Chu Jun had a splitting headache from all the noise and felt increasingly irritable.
Since Lu Chengsha had not disappeared, there was a possibility he might participate in next year’s Sword Conference. Chu Jun had to prepare early. He originally planned to retreat to a secluded mountain forest to practice, but Ling Tianxiao wouldn’t allow it.
Ling Tianxiao argued that he was getting old, and as the senior disciple, Chu Jun should take on more responsibilities. Most importantly, he needed to attend his daughter Ling Aoxue’s wedding.
Thinking of the young lady, Chu Jun’s headache worsened.
Ling Tianxiao had a tumultuous love life and only married in middle age, resulting in having just one daughter. Due to his poor health, Ling Aoxue was naturally spoiled, leading her to become bossy and bad-tempered. Thankfully, being a girl with mediocre martial arts skills, her temper was confined to Dangshan. Like her father, she had a rough romantic path.
It wasn’t that no one wanted to marry her for being Ling Tianxiao’s daughter, but those men were never good enough for her, dragging things out until now.
Ling Aoxue was anxious, but Ling Tianxiao was even more so. He even hinted at Chu Jun, suggesting he take on the burden, but Chu Jun, despite his indifference to worldly affairs, wasn’t a fool—he left a note and fled Dangshan that night, returning only after half a month.
Finally, there was someone Ling Aoxue fancied who was willing to marry her, making the whole sect happy, hoping her temper might improve after marriage.
However, it didn’t.
She still threw tantrums and quarreled every few days.
Chu Jun had no favorable impression of Yu Ye, even feeling a slight disdain for him as a demonic sect traitor. Most importantly, his martial arts skills were lacking. Yet, over time, Chu Jun couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration. This Yu Ye had the patience of a saint.
While practicing in the martial arts arena, Chu Jun could hear Ling Aoxue’s angry voice: “Yu Ye, what do you mean by this? Do you think I’m not fair enough, not beautiful enough? Why were you looking at Zuo Jingshuang just now!”
Yu Ye’s response was inaudible, but it was likely gentle and placating.
Ling Aoxue, still furious, yelled, “Your words sound nice, but you clearly despise me and have changed your heart. Is it because those other women are younger and prettier?”
Yu Ye continued to soothe her.
It was hard for Chu Jun to ignore this constant bickering, which occurred two or three times a day, disrupting his focus. Dangshan disciples were usually very disciplined, but as the wedding approached, everyone became more restless. Even Chu Jun overheard them gossiping about how many times the young lady and Yu Ye had quarreled that day. Chu Jun had to unleash his fury to restore order, making them as quiet as quails.
If this continued, they would eventually turn into a disorganized mess like Qingcheng Sect.
Fortunately, the bride didn’t need to speak on the wedding day, or else Dangshan Sect would become a laughingstock in the martial world.
The cities of Lishan and Xunshan were once again teeming with people. The Dangshan Sect had publicly announced that anyone, invitation or not, was welcome to witness the wedding. The bridal procession would pass through both cities with much fanfare before returning to the Dangshan Sect.
Although Ling Aoxue was not well-known, her father Ling Tianxiao was famous, attracting many to witness the grandeur of the wedding and see what the groom looked like.
Dongfeng Buye Tower was considerate to the Dangshan Sect, starting decorations half a month in advance. They adorned the two cities with festive decorations, delivering red lanterns to each household, hanging red silk along the streets, and pasting “double happiness” characters everywhere. Even passersby inquiring about the wedding decided to stay and witness the celebration.
Hua Yan felt shocked as soon as she entered Xunshan City, thinking she had arrived during the wrong season—was it already the New Year?
Though she knew more about weddings than Lu Chengsha, her parents had a simple marriage, and the Zhengyi Sect didn’t have the custom of inviting the entire world to witness their ceremonies. They preferred simplicity over elaborate rituals.
Naturally, Hua Yan started asking around.
Soon, when she reached the inn to rest, she realized she wasn’t the only one surprised.
Lu Chengsha’s voice drifted from above, “…Is this a wedding?”
He sounded particularly puzzled.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “How grand are the weddings at Tingjian Manor? Yours shouldn’t be much less elaborate than this, right?”
Lu Chengsha, somewhat embarrassed, said, “…I never paid attention before.”
Hua Yan then remembered that when Lu Huaitian got married, Lu Chengsha hadn’t been born yet, and other weddings might not have been this grand, so even if he had noticed, he might not have known.
As she pondered this, she heard Lu Chengsha say, “Were we…too simple?”
Hua Yan replied, “Ours was a temporary solution. You were so stubborn, refusing the antidote unless…,” she trailed off, her face turning red. Although much time had passed, thinking about it occasionally still made her feel embarrassed and surreal.
They had been exhausted, trying three times, and despite the uncertain future, they felt they had plenty of time. If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have insisted on going another round after waking up, as Lu Chengsha didn’t seem incapable.
It seemed Lu Chengsha remembered something too, falling silent for a moment.
There was a subtle hint of intimacy in the silence.
Hua Yan quickly asked, “…What are you thinking about?”
Lu Chengsha hesitated for a moment, then said, “You.”
He was quite adept at being lazy and taking the easy route!
Hua Yan demanded, “What about me?”
Lu Chengsha, mumbling, added, “…with me.”
His voice seemed even huskier than before. Hearing the hint in his unclear words, Hua Yan’s face turned slightly red. She felt a mix of shame and reluctance to delve further.
It was a pity she couldn’t see his blush now—he must be blushing!
But then she heard Lu Chengsha say, “Did I… wrong you?”
Great, he was changing the subject now.
Hua Yan responded, “Which wrong are you referring to?”
Lu Chengsha was momentarily at a loss for words but then continued, “Although it was a makeshift solution, we got married, but it was too simple… we missed out on so many things…”
Now that he had learned more, he realized how perfunctory their wedding had been, which explained why she repeatedly said it didn’t count.
But to Lu Chengsha, it was real.
He wanted to make it official.
Hearing his words, Hua Yan understood his meaning. She sat on the bed, swinging her legs, and said softly, “Actually, it doesn’t matter if it was simple. It’s just a ceremony, after all. It doesn’t mean the grander it is, the more reliable it becomes. Many people make vows and then break them. What matters is that the heart is true.”
Seeing such a grand wedding, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t envious.
She had never even worn a wedding dress. Before her mother passed away, she had prepared a complete set of red wedding attire for her, with a phoenix coronet and fine jewelry. Although she didn’t like Yu Ye much, her mother had hoped she would marry in style, becoming a beautiful bride.
Now, that wedding dress remained at the bottom of a chest, never seeing the light of day.
Perhaps it never would.
Even though she wished to marry Lu Chengsha openly and receive everyone’s blessings, she knew it was impossible, so she stopped thinking about it.
Lu Chengsha said, “I will make it up to you.”
Hua Yan, her eyes slightly red, couldn’t help but laugh, “Where do you get such confidence! We can’t even see each other, and you’re thinking about marriage—oh, we don’t need to meet to marry, but your grandfather would be furious if he found out.”
Lu Chengsha, serious, replied, “No matter how long it takes, I will make it up to you.”
Hua Yan blinked, her tone unintentionally tinged with faint sadness, “Again, I have to wait.”
Lu Chengsha didn’t know what to say. His heart tightened, as if something was gripping it, making it hard to breathe. He clenched his fingers into a fist, hearing Hua Yan’s voice continue, “I’ll wait, of course. It’s not like I can’t. You promised, so you have to keep your word!”
“Mm.” Although he knew she couldn’t see him, Lu Chengsha still nodded firmly.
—
In the past few days, rumors were rampant in the city. Hua Yan, disguised, mingled with the crowd and even heard her own name mentioned, though the speaker quickly stopped.
“If Miss Ling hears you, she’ll be furious.”
“That’s unlikely. Everyone knows that demonic woman is deceitful, ruthless, and heartless. Master Yu must have been played by her. If he hadn’t come to his senses, why else would he leave the demonic sect? Would Miss Ling really mind this?”
“Don’t mention being played. It’s said that if Master Yu looks at another woman, Miss Ling loses her temper. She can’t even bear to hear about his past affairs. Thankfully, it seems he only had an engagement with that demonic woman and nothing more. Otherwise, this marriage might not happen.”
Hua Yan chimed in, “And what would happen then?”
“Well, then this marriage probably couldn’t go smoothly.”
Hua Yan thought, wouldn’t that be perfect!
Currently, Yu Ye was indeed in a difficult position. When he first approached, Ling Aoxue didn’t have such a temper. She was aloof, solitary, and difficult to approach, with a sharp tongue. However, the more aloof and prickly she was, the more deeply she fell once conquered.
He was confident and sure of his abilities.
Ling Aoxue became hopelessly infatuated, clinging to him day and night. Whatever he wanted to do, she immediately pleaded with Ling Tianxiao, allowing Yu Ye to extend his influence within Dangshan, establishing a foothold.
He originally had no intention of marrying her.
Unexpectedly, Ling Aoxue tricked him into sleeping with her.
When Ling Aoxue, with her dark and rough face, leaned against him and asked if he would marry her, Yu Ye felt as if his world went black, his mind in turmoil. He couldn’t utter a refusal and had to pretend to be willing.
If he didn’t marry her, Ling Tianxiao would likely kill him on the spot upon discovering that he had defiled his daughter.
Yu Ye was forced by circumstances to comply, but ever since their engagement, Ling Aoxue’s temperament had drastically changed. She became extremely controlling and demanding, flying into unreasonable jealous rages over the smallest things. No matter how he tried to placate her, her fury was unquenchable. He had no choice but to endure her tantrums, with nowhere to vent his frustrations. Ling Tianxiao constantly advised him to be patient and tolerant.
Even though Yu Ye was usually adept at handling people and situations, he now felt a sense of despair.
For the first time in his life, Yu Ye began to reflect on whether he had made a mistake.
However, under Ling Aoxue’s persistent demands, the wedding preparations were grandly underway. Everyone was congratulating him, and those who had previously treated him with disdain or contempt were now forced to change their attitude—because he was now the son-in-law of the Dangshan Sect leader.
After all his efforts to change people’s perceptions, it turned out this one event was more effective.
Yu Ye reconsidered and thought he might not have made a mistake after all.
Just endure it for now.
She was just an average martial artist. In the future, he would find a way for her to have an accident, making sure it was flawless and left no trace back to him.
He put on the red wedding attire specially prepared for him by Dangshan. Looking in the mirror, the man who usually wore moon-white robes was now in red. The gentle and soft demeanor he once had seemed more assertive now. Yu Ye gazed at himself in the mirror for a while, feeling a bit unfamiliar but more aligned with his true self.
After seizing the position of sect leader, he had worn the purple robes of the leader, but to maintain the morale of the followers, he switched back to his original moon-white robes to avoid creating too much distance.
Having worn the disguise for so long, even Yu Ye wasn’t sure of his true nature anymore.
If not for the burning jealousy and hatred towards Xie Yingxian, which had tormented him for years, he would have already donned this wedding attire to marry the woman he truly desired. After Lu Chengsha was expelled from Tingjian Manor and forced by Lu Zhenxing to cease seeing her, he had wondered if he had a chance. But since then, she only came to rob his medicinal materials and smash his shops, never showing him any affection.
Now, there was no turning back for him.
As he was lost in thought, a familiar female voice suddenly broke through.
“Are you really going to marry her?” The voice carried a hint of sorrow.
He turned around sharply, thinking he was dreaming.
But the woman standing behind him was real, not a figment of his imagination. She wore a bright red satin dress embroidered with peonies, a red hairpin with delicate chains dangling to her shoulders, her black hair loosely tied with a few strands falling down, framing her radiant face. The peonies on her dress paled in comparison to her beauty.
She frowned slightly, looking much like the girl he had watched grow up, but now she had blossomed into a stunning beauty, far more radiant than before.
He hadn’t seen her in a long time, and just as he had imagined, she had become even more beautiful.
Yu Ye’s thoughts quickly turned, realizing she must have ill intentions in coming here now.
He should sternly order her to leave for safety, but human nature has its selfish moments. He had never truly been harsh with her. Sighing, he said gently, “Why have you come?”
If Ling Aoxue found out, it would only result in another bout of drama, but she should be busy changing into her wedding dress now.
She sniffled, her voice soft, “I was curious to ask. You once spoke of deep feelings and loyalty, but it seems that was all just words.”
Yu Ye replied softly, “It’s dangerous for you to be here. You should leave soon.”
She tilted her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes, “If I were really caught, would you save me?”
Yu Ye smiled, “You’ve changed a lot. You never used to act this well… Is Ling Aoxue nearby?”
Hua Yan admitted she couldn’t out-act Yu Ye!
Despite trying to suppress her nausea, she couldn’t portray the look of betrayed anger convincingly, making Yu Ye seem even more composed.
“Fine, I give up!” Hua Yan said decisively. “Let someone else take over!”
Yu Ye was momentarily stunned.
Another woman stepped out from behind Hua Yan. She looked frail and delicate, her face pale and haggard, her slender hands trembling. Her eyes, though, were filled with deep resentment, like a vengeful ghost.
Yu Ye felt a chill down his spine, sensing trouble.
Shui Se began to speak, her voice soft and seemingly capable of dripping water, “Yu Ye, brother, during my days of confinement, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?” She walked towards him, her movements graceful. “You promised we’d be together, how can you marry another woman?”
Yu Ye immediately stepped away from her, maintaining a polite but distant demeanor, “Miss, I do not know you.”
Shui Se, her eyes filled with tears, said, “How can you not know me, Yu Ye? Have you forgotten our intimate days? I still remember the small mole on your right side and the one on your shoulder. I remember everything clearly… If you hadn’t forced me to drink that contraceptive soup, I might have had your child by now.”
Yu Ye felt his scalp tingle with discomfort.
Shui Se didn’t stop, her words growing more outrageous.
But what truly made his scalp tingle was seeing the cabinet door in front of him open, revealing Ling Aoxue, who had been tied up and had her acupoints sealed. Her dark face was now flushed with anger, staring at him unblinkingly, on the verge of an explosion.
Shui Se, seeing his stunned reaction, took the opportunity to throw herself into his arms.
***
While Shui Se and Yu Ye were entangled, Hua Yan, in a good mood, seized the chance to slip away.
Shui Se had previously expressed her willingness to assassinate Yu Ye, and now her actions were akin to an assassination attempt. Upon learning that Yu Ye was getting married, her reaction was even more resentful than Hua Yan had anticipated. She had gritted her teeth and declared that she would do anything to ruin Yu Ye’s wedding.
It seemed she was now getting her wish.
As Hua Yan thought about this, she carefully avoided the Dangshan disciples, when she heard a voice by her ear say, “I will save you.”
It took her a moment to realize that Lu Chengsha was responding to her earlier conversation with Yu Ye, and she couldn’t help but find it amusing, “Alright, alright, I know you will. I told you it was all an act! Don’t be jealous at a time like this!”
Lu Chengsha seemed to reluctantly mutter, “Hmm.”