Chapter 29: We're husband and wife. I'd like to find someone to marry and have a wedding ceremony with, wouldn't that be better...?

“Lian Quesheng came over yesterday just to deliver this.”

Jiang Yu reached out to take the mahogany box, but Shen Jiuxu stopped him. He gasped softly as he was once again held tightly in someone's arms.

He heard a soft pant beside him. Shen Jiuxu tried hard to suppress his emotions and calm himself down before whispering, "I'm willing."

"I'd be willing to die for it."

Shen Qinggui suddenly realized that his previous thoughts seemed to be a bit wrong. Jiang Feiwan didn't like Shen Jiuxu that much. He liked her, so much so that he wanted to marry her.

"If you're willing, then you're willing. Why are you hugging me again—"

Jiang Yu found it amusing, but Shen Jiuxu was reluctant to let go. He had been wavering and anxious for so many days, so it was perfectly normal to hug him a little longer now.

He wanted to kiss Jiang Feiwan, preferably until he was completely out of it and forgot all about that righteous and gentlemanly sect leader.

The rain that lasted all day brought no relief from the heat; instead, it made the house even hotter.

Jiang Yu was being held by him, and a thin layer of sweat quickly appeared on his neck. He tried to push Chen Jiuxu away, but couldn't move him after a long time. "It's hot, don't get so close."

"I am very happy."

Shen Jiuxu seemed like a puppet under a spell. After asking "Who died?", he repeated the same question to Jiang Yu, his tone much lower than before, almost like he was unconsciously being coquettish, "Were you and him married before?"

here we go again!

"What do you think?" Jiang Yu pulled him to lie down on the bed. "We're already Daoist partners, so we'll definitely get married. It's just that we didn't have a big ceremony. The wedding clothes were sent by Lian Quesheng, but everything else was complete and everything was made."

Not hearing any response from the other party, Jiang Yu sighed silently in his heart. He knew that given Shen Jiuxu's personality, it was impossible for him not to ask.

But if he asked, he would tell the truth that Shen Jiuxu couldn't accept it. If he lied, Jiang Yu was afraid that if Shen Jiuxu regained his memories one day, he wouldn't be able to accept it and would end up lying in bed for days and nights, possibly breaking his back.

*Smack*

Jiang Yu instinctively rushed over and kissed the tip of his nose, coaxing, "This time, let's do the whole thing, bow to heaven and earth in public, nothing will be missing, okay?"

"no."

The gloom in Shen Qinggui's eyes gradually dissipated. He turned around, and Jiang Yu was surprised for a moment, not understanding what he meant. A look of surprise flashed across her face. "If we get married first thing tomorrow morning, there won't be enough time for the traditional wedding rites."

"The Three Letters and Six Rites, do you want me to give them to you or you to give them to me?" Jiang Yu burst out laughing. "Alright, alright, it's my fault. I was a little hasty. I'll make it up to you later, okay?"

This guy is too serious. Jiang Yu pulled him over the covers and patted his shoulder. "Go to sleep. I'll make it up to you tomorrow when things are over."

Shen Qinggui had already made up his mind, so he didn't dwell on it any longer and held the person in his arms. "Sleep."

Jiang Yu had no choice but to let him hold her all night. Luckily, she was used to sleeping like this before, otherwise she would have just stared at each other wide-eyed and been wide awake all night.

"What are you thinking about?" Lian Quesheng noticed Shen Jiuxu's absent-minded look and nudged him. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

The other person's gaze swept over him, as if he had been sized up from head to toe. When he thought of Lian Quesheng's words, "I like the kind of person Xi Chuang is," he felt that the other person was full of a sense of disregard for human ethics.

"What do you mean by looking at me with pity?" Lian Quesheng felt uneasy under his gaze. "I am the chief disciple of the Star Palace, I have no shortage of money or love, why would I deserve your pity?"

"well."

Shen Qinggui sighed. After all, his and Jiang Feiwan's future was bright and promising, but even the future of Quesheng and Xichuang was still uncertain. He had given him and Jiang Yu two sets of wedding clothes, so he should at least help him. "I'll give you some ideas next time."

Lian Quesheng: ......

When did he ever need advice from Shen Jiuxu, that rigid, unromantic old man? What did he mean by this?! Lian Quesheng muttered under his breath, "Don't get any funny ideas, I—"

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Jiuxu stopped him. The surroundings suddenly became very quiet, and even a cold aura emanated from them. Lian Quesheng actually felt a little cold, shivered, and unconsciously pulled his clothes tighter.

He looked up at the thick clouds above. The sun was just a moment ago, how did it suddenly disappear? Does the weather in Shenwuke have to change so quickly? He didn't bring an umbrella, will he get soaked to the bone in a moment?

"Brother Qinggui, are you cold?"

Lian Quesheng reached out to touch Shen Jiuxu's shoulder, but after groping for a while, he didn't touch anything. "Is it really necessary? I just touched you. Do you have to stay several feet away? That's not very brotherly."

After a while, he realized something was wrong. Wasn't it Shen Jiuxu who had pressed him down when he was speaking? He had touched his shoulder. Lian Quesheng felt a chill. He remembered that Shen Jiuxu hadn't removed his hand, so how could he not find him?

The warmth on his shoulder reminded Lian Quesheng that there was indeed a living person there.

Who exactly is touching him?

Lian Quesheng calmly reached out and pressed his hand down, only to find nothing there. The warm sensation was still there, but he couldn't feel anything at all.

Two words suddenly popped into Lian Quesheng's mind—illusion, but upon reflection, it didn't seem to be an illusion. The people of Xingchenque were most skilled in illusion, and Lian Quesheng was one of the best among them. Back when he met Jiang Yu in the sect competition, he had already become a famous young master of a noble family in the mortal world because of his superb illusion skills.

If Jiang Yu hadn't shattered his illusion with that sword strike, he would undoubtedly have won first place. But now even Que Sheng can't figure out what's trapping him.

Meanwhile, Shen Jiuxu also noticed something amiss. The previously bustling crowd had suddenly vanished, leaving only darkness around them. Only the coffin at the very front emitted a ghostly green light, drawing people forward.

Why leave him a coffin containing Shen Jiuxu's name? He walked slowly forward, and the coffin drew closer and closer. The words carved on it with a sword were clearly visible: Shen Jiuxu, the nineteenth generation sect leader of Shen Wuke, carved by his Daoist partner Jiang Yu.

The top of the coffin was not aligned, so it was not clear from a distance, but when you got closer you could see a small crack. It was dark inside with no light, and a faint green glow was scattered around it.

Although Shen Qinggui was jealous of him, he was still aware of the situation. Regardless of his relationship with Jiang Yu, Shen Jiuxu was a respected sect leader. How could he not have done such a small thing as closing the coffin properly?

Jiang Yu shouldn't make such a mistake.

An unseen force pulled Shen Qinggui forward. He wanted to stop, but his body uncontrollably touched the coffin lid.

At that very moment, another hand grabbed Shen Qinggui's shoulder and executed a clean and decisive over-the-shoulder throw. Shen Qinggui drew his sword and braced it against the ground, then flipped over and kicked the person behind him, deliberately avoiding the coffin.

If something happens to this coffin today, Jiang Feiwan probably won't be happy either; he's only doing this for Jiang Feiwan.

A silvery-white sword flashed between the two men. With a loud clang, the man hidden in the darkness drew his second sword and stabbed the man behind him.

Blood splattered out, and Lian Quesheng curled his lip, tasting a slightly salty, metallic flavor. "Pah—"

"Finally, we've run into someone."

Lian Quesheng walked for half a day in the dark. Just as the hand on his shoulder disappeared, the wind caused by the sword move stirred the hair by his ear. The faint fragrance of flowers made him realize that Shen Jiuxu was there.

The sword was drawn from its sheath like a dragon, moving with incredible speed, leaving no trace, and hurtling straight towards Shen Qinggui and Lian Quesheng. Seeing the two of them closing in, the man used some unknown technique to conceal the sword's light, leaving only the sound of clashing blades in the pitch black.

"Lian Quesheng—"

Shen Qinggui recognized his voice and was listening carefully to the location of the sword when Lian Quesheng replied, "Hey, here it is."

With a "crack," a thick branch fell down. Shen Qinggui pinpointed the location and slashed at the tree with his sword. The leaves were held in place by similar branches, and a sudden, stronger fragrance of flowers wafted in all directions.

"Your left front."

"Alright." Upon receiving the order, Lian Quesheng gently raised his hand, and a long whip glowing red shot out from his waist, wrapping around the man's waist.

The veins on his arm bulged as Lian Quesheng gradually tightened his whip. Shen Jiuxu had already taken away the opponent's two swords with his spiritual power. "Gotcha. Where are you? I can't see you."

"Ten steps to the left and back."

Lian Quesheng responded, but suddenly felt his hand loosen. The man had taken out a dagger from somewhere, cut the whip, and his footsteps went in another direction.

"Oh no, the coffin!"

"Why is it empty!" "Wasn't it said that Sect Master Shen was dead? There's no body?" "Have you ever seen a coffin without a body being buried? What does this mean?"

"What else could it mean? Shen Jiuxu isn't dead." The man's voice was sharp and unpleasant, like a hammer smashing open a long-sealed drumhead, dispersing the heavy clouds and letting in the second ray of sunlight of the day into the deep mountain valley.

"I think he's definitely dead, but he died in a dishonest way, so he's afraid to show us!" Another slightly hoarse voice appeared from somewhere, followed by a cacophony of words that seemed to sprout up like mushrooms in a ditch after the rain.

"That's exactly what I think. Aren't those prestigious sects the ones who value self-sacrifice the most? I guess they've been hacked to pieces by their enemies and their bodies are unrecognizable, which is why they're unwilling to release them."

"Who knows? It's possible that he was drained of his life force by the Hehuan Sect. They even said he died in Yunshui City. The closest immortal sects around Yunshui City are the Hehuan Sect and Shen Wuke."

Lian Quesheng and Shen Qinggui stood in the middle of the crowd. The coffin that had been emitting a faint glow just moments before now appeared ordinary, exuding only the solemnity and majesty of a typical coffin.

The people who had just fought with them had also vanished without a trace, as if nothing had ever happened. But if those events were fake, why did the coffin suddenly open in front of everyone, with the white silk separating the crowd from it, clearly distinguishing them?

"Just now...did you call me?"

Even Lian Quesheng was completely confused. He asked Shen Jiuxu in a low voice, wondering if there was something wrong with his memory.

Shen Qinggui was absolutely certain that it was real and not an illusion. He was still tightly clutching the fallen leaf from the tree in his hand. The dark leaf had a ring of emerald green around its edge. He looked up and saw that it was exactly the same as the towering tree next to the coffin.

"You remember?"

"Of course, the wound is still there, it hurts so much." Lian Quesheng touched his chest with a heavy heart, the wet blood on his hands a reminder of the ruthlessness of that sword strike.

Shen Jiuxu: ...

The wounds are still there, and this person is still doubting it?

"Hehe, just to confirm, I sometimes sleepwalk and have accidentally stabbed myself before. It was Xichuang who noticed and snatched the sword from my hand. I didn't appreciate it and ended up hurting him too," Lian Quesheng said with an embarrassed laugh.

Shen Jiuxu couldn't think of any words to describe him. He must have been out of his mind to have suspected that Jiang Feiwan liked him. He was so confused that he couldn't even distinguish right from wrong.

How could Jiang Feiwan like such a fussy, loud, and naive girl! Even if he liked the money Lian Quesheng casually tossed out, he could never like his temperament and behavior!

It wasn't easy for Xi Chuang either, having such a master.

"The people next to me are still so rude."

Lian Quesheng leaned close to his ear and said, "People can't control their mouths." Shen Jiuxu felt that he was too close, but after thinking it over, he held back.

That empty coffin was like a huge bottomless pit, swallowing everyone's desires. Shen Jiuxu's death was like a fire, making the pit bigger and darker, and the ashes at the very end drew them forward.

"Aren't the people from Shenwuke going to give us an explanation?" "We've waited so long, only to be faced with an empty coffin?"

The crowd below was in an uproar, completely lacking the solemnity and quiet that should have been on the seventh day after death. Even the most common sound of crying was drowned out by the shouts of the crowd, and there was no ripple.

Lian Quesheng inadvertently caught a glimpse of red, a blood-red color that stood out starkly against the black robes with their high collars. He slowly raised his head and stared at Shen Jiuxu's pretentious and composed face, before finally shifting his gaze to Jiang Yu. The bright red lips made him appear not only devoid of the widow's haggardness and exhaustion, but also more like a groom's spirited demeanor.

On this auspicious day, joy and happiness soothe our sorrows; I don't even know how to pretend.

Jiang Yu was also dressed in black, with the white jade belt around his waist being the only color. His long hair cascaded down his back, the white ribbon fluttering in the wind, and he was followed by Dianxing.

Lian Feng and the others were nowhere to be seen, and Lian Quesheng felt that he was preparing some big move that he couldn't stop for a moment.

Just as he was thinking this, several ordinary people in the audience rushed up to Jiang Yu as soon as they saw him, tears streaming down their faces, their eyes fierce as if they wanted to tear him to pieces.

"Jiang Yu, it's all because of you that my husband died." It was a woman with her hair tied up high. Shen Jiuxu looked over and realized that he remembered her. The day he saved the woman named Xian Ying, she was sitting in a fabric shop.

The woman cried hysterically, her hair disheveled, her white mourning clothes creating a stark contrast between her and Jiang Yu as they stood together.

“My husband, Zheng Min, died after he worshipped Shen Jiuxu. He must have tampered with it. The coffin is empty. I think it’s because he died without a complete body and became a vengeful ghost, which killed my husband.”

“You’ll pay with your life. Over the years, he’s always been extremely respectful to Shen Jiuxu and you. He even had that portrait hanging on the wall and worshipped it three times a day. And this is the result he got in return.”

Zheng Min, the man who struck up a conversation with him, was the same man who ran away as soon as he saw him. Was he this woman's husband? Shen Jiuxu felt as if he himself was shrouded in many mysteries. He was like a ball of silk, split into countless strands, surrounded by countless fine needles.

That person must have known me, but what exactly did Shen Qinggui do back then to frighten that person into fleeing in such a panic?

Jiang Yu was surrounded by those people. His slender figure was like a wisp of wind, easily dispersing without anyone having to lift a finger.

Xiang Zhanyi remained perched in the tree as always. He had deliberately chosen a very tall tree so that he could clearly see the expressions of everyone present. Several people kept pushing their way forward, swords hanging at their waists, their eyes fierce. They didn't seem like people there to mourn, but rather like people who wanted to add insult to injury to the funeral.

Should he try to remind Jiang Yu, even if it's just for that sword strike in Fuyou Palace back then, that he saved himself in the process of saving Yushu, otherwise he would have been stabbed to death by that idiot Lian Feng long ago?

Xiang Zhanyi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. The elders and sect leaders of those prestigious sects were all there. Those people had profound cultivation. If something happened, they should be able to help.

What could an ordinary henchman possibly do?

"Who still remembers Aunt Zhou and her daughter Xianying? They went to Shenwuke and never came back. We must give them an explanation today."

This time, the speaker was a man with a full beard. Jiang Yu looked at him when he heard the voice, and the man lowered his head. He had met Jiang Yu a few times, and the man had even bought sesame cakes from his stall.

The remaining people seemed to have been given a floodgate of information, and one accusation after another was made. Dianxing stood aside, listening to those unfamiliar remarks, unaware that so many people had died in Shen Wuke's territory in the past few days.

Everyone has become involved with Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu.

"Isn't this blatant bullying?"

Although Lian Quesheng had prepared himself mentally long ago, and even when he discussed it with Jiang Yu yesterday, he kept telling himself to be patient, he was now absolutely furious. Those people were talking complete nonsense, claiming that he had seen Shen Jiuxu a month ago, spoken to Shen Jiuxu two months ago, and delivered clothes to Fuyou Palace half a year ago.

It had reached a point where it was completely unreasonable, but the people below didn't care at all. As long as they achieved their goal, Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu's names could be randomly mixed into their conversations.

"What kind of prestigious sects are they? Aren't they all just a bunch of ruthless killers?" "The people of Shenwuke are suffering terribly, their families have been destroyed and their lives ruined by these immortals."

"Jiang Yu, why don't you just die? Die with Shen Jiuxu! So many people have died, how can you still have the nerve to live in this world?" "Yeah, your two lives matter, but don't the lives of so many others matter too?"

"Jiang Yu, pay with your life for those people!"

"Jiang Yu, Shen Jiuxu, go down with those people."

Those people were shouting for Jiang Yu to die, and it got to the point where it was getting worse. He stood alone on the stage, feeling lonely and helpless in front of the group of people who had previously called him "Young Master Jiang" and Shen Jiuxu "Sect Master Shen". Those smiling faces were now gaping open like they were about to devour him.

Shen Qinggui felt extremely distressed and wanted to go on stage, disregarding all rules and etiquette. He just wanted to take Jiang Feiwan away to a place where no one knew him, so that those people wouldn't find him and wouldn't blame him for any wrongdoing.

But when he saw Jiang Yu's gaze shift to this spot and shake his head slightly, Shen Qinggui's palms bulged with veins. He had to wait, he absolutely had to wait, he couldn't ruin Jiang Feiwan's plan.

These words were unpleasant to hear, and even though he wasn't on stage, he was still disturbed by those foul words.

"Cough cough—"

A very soft cough came from somewhere in the crowd. Xiang Zhanyi was originally looking at the man next to Lian Quesheng. He was tall and looked very low-key. Standing next to the chief disciple of Xingchenque, he was not inferior at all. He was definitely not simple.

Moreover, Jiang Yu glanced in that direction several times after he came out. He didn't think that Lian Quesheng, an old friend, was worth Jiang Yu's concern.

Shen Qinggui noticed someone watching him. He looked around and found the man squatting in the tree. He didn't look like a local. He had an extremely heavy silver necklace around his neck and long silver studs in his ears. When he met Shen Qinggui's gaze, he waved in this direction.

"Cough cough—"

Two more very soft coughs.

Jiang Yu moved slightly, quickly drawing the sword and sending it flying in an arc through the air. Blood spurted out, landing below his lips, resembling a bright red mole.

After those two soft coughs, a group of Shen Wu Ke disciples dressed in blue and white robes appeared on the stage, their expressions filled with resentment, and they headed straight for Jiang Yu. The people who had been crying and shouting were so frightened that their legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground.

"ah!"

The woman cried out in alarm as a sword came hurtling down in front of her, narrowly missing her eye. "Help! Shen Wuke's disciple has killed someone! Is Jiang Yu trying to silence us? He doesn't want to die with us, so he's thinking of taking our lives too?"

She touched the ground with trembling hands. It was damp and sticky, and the stench of blood filled the air. The once yellowish-brown earth was now soaked in blood. When she placed her hand on it, it was as if she were frozen in place, unable to move it away.

"What are you yelling about? Can't she open her eyes and see? She's clearly after Jiang Yu." Lian Que was furious and was about to fly onto the stage. He was just thinking of telling Shen Jiu to go somewhere else to protect the people so that his face wouldn't be seen on the stage.

But in the blink of an eye, there was no one beside her.

Shen Qinggui plucked a few leaves, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the two men who had attacked Jiang Yu from behind fell to the ground. Seeing Lian Quesheng go up, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had clearly heard those two coughs coming from under the tree behind him.

Just as Lian Gu was about to run, a sword blocked his path. Xiang Zhanyi jumped down and said, "These are the people you brought, aren't they? Judging from your clothes, aren't you one of Shen Wuke's men? What, are you going to kill each other?"

"And who are you? Get out of my way."

Lian Gu was about to make a move, but he was pushed back halfway through drawing his sword. Someone grabbed his wrist and with a crisp "crack," his wrist fell limply to his side, broken.

"You dare to do it but not admit it? Why are you running away?"

Shen Qinggui's eyes were icy, yet his tone was surprisingly calm. Lian Gu couldn't believe his ears. He looked up and was terrified by the familiar face. "Shen—Shen—"

No, he can't shout it out.

“Shen… Shen what?” He stared at Lian Gu’s expression, not wanting to miss a single detail. People from Shen Wuke reacted strongly to his face, so who exactly was he?

“Junior brother, I didn’t expect to see you here. It seems that everything just now was wrong. I was forced by Lian Gu. He is a heartless person, but I am the most loyal and righteous person. The night you died, he took a group of people to Fuyou Palace to make things difficult for Jiang Yu. I didn’t go anywhere.”

"He...he had a sword and wanted to kill Jiang Yu. He even made a deal with others, saying that if you died, they would break Jiang Yu's leg, and then...and then—"

Lian Gu began to stutter, his expression filled with fear. Although he was Shen Jiuxu's senior brother, he knew his own limitations. Moreover, Shen Jiuxu, though seemingly gentle, was actually utterly ruthless. If he knew about his schemes, he would truly disregard their senior brother relationship and kill him with a single sword strike for Jiang Yu's sake.

"And then what?"

Shen Jiuxu narrowed his eyes, looking at Lian Gu kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, large beads of sweat dripping down his face. "Then...then send him to another sect leader. They said Jiang Yu...ah, no, Young Master Jiang has good spiritual roots. Even if he can't do it now, he can still help them improve their cultivation."

"Improve your cultivation level?"

"Double...double—"

Even if he didn't say the next word, Shen Qinggui knew what it meant. In their eyes, the person he cherished was just a vessel to improve his cultivation.

Shen Qinggui tapped Lian Gu's body a few times with his fingers, sealing his spiritual power. He glanced at the person dressed in flashy clothes and said, "Thanks."

Upon hearing Lian Gu mention "junior brother," Xiang Zhanyi already guessed who he was. But didn't Shen Wuke say that Shen Jiuxu was already dead? Then who is this person?

On the stage, Jiang Yu used his sword to lift the person next to him, the silver blade held against his neck. Behind him, Lian Quesheng, having run out of talismans, had no choice but to grab a sword that had fallen to the ground, swinging it a few times with a look of disgust.

He would never resort to physical force or draw his sword if he could solve a problem with a talisman, and he even considered his sect's Star Staff too ugly, refusing to use it no matter how much the sect leader Chu Jue tried to kill him.

Bloodstains slowly flowed down the countertop. Jiang Yu looked at Lian Feng, who was sneering at him. He had been standing there quietly watching him fight.

His right hand trembled slightly, feeling as if the sword weighed a ton. He had even chosen an extremely light sword. Jiang Yu's face turned pale, and the rosy lips that Lian Quesheng had teased him about lost their color, leaving only a series of splattered bloodstains, making his snow-white body look as if it were about to melt away.

"Jiang Yu, go to hell."

The man lying on the stage seized the opportunity to pick up a sword and stabbed it in the back. Even Quesheng didn't have time to react; he only saw a blur as it rushed towards Jiang Yu, and then blood spurted out.

"Pat-pat"

The wound wasn't large, but blood kept flowing, drop by drop. Shen Qinggui was about to rush forward when he saw the man, after finishing his attack, directly stab himself in the chest with his sword. "Jiang Yu, Shen Jiuxu, you will not die a good death. This is your fate."

Jiang Yu bit his lip and watched Lian Feng walk onto the stage step by step. He smiled brightly, and his dark blue clothes concealed the filth on his body, making him appear much more composed.

His pale face made him look comical, and with each step he took, the powder on his face would flutter off. The bruises from last night's beating hadn't faded yet. Shen Qinggui looked at Lian Gu, who was also pale, and fell into deep thought.

"Young Master Jiang, oh, I guess I can't call you that anymore. How can someone like you still be called a young master? They all want you dead. Shen Wuke's reputation can't be ruined by you and Shen Jiuxu!"

Lian Feng chuckled, making Lian Quesheng's teeth itch with envy; he wished he could drink Lian Feng's blood and devour his flesh.

"These disciples are so innocent! They were all personally selected by Shen Wuke. Just a few months ago, they were sent out by Sect Master Shen to carry out missions and helped many people. But what was the final result?"

Jiang Yu stood straight, like a bamboo stalk that stood firm in the wind and rain. His wound was still bleeding. He looked at Dian Xing, who understood and took a bottle of wound medicine. Jiang Yu poured the whole bottle onto his wound.

The pain felt like it was going to engulf him. His clothes were soaked with sweat from the muscle spasms, and Jiang Yu looked like he had just come out of the water. His pale face and black clothes made the people below him think of other things.

“Shen Jiuxu killed them. These disciples are now neither human nor ghost, ignorant of the world and completely devoid of their minds. Isn’t that his fault? And these common people, Jiang Yu, I know you are not Shen Wuke’s person, but after all, you and Shen Jiuxu are Daoist partners. Husband and wife are birds of the same forest. You cannot escape responsibility for the mistakes he made.”

“I consulted Master Liaokong of Lingfo Temple. He personally examined the bodies of those people and found that they were all harmed by vengeful ghosts, their malevolent energy soaring to the heavens and wreaking havoc across thousands of miles. As Shen Jiuxu’s senior brother, and my junior brother became a vengeful ghost after his death, harming so many people, I should cleanse the sect for our master who has already ascended.”

"The vengeful ghost deserves to die; clean house now."

Jiang Yu looked in the direction of the voice, and the people below all shouted in response to the first person's voice. Lian Feng's lips curled up. As long as the problem with Shen Jiuxu was confirmed, what could his nominal Daoist partner do even if he produced the Sect Master's Token?

“Shen Wuke’s previous sect leader, Shen Jiuxu, was morally deficient and had injured countless people. After discussion among the elders, his position as sect leader was abolished.”

"Wait—"

Jiang Yu shouted, "Who said Shen Jiuxu is dead?"

"Could it be that Sect Master Shen isn't dead, which is why the coffin is empty?" "What exactly is going on? Don't we know whether Shen Jiuxu is dead or not?"

"I think it's just Jiang Yu's excuse to delay and not want to give up the position of sect leader. This person is dead but has no body, and didn't even leave behind a spirit pill. He must have turned into a ghost."

People in the cultivation world often wander around, and accidental deaths are not uncommon. Therefore, major sects prepare soul lamps, also known as life lamps. Some rogue cultivators also have their own methods. When they die, the life lamp will go out. If the body is intact, that's fine. If it dissipates, a spiritual pill will be left behind. If the body turns into a vengeful ghost, the spiritual pill will not appear.

When everyone cultivates, their spiritual power is concentrated in the spirit pills. However, when Shen Jiuxu died, only his life lamp went out, and not a single spirit pill was found in his body. Therefore, Lian Feng and the others came up with a new method and spread the news that Shen Jiuxu had turned into a vengeful ghost. All of this was not without reason.

Lian Feng frowned, staring at Jiang Yu, wanting to hear what he had to say, but unexpectedly Dian Xing led his men out carrying a pile of corpses.

A group of men, women, and children were lined up on the neat straw mats. The woman recognized her husband at a glance; the blue linen cloth was made by her.

"Zheng Min, Zheng Min!" The woman, clutching her husband's body, shouted angrily at Jiang Yu, "Jiang Yu, what are you thinking? Can't he rest in peace even in death?"

"He's not dead."

Jiang Yu looked around and spoke, his voice firm and resolute, "I'm afraid Elder Lian will be disappointed. Shen Jiuxu is incredibly lucky and talented. Not only did he not die, but he also got an opportunity and has already successfully ascended."

The murmurs below were like boiling water, bubbling and gurgling. Xiang Zhanyi raised an eyebrow and suddenly laughed. As expected of Jiang Yu, a rogue cultivator without any sect or faction could defeat Lian Quesheng in the sect competition with just a sword and even become friends with him. He was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

I underestimated him.

“You think ascension is so easy? Ascension isn’t that simple. Jiang Yu, I know you care about him, but some things have already happened, how can they be changed?”

“Those people have already died because of Shen Jiuxu. Master Liaokong also said that they were tainted with the aura of vengeful ghosts, and this aura is exactly the same as Jiuxu’s sword energy. Everyone knows the truth.”

"Elder Lian's aptitude is not good, and he is not a diligent cultivator, so it is normal that he cannot ascend. However, people are different. If Elder Lian does not know, perhaps he can go to the private school to ask if some students are naturally gifted and can pass the book after reading it once, while some senior brothers, who are so much older, have still accomplished nothing."

Jiang Yu sincerely suggested, "Elder Lian, I remember that Jiu Xu should be several hundred years younger than you, and since you are from the same school, he should call you senior brother."

“I remember that Master Wenling only took three disciples in total: Elder Lian and his brother, and then Jiuxu,” Lian Quesheng added kindly. “I also remember that Master Wenling was not very old, even a few years younger than Elder Lian.”

Lian Feng's expression turned grim. He was of mediocre talent, and if it weren't for his father's influence, Master Wenling would never have accepted him and his brother as disciples. Yet, after all these years, his cultivation had not only failed to improve in the slightest, but had even regressed considerably compared to before.

"As for Elder Lian's earlier statement about turning into a vengeful ghost after death, that's utter nonsense. Everyone knows exactly what Jiu Xu is like. Three years ago, when I ascended, he had already reached the Ascension Realm. He only stayed in Shen Wu Ke because I was injured."

As soon as he said that, the people below seemed to suddenly regain their memories and remembered everything.

“He’s right. I remember Master Wenling said that his disciple had a chance to ascend to immortality, and he would be waiting for him on the Jade Terrace Silver Palace.” “You should believe Master Wenling’s words, right? Besides, we all know what Sect Master Shen is like. How can we convict him based on just a few words?”

"Have you all forgotten that, besides Jiang Yu's 'Xian Chen's Sword Breaks the Spring Breeze' during the sect competition, there was actually another line?"

“Nine narratives, three pure moonlights.”

Lian Quesheng reminded him with a sour look on his face. It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because it made him angry. He was a famous disciple of the immortal sect back then, but only Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu stole the limelight.

During that period, songs and lyrics about the two of them were sung everywhere, and even he can still hum a few lines to this day. But when it came to his own songs, they were all about being frivolous and wasteful, and no one mentioned his cultivation level. Even Que was furious.

“Yes, Nine Destinies, Three Pure Moons, what kind of person is Sect Master Shen? Don’t we know him perfectly well? How can we be misled by a few words? He has helped many of us.”

Shen Qinggui looked over and saw that the one who had been shouting loudly in the crowd was actually Ye Zishan. He had specially put a mustache on his upper lip, making him look much more mature and steady. He had also taken off the star staff at his waist, making him completely unrecognizable as a disciple of Xingchenque.

His loud and powerful voice made his words very convincing. Li Ye and the others nearby nodded in agreement. There were also a few disciples whose faces he recognized but whose names he couldn't recall, scattered around. The shouting and cursing subsided considerably in an instant.

Is this what Jiang Yu meant by his arrangements?

"Jiu Xu's death was a misunderstanding. I only found out yesterday and haven't had a chance to tell Elder Lian yet. I didn't expect him to be wrong. I sent people to Yunshui City to look for Jiu Xu's body, and the city lord also helped to search, but we found nothing."

Yun Gui, dressed neatly, was brought up by Dian Xing. Following the story Jiang Yu had told him to fabricate, he recounted Shen Jiuxu's death in great detail.

There are no immortal sects in Yunshui City, and they have always been self-reliant, which has earned them a good reputation. It is precisely because of this that when the news of Shen Jiuxu's death came from them, everyone believed it without a doubt.

"That night, Sect Leader Shen went to Jingchuan Temple. The monsters there killed many people with the help of the Prayer Pot... I was deeply saddened by Sect Leader Shen's death and immediately sent a message to Young Master Jiang."

Lian Feng never expected him to betray him, and his eyes were filled with hatred, as if he wanted to turn into a sharp sword and stab Yun Gui to death.

"The thunder was very loud that night. I thought it was just ordinary thunder during the rain. I never expected it to be a calamity."

After he finished speaking, the corpse that had been lying on the straw mat suddenly moved. Xian Ying sat up first, gently smoothing the hair by her ear, and said softly, "Thank you for saving my life, Young Master Jiang and Sect Master Shen."

When the woman saw her husband wake up, she looked at him expectantly. Seeing that his pale face had turned rosy, she trusted Jiang Yu's words even more.

"Why are you staring at me? Is someone guarding the shop?"

When Zheng Min opened his eyes and didn't see the wide variety of fabrics, he became anxious. He was hugged by his wife as soon as he started talking, and he was completely bewildered when he met thousands of eyes below.

"Where is the portrait of Sect Master Shen in my house?" Zheng Min's voice was loud, and Jiang Yu added a touch of spiritual power to his words, which reached everyone's ears. "I just dreamed about Sect Master Shen. He told me that our shop will have distinguished guests every day from now on, making a fortune. Before long, we can move to a large three-courtyard house."

"It's great that Sect Master Shen has ascended to immortality. I will pay my respects to him every day from now on, and you should too. Let's also bring the child along. Whether he can become the top scholar in the imperial examination in the future depends on Sect Master Shen."

Zheng Min became more and more excited as he spoke. He looked up at Jiang Yu and said, "Young Master Jiang, when will you let me paint a portrait of you and hang it on the wall? After you ascend to immortality, I will offer incense to you and your partner every day! Three sticks a day, without fail. No, I'll start now, no need to wait for ascension."

Lian Feng didn't know why they had come back to life. They were clearly dead. Could it be that Shen Jiuxu had really ascended to heaven?

"What else does Elder Lian want to say?" Jiang Yu looked at him with a smile. "Jiu Xu is a good-tempered and kind-hearted person, but I am different. I am petty and hold grudges the most. If I become the sect leader, Elder Lian's life will not be easy."

"So what? You're not one of Shen Wuke's people at all. The position of sect leader has always been held by Shen Wuke's personal disciples."

Lian Feng didn't know why Lian Gu wasn't showing up, so he could only turn his gaze to the sect leaders of the other immortal sects. "Several sect leaders of Huai Xian Sect are here in Bai Ren Li. Why don't we let everyone judge who should be the sect leader?"

Lian Quesheng rolled his eyes when he saw his master sitting upright on the platform. He then gave him the middle finger behind his back and made a few more gestures. Chu Jue got angry when he saw this good-for-nothing disciple. Didn't his disciple know his master's character?

Am I the kind of person who would help Lian Feng?

Anyone with a brain would know who to choose if someone is cunning and calculating but lacks ability!

"The position of sect leader should naturally be occupied by Shen Wuke's disciple. I know that, of course. I am not really interested in this position. The most suitable person to sit in this position is Jiu Xu's disciple."

“Young Master Jiang is right,” Chu Jue said, forced to speak by his disciple’s murderous glare. “If Sect Master Shen had a disciple, that would be wonderful.”

"Shen Jiuxu has no disciples, are you suggesting he'll conjure one up now?" Lian Feng was furious, no longer caring about maintaining the demeanor of the next sect leader. He had completely forgotten about Lian Quesheng, that troublemaker. He never expected Chu Jue to be so good to this disciple, even at the cost of offending him for him.

"Elder Lian once said that husband and wife are one, so my disciple is Jiu Xu's disciple. How about I take on a disciple to replace Jiu Xu? Or if Elder Lian thinks that my disciple is not up to the task, then I can find someone else to marry, and he will be no different from Jiu Xu!"

He spoke calmly, his tone serious, while Lian Quesheng tried his best to suppress his laughter from behind. Jiang Yu was indeed still the same Jiang Yu; no one could gain the upper hand over him.

The saying "Husband and wife are one" is incredibly useful. He'd like to see how Lian Feng would respond to his own words.

Shen Qinggui looked down at the person who filled his heart and eyes. He was telling the truth. He wanted to marry him in front of everyone and give him a proper status.

Jiang Yu slowly unbuttoned his outer robe, gradually revealing the bright red dress underneath. It was the dress Lian Quesheng had given him; the fabric was luxurious and dazzling, allowing everyone to clearly see that it was a wedding gown.

"There's no better time than today. All the elders are here, and Jiuxu's portrait is also here. I'll find someone to marry and have the ceremony done, and then give him the sect leader's token. It couldn't be better."

-----------------------

Author's note: Shen Jiuxu: I want to be both a disciple and a Daoist partner.

1. A joyous occasion eases the sorrow of parting. — "He Xinlang" by Li Chuquan

Lian Quesheng wasn't actually a cultured person, but he couldn't help but feel that Jiang Yu was too pretentious (in his opinion), and he forced out a poem to condemn his friend.

2. Xiang Zhanyi, do you all remember her? If not, you can go back and look at Chapter 1 [glasses].

The author is completely exhausted today, so the short jokes will start in the next chapter. I'm also giving out red envelopes to everyone, sending love! [pink heart][red heart]