The Mighty Mage
Chapter 517: Marry Wen Xue?

Chapter 517: Chapter 517: Marry Wen Xue?

As soon as Gu Jin and Wen Xue stepped in, all four elders turned their eyes to the masked girl.

One of the women narrowed her eyes. "Wen Xue," she said, voice sharp and clear. "Why is she wearing a mask?"

The other elder, the man with gold-rimmed eyes, frowned.

"You promised to bring Gu Jin. Are you trying to trick us by hiring someone to take her place?"

Wen Xue stepped forward and bowed with both hands.

"She is Gu Jin," he said calmly. "I assure you, there is no trick. She simply preferred not to reveal her face."

"Preferred?" the silver-haired woman echoed, clearly displeased.

"This is not some petty gathering. We called for Gu Jin, not a masked pretender."

Gu Jin stepped forward then, her voice clear and cold through the mask.

"You called for me, and I came. My face is not what gives me value. If you doubt who I am, then test me."

The room went quiet for a moment.

The four elders looked at each other, silent communication passing between them.

Finally, the man with the long beard spoke, his tone slightly softer.

"Very well. If you are indeed Gu Jin... then we can proceed with the ritual."

The long-bearded elder raised his hand, and a soft ripple of energy spread across the hall.

The lanterns dimmed slightly, casting long shadows across the stone floor. From the ceiling, a silver orb descended, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

Runes circled around it, pulsing in time with Gu Jin’s heartbeat.

"This is the Soul Mirror," the elder explained. "It reveals the truth of a person’s identity. It cannot be tricked or deceived."

Gu Jin stepped closer, her expression calm. "Then let it show the truth."

The orb hovered before her, glowing brighter as it scanned her aura. For a long moment, the room was silent, except for the hum of magic.

Then, with a flash of light, the runes shifted. A golden symbol formed in the center of the or, the ancient crest of the Gu family, followed by her full name, written in flowing script:

Gu Jin, direct descendant of the Gu bloodline.

The elders stared at the orb, then at her. The silver-haired woman’s eyes narrowed again, but she said nothing.

The younger man with the gold-rimmed eyes gave a low hum. "So it is her."

Wen Xue folded his hands behind his back, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "As I said. No tricks."

Still, the silver-haired woman didn’t look satisfied. "Then why the mask?"

Gu Jin’s voice was cool but steady.

"Because I didn’t want to be seen as a pretty face in a room full of ancient power. If I’m to be judged, it should be for my strength and mind, not appearance."

The other female elder, the one in feathered robes, gave a small chuckle.

"Spoken like someone who knows what kind of gaze men give when they forget a woman has brains."

That earned the smallest twitch of a smile from Gu Jin under the mask.

The long-bearded elder nodded slowly. "Very well. The ritual can proceed."

He waved his hand, and the Soul Mirror floated away, returning to its place in the ceiling. In its place, a round stone altar rose from the center of the room, glowing faintly.

As the glowing stone altar rose from the center of the room, a hush fell over the chamber.

The air grew heavy with mana, and even the lantern flames seemed to flicker more slowly, as if holding their breath.

Wen Xue stepped closer to the altar and turned to Gu Jin. His expression, usually calm or teasing, was serious now. With his palm facing up, he slowly extended his hand to her.

Gu Jin looked at him for a moment, then placed her hand in his without hesitation. Their fingers laced together.

The altar responded at once.

A pulse of light traveled through their joined hands and down into the altar. The surface began to glow brighter, the runes on its edges lighting up in shades of gold and crimson.

One of the elders murmured, "The bond has begun."

Wen Xue drew a small silver dagger from his robe. Without flinching, he cut across his palm. Blood dripped onto the altar, hissing softly as it touched the stone.

Then he looked at Gu Jin.

She nodded, rolled up her sleeve, and took the blade. With a clean motion, she sliced across her palm and let her blood fall onto the same spot.

The moment her blood touched his, the altar flared with power.

A strong wind burst through the hall, swirling around them like a storm. The ground trembled beneath their feet. The combined blood glowed bright red before being absorbed into the stone.

Suddenly, red and gold threads of light rose from the altar and wrapped around Wen Xue’s body like glowing vines. He gasped and clutched Gu Jin’s hand tighter as the energy surged through him.

Runes began to appear on his skin—faint symbols glowing along his arms, his chest, his back.

His eyes, once calm and thoughtful, now blazed with power. A faint aura surrounded him, shifting with colors of deep red and sharp silver—like flames mixed with ice.

The elders watched in silence, their expressions unreadable.

Then, a faint bell-like sound rang through the hall. A mark appeared on Wen Xue’s forehead—an ancient symbol, long forgotten by most. One of the elders leaned forward, eyes wide.

"He’s awakened a sealed line..." she whispered. "That’s not just a blood awakening. That’s an inheritance."

The light finally dimmed, and the altar returned to its steady glow. The wind stilled. Wen Xue’s grip loosened, and he fell to one knee, panting.

Gu Jin stood steady, her mask slightly tilted from the force of the energy blast, but her voice was even.

"Are you alright?"

Wen Xue looked up at her, a dazed smile forming on his lips. "I am now... thanks to you."

Then he bowed to all the elders and said in a loud voice,

"Your help will be remembered, and I will be in your care from now on."

The elders all nodded, feeling satisfied by Wen Xue’s words.

"Good. Good. Our efforts has finally yielded results."

The elders started to chat among themselves.

"Let’s go outside," Wen Xue said, his voice quiet but firm. "You’ve done more than enough."

Gu Jin nodded once, her fingers slipping from his as she turned toward the exit.

But before she could take a step, the silver-haired elder raised her hand, stopping her.

"Gu Jin," she said, her tone casual—but something sharp hid beneath the surface. "Before you leave, tell us... what do you think of Wen Xue?"

Gu Jin turned back, slightly tilting her head. She gave a small smile under her mask.

"He’s amazing," she said simply. Her voice was calm, even modest. "Strong, reliable, and... clever."

The elder’s eyes gleamed with interest. "That’s quite the praise." She paused, then added with a sly smile, "Since you’re his girlfriend, why not stay and marry him now?"

The entire hall seemed to freeze.

The warmth in the air turned cold in an instant. Even the flickering lanterns dimmed a little.

Wen Xue’s smile vanished. His body stiffened. He turned his head just enough so that the elders couldn’t see his eyes clearly, but Gu Jin did.

His heart was clearly racing.

’Long Yifan... if he hears about this... I’m dead.’

Gu Jin, sensing the shift, gave a polite bow.

"Elder, I appreciate your suggestion," she said carefully. "But I’d rather not involve myself in clan matters. I’ll consider it... when the time is right."

Before she could turn again, the elder raised her voice.

"Unfortunately, that won’t do. You may only leave if you marry Wen Xue—or one of us."

Gasps echoed in the hall. The atmosphere grew heavy.

Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed behind the mask, but before she could speak, Wen Xue stepped forward and placed himself directly between her and the elders.

He bowed slightly, but his tone was icy.

"If you don’t shut up right now," he said coldly, "then I won’t mind ending this whole rebellion myself. Even if it means dying with it."

And for once, Gu Jin felt that trusting Wen Xue wasn’t a wrong option.

His words rang loud and clear.

Everyone went still. Even the elders didn’t speak right away. His voice held a quiet danger, one that couldn’t be ignored.

The woman in feathered robes stood, her expression darkening.

"You’re becoming too emotional. Overprotective. She’s just a girl—"

"She’s not just anything," Wen Xue interrupted. "Gu Jin trusted me enough to come here. She gave her blood, her strength. I won’t break that trust. This isn’t about love. It’s about duty."

’And about my safety, too! If Long Yifan knew that I asked his fiancée to pretend to be my girlfriend, he would blow me up! Not to mention if a single hair of her is harmed, he will turn me into a bald man!’

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