True Solution of the Sword Dao

Wisps of steam slowly rose above the teacup.

Zhao Dongsheng sat quietly on the sofa, his peripheral vision taking in the surroundings discreetly and without a sound.

Zhao Yuqing sat directly next to Lin Fei without any hesitation, instead displaying a face full of candor.

On the other side of Lin Fei was Jiang Nan, this girl had somehow also naturally seated herself next to Lin Fei.

Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng exchanged a quick glance, at a loss for what to say. The atmosphere grew somewhat silent for a moment.

"We have taken the liberty of visiting unannounced because we have come to discuss our families’ engagement issue. I truly apologize," Zhao Dongsheng said with a polite smile.

"Engagement?" Jiang Feng questioned, "Is this... isn’t this a bit too rushed? Our Feifei hasn’t mentioned anything to us about it."

"Indeed, we also weren’t prepared for this, and Feifei hasn’t talked to us about it either," Lin Jianguo quickly added.

Zhao Dongsheng nodded, "Indeed, marriage is a serious matter and should be well prepared for. We didn’t expect to finalize everything in one visit, just mainly to pay a visit to both parents. Besides, whether this matter succeeds or not, to show our family’s sincerity..." At this moment, one of his bodyguards timely passed over a list. Zhao Dongsheng took it and smiled as he handed it to Lin Jianguo.

"Just a modest profit, please don’t take it too seriously."

As Lin Jianguo looked at it, he realized it was full of various business propositions with his company. With his current commercial instincts, he could see that almost every item was akin to covertly supporting his company, and at considerable expense.

His expression changed slightly, and he was about to decline.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to refuse," Zhao Dongsheng raised his hand and said, "You know as well as I do that in this world, only what you own is truly substantial. These projects are just a small token of assistance from me to your family. After all, as fellow business people, these are genuinely beneficial. Even if you decide to withdraw from our help later, you will be able to stabilize on your own to this extent, and you won’t have to worry. My actions are for both of the children. Money, for me, has become merely numbers, not something I need or deem important. Your family needs it now, and I don’t—that’s all there is to it. It’s just a one-time mutual assistance, nothing to take so seriously. Everything is for the sake of the children, so please accept it." Zhao Dongsheng bowed slightly.

Lin Jianguo opened his mouth; people begging for money or borrowing it was one thing, but to see someone so keen to give it away was quite another. To give so much for the sake of his daughter, this showed how much Zhao Dongsheng cared for her.

His message was clear: consider these business propositions a small mutual help, and don’t take it too seriously. Accept them for now, and even if you burn bridges later, he won’t mind, even if the children don’t end up together. After all, it’s all inconsequential.

Holding the list, Lin Jianguo felt it burning in his hands. He couldn’t bring himself to be the kind who takes everything and then denies the debt.

"This won’t do. Our children’s matters are their own, separate from us adults. As long as they are willing, we naturally have no objections. But accepting these things would be inappropriate," he placed the list back on the coffee table.

The corners of Zhao Dongsheng’s mouth turned slightly upward. This list meant little to him, but the ability of the other party to refrain from such gain for the sake of their children also tested the environment and upbringing of the other’s family. Only with good personal character would their children not be any less.

"Actually, after all is said and done, we don’t know what the children want. But, who is that sitting next to your son?"

"Oh, that’s a child from my brother’s family," Jiang Feng hurriedly replied. The situation had developed beyond their expectations. Feifei had just said she wasn’t planning on finding a girlfriend, and yet she had quietly found someone with such good conditions.

Jiang Feng assessed Zhao Yuqing again. She had a nice figure with curves in all the right places, surely capable of bearing children, with healthy, glowing skin, suggesting she was free from genetic diseases. Although she wasn’t quite demure sitting there, her boldness in love was also a virtue. It’s always better to express oneself openly rather than bottle everything up. Though she had a fair number of pimples on her face, what couldn’t be cured nowadays? Besides, acne tends to go away with age. Judged by her facial structure, once the pimples cleared, she wouldn’t look bad. And with such a wealthy family at home, if she really ended up with Feifei, the future would be undoubtedly bright.

Connecting this to Zhao Dongsheng’s very cultivated demeanor, it was clear his family upbringing would not be poor. It seemed, should a real match occur, it would be quite the reach for her own family. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

To the side, Jiang Nan, upon hearing Jiang Feng’s words, felt a slight darkness cloud her visage. At the end of the day, she was just an unwanted child staying at her cousin’s house, alone and unsupported. Her sole reliance was Lin Fei. But now, even that one hope, the deepest desire and anticipation in her heart, was about to be erased.

She instinctively tightened her grip on Lin Fei’s arm.

"True, the marriage of the children is ultimately their own matter, and we should ask their opinion as well," Zhao Dongsheng nodded.

All three adults instantly focused their gaze on Lin Fei and Zhao Yuqing.

Lin You, who had been quiet all this while, holding a kitten with puffed cheeks, seemed to be thinking about something, her face showing displeasure. Seeing the matter reach a crucial point, she then cut in towards Lin Fei’s side.

Lin Fei listened quietly to the side. Before he could speak, Zhao Yuqing spoke up.

"Actually, it’s not as fast as you say, I’m the one chasing Feifei right now. She hasn’t agreed yet," Zhao Yuqing declared confidently. "She’s a bit shy, maybe my approach was too aggressive for her. She’s struggling to accept it."

Crack!

The corner of Lin Fei’s mouth twitched, and a fine crack appeared on his teacup.

Luckily, it was just the rim of the cup, and no tea seeped through. He gently placed the cup down.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhao Yuqing leaned in with concern.

Lin Fei maintained a natural smile on his face, "Nothing, just thought of something just now."

"How about our engagement?" Zhao Yuqing asked expectantly.

"It’s a bit too soon," Lin Fei smiled, "And we haven’t known each other long. You might find I’m not the right one for you."

"How could that be? I think you’re absolutely perfect for me. Handsome, smart, from such a good family... just like our warm family..." Zhao Yuqing began to profusely praise everyone in her own way.

The simple and straightforward words, when spoken from her, always seemed to convey an exceptional sincerity.

A slight smile appeared on Lin Jianguo and his wife’s faces.

"How come I never noticed so many good qualities..." Lin You muttered on the side.

"Our interactions have been too brief; I recall this is only the second time we’ve met, right? If possible, perhaps both parties should spend a little more time getting to know each other." Lin Fei pointed out the key issue calmly.

Lin Jianguo and his wife, sitting nearby, were momentarily startled, and even Zhao Dongsheng seemed unaware, his complexion freezing as well.

There was also a hint of relief in Jiang Nan’s eyes.

"Looking at it this way, indeed, we may have been too hasty. We should give the children more time to interact. After all, this concerns the future for a very long time," Zhao Dong said softly, having recovered his composure. "With that said, today we have imposed on your family." He stood up, extending his hand for a polite handshake with Lin Jianguo. "We’ll visit again another time."

"Not at all, not at all," Lin Jianguo said, nodding with a smile. Even though he was slowly gaining his own confidence, in the face of such a dominant figure, he couldn’t help but feel rather diminished.

Zhao Yuqing also rose, somewhat reluctantly.

"See you next time," she waved helplessly, glancing at her father’s calm demeanor, knowing there would be a stern scolding waiting for her later.

The father and daughter, accompanied by a group of bodyguards, finally left.

Lin Jianguo and his wife, Jiang Nan, and Lin You all took seats opposite Lin Fei. Four pairs of eyes were all focused on her.

Lin Fei sat there calmly and steadily.

"If you have any questions, just ask. Honestly, it really is the second time I’ve met that Zhao Yuqing. I didn’t expect her to be so proactive either."

************

Outside the gates of a middle school.

A line of silver Audis was neatly parked at the entrance.

Zhao Dongsheng sat in the middle car, frowning slightly, a cigarette in his hand, the white smoke rising straight up.

In the back seat, Zhao Yuqing sat with an honest expression.

"Qingqing, although your dad has always supported your decisions, don’t you think you’ve been a bit hasty this time? Lin Fei, compared to the boys you’ve taken an interest in before, is indeed more outstanding. In my eyes, family background doesn’t matter as long as you two are happy, but wanting to get engaged after only the second meeting is just absurd, isn’t it?" Zhao Dongsheng said sternly. "I could put my pride aside, but marriage is for life, it’s not something you can rush into for happiness."

Zhao Yuqing didn’t make a sound.

Both were silent for a while.

It was quite some time before Zhao Yuqing finally spoke.

"Dad, you’re right, I was a bit willful this time. But Feifei is different from the others; I’ve never felt that kind of feeling towards anyone before. It feels so intimate, so comfortable, so gentle, so very gentle. Didn’t our investigation also say the same? He’s always been a gentle person, though he’s said to be introverted, which I haven’t really seen."

"No matter what, observe for a while longer. Make a decision later. You’re both still young," Zhao Dongsheng said indifferently.

Zhao Yuqing bit her lower lip, remaining silent.

The motorcade slowly began moving, gradually picking up speed, and before long, vanished into the night.

*************

In the darkness, figures were indiscernible, only pitch black, with Lin Fei’s eyes reflecting specks of fluorescent light, like two cold stars.

In the bedroom, the curtains had been drawn, allowing only a faint light to filter through.

Lin Fei stood quietly in front of the window. On the desk before him, a small door emitted tiny points of cold white light. A thin film-like layer of energy enveloped the folding door, not letting a single white speck escape.

"Elisa’s Gate..." he whispered.

He tentatively reached for the small door.

Almost instantly, a stream of golden energy from the Divine Artifact Crystal within his body surged towards the emblem in his hand. The gold flashed momentarily, and the door’s emblem brightened slightly before dimming again.

Lin Fei vividly felt the entire emblem on the door change somewhat. Ever since acquiring this emblem, such events had occurred from time to time.

"It’s certain that there’s some connection between Elisa’s Gate, the Magical Crystal, and the pseudo True Force. Unfortunately, data is currently too scarce. I have no idea where to start collecting information. Perhaps I really can only wait until Elisa’s Gate truly opens," Lin Fei thought to himself. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, I welcome you to cast your recommendation and Monthly Ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)