Chapter 74: Deciding the Agreement

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Deciding the Agreement

Shen Yun looked at Vierlia as she gazed intently at him, a deep sense of helplessness washing over him.

He certainly wasn’t a prude; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken Little Nine to bed without the slightest guilt. Not to mention, Vierlia was an exceptional catch. She possessed exquisite, unparalleled beauty and an extraordinary temperament. She was a fantastic cook, possessed a brilliant and rational mind, and had phenomenal talent for cultivation. Furthermore, as someone from the Otherworld, she definitely wouldn’t mind Little Nine’s presence.

It was one thing to harbor no such intentions before, but now that they had reached this point, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted.

The problem was that his actual strength and the secret of the Bodhi Branch were fatal complications.

"Since you called this a negotiation of interests, I’ll be straightforward," Shen Yun said, putting away his helplessness and adopting a serious expression. "I have only been cultivating for three years. Once I survive the Celestial Tribulation, I will immediately reach the Golden Core Peak. I can even assure you with absolute confidence that I will break through the Golden Core stage within three years. Furthermore, the crisis your world is facing is no small matter."

He retrieved the crystal containing the sealed Bone Dragon from the Tripod Cauldron and handed it to her. Vierlia accepted it, but upon glancing at the contents, her expression drastically changed.

"This... this is the handiwork of the Demon King."

"Indeed," Shen Yun nodded. "If I didn’t possess some measure of skill, the one standing before you right now might just be Ludwig."

"...No, if that is the case, then I absolutely cannot back down." Beads of sweat had formed on Vierlia’s forehead, yet the immense pressure seemed to make her even calmer. "Even entities in the Divine Realm are bound by lifespan limits. The Demon King has been sealed for centuries; a decline in his power is inevitable... If you can truly break through to the Saint Realm within three years... there is still hope for my people."

Even if the Demon King truly resurrected, the Holy Hall would undoubtedly bear the brunt of his wrath. After all, it was the Master of the Holy Hall who had sealed him eight hundred years ago. In the worst-case scenario, she could relocate her subjects to Earth as refugees and conceal the entrance. They could wait for Shen Yun to break through to the Saint Realm, then return to confront the Demon King and reclaim their homeland.

Having reasoned through all of this, Vierlia, pale-faced, took a few steps toward Shen Yun. She suddenly grasped his hand, her large eyes filled with intense unease.

"I am so, so sorry." She slowly raised Shen Yun’s palm and pressed it against her cheek. Biting her lip hard, she offered a self-deprecating, poignant smile. "I know this is shameless, and you have every right to look down on me. But I am a Queen. This is my responsibility. It is my mission. Because of that, my conditions remain unchanged. If you want to know how to move the entrance... our only option is a political marriage. Between you and me."

Feeling the delicate, smooth touch of her skin against his palm, and looking into the determined yet anxious eyes of the girl before him, Shen Yun’s masculine resolve was beginning to crumble. He was forced to pinch his own thigh with his free hand just to maintain a clear head.

Being a man was truly difficult. He couldn’t even steel his heart and pull his hand back, simply because Vierlia’s physical strength was vastly superior to his.

"Master, you could actually agree in a different way," Little Nine suddenly piped up in his mind. "Besides, agreeing to her terms brings massive benefits for you. For one thing, have you thought about how to explain your new partner’s identity after you grant Enlightenment to the tank?"

Shen Yun suddenly realized the gravity of that issue. In a little over a month at most, he would be able to bestow Enlightenment upon the tank. Leaving everything else aside, the Thunder Tribulation triggered by the Enlightenment process would be a massive headache. In a world blanketed by satellites, there would be no way to hide it. Then he would face the inevitable follow-up questions: Where did this powerhouse come from? Why did they obey him? And were they truly trustworthy?

However, if he became a Prince Consort of the Otherworld, he could trigger the Enlightenment in that realm instead. Afterward, he could simply claim that this new powerhouse had come to see if he was worthy of marrying the Queen and defeating the Demon King, only to be won over by his immense charisma and voluntarily pledge their loyalty to him.

It would be a perfectly logical explanation.

"If you’re worried that the disparity in your strength might expose the Bodhi Branch, we could do this..." Little Nine babbled on, enthusiastically formulating a plan for him.

"Little Nine, you’re amazing. I suddenly feel really guilty toward you," Shen Yun sighed, genuinely moved.

"Honestly, haven’t we talked about this? You aren’t allowed to say things like that." Little Nine’s voice was soft and tender. "Your affection is all I need. Plus, this will be hugely beneficial to you. If you rejected her for my sake, that would truly break my heart."

Shen Yun said nothing more. There was no need for words. He simply buried his profound gratitude and affection for her deep within his heart.

"I have a proposal," Shen Yun said, looking at Vierlia and voicing his final decision. "I will agree to your terms, but it will be a marriage in name only. Once the crisis is completely resolved, if there are no real feelings between us, we annul the arrangement. How does that sound?"

"That..." Vierlia hesitated.

"You should know that even people who get married can still get a divorce," Shen Yun said, his expression turning slightly stern. "You might be willing to sacrifice your personal happiness for your country, but I am not. Think about it—given our lifespans, we both have at least another five hundred years to live."

"But..." Vierlia lowered her gaze and turned her head slightly away. "You must already despise me."

She had never believed that being beautiful automatically entitled her to someone’s affection. And her words and actions just now could easily be construed as coercion. If they followed the contract Shen Yun proposed... there was a high probability she would eventually be cast aside. Without even a child between them, her kingdom’s future interests would lose all guarantees. This dual wave of sorrow left a bitter, stinging sensation in her chest.

"Master, you’ve got a Queen here who is super easy to woo! Go for it!" Little Nine urged, sounding inexplicably excited in Shen Yun’s mind.

Shen Yun was a little dumbfounded. This Vierlia was truly a bit... He wasn’t sure if she was just exceedingly naive or if she simply thought too highly of him. Had she never heard that beauty was justice? Still, to be pushed to such extremes for the sake of being a Queen... It truly was a difficult burden for her to bear.

"I don’t despise you," Shen Yun said softly. "Speaking personally, I actually admire you. You are a true ruler who genuinely fights for her country and her people. They will be grateful and proud to have a Queen like you."

"Really?"

Vierlia’s delicate frame trembled slightly. She looked up, her beautiful eyes reflecting Shen Yun’s face as if searching for any sign of deceit.

"Of course," Shen Yun smiled warmly.

He suddenly felt the skin against his palm grow warm as an intoxicating flush crept onto Vierlia’s cheeks once more.

"Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

To her, such validation and praise were as moving as the most romantic vows of love. She even felt a lingering sense of relief. She was glad that her political marriage was with a man like Shen Yun, and tied to a nation like Huaxia.

Meanwhile, Shen Yun was only wondering when she would finally let go of his hand.

He didn’t dare to move. He absolutely did not dare to move a muscle. Any struggle on his part carried the risk of exposing his true physical strength. If merely touching her cheek was this perilous, it seemed his very first marriage was destined to be fraught with peril.