Chapter 147 If "the Li family members are not normal."...
"Jiang Xianjun, do you really want to marry Li Mengbai?"
Jiang Yuhuo was slightly taken aback. Was this why he came?
She nodded. "Yes."
Seeing her so calm and composed, Ji Qiu'an couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Jiang Xianjun, do you know what kind of person Li Mengbai is?"
Jiang Yuhuo roughly knew what Ji Qiuan was going to say.
Li Mengbai is selfish, vicious, ruthless, and unpredictable... She has personally witnessed all of these traits and considers herself to know him fairly well. All his despicable qualities can be summed up in one sentence.
“I know he’s not a good person.”
Jiang Yuhuo assumed that Li Mengbai was notorious among his peers in aristocratic families for his many misdeeds, which was why Ji Qiu'an had come to remind her. But for a marriage alliance, none of that mattered.
But a hint of surprise flashed across Ji Qiu'an's eyes, and he quickly shook his head, "No, that's not what I meant."
“My uncle left the Ji family and the immortal sect many years ago. He has no idea about the true situation of the Li family. Otherwise, he would never have allowed you to marry into the Li family.”
“I didn’t know you would be the one chosen for the arranged marriage, otherwise…”
Otherwise, he would have persuaded the Ji family no matter what to try and secure a marriage alliance with the Great Zhou.
Ji Qiu'an looked up and met Jiang Yuhuo's eyes. The person in front of him had clear eyes, with a hint of doubt, so he couldn't say the rest of his sentence.
Jiang Yuhuo asked, "What is the true situation of the Li family?"
Ji Qiu'an took a deep breath and finally made up his mind to speak, "The Li family, they're not normal."
Jiang Yuhu frowned upon hearing this. She had to admit that Li Mengbai's behavior was indeed incomprehensible to her in many ways, but if she were to conclude that the Li family was abnormal based solely on this, then perhaps all the bad people in the world would be abnormal.
Despite thinking this, Jiang Yuhuo did not interrupt him.
Ji Qiu'an saw the incomprehension in her eyes and continued to slowly explain, "You might think I'm slandering them, but the Li family, they may look like ordinary people, but their bloodline carries a curse that will slowly turn them into madmen..."
“Especially Li Mengbai, he fell ill when he was very young.”
"This curse will not disappear; it will only be passed down from generation to generation. Jiang Xianjun, do not get involved with them; they will drive you mad. There was a time when a noble family and the Li family formed a marriage alliance, but in the end, that lady ended up burning herself to death. Jiang Xianjun, I don't want you to be destroyed by them. If you want to save the Great Zhou, there must be another way."
"Don't arrange a marriage with the Li family; they won't get better, they'll only get worse..."
At this point, Ji Qiu'an suddenly stopped, his eyes widening as he stared intently behind Jiang Yuhuo.
Jiang Yuhuo subconsciously turned around and saw the person standing under the corridor.
Li Mengbai arrived at some unknown time. He had changed his clothes and was wearing his wedding attire for tomorrow. His already beautiful and delicate face looked even more alluring against the backdrop of red.
He strolled leisurely down the corridor, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes unusually calm. "Young Master Ji, running to someone else's fiancée in the dead of night, secretly speaking ill of her future husband behind her back, and sowing discord between husband and wife—is this the upbringing of a righteous immortal sect?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "upright," clearly having overheard what Ji Qiu'an said.
Since Ji Qiu'an dared to come looking for Jiang Yuhuo today, he was determined to go all out, and he would not back down even in front of Li Mengbai.
The quiet and handsome young man raised his head and met the eyes of the newcomer. "I'm telling the truth. You know your Li family best! If you were to implicate others, that would be one thing, but you shouldn't have set your sights on Jiang Xianjun. She's different from you."
Jiang Yuhuo frowned slightly as she listened. If the Li family was indeed involved, Xiao Jing would be implicated, and this could not be allowed to continue.
Ji Qiu'an was breathing heavily, but she still glared at Li Mengbai, "The Li family already has enough lunatics, I can't just stand by and watch you ruin her!"
"Heh, look at you now. When it comes to madness, Young Master Ji is probably a step ahead."
Li Mengbai sneered and slowly approached Ji Qiu'an.
His figure positioned himself between Jiang Yuhuo and Ji Qiu'an. With a flick of his fingers, he silently cast a secret sound barrier. He whispered in Ji Qiu'an's ear, "Do you not want to see her marry into the Li family, or do you not want to see her marry someone else? Ji Shisan, can you tell the difference in your heart?"
"Do you think if I told her what you did to her in my dream, she'd think you're the crazy one?"
"That day at the Li family, Young Master Ji really opened my eyes." Li Mengbai's voice was very low, but he still couldn't suppress the hatred in his teeth. "He was born with an innocent appearance, but he is really filthy inside."
Ji Qiu'an was struck dumb, her whole body stiffening.
Li Mengbai had indeed drugged him that day. When he woke up, he vaguely felt a headache, but he only remembered talking with Li Mengbai in the hall before losing consciousness. Unexpectedly, Li Mengbai even managed to see into his dream, the secret dream he had never dared to speak of.
In countless dreams, he saw that figure standing before the mural, lonely and forlorn, terrifying and pitiful. Countless times he wanted to embrace that figure from behind and say, "Let me stay with you, okay?" At first, he just wanted to hug her, to be with her. But gradually, as he grew older, the direction of his dreams began to spiral out of control. The person in his dreams was both his salvation in his youth and the object of his desires in adulthood.
He had been searching for her, and only when he finally found her and stood before her did he realize how embarrassing those hidden thoughts and unspeakable desires were.
Ji Qiu'an's face was deathly pale, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Li Mengbai, let alone Jiang Yuhuo behind him.
Li Mengbai finally dropped his facade of calm, his eyes filled with venom. "What a despicable person! Why don't you just die? How dare you actually come to her?"
The more Li Mengbai spoke, the more Ji Qiu'an trembled uncontrollably. At this point, he could no longer form sentences, and could only mutter intermittently, "No...it's not like that..."
“How could it not be? You covet her so despicably, but I am her husband. Only I can have such a dream legitimately.” Li Mengbai suddenly smiled, and the words that came out of his mouth were like poisoned knives, causing excruciating pain in people’s hearts. “Everything you do in your dream is what we, as husband and wife, will do in the future. I am in her, and she is in me. We are one.”
Ji Qiu'an was utterly shaken. Those last words severed the last shred of reason in his mind. Before his brain could even process it, his hand was already drawn, sword in hand. "Shut up! You madman! Shut up..."
He slashed Li Mengbai's arm with his sword, tearing through the wedding dress and flesh, and blood immediately dripped from Li Mengbai's hand.
Ji Qiu'an was stunned. He clearly only wanted to use his sword to shut Li Mengbai up, and he didn't intend to hurt him.
It was Li Mengbai! He deliberately reached out and bumped into me!
In a flash, Ji Qiu'an quickly sheathed his sword. He subconsciously looked at Jiang Yuhuo's reaction, but Li Mengbai suddenly retreated at this moment, seemingly unable to dodge the sword in time, and fell to the ground.
He fell right at Jiang Yuhuo's feet.
Jiang Yuhuo couldn't hear part of their conversation, but when she could hear it again, she heard Li Mengbai's soft gasp, "Ouch, that hurts."
She lowered her head, and just then her eyes met a pair of misty, peach-blossom eyes.
Li Mengbai looked up at her, clutching her arm, her eyes brimming with grievance.
Ji Qiu'an watched this scene in shock. He was young and focused on cultivation, and had never experienced such scheming before. He could only deny it in a panic, "Jiang Xianjun, I didn't... He ran into it himself, you have to believe me."
But at this point, the more vehemently they deny it, the less they can explain it.
Jiang Yuhu squatted down and lifted Li Mengbai's sleeve. The wound wasn't deep, but it was quite long, almost running from his forearm to the back of his hand. As a result, the blood flowed quickly and profusely. In just a few breaths, Li Mengbai's hand was already soaked.
Ji Qiu'an was completely dumbfounded.
At this moment, Li Mengbai smiled and looked at him, "Young Master Ji, why worry? Yu Huo and I have long been through life and death together, and our feelings are deep. Now that we have entrusted our lives to each other, it is only a natural thing. You..." He glanced upwards, his lower position giving off a condescending air. He looked at Ji Qiu'an, his thin lips slightly parted, but no sound came out. However, he spoke slowly and deliberately, "You're too late."
Jiang Yuhuo looked down to examine the wound, but couldn't see it; Ji Qiuan, however, could see it clearly!
He was clearly provoking us!
"you!"
Li Mengbai smiled slightly, "Young Master Ji, do you intend to kill me?"
Jiang Yuhu rolled up Li Mengbai's torn sleeve to prevent it from touching the wound. She touched Li Mengbai's arm discreetly. "Alright, let's go back. I'll heal your wound."
Li Mengbai suddenly turned around, his eyes, washed by water, sparkling with light and filled with heartfelt joy. He couldn't help but give a genuine smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Jiang Yuhuo helped Li Mengbai up and then bowed to Ji Qiu'an, saying, "Young Master Ji, thank you for coming to remind me. I will pay more attention in the future."
Ji Qiu'an was completely stunned. Seeing the familiar manner between the two, his heart sank. Now, Jiang Yuhuo's words showed no sign of backing down, making him feel like a joke. He couldn't persuade Jiang Yuhuo, nor could he outmaneuver Li Mengbai. Now, feeling ashamed to face Jiang Yuhuo, he left in a sorry state without saying a word.
Inside the bedchamber, Jiang Yuhuo simply washed Li Mengbai's wound with water. It was just a common cut, and the injured man leaned against the couch, groaning as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Jiang Yuhuo pinched his arm and asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Li Mengbai nodded slightly, not looking directly at her, but turning his face to the side, his gaze lingering on her with a thousand threads.
Jiang Yuhuo tossed her arm back to him, saying, "Stop pretending, it's all better now."
Li Mengbai looked up and saw that the wound had healed completely, leaving no trace on his arm. He was slightly taken aback; when had Jiang Yuhuo treated him?
"How could it be an act?" He then casually withdrew his hand and smiled. "You still care about me."
"If he wants to hurt you, with your skills, surely you can dodge it?"
Jiang Yuhuo mercilessly exposed him. Even though she hadn't seen what happened, she could guess that Li Mengbai had done it on purpose.
Li Mengbai showed no remorse even after being exposed, saying, "It's his jealousy that led him to sow discord between us."
Jiang Yuhu remained noncommittal; she had nothing to say about things that didn't exist. She was somewhat curious about what Ji Qiu'an had said, but she figured Li Mengbai wouldn't tell her.
"If there's nothing else, you can leave now."
She glanced at the sky; soon, the palace servants would come to dress and groom her.
Li Mengbai smiled and shook his head, refusing to leave. He pointed to a table where a complete wedding outfit had been placed, complete with clothing, headdress, and even embroidered shoes. "I was originally going to give you this. Want to try it on?"
Jiang Yuhuo was puzzled for a moment. She had originally thought that these things would be delivered by the palace servants. But since they had already been delivered, there was no need to refuse.
Li Mengbai waited outside the door for a short while before Jiang Yuhuo opened it.
He turned around with a smile, but then the smile froze on his face.
She wore a fiery red wedding dress, the golden chrysanthemum patterns on it shimmering in the candlelight, making her originally pale face radiant. Her dark eyes were calm and still, a coldness suppressing the passion around her, giving her a beauty of burning cold flames.
He suddenly realized that Jiang Yuhuo should wear this color; there was nothing in the world more suitable for her than red.
Li Mengbai was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to his senses, entered the hall, closed the door, and shut out the cold and beautiful room inside.
His gaze fell on her waist.
"The belt is not fastened properly."
Jiang Yuhuo lowered his head; his belt was fastened securely, and there was no sign of anything wrong with it.
Li Mengbai loosened the ribbon, untied the simple knot, and tied it into a perfectly symmetrical bow. He looked at it with satisfaction, his gaze lingering on her waist.
Jiang Yuhuo didn't like such flashy styles. The wedding dress was layered on her body, and although it fit her well, it was very heavy. She preferred to wear her original black dress. Now that she had tried it on, she wanted to change out.
Just as she was about to take off her outer garment, an arm wrapped around her waist.
Li Mengbai used the hand that had been groaning in pain not long ago to firmly hold her waist, and with his other hand he climbed up her back, pulling her into his arms.
"We're going to sign the contract tomorrow, that's great!"
The one he loved was in his arms, and they were to be engaged tomorrow. Li Mengbai had never felt such happiness in his life. Holding Jiang Yuhuo, he suddenly felt that a part of his body had finally been filled, and he would no longer be adrift and uncertain. But what followed was a sudden surge of fear, fear that this too beautiful moment—could he really have it?
He felt a sense of unreality, as if everything he possessed would be taken away in the next moment.
But he couldn't imagine any "what ifs" anymore. Once he had tasted this feeling, he could no longer bear the thought of losing her one day.
Anxiety weighed on top of happiness, haunting him like a ghost.
He needed confirmation from her.
Jiang Yuhuo already felt the wedding dress was heavy, and now that Li Mengbai was holding her tightly, she felt even more suffocated. Just as she was about to break free, she heard Li Mengbai ask her in her ear.
"If what Ji Qiu'an said is true... if I really go crazy one day, will you break the contract?"
Jiang Yuhuo didn't expect him to bring it up on his own initiative. Since he asked, it was tantamount to admitting it.
Jiang Yuhuo remained silent for a while. After thinking about it, she realized she didn't mind. In the end, it was just a marriage of convenience, so it didn't matter whether the marriage partner was human or ghost. All she wanted was the benefits that the union would bring, not a human.
What she wanted was for the Ji and Li families to unite and use their power to kill Qin Yuqi, accomplishing what she couldn't do herself. Even if they couldn't kill Qin Yuqi, at least they could prevent Xidu City from becoming the next Liyue Village, and prevent Qin Yuqi from getting his way. Then, she could focus all her attention on dealing with Jia Qianyang.
As for her marriage contract with Li Mengbai, it will remain in effect as long as this body exists. If she can kill Jia Qianyang before her body is completely destroyed, she can return to her original body without any worries. Once back in her original body, if Li Mengbai is still willing to form a contract with a mortal who has no spiritual veins and cannot cultivate in this lifetime, the marriage contract can continue. If she is still unable to kill Jia Qianyang when this body is destroyed, then her life will end there, and all contracts will be automatically dissolved.
She had thought these things through very clearly after agreeing to the marriage.
Jiang Yuhu shook her head. "As long as the marriage alliance remains, I will not break the contract. Unless one day you take the initiative to dissolve the contract with me."
Hearing this answer, Li Mengbai smiled with satisfaction.
His fingertips followed, loosening her hair tie and letting her long black hair fall loose. He lowered his head, his nose brushing against her hair, and couldn't help but sigh, "Then let's be bound together forever."
He was certain that day would never come.
Once the contract was formed, he would never break it with Jiang Yuhuo, even if it meant his death!
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Author's Note: I made a minor revision. Little Li can only be a little arrogant towards Little Ji; he can't laugh at the other two. [doge emoji]
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