Chapter 429 - Marriage Proposal
"It should be possible."
In the quiet room, hearing the woman's question, Kong paused for a long moment, his gaze thoughtful before he finally asked, "In that case, can you restore your true form?" His tone carried both curiosity and calculation, as if he were already considering how such a change could alter their situation.
If Gu Yuena could regain her true form, then even without divine power, the Silver Dragon King's unmatched bloodline and formidable physique would give her the strength to carve out a foothold in this unknown and potentially hostile world.
"Not right now."
Gu Yuena exhaled softly, a trace of frustration in her voice. "To return to my true form, I need the activation of divine power. Just like transforming into human form, it requires my own strength as a medium to maintain."
"That's true." Kong nodded in understanding. If she could already transform freely, then back when they had first arrived in this world and encountered the brown bear, wife Ei's intervention wouldn't have been necessary.
He still couldn't say whether the creatures of this world were stronger or weaker than those of the Douluo Continent or the God Realm. But as the ruler of the soul beast race and the most powerful of the dragon clan in the Douluo Universe, Gu Yuena would surely not fall far behind in strength.
To preserve wife Ei's limited appearances for only the most critical moments, they needed to find a way for Gu Yuena to shift between human and true form at will. That ability would give them a reliable means of protection if danger arose unexpectedly.
Thinking of this, Kong's expression softened slightly. "Get up, change your clothes, wash up, and let's go out to explore the city. I want to see firsthand what this place is like and what kind of life people lead here."
"Alright."
Without arguing, Gu Yuena gave a light nod. She shook her head briskly to clear the haze of sleep before rising and heading toward the bathroom.
A short while later, she emerged with her hair neatly arranged, her attire fresh and clean.
"Here, take this." From within his belongings, Kong produced a finely made mask he had prepared in advance and handed it to her.
"What's this for?"
Gu Yuena blinked, momentarily puzzled by the unexpected gift.
"To avoid unnecessary trouble when we're out," Kong explained evenly.
"Hm?" She tilted her head, confusion deepening as she tried to connect the dots.
Why would a mask have anything to do with avoiding trouble? How could something so simple prevent problems from arising?
"In human eyes, your current looks are like those of a peerless beauty, an otherworldly fairy descended from the heavens. That alone could draw the wrong kind of attention," Kong said with a shrug, his tone calm but firm.
It was, in his mind, a reasonable precaution. They couldn't afford distractions, especially since neither of them could currently access their divine power. Any encounter with troublemakers would be an unnecessary risk.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Realization dawned, and Gu Yuena gave a small nod of understanding. Without hesitation, she accepted the mask and placed it over her face, its fit both comfortable and concealing.
With preparations complete, the two stepped out of the room and into the streets.
Outside, they were greeted by the sight of a city whose architecture and atmosphere felt like a step back into ancient China. The people all wore simple hemp garments, their manner subdued, a quiet reminder of the lower status humans seemed to hold in this world.
They made their way toward the city gates first, testing the claims about the strange barrier. After confirming with their own eyes that leaving was indeed impossible, they retraced their steps, heading toward the heart of the bustling market district.
"What's going on over there?"
Gu Yuena's gaze shifted toward a large crowd gathered in the distance, her curiosity piqued. She blinked and asked softly, "Is there some kind of event?"
Kong followed her line of sight, brow furrowing slightly. "No idea," he admitted, though his tone suggested he intended to find out.
Kong shook his head, then leaned toward a man who looked relatively friendly and asked, "Brother, could you tell me what's going on here?"
"A marriage contest," the middle-aged man replied after glancing at him knowingly. "You must have just arrived here, right?"
"That's right, that's why I'm asking you, brother." Kong admitted openly without hiding anything.
In this city, people died every day and new arrivals came in just as often, so bystanders like Gu Yuena and Kong drew little attention. At most, Gu Yuena's noble aura and tall figure might attract a few lecherous glances.
"I see."
The man nodded lightly before explaining, "This marriage contest is for the daughter of the city's strongest expert, the Phantom Supreme. It's a public event, and if someone earns her recognition and favor, they can basically walk through this city without fear."
"Then her conditions must be harsh," Kong said, glancing toward the high platform ahead, wondering just how powerful this so-called Supreme was.
"How should I put it? You could say they're harsh, or you could say they're simple."
The man chuckled and continued, "Whether you win her favor depends only on whether she finds you pleasing to the eye. Her father is the city's strongest man—what could he possibly lack? So to her, conditions don't matter. What matters is whether you can move her heart."
"Interesting."
Kong's lips curved slightly. "So, in other words, she's a great beauty?"
"Who knows?" The man shrugged. "None of us have seen her—whether she's beautiful or ugly, human or ghost, only the people in the City Lord's Mansion know."
"Alright, got it. Thanks, brother."
With that, Kong grabbed Gu Yuena's hand and began squeezing toward the front.
In a situation where one lacked both power and background, relying on beauty was nothing to be ashamed of. In terms of looks, even if he couldn't match the imaginations of some, compared to the people here, he was confident he could stand out.
So unless the woman was blind and had no sense of beauty, she wouldn't reject him—and in this, he was very confident.
After a long wait, the entire square was surrounded by a dense crowd.
It was then that a sudden wave of energy descended, and under everyone's gaze, a red sedan chair carried by four people slowly flew in from the distance.
"Well, that's quite the entrance," Kong remarked with a smirk.
"It really is. This is the first time I've seen something like this," Gu Yuena agreed with a nod.
As the main figure appeared, the atmosphere surged to its peak. Clearly, there were plenty of others with the same idea as Kong—hoping to marry into comfort.