Everyone in the family already heard that Qai was offered an engagement with the Gale Village 'princess.' So when the hunting team saw the guests, they knew what the presence of the guests meant.

The Gale Village guests, on the other hand, were awestruck by the group--that was because these children were emitting profound cultivation auras at such young ages. The guests right there and then immediately felt they were making the right choice for Xiao Ning.

The Shu family was a good place for the youth's cultivation--it was devoid of internal corruption and was devoid of any enmity with another family or clan.

While the Gale Village people knew that the marriage proposal would mean that they would strengthen their connection with the Shu family, it was actually their secondary purpose.

Their true aim is to make Xiao Ning the future of Gale Village.

Unfortunately, Xiao Ning was not really pleased with the marriage--she wanted to get stronger but not to the extent that she had to marry someone and soon give up her chastity to some random person.

The village elders, though hopeful, weren't forcing things, they suggested Xiao Ning to see Qai and his family for herself first before she decides.

"Greetings village Chief, greetings esteemed village Elders," the hunting team echoed.

After some moment they left Qai and their parents with the guests. They knew that it's not their place to join the deliberation.

**************

For an hour, the Gale Village chief and elders tried to talk things out with the two youths--they were selling the advantages of having them married and were persuading them like parents enticing little children with sweets.

Sadly, they were running out of wisdom to tempt them to accept the idea until Qai opened up a modified proposal.

"Why not let us simply recruit her in the family, instead of marrying her off to me?" Qai asked.

"What do you mean 'recruit'?" One of the elders asked.

"I mean we'll take care of her cultivation like a sect does to its disciples," Qai explained.

"It's like she's gonna stay here in the family and be like what inner disciples do in a sect," Qai described.

"In the meantime, we would be giving her tasks in the family and provide pill resources for her cultivation at the same time," he added.

"Do you perhaps already have something in mind regarding her cultivation path?" the chief asked.

"I don't..," Qai replied, "..but with her Wood elemental affinity, I thought it would be perfect if our family finally put up a 'Herb Garden' and let Xiao Ning personally take charge of it.."

Qai paused for a moment then went on.

"You've probably looked around and I know you can tell that we have a large fertile portion in this piece of property.. perhaps her affinity will help us yield more and nutriciously better herbs faster.."

"And having a herb garden around will most probably be beneficial to Gale Village as well..," he remarked.

"Xiao Ning can reserve some of her share from the garden's yield for your village.. that way your people would not have to always run the risk of entering the inner part of the Darkwood forest.."

One after another, Qai said litany of benefits that the Gale Village people could possibly receive should they accept his proposal.

"As for her second and future skills, our family will purchase them once we visit Jiang City.." he added so as to assure Xiao Ning of the perks of serving Shu family.

"So, what do you think about that?"