A Man's Pride

.....

While Bai Yunxiao And Shen Fantian were drinking the Dragon Vein Wine of the famous Dragon Emperor of Wushui, they discussed Xiao Ming's marriage. Not long after they sent for him, Xiao Ming suddenly appeared and immediately greeted both men courteously.

"Greetings Uncle Xiao! Greetings Uncle Tian!" Xiao Ming greeted with a slight kowtow to the two elders. Bai Yunxiao and Shen Fantian were pleased with this and urged him to get up with their hands.

"Common up! Young brat, your Uncle Tian's grand-daughter is soon to be your wife and you should be calling him Ancestral Father-in-law. If you keep calling him uncle, he might truly get pissed off and blow up your head" Bai Yunxiao joked heartily and smiled proudly inwards. Xiao Ming gave an apologetic smile as he gazed at the two elders who were spilling their wines due to laughter. Shen Fantian nodded in satisfaction as Xiao Ming gave an apologetic gesture.

"Pssh!"

For a moment, Shen Fantian ceased his laughter and assumed a sudden look of seriousness. He gazed at Xiao Ming through his eyes. His gaze seemed to see through all of Xiao Ming's soul and secrets. Xiao Ming felt slightly uncomfortable as he furrowed his brows wondering what Shen Fantian was up to. Initially, Shen Fantian had a slight frown but then he cast it aside and brushed it off with a hearty smile.

"Not bad Yunxiao, he's truly a jewel and a never before known existence. Strangely because not even myself as a Dao Master can see through this lad who is still yet a mortal. The heavens are truly glad with your Bai Clan." Shen Fantian could not help but flatter Bai Yunxiao. Bai Yunxiao struggled to contain his laughter and nodded with the most solemn expression he could muster.

"Little Ming has an astral destiny that just can't be read with measures from this little part of the word." Bai Yunxiao said in a grim tone with his forced 'solemn' expression.

"Yeah! That's actually correct. But this.... Wu'er has to still make a conscious choice for herself. If she remains headstrong, I'll promise things would not be difficult for Xiao Ming even later on." Shen Fantian replied with a serious expression with his gaze slowly fixing on Bai Yunxiao.

"Hmm... Fantian, her slightest resistance would surely fade like dust once Nephew Ming obtains his Sacred Meridians. If she has heavenly luck, she might benefit from his future prospects later on" Bai Yunxiao said with faint pride on Xiao Ming as he soothed himself with wine. Shen Fantian soon let go of his worried looks and returned to Bai Yunxiao's side. He downs another cup of wine and soon the repressive atmosphere disappears.

.....

On exiting, Xiao Ming followed Bai Qing's guidance to locate Shen Wu. They discussed like 'cousins' on the way with no hint of resentment. He sought for Bai Qing's advise on how to approach Shen Wu. Bai Qing reared back in laughter as he realized that the Young Master truly wasn't the flirtatious type and has hardly seen the woman he loved. Bai Qing left soon, after he gave Xiao Ming a few pointers and left him to his fate. He had some important things to do in the clan and could not afford to laze around like Xiao Ming.

While walking, Xiao Ming recited his mantra on starting a possible dialogue with the Shen Clan's noble phoenix. He also thought of measures to withstand Shen Wu's supposed Mortal Soul cultivation's aura....

Suddenly, something struck in his mind and he suddenly had a strong premonition to leave this place. He furrowed his brows and wondered where this strange voice that seemed to affect his will came from. His mantra ceased abruptly when after the first neglect, a blue glow struck towards his eyes. He immediately shielded his face and dropped them afterwards.

The blue light was Shen Wu's aura which had become powerful and could even lightly suppress both ancestors if they appeared. She released the light after her first failure to send her suitor, Xiao Ming, far away from her.

Xiao Ming had come across various auras from cultivators at the Dao Soul stages. He knew that not even Bai Qing, Bai Yunxiao or the Shen Clan's patriarch possessed an aura near this. Although coming from a woman, it had a domineering and unquestionable might. this was what the invincible Goddess Art brought, a strong pressure wave to suppress all enemies. Xiao Ming was not even a cultivator, if she were to careless to kill him, she would face the wrath of the Bai Clan.

Nevertheless, her aura was evidently more powerful than the Bai Clan's Ancestors. She could only do as she pleased since Dao Master Xuan was around her now. What made the aura even more terrifying was the presence of a tinge of holy divinity contained within. It was very faint but it was still a supreme existence and could never be suppressed. This made her like a proud and lonely moon hung up in the sky and not fondled with by mortal hands. She was trying to force Xiao Ming's pride down.

Who was she? She was Shen Wu, the Young Mistress of the almighty Shen Clan, a 'Mortal General' at barely sixteen years of age. She had lots of monstrous achievements he could only dream of. Besides she was comparable to the Seven Scions and Three Scionesses of the Blue Sky Province at her present age. She had a heaven-favored level of talent and could not be measured equally with her peers. She believed a mortal like Xiao Ming was not worth a spark of her love.

What Shen Wu did struck a blow to the pride of a man like Xiao Ming. His first impression of his fiancé was her silencing and dominating pressure. Normally, this would be right with two cultivators or two mortals. But she unleashed her aura knowing that he was a mortal, her intentions were clear in doing so. He knew she was testing his manly ego as she would not let him hand over the marriage token.

Both conceding and advancing was a grave injury on both sides. By advancing, he would bearing the pressure of an Half-Step Supreme Immortal, he could not leave unscathed unless a miracle played itself out. By conceding as well would hurt his heart and manly pride, causing him a psychological injury. he was in between the devil and the deep blue sea.

After a few minutes of hesitation, Xiao Ming walked over in large strides. His eyes shone with a cold glint as he looked over to meet Shen Wu's indifferent back view and swirling robes.

"No matter what, as long as a man lives, he can never back down from a woman. this is a man's pride!" Xiao Ming assured himself inwardly as he put on a fearless look.