Chapter 69
Life in Medicine Valley, under a deliberately maintained tranquility, exuded a leisurely and carefree atmosphere reminiscent of a secluded mountain retreat. A tacit balance seemed to have been achieved between the two.
On this fine day, Pei Yun returned from the market at the foot of the mountain, carrying large and small oil paper packages and bamboo baskets. With a warm smile on his face, he walked briskly toward Xi Xiao, who was sitting in the courtyard drying herbs.
"Junior sister," he called out, his voice filled with obvious satisfaction, "look what I bought today! Your favorite beef hooves, and some top-quality spare ribs. Would you like to eat ribs or beef hooves?"
Hearing the voice, Xi Xiao looked up, her face immediately breaking into an exaggeratedly bright smile, her eyes crinkling, almost obscuring her true emotions. She put down her work, quickly stepped forward, and naturally took some things from Pei Yun's hands, her voice cheerful: "Senior brother, you're so kind! You remember everything. Well... let's have ribs for lunch and beef hooves for dinner, okay?"
"Okay, whatever you say." Pei Yun nodded with a smile, his gaze fixed on her bright smiling face, his words overflowing with happiness and contentment. He didn't know when it had started, but Xi Xiao seemed to have changed from her initial aloofness and coldness, beginning to treat him with intimacy and dependence. This change was so abrupt, yet so perfectly aligned with Pei Yun's deepest desires. He subconsciously avoided delving into the reasons behind it, only wishing to indulge in this false warmth, praying that these days could last forever, until the end of time.
“These things are heavy, you can go rest over there or read for a while. I’ll go prepare lunch.” He reached out to take back the things Xi Xiao had just taken, but she deftly dodged him.
"Senior brother." Xi Xiao drawled out the last syllable, with a hint of coquettishness, and reached out to take his arm, gently shaking it. She even leaned her head on his shoulder in a dependent manner. "Why are you making me go to read again? The sun is so nice today, can't I just take a break and relax? Besides," she raised her eyes, her gaze sparkling with a hint of shyness, "I can't always expect you to cook for me, senior brother. Today... today I want to help too, let's cook together."
Such soft, tender words and proactive intimacy sent a jolt through Pei Yun's heart. A surge of ecstatic and twisted pleasure welled up within him, threatening to burst forth. Afraid that his outburst would frighten the person beside him, he forced himself to suppress the overwhelming emotions, managing only a low syllable to escape his throat: "Mmm..." But the drawn-out, trembling sound ultimately betrayed the turmoil within him.
Xi Xiao seemed oblivious to anything amiss, still holding his arm as they entered the kitchen together. During this time, she would sometimes tiptoe to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead with the corner of her sleeve, or whisper sweet nothings in his ear, her actions and words revealing the shyness and fluster unique to a young girl facing her beloved.
All of this, in Pei Yun's eyes, was nothing short of the most powerful catalyst, causing his heart to surge with excitement, almost making him mistake this false illusion for reality.
"Senior brother," Xi Xiao suddenly whispered as Pei Yun focused on stirring the ribs in the pan, her voice barely audible, tinged with shyness, "Let's...let's get married!" As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to have used up all her courage, quickly lowered her head, stared at the tips of her shoes, and stopped talking, leaving only her slightly reddened ears exposed to Pei Yun's burning gaze.
"Clang—" Pei Yun nearly dropped the spatula from his hand. He froze on the spot as if under a spell, the sizzling sound of the oil in the pan seeming to vanish instantly. He turned his head sharply to look at Xi Xiao, who was standing beside him with her head bowed. His eyes were filled with extreme shock and an almost fragile disbelief. His voice was dry and tight: "You... what did you just say? Are... are you serious?"
Xi Xiao didn't look up, but lowered her head even further, her tone tinged with grievance and dejection: "Senior brother... are you still unwilling?"
"Of course I'm willing!" Pei Yun replied almost immediately. At this moment, everything else had been forgotten. He stared intently at Xi Xiao, as if afraid that the happiness that was within his grasp was just a bubble that would burst and disappear at any moment.
Xi Xiao sniffed lightly, as if she had just realized something. She pointed to the pot and reminded him urgently, "Senior brother, quick, the pot! The food is going to burn!"
Pei Yun seemed to snap out of his daze, absentmindedly picking up a spatula and stirring the pot haphazardly. The smell of burning filled the air, but he paid no attention, his gaze still fixed on Xi Xiao, eagerly asking, "We...we'll get married in three days, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Xi Xiao finally slowly raised her head to look at him. Her clear eyes now held a hint of cunning and mockery, and the corners of her lips curled slightly: "Senior brother, weren't you the one who hated it most when I brought this up? You always avoided answering whenever it was mentioned. Now... you seem to be even more eager than me." Her words carried a touch of just the right amount of shyness, but if you listened carefully, there seemed to be a faint trace of cold sarcasm lingering in the last syllable.
However, at this moment, Pei Yun's heart and eyes were completely occupied by the word "marriage." In his ecstasy, how could he discern this subtle difference? He forced himself to remain calm, scooped out the slightly burnt ribs from the pot, and casually explained, "Before... I was always entangled in many trivial matters, unable to control my own life. Now that I have let go of everything and live here in seclusion, naturally, only you are on my mind." He dared not delve into why she had suddenly changed, nor dared to think about whether there were thorns hidden behind it; he only wanted to hold onto what was before him.
With the "marriage" settled, Pei Yun seemed to be infused with boundless energy, becoming much lighter and more cheerful. Soon after, several dishes were served. The two sat facing each other and ate. During the meal, Xi Xiao even took the initiative to talk to him about many details of the wedding, seemingly truly immersed in her beautiful vision of the future.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The Medicine Valley, which was usually quiet and secluded, became unusually noisy.
Pei Yun carefully found a group of people from the foot of the mountain: a pretty young girl with a cheerful face, an aunt with a sharp tongue who was good at saying auspicious words, and a group of folk musicians who, while not top-notch, were lively enough.
He didn't dare to simplify any of the wedding rituals that ordinary people should have, insisting on holding the ceremony in its entirety. Although the scene was not extravagant, it exuded a simple, rustic mountain atmosphere. However, if you looked closely at the fruits and delicacies on display, the red silk hanging, and even the cups and saucers occasionally peeked out from the guests' hands, you would find that they were not something that ordinary mountain people could afford, subtly revealing an extraordinary cultural heritage.
These people, mostly simple folks from the foot of the mountain who had never seen much of the world, were already extremely grateful for the generous reward they received. Their words of congratulations flowed freely, sincere and enthusiastic, without needing much instruction. The cries of "a perfect match," "a match made in heaven," and "may you have a son soon!" sounded like heavenly music to Pei Yun's ears, filling him with joy. For days, he felt as if he were in a dream, almost unable to believe that this long-awaited moment had actually come true.
He stood tall in the festively decorated hall, dressed in a well-tailored crimson wedding robe, his gaze fixed intently on Xi Xiao's tightly closed door. From there came the faint, auspicious words of praise from the old woman combing her hair, interspersed with a few soft laughs from a woman, like feathers brushing against his heart.
However, amidst this ultimate pleasure, a shadow of unease crept into his heart. This happiness, after all, was stolen. The thought caused a long-dormant palpitation in his chest to return, a dull ache. But in an instant, he forcefully banished this untimely lucidity. A voice deep within him screamed wildly: even if it was stolen, even if it was a mirage, he would stop at nothing to make this dream last forever!
The noisy sound of gongs and drums pulled him back from his brief daze. He saw the door being gently pushed open, and Xi Xiao, dressed in the same bright wedding dress and wearing an exquisitely embroidered red veil, was being helped by an auntie as she slowly walked towards him.
He eagerly reached out and gently but firmly grasped her slightly cool fingertips, as if handling a rare treasure. The congratulations, laughter, and music from the surrounding crowd blended together, sounding to him more melodious than ever before.
"Junior sister..." he began, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement. Then he paused, changed his words, and said in a tone so sweet and tender that it could almost drown anyone else, "Xi Xiao... from now on, you will be my wife."
He felt the small hand in his palm tremble almost imperceptibly. Her voice came from under the veil, trembling slightly, as she softly reminded him, "Senior brother... we haven't completed the wedding ceremony yet."
Pei Yun chuckled softly, in a very good mood, and gestured to the elder presiding over the ceremony to continue.
The elder, being very perceptive, cleared his throat and was about to shout, "First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
However, a sudden change occurred!
A sudden gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, swept into the hall, carrying a chilling aura that instantly extinguished all the wedding candles! At the same time, the deafening sounds of gongs and drums outside the door ceased abruptly, as if cut off by a sharp blade! The crowd that had been thronging outside the courtyard and the entrance to offer congratulations and watch the festivities vanished without a trace in an instant, as if swallowed by an invisible maw, leaving only a deathly silence!
The maids and aunts in the hall, who had been beaming with joy, looked at each other in disbelief. Their faces were instantly filled with fear. Before they could react to this strange change, a figure rushed in through a side door!
The newcomer was none other than Yunwu, who had been missing for so long! Her face was solemn, her eyes cold, and she was pushing a wooden wheelchair. Seated in the wheelchair was a man with his eyes closed, pale face, and utterly lifeless—none other than Xi Yu, who should have been dead long ago!
Pei Yun's expression suddenly changed drastically, and all color drained from his face. He clenched his fist tightly, gripping Xi Xiao's hand beside him so hard it hurt.
His face was so dark it seemed to drip water, his lips were tightly pressed together, yet he remained silent, staring intently at the two people who had suddenly appeared.
The remaining people who had been invited from the foot of the mountain were terrified by the series of unexpected events. They huddled together, trembling, and none of them dared to move.
In the deathly silence, another figure slowly emerged from the shadows beside Yunwu. Warm blood still dripped from the longsword in his hand, its tip touching the ground with a faint "drip-drip" sound in the stillness. His tone was chilling as he swept his gaze over the terrified guests in the hall: "Those who don't want to die, get out now. Any later, and you'll be like those foolish ghosts outside, forever trapped here."
"Ah—!" An older woman was the first to succumb to the terrifying pressure and screamed uncontrollably. This scream, like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil, instantly ignited extreme panic! The crowd erupted, crying, shoving, and rushing towards the door in a frenzy. Tables and chairs were overturned, and fruits, dishes, cups, and plates were smashed all over the ground. The carefully decorated wedding hall was instantly reduced to a mess.
In the blink of an eye, the noise subsided, and only the five of them remained in the devastated hall.
Pei Yun finally shifted his gaze from Xi Yu to the man holding the sword, his voice low and deep: "He Song... you have indeed betrayed me."
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Xi Xiao beside him, who had remained silent the entire time, showing not even a hint of surprise. The last vestiges of self-deception in his heart finally began to shatter, and a chilling coldness, mixed with immense panic, slowly rose from the depths of his heart. But he still held her hand tightly, unwilling and unable to unveil that final layer of pretense.
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