### Chapter 8: The Useless Demoness (5)
Despite his rather gaudy red and purple long robe, Shiyuan still managed to pull off a style that screamed “unrestrained elegance” due to his impeccable looks.
Not only Lin Nan, but even the two burly men behind her were momentarily taken aback.
This was the first time since he was kidnapped that Shiyuan appeared so brazenly in front of people.
No wonder the Great King had taken a liking to this kid—his baby-faced charm was enough to make even men feel a twinge of affection.
Not to mention the Great King, who could be mesmerized just by the sight of a pretty boy.
“Master Shiyuan, the weather is just perfect now. Why don’t I show you around the stronghold? After all, it’s going to be your territory from now on.”
If it weren’t for those two hulking sidekicks standing around, Lin Nan would’ve had a hard time resisting the urge to tease him like a little girl and see if his cheeks were as soft and smooth as she imagined.
Shiyuan, feeling a bit timid, hid behind Lin Nan. The intense gazes from the two muscular men made him feel a tad uneasy.
Seizing the moment, Lin Nan grabbed his hand, as if proclaiming her ownership, and led him deeper into the stronghold.
A few steps in, they were suddenly accosted by Fatty wobbling over.
“Oh my Great King! You two haven’t even consummated the marriage yet, how can you show yourselves to everyone? This… this is against the rules!”
Lin Nan shot him a stone-faced glance. “We’re children of the martial world, why should we be bound by outdated customs? Besides, it’s me, the Great King, who’s marrying my husband. I can do as I please. If you keep nagging, I’ll have you deliver wedding invitations for the Martial Arts Alliance!”
Fatty, “…”
Watching Fatty scramble away like his pants were on fire, Lin Nan couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s go, Master Shiyuan.”
Shiyuan was completely bewildered as he followed her out of the room and into the curious gaze of the crowd.
If he’d had any inkling of this scene beforehand, he’d have never dared to imagine it. Yet here he was, barely able to keep up with Lin Nan, who was almost eye-to-eye with him, holding hands like siblings, marching forward under the curious stares of everyone.
The stronghold wasn’t too big or too small.
After all, to accommodate nearly two thousand people’s eating, drinking, and other necessities, it had to have at least some space to meet basic needs.
“How does this compare to your Martial Arts Alliance?”
Shiyuan shook his head, “If the Martial Arts Alliance is a grand palace, then this stronghold is a toilet for the servants.”
Lin Nan, “…”
Though she knew that Shiyuan was probably speaking the truth, it stung to hear.
She was genuinely curious about how they’d managed to snatch Shiyuan away, but clearly, that was a topic for another time—especially not in front of him.
Otherwise, she’d expose herself as the mastermind and make him suspicious for no good reason.
To avoid blowing her cover, Lin Nan decided to hint around for information at a later moment.
Besides, the main concern now wasn’t how they brought Shiyuan to the stronghold, but how to send him back safely to the Martial Arts Alliance and quell any animosity the Alliance had against the stronghold.
And let’s not forget, Shiyuan was the youngest son of Shi Jinghai, the Martial Arts Alliance leader.
He was pampered to the max and definitely too precious for anyone to just throw him in a cage without consequences!
As the saying goes: easier said than done when sending a god away.
The question of how to deliver him safely back was definitely a tall order.
What if some nefarious character on the road coveted Shiyuan’s demon seed body? They could easily snatch him away and pin the blame on the stronghold unless she could hand him over personally to Shi Jinghai, which might stave off a looming crisis for her side.
But before kicking off any grand plans, they’d first have to complete the wedding ceremony.
She couldn’t let her followers’ hearts go cold and delay their meat and wine feast.
After all, this big waste-of-space king still needed their protection.
After taking a circular route around the stronghold, Lin Nan and Shiyuan found themselves back in her room in no time.
“Take a break.”
As she said this, Lin Nan peeled a grape and held it up to his mouth.
Shiyuan gulped it down, but accidentally brushed against her fingers, making her body twitch slightly as she looked at him with a hint of flirtation.
Holy moly, this kid’s got a knack for stirring feelings!
Perhaps it was because she’d assured him he could leave the stronghold, causing his guard to drop, that he revealed that side of himself?
Just as Lin Nan was lost in thought, Shiyuan suddenly shrank back against the wall, panic written all over his face.
“I… I didn’t mean to…”
Lin Nan smirked. “Now that’s questionable. Do you want to stay and keep me company?”
“No… I’m just not used to eating grapes like this; I always do it this way at home.”
Shiyuan scrambled to explain, his face turning scarlet.
At that moment, Lin Nan felt a strong urge to take a bite out of him.
No wonder these effeminate guys were all the rage; even straight men couldn’t resist their allure!
Her reaction was perfectly normal!
“Uh… hey, I’m just saying, my room is so big. Why are you sitting so far away? Afraid I’ll eat you? And besides, before you leave the stronghold, you’re still technically my husband and the Second Great King. What do you think I’ll do to you?”
She could visibly see Shiyuan relax a little.
This kid was not only timid but also seemed to possess merely average martial skills. How did a child of the Martial Arts Alliance grow up like this?
Maybe it was due to being overly pampered? Who knows.
“Great King, Great King!”
Trissa and Adeline barged in, each carrying a dazzling red wedding gown.
They were surprised to find not only Lin Nan in the room but also Shiyuan, who promptly turned his head away as if caught red-handed in a crime.
Ha! Now you’ve cooperated quite well, and all that’s ruined here is my reputation.
But it didn’t really matter; it was her territory, and who dared gossip?
Seeing Lin Nan’s indifferent expression, the two girls breathed easy.
“Great King, we worked through the night to sew this for you. Try it on and see if it fits!”
Trissa chimed in, “Tonight is your big wedding night! Though we’re keeping it simple, there are some things that can’t be skimped on.”
“Thank you both! I really appreciate your hard work.”
Even though these two didn’t carry the memories of the Asking Dao Continent, Lin Nan felt a surge of gratitude.
“You should see how stunning our Great King will be on the big day… um, I mean, when you’re marrying.”
Lin Nan, “…”
Who would’ve thought her first wedding and first time trying on a wedding dress would happen in a game?
While the fact that the groom was Shiyuan made it a bit easier for her to accept, she couldn’t deny that a part of her was filled with eager anticipation.
As long as it didn’t turn into the real deal, what was the harm in sharing a bed?
