Sometime later, the griffin landed near the campsite and everyone saw a familiar figure jumping onto the ground and walking toward them.
"Ms. Xie? What are you doing here?" asked the Kunlun sect's Grand Elder in a bit of surprise. He couldn't help but take a glance at the Griffin walking behind her. "Any message from Brother Xie?"
"No." Xie Mei shook her head with a smile as she shifted her attention toward Mark and said, "I left my sect and decided to follow my husband. Dear husband, you will take responsibility for shattering my pride and my life as an archer."
Everyone: "…"
For a while, the entire surroundings became silent as everyone stared at the 15-year-old in disbelief. Even Mark was also taken aback by her bold confession while Song Yue felt that she is crazy.
Because of her high potential, Mark wanted to recruit her. To do that, he cleverly forced her to abandon the bow. Little did he expect this teenager would want to marry him instead.
If this is how she wants to play, then, he would rather not recruit her at all.
Trying his best to not get angry with her, Mark spoke in a calm tone, "girl, first of all, you are too young to even speak of marriage.
Secondly, I already love someone else.
Thirdly, I'm not responsible for anything. You were the one who lost the bet. It's your choice to follow the terms of the bet or not.
And finally, I'm not your husband. So, please refrain from addressing it as such."
Mark's reply made Xie Mei unhappy but the teenage girl didn't plan on backing it out. Pointing her finger at him, she made a declaration, "I already made my decision. Whether you accept it or not, you are my husband. Your opinion is no longer important."
The way she said those words made everyone including Mark and Song Yue feel that she is a crazy person.
After deciding to shoo her away, Mark then said, trying to be as calm as possible, "fine, I'm releasing you from our wager. I'll write a letter to your Patriarch. You don't need to abandon the bow. Okay? Now, you can return to your home."
"None can do." Xie Mei continued to be stubborn. "I have already made my decision and I'm not the type to break my word. I also took an oath to make you my husband. That cannot be broken too."
"Don't test my patience." Mark's expression changed to that of seriousness mixed with anger. "Return now, or else…"
"Or else, what?" Xie Mei folded her hands to her chest as if she was provoking him. "I can only break my promise when I die."
"Then, you can die…" Mark raised his hand and gestured for Lan Ju to take care of the girl while sending an order telepathically.
The zheng walked toward the girl.
When he reached her with an energy spear and thrust it toward her neck, she tightened her fists and shut her eyes but didn't move from the spot. Five seconds passed away, ten seconds passed away but her death never came and she opened her eyes.
The energy spear was just an inch away from her neck while Lan Ju was looking at his master.
Mark silently nodded in response and Lan Ju dismissed the energy spear before patting her head, "child, you are brave. So, I will give you an opportunity to think about it again. You don't understand the significance of your words.
My master's life is riddled with dangers you cannot fathom imagine. If you become a part of his life, your entire sect will bear the consequences. Are you prepared to sacrifice the life of your fellow sect disciples for your happiness when my master will not ever give you the treatment you deserved?"
"I…" Xie Mei, this time, couldn't give an answer and there was a clear hesitation on her face. After all, she wasn't a selfish girl.
Seeing that his plan worked, he thanked Lan Ju telepathically and spoke in a calm manner, trying to hammer the nail into the coffin, "kid, now that you understand the implications, return to your sect. Just apologize to your grandfather and everything will turn right. After all, you have the potential to become a demigod, if not, atleast a Supreme Being. Everyone would welcome you.
As I have said earlier, I'm nullifying the deal between us and will write a letter to Patriarch Xie so that it will be easier for you to pick up the bow in public once again."
Xie Mei who was silently looking at her feet until now abruptly raised her head with an excited look.
*slap*
Lan Ju slapped his forehead and mumbled, "idiot. What have you done?"
"Hmm?" Mark didn't understand the sudden change of expressions on Lan Ju and Xie Mei's respective faces.
It was then the fifteen-year-old said, "You are right. As long as I train hard, it won't be hard for me to become a Supreme Being and perhaps, a demigod too. If I was able to acquire a suitable firearm for my realm, I would be as strong as ten supreme realm experts.
Doesn't that mean that I have the strength to protect my sect? Who in the right mind would try to attack my sect when it has my backing? Thank you my husband for making me realize such a simple thing."
Mark: "…"
He couldn't speak anything for a while and scolded himself for trying to act too smart only to dig his grave in the end. Where were the 9 intelligence points when he needed them? He felt like an idiot all of a sudden.
What should he do now? This girl wasn't afraid of death and stubbornly plans to follow him. There's no strong reason for him to kill her just because he was uncomfortable.
Not to mention, the fact that the girl is someone who might actually be someone useful to him after a few years of grooming. Of course, he doesn't have the slightest intention of marrying her. He isn't a pedophile. As for what happens when she grows up into a fine woman a few years down the line, he will leave his thoughts for the future.
In the end, he resigned from his plan of shooing her away and decided to deal with her in a way that was going to benefit him, "Fine, you may follow us and I will think about our marriage. But, one condition. You will listen to everything I say."
"Sure, whatever my husband says, I will listen." Xie Mei continued with her role play as a wife, irking Mark and Song Yue once again.
Taking a deep breath, Mark then said, "Alright, then. My first instruction for you is that you will either address me as boss or master, whichever you prefer when we are in the presence of a third person."
"Alright, hubby~" Xie Mei used a nasal voice, trying to be sweet as if she wants to continuously trouble Mark and the others.
"Mind I remind you that there are people around?" Mark furrowed his brows.
"Oops, sorry..." Xie quickly apologized and rubbed her head like a klutz.
Mark shook his head while letting out a deep sigh, "I should stop judging someone by their details. Anyways, it doesn't matter. There's an event upcoming ahead. After that, whatever she decides will be her final decision."