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"Dad… Mom… actually, Arden is a very devoted person…"
Miyabi also spoke up in Arden's defense.
Over the past few days, she had interacted with Ju Fufu, Yixuan, and the others, and she understood why they had chosen to marry Arden.
Putting herself in their shoes, Miyabi realized that if she were one of Arden's other four wives, she likely would have made the same decision.
"Big Sister Fufu and Arden relied on each other for survival… Yixuan Shifu…"
Miyabi recounted what she knew, along with her own thoughts.
After listening to Miyabi and Arden's explanations and heartfelt sincerity, Madam Hoshimi and Souichirou exchanged a glance.
If what they said was true, then leaving out any one of them would indeed be inappropriate.
No wonder Arden asked the Mayor for that particular privilege. ×2
A lingering mystery was finally solved.
"Marrying multiple wives is your right—and something you earned. We won't interfere excessively in that matter."
Madam Hoshimi stood and walked over to Arden, helping him up. "You're a good child. We only hope you'll keep your word and never let Miyabi down."
Truthfully, if Arden had married Miyabi first and then taken other wives, it could be called fickle. But in reality, he had married first—Miyabi was the later one. Under those circumstances, certain criticisms would be inappropriate.
"I swear before the Three Pure Ones—if I ever betray Miyabi, may heaven strike me down with fivefold lightning!"
As a cultivator, swearing before the Three Pure Ones carried immense weight.
Miyabi and her parents said nothing, but judging by their smiles, they were satisfied—and had accepted Arden's "three wives and four concubines."
Whew…
Including Miyabi, seeing how understanding her parents were, Arden felt immense relief.
The hardest hurdle had passed. The rest no longer mattered. His relationship with Miyabi was now firmly settled.
After that, Madam Hoshimi and Souichirou asked Arden a few more questions.
Compared to the earlier "interrogation," this round was far more relaxed.
Questions like what he liked to eat, what kind of Daoist arts Yunkui Summit practiced, and topics such as Divination.
Madam Hoshimi even brought up Suibian Film & Television.
"I heard Suibian Film & Media is operated by Yunkui Summit?"
"That's correct."
"Then… the animated series currently airing, Gunblade Online—you must know it well, yes?"
While recuperating, Madam Hoshimi had watched quite a bit of television. One series in particular, Gunblade Online, had greatly piqued her interest.
"Of course."
Arden was slightly puzzled. If she was interested, she could simply watch it—after all, it aired every evening at 8 PM during prime time.
"Then… dear son-in-law, could you tell me how Kirito and Asuna end up?" she asked, scooting closer and lowering her voice.
So, she couldn't wait for the plot and wanted spoilers from me!
Arden was momentarily speechless.
In the animation, Gunblade Online was a combat-themed fully immersive game, similar to the VR simulated combat system promoted by the Hollow Investigative Association.
The male lead Kirito (voiced by Arden) and the female lead Asuna (voiced by Astra Yao) encountered an accident while playing, trapping their consciousness inside the game.
To return to reality, they had to clear all 100 floors of Aincrad.
The story followed their adventures through the tower—touching on family, friendship, and love.
Incidentally, the animation was adapted from a true story.
Madam Hoshimi wanted to know whether the protagonists ultimately returned to the real world.
"I do know—but please don't spread it around."
"Mhm, mhm."
Madam Hoshimi nodded like a little girl.
"I'll tell you… it's a perfect, happy ending."
Arden disliked tragedies. Besides, one major goal of the production had been to reshape his public image, so the ending had to be wholesome and complete.
"Then how did they escape? Did they clear the 100th floor?"
"Not exactly."
Arden shook his head.
"Then how did they return to reality?" Madam Hoshimi pressed on eagerly.
"You guess."
With that, Arden flashed a sly grin.
He had accidentally used one of his old flirting tricks.
"Arden~!"
Miyabi jabbed him in the waist.
"Ow—!"
He yelped instantly.
Is pinching the soft flesh at the waist an innate female skill or something?
First Ju Fufu had done it. Then Yiji. Then Yixuan and Sweety. And now Miyabi.
…
Not only Miyabi—Madam Hoshimi shot him a sharp look as well.
Things had gotten warm enough that he dared tease his mother-in-law.
"Ahem."
Arden coughed and straightened up. "They didn't clear the 100th floor. Following the enemy's rules step by step would be boring."
"Then…?"
Not only Madam Hoshimi—even Miyabi and Souichirou were now thoroughly intrigued.
Arden had a feeling that if he didn't explain clearly, he might not leave this house today.
"It's simple. The protagonist figured out the game's mechanics, then used his extensive scientific knowledge to construct an atomic bomb within the game world. And then…"
He spread his arms outward in a wide arc.
"With a boom… Aincrad and the mastermind behind it were blasted sky-high beneath a rising mushroom cloud!"
"Ah?"
"Oh!"
"This…"
The utterly unexpected resolution left the three of them wearing strange expressions.
Which was precisely why the show was called Gunblade Online—and not Sword Art Online.
Knock knock~!
Miyabi lightly tapped Arden's head, as if trying to determine what color brain matter was inside.
"Hey, stop that."
Arden caught her small hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm just the voice actor. The script isn't up to me."
He offered his defense.
"By the way, Arden! My parents haven't seen you fight yet. How about we spar in the dojo?"
Miyabi changed the topic.
She felt that discussing anime at a meeting with her parents wasn't quite appropriate. It would be better to showcase her husband instead.
Is this some kind of martial-arts marriage trial?
Arden grumbled inwardly.
"How do you want to spar?"
He had no fear of a duel.
"Swordplay. How about it?"
She patted the Sword of Red Heaven hanging at her waist.
She had one. Arden had one as well.
"Fine. But a simple duel is boring. Shall we add a wager?"
Pure swordplay—he admitted he might not win. But even so, he didn't intend to lose out.
"What wager?"
"If I lose, you kiss me. If you lose, I kiss you. Deal?"
"Very well. Then I'll collect the reward in advance."
Before Arden could react, Miyabi's lips were already pressed against his cheek.
…
Madam Hoshimi and Souichirou watched the scene unfold, both feeling a faint twinge of jealousy.
Our daughter has truly grown up. ×2
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