Chapter Five: The Shocking News of a Fiancée

Hearing his grandfather’s words, Kuangchi was utterly stunned. At nearly nineteen, he was no longer the ignorant child he had once been; he understood well that the entanglements and vendettas among noble families were the favorite gossip of the common folk for the decade he’d lived among them. Of course, such rumors did not spare the Kuang family, the ruling house of this planet. Over the years, Kuangchi had always observed these discussions about his own family from the sidelines. Intelligent as he was, he knew that the position of family head had always been the heart of the Kuang clan’s internal strife—though, perhaps, this flaw was shared by all the noble families of the Caro Empire.

Kuangchi’s father, upon hearing his own father’s words, clearly disagreed—this was not at all the outcome he had expected. He had long since given up hope that his son, who was not a prodigy and held no grand ambitions, would inherit the family headship. All that Kuangbao wanted was to grow old quietly with his wife. His wife, too, did not support their son taking on the family leadership.

Kuangchi’s mother, herself of common birth, always believed that it was best to steer clear of the feuds that plagued the great houses. She wanted nothing to do with such affairs.

Bracing himself, Kuangchi’s father glanced at his astonished wife and said, “Father, both I and Kuangchi’s mother believe that Kuangchi cannot become the successor of our family.”

Hearing this, Kuangchi’s grandfather actually smiled slightly—a rare occurrence. “Oh? And why can’t Kuangchi become our heir? Do you think you’re up to it? As far as I can see, your only real skill is carrying your wife’s shopping bags at the mall.”

Hearing his father say this, Kuangbao, nearly twenty himself, could not help but flush with embarrassment. But Kuangchi’s mother was not so easily dismissed. She interjected, “Father, that’s not what we mean. Kuangbao is hardly fit to be the family head—none of us have ever thought otherwise. But with Kuangchi’s situation, he absolutely cannot become head of the family either. His slow development is a major issue. I don’t want him to face malicious scrutiny.”

For once, the old man nodded in agreement. But just as everyone thought he might have relented, he continued, “However, Kuangchi’s status as heir cannot be changed. This was personally decreed by the old master while he was still alive. Not only can you not oppose it, even I cannot. If you want to object, you’ll have to take it up with the elders of the Kuang Martial Hall yourselves.”

At the mention of the Martial Hall, everyone’s necks instinctively shrank back. As the sanctuary and retreat of the family’s greatest masters through the ages, the Martial Hall’s standing within the Kuang family was untouchable—even the head of the family could not challenge it. According to the clan’s rules, if thirty out of thirty-five resident elders of the Martial Hall deemed the head unfit, they could depose him and choose a new one. Thus, no other family member would dare meddle. Entering the Martial Hall meant the Grand Elder there held power over life and death, punishment and reward. Everyone preferred to stay outside its reach, where those ancient, stern elders had no say in their carefree lives.

Kuangchi’s grandfather continued, “Originally, I had planned to bring Kuangchi home myself in a few months, but since you’ve returned, it’s just as well. Some matters cannot be postponed. Kuangbao, tomorrow you will announce to the world on my behalf that Kuangchi is the chosen heir. You’ll need something to occupy your time, and in the future you’ll help Kuangchi manage family affairs.”

Kuangchi’s father stood stunned for a long moment before finally recovering. “Father, isn’t the announcement of the heir supposed to go through the Martial Hall elders for review before being made public?”

“No need. These matters were settled long ago by your grandfather,” Kuangchi’s grandfather replied coldly and dismissively.

The next morning, Kuangchi was dragged out of bed by his mother before dawn.

Groggy and confused, Kuangchi protested, “Mom, what are you doing? It’s still early.”

His mother, exasperated, replied, “Early? From today on, you are the family’s heir. You must be strict with yourself. From now on, you will get up at this hour every day to practice.”

At noon, Kuangchi and his mother joined his grandfather for lunch. As they sat, the old man suddenly began to laugh while gazing at Kuangchi.

His mother, puzzled, asked, “Father, what’s so funny?”

After a moment, the old man replied, “I was just thinking about Kuangchi’s fiancée.”

His mother was taken aback—she had never heard of any fiancée for her son. “Father, what do you mean by Kuangchi’s fiancée?”

The old man was visibly surprised, then asked, “You didn’t know about the engagement your grandfather arranged for Kuangchi?”

Both mother and son shook their heads. Clearly, she knew nothing of it, and Kuangchi himself had never heard a word. He quickly said, “Grandfather, what fiancée? Great-grandfather never mentioned anything to me.”

After a moment’s pause, the old man said, “How could that be? The old master never told you about the engagement?”

Again, they shook their heads. The old man thought for a moment, then smiled. “Well, now you know—it’s all the same.”

His mother pressed, “But why were you laughing just now?”

He chuckled. “I was thinking of Kuangchi’s fiancées. I’ve already contacted the head of her family this morning. Since Kuangbao will officially announce Kuangchi as heir this afternoon, some things must be confirmed—especially the looks, character, and education of my future granddaughter-in-law.”

His mother seemed disinterested in such matters. “Father, is Kuangchi’s fiancée beautiful?”

The old man burst out laughing. At last, under her repeated questioning, he said, “Beautiful, yes, but their tempers are less than ideal.”

“What do you mean, ‘their’?” his mother demanded, growing indignant. How could she, as his mother, not know her son had a fiancée? Any mother would be upset.

With his agreeable temperament—well known throughout the Kuang Combat Star—the old man answered with a smile, “I said ‘their’ because your great-grandfather arranged two wives for Kuangchi. So naturally, he has two fiancées. As for their families, one isn’t even from a noble house.”

He paused, then went on, “One is the only granddaughter of the current head of Sword Sect, the most renowned sword school on Lopos Star and one of humanity’s oldest sects. She will arrive on Kuang Martial Star in half a month. Kuangchi, you’d better prepare yourself; I’ve heard she has quite a temperament.”

With that, he laughed heartily, ignoring the expressions of both Kuangchi and his mother. After a while, he added, “Rumor has it, this granddaughter-in-law was lost to the old master in a wager with her own grandfather. Amusing, isn’t it?”

His mother sighed. Sword Sect was famous throughout the human worlds, its disciples spread across the universe. Though not technically nobility, its status eclipsed that of many minor royal houses. She knew this much, but curiosity about the other fiancée remained.

She asked, “Father, what about the other one?”

“The other is the third granddaughter of the current head of the Karachi family. She was born on the same day, in the same month and year as Kuangchi. They say her beauty puts all others to shame—she’s called the most beautiful noblewoman in the Imperial Capital. I’ve seen her virtual portrait; she is indeed stunning.”

His mother looked at Kuangchi and sighed. “Father, with Kuangchi as he is, why did the old master arrange two fiancées for him? Isn’t that a bit much?”

The old man only chuckled. “Too much? I was thinking of arranging another marriage or two for him as well.”

“Ah!” Both mother and son exclaimed in shock.

But then the old man grew solemn. “Some things you’ll understand in time.”

With that, he broke into laughter again, then turned to Kuangchi’s mother. “Later, I’ll summon the maidservant your grandfather arranged for Kuangchi from the mountains. From now on, you needn’t worry about his daily care.”