"In our world, families created arranged marriages between people who never met to increase the power of their families. Liking someone didn't often come into play. And in some cases the leaders of sects would have multiple families. Love, lust, and the like were hardly anything to be embarrassed or bothered by."

Xue Yang picks up one of his blades and a cloth to start cleaning it to remove any remnants of the talisman. "Perhaps the irritation of your friend's constant praises of her is part of why you have no interest in it yourself."