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"So… that means Tailless has been sealed away?"
It wasn't in her daughter's hands, nor her husband's—Mrs. Hoshimi assumed the sword must have been sealed.
"No!"
However, Miyabi gave a firm denial. "Tailless is with my fiancé. He plans to reforge Tailless, neutralize it, and then it will serve as a weapon for… for our children."
When she said "our children," Miyabi's face visibly flushed.
"What!? Fiancé!!!!???"
Mrs. Hoshimi was shocked yet again—she had lost count of how many times today. Thankfully, the golden pill Arden gave her was strong enough, or she might have fainted from the emotional surge.
No wonder she was so surprised. Her grown daughter was getting married, and she, as a mother, hadn't even agreed yet.
"Mm… Mother, don't worry about me. Arden is a really good person…"
Miyabi explained why she was engaged to Arden Xu.
First, there was the little note Mrs. Hoshimi had in her hand before falling unconscious—a gesture of repaying a debt. Then there was the medicinal pill that Arden personally crafted to save Mrs. Hoshimi, plus the skills of Daoist Arden, and most importantly… Miyabi didn't oppose being with Arden.
Of course, she kept secret the part where Arden had engineered her to swallow the "betrothal gift." She didn't want even the slightest bad impression of him to reach her mother.
"Daoist Arden really is an exceptional person, isn't he?"
"Ahh, I wake up, and my daughter is already getting married."
Hearing that Arden was such an outstanding man, Mrs. Hoshimi's shock turned into relief. She could also sense her daughter's love for him, though she still had one question.
"By the way, can a Daoist even marry?"
"Hmph! Not only can they, they can take multiple wives too."
At this moment, the ever-silent Souichirou spoke up, sounding somewhat resentful.
After all, his daughter had privately committed herself to that brat, and now they were talking about marriage—only then did he realize his little girl was flying out of his hands.
In truth, Souichirou was quite satisfied with Arden. After all, a hero who saved New Eridu paired with the youngest Void Hunter in New Eridu was a perfect match, and with the Hoshimi family and Yunkui Summit being socially compatible, plus the "repayment" factor, it was ideal.
The only thing Souichirou couldn't help but feel… was a twinge of envy (or rather, discontent) that Arden already had four wives.
"Multiple wives? Tell me more!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Hoshimi became serious as well.
After all, the Hoshimi family was a prominent household—they couldn't appear subordinate or let their daughter be wronged.
...
"Phew… so that's how it is."
With Miyabi's explanation and her earnest praise of Arden, Mrs. Hoshimi reluctantly accepted—or rather, recognized—the reality.
Miyabi wouldn't be slighted; her future husband Arden possessed privileges granted by the mayor and could legally take multiple wives. It wasn't unfair to her daughter.
"As long as you like him, Daughter, Mother won't oppose."
Mrs. Hoshimi's greatest opposition was to political marriages. If Miyabi liked someone, everything else could be overlooked.
"By the way, Miyabi, when are you bringing him home for Mother to meet? The sooner, the better!"
It was only natural for a mother to want to see her future son-in-law.
Besides, only by meeting him in person could Mrs. Hoshimi fully trust Arden.
It was a strange mindset—on one hand, she still subconsciously thought her daughter was a little girl, but in reality, Miyabi was already a poised young woman.
It was like arranging a childhood engagement for a seven- or eight-year-old, and suddenly the girl was about to be married—strange, yet thrilling.
"Honey, don't get too excited. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet—rest for a few days first. Arden can't run away from Yunkui Summit. Once you're ready, meeting him won't violate any Hoshimi family etiquette."
Souichirou advised.
In fact, he had only met Arden briefly, not formally, and had never discussed an official wedding.
"Right! He's already given the first gift… Soon I'll be a mother-in-law too, so I should prepare a proper greeting gift for the son-in-law, and also… also…"
Mrs. Hoshimi tapped her own head, choosing to follow her husband's plan: rest for a few days, prepare a gift, then meet her future son-in-law, Arden Xu.
This is perfect!
Seeing her mother's anticipation to meet Arden, Miyabi smiled and felt her tension release.
She had been worried her mother might dislike Arden and oppose the marriage.
Previously, she hadn't formally introduced Arden to her father, fearing he might reject him. But now seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring Arden home to meet her parents.
Just imagining herself, Arden, her father, and her mother all together, enjoying each other's company, Miyabi felt happiness overwhelming her.
By the way, I wonder what Arden is doing right now…
Thinking of this, Miyabi immediately sent Arden the good news about her parents' readiness to meet him and told him to prepare.
"Mm… Meet my future father- and mother-in-law? I better prepare properly."
Upon receiving Miyabi's message, Arden grew inexplicably nervous. "But… how should I prepare?"
Honestly, Arden had lived two lives and already had four wives, but this was his first time formally meeting in-laws.
After all, none of Yixuan, Ju Fufu, Sweety, Yiji, nor Arden himself had living parents.
...
The next morning.
A corridor in the Hoshimi household.
Souichirou and Miyabi sat kneeling on zabutons before a low square table, laid out with traditional Hoshimi breakfast: thin porridge, miso soup, salted fish, natto, and so on.
The porridge and soup still steamed, but the father-daughter pair hadn't just arrived at their mother's door that morning—they had kept watch all night.
Occasionally, Miyabi would press her fox ears against the door to listen, then resume sitting properly once she heard steady breathing, as if afraid the person inside might suddenly vanish.
In fact, Mrs. Hoshimi hadn't gone anywhere. After a simple meal, whether from dizziness or her body just recovering, she said she was a bit tired and wanted to rest in her room.
But her father and daughter didn't trust her to be alone and didn't want to disturb her rest, so they kept watch outside the door.
And that watch lasted all night.
Sizzle… Miyabi, your mother… has she really woken up?
Souichirou lifted his tea cup and took a sip, then set it down. He seemed to be smiling, but the smile was more awkward than his crying.
After a whole night, exhaustion was inevitable, yet Souichirou's spirit remained high.
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