NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: My Next Trial is… Marriage?!
Wang Li barely had time to process his victory before the Frozen Lotus Lord spoke again.
"You have survived the Ice Abyss," he said, his piercing gaze locking onto Wang Li. "But if you truly wish to prove yourself worthy of standing beside my daughter, you must complete the next trial."
Wang Li's smirk froze.
Another trial?!
"Father," Mu Yuechan sighed. "Haven't you tormented him enough?"
The Frozen Lotus Lord scoffed. "If he is weak, then he does not deserve you."
Wang Li internally screamed.
Why was it always like this? Why did fathers-in-law in cultivation worlds treat their daughters like Heaven's Supreme Treasures, while their suitors were cockroaches beneath their boots?
He sighed. "Alright. What's the next trial?"
The Frozen Lotus Lord smirked. "Marriage."
Silence.
The entire sect stared.
A disciple dropped his sword.
An elder coughed violently on his tea.
Even Mu Yuechan's eyes widened slightly.
Wang Li blinked rapidly.
"Wait. Did you just say—"
"If you wish to be with my daughter, then you must undergo the Frozen Heart Bonding Ceremony and officially take her as your wife."
Wang Li's brain short-circuited.
Marriage?!
That was the trial?!
Why did this feel less like a punishment for him and more like a punishment for Mu Yuechan?!
He stole a glance at her.
Mu Yuechan, still calm, looked at her father with a sharp gaze. "And what if I refuse?"
The Frozen Lotus Lord sighed. "Yuechan, this man has already caused you pain in the past. If he wishes to stay by your side, he must make amends through an unbreakable bond."
Translation: If Wang Li messes up again, Mu Yuechan will have full authority to freeze him into an ice cube and shatter him into a thousand pieces.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Wang Li frowned. "This doesn't seem like much of a trial for me. You're forcing Yuechan into this too."
The Frozen Lotus Lord's eyes gleamed. "Ah, so you do care for her well-being."
Mu Yuechan scoffed. "He's just afraid of the consequences."
Wang Li coughed. Well, she wasn't wrong.
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, let's say I agree. What exactly is this Frozen Heart Bonding Ceremony?"
The Frozen Lotus Lord smiled coldly. "It is a sacred ritual of my sect. The two of you must enter the Frozen Lotus Pond together and cultivate for a full day and night. If your souls harmonize, the ritual will be complete."
Wang Li stiffened.
A full day and night… in a frozen pond… with Mu Yuechan… cultivating?
Oh.
Oh, this was going to be awkward.
---
Later That Night – The Frozen Lotus Pond
The Frozen Lotus Pond was as terrifying as it sounded.
It was a massive lake entirely covered in ice, located deep within the sect. Mist rose from the surface, shimmering under the moonlight, creating an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere.
Mu Yuechan stood beside him, her long silver robes fluttering slightly in the cold wind. Her gaze was unreadable.
Wang Li sighed. "So. We're really doing this."
Mu Yuechan glanced at him. "You don't have to. You could still run away."
"…And let your father hunt me down for the rest of my life?" Wang Li shuddered. "No thanks."
She smirked slightly. "Then let's begin."
With that, she stepped onto the ice—
And sank into the water without hesitation.
Wang Li hesitated for half a second before following.
The moment his body touched the water, he regretted everything.
Absolute. Freezing. Hell.
The cold stabbed into his bones, flooding his meridians like thousands of icy needles.
He gritted his teeth. Cultivation. Focus on cultivation.
Mu Yuechan was already seated in the water, legs crossed, her hands resting on her knees. Her breathing was steady, her expression calm.
Meanwhile, Wang Li was dying.
His entire body felt numb, his blood practically turning into ice.
Mu Yuechan cracked open an eye. "You're struggling."
"No… I'm fine," he lied through chattering teeth.
She sighed. "Idiot. Let me help."
Before he could protest, she reached out—
And pressed her palm against his chest.
A warm, soothing energy rushed into his body.
Wang Li jerked, his eyes widening. "Wha—"
"Stop talking. Focus on harmonizing your qi with mine."
Wang Li shut his mouth. Not because he was obedient—but because his brain had completely shut down.
Because right now, Mu Yuechan was holding his chest.
And his heart was racing.
If she noticed, she didn't say anything.
Instead, her spiritual energy merged with his, intertwining like a gentle river weaving through ice.
Their qi began to resonate.
The ice beneath them glowed softly, responding to their cultivation. The mist swirled around them, condensing into faint petals of frost, dancing in the air.
It was… beautiful.
Mu Yuechan's voice was soft. "See? It's not so hard."
Wang Li swallowed.
Focus. Cultivation. Not her hand. Not her face. Not the fact that she was—
Focus, damn it!
---
Meanwhile, at the Frozen Lotus Sect…
The Frozen Lotus Lord sat in meditation, observing the pond from afar.
One of the elders beside him chuckled. "Their qi is harmonizing quite well."
Another elder nodded. "It seems your plan is working, Sect Master."
The Frozen Lotus Lord smirked. "If he cannot endure a single night in the Frozen Lotus Pond, he has no place beside my daughter."
The elders exchanged glances.
"…But if he succeeds?"
The Frozen Lotus Lord's expression darkened slightly.
"Then perhaps I shall… reconsider my opinion of him."
---
The Next Morning
As the sun rose, Wang Li slowly opened his eyes.
The ice pond had stopped glowing. The mist had settled.
Mu Yuechan sat across from him, her expression… soft.
For the first time, she didn't look at him with annoyance.
Just… quiet contemplation.
Wang Li cleared his throat. "So. We passed, right?"
She nodded. "Yes."
For a moment, they simply sat there. The cold air was still, the world around them silent.
Then, Mu Yuechan stood. "Let's go. My father will want to see the results."
Wang Li sighed, stretching. At least this trial was over.
As they walked back toward the sect, he couldn't help but steal a glance at her.
Her face was unreadable again, but something had changed.
He wasn't sure what.
But he had a feeling…
That his problems were only just beginning.