~~~

A Body of Extreme Yin.

It is something Liu Jin has only read about in Old Jiang’s books. When he first learned of it, he could scarcely believe such a wondrous condition existed. It seemed more fantasy than reality.

To think someone like that lives in Eastern Port City.

“I didn’t even know Patriarch Xiao Zheng had a daughter.”

“That is unsurprising,” his father replies. “Xiao Zheng made sure to keep his daughter away from the eyes of the people. Even within the Xiao Sect, many do not know of her existence. There are some who think she died a long time ago. This should go without saying, but I trust you will keep everything I just shared with you a secret.”

Liu Jin nods fervently. “Of course, father.”

“Good. That is good.” Liu Jianguo takes a deep breath. “Do you resent me?”

“What?” Liu Jin blinks a couple of times as his mind struggles to process the question. No matter how he looks at it, there is no possible reason for his father to ask such a thing of him.

“I meant for the Fruit of Never Ending Vigor to be yours. Had you grown up with it, you would have been far stronger than you are now. I daresay you would already be the strongest of your generation within Eastern Port City. That power would have protected you from much suffering. Instead, I gave your chance for a worry-free life away. Do you resent me?”

“Father, how could I?” Liu Jin shakes his head with force. “I will not deny there have been moments in which this Liu Jin has wished for more strength.”

In Eastern Port City, there have been many moments in which Liu Jin has wished he was stronger so he could silence the mouths of those who mock his father. In New Moon Town, Liu Jin certainly felt his lack of strength. If he had been even as strong as Xiao Fang, perhaps he could have handled things better. There is no denying he has considered such thoughts.

“However, how could I possibly resent you for doing the very thing I admire you for?” Liu Jin says, his voice heavy with emotion. “To me, the father who saves people’s lives is the greatest person there is! If my strength were to come at the cost of father being father, then this Liu Jin would not want it!”

“I see,” Liu Jianguo says after a while. He tries to keep his voice even, but there is something underneath it. A smile spreads across his face. “Being a father really is such a rewarding thing. I’ve not seen you for a month, yet it feels to me that you have grown so much.”

Liu Jin blushes and looks at his lap. As expected, he is not good at dealing with praise from those he cares about.

“Father, there is just one thing I do not understand,” Liu Jin says, trying to get the conversation back to the main topic. “You began this tale because I wished to know how my engagement came to be, yet I still do not know who my bride is.”

“Is that so?” His father brings a cup of tea to his lips. “Your intelligence has never been lacking, my son. The identity of your bride should be easy to discern.”

Easy?

Liu Jin’s face scrunches in thought. No matter how many times he goes over his father’s tale, the issue of his engagement did not come up even once. In fact, the only female his father talked about was...

Liu Jin’s cup hits the table with force as he abruptly sets it down. His eyes are wide, and his mouth hangs open in an unsightly manner.

“No.”

Liu Jianguo calmly takes another sip of tea.

“Yes.”

“But that’s…”

“I know.”

“Father, she’s…”

“I am aware.”

“And you and I are just…”

“Xiao Zheng is a very stubborn man,” Liu Jianguo tells his son. His gaze contains sympathy and amusement in equal measures.

Liu Jin stares at his father, his eyebrow twitching randomly. He pours himself a cup of tea and downs it in one go. The burner has prevented the tea from getting cold, and now, that pleasant warmth spreads through Liu Jin’s body. However, it offers him no comfort. Liu Jin stares at the empty cup for a while, almost as if wishing it held all the answers in the universe.

“Father,” he says at last, still staring into his cup, “I wish to make sure I have accurately grasped the situation. Are you saying that I am engaged to Xiao Zheng’s daughter?“

“That is so.”

The flames dance merrily under the teakettle. They make the shadows dance as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

Liu Jin envies them.

“I don’t understand.”

It is natural for Xiao Zheng to be thankful to his father. Liu Jin can understand that much. His father not only saved Xiao Zheng's life but also that of his daughter. For the Patriarch of the Xiao Sect to reward such a feat in spite of his father’s wishes is only proper.

However, there is a vast difference between Xiao Zheng giving his father a proper reward and giving his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Regardless of what his past may have been, it is a fact that his father lives as a simple doctor now. He has lived that way for as long as Liu Jin can remember. Furthermore, Liu Jin is painfully aware of his own status. Within the Xiao Sect, he is acceptable for an Outer Disciple but no more than that. He has given no signs of possessing extraordinary talent by the standards of the Sect, nor has he progressed in his cultivation for almost two years now.

If he were a prodigy without peer, Xiao Zheng’s actions could be understood. However, Liu Jin is just himself.

A union between him and Xiao Zheng’s daughter would simply be too unequal. That is what everyone is going to think once the matter becomes public. If all Xiao Zheng wants is to tie him closer to the Xiao Sect, then there are other females of lower standing within the Sect that could be married to him.

Besides…

No matter how he looks at it, he is too young to be married!

“As I said, my son, Xiao Zheng is a very stubborn man,” Liu Jianguo says with a long-suffering sigh. “Since he was the one to offer it, he said it would shame him if he went back on his word. A ridiculous notion, I assure you.”

His father almost rolls his eyes as he speaks. It is a rare sight for Liu Jin. Other than when dealing with Master, it is not often that he sees his father so annoyed.

“At first, I thought Xiao Zheng was joking, and that he would soon forget about it. Once it became clear he was serious, I tried to dissuade him of the notion.” His father sighs. “However, Master showed up in Eastern Port City around that time. From that day, I lost any hope of convincing him.”

Liu Jin blinks as he remembers the night he was told to wait outside while Xiao Zheng discussed things with his father and Old Jiang. He remembers the way the Patriarch of the Xiao Sect had smiled and laughed once he saw him upon leaving his house.

"I knew I made the right choice."

That was what Xiao Zheng had said.

“So even back then?”

Liu Jianguo nods.

“Master knew?”

“He found it supremely amusing and encouraged Xiao Zheng.”

Liu Jin’s eyebrow twitches again.

Of course.

“I still don’t understand.” Liu Jin lets an elbow fall on the table and rests his forehead on his palm. “Why is this all happening so soon, father? I am not old enough to marry, and I doubt Xiao Zheng’s daughter is.”

If he were sixteen, no one would bat an eye. Marriage at that age is common. Even fourteen would be an acceptable age for marriage. However, Liu Jin is neither sixteen or fourteen. He isn’t even eleven yet, and he doubts Xiao Zheng’s daughter is older than him.

As Liu Jin thinks about this, a new thought strikes his mind. He frowns.

“Besides, wouldn’t a wedding call too much attention?” His fingers absent-mindedly drum against the table. “Xiao Zheng has gone to great lengths to keep his daughter a secret. Why marry her to me now?”

The more Liu Jin thinks about it, the less sense it makes. If his wedding had been decided a long time ago, he’d have been informed about the ceremony before leaving for New Moon Town. In fact, Xiao Nan probably wouldn’t have offered to take him there if his wedding was to happen so soon.

It seems to Liu Jin that the decision to hold the wedding now was only made once he was in New Moon Town.

“An excellent question,” his father says, nodding approvingly. “When Xiao Zheng spoke of marrying you to his daughter, he never once suggested it should be while you are both so young. He would also never do something that would call attention to his daughter.”

“Something has changed then?”

“Quite. However, what exactly has changed is not something I possess knowledge of. It seems we will have to ask Xiao Zheng in person.”

His father reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a piece of paper which he places on the table in front of Liu Jin. Blinking, Liu Jin picks it up.

It is an invitation letter.

“We have been invited to visit the Xiao Sect next week,” his father says, even as Liu Jin’s eyes go over the contents. “Xiao Zheng tells me it is time you finally meet his daughter.”

Liu Jin looks at the letter, then at his father.

“Is it decided then? The marriage will happen?”

“That depends on what Xiao Zheng has to say when we meet him.” His father looks closely at him. “Do you dislike the idea?”

Liu Jin shakes his head. “Not really.”

The notion of marrying someone he has not met is not one he particularly likes. However, it is also not something he dislikes. If he has to be honest, Liu Jin can easily see the benefits of marrying Xiao Zheng’s daughter. He can also see the demerits of such a union.

Overall, Liu Jin’s reaction to the idea is rather lukewarm. It is only the suddenness of it all that bothers him.

“It is frustrating in a sense,” Liu Jin admits. “Not because I am to marry, but rather because I am only now finding out about it.”

“That is only understandable. Not many face marriage this suddenly.”

How true.

“Father, what is her name?”

“Xiao Shuang.”

~~~

Even though Liu Jin and his father stay late at night talking about various things, they still wake up early in the morning the next day. The sun has barely been out for an hour by the time Liu Jin walks out of his house carrying a box of medicine to be delivered around the neighborhood.

Since Liu Jin has been away from Eastern Port City for almost a month, it is the first time in a while he does this. There is a smile on the child’s face. His body welcomes the familiar routine.

He is not expecting to find Xiao Fang waiting outside his home.

The Young Master of the Xiao Sect stands in front of him without guards or underlings. His fine clothes stand out like a sore thumb in this part of Eastern Port City. He has shot up another inch since Liu Jin last saw him, and his face is starting to make the change from child to teenager.

His blue eyes glare fiercely at Liu Jin.

“I do not accept it!”

Liu Jin blinks.

“Huh?”

“I definitely do not accept it,” Xiao Fang says, pointing his finger dramatically at him, his robes fluttering in the wind. “Even if the Heavens and the Earth accept it, I don’t!”

His piece said, the Young Master of the Xiao Sect promptly stomps away, leaving a confused Liu Jin behind.

Troublesome.

In-laws, Liu Jin decides, are a very troublesome thing.

~~~