65 Chapter 65

◎Divorce◎

He scoffed, his tone tinged with impatience: "Ungrateful wretch."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xueyan immediately took off her cloak, threw it hard onto the snow, and stomped on it several times.

Jiang Qiye's eyes flickered slightly, and after a long while, he finally uttered two words: "Whatever you say."

After saying that, he turned his face away.

Pei Xueyan also turned to look at the snow scene outside the pavilion. The fine snowflakes were like cotton wool. The two stood back to back in silence, with only the rustling of the wind and snow.

After a long silence, she finally broke it, feeling that she still had to say those words.

Even though they were husband and wife, there was no real bond between them, and he had never acknowledged their relationship. But when it came to actually speaking up, he still felt a little sad.

She softened her tone: "Brother Qiye, I don't like you anymore."

Jiang Qiye turned his head to look at her.

He heard what she said, but still only let out a low question: "Huh?"

She lowered her eyes and whispered, "I don't like you anymore. Let's go to the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon and cancel the marriage certificate. That way, we'll be considered divorced."

He already knew why she had come down the mountain, and he also knew what she had been planning during their three days apart.

But how should he answer? He'll definitely agree.

"good."

The Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon is hundreds of miles away, and the two of them each rode away on their swords.

Inside the temple, incense burned brightly, and the air was filled with the sounds of people, all of whom were couples.

It seems there are many, many lovers in this world.

The old woman who guarded the temple recognized them at a glance.

The two were originally handsome and beautiful, and at first glance they seemed to be eloping, but I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly.

The mother-in-law was still wearing the same tattered clothes, her eyes half-closed, with a hint of rambling.

"You've only been married a few months, and you're already asking for a child?"

Pei Xueyan stepped forward first and said softly, "No, mother-in-law, we...we're here to get a divorce. Could you please destroy the marriage certificate?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the mother-in-law's eyes. Her gaze swept over the two of them, glancing at Jiang Qiye and then at Pei Xueyan's expression.

"Young lady, have you thought this through?"

Pei Xueyan nodded.

The mother-in-law didn't ask about Jiang Qiye's expression. After all, she had seen many lovesick men and women and could recognize the heartlessness of a scumbag. The young girl's eyes were filled with unresolved sorrow, as if she were carrying a heavy burden, while the man was calm and composed. The contrast was obvious.

Back then, this man was a devoted lover who vowed to be "until death do us part," but now, in just a few short months, his feelings have faded and he is cold-hearted.

The old woman pointed with her cane at the vows on the wall, and the yellowed words suddenly floated into the air.

Pei Xueyan had never really understood what these contents were about before, but seeing them again now still made her heart tighten.

"Mother-in-law, you said before that if I break my promise, there will be retribution. Is there really no way to avert it?"

The old woman glanced at Jiang Qiye and said meaningfully, "Young lady, the vow is true, but those words about retribution are false. People may become more affectionate out of fear of retribution, but why should you be attached to someone who is not even afraid of retribution? People only have this one chance; it's useless afterward."

Yes, she was afraid at the time because she was heartless, while he was an extremely determined person.

Now the tables have turned; she has fallen for him, but he has already let go and is indifferent.

However, the ending is always good; there is no punishment for breaking a promise.

The mother-in-law took out two talismans and stuck them on the arms of the two people respectively.

Her thin, bony fingers held the talisman, her eyes slightly closed, and her hoarse voice rose and fell as she chanted the incantation to break off the marriage:

"Heaven has ordained us with a red thread, and earth has decreed our marriage; now, a foolish child wishes to untangle this karmic ties—"

"Your old names on the Stone of Three Lives are now erased and never touched again; the Meng Po soup at the Bridge of Helplessness has been prepared for you for a thousand years. When the incantation is uttered, it will be answered; when the talisman is placed, it will be effective. There is no punishment for breaking the oath, only the death of the heart is proof."

Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the hall, the candlelight flickered, the incense smoke swirled, and the smoke twisted into strange shapes, giving off an eerie feeling.

This method of breaking an oath is quite terrifying.

Jiang Qiye felt a chill run down his spine.

The old woman's voice suddenly rose, each word resounding: "Om Mani Padme Hum, dispelling calamities, entanglements, and obsessions; Om Arabhaja Nadi, severing all attachments, thoughts, and past ties. May the soul return to its rightful place, the heart free from all worries. From now on, may we be separated by mountains and rivers, each in our own peace, with no further entanglement, no more meetings—"

"Zyr!!"

As the last word fell, both talismans simultaneously transformed into tiny pieces of gold foil, which scattered in the wind.

However, just as the talisman floated into the air and was about to land, it miraculously gathered together again and landed perfectly back in the old woman's hand.

The old woman took the talisman, tapped the ground heavily with her cane, and scolded, "How can you destroy the talisman without unlocking the heart-warming pill? Hurry up and go, don't delay this old woman from doing her work!"

Jiang Qiye looked surprised: "We've fused the Heart Pill?"

Pei Xueyan then remembered, and frowning slightly, she said irritably, "Yes, sigh..."

This kind of thing should be done in one go; such a terrifying curse, who wouldn't be terrified!

Pei Xueyan lowered her head and still asked, "Mother-in-law, how do you separate the pills?"

"Without intention, the heart and soul will separate, and the marriage certificate will naturally dissipate."

Pei Xueyan was about to make a move on the spot, but was stopped by her mother-in-law: "Young lady, the aura of marriage is strong here. Go down the mountain to dissipate it and then come back to find me."

After a long silence, Jiang Qiye finally spoke: "After the heart pills are fused, you can simply separate them by placing your palms together and gently peeling them apart."

You think you know best!

Pei Xueyan glared at him, then turned and headed down the mountain first.

The snow at the foot of the mountain was already thick, and it made a "crunching" sound when you stepped on it.

She walked slowly ahead, her blue dress contrasting against the white snow, her figure slender yet resolute.

He followed behind, his black robes billowing as he walked, exuding power.

When they reached a secluded spot far from the Temple of the Matchmaker, Pei Xueyan stopped.

Her nose was red from the cold, and her cheeks had an unnatural flush.

Looking at her trembling figure, Jiang Qiye felt a pang of pity, even though he had no other emotions left.

However, considering that she showed no gratitude whatsoever, oh well.

Regardless of her initial intentions, the fact that she was willing to merge her heart with the woman before her shows that it wasn't just wishful thinking or a delusion on her part, nor was it truly wishful thinking on her part.

Just as Pei Xueyan was about to extend her palm to separate them, Jiang Qiye said very seriously, "Miss Pei, your master is unlikely to return in the next few years, and your senior sister is in charge of Yishui Manor, so she doesn't need your help. You... If you're willing, you can still stay in the Qing Sect. I can teach you cultivation. Your cultivation still needs the Heart Sutra, and I can—"

“Jiang Qiye--” Pei Xueyan interrupted him. She knew he meant well. He was not a bad person at all, but a very good one. He was very well-mannered and believed he would be very polite to her in the future.

But once a person decides to end a relationship, there is no turning back.

She whispered, "I don't like you anymore."

Jiang Qiye remained silent.

The two extended their palms simultaneously and stood facing each other.

Pei Xueyan felt a sticky sensation in her palm, and with each bit she peeled away, she felt an unbearable pain as if her heart was being torn apart, as if countless thin threads were pulling at her soul.

Jiang Qiye's palm, however, only felt a slight tearing sensation, without much ripple.

If one is without intention, the heart's desire will naturally dissipate.

Pei Xueyan struggled to remove her hand.

The moment their palms separated completely, Pei Xueyan coughed up blood.

Jiang Qiye felt her mind return to a state of confusion when she destroyed the marriage certificate; she even felt a little unsteady on her feet.

He couldn't tell if he was right or wrong, and no one explained why he was breathing so heavily.

Pei Xueyan took a step back and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

She said with unusual calm, "Master Jiang, your skills are lacking, truly terrible. In the third illusion, I woke up and learned about my past life, and also that it was you who invited me to abolish my cultivation in reality. My mind was not clear. You were too good to me. I knew you would kill me, yet I still clung to hope. I knew we had only known each other for less than half an hour in reality, yet I still stayed with you. I was a fool, an idiot, always fantasizing about unrealistic things. The you now is the real you. I don't want to feel guilty, I want to like you. I know you've never had any of these feelings."

She left these words behind, then her figure transformed into a red streak and vanished into the wind and snow in an instant.

A moment later, her voice echoed in the sky: "I will return your cultivation to you later, and then we'll be even."

Pei Xueyan was the last person who wanted to tell him about this.

But I still couldn't resist.

If I don't tell him, probably no one will ever know about this in their lifetime.

From now on, they will be strangers. How can strangers share their innermost thoughts?

She had nowhere to go, felt weak and listless every day, and was in a very low mood. Perhaps because she was inexperienced, she did not know that this was pain or depression.

Even though she had severed all ties with Jiang Qiye and dealt with their relationship, she found herself not at ease.

She tried to cultivate in some hot places, and eventually found a beautiful place with a mountain stream.

Finding himself lacking motivation, he impulsively said he would return his cultivation to him so that neither of them would owe the other anything.

It'll be returned to him sooner or later, so why bother with further cultivation?

Sigh, but what if I really give it back to him and become a useless person?

It seems that doing so was indeed a bit impulsive.

However, the thought that they could meet again because of this made me inexplicably happy.

After wandering around for a month, Pei Xueyan returned to Yishui Villa.

Before returning, she was filled with worry, fearing that the news of her divorce had already spread far and wide, and that her senior sister would definitely interrogate her about where she had been for the past month.

Surprisingly, nothing happened after I got home.

Grandma Jiang was still making bean cakes in the yard. When she saw her come back, she immediately smiled and waved, "Little Ayan, come and try the freshly made ones."

Grandma Jiang never regarded her as the sect leader or the head of the manor; she always treated her as the little girl who had just arrived years ago.

She was less than five years old at the time. When Ye Xiuluo brought her to Yishui Manor, her hair was messy and she was thin and weak. She would wolf down her food like a starving ghost every time she ate.

Ye Xiuluo originally took her in with the intention of making her a kitchen maid, doing chores like everyone else in the village.

Unexpectedly, this child has amazing talent. He can learn many skills in no time, and often he can master them with just a glance. He learns even faster than his senior sister who came two years earlier.

I thought a genius girl had arrived, but this girl only wanted to enjoy herself and was extremely playful.

Ye Xiuluo was too busy taking care of himself to have time to discipline her.

In the blink of an eye, the little girl from back then has grown up.

He remains intelligent and his abilities have become even stronger, but he always has a strange and unusual mind. When he goes down the mountain, he likes to play pranks and cause trouble, and he is not steady at all.

To outsiders, she didn't act like an adult at all.

In contrast, Zhou Wenjian is calm, dignified, sensible and considerate. Who wouldn't like her?

Her master never criticized her.

However, with two apprentices with such different personalities in the village, over time everyone got used to it.

Pei Xueyan, munching on a sweet bean cake, asked casually, "Grandma, haven't you heard anything interesting lately?"

"What's wrong? Have you gotten into trouble again? Or is Master Ye coming back?"

"No, it's just that there are no news or rumors among the various immortal sects."

Grandma Jiang thought about it carefully and slowly shook her head: "I haven't heard anything special about it."

Isn't her divorce from Jiang Qiye a big deal?

If even this doesn't count, then what about all the suffering I endured while fleeing in such a sorry state?

"Mother-in-law, sigh..." She wanted to tell her mother-in-law, but she held back and didn't say anything.

Her marriage was already complicated and unclear, and the divorce was so formal that it seemed like everyone was taking it seriously.

In the end, it was nothing more than a tacit play between her and him.

Pei Xueyan continued to prompt, "Recently... have any other sect leaders or manor lords visited? I've heard that there's a long-standing custom of reciprocity among the leaders of various manors in the martial world."