Chen Nan was completely flustered! He had never expected Nangong He to bring this up.
A hint of sadness crossed Nangong He's face as he reminisced, "As soon as Wan'er was born, her mother died in childbirth. Although she had many playmates in her childhood, she was lonely in her heart. For so many years, no one has been able to enter her heart. But you are different! The moment you arrived at Huoyun Cave, you gained her favor, making her reveal her innocent and radiant smile! To be honest, since your arrival, her smiles have increased. I myself have said that I wouldn't restrain her feelings, let alone the fact that you two are mutually fond! We cultivators dedicate ourselves to the Dao and keep things simple, so the wedding should be the same. There's no need for betrothal gifts; after all, the entire Huoyun Cave will be yours in the future. Of course, if you find life in the mountains too dull and boring, you can also live down the mountain. After all, you come from the mortal world, and it's normal not to be able to endure the poverty of the mountains! I have only one condition, which is to treat Wan'er well, and not to make her sad or upset!"
At this moment, he was no longer the high and mighty Sect Leader of Huoyun Cave, but spoke his hopes and expectations as a father. He only wished for his daughter's happiness.
Chen Nan took a deep breath and bowed, "Senior, I cannot marry the Eldest Miss!"
Nangong He was furious, "What do you mean? Is my daughter not good enough for you? Do you know how many cultivators on Zhongnan Mountain wish to become my son-in-law? Also, you clearly expressed your feelings to her before, why are you refusing now?"
"This junior is guilty!" Chen Nan, enduring the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment realm expert, said, "This junior does indeed like the Eldest Miss. She is naturally pure and innocent; no one dislikes her. But... but this junior cannot give her the love she desires! Yes, this junior did express his feelings to the Eldest Miss before, but it was out of necessity! I only wanted to find an opportunity to kill Jiang Ye, and then leave Huoyun Cave, disappearing from her life!"
"You are toying with her feelings!" A terrifying aura erupted from Nangong He's body. Even with Chen Nan's extraordinary talent, his scalp tingled and blood surged, unable to withstand the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment realm expert.
Chen Nan trembled, "This junior is guilty; even if you kill me, I will have no complaints, but even so, I cannot marry the Eldest Miss. If I were to marry her, that would truly be toying with her feelings!"
Nangong He: "Do you really think this old man wouldn't dare to kill you?"
Chen Nan gave a bitter smile, "Even if you kill me, I still wouldn't marry the Eldest Miss. Because what she wants, I cannot give. I cannot give her a devoted love. Rather than that, why not cut ties?" He already owed Nangong Wan a lot, and marrying her would only deepen his guilt. After all, there was no such person as Ye Ce in this world. This person was ethereal, non-existent!
"You scumbag, you've actually earned my respect!" Nangong He withdrew his spiritual pressure, but his eyes flickered with anger, "You should be glad you haven't taken advantage of Wan'er during this time, otherwise, you would be dead by now!"
"Senior investigated me?" Chen Nan gasped for breath, feeling like he had narrowly escaped death.
Nangong He snorted heavily, "You infiltrated my Huoyun Cave, shouldn't I investigate you?"
Chen Nan looked back with lingering fear, "Meaning, everything you just said was a test? If I had agreed to become Huoyun Cave's son-in-law, you would have killed me without hesitation?"
"Yes, you are very smart!" Nangong He continued, "If you had agreed to marry Wan'er, you would be dead now. I absolutely will not allow a scumbag to become my son-in-law, Nangong He; I will not allow anyone to hurt my daughter. Alright, I won't waste too much of your time. Refine ten Foundation Establishment Pills, and then get out of Huoyun Cave." Although he disliked Chen Nan, Nangong He could see the man's value. If he could help Huoyun Cave refine ten Foundation Establishment Pills, the peak Qi Condensation realm cultivators within the sect would surely break through their bottlenecks. If that happened, Huoyun Cave could truly become the foremost power on Zhongnan Mountain!
Chen Nan bowed, "Senior Nangong, I, Chen Nan, owe Huoyun Cave a debt of gratitude. Whenever you need me, please do not hesitate to ask. Even if it means descending into hell, I, Chen Nan, will do my utmost!"
Nangong He said impatiently, "Go refine pills. After you finish refining the ten Foundation Establishment Pills, I will arrange for you and Jiang Ye to go down the mountain on a mission. You will personally deal with this person!"
"Yes!" Chen Nan bowed and exited the cave. As he turned, he used his disguise technique to revert to Ye Ce's appearance. However, Nangong He's stern voice echoed in his mind: "From now on, do not appear in Wan'er's life, or I will kill you!"
"I won't," Chen Nan agreed mentally. He knew that Nangong Wan would surely be very sad when he left the mountain this time. Hurting her once was enough. He would never hurt her again.
"Ye Ce, what did Father say to you? Did he mention our wedding?" As soon as she reached the foot of the mountain, Nangong Wan happily rushed forward to meet him. Her joyous expression was like a stabbing pain in Chen Nan's heart.
Chen Nan forced a smile, "The Sect Leader wants me to refine some Foundation Establishment Pills first and hasn't mentioned the wedding yet!"
"That old geezer, is he trying to use Foundation Establishment Pills as a betrothal gift to marry me? You wait, I'll go argue with him now." Nangong Wan said, preparing to ascend the mountain.
Chen Nan pulled her back, "Isn't this what I should do?"
Nangong Wan blushed slightly, "As long as you're not angry."
"Am I that petty?" Chen Nan smiled, but inside, he loathed himself for being such a scumbag! If... if he hadn't become a scumbag! If he hadn't met those other confidantes before! Being Huoyun Cave's son-in-law wouldn't have been so bad! Unfortunately, where were there so many 'ifs' in this world!
"Let's go, let's go back to the back mountain. I've already asked the kitchen to prepare dinner. We'll celebrate properly tonight!" Nangong Wan pulled Chen Nan back to the back mountain. At this time, Nangong He's seven personal disciples had also gathered here. Whether it was Shi Haotian, Gao Jun, or Li Mu, who had clashed with Chen Nan before, their gazes towards Chen Nan were filled with reverence and admiration. In the cultivation world, it was the survival of the fittest. Even though they were all fond of Nangong Wan, they all knew that Chen Nan was Nangong Wan's suitable match!
Not long after they returned, the kitchen staff delivered a sumptuous dinner. The nine of them sat in the bamboo grove, drinking and toasting, enjoying the warm moments. After several rounds of drinks, Shi Haotian suddenly said, "Junior Brother Ye, we watched Little Junior Sister grow up. Although she can be a bit spoiled sometimes, her nature is not bad. If you ever make her unhappy in the future, I, Shi Haotian, will be the first to not let you off! If you love someone, you must accept their flaws. In the future, Senior Brothers should have no opportunity to make a move against me!"
Chen Nan's words had a double meaning. After he refined the Foundation Establishment Pills, he would leave, and Nangong Wan would surely be sad and upset. At that time, how would they still have the chance to make a move against him?