"Ah!" Zhuge Wuming waved his hand, cutting off what Yang Yi was about to say. "Your surname is Yang, you are the son of Yang Lingfeng. I know everything about you. And I know why you have come here."

"Yang Lingfeng?" Yang Yi frowned upon hearing this. He didn't seem to recall the name, but hearing Zhuge Wuming claim he was his son stirred deep emotion within him, prompting him to ask excitedly, "Senior Zhuge, the Yang Lingfeng you speak of?"

"Heh heh, it seems the person who sent you to find me has yet to tell you the truth of the matter. Since that is the case, I shouldn't say too much."

"But, Senior..." Yang Yi's heart fluttered.

"No 'buts.' I won't tell you much, but I believe that person will also tell you everything soon enough. As the saying goes, knowing late is no different from knowing early, and knowing everything at the right time is beneficial to both you and the matter at hand!" Zhuge Wuming chuckled, his aged eyes crinkling.

"Since Senior says so, then this junior will not press further." Yang Yi understood that if the other party had already spoken this way, further questioning would yield no answers. It was better to stop asking for the time being. Moreover, there were more important matters to attend to.

"You wish to take me as your master? Unlikely. I will not accept you as a disciple!"

"Why?" Yang Yi was stunned. Before he could even speak, the refusal had already come, causing a sudden jolt in his heart.

"Because of the ancestral decree: each generation may only take one disciple, and I already have one. Therefore, I cannot take another!" Zhuge Wuming seemed capable of foreseeing everything, and his words carried a profound mystery that was difficult for most to grasp. Yet, it was precisely clear to Yang Yi and the other two why this was the case, leaving them unable to refute.

"May I inquire who the Senior's disciple is?" Mu Qingfeng asked politely, cupping his fist.

"We had an encounter years ago. I never expected to meet again like this, so there is a certain connection. However, this concerns the matters of my Zhuge family and your Yang family. I advise outsiders not to meddle," Zhuge Wuming stated seriously.

"This junior has been discourteous; I ask for the Senior's forgiveness." Mu Qingfeng knew that Zhuge Wuming spoke the truth. He had heard that the Zhuge family highly respected their ancestors' mandates, so he did not press the issue further.

"Then, Senior, if I cannot become your disciple, could I at least learn the arts of Tiandi Jingwei (Heaven and Earth Sutras) from you?" Yang Yi cut straight to the chase. Since the mysterious woman in the mask had told him to seek apprenticeship, learning the art, even without the official title, would allow him to fulfill her first request.

"No. If you cannot become my disciple, how can you learn my arts?" Zhuge Wuming replied calmly.

"Senior, I...!" For the first time, Yang Yi felt somewhat flustered in front of someone, because he sensed that Zhuge Wuming's eyes seemed to have seen completely through him. Setting aside how he knew everything about Yang Yi, the mere fact that he knew Yang Yi's purpose before he spoke was extraordinary. However, grasping at Zhuge Wuming's previous words, Yang Yi suddenly asked, "Senior, may I ask about the matter between your Zhuge family and my Yang family that you mentioned? Of course, you are free to keep the details about my father confidential!"

"Hahahaha!" Zhuge Wuming laughed heartily, inwardly praising Yang Yi. "Xiu'er, haven't the food and wine been prepared yet?"

"It's ready, Grandfather!" Xiu'er's voice drifted from behind the beaded curtain.

"Follow me!" Zhuge Wuming stood up and led Yang Yi and the others to an area that was clearly a simple sitting room. Despite its simplicity, it possessed a profound charm, giving off the warmth of a rustic homestead.

"Come, do not stand on ceremony. You arrived early this morning, so you must not have eaten lunch yet. Eat first!" Zhuge Wuming waved his hand.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Senior!" Yang Yi took a deep breath, flashed a smile, and said to Mu Qingfeng and Murong Lianxue, "Let's eat!"

"En."

The five seated in the humble sitting room slowly partook in the meal, passing the time in peaceful silence until Xiu'er cleared the finished bowls and served tea. Only then did Zhuge Wuming speak, "Zizai, zizai!"

"Senior, may I ask you now?" Yang Yi took a sip of tea and inquired.

"Tell you about the matter between the Yang family and my Zhuge family?"

"Yes!"

"En, very well!" Zhuge Wuming called out, "Xiu'er, come here!"

"Coming, Grandfather!"

Xiu'er emerged again from another area, now clad in a white robe. Her two small braids had been loosened, allowing her hair to cascade down to her waist—a truly ancient attire. Seeing Xiu'er dressed this way, Yang Yi and the others stared, feeling inexplicably captivated.

Xiu'er approached her grandfather. "Grandfather!"

"En, since you are ready, then begin."

"Yes!" Xiu'er responded, moving to Yang Yi's side. She knelt down, placed her hands forward, bowed deeply, and upon rising, announced, "Xiu'er greets Xianggong!"

"Xiang... Xianggong?" All three were utterly dumbfounded, staring at Xiu'er.

Especially Yang Yi, the subject of the address, who could hardly believe that this woman before him was calling him Xianggong, which meant husband. Wasn't this plainly stating that Xiu'er was Yang Yi's wife?

"Wait, what 'Xianggong'?" Yang Yi, utterly bewildered, helped Xiu'er up and asked Zhuge Wuming.

"Don't rush, my boy. The formalities have been observed; I will explain it to you slowly." Zhuge Wuming stroked his lightly graying beard, then continued, "Your father, many years ago, was a close friend of my son, Zhuge Qingming."

"..." Yang Yi said nothing, merely kneeling there, listening quietly.

"Many years ago, your father Yang Lingfeng and my son Zhuge Qingming arranged a marriage engagement for you and Xiu'er. I recall that you were less than three months old. They were sworn brothers, which is why they arranged this match."

"But Senior, for my father and your son to arrange a marriage between Xiu'er and me, what era was that?" Yang Yi felt wronged, at least that was his current sentiment. To say he didn't desire a beauty like Xiu'er as a wife would be hypocrisy. Though he possessed a degree of lust, he wasn't a villain. Since there was no existing emotional bond between them, marrying just like that seemed utterly absurd.

"I know what you're thinking, but this is an engagement settled by your fathers' generation. It is my responsibility to ensure you two marry and unite." Zhuge Wuming narrowed his eyes.

"Does Xianggong think Xiu'er isn't good enough?" Xiu'er asked, her eyes moist, swallowing hard.

Yang Yi, who dreaded seeing a woman cry the most, felt a sharp twitch in his heart and quickly interjected, "N-No... No, Xiu'er, don't misunderstand."

"Since Xianggong thinks Xiu'er is good, why the hesitation..."

"This... this... Sigh, I can't explain it clearly right now." Even if Yang Yi's heart was usually as calm as still water, he felt a distinct contradiction in this situation.

"Young man of the Yang family, Xiu'er is twenty-one this year, an age fit for marriage. The laws outside cannot bind us. So, you should quickly complete the rites!" Zhuge Wuming smiled. "Once you and Xiu'er complete the formalities, the matter of you becoming my disciple and learning the arts of Tiandi Jingwei will naturally be considered fulfilled."

Yang Yi's mind went blank upon hearing this. People say that a great piece of pie falling from the sky can kill you, and right now, he felt a mix of pain and pleasure. However, hearing Zhuge Wuming's words gave him a strong impulse to agree immediately, yet reason told him he must not harm anyone.

"Senior, I can complete the rites. But you must answer some questions for me first."

"En!" Zhuge Wuming pondered for a moment. "As long as I deem it necessary for you to know right now, I will tell you."

"Very well. First: Is it true that once I complete the rites with Xiu'er, it will fulfill the first task set by the person behind me?"

"That's right! In truth, my young fellow, you are blessed but unaware of your fortune. Xiu'er inherits the wisdom of both myself and my son. She also possesses the arts of Tiandi Jingwei. With her assistance by your side, your path forward will be incredibly smooth!"

Yang Yi trembled inwardly. He hadn't expected Xiu'er to be so formidable, but having more questions, he continued, "Second: Why are you so certain I am Yang Lingfeng's son? Aren't you afraid of sending Xiu'er into a tiger's mouth?"

"Hahahaha, you need not worry about that. Because I tell you with full confidence, I know everything about you like the back of my hand. Of course, Xiu'er is also fully aware that if you were not Yang Lingfeng's son, she would never agree to complete the rites with you, even if I ordered her to!" Zhuge Wuming stated.

Yang Yi took a deep breath, thinking to himself, In this world today, this is likely unprecedented. Within a few short hours, I've unexpectedly gained a peerless beauty as a wife. Though there is no emotional tie between us, right now, she is truly the only one who can save the people I care about. Furthermore, I desperately want to know who my father really is!

With this thought, Yang Yi looked at Xiu'er and asked earnestly, "Xiu'er, there is no emotional bond between us, and given your appearance, I believe those who wish to marry you could form a queue. Why are you so stubborn about your ancestors' promise?"

"No, Xianggong! Xiu'er clearly understands. Although Xianggong has not developed feelings for Xiu'er yet, in the near future, Xiu'er will make Xianggong fall in love with me," Xiu'er declared firmly.

However, hearing Xiu'er speak at this moment, everyone except Zhuge Wuming—Yang Yi and the other two—felt that the person standing before them was absolutely extraordinary. They even discerned an intelligence akin to that of Zhuge Liang emanating from Xiu'er's figure.

While the ability to foretell events seems incredible in modern society, the current world still harbors many fortune-tellers and even Shushi (Art Masters)!