"Shut up!" Ya Yuan gritted her teeth.
Xing Yuan smiled triumphantly, but considering Ya Yuan might reveal her embarrassing secrets, she didn't continue provoking her. After all, she had heard about such mutual mudslinging many times and didn't want to experience social death.
Xing Yuan gently took Qing Su Yue's hand and gestured for her to walk forward. Qing Su Yue trusted Xing Yuan wouldn't lie to her. Although their relationship seemed strained, their dynamic was very much like friends, just with a peculiar way of interacting.
"Hey! My wife! We've known each other for so many years, you have to at least give me a betrothal gift!" Xing Yuan's boastful tone softened, and she appeared genuinely sincere.
"Indeed!" Ya Yuan nodded with a complex expression. She had once thought neither of them would ever find a partner, but perhaps she had overthought things. Thinking about it, she had lived for so long; perhaps it was time to find someone to accompany her. After all, she was wealthy and beautiful, so it wouldn't be a loss for others.
Ya Yuan pondered for a moment and finally bestowed a secret technique of light upon Qing Su Yue. Before Qing Su Yue could say anything, Xing Yuan scoffed, "What is it? Are there any secret techniques of yours that I don't know? If A Yue wanted to learn, I would have taught her directly. Why would I need you to give it?"
"Taking without asking is stealing. Moreover, this is my own creation, specifically designed to counter you. Under this secret technique, your power will be greatly restricted. After all... after so many years of abstinence, are you sure you can control yourself?" Ya Yuan looked at Xing Yuan with disdain, her final words delivered with such sincerity that it seemed she was genuinely concerned. However, Xing Yuan didn't believe a word, thinking Ya Yuan was deliberately mocking her.
No matter what had happened between them before, she now had a wife, and Ya Yuan didn't. She was going to be smug, so what? Ya Yuan was also delighted to have gained an advantage. Hmph! She was now a noble single lady, but she couldn't stand seeing others flaunt their affection in front of her. A little punishment seemed like a good idea.
The two glared at each other, as if ready to fight again at any moment. Qing Su Yue, with a helpless expression, smoothed things over. She cupped her hands towards Ya Yuan and said, "Thank you, God of Light, for bestowing this secret technique, and... for your care over the years. We will take our leave now."
With that, she pulled the seemingly reluctant Xing Yuan away. The "seemingly" was because Qing Su Yue felt it was too easy to pull her. However, before leaving, Xing Yuan couldn't resist issuing a threat, saying fiercely, "On my wife's account, I'll let this slide. If you provoke me like this again next time, I won't be so lenient."
"Is that so?" Ya Yuan smiled indifferently, then suddenly remembered something and called out to the departing Xing Yuan, "Right, we've pretty much squeezed all the information out of that person. In a month, come and take them back. After all, we have 'clear division of labor'!"
Xing Yuan glared fiercely at Ya Yuan and nodded reluctantly, "Don't worry, I won't forget. Remember to have a good fight with me again then." By the next meeting, they would truly fight, as they needed to prove their current strength.
Watching them leave, Ya Yuan's bright eyes suddenly became forlorn. Had her only friend left too? No, she couldn't go on like this. So, as soon as Ya Yuan returned to the Temple of Light, she solemnly announced to everyone, "I am holding a marriage selection!"
Everyone: ‼(•'╻'•)꒳ᵒ꒳ᵎᵎᵎ A deity holding a marriage selection? After repeated confirmations, they received an affirmative answer, leaving the elders of the temple bewildered. After a moment of hesitation, one cautiously asked, "This... for a deity to suddenly hold a marriage selection, may we know the reason?"
"Oh! I just feel like finding a beauty to accompany me. After all, even my nemesis, the God of Darkness, has someone who likes her. Where am I, the dignified God of Light, inferior to her?" the God of Light stated matter-of-factly. What others had, she wanted too, and even more, and better.
"Then, does Your Divinity have any specific requirements? After all, this matter will surely attract much attention."
"Hmm... I haven't thought of the specifics yet, but the most important condition is to be good-looking. Both men and women can apply, and even any divine faction. As long as they are willing to come, I can offer them generous rewards or some rare secret techniques. After all, I've been fighting with the God of Darkness for so long, and I'm familiar with her secret techniques," Ya Yuan said calmly, not feeling her actions were wrong at all. After all, people die for wealth and birds die for food. Even if she didn't particularly like those beauties, keeping them around for aesthetic pleasure would be a good choice. She wouldn't mind.
The people of the Temple of Light were, in essence, die-hard fans of the God of Light. Although they found their deity's idea rather unique, since the deity had proposed it, they would naturally do their utmost to implement it. Thus, within a month, the entire Huicheng was filled with beauties from all over the world. Of course, the Temple of Light played a significant role in this. After the announcement was made, many people didn't believe it, thinking it was some kind of scam. The people of the Temple of Light were consequently extremely worried. After much deliberation, they finally devised a clever plan. That is, after finding out which families had beautiful children of marriageable age, they would send people to visit them daily. Although they didn't force anyone to participate, accepting gifts meant accepting obligations. Coupled with the esteemed status of the Temple of Light, which was revered by ordinary people and royalty alike, even if their children were not particularly willing to participate in this selection, they still went.
Ya Yuan chose to start in a month to allow Xing Yuan to witness her charm firsthand, making it seem like she was desperately looking for someone. When Xing Yuan brought Qing Su Yue to fulfill Ya Yuan's month-long appointment and saw the prosperous scene of Huicheng, with beauties everywhere, she was indeed a bit bewildered. If her sister wasn't by her side, she... would have looked more. After all, who would dislike beauties? The two sat down for a calm conversation. Although separated by a building, with their strength, they could communicate normally without others overhearing. Xing Yuan's backside had barely settled when she heard Ya Yuan boast, "See how beautiful those people in the city are? I'm telling you, they all came here by reputation."