Chapter 4: The Proposal
The Luo Clan's temporary camp smelled like defeat.
Tattered tents. Wounded cultivators. Children with hollow eyes. The kind of desperation that made people do stupid things.
Perfect.
I walked through their perimeter. Two guards at the entrance—Qi Condensation realm, exhausted. They raised spears halfheartedly.
"State your business," one said. Young. Barely twenty.
"I seek audience with Luo Yunshang. I have a proposal that benefits both parties."
They exchanged glances. Suspicious but curious.
"Wait here."
One disappeared into the largest tent. The other kept his spear pointed at my chest.
I waited. Adjusted my stolen noble robes. Made sure the spatial ring was visible on my finger—proof of wealth.
Soul Perception swept the camp while I stood there. Thirty-seven survivors total. Ten cultivators at Foundation Establishment or above. The rest servants, children, the elderly.
And one concealed presenceâ€"powerful, hidden, watching from a tent's shadow.
Zhuo Fan. Has to be.
The guard returned. "The Mistress will see you. Follow."
Inside the Command Tent
Luo Yunshang sat behind a makeshift desk. Twenty-two years old, beautiful despite exhaustion. Cold eyes that had seen too much death.
Three elders flanked her. Old men in damaged robes, cultivation bases weakened by recent battles.
"You requested audience," Yunshang said. Voice like winter. "Speak."
I bowed. Respectful but not subservient. "My name is Adam Walker. I'm a wandering cultivator seeking... roots."
"Roots." Elder Bai, the leftmost elder, sneered. "Wandering cultivators don't seek roots. They seek profit."
"I seek both."
Yunshang leaned forward. "What do you want?"
Direct. Good.
"Marriage into your clan," I said plainly. "A political alliance sealed by contract."
Silence.
Then Elder Wu laughed. Bitter sound. "Marriage? To our Mistress? You mock us."
"I offer resources in exchange for legitimacy. You provide family structure. Mutual benefit."
"What resources could you possibly—"
I placed the stolen cultivation manual on the desk. The Demonic technique I'd copied from a mid-boss enemy in loop #15.
Their eyes widened.
Then I emptied half my spatial ring's contents. Fifty spirit stones—mixed grades, all stolen. Eight Foundation Establishment pills. A defensive talisman. Three rare herbs.
The tent went silent.
"This is..." Elder Feng whispered. "This is enough to—"
"—rebuild," I finished. "Partially. I have more. But only for family."
Yunshang stared at the resources. Then at me.
"Why?" she asked. "What do you truly want?"
Smart question.
"I have wealth but no foundation," I said. Half-truth. "No family name. No territorial rights. You have lineage but no resources. I'm offering a trade."
"Nobody gives this freely," Elder Bai said. "What's the trap?"
"No trap. I want to see this clan become powerful again. I have... particular cultivation needs that require a strong family structure."
Vague enough to be mysterious. True enough regarding Ancestral Bond.
Yunshang studied me. Those cold eyes dissecting every micro-expression.
"You said marriage. To me specifically?"
"You're the clan mistress. A contract marriage seals the alliance properly."
"And you expect what from this marriage?"
"Political legitimacy. Family membership. Nothing... personal."
Her expression didn't change. "I don't trust you."
"I don't expect you to. But can you afford to refuse?"
The question hung in the air.
Because we both knew the answer.
Elder Wu stood. "This is insanity. We know nothing about him—"
"We know he has resources we desperately need," Yunshang cut him off. "The Cai Family hunts us. Imperial authorities won't intervene. We have weeks at most before we're destroyed."
"But marriage—"
"A contract marriage," she clarified. "Political only. With safeguards."
She looked at me. "The Blood Binding Seal. You accept it?"
The magical contract that should ensure loyalty and obedience.
It won't work on me. EX-Rank ability bypasses normal bindings.
"I accept," I said smoothly.
More discussion. The elders argued. Yunshang remained calm, calculating odds.
Two hours of negotiation.
Finally, she made the decision.
"We accept your proposal. Marriage contract, sealed by Blood Binding. You provide resources. We provide legitimacy and territorial rights."
"Agreed."
"The ceremony is tomorrow. After that, you're Luo Clan. Which means their enemies become your enemies."
"Understood."
She stood. Extended her hand.
I took it. Her grip was firm. Cold.
"Don't make me regret this, Adam Walker."
"I'll try not to."
Outside the Tent. Dusk.
I walked through the camp. Luo Clan members watched with mixed expressions. Hope. Suspicion. Desperation.
Soul Perception detected the concealed presence following me.
I turned a corner. Stopped.
"You can come out, Zhuo Fan."
Silence. Then a figure emerged from shadow.
Servant's robes. Unassuming appearance. But the qi signature was massive—suppressed, concealed, but undeniable.
Core Formation realm. Hidden beneath a mortal facade.
The Demon Emperor himself.
We stared at each other.
"You're not a normal cultivator," he said quietly. "Your foundation is hollow. Your techniques are borrowed. Your aura is... wrong."
"And you're not a normal servant."
His eyes narrowed.
"We both have secrets," I continued. "Mine don't threaten the clan. Do yours?"
"I serve the Mistress. That's all that matters."
"Good. Then we have no conflict."
Lie. We'd have plenty of conflict. But not yet.
He stepped closer. Voice dropped to whisper.
"I'll be watching you. If you betray her—"
"You'll kill me. I know."
"And I'll make it permanent."
I smiled. Good luck with that.
"Noted."
He walked away. Disappeared into the camp.
I stood alone in the twilight.
Tomorrow, the marriage ceremony. The Blood Binding Seal that wouldn't work. The Ancestral Bond activation.
Everything was falling into place.
Thirteen deaths. Five skills. Enough stolen resources to buy credibility.
And now, a family to parasitize.
Phase one complete.
The game was just beginning.
That Night. My Assigned Tent.
Couldn't sleep. Not from nerves. From anticipation.
Tomorrow, the Ancestral Bond would activate. I'd be connected to the Luo Clan's power structure. Fifty percent of their Top 10's strength.
Currently, that meant almost nothing—they were pathetically weak.
But potential. That's what mattered.
I reviewed my mental notes:
Immediate Goals:
Survive the Blood Binding Seal failure Activate Ancestral Bond Begin strengthening the Top 10 Scout Cai Family threats Keep Zhuo Fan suspicious but cooperative
Long-term:
Grow clan power (grows my power) Prevent canon deaths (system warning was clear) Sabotage harem routes (keep Zhuo Fan focused) Farm techniques through strategic deaths Build genuine trust with Yunshang (for stability)
The lists grew. Plans within plans.
Outside, the camp settled into uneasy sleep.
Tomorrow, everything changed.
I'd transmigrated into a cultivation world with no ability to cultivate.
But I'd found a loophole.
Death and parasitism.
The only path available.
So I'll walk it.
One corpse at a time.
One manipulation at a time.
Until I'm untouchable.
Or dead.
Permanently.
Whichever comes first.