Emperor Donghua rolled his eyes at her, "You're too naive."
Early summer.
As night fell, only tranquility remained on Yan Hui Mountain, with only the chirping of crickets in the grass and fireflies dancing in the air. Clearly a desolate mountain rarely visited by humans, this night a magnificent courtyard rose from the ground, with black tiles and white walls, upturned eaves, towering pavilions, and high-rise buildings. The garden was paved with bluestone slabs, lined with slender bamboo, and a clear, babbling stream flowed through it. It was more like a palace or villa than a courtyard. If anyone were to witness this scene, they would either think they had stumbled upon a mirage or seen a ghost; it was always extremely eerie. But someone with boundless magical powers could build such a courtyard in this secluded place and also cast a spell to prevent outsiders from seeing it, creating a veritable illusion in this mortal world.
Outside the window, the bronze lotus-shaped water clock silently ticked away the passing moments. The dragon and phoenix wedding candles crackled and popped, their flames flickering. He picked up the candle scissors, trimmed them, and turned to gaze at his bride, sitting gracefully before the bed. A slight smile touched his lips, his eyes and brows overflowing with tenderness. This seemed to be his third time marrying her. He couldn't help but recall the previous two times. The first time, he was filled with despair, carrying her unconscious body through the four memorial archways of propriety, filial piety, loyalty, and forgiveness, thinking that even in death, he would fulfill her wish to be his bride. The second time, he granted her fifteen years of life; she happily married into the palace, but his joy was tinged with bitterness, knowing that behind happiness lay an unseen end, a predetermined separation. Only this time, he truly married her with joy, a future of endless possibilities and eternity awaiting them.
The bride, her head covered by a red veil, shook her head impatiently. "Mu Yan, isn't it ready yet? Where did you bring me?"
"It'll be over soon," he reassured her, his voice low and gentle.
He took her hand and led her to the window. As he pushed open the window frame, he lifted her veil. Outside lay a vast valley, a cool mountain breeze blowing in. In the hazy moonlight, the outlines of distant, dark peaks were visible. Tiny stars gradually rose from the valley, initially just a few, darting east and west, disappearing in an instant. Slowly, they multiplied, transforming into a sky full of pale green, cool-toned stars, dancing against the deep blue sky. With the distant mountains as a backdrop and fireflies as their brush, they painted a breathtaking picture before her eyes. Suddenly, the fireflies gathered, forming a ribbon of light that, like the Milky Way, pierced the night and rushed towards her. She couldn't resist reaching out her hand; a single firefly rested on her fingertip, cool and refreshing, as if she had truly grasped a wisp of starlight. She turned back in surprise, a radiant smile on her face, "How beautiful! Where is this place?"
He shook his head helplessly. "You really don't recognize this place?"
She frowned and looked around. "It's so dark, how can I tell? This is in the mountains, isn't it?"
"I thought that even at night, a place where I've lived for more than ten years would still feel familiar."
She gazed at the mountains for a while longer, and gradually felt that the outlines of those distant mountains looked so familiar. She asked hesitantly, "Yan Hui Mountain?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Is this the Qingyan Sect?"
He continued nodding.
"I remember the Qingyan Sect has long since disappeared. This place was conjured by your magic, wasn't it?"
He did not deny it.
"Mu Yan, you really are—" She thought for a long time but couldn't find a word to express her boundless admiration. After a long pause, she finally exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, "You're so omnipotent!"
He calmly accepted her admiration, saying, "The omnipotent me is about to do something, and you'd better cooperate."
"Um?"
The dragon and phoenix candles, having burned to their last flame, flickered and slowly went out, leaving only a patch of cool, watery moonlight on the ground.
"Wait, wait a minute," she gasped, trying to grab his hand that was deliberately teasing her and making her uneasy. "I remember you said we came here to cultivate our minds and bodies, how can we do this after three months of seclusion?"
“Oh,” he said without changing his expression, “Dual cultivation is also a subject of study.”
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