A gentle silence settled over the ancestral hall.
Dozens of young women stood before William.
Each possessed remarkable talent.
Each carried herself with quiet confidence.
Although they had all answered Manuel's summons, none of them attempted to draw attention to herself. They simply stood with dignity, allowing William to observe them without pressure.
William's gaze slowly moved across the gathering.
The differences between them were immediately apparent.
The first few young women wore garments that left little to the imagination.
Their shoulders and most of their backs were uncovered, while the fabric around their waists and legs was deliberately minimal. Their clothing seemed designed to emphasize appearance above practicality, giving the impression that attracting attention had become part of their public image.
Others dressed only slightly more modestly.
Their robes still revealed their arms and portions of their legs, though their attire was somewhat more suitable for movement and cultivation.
Further down the line, the clothing gradually became more restrained.
Long sleeves replaced bare arms.
Flowing robes concealed the body's silhouette.
Elegant cloaks draped over simple garments, reflecting dignity rather than display.
Several young women wore layered ceremonial robes embroidered with the Evergreen Family's insignia, covering them from neck to ankle while allowing only their faces and hands to remain visible.
Then...
William's eyes stopped.
Standing quietly near the end of the line was a young woman unlike everyone else.
She was clothed entirely in white.
A long robe concealed her from neck to feet.
Loose sleeves hid her arms.
Gloves covered her hands.
A delicate veil descended from beneath her hood, concealing every trace of her face.
Nothing could be seen...
Except her eyes.
They were calm.
Clear.
Steady.
She neither sought attention nor avoided it.
She simply stood there with quiet confidence.
Her attire was a clear declaration of something she considered non-negotiable.
Her body don't belonged to someone who see him with a lustful and scrutinizing gaze
No stranger possessed the right to look upon it simply because they wished to.
It was not fear.
Nor weakness.
Nor insecurity.
It was conviction and choise
A statement that no one possessed the right to demand access to her appearance simply because she stood before them.
And William found that conviction far more striking than any outward display of beauty.
William remained motionless.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Without looking at anyone else...
He raised his hand.
"I choose her."
The entire hall fell silent.
Several elders exchanged surprised glances.
Even Andrew raised an eyebrow before smiling to himself.
Manuel looked toward the veiled young woman before turning back to William.
"You have made your decision quickly."
William nodded.
"There is no need to hesitate."
"I respect people who make choices according to their own convictions rather than the expectations of others."
He looked once more toward the young woman.
"She chose how she wished to present herself."
"And no one here tried to take that choice away from her."
"That alone tells me enough."
Manuel's smile broadened.
"It seems your judgment reaches further than talent."
He turned toward the young woman.
"Allow me to introduce her."
"Her name is Angela ."
William repeated the name quietly.
"Angela ..."
Manuel nodded proudly.
"She is one of the Evergreen Family's finest young geniuses."
"An exceptional cultivator of Ice."
"Her understanding of the element surpassed many elders while she was still very young."
Andrew listened with interest.
William remained silent.
Manuel continued.
"Many believed she would represent our family during the previous Cosmic Tournament."
He sighed softly.
"Unfortunately..."
"Personal prejudice from certain influential figures prevented that from happening."
"They considered her... unsuitable."
"We disagreed."
"But the selection ultimately lay beyond our authority."
Angela herself remained completely silent throughout the explanation.
She neither defended herself...
She don't complained.
It was as though the matter had long ceased to concern her.
Manuel smiled gently.
"Despite that..."
"She has never stopped cultivating."
"And she remains among the greatest hopes of our family."
He then looked toward Angela
"My daughter ..."
"What is your answer?"
For the first time...
ANGELA spoke.
Her voice was soft.
Calm.
Yet carried quiet certainty.
"I accept."
No hesitation.
No embarrassment.
No reluctance.
Only a simple answer.
William inclined his head respectfully.
"I look forward to walking this path together."
Angela returned the gesture.
Then...
She looked toward Manuel.
"If Patriarch permits..."
"I would like a private conversation with him before anything is finalized."
The old Patriarch smiled knowingly.
"Of course."
"A lifelong decision deserves an honest conversation."
He rose from his seat.
"So long as both of you agree..."
"...the Evergreen Family has no objections."
Andrew quietly chuckled as he watched the two young cultivators.
"It seems..."
"...the real introduction is only just beginning."
A servant quietly led William and Angela through the ancestral estate.
After a short walk...
They arrived at a peaceful pavilion overlooking a crystal-clear lake.
The sound of flowing water blended with the rustling leaves, creating an atmosphere far removed from the grandeur of the main hall.
The servant bowed respectfully before withdrawing.
Silence remained between them for several moments.
Neither seemed eager to rush the conversation.
Finally...
Angela was the first to speak.
"I requested this meeting because..."
"...if we are to spend our lives together, I would rather know the person than the reputation."
William nodded.
"A reasonable request."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I've heard countless stories about you."
"The champion of the Cosmic Tournament."
"The successor of an Eternal Body."
"The young man who defeated opponents no one believed could be defeated."
She paused briefly.
"But those stories tell me nothing about William."
"They only describe the image others have created."
"I'd like to know the person."
William remained silent for a moment before nodding.
"Ask whatever you wish."
Angela thought for a few seconds.
"What is your dream?"
William lowered his gaze toward the lake.
"I don't have one."
Angela blinked in surprise.
"You don't?"
He slowly shook his head.
"I once searched for one."
"For a long time."
"I failed."
His voice remained calm.
"There was a time when I believed protecting my family was enough."
"But..."
"My strength wasn't enough."
Silence settled between them.
"So now..."
"My only path is becoming stronger."
"Strong enough that I never experience that helplessness again."
Angela quietly listened.
"So your goal..."
"...is strength?"
William nodded.
"Not for pride."
"Not for fame."
"But because weakness has already taken too much from me."
She remained thoughtful before asking another question.
"What kind of person do you hope to become?"
William answered almost immediately.
"Someone who doesn't regret being powerless."
Angela slowly nodded.
"What about your cultivation?"
"What path have you chosen?"
"The Path of the Strongest."
There was no hesitation in his answer.
"I don't know where it will end."
"But I intend to walk it to its conclusion."
Angela smiled faintly.
"You answered honestly."
"I said I would."
She looked at him for another moment.
"One final question."
"What do you fear most?"
For the first time...
William did not answer immediately.
After several seconds...
He quietly replied,
"Losing the people who remain."
Angela lowered her eyes.
"I understand."
Silence returned.
Then William smiled slightly.
"My turn."
Angela nodded.
"I expected as much."
William leaned back slightly.
"You seem deeply attached to the Evergreen Family."
"You could have left."
"You certainly had the talent."
"So..."
"Why did you stay?"
Angela's eyes wandered across the distant mountains surrounding the estate.
"Because this place is home."
She smiled softly beneath her veil.
"Every tree here holds a memory."
"Every courtyard reminds me of someone."
"I learned to walk on these paths."
"I learned to cultivate beneath these skies."
"I buried loved ones in these mountains."
She looked back toward William.
"I've traveled."
"I've seen larger forces."
"More powerful sects."
"Greater academies."
"But nowhere ever felt like this."
"So I returned."
William quietly nodded.
"I can understand that."
He asked another question.
"What about your parents?"
For a brief moment...
A gentle warmth appeared in Angela's eyes.
"My father serves as one of the family's instructors."
"He isn't famous."
"But he's the person who taught me discipline."
"And my mother..."
"She is an herbalist."
"Most people know her only because she spends her days helping injured cultivators."
A faint laugh escaped her.
"She has never cared about status."
"Only about people."
William listened quietly.
"They're good people."
Angela nodded.
"They're the reason I became who I am."
William remained silent before asking another question.
"What kind of person is Patriarch Manuel?"
Angela's eyes brightened.
"He is..."
"...a surprisingly ordinary man."
William looked slightly curious.
She smiled.
"He remembers names."
"Birthdays."
"Family traditions."
"He visits children who are ill."
"He attends funerals personally."
"He listens before making decisions."
"Sometimes he's too forgiving."
"Sometimes he's stubborn."
"But..."
"I've never once doubted that every decision he makes is for this family's future."
William nodded thoughtfully.
"I can see why everyone respects him."
Angela smiled.
"They don't obey him because he's the Patriarch."
"They obey him because he earned that position."
Silence followed once more.
Finally...
William asked his last question.
"And me?"
Angela tilted her head slightly.
"What about you?"
"What do you expect from me?"
She remained quiet for several moments.
When she finally answered...
Her voice carried complete sincerity.
"I don't expect perfection."
"I don't expect constant attention."
"I don't expect you to abandon your path for my sake."
She gently folded her hands together.
"I only hope that whenever you stand before me you stand as yourself..."
"Not as the Champion."
"Not as the successor of an Eternal Body."
"Not as the future strongest cultivator."
"But simply..."
"...William."
The breeze gently stirred the surface of the lake.
For the first time since they had met...
A genuine smile appeared on William's face.
"I think..."
"...that's a promise I can keep."
For a while longer...
Neither of them spoke.
The silence between them no longer felt unfamiliar.
It felt comfortable.
Like the quiet beginning of something that neither of them wished to force... but were both willing to discover.