miralunem

“Son-in-law?” Zhong Yulan’s expression instantly soured when she heard that. She frowned at him and asked, “Since when do I even have a son-in-law like you?”

However, Long Yin’s shameless reply came without missing a beat: “Since just now.”

Zhong Yulan froze, then turned in shock to look at Feng Qingyun. “Ah Yu, you and he… made a private vow?”

Feng Qingyun was silent for a moment, but in the end, he didn’t deny it. He only lowered his gaze and said softly: “…Mother, he’s the one I’ve set my heart on.”

Zhong Yulan still held on to her blood-stained, pig-slaughtering knife. When she heard her “daughter’s” words, the look she gave Long Yin became exceedingly complex, like someone staring at the scoundrel who’d run off with her precious cabbage.

But she was a widow, and this was her only “daughter,” one she had doted on since childhood. What’s more, the rascal in front of her… did seem rather decent in appearance, so, for a while, she couldn’t find the heart to say anything more.

“What do you mean, a private vow?” But Long Yin was still his shameless self, quickly asking. “I came here today full of sincerity to ask for your daughter’s hand in a proper ceremony! Wasn’t your one wish to see them again, to know they’d be happy?” Long Yin wrapped an arm around Feng Qingyun’s shoulders and added, “Don’t worry. I will treat Ah Yu well.”

As he spoke, he lifted a hand. The already cramped courtyard was suddenly made even more crowded by the extravagant betrothal gifts that appeared out of nowhere.

Feng Qingyun glanced at the ostentatious display and couldn’t help feeling as if he were watching a peacock spreading its tail, half helpless, half amused.

But Zhong Yulan didn’t seem to register any of it, her attention entirely on Long Yin’s words. For a second, her expression turned briefly dazed, and even the illusion around them flickered for a moment, as if the entire dream were about to dissolve.

Seeing how the environment reacted to his mother’s change in mood, Feng Qingyun’s nose stung, and his eyes closed in hard-to-conceal grief.

“He’s right…” Zhong Yulan said softly. “Ah Yu, are you truly happy with him?”

“I am,” Feng Qingyun nodded, with a subtle firmness to his voice. “Mother, I’ve never been this happy before.”

Zhong Yulan looked at him for a long while before she slowly raised her hand and placed it over his wrist. By all logic, illusions shouldn’t be able to touch anything, but not only was Feng Qingyun touched, but he also felt a sliver of energy pass into him through that contact.

It was only that… her energy was different from anything he had encountered. It wasn’t demonic in nature, spiritual, or even similar to the life force of mere mortals. Instead, it resembled the deathly aura of the Huangquan clan, from down in the Underworld.

And immediately after, that aura brushed against the blood deed that was still deeply buried within his veins.

Feng Qingyun trembled all over and instinctively grabbed Long Yin’s wrist, but the other party bound by the contract showed no surprise on his face, as though he had expected it all along.

As for Zhong Yulan, when she touched that newly formed blood contract, she paused and then slowly withdrew her hand. Her expression turned a mix of sorrow and comfort. After a long moment of silence, she murmured, “Good. This is good… I’ve let you down, but in the end, letting you be with someone you love is still better than forcing you to be with someone you don’t.”

At first, Feng Qingyun didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of her words. But after a brief delay, like a bolt of lightning, the realization struck him… Zhong Yulan had long known about the blood deed in his veins.

And she knew it hadn’t been formed with Long Yin from the beginning, but with someone else.

Yet knowing her as well as he did, Feng Qingyun was sure that if she had discovered that truth earlier, if she had known her disciple had formed a blood contract with someone like Mu Hanyang, she would never have stood by. She would have executed Mu Hanyang on the spot, or at the very least, expelled him from the sect.

But back then, even Feng Qingyun himself had been unaware of the contract. Zhong Yulan, for all her rough ways of raising a child, likely hadn’t known either.

Still, up until the moment she left behind the Linshuang Sword and “ascended,” she had never shown any sign of knowing the truth. So, when exactly had she found out?

And why had it weighed so heavily on her heart?

The questions were loud in his mind. But even so, the answer was already there, quietly waiting to be seen. Looking around at the familiar setting, at the familiar roles of “Miss Yu” and “Widow Li,” everything had long been set in place. It was just that Feng Qingyun had refused to acknowledge it, subconsciously turning away from the truth.

Because the Widow Li in that illusion wasn’t a phantom at all. She was most likely…

Real.

She was the real Zhong Yulan herself, who had died and should have long returned to the Wheel of Reincarnation.

And that had been the case since the very beginning.

The first time Feng Qingyun entered that illusory world, Zhong Yulan was no longer among the living. But back then, her presence wasn’t recognized by Long Yin, who carried the soul of the dragon God.

Within the illusion, the two of them had stood face to face, and yet not recognized each other. Zhong Yulan’s soul couldn’t say a single heartfelt word. She could only dwell within the shell of a false identity, separated by a thick barrier, just to see her disciple one last time.

She couldn’t even warn him about the blood deed hidden in his bloodline and could only watch helplessly as he once again “fell in love” with that person, as everything unfolded along the same, predetermined script.

Therefore, the blood contract had become Zhong Yulan’s deepest obsession, the reason she refused to move on and be reincarnated. To her, it was a mistake, no, a failure, on her part. But was it truly her fault?

At least, Zhong Yulan believed it was.

She blamed herself for not watching over her young disciple more closely, for allowing such a blood contract, something used to subjugate demonic beasts, to be etched into his soul. It was nothing short of branding him with the mark of a slave. For that, she was wracked with regret, imprisoning herself in a cycle of obsession again and again, unwilling to return to the Underworld.

But… How did it become like that?

Many people, when wronged, would lash out at those closest to them while forgiving outsiders, however… Feng Qinyun couldn’t help but feel his heart clench. So this is the obsession that keeps you from moving on, my dear Master…

But I’ve seen you shatter the void and ascend with my own two eyes. What exactly did you endure in those last moments? What exactly was the Heavenly Dao’s last tribulation for you and…

Could it be related to the Qilin’s ability to manipulate space?

But no matter how many questions Feng Qingyun had, Zhong Yulan couldn’t give him any answers.

Feng Qingyun felt as though the ground beneath him was about to give way, but he still managed to draw in a deep breath and say: “Mother, you’ve done nothing wrong by me… It’s I who failed in my filial duty. From this day forward, as long as it makes you happy, I’ll agree to anything you ask.”

So long as you can let go of this obsession and return to the Underworld, I will do whatever it takes.

Long Yin said nothing. He simply stood quietly at his side.

By now, even Bai Ruolin seemed to have guessed the truth. Her eyes were slightly red, but she too stayed silent.

The once-crowded courtyard suddenly fell into a brief, poignant silence.

Although Qi Jiang didn’t recognize Long Yin, Lian Ziqing sensed that something was very… very wrong. Watching the way the two interacted, he even vaguely guessed Feng Qingyun’s identity, and his face turned pale as paper.

But with so many powerful beings around, he didn’t even dare to send a sound transmission. He could only resort to the oldest method, exaggerated winks and gestures, to signal Qi Jiang.

Fortunately, after thrashing for a good while, Qi Jiang finally got a bit of sense back. Seeing that the powerful cultivators seemed to have forgotten about him, he quickly shut up. He fumbled through his storage ring, pulled out a spiritual medicine, and slapped it on his wound. Then, he grabbed his severed arm and began crawling toward the courtyard gate.

But as he and Lian Ziqing reached the gate, they both crashed into an invisible barrier. For some reason, they couldn’t get out.

The two of them could only stand there, stunned, while in the courtyard nearby, the surreal scene continued to unfold.

“Good, good. That you have this much filial piety is more than enough,” Zhong Yulan said, her voice choked with emotion. She wiped at the corners of her eyes like any ordinary mother, continuing: “I don’t have many wishes left in this life.”

“Your good husband is right. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me.” She set down the pig-slaughtering knife and dabbed at her tears. Then, without hesitation, she changed her form of address for Long Yin, saying: “Since you both love each other, and as the saying goes, ‘no day is better than today,’ let this day be the day my precious daughter weds. I’ll trouble you all to join us for the wedding feast.”

Wait, how did it now become a wedding?!

Everyone present wore a look of stunned disbelief. Even the armless Qi Jiang stiffly turned around, staring at Zhong Yulan in shock.

Hadn’t that phantom of a woman been completely unaware of their presence before?! How come she was now referring to everyone as guests?!

But before they could figure out what was happening, the entire illusion shifted the moment Zhong Yulan’s voice fell.

Bright red lanterns were hoisted high, dazzling silk drapes festooned the rafters, and though the setting was still a humble rural village, in an instant it radiated the festive air of a grand celebration, like a bridal procession stretching ten miles long.

And just like that, the once-quiet farming courtyard had been transformed into a joyous, jubilant scene.

The illusion had truly changed, reshaped entirely by one person’s will. Everyone present suddenly realized something and looked with disbelief toward the figure they had all dismissed as a mere pig-slaughtering widow at the start.

She… She was the array core?!

The entire relic site was already a massive natural formation. And as with all formations, there must be a formation core. Just like how the Xuanwu relic had its own core, the heart of the Xuanwu itself, then the Qilin relic should have been centered around its remains as well…

However, the array core of such a relic was usually just a symbolic object, such as a best’s remains or another crucial artifact. For most cultivators, it simply meant that once the illusion ended, some sort of treasure would be revealed.

But while the ancient beasts themselves were emotionless, sentient beings like humans, demons, or mere mortals were not. Therefore, in certain smaller ruins, where the array core was a human corpse, a rare phenomenon could occur.

It was common knowledge that the Heavenly Dao also fell during the ancient war, and a new order had yet to take its place. Countless souls had nowhere to go, dissolving directly into the void between Heaven and Earth.

Yet the souls of a few great figures, because of their intense obsessions, managed to linger within such ruins. And when such a place was activated, the very first thing that appeared was a mirage born of that obsession.

To truly open the ruin, cultivators must first resolve those obsessions and help the soul find peace in the Underworld. Otherwise, the illusion will never dissipate, and the ruin will never reveal its secrets.

In such cases, it was really just a matter of luck, or better said, misfortune. If one couldn’t meet the demands of the array core and resolve its obsessions, being trapped inside the illusion for the rest of one’s life was not unheard of.

After all, ancient great cultivators were not all saints. There were plenty of demonic cultivators who derived pleasure from gutting people alive. Compared to that, Zhong Yulan’s only wish was to see her daughter’s wedding, a request that could practically be called benevolent.

In truth, her obsession wasn’t much.

She had fallen into the illusion during the last moments before death, discovered the blood deed within Feng Qingyun’s bloodline, and couldn’t say a word. All she wanted was to stay a little longer with her pitiful disciple. But when she finally saw him again, all she could do was watch him become a sacrificial offering on his wedding night and die buried in the mountains, utterly powerless.

But of course, no one else present knew any of that. People like Qi Jiang only knew that the crazy widow seemed to have a strange fetish for marrying off her “daughter” to some random wild man, insisting they all had to watch.

The situation was so absurd it defied belief. Even the demonic cultivator looked green in the face, but there was no one to appeal to. So the guests had no choice but to steel themselves and play along with the wedding.

Once the unwilling guests had taken their seats, fireworks burst into the sky, drums beat in rhythm, and the entire village was suddenly enveloped in joy.

The festive noise soared to the heavens. Many other cultivators, still searching for the array core, heard it too. But only those with fate or power could find the courtyard since it wasn’t something just anyone could stumble upon. And so, many could only wander in circles at the outskirts of the village, seeing the suspicious location but unable to enter, growing ever more anxious.

Meanwhile, inside the “bridal chamber,” Bai Ruolin once again stood before the dressing table, combing Feng Qingyun’s hair, just like she had during the grand Dao ceremony not long ago.

She, too, had realized that their Master had probably died the day she “ascended” by breaking through the void, and all that was left was simply the obsession she left behind at the moment of her death.

A dull ache bloomed in Bai Ruolin’s chest. But ever since Zhong Yulan’s strange “ascension,” her disciples, especially Feng Qingyun, had already suspected something. As she grew older and overheard bits of conversation between her Senior Brothers, Bai Ruolin had begun to piece together the truth.

But now that suspicion had become reality right in front of her eyes, she was undeniably saddened. And yet, even through her grief, she still managed to crack a joke: “Brother Qingyun is getting married again… But this time, the groom’s a whole lot better. Master would definitely be pleased.”

Feng Qingyun looked at himself in the mirror, a faint smile tugging at his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He replied softly: “…Mn.”

When the auspicious hour arrived, he took the bridal veil from Bai Ruolin’s hands, draped it over his head by himself, and walked out of the room.

The ceremony wasn’t held elsewhere, but right in the front hall, directly opposite the courtyard gate and just a few steps from his room.

As soon as the bride and groom stood beneath the platform in full wedding attire, they looked so perfectly matched that Zhong Yulan, seated at the head of the hall, broke into a beaming smile.

And Bai Ruolin, slipping easily into her old role, cleared her throat and announced:

“One bow to Heaven and Earth!

Two bows to the elders!

Now bow to each other!”

Aside from Bai Ruolin, who was officiating, the wedding feast outside had only three guests, each one with a face as mournful as if attending a funeral. No one dared disrupt the bizarre play Zhong Yulan was staging, and whether it was a wedding ceremony or just her welcoming Long Yin into the family was unclear.

But Qi Jiang still couldn’t stop picturing Lian Ziqing stepping over the widow earlier as she was sharpening her knife. Although his wound was no longer bleeding under the effect of spiritual medicine, the phantom pain still lingered, sharpened by the fear of her vengeance.

The wedding ceremony didn’t take much time, but as soon as the couple finished their final bow, the sky above them turned dark, as if signaling something ominous was about to come.

“Uh… next is…” Bai Ruolin, who had been hurriedly appointed as the master of ceremonies, hesitated. Then, she lowered her voice uncertainly and mumbled: “The bridal chamber…?”

Qi Jiang turned restless all over. Even like that, with one arm gone and wracked with fear, he still couldn’t suppress the filthy thoughts in his heart. In the end, he couldn’t help but sneak another look at the figure dressed in bridal red.

But the veil obscured the bride’s face. All he could see was the man standing beside her, who happened to also glance his way. That one glance was bone-deep cold, as if already staring at a corpse.

Qi Jiang broke out in a cold sweat, his very bones trembling as he quickly looked away.

Feng Qingyun was amused by Bai Ruolin’s words, but his face still flushed a little. He cleared his throat under the veil, just about to speak, when Zhong Yulan actually responded:

“You’ve paid respects to Heaven and Earth so naturally, it’s time for the bridal chamber.”

Feng Qingyun froze, stunned under the veil. 

Did she really just say that?!

But Zhong Yulan’s expression was calm as she continued: “I assume our guests have eaten their fill?”

In truth, the three “guests” hadn’t even managed a single bite. But with their faces as pale as sheets, no one dared to complain as they nodded vigorously.

“Then please, see yourselves out,” Zhong Yulan said, waving her hand. In a second, the previously sealed courtyard gate swung open. The three of them shot up like startled rabbits, showing hasty bows that were half-formed and barely polite. Without another word, they bolted from the courtyard in a panic.

Only Bai Ruolin hesitated, glancing back at the few remaining figures, clearly unwilling to leave. Seeing her reluctance to part, Zhong Yulan offered a kind farewell: “Thank you for everything today, young lady. Here’s a token of appreciation. The night is dark; you should return home. I’m sure your elders are worried.”

Then, she untied an old, faded storage pouch from her waist, a pouch that had once been the only item she carried with her when she “ascended”, and handed it to Bai Ruolin.

Bai Ruolin recognized it instantly.

Though battered and dulled by countless years, it was the same storage pouch her Master had once cherished, now looking like nothing more than a peasant woman’s ragged satchel. But just hearing her call her “young lady” made Bai Ruolin’s heart ache, almost bursting into tears as she asked: “Master… what did you go through back then?”

But Zhong Yulan merely smiled gently at her, just as she had when watching Feng Qingyun within the illusion, staring out from within the thick shell of her form.

Completely unable to say a word.

Bai Ruolin closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she looked up at the illusory moon, then wiped away her tears and said softly: “Then I’ll come back tomorrow… to visit Miss Yu and her husband.”

Zhong Yulan smiled. “Of course. Tomorrow will be a fine day.”

But they both knew… that would likely be the last time they met.

Bai Ruolin stood there for a long time before finally turning away, unwillingly.

The entire courtyard fell into an unprecedented stillness.

Having completed the wedding ceremony, Feng Qingyun wasn’t sure what his Master intended next, so he could only wait inside with Long Yin. But as more time passed, he grew restless. Eventually, he lifted the veil and turned, only for the scene in front of him to shift.

He and Long Yin had somehow been transported back into the bridal chamber where he’d done his hair earlier!

Feng Qingyun froze for a moment. Then, realizing Zhong Yulan’s intent, he quickly turned and strode toward the door.

However, though the entire village and illusion were not real, the door before him certainly seemed real. But just as Feng Qingyun’s right hand truly passed through the doorway, a barrier of unknown origin suddenly locked tightly around his wrist.

Outside, Zhong Yulan’s voice rang out: “Ah Yu, it’s late. No one will disturb you two tonight. You and your husband should get some rest.” Then, as if afraid her words weren’t clear enough, she added: “It’s a beautiful night, a wedding night under the flower-lantern moon. Don’t let it go to waste.”

The moment Feng Qingyun heard her words, he channeled his full strength to try breaking the barrier, shouting toward the door: “Wait, mother!”

But the barrier didn’t budge in the slightest, and he hadn’t even finished speaking when the creaking sound of the courtyard gate closing echoed from outside.

Zhong Yulan, clearly fearing they’d be embarrassed, had thoughtfully left them alone.

Feng Qingyun was utterly stunned. Then, all at once, he realized what Zhong Yulan’s final obsession as the array’s core might be…

She wanted him and Long Yin to consummate their marriage?!

Frozen in place, Feng Qingyun lowered his arm in disbelief, unable to comprehend why his Master’s deepest desire would be to see him… consummate a marriage.

In truth, within the previous illusion, he had been sacrificed by his new “husband” to the dragon God, right on his wedding night. Therefore, the bride, who should have enjoyed a blissful night, instead became an offering to the greed of the world and died a brutal death in the dragon’s lair.

The image of blood seeping through the stone had become an unshakable nightmare for Zhong Yulan on her path to reincarnation. So, served with a chance to redo it all, she was dead set on not letting anyone interrupt that night.

As for who Feng Qingyun was consummating his marriage with, whether it was the same man he’d married in the previous illusion or someone else, Zhong Yulan didn’t care.

As long as Miss Yu liked it and was willing, that was enough.

But like it or not, Feng Qingyun’s years of upright education still made it impossible for him to accept the current situation, ah!

He tried everything, all to no avail. Eventually, stiff and flustered, he turned to see a certain someone who clearly didn’t know what shame was. Not only was Long Yin not helping him out of this mess, but he also looked… deeply satisfied with the current course of events.

“What are you smirking at?!” Feng Qingyun was so angry he nearly exploded, yanking off the bridal veil and throwing it at him. “Aren’t you the so-called God of this illusion?! Do something!”

However, Long Yin simply caught the veil with a grin and shrugged. “This Lord is indeed the God of this illusion, but only in my own domain. This here is someone else’s territory. How could I possibly take charge? I don’t know where the Qilin went, but from the looks of it, your Master has replaced it and become the new array core. Everything here now follows her will.”

At that, Feng Qingyun’s face turned so dark it was almost pitch-black. And yet, Long Yin’s next words only added fuel to the fire: “If she’s not satisfied, we won’t even get close to the real ruins.”

Then he stepped up beside Feng Qingyun, wrapped an arm around his waist, and pulled him close. “Besides, this is your Master’s order. Isn’t it said… parents’ command, matchmakers’ word¹?”

“Have you no shame?!” Feng Qingyun shoved his shoulder with gritted teeth. “You’re tens of thousands of years older than my Master, and you dare bring up ‘parents’ command’?!”

Long Yin chuckled shamelessly, answering: “Who told this Lord to marry such a young wife?”

With that, he scooped Feng Qingyun into his arms and strode toward the bed.

But that bed was, of course, also an illusion. Feng Qingyun startled, arms wrapped around Long Yin’s neck as he prepared to protest, only to gape in disbelief as Long Yin pulled out a real jade bed from his storage ring and set it down.

Completely baffled, Feng Qingyun stared at him in shock. “…Why the hell do you carry a bed around with you?!”

Long Yin raised a brow, perfectly justified. “Well, I married a young wife, didn’t I? Got to be prepared in case we’re in the mood for dual cultivation!”

“Who’s in the mood for that?!” Feng Qingyun snapped.

“Who else?” Long Yin chuckled, holding him close. “Certainly not my Little Palace Master, right?”

Before Feng Qingyun could protest further, he was pressed down against the jade bed, as Long Yin reached for his wedding robes, acting as if everything was perfectly natural. “At this point, does it really matter why?” he asked. “We’re already here. May as well make use of it.”

But when he reached for the robe, his hand passed straight through the illusory wedding garment and landed on the silk brocade of Feng Qingyun’s real golden robe underneath.

Feng Qingyun’s breath caught.

They both knew it clearly… That room, the whole village, even the barrier outside… everything was entirely an illusion. Even the door was just a clever optical trick.

Which meant that this jade bed Long Yin had placed down… was now functionally in the open air! Nothing but sky above and earth below!

Thinking about it, Feng Qingyun nearly fainted from shame as his fingers clutched Long Yin’s shoulder so tightly they went white. “There must be another way! Just… just think! Don’t!”

“How do you know there is another way?” Long Yin paused, raising a brow. “And even if there is, are you sure it’ll let us out?”

His words made Feng Qingyun go still.

Long Yin immediately saw the hesitation in his eyes and smiled faintly, lowering his voice to coax him: “Besides… no one else is here. That’s just your Master’s lingering obsession. Her soul must be somewhere else in the ruins. We traveled so far to get here, are you really willing to let her linger in torment for eternity?”

“And weren’t you oh-so-fierce back in the day, Little Palace Master? What are you afraid of now?”

Feng Qingyun trembled at his words, ears flushing red as he clearly remembered some “fierce” moments of his own.

But if that truly was his Master’s dying wish… if that was really the case…

“In your eyes,” Feng Qingyun said quietly, no longer resisting, “what… what do I look like now?”

Long Yin arched a brow. This time around, he no longer bullied him. Instead, he said: “This Lord is the true God of this illusion. Do you think I wouldn’t see your true self?”

To prove it, he lifted a hand and passed it effortlessly through the illusion of the bridal robe, landing precisely on Feng Qingyun’s true waist sash beneath.

Feng Qingyun froze and instinctively looked up, only to meet Long Yin’s eyes directly. And in those dark eyes, he saw a clear reflection of himself, not as the illusion presented, but his true self.

From beginning to end, the dragon God had only ever been looking at him.

As for Long Yin, he could practically see Feng Qingyun’s bottom line being eroded away bit by bit, and even the hand pressing against his shoulder was gradually losing its strength. The Demon Emperor curled his lips into a smile, grabbed the jaw of the person beneath him, and suddenly kissed him. The moment their lips and teeth met, he could almost hear the sound of someone’s reason, and bottom line for that matter, snapping.

Feng Qingyun’s lashes trembled. He gripped the man’s collar, hesitating for a brief moment… but in the end, he opened his mouth and allowed the intruder in.

As their tongues intertwined, memories of countless addictive moments surfaced in his mind. But just as his reason was about to crumble and his belt slowly slipped to the floor, footsteps suddenly rang out from outside the door.

!!!

Feng Qingyun’s heartbeat nearly stopped as he shoved the other man away in a panic.

Then a familiar voice followed: “…Master!”

Feng Qingyun froze, then widened his eyes in disbelief, realizing it was Mu Hanyang!

Next came the soft rustling of clothes, sounding like someone was walking up and opening the door.

“Who are you, barging in like this?” Zhong Yulan manifested out of thin air with a lantern in hand, frowning coldly at the visitor. “My daughter’s wedding has concluded! It’s the middle of the night! Please leave!”

Mu Hanyang halted in his steps, staring at the person before him in disbelief and sorrow. “Master… you don’t recognize me?!”

Zhong Yulan frowned suspiciously at him. But Mu Hanyang swallowed hard, continuing to plead: “Even if you’re really just an illusion, even if you don’t recognize me, it’s fine… please, just tell me where Miss Yu is! Even if I die, I want to see her one more time!”

“…”

That was the same man who, not long ago, had claimed that Miss Yu was merely his past, and it was Feng Qingyun who was his future!

Hearing his words, even Zhong Yulan’s eyes twitched with a trace of disgust from deep within, shutting her mouth tightly.

Mu Hanyang seemed struck by lightning, but after a moment, as if suddenly realizing something, he hastily said: “Master… no, Mother-in-law, are you still resentful over what happened between Miss Yu and me? It wasn’t what you thought! I truly wanted to marry her. It’s just… someone had to sacrifice for the good of the world…”

But before he could finish, Zhong Yulan’s expression darkened further as her disgust only deepened. In the end, she didn’t even bother looking at him again and, with a swift turn, she went back into the house and slammed the door shut behind her.

As if she couldn’t be bothered to say another word, she left Mu Hanyang standing there alone in the courtyard, dazed and confused. And yet, he still had the gall to seem genuinely hurt by her reaction. It took several seconds before he came back to his senses and stepped toward the door, only to be immediately blocked by her barrier.

Zhong Yulan hated him so much that she didn’t even want to see him.

Perhaps enraged by the rejection, or simply losing his mind, Mu Hanyang planted his sword into the ground and declared resolutely: “If Master doesn’t wish to see me, then I will wait here until she does!”

On the other side of the wall, Feng Qingyun was completely dumbfounded, and rightfully so.

What was that man trying to do?! No one wanted to see him! Couldn’t he just take the hint and leave?!

Feng Qingyun cursed Mu Hanyang inwardly, but before he could vent more than a few lines, something made him stop. He suddenly turned his head in shock to look at the man beside him, his mouth moving soundlessly as he mouthed, trembling: “Long Yin, you…”

And what the hell was this other bastard trying to do?!

“Time waits for no one. If we delay any longer, it’ll be morning.” Long Yin gave him an utterly shameless grin. “So later, you’d better keep your voice down when you cry… otherwise, Yue Jinshu’s words from before the sky collapsed might really come true.”

At that, Feng Qingyun’s hair stood on end as a sudden surge of resistance exploded within him. He instantly clapped his hand over the man’s mouth, glaring at him with a you’d better not dare expression. And just like that, he stared at the Demon Lord without blinking, heart pounding like a war drum… Part of Feng Qingyun was even terrified the man would use the blood deed to force himself on him!

But thankfully, though Long Yin was a menace with his words, when it came to actual actions, he would never go that far. Caught in a deadlock, he simply raised a brow and didn’t push further.

So the atmosphere inside the bridal chamber froze in silence.

Outside, Mu Hanyang continued standing in front of the courtyard’s gate, completely unaware of what was happening inside, looking very much like a dutiful, filial son.

But he didn’t leave… Which meant the two people inside couldn’t make any sudden moves either. The barrier remained, keeping outsiders from coming in and insiders from going out. And yet, no one expected Mu Hanyang’s stubbornness to run that deep. He just stood there, unmoving, and before long, the sky outside began to lighten while he still refused to leave.

Feng Qingyun could only watch in horror as the furniture inside the room began to blur, signaling that the illusion was fading, and the relic was about to close. His heart jumped. Long Yin followed his gaze and saw the same, but he only blinked and looked at Feng Qingyun with an expression that seemed to say: Your Master really means it. You’d better figure something out.

Feng Qingyun clenched his teeth so tightly his jaw ached. They held the deadlock for the time it took an incense stick to burn.

And still, Mu Hanyang didn’t leave!

But maybe something finally clicked for him, maybe he realized Zhong Yulan’s disgust toward him wasn’t just about Miss Yu, so he spoke up again, his voice earnest and full of emotion: “Master… are you angry at me because of Qingyun? Things with Miss Yu, with Qingyun… they’re not what you think! If you don’t believe me, I’m willing to bind myself to the truth! Ask me anything you want!”

With that, he really did cast a truth spell upon himself.

But the entire courtyard continued to remain deathly silent. No one cared about his so-called truths, and no one even wanted to ask him a question.

So the spell was rendered useless.

Seeing that, Mu Hanyang bit his lip, then said with even greater resolve, continued: “I will wait here until you come out!”

In truth, his stubbornness was mostly for himself. If he could resolve Zhong Yulan’s obsession and open the relic, his chances of obtaining her legacy would increase, bringing him one step closer to recovering his cultivation. No wonder he refused to leave.

Feng Qingyun knew just how hypocritical the man was, and couldn’t help cursing him inwardly. But as he watched time tick away, he realized that if they kept dragging this out, the relic really might shut down. If that happened, no one would ever find their Master’s remains, and Zhong Yulan’s soul would never be able to return to the cycle of reincarnation!

Thinking of that, Feng Qingyun abruptly closed his eyes. Left with no other option, he clenched his teeth, the tips of his ears flushing red, and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

As if sensing his change in attitude, the illusory wedding candles flickered out one by one.

In the dark, Long Yin’s lips curled upward as he cupped Feng Qingyun’s chin and leaned in for a kiss.

The bridal chamber was really just a hollow illusion, and once the restrictions lifted, once the vision faded, everything would be exposed. Compared to any other previous times, that setup was even more completely open to the heavens, and paired with the uncomfortable knowledge that Mu Hanyang was right outside, the absurdity and shame of it all wrapped around Feng Qingyun. In the end, tears threatened to fall before anything even began.

But the more shame, the more tension. And the more tense one became, the stiffer the body.

Long Yin tried several times but made no progress, clicking his tongue in mild frustration. But before he could speak, the person beneath him, also clearly exasperated, hissed through gritted teeth: “Hurry up… Are you going to do it or not…!”

Long Yin let out a breathy laugh. “Who’s the one hesitating here? Sounds like you’re trying to blame this Lord instead.”

“In the end, it’s because you’re useless!” Feng Qingyun whispered through clenched teeth, barely audible. “Put up the soundproofing spell first…”

“Am I really that useless?!” Long Yin raised an eyebrow. “Even if I were, can you at least spare me a bit of dignity in front of your ex-husband?!”

Well… he really shouldn’t have brought that up.

At once, Feng Qingyun remembered the mortifying fact that his former Dao companion was literally a wall away, nearly passing out from embarrassment!

Long Yin, however, was in a fantastic mood…

…Well, that was, until he wasn’t.

He’d purposely delayed casting the soundproofing spell just to tease Feng Qingyun, but unfortunately, he ended up hitting himself in the foot once more. After all, the extinguished candles and the rustling sounds within the room were enough for Mu Hanyang outside to start piecing things together.

Realization dawned across his face, and then… he finally moved.

Feng Qingyun heard the footsteps and thought the man was finally leaving. He had just begun to relax when his hair stood on end, nearly biting his own tongue in fright.

Mu Hanyang had moved alright, but he… walked up to their window and raised a hand to knock!

Fortunately, his hand struck the barrier and bounced off. However, he didn’t seem surprised, and instead, he simply stood underneath the window and said bitterly: “My dear Miss Yu… are you in there?”

Feng Qingyun’s skin prickled with goosebumps as he immediately reached out his hand to cast a soundproofing spell. And yet, it was still Long Yin who moved faster. With one hand clamped over Feng Qingyun’s mouth, he swiftly traced a spell in mid-air. He always joked with a poisonous tongue, but when things got serious, he was more determined than even Feng Qingyun himself not to let anyone hear his voice.

But just as the final stroke of the spell was about to fall, Mu Hanyang let out a self-deprecating chuckle outside.

“…I’m sorry, Miss Yu… maybe you’re inside, sharing the wedding night with an illusion of me. Forgive me for interrupting.”

“But I’m standing here with nowhere to go, full of things I don’t know who to say them to! Master won’t speak to me, so please, just listen!”

His confidence rang out so plainly that, were the situation not so twisted, Feng Qingyun might have laughed out loud. But Long Yin’s hand remained clamped tightly over his mouth, and he couldn’t make a sound.

And perhaps because of Mu Hanyang’s words, Long Yin’s hand hesitated. He paused… then suddenly changed the direction of the spell’s last stroke, casting a one-way soundproofing charm instead.

Feng Qingyun’s eyes went wide, staring at him in shock, and a dreadful premonition rose in his chest.

After all, Mu Hanyang had always been good at putting on a show. He had said so many things the night before their Dao ceremony, even having the guts to conjure an illusion of his dear Miss Yu, only to confess his undying love in front of plain air.

So who knew what he was about to say now?!

And if Long Yin actually heard those shameless lies, Feng Qingyun was sure the vinegar jar would tip and drown them both!

At once, he tapped into a well of strength he didn’t know he had and managed to fight Long Yin to a stalemate, even without drawing his sword. He was just about to kick Long Yin off the bed and draw his own soundproofing spell when, of all times, Mu Hanyang began to speak:

“Miss Yu, even if you’re just an illusion, I truly fell for you. Even if you don’t exist in the real world…”

He paused for a moment, then continued with unbearable sincerity: “I’ll always remember how overjoyed you were when I proposed. You said I was the one husband you’d chosen for life.”

“And in my heart, you’ll always be my first and only wife.”

“?!”

Feng Qingyun’s pupils contracted sharply.

That’s not what he’d said at all!

In fact, his exact words had been: If you’re true to me, I shall remain as hard to move as stone.

What the hell was that crazy bastard spouting?!

And to make matters worse, the other crazy bastard right beside him let out a cold laugh, the sound filled with killing intent, ringing sharply and loudly in Feng Qingyun’s ears.

A chill swept through him as he turned desperately to explain: “I never said that…!”

But what had just been a balanced standoff suddenly tipped in Long Yin’s favour as the Demon Emperor grabbed his waist and pinned him flat against the bed.

Feng Qingyun silently cursed Mu Hanyang to hell and back, even as tears welled up in his eyes from the man’s furious movements.

The next moment, that vinegar-drenched bastard leaned in, voice low with laughter twisted in anger as he asked:

“Please, Little Palace Master, enlighten this Lord.

Who is the husband you’ve chosen for life, hmm?”

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1. 父母之命媒妁之言- fùmǔ zhī mìng, méishuò zhī yán- is a fixed, proverbial expression, used by modern Chinese to refer to the entire institution of traditional Chinese arranged marriage. The expression itself is perhaps also informative, for it also stresses that the authority in a marriage choice rests with the parents, while the role of the matchmaker is just a source of information and advice, not authority. ↩︎

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