Chapter 2: Are you willing?

A System?!

The anger burning in Lu Xuan's chest hadn't yet faded, and suddenly... this dream-come-true appeared right before his eyes.

He had been trapped in this world for over a decade. And now, finally... finally... his golden finger had arrived after so long.

He thought he might cry if this happened one day.

But he didn't.

Over a decade of enduring in silence and living in this cruel world had robbed him of even that feeling.

As happy as he might be, he kept his expression blank and his breathing steady. He couldn't let anyone behind him notice anything unusual about him... not for now.

Lu Xuan glanced at the translucent panel hovering in his vision.

It required a Cultivation Technique to work... but he didn't have the money to buy himself a meal, forget about a cultivation technique.

But he wasn't panicked. Because he understood something great: a wise man's revenge knows no deadline. He didn't need to win today... he just had to win.

He just needed to lay low for now. Find a technique. And then... sleep.

"A trash and an ugly woman... a perfect match! Hahahaha!"

The laughter came from behind him, stabbing into his back like a blade, but he kept moving.

Lu Xuan didn't look back. He simply carved the two words "Lu Hao" deep into his heart.

He walked out of the estate grounds.

A servant was already waiting for him outside, holding the reins of a thin, lame donkey.

"The Patriarch has ordered you to head to the Shen Family and marry today."

Lu Xuan stared dumbfounded, speechless.

They were this impatient to throw him out?

His gaze drifted to the lame donkey.

The servant began, barely suppressing a grin and his glee at Lu Xuan's misfortune.

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"Young Master has specifically arranged this. He said since you have no martial arts... just a crippled piece of trash... he was worried you might ride one of the fiery horses in the stable and fall to your death.

That would leave your ugly wife a widow before the wedding night even started. So he found you this lame, skinny donkey instead... Much safer."

It was clearly a naked humiliation and no one was even trying to hide it now.

Lu Xuan swallowed it whole without changing his expression.

Even if the whole city lined the streets to mock him, he would still go, not because he was afraid, but because dead men cannot take revenge.

Lu Xuan didn't ride the donkey, though. He simply took the reins and led it on foot towards the south of the city.

When he finally arrived at the Shen Family estate, he spotted a lone figure standing in front of the main gate from a distance.

She wore a bridal veil and a faded old red dress. In her hands, she clutched a small blue cloth bundle close to her chest.

There was no one to send her off. Obviously no dowry, not even a single person of the family standing beside her to offer parting words.

She just stood there... like a forgotten object placed at the door.

The Shen Family's main gate was shut tight behind her. Through a narrow crack in the door, an old servant poked his head out, glanced at Lu Xuan, and without a word, pulled the door closed again as if kicking out a jinx.

Lu Xuan walked over unhurriedly.

The woman seemed to hear his footsteps, and her thin frame trembled slightly.

A sliver of her chin was visible beneath the veil. There were indeed red spots on the skin, just as the rumors said. But her jawline was clean and sharp... not like that of someone who had been sick for years.

Lu Xuan slowly paused in front of her as his legs came to a halt.

Today was his first wedding of both lifetimes, and he didn't know how to begin, after thinking for a long moment, he spoke.

"My name is Lu Xuan. I have no wedding procession, no inheritance to spoke of... Only a thin, lame donkey to my name, but I promise to keep you happy."

"Are you willing to come with me?"

The surroundings fell silent, for a long moment, neither of them moved, then, slowly as if mustering out the courage, the woman gave a small nod.

From beneath the veil came a voice, barely louder than a breath.

"I am willing."

Although her voice was barely above a whisper... it was exceptionally firm.

Lu Xuan didn't beat around the bush, he walked over to her side.

He reached out for her, and then gently helped her onto the lame donkey.

As she settled onto its back, her grip on the bundle slipped, It tumbled open, and the things inside spilled onto the ground.

The contents of the bundle lay bare for all to see.

A few pieces of dry rations, a change of clothes, and a neatly folded piece of beautiful embroidery...

That was everything she owned in this world.

Lu Xuan bent down and picked them up, one by one, without a word.

Her hand trembled slightly as she took the bundle back and clutched it tightly against her chest.

"Thank you."

Her voice was so small... as if she hadn't spoken to anyone in a very long time.

Lu Xuan didn't answer.

He simply turned around and took the reins, leading the donkey back toward the Lu Family estate.

The woman on the donkey's back kept her head low, her face hidden beneath the bridal veil. Not a single expression could be seen. No one knew what she was thinking.

But Lu Xuan noticed that her hands clutching the bundle had tightened... clearly nervous.