"What is the real motive?" Tony asked at last, his gaze fixed on Lily without the slightest attempt to mask his suspicion.
For a brief moment, Lily said nothing. She let out a soft sigh, her eyes drifting toward the lotus pond beside them, as if organizing her thoughts before deciding how much to reveal.
She finally spoke in a serious tone.
"Among the nine elders of my family, including my father, all of them have daughters," she began. "Only the Fifth Elder… has sons. Three of them."
Tony frowned slightly, not interrupting.
"As the world still bends toward patriarchy, my father's position is not as secure as it appears. When the time comes, one of the Fifth Elder's sons will naturally be pushed forward as the next head of the Frost family."
Tony narrowed his eyes slightly. "And marrying me changes that?" he asked, unable to see the connection.
Lily turned her head toward him. "You're only seeing the surface… Think deeper." she said.
"If I marry you… the alliance between the Frost family and the Clark family becomes something no one can ignore. My cultivation is already superior among the Frost family youth. As long as I have strong backing, no one will dare to push the Fifth Elder's sons above me."
She paused for a brief moment before adding, "More importantly, aside from the Fifth Elder, the rest of the elders already support my claim. What I lack… is a force strong enough to solidify it beyond doubt."
Her eyes locked onto his. "That force is your family."
Tony remained silent. Now it made sense.
The overenthusiastic welcome. The subtle tension among the elders. The frustration on the Fifth Elder's face.
Everything aligned.
"This marriage stabilizes both sides," Lily said calmly. "Your father secures your position as the Clark family's successor, and I secure mine within the Frost family. It is… mutually beneficial."
Tony's gaze drifted slightly, his mind processing everything she had said. On the surface, it was logical. Clean. Even reasonable.
But something still felt wrong. A faint unease lingered in his chest, refusing to fade.
'A Heaven-blessed individual… Five stars.' He remembered the system's words clearly.
Such people weren't bound by ordinary logic. Their paths were unpredictable, their fate overwhelming. Aligning with someone like her was not just an opportunity… it was a risk.
If he made a single wrong move, it wouldn't just affect him. It could destroy his entire family.
Tony exhaled slowly, his expression returning to calm.
Lily observed him quietly before speaking again. "What about you?" she asked. "You don't seem particularly excited about this marriage."
Her tone carried a hint of curiosity now.
"Most men would consider this an opportunity they could never refuse. Yet you… seem hesitant. By any chance you don't like my face?!"
Tony smiled faintly, masking the depth of his thoughts behind a calm exterior. "I'm not an idiot. You are truly a rare beauty. But I still have one small doubt," he said.
Lily raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh?"
Tony tilted his head, his gaze turning sharper. "What if I become stronger than you in future?" he said slowly. "What if I surpass you… control you… and eventually control your entire family?"
"Wouldn't that make your grand plan… meaningless?" His smile didn't fade as he waited for her response.
For a second, there was silence.
Then… Lily laughed. It wasn't loud… but it was clear. Soft… Like petals falling onto still water.
"You think too much," she said, shaking her head slightly. "And you think too highly of yourself."
Her gaze hardened just a fraction. "We've already investigated you thoroughly," she continued. "Your talent. Your behavior. Your… habits."
Tony's smile didn't change.
"I've even seen the way you treat your servants," she added calmly. "Through surveillance our family arranged. You may find that intrusive, but we don't take risks with something like this."
Tony didn't react.
"Tell me," she continued with an amused smile. "in a world filled with resources, how does someone like you remain stuck at the Twelfth Disciple Stage for so long?"
Her eyes locked onto his.
Tony was silent as he only laughed inside with an evil grin. He thought one day the time will come… she might be shocked to see him standing along side her. He decided to wait for that day.
"There is only one answer. You lack talent." Lily said bluntly.
"And even if you do improve," she added, "I will always remain ahead. My talent… my resources… my position… everything ensures that."
There was no arrogance in her tone. Only certainty… Absolute, unshaken confidence.
Tony listened quietly. 'Good… She underestimates me.' That thought settled comfortably in his mind.
A perfect shield… and a perfect weapon.
As long as she believed he was useless, he would always have the advantage of surprise.
Still… He didn't let his guard down.
Lily studied him for a moment longer before speaking again, her tone shifting slightly. "You're always lost in thought… Even while walking beside someone like me."
Don't overcomplicate things," she continued. "Whether you like this marriage or not doesn't matter much. You can live however you want."
Tony finally glanced at her with a hint of curiosity.
"Yes.. You can take concubines," she said calmly. "Have lovers. Build your own circle. I won't interfere. As long as the alliance stands, I don't care what you do."
Tony's smiled as he heard her nonchlant words.
"And in return," she added, "you will receive resources far beyond what you currently have. Wealth, techniques, influence. You lose nothing." She stopped walking then and turned toward him fully.
"For most people, this would be considered a perfect deal." she said quietly.
Tony looked at her for a long moment.
The calm expression… The flawless composure… The cold logic behind every word… She wasn't wrong.
From an outside perspective… This was a dream!
But Tony wasn't "most people."
A faint smile appeared on his lips once again, unreadable, layered with thoughts he didn't voice.
Because deep down… He knew.
This wasn't a marriage… It was a battlefield. And both of themn had already drawn their lines.
Just then a lady's voice came from distance and her steps reached close.
"Sister…" Julie called out as she stared at Tony with an evil look.