Chapter 1: Don't Arrange Marriages

it hurts.

It hurts so much.

The chill of deep winter, buried deep within the bones of her limbs, burst forth; she had never felt this cold, not even during the coldest days of winter in Taozhou. Her sternum felt as if it had been trampled by carriages and horses and then pieced back together. She clearly had one foot at the gates of hell, yet she clung to life, struggling for her last breath. Everywhere ached, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly where the pain was.

Lin Chengye felt as if he were not a living person, but a lump of rotten flesh, a fish dying far from the river.

But amidst the endless cold and pain, Lin Chengye suddenly sensed an extremely weak yet gentle internal force slowly and gently flowing into her body, like a spring rain, flowing along her already broken meridians, enveloping her heart like water.

Who, who is saving her?

A mouthful of thick liquid suddenly surged into her throat, and she coughed violently. Blood choked in her throat and then flowed into her trachea, almost drowning her. Lin Chengye vaguely heard the gasps of alarm from people on the shore as she sank into the deep sea.

"Alliance Leader..."

"Alliance Leader! Miss Lin has..."

One person's voice was almost drowned out by the exclamations, but she heard that sentence the most clearly.

"Everyone, get out. I can do it myself."

The biting cold swept over her body with increasing fury, and Lin Chengye suddenly realized that it was neither cold nor pain.

But she was about to die.

But why? Why is she dying?

She couldn't remember.

Death threatened to take her away from the world, but the gentle and peaceful inner force remained unmoved, holding her firmly. Lin Chengye subconsciously searched for the source of that gentleness, his fingers clenching tightly, almost piercing the other person's palm.

She can't die, she can't die.

Death blurred her memories; Lin Chengye couldn't even recall why she couldn't die. But instinctively, she felt that something heavier than mountains and seas was keeping her alive in this world.

"Help me..."

The man hissed softly, gently turned her face, pried open her lips and teeth with his fingers, and drew out the blood that was stuck in her throat. Lin Chengye let out a comfortable groan, and then vomited a mouthful of black blood.

"Lin Chengye, Lin Chengye..."

The man leaned down, his hair brushing against her nose, and whispered in her ear, repeating the name Lin Chengye over and over, his sorrow bordering on a plea.

It seemed as if water had fallen on her face, and Lin Chengye really wanted to tell that person that she didn't want to die either.

The icy sea tide could not shake the handful of warm, fine spring rain. It gradually weakened under the repeated angry waves. Lin Chengye felt the cold gradually leaving her, and the gentle yet strong inner force finally enveloped her completely.

She stopped vomiting blood, and Lin Chengye finally managed to utter a complete sentence with trembling lips.

"Mother……"

Suddenly, her body felt light, and the pain left her. Lin Chengye fell into the deep sea like a drifting leaf, falling into her dream.

Those memories should have been happy, but why?

Why does she want to cry so badly?

...

Three months ago.

That day was her seventeenth birthday.

"What happened to the family dinner we agreed on...?"

Lin Chengye sighed, looking at the banquet guest list handed to him with a troubled expression. His long, slender fingers propped up his forehead, and his youthful brows furrowed slightly, revealing more helplessness than true annoyance.

Unlike her brother Lin Chengtong, who was enthusiastic about her birthday and wanted the entire General's Mansion to be bustling like it was New Year's, and to hang lanterns all over the street, she simply instructed that everything should be kept simple, just like a regular family banquet, and that she might have some new clothes made at most.

"There's nothing you can do. Can you stop Liu Yue from coming? Even Lord Liu can't do anything about him."

The gloating in his tone was self-evident. Lin Chengye put down the list, calmly placed a piece on the table, and watched his elder brother sitting cross-legged on the heated couch, making faces with a mocking expression.

Lin Chengtong was fourteen years older than her. Her features resembled her mother, Lin Daiqiao, by seven parts: sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, thin lips, and a small black mole under her eye. She was gentler than Lin Daiqiao. Unlike her, who was a half-baked martial arts student who spent all her time thinking about how to skip martial arts training, Chengtong was focused on marksmanship. She would go out to practice martial arts with her mother before dawn, and she was always efficient and clean-cut.

His eyes, however, were a light brown in the sunlight, and he always looked at everyone with a smile.

"Liu Yue grew up with you since you were little. Back then, didn't you even climb over the wall to deliver the most sought-after pastries from the east of the city to the prefect's mansion? You're so smart, how could you not see that he had feelings for you? Besides, he's the prefect's son. Although he's not quite there yet, he's still good enough to enter the Lin family. If you hadn't been so stubborn, Mother would have gone to propose marriage last year..."

Lin Chengtong became more and more excited as she spoke, as if this marriage was perfect in every way, and that she was just young and naive.

“I have already told him. First, I am going to travel the world in the future. Second, I really don’t have any feelings for him, I really only see him as family.”

Lin Chengye shook his head, lowering his eyes to hide the helplessness in them. She tapped her fingers lightly on the table a few times, signaling her eccentric brother to come back to his senses; they still had a few games of chess left.

"Sigh, I don't know why you insisted on going to that world of martial arts. When I traveled before, I didn't find it particularly enjoyable; in fact, I experienced a lot of heartbreak. But I remember what you told Mother: 'I already have someone I love.' When did that happen? Who is it? What's their name? How old are they? What do they look like?"

Lin Chengtong's mind was no longer on the game of chess. He placed a piece haphazardly and excitedly leaned forward to observe his younger sister's expression. Unfortunately, Lin Chengye's dark eyes reflected only the black and white chessboard, nothing else.

"You were eavesdropping! There's no such person. I was just making this up."

Yesterday, when her mother once again earnestly advised her to think things through, Lin Chengye remembered that a dark shadow flew past the window at that time, and sure enough, it was Lin Chengtong.

She couldn't do anything about her unruly brother, so she just gave a lukewarm response.

"...It's my fault, but I was just too curious!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Lin Chengtong clasped his hands together, blinked, and obediently bowed his head, apologizing loudly.

"Alright, I won."

Lin Chengye clapped her hands. As the last black piece fell, she narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, a faint smile playing on her lips.

On the chessboard, the white pieces appear aggressive, but in reality, they have already been surrounded and are like trapped beasts powerless to turn the tide, showing signs of defeat. The black pieces, on the other hand, remain silent like black snakes lying in wait, pressing forward step by step. Every move is justified, without any superfluous or hesitant steps, displaying a calm demeanor that also carries an undisguised youthful exuberance.

"Hey...when? You didn't secretly move the pieces, did you? No, no..."

I can't be bothered with it.

Lin Chengye stood up leisurely, leaving the distressed Lin Chengtong behind, and silently noted in her heart that this was the 391st game she had won.

Just as he reached the door, Lin Chengye suddenly remembered something and hurriedly returned, coughing lightly to cover it up.

"Do you still stand by what you said before?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

Lin Chengtong was still counting the chess pieces when he looked up, somewhat bewildered.

"A few days ago, you and I made a promise that whoever won would have to answer one question for the other person unconditionally."

Without a doubt, even ten Lin Chengtongs wouldn't have been enough. Lin Chengye had been pondering the question from the very beginning, until the soft thud of the last piece echoed in the empty room. She was so immersed in the joy of winning that she almost forgot everything.

"Let's calculate, let's ask."

Lin Chengtong's greatest characteristic is that he can afford to lose. Let alone four hundred games, even if he loses four thousand games, it doesn't matter! Lin Chengtong puffed out his chest and stared at Lin Chengye expectantly.

Lin Chengye took a deep breath and suddenly asked a completely unfamiliar name.

Do you still like Bian Yi?

"who?"

Lin Chengtong was clearly taken aback, paused for a moment, and then quickly laughed.

"That happened so many years ago, I haven't liked her for a long time. I was the same age as you when I met her, and now I'm over thirty and have a wife. I can hardly remember what she looks like, um... I was too young back then, it doesn't count."

"Okay, that's all."

Lin Chengye nodded and stepped out the door.

...

Her yearning for the martial arts world should all be attributed to Lin Chengtong.

Lin Chengye stood in the center of the bedroom, stretching out his arms as instructed by the maid Yao Wan, standing rambling on as the young girl chattered on about what hairpins he should wear, how the fabric of his new dark-colored clothes was made by merchants from the Southern Qi, and how the young ladies and gentlemen of the capital all loved them.

She seemed uninterested, her eyes half-closed, occasionally responding to Yao Wan's words, but her thoughts had already drifted far away. She only gestured that she was listening, not wanting to spoil the young girl's enjoyment.

The sun had already set in the west, and the orange-red afterglow fell on her shoulders and temples, somewhat dazzling without the obstruction of the lush summer foliage.

The soft laughter of her mother, Lin Daiqiao, and her father, Wei Liu, drifted in through the window screen. She could vaguely imagine that warm and gentle scene, just like the days she had spent in the General's Mansion for so many years.

Wei Liu was originally an ordinary doctor in the northern frontier. Lin Daiqiao was accidentally injured and was saved by him, which led to their destined connection.

Later, Lin Daiqiao kept asking Wei Langzhong to treat her illness, even if she wasn't sick. After much pleading and cajoling, he eventually married her as his second wife.

They've been a loving couple all these years.

One by one, the lotus lanterns decorating the ground lit up, making the barren land of Northwest China as beautiful as the sunset.

Lin Chengye remembered that it was also such an evening when she was about twelve or thirteen years old. Her temperament was far less mature than it is now, and the account book she held in her hand was just a cover for the expectations in her heart.

Lin Chengye hoped that her older brother could come today and tell her those stories of the martial arts world again. Since she was seven years old, Lin Chengtong had always used those stories to lull her to sleep. Even though he himself had only traveled for three years, the stories of the martial arts world were like a gushing mountain spring, never-ending.

In particular, that person said something yesterday:

"Actually, what I've told you is nothing compared to this. There was someone who was truly like a celestial being. He wore wide-sleeved white robes, held a white silk sandalwood fan, and had white ribbons fluttering behind his head, dancing with his movements..."

Then Lin Chengtong turned around and left.

She was left alone, tossing and turning all night, unable to fall asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see that person standing under the tree, lazily waving a folding fan, with the fine silver moonlight falling on his ink-black hair. One glance was enough to tell her about love and romance.

She thought that person must be gentle and have a smiling face.

Although Lin Chengtong was already married, he could never resist the urge to return to the Marshal's Mansion to see his still young sister.

So, despite being busy that day, I still managed to get to Lin Chengye's study before sunset.

"Where were we..."

"A banished immortal."

Lin Chengye spoke up to remind him.

"Yes. So you were listening. I thought you only liked reading those account books and military treatises..."

Lin Chengtong looked at Chengye's expectant eyes in surprise, only then realizing that her little sister was still a child. She hummed a few times with a bit of pride. Over the years, unlike other brothers, she didn't have a little follower who looked at her with adoration. Instead, she received more disdain than anything else.

The story of the banished immortal is short and can be explained in just a few words.

In the fourth year of Yongjing, it was the third year that Lin Chengtong had been traveling, and also the last year of his promise to his mother that he would return home at the end of the year.

He mostly wandered aimlessly, checking out wherever there was trouble or amusement. After several twists and turns, he ended up heading south, arriving at Jiangjinjie, the border between Lai and Southern Qi, a place the locals called Wucheng.

For over a decade, countless conflicts have erupted between the Southern Qi and the Lai Kingdom here. Today one side occupies, tomorrow the other takes over, like a colossal joke. The iron horses and golden spears that should be protecting the people and the land instead run rampant on this land. Silver blades and blood are used against foreign enemies, while the scars fall on innocent civilians. Those dried bloodstains on the earth are all for nameless people without any memorials.

No rules, no order, no morality. Lin Chengye listened quietly to his brother's description, frowned, and made a rough judgment about this place in his mind.

Lin Chengtong's overly upright nature always gets him into trouble wherever he goes. However, after casually beheading a bandit who was robbing a farmer of food, he heard angry shouts coming from afar while staying at an inn in the middle of the night. He quickly climbed out of the window, followed the sound, and used his light-footed skills to stand in front of the bandits.

There were quite a few of them, at least a hundred, but none of them had a solid foundation, let alone any internal strength. Lin Chengtong gripped his short blade, his gaze coldly sweeping over this rabble. He wasn't afraid, but these people were unreasonable; if they stormed into the inn, they would surely harm innocent people.

Just as he was racking his brains for a solution, a gentle lake breeze blew through the pear trees beside the mountain path, and white petals landed on Lin Chengtong's nose. An unusual rustling sound came from above, and Lin Chengtong's eyes sharpened. Cold sweat instantly slid down his forehead. He subconsciously raised his short blade, gathered his inner strength, and with a quick flick of his toes, he flipped backward, widening the distance between himself and the other person.

He hadn't even sensed another person in the tree, which was more impressive than the entire group of bandits in front of him combined. Lin Chengtong tilted his head slightly, trying to make out the newcomer's face in the moonlight.

Then he froze.

The man yawned, his wide white sleeves rustling through the leaves, scattering pear blossoms like snowflakes. His slightly curled black hair, shimmering silver in the moonlight, cascaded down his back. He casually broke off a pear branch, slowly gathering his hair in the air. The misty haze in his eyes faded, and he smiled gently at him, saying...

"How could something like this happen even when I'm just trying to sleep?"

It landed silently, like a leaf falling in front of Lin Chengtong.

With a flick of his wide sleeve, a white silk sandalwood fan twirled between the man's fingers.

Without uttering a single superfluous word, the man seemingly casually waved his folding fan forward, clearing away the cool night air. His immense and powerful inner force sent the bandits flying backward for over ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground. Cries of agony filled the air. Some limped away, uttering harsh words, while others, with broken arms and legs, rolled on the ground, frantically clutching the legs of their fleeing companions. But in the end, they were mercilessly abandoned. Those in the front row coughed up blood and lay motionless.

Are you alright?

The man seemed oblivious to the wails behind him, turned around with a smile, and placed his hand on the inside of the man's wrist to check his pulse.

Lin Chengtong, completely forgetting about any precautions, stood there dumbfounded as the man touched his forehead and stroked his arms up and down. The man looked satisfied and said...

"Hmm, it's nothing. I have a slight fever, probably from being a little anxious just now."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going. I'll find another tree to sleep under."

As soon as the man turned around, Lin Chengtong snapped out of his daze and hurriedly spoke.

"Young hero! What is your name? My family is a distinguished one, and we will surely repay your kindness in the future!"

"How dare a kid talk like that?"

The man turned around and grinned mischievously.

When Lin Chengtong met those round eyes, he suddenly blushed. The man shook his head and said...

"Unfortunately, there's really nothing I need. My surname is Bian, just the character 'Yi'."

Lin Chengtong nodded in a daze, repeating the name Bian Yi over and over again. When he came to his senses again, the person was already gone, leaving only a shower of pear blossoms.

From that day on, Lin Chengtong was completely infatuated, going to the pear tree every day to search for her. Bian Yi was always sitting there too, his hair tied up with a white silk ribbon, finally looking like a chivalrous knight-errant.

Lin Chengtong felt that Bian Yi was not a beauty in the traditional sense, at least not in appearance, unlike Fang Yanzhou, who was recognized as the number one beauty in the martial arts world. But her elegant and dashing demeanor was worthy of the description "graceful and bright", and she was exceptionally gentle.

Are you married?

Finally, after about two months, Lin Chengtong stood in front of Bian Yi with a look of grim determination, stammering as he asked, his ears so red they could bleed.

Bian Yi paused for a moment, then laughed a few times. She reached out and touched Lin Chengtong's deeply bowed forehead, and said...

"You're still young. The world is vast, what isn't more interesting than love? Besides, I'm leaving now, and I wanted to say goodbye to you today."

"I...I...Where can I find you then!"

Lin Chengtong asked hurriedly.

Bian Yi lightly touched the ground with her toes, leaping into the air, her long sleeves billowing like ocean waves. She landed on a pine tree at the edge of the cliff and jumped straight down. Those words, hardly a farewell, still lingered in the morning air, carrying the fragrance of pear blossoms.

"The world is vast, we'll meet again someday."

...

Her brother believed in fate, but she refused to.

From then on, whenever she heard stories of the two heroes Jiang Zhongzhong joining hands to punish the good and promote the evil, she would always fantasize that one day she and Bian Yi would be like that.

The only problem is the age difference; Bian Yi sounds older than her brother. I wonder how old he will be when she goes to the martial world now.

It's alright. There's a saying in this world: "friendship across generations."

Okay, okay.

Lifelong friends, venturing into the world together.

He lived a carefree and happy life, detached from matters of the court.

As Lin Chengye pondered this, a slight smile crept onto her lips. Seeing this, Yao Wan beside her pursed her lips and sighed deeply.

Normally, the young lady is composed and reliable, but looking like this...

He must be thinking about some random, chaotic world of martial arts again!

A note from the author:

Please add this to your favorites [yuanbao emoji]. Sorry to bother everyone.