"Ding! Please choose: will the Host accept the main quest?"
Jason Ji snapped back to reality at the sound of the system's prompt in his mind, sighing in exasperation.
"Accept!"
He had no choice. Declining the quest would mean a deduction of one hundred years from his lifespan. Who could afford that? For all he knew, he might not even have a hundred years left.
Accepting the main quest filled Jason with a sense of pressure, but oddly enough, a strange anticipation stirred within him. His blood seemed to pulse with excitement. Perhaps this was the allure of the woman hailed as the greatest villain in the s history.
Still, the real challenge lay ahead. Accepting the quest was one thing, but completing it? That was an entirely different story.
If he was to win that woman's hand, he would need to stand out in her eyes through some unique approach. How he made his first move would be critical.
Jason's gaze wandered to Emperor Adrian Long and the Dong family patriarch, Livia Dong, seated on the high dais. With a faint arch of his brow, he was already forming a strategy in his mind. Perhaps the emperor and the patriarch would be just the help he needed…
Meanwhile, on the martial stage, Lucia Dong stood with her long spear in hand, its tip aimed at Jason as she declared loudly, "Jason Ji, I'll say it one last time—I will not marry you."
Her words were simple but filled with determination and defiance.
The thousands gathered in Ancient Luoyang looked on with a mix of emotions, watching this young man and woman on the stage.
Some were Lucia Dong's devoted fans, wholeheartedly supporting her decision. But others, more level-headed, frowned at what seemed to be a stubborn display from her. After all, the rules of this match-making contest were set by the Dong family itself—how could they be broken so easily?
If Lucia Dong could simply refuse to marry as she pleased, then what was the point of the whole event? At this point, it was no longer just a matter of personal honor but bordered on disrespecting the emperor himself, who was present at the scene.
The dignitaries on the high platform dared not make a move, each fully aware of the stakes and content to remain still.
The emperor himself, Adrian Long, leaned back in his chair, sipping tea as if he hadn't heard Lucia's words. Beside him, Livia Dong's expression was strained. He had anticipated his daughter's boldness, knowing her better than anyone. In truth, he had never planned on forcing her into a marriage. Lucia was, in his eyes, the rightful heir to the Dong family—there was no way he'd let her go.
But the situation had progressed to a point where he'd have to find a solution…
Just then, Jason stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Lucia. The tip of her spear was a mere three inches from his throat.
"You… What do you want?" Lucia asked, startled by his sudden approach.
"You truly don't want to marry me?" Jason's clear gaze was filled with a warmth that caught Lucia off guard.
Seeing the hint of disappointment in his eyes, Lucia's thoughts spiraled.
"Does this guy really like me?"
"Did he truly fall in love with me at first sight?"
"Is that why he did… what he did, because he couldn't control himself?"
Before she could collect herself, Jason continued, his eyes turning slightly melancholic. "You must really despise me, don't you?"
A faint blush crept across Lucia's cheeks as she replied through gritted teeth, "I don't despise you—I hate you. I'd kill you if I could."
Her bitterness over her stolen first kiss lingered.
Jason was silent for a moment before nodding thoughtfully, murmuring, "I see…"
Then, he looked back into Lucia's beautiful eyes, a cold smile flickering across his lips.
"Miss Dong, did you know…"
"Know what?" Lucia frowned, confused by his words.
Jason's smile turned colder, as if all the warmth in his face had been a mere facade.
"That kiss… it meant nothing to me. Just a bit of fun," he sneered. "So, there's no need to take it so seriously!"
"Since you don't want to marry me, that's fine. I don't want to marry you either!"
In an instant, the gallant young man turned into a jaded rogue, his change in demeanor leaving Lucia momentarily stunned.
Her grip on her spear trembled as she fought the urge to strike him then and there. But she held back, deciding instead to make him pay for humiliating her in front of everyone.
A flash of hatred flickered in her eyes, a look that did not escape Jason's notice.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jason moved to the main point. With thousands of onlookers watching, he gave a carefree wave and called out, "Miss Dong, until we meet again!"
With that, he turned and strode off the stage, his steps light and unburdened.
"Jason Ji, may we never cross paths again!" Lucia replied coldly, retracting her spear, her expression frosty as she plotted ways to make him suffer.
The thousands gathered around the martial arena were left staring in disbelief at the strange turn of events.
Was this grand match-making tournament, a tradition of the Sacred Tang Empire for generations, to end so unceremoniously?
The rules established by the Dong family for over a century were really so easy to dismiss.
Though many were outraged, everyone knew that no one—not even Adrian Long—had the authority to force Lucia Dong to do anything she didn't wish to do.
After all, Lucia Dong was the bearer of one of the ten legendary bloodlines, the Celestial Phoenix—a hope for the future of the Sacred Tang Empire.
"Young man, wait!"
Just as Jason was about to step off the stage, Emperor Adrian Long called out to him.
Rising from his seat, the emperor smiled and said, "Since Miss Dong has no interest, a marriage cannot be forced."
"However, I have a suggestion."
Jason raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference as he turned back to face the emperor. "Your Majesty, please speak."
Adrian Long nodded, his gaze briefly flickering to Livia Dong beside him before he addressed Jason.
"This emperor has a daughter, seventeen years old, with beauty unmatched and exceptional swordsmanship. She is also the lead disciple of Misty Peak, one of the eight great righteous sects. Would you be interested in marrying her?"
Princess Sarah Long, the Princess Changle?
Jason's mind raced. In the original Princess Changle had been the fiancée of the protagonist, Ethan Ye, only to break off the engagement when she found him talentless and of a declining family. She leveraged her connections with the royal family and her sect to forcefully annul the engagement.
In response, Ethan, with his young spirit, tore up the engagement contract in public, declaring, "The river flows east for thirty years, west for thirty years; don't look down on a poor youth." He even challenged her to a duel in three years' time.
Jason suppressed a sneer.
Had he not known the emperor's true nature from the he might have been fooled by Adrian Long's "generous" offer. This wasn't an invitation to become the royal son-in-law; it was a ploy to use him to undermine the Dong family's growing influence, with the added benefit of using him as a free pawn.
Keeping to his plan, Jason replied with humble composure, "Your Majesty, I must decline. As I understand, Princess Changle still has an outstanding agreement with Ethan Ye of the Ye family."
"I would never interfere."
A glint of frost flashed through Adrian Long's eyes. Naturally, he remembered the three-year promise, but he hadn't expected Jason to bring it up so publicly.
But now that he had, there was little the emperor could do but let the matter drop.
"Then, what do you intend, young man?" Adrian Long's tone held an edge of irritation now that his plan was foiled.
"Nothing much," Jason replied with a nonchalant wave. "I only wish to let today's events fade like a fleeting dream and walk away."
He turned to leave, his manner free and untroubled.
Finally, Livia Dong spoke up, stopping him in his tracks.
"Hold it!" Livia knew that allowing Jason to leave now would severely damage the Dong family's reputation.
Jason, understanding this perfectly, was certain Livia Dong wouldn't let him go so easily.
"Patriarch Dong, do you have any suggestions?" Emperor Adrian Long crossed his arms, clearly intrigued to see how Livia Dong would resolve the issue.
The situation had become clear: the proud Phoenix, Lucia Dong, refused to marry, and Jason seemed equally disinterested.
"Your Majesty," Livia Dong said, bowing respectfully. "The Dong family's traditions must be upheld. Since Jason has won the match, he is rightfully our family's son-in-law."
Cough, cough.
Livia cleared his throat before continuing, "To be frank, in addition to Lucia, I have another daughter—the First Princess of the Dong family, Livia Dong."
"She shall be his bride!"
The crowd fell silent, struggling to process what had just been announced.
But Jason felt an immense wave of relief.
"At last… I've secured the title of that woman's fiancé."
This first step toward completing his main quest had certainly been no easy feat.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]