NOVPUBIt wasn't like Aksai had never been judged as a potential candidate in an arranged marriage before.
A similar incident had happened when he was working as a rental Spirit farmer on the Lakir estate. This was when he was still living in his rental farmhouse. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
At that time, he had been deemed unworthy by a girl's father due to his seemingly limited prospects in Spirit cultivation.
This time, he was being judged for his potential too. However, the result was completely different.
His value as a groom had risen far beyond what he had expected in the eyes of potential fathers-in-law. And one also had to note that the Blackblood Lord's standing was worlds apart from that of an ordinary rental Spirit farmer.
Still, being judged for one's future worth by a potential father-in-law wasn't exactly an enjoyable experience for any man.
It felt like someone was pulling down your pants to evaluate your worth as a "manly man." You couldn't help but feel exposed, even if those doing the judging were impressed by what they saw.
More than anything, Aksai didn't like the idea of marrying someone else before first speaking to Nuya.
Even though nothing had happened between him and Nuya yet, Aksai already felt like she had a special place in his heart.
In a quiet corner of his mind, he had already thought of Nuya as his first wife. It was like someone thinking of their crush as their spouse, planning kids with them in their heads. With names for children already decided.
One could say that Aksai was a typical nerd from his previous world in a lot of ways in that he had made progress in his relationship with Nuya without her knowing about it.
He had already subconsciously started calling the Frostbound Lord as his father-in-law because of the seemingly one-sided affection.
Of course, he was not bold enough to say some things out loud in front of the Frostbound Lord yet. He didn't plan on proposing to Nuya before he gained a certain level of power and influence in the Dadangar Subcontinent.
Anyway, even if all things were put aside, Aksai and Nuya were partners in more ways than one. So the thought of making a decision this important without her knowledge felt like a betrayal.
After all, Aksai aligning himself with a demonic sect was bound to produce some unwanted repercussions on the Emerald Cove as well. If the Emerald Cove were to lose its neutrality, it would be hard for him to manage his own island peacefully in front of the Big Five sects from the righteous factions.
In short, accepting the Blackblood Lord's proposal right away was akin to Aksai having to say goodbye to his base in the Emerald Cove.
If he were to go with the Blackblood Lord's arrangements right away, he would either have to live in Haan Di or permanently shift and live inside the Blackblood sect's estate.
With the kind of secrets Aksai carried on himself, such arrangements were highly inconvenient for him.
That being said, he didn't want to hurt the Blackblood Lord's pride either. He didn't want to say no so bluntly that it would insult Humeyin, especially when she had said nothing to pressure him.
From his first impressions of her, he liked her. She was quiet, composed, and clearly more talented and powerful than he was.
He even thought to himself that he would be proud to have someone like her as his wife—perhaps his second wife, if fate allowed.
After all, the humble Spirit farmer's heart had space for more than one person.
In short, this was a conundrum he couldn't easily escape from.
He couldn't act as carelessly as the rest of the Core Formation Lords and start a harem of his own with a flick of his fingers. Even if he could, he was way too weak to protect himself or his self-interests.
Not to mention… How could Humeyin even think about marriage when her father was on the verge of death?
And then there was this thing about the Aether Beast.
In short, Aksai himself had far too many things to take care of before he could think about building deep, lasting relationships with anyone. That's why he had refrained himself from asking Nuya out.
Marriage was a big commitment, not something to agree to just because the situation seemed to demand it.
***
Aksai half-expected the Blackblood Lord to grow angry when he expressed his wish to delay the matter just enough so that he could get ready. But to his surprise, the old man smiled, like he had already seen this answer coming.
He nodded gently and then turned toward his daughter.
"My daughter," he said, his voice soft but clear, "what do you think?"
Humeyin looked at Aksai for a moment, her eyes calm and unreadable. Then she turned to her father and met his gaze.
"I… I will definitely take my father's opinions into consideration in the future," she said quietly. "I also agree with Expert Aksai's proposal. Just… just give us some time to make a decision."
Her voice was gentle, but firm. The room fell silent again for a few heartbeats. It was a silence filled with understanding, and perhaps, a small seed of something unspoken taking root between them.
Humeyin's eyes then turned wet. Her voice had been calm, but the emotions she held back finally spilled out through her eyes. She knew very well what her answer meant.
She was asking for time—from a man who had none.
The Blackblood Lord noticed her silent tears. Without saying anything, he reached forward and gently wiped them away with his rough, calloused hands.
"Don't blame yourself, little Meyin," he said softly, his voice carrying warmth and strength.
Then, from his storage ring, he took out a small, transparent crystal sphere. It was smooth and clear, almost like a glass drop frozen in time. He held it out to her.
"Keep this crystal with you," he said, placing it in her hands.
"When you are about to get married in the future, whenever that might be, break it… and you won't have any regrets. I promise."
