Naked Sword Art

t she would gradually learn to like Gao Chen and become his loving wife and mother to his children, but they didn ’t see through Gao Chen ’s intentions and underestimated Li Lian ’s passion for cultivation.

…

”My parents never intended for me to become a cultivator, ” Li Lian explained simply.

”I see.
So, what are you going to do then? Do you want to settle down and marry him or do you want to be a cultivator? ” The Matriarch asked.

”I… ”

Li Lian froze when she saw the serious look on the Matriarch ’s face.
She felt like her next words would determine her fate.

”C-Can ’t I do both? ”

The Matriarch didn ’t reply.
She wanted Li Lian to think about it carefully.

Seeing that the Matriarch was silent, Li Lian spoke again, but this time she spoke with a little more confidence in her tone.

”I want to be a cultivator, but one day, I will definitely marry him. ”

The Matriarch finally sighed as she looked away.

Li Lian didn ’t know what to make out of her reaction.
The last thing she wanted was to make the Matriarch upset, but she wanted to be straightforward with her about this.

”Master, am I not allowed to marry him? ”

”According to the sect ’s rules, you are not. ”

Li Lian felt as if her worst fears had come true.

”Master, I- ”

The Matriarch suddenly cut her off, and made Li Lian ’s eyes light up happily from her next words.

”However, many things have changed since the old days and I ’ve never been too fond of the rules myself. ”

”Then does that mean… ”

”Don ’t get your hopes up.
If he can ’t get my approval, then I won ’t allow you to marry him.
I won ’t idly watch from the side as a precious gem like you gets tarnished by some dirt. ”

Li Lian smiled happily from her words, ”Master, thank you for being so understanding. ”

The Matriarch felt guilty for receiving her thanks, because she was the one who couldn ’t afford to lose Li Lian.
Considering Li Lian ’s amazing talent, the Matriarch didn ’t mind breaking a few sect rules to keep her under her wing.
Especially since she never really planned on letting Li Lian marry her fiancé.

”So, what ’s his name, ” the Matriarch asked.

”It ’s Fang. ”

”Just ’Fang ’? Do you not even know his surname? ”

Li Lian scratched the back of her head as she smiled nervously.
She was aware of the reputation the Divine Sword sect had, so she was wise not to say his full name.

”Aiya, how could you fall in love with someone so easily, ” the Matriarch complained.

”Master, have you ever fallen in love before? ” Li Lian asked to change the topic.

”Of course I have, but it was short lived. ”

”What happened? ”

”As I told you before, it ’s against sect rules, but in this specific case I fell in love with someone I definitely shouldn ’t have fallen in love with. ”

The Matriarch could tell that Li Lian was interested in her story.
Since they were traveling slowly through the city, they had plenty of time to spare.

The Matriarch thought back to nearly 40 years ago when she was in her early 20s.
Back then she was just a disciple named Shi Lan, but since her mother was the Matriarch of the sect, she was still treated favorably by her peers.

Her best friend at the time was not only popular for her beauty, but there were also many guys with prominent backgrounds visiting the Black Paradise sect just to ask her hand in marriage.
However, she always rejected them.
She was so beautiful it was an understatement to simply say that she was the most beautiful girl in the entire province.
She might very well be the most beautiful girl in the entire country.

At the time, Shi Lan assumed it was because there was already a guy in her life, but no matter how many times she asked her about him she would just say he was a close childhood friend.
However, the man she casually called a friend was the most handsome man she had ever met.

”What was the name of your friend? ” Li Lian suddenly asked.

Judging by the description the Matriarch gave and the time period, Li Lian could already guess who it was.

”Her name…
was Yu An. ”

***

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