Chapter Seven: Fiancée Number One

What else could Kuangchi possibly say? In any case, they were bound to meet eventually. What could he do in his current state? Just thinking about meeting someone who was a level-three powerhouse made his scalp tingle. What if she took one look at him as he was now and lost her mind on the spot?

After pondering for a moment, Kuangchi finally said, “Mother, is it possible to call off this engagement?”

Of course, his mother understood her son’s concerns. She sighed before replying, “Silly child, do you really think engagements between families can be broken off so casually? Besides, your great-grandfather personally arranged this match for you back in the day. There must be more to it than meets the eye. Even if you wanted to cancel, the other family might not take it kindly. Don’t be foolish, just focus on your cultivation. One day, you’ll look better than you do now. I’m sure the other side is aware of your situation. After all, since they’re already here, they must have at least seen your virtual portrait.”

Kuangchi could only manage a wry smile and nodded.

After breakfast, just as Kuangchi was sitting alone, lost in thought, Youjian approached him quietly. “Young master, your fiancée has sent someone to invite you over to her place.”

“What? She sent for me?” Kuangchi exclaimed.

Youjian smiled and nodded. Kuangchi, feeling uneasy, turned to her and asked, “Jian’er, do you think I should go?”

“Of course you should. You’re going to meet her sooner or later. Even if you don’t go now, you’ll still see her at the family dinner tonight,” Yudu chimed in with a grin.

Stepping outside, Kuangchi saw a stunning maid around his own age, dressed in a dark green fitted outfit. At least in terms of appearance, she seemed just as beautiful as his four personal attendants. Given his slow physical development, Kuangchi could only sense this much.

When the maid saw Kuangchi, she gave him a sweet smile and bowed politely before speaking. “Young master, my lady has sent me to invite you.”

What could Kuangchi say? He nodded and followed her, asking along the way, “Did your lady say what she wanted to see me about?”

“Young master, my lady just wanted to meet you sooner. There’s nothing else. She also said that if you’re busy, you don’t have to come.”

How could Kuangchi possibly refuse? Who knew what might happen if he made her come looking for him herself. What if, just as Yudu joked, she decided to give him a beating? He hadn’t even reached the fourth level of the Furious Dragon Art yet, nor had he learned any martial techniques. How could he possibly stand up to a level-three warrior?

Hurriedly, Kuangchi replied, “No, no, it’s fine. I’d actually like to pay my respects to your lady myself.”

But his expression was so comical that not only the maid but also Youjian and the other attendants burst out laughing.

In truth, though Kuangchi was chubby, he wasn’t ugly at all. With his youthful features, he looked rather adorable.

When Kuangchi reached the entrance of his fiancée’s quarters, it suddenly struck him—he didn’t even know her name.

Distraught, he pulled Youjian aside and whispered, “Jian’er, I don’t even know my fiancée’s name.”

Youjian was startled. “Young master, haven’t Madam and the head of the family told you?”

“If they had, why would I be asking you?” Kuangchi grumbled, annoyed.

Youjian hastily answered, “I’ve heard that the young mistress’s surname is Zi and her given name is Xia.”

“Zi Xia…” Kuangchi repeated, then said, “It’s a lovely name.”

This made Youjian laugh again.

Kuangchi couldn’t be bothered to argue with her and hurried into the open doors.

The main residence of the Kuang family was a tower several hundred meters tall, its many rooms divided into different zones. Some doors led to just a few rooms, while others opened onto entire connected suites—like the area where Kuangchi lived, which spanned seven floors and over a hundred rooms.

After walking down a short corridor, Kuangchi finally entered a hall. The moment he stepped inside, he saw a dozen or so people, but his attention was instantly captured by the woman at the very front.

Standing quietly at the head of the group was a young woman dressed in a flowing violet robe, her slender waist cinched by a jade belt of the same hue. Hanging from it was a half-meter-long antique short sword, also violet.

These days, warriors all used energy weapons—when not in use, they were little more than a hilt at the waist. Full-metal weapons like this one were considered antiques, relics of a bygone era, no match for the destructive power of modern energy blades. At noble gatherings steeped in tradition, it was still customary to wear a replica of an ancient sword as part of formal dress.

Yet what truly puzzled Kuangchi was the moment he entered the room, he felt the energy in his left arm begin to stir restlessly—a stark contrast from its usual dormancy. Normally, the energy mass in his left arm barely reacted to anything, even when he practiced the Furious Dragon Art. At most, it would ripple faintly on the surface, never surge like this. The sensation didn’t last long, and Kuangchi quickly put it out of his mind.

He forgot all about it, utterly transfixed by the violet-robed young woman before him.

She noticed him staring, mouth agape, and couldn’t help but laugh. Kuangchi snapped out of his daze, hastily wiping the drool from his lips, and said, “You must be Miss Zi Xia. I’m Kuangchi—pleased to meet you.”

Now self-conscious, Kuangchi forced a smile, trying to compose himself.

She gestured for him to sit and took a seat herself.

Kuangchi, feeling awkward, managed to shuffle to the indicated spot. His caution only made the violet-robed woman laugh again. After a moment, she said, “Kuangchi, is it that you don’t want to meet me?”

Kuangchi quickly shook his head. “No, not at all. My mother told me to come see you this morning. I was just about to head over when your maid arrived first.”

She smiled, waving her hand. Instantly, everyone else in the hall dispersed—even Youjian and the others slipped out without waiting for Kuangchi’s word.

Left alone, Kuangchi grew even more anxious. The woman studied him for a long time before finally saying, “Chubby, are you uncomfortable sitting here?”

He nodded involuntarily, then caught himself and shook his head. “No, no, not at all.”

She burst out laughing. After a while, she managed to say, “Chubby, do you think I’m fierce?”

Kuangchi thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Then why do you seem so afraid of me?” she asked suddenly, her tone turning cold.

At once, Kuangchi felt his heart race; cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

She pressed on, “Why are you so afraid of me?”

He had no choice but to answer honestly. “They all say you have a bad temper…”

At that, she grew indignant. “Have I lost my temper with you? I haven’t, so how do you know I have a bad temper? Who told you that? I’ll go have a word with them!”

Seeing her so enraged, Kuangchi dared not reveal that it was his maids who’d told him. He could only reply, “It was my grandfather. He said you have a bad temper and that I should be careful not to upset you.”

Sure enough, invoking such an authority calmed her at once. Muttering darkly to herself, she finally said, “Alright, don’t be like this. I’m not going to eat you. As long as you don’t do anything annoying, I won’t lose my temper.”

Kuangchi nodded at once.

He ended up spending the whole morning with Zi Xia, only leaving after lunch when she let him go. They spent their time chatting, mostly about Kuangchi’s training. It seemed she was genuinely concerned about his cultivation.

On the way back to his quarters, Yudu asked curiously, “Young master, Miss Zi Xia didn’t scold you, did she?”

Kuangchi shot her a fierce glare. “Duyu, who told you Zi Xia has a bad temper? I actually think she’s very pleasant.”

Yudu looked at him oddly. “Really? That can’t be right—her temper is notorious! She’s famous all over the planet. There are countless noble sons on Luobos who’ve been scolded by her.”

Kuangchi ignored her and went home, where he happened to run into his mother waiting for him. After telling her about the morning, she finally left.

That evening, Kuangchi’s grandfather hosted a welcome banquet for Zi Xia. Kuangchi, feeling awkward, met his various uncles and aunts, other relatives, and some officials and merchants from Kuangzhan Planet, all alongside Zi Xia and his grandfather.

Throughout the banquet, Kuangchi hardly spoke except for a word or two with Zi Xia.

After greeting the guests, he fled to a small lounge. Not long after, Zi Xia followed him in.

She sat beside him on the sofa, smiling. “Chubby, what’s wrong? Why are you hiding in here?”

Forcing a bitter smile, Kuangchi replied, “I think they’re all laughing at me. They didn’t say anything, but I could tell from the way they looked at me. They look down on me.”

Zi Xia laughed, taking his left hand in hers. “It’s not like that. You’re overthinking things. Come on, let’s go back out. Even if they do think that, let them—who cares? Do you understand?”

Kuangchi could only nod and follow her out of the lounge. His parents, watching from the sidelines, beamed with joy, while many others wore looks of puzzled amazement.