No wonder none of the truly prestigious families came to the banquet. No wonder the ones who did show up were all from fallen households. No wonder the White-Robed Swordsman left early. So the Su family was looking for a live-in son-in-law!

Liu Xiaolou knew well enough what that meant. If the Su family chose him, it wouldn’t be him marrying a Su daughter and taking her back to Wulong Mountain. It would be the Su daughter marrying him, and him moving into Shenwu Manor. From then on, he would live there as one of the Su family.

Any children would carry the Su surname.

Different people saw this role very differently. For young cultivators from noble families with lofty ambitions, it was beneath contempt, something utterly unacceptable. In the future, how could they face the world? They would be a laughingstock.

But for those who had fallen on hard times, it was a chance to join a wealthy household, never again having to worry about where the next meal would come from. They could enjoy fine clothes and rich food, live under the protection of Shenwu Manor, and never wander homeless again.

So some people saw it as a plague to avoid, while others rushed toward it eagerly.

For Liu Xiaolou, it was more the latter. He didn’t think it was shameful. After all, his good brother Wei Hongqing had taken the same path, without even the official title of son-in-law, and still earned the admiration and envy of their fellow Wulong Mountain cultivators. From that angle, for a rogue cultivator from Wulong Mountain, it could be a chance to change one’s fate.

Still, he didn’t hold out much hope. Even if the Su family was looking for a husband to marry in, the reputation of Wulong Mountain cultivators would probably keep them from giving him a second glance.

Liu Xiaolou had no illusions about himself, so he never expected too much. He was really just here for the return gift. As long as he got that, he’d be satisfied.

Su Zhi clapped his hands, and an elderly steward with a head full of white hair walked into the hall. Right there in front of everyone, he read out the terms for marrying into the Su family, making it clear from the start so the guests could decide for themselves:

“To be the Su family’s son-in-law means you are henceforth a member of the Su household. You will live here, and without your wife’s permission, you may not leave on your own.”

“In all matters, your wife has the final say. You must not disobey her, or you will face severe punishment under family law.”

“Without your wife’s consent, you may not take concubines.”

“Any children you have will bear the Su surname and inherit the Su family line.”

“You may not initiate divorce.”

“You must not do anything to harm the Su family’s reputation.”

“When the Su family faces trouble, you must give your all to share the burden, and you must not shirk or refuse.”

Altogether there were seven rules, all governing what a man had to abide by after marrying into the Su family. There were quite a few restrictions.

Of course, next came the benefits, otherwise who would agree to such an arrangement? The steward listed a long string of them, but only one truly made Liu Xiaolou’s heart beat faster:

A monthly stipend of one spirit stone, ten taels of silver, and two bolts of fine silk.

He quickly did the math in his head. Since his teacher had passed away two years ago, he’d earned a fair number of spirit stones, but every single one had been hard-fought. Won through endless scheming, backbreaking work, and sometimes even great personal risk. Some days he ate well, others he went without, never knowing what tomorrow would bring. If he could count on a steady supply of spirit stones every year, his cultivation life would suddenly feel far more stable and secure.

Twelve spirit stones a year, guaranteed. To be honest, that wasn’t a small amount. If he could find a few side hustles on top of that, answering a hero’s post here, setting up a small ambush there; life could be downright comfortable.

Still, even as his heart stirred, a couple of the Su family’s seven rules didn’t sit well with him, especially the ones about not leaving the manor without permission and having his wife make all the decisions. No matter how he thought about it, they felt stifling. He had been a free-roaming cultivator of Wulong Mountain for so long that he simply wasn’t used to such restrictions.

As for the clause about children taking the Su surname instead of Liu, which most people would care about the most, he barely gave it a thought. He was alone in the world, taken in by his master at Wulong Mountain when he was eight, and he had no idea who his parents were. Inheritance and family lineage meant nothing to him. Whatever the surname, wouldn’t the child still be his?

Besides, he could still take concubines. If his wife refused, he could always keep a mistress in a separate residence. Any children from that union could take the Liu name, couldn’t they?

At the banquet, everyone who heard the Su family’s seven rules and the benefits that followed agreed on the spot. They had known roughly what to expect before coming and had already accepted such terms in their minds. What was there to hesitate about now?

Su Zhi, however, made a point of stressing, “Let’s be clear. If you agree, it will be written into the marriage contract. If you ever go back on your word, the Su family will not forgive you. We will make sure the entire world knows. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, the Su family will never let it go! If you’re unwilling, we won’t force you, but you may leave the table and go down the mountain.”

At the table across from him, Dong Wei suddenly spoke to Liu Xiaolou. “Brother Liu from Wulong Mountain, it’s good to know your own limits. The master made himself perfectly clear. Are you saying you still don’t understand?”

If Su Zhi had simply said “courteously leave the mountain,” Liu Xiaolou might have gone along without much struggle. But “leave the table and descend the mountain” meant there was likely nothing to gain from this visit. So of course, Liu Xiaolou intended to hold his ground to the very end.

Dong Wei wanted to use this chance to push him out of the banquet. Liu Xiaolou couldn’t agree to that. Even if he had to leave, he would take Dong Wei along. “Brother Dong,” he said sincerely, “you and I are—”

“Don’t call us brothers,” Dong Wei snapped.

Liu Xiaolou sighed. “Fine, we’re not brothers. But I felt a connection with you the moment we met. If you’re willing to go with me, I have no objections. Brother Dong, the sky is vast and the sea is wide. Why stay obsessed with wealth and status? Together, we could go anywhere… hmm… anywhere at all.”

“I’m leaving if I want to! Don’t drag me into this!”

Liu Xiaolou looked at the maid Susu beside him and said with mock regret, “See him… ahh…”

A ripple of suppressed laughter ran through the hall. Susu, trying hard to keep a straight face, poured Liu Xiaolou another cup of wine. As soon as she stepped out of the Gualu Hall, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Su Zhi frowned. What kind of people are these? No wonder it was so hard to recruit a son-in-law. He had already ruled out Liu Xiaolou and Dong Wei. Clearing his throat, he clapped his hands. “Very well. Since no one is withdrawing, I understand your intentions. Twelve young talents… but my family can take only one. Please, demonstrate your cultivation skills.”

The Su family was seeking a son-in-law not out of whim, but to prevent the family line from weakening. Among the younger generation, only three promising disciples remained, and all were daughters. One had already married far away, becoming a virtuous wife in another sect. Another wasn’t a biological child and naturally could not inherit the family legacy. The last daughter had reached the age for marriage, and seeing her sought after by surrounding sects and noble families, the Su family had little choice but to take this desperate measure.

The young cultivators who had come could not be judged by family background, so their abilities would be tested. Among a crowd of mediocre men, even a slight edge could count. In a crisis, the family could at least have one capable helper.

The most direct way to show cultivation strength was through a duel. Dong Wei had been waiting for this moment. He had already discreetly investigated Liu Xiaolou and knew he was only at the third layer of Qi Refinement. Two layers below him. Naturally, he chose the easiest target. He leaped forward, pointing at Liu Xiaolou. “You, Liu! Do you dare to face me in a fight?”