"Thank you for saving my life, Miss Leizu," Xuanyuan said immediately, bowing gratefully. "I will surely repay you one day!"
Leizu chuckled. "No need for 'one day.' You are already my West Ling Tribe's son-in-law!"
It turned out that the West Ling Tribe was a matriarchal society, where women were dominant and men were subordinate. Their customs differed from other tribes; when a woman fancied a man, she would simply carry him back to her room.
When Leizu carried Xuanyuan back, the tribespeople assumed he was Leizu's chosen mate. Many eligible maidens in the tribe were heartbroken, secretly weeping in their rooms. Leizu was a rare beauty and an unparalleled warrior in the tribe, the dream lover of many men. To see her carry a man back naturally caused sorrow and tears.
It was precisely this custom that made Leizu hesitate when she saw the unconscious Xuanyuan. However, having witnessed Xuanyuan's capabilities and finding him handsome, and with lives hanging in the balance, Leizu had no choice but to bring him back to the tribe.
Xuanyuan: "???"
Xuanyuan was greatly shocked. He had merely been rescued, and now he was apparently married! Although Leizu was very beautiful and he was attracted to her, wasn't this a bit too hasty?
Seeing Xuanyuan's astonished look, Leizu asked displeasedly, "What? Do you dislike me? You don't want to?"
Xuanyuan waved his hands repeatedly. "That's not what I meant. You are as beautiful as a flower; how could I not be moved? It's just... isn't this a bit too hasty?"
"Hasty? Let me tell you! No one our West Ling Tribe fancies has ever escaped us! My honor has been ruined because of you. If you don't marry me, I'll castrate you and ensure you can never be a man again!" Leizu said angrily, glaring at Xuanyuan.
Xuanyuan suddenly felt a cool breeze between his legs. He was still a young boy! He hadn't even experienced the joys of being a man, how could this happen? Were all the women in this tribe so formidable?
Xuanyuan never imagined that he would have such a fierce wife, who would later be able to keep his harem in check.
Xuanyuan smiled sheepishly. "You saved my life. It's not impossible for me to pledge myself to you. However, could I perhaps return to my tribe to prepare for our wedding?"
Leizu then realized she didn't even know which tribe Xuanyuan belonged to. "Right, which tribe are you from? And why were you alone in the depths of the mountains?"
Xuanyuan recounted his origins. Leizu knew of the Flying Bear Tribe; they were not far from hers. She personally escorted Xuanyuan back to the Flying Bear Tribe.
Xuanyuan understood that the customs of their tribes differed. Although he hadn't done anything, his situation was as Leizu described. Her honor had been ruined saving him, and he should take responsibility. However, Xuanyuan was not from the West Ling Tribe. He felt it beneath him to marry Leizu, fearing he would be a laughingstock among his own people. Therefore, Xuanyuan explained his tribe's customs to Leizu and stated that he could not marry her, but he could take her as his wife.
Leizu did not make things difficult for Xuanyuan upon hearing this. It was all similar anyway; whether she married Xuanyuan or Xuanyuan married her, they would be husband and wife.
Xuanyuan was relieved when Leizu agreed. This woman was terrifyingly strong. That giant tiger was formidable, yet Leizu turned it blind with just two arrows. Xuanyuan didn't believe her threat of castration was a joke.
As they journeyed towards the Flying Bear Tribe, they had to pass through the mountains, and Xuanyuan witnessed Leizu's prowess. While walking through the mountains, encountering fierce beasts was inevitable. Along the way, Xuanyuan had no chance to act; the beasts were dealt with by Leizu's arrows before they could even get close. Furthermore, Xuanyuan noticed that Leizu's bow and arrows seemed to be a spiritual treasure of merit.
This was the first time Xuanyuan had been protected. He used to protect others, but suddenly, this feeling of being protected was quite pleasant.
Upon returning to the Flying Bear Tribe, Xuanyuan informed the tribe leader about his situation with Leizu. The Flying Bear Tribe leader was overjoyed. Xuanyuan had been tutored by Taishang since he was young and was now twenty years old, considered a bachelor of considerable age within the tribe. Even without this incident, he would have been looking for a wife. Now that he had found someone he fancied, the leader naturally wouldn't object and instead began to choose an auspicious date for their wedding.
Xuanyuan's parents were also very happy to hear about his impending marriage. They were even more delighted when they saw how beautiful Leizu was. They began preparing gifts to propose marriage to the West Ling Tribe.
After Xuanyuan and Leizu rested for a night at the Flying Bear Tribe, the tribe leader arranged for people to accompany Xuanyuan to the West Ling Tribe to propose. They returned to the West Ling Tribe, and upon their arrival, Leizu's parents and the West Ling Tribe leader readily agreed. Although it differed from their tribal customs, they did not believe Leizu would be bullied, especially since Leizu herself consented to the marriage.
Just as Xuanyuan's proposal was completed, Nuwa of the Wa Huang Palace suddenly opened her eyes, looked in the direction of the West Ling Tribe, and murmured, "Human marriage!"
Meanwhile, in the Kunlun Mountains, Taishang awoke from his cultivation. He performed a calculation and then looked at Yuanshi and Tongtian. "Second and third brothers! Prepare gifts! The last of the three marriages, the human marriage, is about to occur!"
Yuanshi said nothing. Tongtian wailed, "Eldest brother! Did you miscalculate? How long has it been since the earthly marriage? How can the human marriage be here so soon? Where will I get the time to prepare gifts! Let's just empty the humans' pockets, I'll pass!"
Taishang and Yuanshi exchanged a look. Taishang said indifferently, "If you don't want to give one, then don't."
Tongtian's eyes lit up. "Really!"
Yuanshi said leisurely, "Third brother, if both Eldest Brother and I send gifts and you don't, will not all beings in the world say that the Sage of Shangqing is stingy?"
Tongtian's expression changed. He snorted, "Hmph, who's stingy? It's as if no one can afford it. We aren't that poor in our family, are we!"
Taishang and Yuanshi exchanged a look, both speechless at Tongtian. Taishang shook his head, looking at Tongtian, and said slowly, "Then you'd better prepare. The reputation of the Three Pure Ones rests entirely on you! If you are outshone by others, it might not look good."
Tongtian's expression shifted. He immediately rushed back to his Shangqing Palace in a frenzy. After Tongtian departed, Taishang and Yuanshi let out a sigh of relief. They looked at each other and smiled. "We can have some peace for a while!"