121 The Allure of A Faint Dream 2 (1/2)

The mysterious person who had suddenly halted her movement was quite gentle in temperament, contrary to his previous, persistent chase after the young girl. An Fei had been allowed to stand even-footed on the ground, neither her balance nor position impeded in the slightest.

Having calmed herself significantly, the young girl finally obtained the opportunity to observe the person before her.

Without a doubt, it was the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Tian Mu.

The elderly man revealed a slight smile towards the young girl, his heart seemingly unaffected by her wary attitude.

Now that the Grand Elder had stood before her in person, An Fei could only state that he looked… different.

Though dressed in the same robes as the dozen youths who had joined the convoy, the old man held a gnarled, wooden staff in his hand instead of a sword – reflecting an aura of tranquility.

Regardless of how she examined Tian Mu's appearance, she couldn't determine the old man's true age.

She had simply labeled him as 'old' due to Feng Yu Xin calling him the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, yet Tian Mu appeared more to be in his fifties.

Other than the slight wrinkles on the surface of his hands, the old man appeared no more than a forty-year-old man who had just stepped away from the fantasies of youth, but still brimming with a powerful virility.

”Young Fellow, have you calmed down?”

The Grand Elder nudged forward with a cautionary voice, his placid countenance barely concealing his agitation and unrest.

A pair of beady eyes locked themselves onto the young girl, refusing to allow her to flee without any warning.

An Fei hesitated for a brief moment, before revealing a faint nod.

”What does the Esteemed Senior desire from this junior?”

Tian Mu's free hand jumped towards his flowing beard at the address of an 'Esteemed Senior' as per his customary habit.

However, the elderly man soon regained his consciousness, stowing away his hand with an awkward grin.

”Young Fellow… you must be the one who eavesdropped on us earlier from the imperial carriage…” the Grand Elder mused in a gentle voice.

”Then… your name must be Wei An Fei? One of the three young maidens that accompanied Yu Xin in her carriage?”

The girl deigned not to respond as she stared directly at him in caution and trepidation, but the momentary shift in the pair of scarlet irises was sufficient for the old, shameless Grand Elder.

”Come with this old fellow, ah! The Taiyi Sect isn't a suitable place for you to cultivate in, the Heavenly Sword Sect shall treat you with the utmost care and provide everything you wish for –”

”I heard everything,” An Fei suddenly interrupted in a dull voice.

”I don't want to partake in an arranged marriage.”

The Grand Elder flushed at the timid and quiet voice that tugged at his heart, causing his tone to soften immensely without his awareness.

An awkward expression floundered within his countenance as he stared at the young girl, not knowing what to say.

”…can you enlighten this old bag of bones why?” Tian Mu softly murmured, deeply suppressing the urge to choke in bottled emotions.

He was just a single step from accomplishing his goal, his goal of securing his third great-grandson a wife that would be compatible!

All that remained was to bring the bride back to the grounds of the Heavenly Sword Sect to seal the agreement under the heavens, causing the suppressed feeling to magnify by the second.

Ah…

”…I've never met the other person, nor am I appreciative of those other than my Father arranging my personal affairs,” An Fei shrugged, her fingers fiddling with each other behind her back.

”Besides, even if Father were to arrange my personal matters such as marriage, I don't think that I would comply.”

”…why not? This old thing isn't offering you marriage to an abrasive, unlikeable uncle who's twice your age,” the Grand Elder sighed with a sentimental voice.

Hurry and accept, little lass!

”My Ming Xia is a handsome little lad who is gentle and cultured, and definitely knows how to respect others and their boundaries. I can promise you, with my eight hundred odd years of experience and my cultivation as a Peak Nascent Soul Realm practitioner, that Ming Xia will never mistreat you.”

The young girl continued to shake her head in splendid denial, her precise expression concealed behind the veil.

”You've heard Yu Xin read the contract, ah?”

Tian Mu continued to attempt persuading An Fei with a pleading expression on his countenance.

”Since you've heard her read it, you should naturally be aware of its contents as well. No concubines, no trysts with other women without your express consent, and you will be his single female companion.”