Section Ninety-One: Shang's Idea (Part One)

Rui Bing sat across from Ye Chong, her face so pale it seemed devoid of blood, a clear sign that she had yet to recover from her last injury. Her glossy black hair set off the pallor of her face even more, and her gently furrowed brows made her seem all the more pitiable. The once imposing aura of a warrior had been replaced by a fragile delicacy; her slender figure, lost in the folds of her training clothes, looked as if a breeze might topple her at any moment.

Ye Chong was momentarily taken aback at the sight of her.

Seeing Ye Chong unharmed, Rui Bing managed a wry smile. “Your body truly is formidable.”

Ye Chong sat quietly, uncertain of her intentions for this visit, but he remained cautious. Mu stood silently behind him, ready to respond at a moment’s notice should anything happen. After all, Ye Chong was not entirely defenseless; his only concern was the sudden onset of his mysterious illness.

He watched Rui Bing intently, waiting for her to state her purpose. He could not believe that someone like her—the most formidable woman he had ever met—would come here simply out of boredom. Such idle pursuits were not in her character.

Ye Chong held Rui Bing in high regard; her combat skills were leagues above his own. That particular technique of hers was likely a form of mental assault, and, as Mu had put it, it had stirred Ye Chong’s competitive spirit. For the first time, he realized that beyond pure physical attacks, there were other forces at play.

Rui Bing said nothing, simply sat opposite him, her dark eyes meeting his.

Their gazes crossed in the air.

A faint flush crept up Rui Bing’s pale neck.

Her silence puzzled Ye Chong, who believed her to be straightforward and decisive. Since she had sought him out, she must have a reason, so why did she not speak? He broke the silence. “Why have you come to see me?”

His tone was calm, his expression indifferent, which made Rui Bing’s face grow solemn. Though her body had yet to recover, the aura of a seasoned fighter seemed to flicker back into place.

She straightened her posture, her expression grave, but the words she spoke next left Ye Chong utterly baffled.

“Would you marry me?”

Marry her? What did that mean? Thankfully, Mu was near. Ye Chong contacted Mu mentally. “Mu, what does it mean to marry her?”

“According to the data, it means to become legally bound as husband and wife,” Mu explained.

“And what does ‘legally bound as husband and wife’ mean?” Ye Chong asked in confusion.

“Er, this isn’t exactly my area of expertise. You should ask Shang. We’ll need five seconds to switch over.” Mu was clearly troubled by the question and decided to hand it off to Shang, the program better equipped for emotional analysis.

As soon as Shang was activated, he let out a series of animated electronic noises. “Wow, Yezi, it’s that fierce beauty from last time! Tsk tsk, a woman like this is a rare find for you!”

Ye Chong asked, “What does that have to do with her being beautiful?”

“Of course it does! Who doesn’t like a beautiful woman?” Shang replied, then paused. “Well, your tastes are rather unique. But isn’t she a perfect fit for your standards? She’s not too bulky, which would hinder speed—not too petite, muscles with explosive power, good endurance, excellent flexibility, a master of combat, and her skills with mechs are almost as good as mine. She’s decisive, preferably lethal with one strike, highly vigilant. If she mastered mecha mechanics, she’d be perfect! Aside from that, she seems tailor-made for you! And mecha skills can be trained quickly. Yezi, I can’t think of anyone who suits you better!”

Ye Chong remained puzzled. “But what does that have to do with marrying her?”

Shang nearly stalled. “Yezi, are you still not through puberty? You’re already twenty! This defies all biological logic! Could it be… could it be…” Mu’s voice was tinged with odd suspicion.

Shang’s evasiveness only confused Ye Chong further. “Biology? Principles of biological development? Isn’t that a course for cultivators?”

Shang’s voice nearly broke with despair. “Principles of biological development? Yezi, you can’t go on like this. I need to give you a proper outlook on life! I can already foresee your future—so dull and gray!”

After a brief pause, Shang began to coax him. “Ye Chong, do you find her pleasing to the eye, among all the women you’ve met?” There was a peculiar note of temptation in Shang’s voice.

Ye Chong glanced up at Rui Bing. She stiffened, a flicker of panic in her eyes, but Ye Chong thought for a moment and replied, “She is pleasing.” Indeed, among all the women he had met, she was the only one he truly admired, and certainly the most formidable.

“But is there necessarily a connection between these two things?” Ye Chong’s logic remained unshaken.

“Er… no. But Yezi, when will you finally become like a normal man?” Shang sighed deeply.

“I’m not normal?” Ye Chong was clearly displeased with this conclusion.

“Don’t you feel even a trace of desire for women?” Shang was at a loss.

“Desire?” Ye Chong asked blankly. “Should I feel desire for women?”

Shang was struck speechless. “Yezi, you’re too much!”

“I’m not even close—Mu is far stronger than me!” Ye Chong replied.

“Compared to Mu? Good grief, it’s like a conversation between two beasts! No, Yezi, it’s clear you need some education in biology! I’ll show you the latest full-holographic, steamy, uncensored battle scenes—my prized collection!”

“Video data? Steamy, uncensored battles? You mean mech battles?” Ye Chong asked.

“Mech battles?” In Shang’s mind, two humanoid mechs battled in midair, oil spraying, parts flying, accompanied by a cacophony of screeching metal. Shang shuddered, nearly crashed.

Trying to discuss feelings—especially between men and women—with someone as logical as Ye Chong was an exercise in frustration for Shang.

Rui Bing, though outwardly calm, was inwardly anxious. Ye Chong first bowed his head in thought, then looked up at her, then back down again. This was a new and strange feeling for her: anticipation mixed with fear, hope mingled with uncertainty. All she could do was maintain her composure—at least on the surface.

She was well aware of her own conservatism. Just as she had once resolutely chosen to inherit her father’s dojo, tradition had become part of her very blood over the years. She had never thought to change that, nor had she wanted to. It gave her a sense of peace and security.

Rui Bing cast a complicated glance at the man before her. This man, whom she had met only twice, might become her husband. If he refused, what then? She could cling to her tradition, but that did not mean she should force it on others. Her convictions were her own; it was perfectly reasonable for Ye Chong to refuse. But then, what would she do?

Though she had resolved long ago, in this moment Rui Bing felt lost.

“All right, back to the original question: what exactly does it mean to marry her? What is the ultimate result?” Ye Chong asked.

“To marry her is to become legally bound as husband and wife. The result is that you and she will be together forever,” Shang replied, having given up hope of explaining it properly to Ye Chong.

“To be together with her? Why forever?” Ye Chong’s next question left Shang speechless.

Shang was at a loss for words.

Unwilling to believe that such a healthy young man could be utterly uninterested in women, Shang suddenly thought of an idea.

“Yezi, to help you understand this feeling, let’s do an experiment,” Shang said, his voice strange. He realized only firsthand experience would convince Ye Chong.

“Oh? How do we do that?” Ye Chong was curious; he didn’t want to remain ignorant in this area.

“Go stand in front of her. Don’t worry—she won’t hurt you, and in her current state, she’s not your match,” Shang coaxed.

“Okay.” Ye Chong did as instructed, approaching Rui Bing. A flash of panic crossed her pale face.

“Take her hand,” Shang whispered, the devil’s tail peeking out.

“Her hand?” Ye Chong was puzzled. “Which one?”

With a thud, Shang nearly crashed. “Either!” The noise startled Rui Bing, but Ye Chong’s approach eased her tension slightly.

Ye Chong took Rui Bing’s right hand, but stayed on guard, ready for any counterattack. To him, such an action would surely provoke a response—no one would let another take their hand so easily; it was to entrust one’s life to the other.

Yet Rui Bing’s reaction baffled him. She tried to pull her hand away but failed. Her lips pressed tightly together, so hard they lost their color. Her face, once pale, was now flushed red, but she did not look away. She forced herself to face him, a rare hint of allure and stubbornness flickering in her usually cool eyes. Still, she met his gaze.

“What now?” Ye Chong asked.

“Feel her hand—really feel it,” Shang replied, his devil’s tail now in full view.