.
“Not so mighty now, are we, Lady Huo?”
“Damn you! What do you want from me?!”
Aomi whistles softly, looking down at her with an unreadable expression.
“Well, let’s start with something simple. You don’t like your father, do you?”
Xīng freezes.
Her gaze shifts toward the closed door.
“Of course I don’t! That old man is forcing me to marry someone I can’t stand, and he doesn’t care how I feel! It’s always the sect this, the sect that. Nothing else matters to him!”
Her hands clench against the ropes.
“Sometimes, I wish he’d just disappear… No, forget that. I wish he’d die!”
Aomi listens without interrupting.
Then he nods.
“Fair enough. Forcing you into a marriage without your consent is a terrible thing.”
He stands and cuts through her restraints.
“Now, if you really want to escape this marriage…”
He walks toward the window and glances back at her.
“I might have a few suggestions.”