Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 124 Why are you forcing me?

Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence, Madam Zhao also summoned Zhao Yan.

"Yan'er, you're almost seventeen, aren't you? Oh my, you've grown into a beautiful young lady in the blink of an eye. You're at the age where you should be thinking about marriage."

"Auntie, what are you saying? I'm still very young."

"Still young? Do you know how many families in Wuzhen want me to be their matchmaker? How many talented young men have their eyes on you? It's time to start thinking about marriage!"

"Auntie, are you serious?"

Zhao Yan was completely stunned. She had never considered this matter at all. However, at this moment, the first and only figure that came to mind was Ji Cheng.

"Of course I'm serious. Your mother passed away early, and your father turned out like that. If your aunt doesn't take care of your marriage, who will?"

Madam Zhao took Zhao Yan's hand, sat down on the edge of the bed and talked to her, treating her like her own daughter.

Zhao Yan paused for a moment, then thought about it and realized that what her aunt said made sense. At her age, it was time for her to consider marriage.

Back then, her eldest sister got married even earlier, at the age of sixteen, and married into Zishui City. At that time, it was her aunt who acted as matchmaker and helped with the arrangements.

"Yan'er, listen to what the old lady is saying about these promising young men. See if there are any that catch your eye?"

"First, there's Hunter Yang's son, Yang Changgui, who just turned twenty this year..."

"Oh dear, ma'am, that hunter Yang's son is blind in one eye!"

"Alright, alright, let's look at the second one, Liu Hongshun from the Liu family, what do you think?"

"No, ma'am, Liu Hongshun is as black as coal!"

"Wu Chun of the Wu family, Yan'er, do you find him suitable?"

"That Wu Chun is as skinny as a monkey, I could kill him with one punch!"

"That Ah Niu from the Niu Family Martial Arts School?"

"That Ah Niu is an idiot!"

"Qian Xuefu from the Qian family?"

"Auntie, that's a cripple! Oh dear, what kind of people are you introducing me to?!"

Madam Zhao deliberately mentioned a few candidates, which angered Zhao Yan so much that she stomped her feet and didn't want to listen anymore.

She stood up, opened the door, and was about to step out when Madam Zhao suddenly called out a name: "Tu Ergou?"

Zhao Yan stopped in her tracks, secretly delighted, as she had been waiting for Madam Zhao to mention this name.

However, to everyone's surprise, Madam Zhao immediately shook her head and said, "No, no, Tu Ergou's family is too poor, he is not good enough for my Yan'er!"

Zhao Yan turned around angrily and asked, "Auntie, why is Er Gou not good enough for me?"

“Ergou... Oh, Yan’er, look, his parents are gone, and there are no uncles or other relatives in his family who can take charge. First, he can’t afford a decent dowry, and second, you won’t even have a place to live if you marry him. How is he worthy of you?”

Madam Zhao deliberately belittled Ji Cheng to the point of worthlessness in order to test Zhao Yan's feelings.

As expected, Zhao Yan disagreed with her remarks and spoke up in defense of Ji Cheng, saying, "Auntie, your view is too short-sighted. Although Er Gou has nothing now, he is a martial arts genius with unlimited potential. I believe he will definitely make a name for himself in the future. I advise you not to underestimate a young man's potential!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao smiled like an aunt and asked, "Yan'er, according to you, you're willing to marry that Tu Ergou?"

Zhao Yan was stunned for a moment, then realized she had been tricked. She stomped her foot hard, covered her face with her hands in embarrassment, and ran out of the room.

……

Cui family.

Ji Cheng was not a coy person.

To be precise, he is not human.

He made no attempt to hide his feelings for Zhao Yan. To be honest, this was the first time in both his lives that a girl had treated him so well.

Moreover, Zhao Yan was exceptionally good to him; she often sided with outsiders, which infuriated Master Zhao.

If anyone asks, Ji Cheng is willing to respond to her kindness openly and honestly.

However, when it came to marriage, Ji Cheng had other concerns. First, he was a chicken demon, and second, he was currently too weak to protect Zhao Yan.

"Uncle Cui, I know what Zhao Yan thinks of me. Of course, I want to marry her, but as you know, I will be joining the Demon Forging Sect in the future. What I'm worried about is that if I make enemies outside, it might implicate Zhao Yan."

For Ji Cheng, his wife and children are his weaknesses. The enemy can't do anything about him, but what if they turn their attention to his wife and children?
Therefore, before he becomes powerful enough, Ji Cheng prefers to remain alone to avoid implicating his close relatives.

Only when you are all alone can you be truly invincible.

"Ergou, you can't say that. There's always someone stronger, and there's always someone more capable than you. Tell me, what level of cultivation do you need to reach to be considered strong enough to protect your loved ones?"

Cui Sheng earnestly advised, "You are just too obsessed with martial arts. According to your thinking, shouldn't martial artists like us who have practiced for many years and only reached the initial stage of internal strength get married and have children?"

"Everyone says that you should start a family and then a career. Why not start a career first and then start a family? To put it bluntly, you are obsessed with martial arts now. By the time you reach our unattainable level, and look back, Zhao Yan will have already aged and lost her beauty. You will have waited for most of your life. Do you think you will have any regrets when you finally marry her?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Cheng was both amused and exasperated; he was completely speechless. This scene was just like the elders pressuring him to get married in his past life.

Of course, Cui Sheng's words made some sense, but his position and perspective on the matter were different from Ji Cheng's.

"Uncle Cui, I still think it's too hasty to discuss my marriage with Zhao Yan right now," Ji Cheng said, indicating that he wasn't ready yet.

Cui Sheng sighed, understanding Ji Cheng's attitude, and he couldn't offer any more advice.

Afterwards, he went to the Zhao residence and conveyed Ji Cheng's message to Master Zhao and Second Master Zhao: "Er Gou is wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao..."

Master Zhao and Second Master Zhao looked at each other, never expecting that Yan'er would agree while Tu Ergou would refuse.

How... how am I supposed to explain this to Yan'er?

In the boudoir.

Zhao Yan sat on the edge of the bed, happily swinging her legs.

She was overjoyed and full of anticipation. After leaving Madam Zhao's room, all she could imagine was Ji Cheng proposing to her, the two of them getting married and having a wedding ceremony.

But she waited for a long time without any further news, and she became anxious, so she prepared to go to see Madam Zhao.

Just then, Madam Zhao knocked and entered, gently patting Zhao Yan's head with some tenderness, and said softly, "Yan'er, Er Gou... sigh, that silly boy, he's a martial arts fanatic just like your older brother..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan felt a buzzing sound, and her mind went completely blank.

After a while, she came to her senses, and two lines of tears had already appeared on her face. Madam Zhao held her in her arms with heartache, patting her back gently and comforting her.

Zhao Yan nestled in Madam Zhao's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her voice trembling with tears, she asked, "Auntie, does Er Gou not want to marry me? Did you hear him say that to himself?"

She couldn't believe it; she couldn't believe that Er Gou didn't want to marry her.

Madam Zhao also shed tears and relayed Cui Sheng and Ji Cheng's conversation to Zhao Yan, comforting her, "Yan'er, Er Gou is afraid he can't protect you. He's afraid that enemies will come to persecute you in the future."

"Auntie, but I'm not afraid!"

Zhao Yan cried her heart out.

After crying for a while, she suddenly stood up, as if she had made up her mind.

Madam Zhao quickly asked, "Yan'er, what are you doing?"

"Auntie, I'm going to find Er Gou and ask him directly. I need to hear him say he doesn't like me before I can give up!"

Zhao Yan wiped away her tears; she wouldn't be satisfied until she got to the bottom of it herself.

Madam Zhao called out several times, but couldn't stop Zhao Yan.

Soon, Zhao Yan arrived at the Cui family's house. When Ji Cheng opened the door, he saw Zhao Yan's eyes, which were red and swollen from crying.

The two stared at each other for a long time without saying a word. Suddenly, Zhao Yan's tears started flowing like a burst dam.

Ji Cheng was at a loss for words, but Zhao Yan went straight to the point, crying as she asked, "Why don't you want to marry me?"

To be honest, there aren't many women in this world as brave as Zhao Yan, which may be related to the personality she developed through martial arts training.

Ji Cheng calmly expressed his attitude: he actually wanted to marry Zhao Yan, but he was worried that he was too weak to protect her.

"I'm not afraid, even if I die!" Zhao Yan wiped away her tears and shouted, "As long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid of anything!"

Her boldness made Ji Cheng seem like a coward.

However, Ji Cheng knew that she was impulsive and carried away at the moment, and what she said was emotional and completely irrational.

But Ji Cheng was still deeply moved by the feelings conveyed by Zhao Yan.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "You know I won't stay in Wuzhen forever."

"Wherever you go, I'll go. I'll follow you wherever you go. I'm like a chicken following its rooster, or a dog following its dog. I, Zhao Yan, can endure any hardship, and I'm not afraid of anything!"

Zhao Yan wiped her nose, her tone extremely resolute.

"I have a secret, and I'm afraid you'll be captured and have your soul searched."

"If I am caught, I will commit suicide before my soul is searched!"

"I have a secret I haven't told you. Once you find out, you definitely won't be able to accept it."

"You're not me, so what gives you the right to assume I can't accept this?"

The two stared at each other, Zhao Yan refusing to budge an inch, her stubbornness leaving Ji Cheng feeling utterly helpless.

Ji Cheng looked up at the sky and sighed, "Oh dear, why are you forcing me?"

He pulled Zhao Yan into the house, first calming her down and helping her to calm down.

Then Ji Cheng said, "How about this, Zhao Yan, if your mind hasn't changed by the time I leave Wuzhen, I will tell you my secret. If you are still willing to follow me wherever I go, then come with me."

Zhao Yan stopped crying, but her eyes were still red and swollen. She glanced at Ji Cheng and said with unwavering determination, "I won't change my mind. Don't underestimate me!"

Ji Cheng smiled and exclaimed, "Okay, okay, let's agree to this then?"
Zhao Yan extended her little finger: "Pinky promise!"

Ji Cheng was both amused and exasperated. He made a pinky promise with her and coaxed her for a while before Zhao Yan finally stopped crying and started laughing.

(End of this chapter)