Chapter 70 "Giving" Wedding Vows
The remaining matters concerning Kang Quancheng will be handled by the cultivators left behind by Wenxin Pavilion.
First, assist Commandant Chen of Kangquan City in reporting to the Rizhao Kingdom's court so that the guilty can receive the punishment they deserve.
Next, all the wandering souls of the dead, as well as the ghosts of the people of Kangquan City who were kept in the Wanlie Hall, were collected into the Soul-Capturing Bag and sent back to the Wenxin Pavilion, from where they were sent to the Reincarnation Bridge.
The cultivators from various sects saw no need to linger any longer and left Kangquan City in batches.
The first to leave were the sect leaders and elders of each sect.
Many cultivators did not return to their sect with him, but instead followed the escort team that was leading the main star of the Wenxin Pavilion to the Wenxin Pavilion first.
Firstly, they wanted the promised Earth-grade spirit stones from the Wenxin Pavilion. Secondly, the Pavilion Master Liu Xing was seriously injured, and the Wenxin Pavilion needed to leave some cultivators in Kangquan City to handle the aftermath, requiring someone to escort Liu Xing.
Having shared life and death with the evil spirit Xi during this slaying, everyone felt an even greater respect and closeness to Liu Xing. They all spontaneously and willingly wanted to safely return him to Wenxin Pavilion.
The cultivators of the Supreme Sword Sect, led by Wei Danxin, were also included in this group.
Bitao and Bu Er Dao Ren, Le Junya, privately discussed the matter of killing Xi E Gui, mainly to appease Le Junya.
Even when facing Le Junya, Bitao still attributed everything to "divine intervention," just as she had done in front of everyone.
Le Junya frowned as she watched her daughter mention "the descent of Heaven," her face filled with reverence and belief.
The autocratic man said, "Go back with your mother. What's the point of taking those hundred Earth-grade spirit stones? The spirit stones in your mother's private treasury are enough to support your cultivation to the highest Earth-level stage."
She didn't think that the divine intervention bestowed upon her daughter was a good thing.
What's so fortunate about being brought back from the dead? She clearly had the ability to keep her daughter by her side, to let her grow up peacefully, and even grow old.
Throughout history, there has always been a saying that resonates with the sentiments of countless parents: "I only wish my son were foolish and dull, so that he might rise to high office without hardship or disaster."①
All Yue Junya wants now is to take her daughter back to the mountains and watch over her day and night, so that she will never again risk her life to face evil spirits.
Bitao smiled helplessly and said, "Mother, can you protect me under your wings for the rest of your life and ensure that I am not harmed by wind and rain?"
Why not?
Le Junya, though not angry, stood with her hands behind her back, her brows furrowed. "You will stay in the mountains and not go anywhere from now on. This world is overrun by ghosts. You were lucky to be brought back from the dead this time, but what if you encounter an even more powerful evil spirit next time?"
Bitao was naturally moved by Le Junya's protection of her. If she were just an ordinary cultivator born in this world, she would naturally be very willing to be protected by her mother for the rest of her life and just be a good-for-nothing who lives a long life and waits to die.
But she wasn't.
She is a celestial being from the Nine Heavens.
Even if you came to this world for a competition, how can you turn a blind eye to the suffering of the common people under the scourge of a hundred ghosts?
“But Mother,” Bitao said, “the human race is now in decline, the Taoist arts of cultivators are fading, and the ghosts in the human world are growing stronger year by year.”
"If we, who possess 'extraordinary skills,' merely seek to live a life of ease and hide in the mountains, until all living beings perish at the hands of evil spirits, what kind of world will this be?"
"When all living beings perish in the future, the vitality of human life will naturally be completely extinguished. The spiritual energy of cultivators comes from this vitality. Our relationship with all living beings has never been one of us helping them, but rather one of us sharing life and death."
"When life force is cut off, cultivators will also lose their cultivation. At that time, how could those powerful ghosts and monsters, who have grown stronger and can reach the heavens and the earth, let us, who are living in a life of ease and comfort, go unpunished?"
"Mother, guess what? If the cultivation world ignores the human world, in a few more years, there will be no place left for humans to stand?"
Bitao's tone was gentle and calm, without any hint of fervor or passion.
But to Le Junya, these words were like a thunderclap, deafening.
She wasn't ignorant of these things; all those who have entered the Dao understand that the vitality of the human world is the source of a cultivator's spiritual energy.
This is why cultivators, though divided and fighting among themselves, never cease their journeys to the mortal realm to bring peace to the people. Even though the dead are often lost without a trace, they still bravely and relentlessly pursue their cause.
She was shocked, never having imagined that her daughter, at such a young age and with such limited cultivation, would already understand these cruel truths.
Just a few months ago, she was completely absorbed in love...
Le Junya turned her head and looked at Bitao.
She smiled with relief, but her eyes were filled with tears.
Her good daughter, if she had been born five hundred years earlier, should have been enjoying a carefree life of riding horses and playing in the world.
“Mother…” Bitao keenly sensed Le Junya’s softening and sorrow, moved closer to her, and reached out to hug her waist tightly.
"Don't worry, Mother. I will be very, very careful from now on and will always put my own safety first."
"And every time I go out, I go with my senior brother. No matter what, he will risk his life to protect me."
Le Junya touched her daughter's long hair, sighed, and ultimately said nothing more.
She simply said, "Then let's go back to the mountains first, and your mother will pick out some good protective magic items for you."
"Don't worry, Mother, of course I'll go back. I'm just going with my senior brother and the others to take Senior Brother Meteor back first."
"Mother, I still want to marry my eldest brother as soon as possible."
When Bitao spoke of this matter, she finally revealed the same state of mind that Le Junya had in memory of her daughter, showing the infatuation of a young girl in love.
"My eldest brother risked his life for me this time. My daughter has completely confirmed that he is the man she can entrust her life to."
Bitao shook the arm of the Taoist priest and began to use all the ultimate skills that daughters use against their mothers, acting coquettishly and foolishly, "Mother~ Now that you're back in the sect, please discuss with Sect Leader Wei about arranging our marriage as soon as possible!"
When Le Junya came to observe Wei Xiao's son's words and actions, she found that after his trip to Kangquan City, he had lost the rigid arrogance he had in the mountains.
In particular, he is no longer indifferent or perfunctory towards his daughter; his affection for her is evident in his words.
Le Junya's heart had already softened with Bitao's advances, but she still kept a straight face: "Are you in such a hurry to get married? And are you really not going to pick anyone else? I noticed that Lin Xuantu, whom you once liked, did quite well on this trip."
“I heard from disciples of other sects that he and your senior brother both risked their lives to save you in the Ghost Realm.”
Bitao: "...Oh dear, my fourth junior brother saved me out of camaraderie, but my eldest senior brother and I are the true lovers!"
Le Junya pointed her finger at Bitao's forehead, looking reproachful.
But when it came time to leave, Yue Junya finally relented and agreed.
He warned Bitao, "I will discuss your marriage with Sect Leader Wei Xiao, but Wei Danxin is, after all, his beloved son. If you are sure you want him, you must not waver and hesitate any longer."
That boy was already swayed by the schemes of the mother and daughter, and while this matter could be kept secret for a while, it might not be able to be kept secret forever.
If the two of them get married in the future and live happily ever after, even if Wei Xiao finds out, there's nothing he can do about it.
If their relationship falls apart, Wei Xiao will be furious, even if he's usually mild-mannered, when he finds out his good son has suffered such a great loss.
"Definitely not!" Bitao promised, "I only love Senior Brother!"
Bitao used the Ghost Realm to lure out the scheming successor of the Gengwu Tai Sui God and expose the cheating immortal position. Now, there is no need to pretend that she has amnesia anymore.
Therefore, there is no need to get entangled with Lin Xuantu anymore, so as to conform to "Yue Qingyao".
After Le Junya left, Bitao and the others escorted Liuxing from Wenxin Pavilion on their journey.
On their way here, unable to gauge the strength of the evil spirit, they had no choice but to suppress and delay it, essentially charging headlong into the fray. The group remained instinctively tense as they traveled, rarely showing any joy.
But now that the evil spirit has been defeated, even though they have lost many companions, they have still "won a great victory." The group chatted and laughed, strolling and stopping, enjoying themselves in the human world.
July is rainy, so they rarely sleep in the mountains. Even if the towns they pass through are deserted, at least they can stay in an inn.
Wherever the group of cultivators passed, they easily subdued any low-level ghosts or spirits, such as the "Night Crying Ghost" or the "Sleep-Pressing Ghost."
Bitao, Wei Danxin, and the others had just visited the home of a fellow villager who had asked them for help, and obtained a "big-headed ghost" that could only scare people but not harm them, which they put into the Soul-Binding Bag of the Wenxin Pavilion.
Every now and then, Bitao would open the bag to take a look, and Big Head Ghost would always struggle to tilt his head back and look at Bitao.
Then, because his head was so big, he tilted his head back and fell directly into the bag.
It is said that this kind of ghost is because it was extremely greedy in life, and its mind was filled with thoughts of how to become the richest person in the world. As a result, its head grew bigger and bigger after death due to the accumulation of desires.
"Stop playing around." Wei Danxin took the soul-binding bag and gently flicked Bitao's forehead. "You'll scare him half to death in a minute."
Bitao smiled.
In the Heavenly Records of a Hundred Ghosts, this kind of ghost is the only one among the many that does not harm people that is frequently mentioned.
In folk tradition, people often curse someone with the phrase "you big-headed ghost," which is a veiled insult implying that the other person is delusional.
This wasn't the first time Bitao had seen a real big-headed ghost; she was just really curious.
Bitao followed Wei Danxin, touching her forehead, feeling bubbly with happiness at his playful gestures.
Mingguang has always been overly upright in his behavior, with his words, actions, and even his sitting and lying down all measured. Now, he is finally letting his true nature shine through.
"Give."
The peach blossoms were in full bloom when a small stick rolled up with maltose was offered to her.
Bitao said to Wei Danxin, "Senior brother... I'm not a child anymore."
But Bitao still took it and put it in her mouth.
The sweet taste spread throughout my mouth and heart.
He'd only eaten two bites of candy and taken two steps.
"Here you go." Those slender fingers held a sugar cake wrapped in oil paper and brought it to her lips.
Bitao opened her mouth and swallowed it.
"Here you go." Wei Danxin bought a rattle drum.
Bitao held it and swayed it.
"Here you go." Wei Danxin bought a cloth tiger, the kind that hangs around the neck.
Bitao removed the maltose and tilted her head back so that Wei Danxin could hang it on her.
"Here you go." Wei Danxin bought another kite, a colorful butterfly kite.
Bitao held a kite in one hand and ate candy in the other, while giving her sword to Wei Danxin.
"Give……"
"Senior Brother, that's enough!" Zhang Yuluan finally couldn't help but complain. "Why don't you just buy the whole street? Your dad's got money anyway!"
"Then put them all on Third Junior Sister's head, and build a city on her head."
Wei Danxin: "..."
He was holding an ebony hairpin in his hand, intending to stick it into Bitao's head, but after Zhang Yuluan said something, he tucked it into his sleeve.
Bitao's head was already covered with a row of messy hairpins, making her look like a walking shelf, which was quite a sight.
Seeing this, Bitao grinned from ear to ear, remaining silent no matter what she received, her mouth glued shut by the malt candy. She simply cooperated with a doting expression, earning several glares from Zhang Yuluan.
She's tired of cursing those two scoundrels.
Why was she so curious about what the big-headed ghost looked like and insisted on coming along today?
Zhang Yuluan now felt that her head was bigger than that ghost's.
After walking two streets, Bitao changed into a peach-pink dress, looking like a fairy among flowers; it was all bought by Wei Danxin.
He felt as if he had opened some incredible "secret door," and he really wanted to buy the whole street and give everything he saw to his Tao Tao.
Bitao was covered in a bunch of odds and ends, and Zhang Yuluan, Lin Xuantu, and the other two disciples of the Supreme Sword Sect were also covered in all sorts of things.
Zhang Yuluan, in particular, was carrying a huge cloth bag in her arms, which obscured her face as she walked, and was filled with clothes.
None of them belonged to her; they all belonged to her "good" third junior sister.
Lin Xuantu silently held a potted plant that was not much smaller than Zhang Yuluan's cloth bag.
It's a fake bonsai, a "blooming peach blossom" made of withered tree roots and velvet. It's said to have been a beloved item in the bedroom of a young lady from a wealthy family. Now that family has fallen on hard times, they're selling off some of their belongings, which are scattered haphazardly on the street.
When Wei Danxin saw the pot of peach blossoms, he felt that it was a perfect match for his third junior sister.
The potted plants were fake, but the soil was real. Lin Xuantu carried two loads of soil on the street, slightly sweating, pursing his lips, with a "hard-working and conscientious" expression.
Zhang Yuluan protested, and only then did this thoroughly enjoyable "giving" session finally come to an end.
Despite the strange looks from other sect cultivators, the group carried this huge pile of stuff and reluctantly returned to their rooms.
After that, no matter how much Bitao called Zhang Yuluan, she refused to follow the others.
Kangquan City was not far from Wenxin Pavilion, and this particularly happy journey for Bitao ended after arriving at Wenxin Pavilion.
Along the way, she didn't just focus on flirting with Wei Danxin. She not only taught Bing Jing, who was about to part ways, several kinds of talismans, but also successfully recruited her into her team.
Upon returning to the Wenxin Pavilion, Bingjing's mortal husband was already waiting there.
Upon seeing the ice mirror, the man's eyes reddened from a distance, but he dared not move to expose his disability due to the large crowd, fearing it would embarrass his wife.
Ice Mirror rushed over and threw herself into the embrace of that towering figure.
The two embraced for a long time, their hearts pounding. Bitao nodded to the man from a distance.
The man seemed to have gotten even darker from the sun; his muscular physique seemed to burst through his linen robes.
I don't know if he was rushing over while doing farm work, but he was wearing a cloth glove on his left hand in this hot weather.
His stern and cold expression seemed to melt away as the ice mirror in his arms melted away, and he even showed a more amiable face towards Bitao.
He pursed his lips and forced a slight smile, then said, "Thank you for taking care of my wife all the way."
Bitao smiled and said, "Manman, don't forget those Five Thunder Talismans. Let's go on the next mission together."
"Good!" Bingjing gained a lot this time. After receiving one hundred earth-grade spirit stones, not only was their immediate crisis resolved, but their cultivation could also advance further.
In Bingjing's view, regardless of whether it was a divine intervention or not, she survived because of Bitao and received such a generous reward, so she was naturally extremely grateful to Bitao. She wouldn't refuse her invitation to join a team.
After making their agreement, Bingjing soon left with her mortal husband.
Bitao went to Zhan Kui again, plotting to use him to bring Guanghan into her team.
However, Bitao didn't have high hopes: "Just go and ask him. If he doesn't agree, I'll think of other ways."
Guanghan's identity here is that of a disciple of an elder of considerable status in Taixu Tower. After sending off the meteor, she will soon return to her sect.
Zhan Kui had been flirting with him for the past few days. Now, he beckoned to Zhan Kui from a distance, and Zhan Kui took the opportunity to ditch his fellow disciples and come to meet him in secret.
The two were by a closed door behind the main hall of Wenxin Pavilion. Zhan Kui first grabbed Guang Han's hair and forced him to kiss him.
Guanghan lowered her head helplessly, thinking that at least it wasn't a fish head.
Zhan Kui then got down to business.
Zhan Kui didn't even consult him before saying, "My sister thinks you're very good at divination and wants to team up with you for missions."
Before Guanghan could even refuse, Zhan Kui said, "'Beauty,' you know, Xuanjia is the incarnation of Xuanwu, and the star gods under her command can all beat you to a pulp."
"And do you think Bitao will just recruit anyone? You only have this luck because of my good relationship with her, you know?"
Guanghan agreed immediately.
He really didn't want to get beaten up.
He relied on Zhan Kui's "soft rice" once in the first competition, so what difference would it make if he relied on him again?
Since Mingguang has always looked down on him, can't he at least make some plans for himself?
The Fairy of the Peach Blossom is unpredictable and powerful. Others do not know how she killed the evil spirit, but the True Immortal of the Moon Palace, who has regained her memories, does.
He saw Bitao's accumulated merits and, to be honest, he was very envious. He had been in the mortal realm for so long and only had three merits, which he obtained by catching "little devils" on his way back.
Even the Thunder Pattern Spell Seal used by the Heavenly Dao of Myriad Realms to protect immortal positions can be used for one's own purposes. Accompanying Bitao on missions is entirely beneficial to Guanghan.
In the blink of an eye, Zhan Kui brought back the news that Guang Han had agreed.
Bitao was getting ready, stroking her horse's neck, and leaned forward to ask Zhan Kui, "Has the True Immortal Guanghan really agreed to team up with me for missions in the future?"
Bitao was genuinely worried, as Guanghan Zhenxian had now regained all her memories. After all, she was Mingguang's man, and seeing Mingguang and Binglun being completely manipulated by her, she couldn't break the rules and awaken those two.
Staying away is the best way to protect yourself, so that when Mingguang regains his memory, he won't be blamed.
Teaming up with Bitao for a mission is like watching the "future emperor" make a fool of himself up close.
Zhan Kui nodded: "Of course I agreed. I've told you he loves me to death, but you never believe me."
Bitao: "..." Fine.
Therefore, Bitao's merit-accumulating team was initially formed.
But she was leaving, and it would probably be another month or two before she came back. Su Rong instructed Zhan Kui: "Be more discreet and don't flirt around. After all, that person is your 'fiancé,' and I can tell he cares about you a lot."
Bitao was referring to the shooting star at Wenxin Pavilion.
Bitao had already guessed Zhan Kui's identity and background, including the reason why Heaven arranged this identity for her: "love and separation, unfulfilled desires, resentment and hatred."
Zhan Kui's "matchmaker" was originally someone who couldn't get the senior brother Liu Xing, and only by relying on his father's legacy and last wish did he tie himself to Liu Xing's marriage.
Unfortunately, the marriage did not go through, and he died in a battle while following the cultivators of the Wenxin Pavilion to exorcise evil spirits.
After Zhan Kui took her place, he could have simply enjoyed the fruits of her labor and then embarked on a heart-wrenching love affair where they shared a bed but not a dream, and his husband, who loved all living beings, loved only him.
Even though Zhan Kui had no memory, his true nature was revealed. Just as Bi Tao had predicted, she didn't eat a single bite of the bitter fruit of her unfulfilled desire.
She says "I'll marry you sooner or later," but in reality, if a shooting star gets too close, she'd run eight feet away.
The main reason is that they think shooting stars are ugly.
Moreover, she flirted with any attractive guy she saw, and for some reason, over time, Meteor became more and more interested in her.
It seems that the one who couldn't be obtained has become a shooting star.
Bitao advised Zhankui to restrain himself because she always felt that Liuxing was not a good person.
Even though he promptly produced the evidence to defend Bitao under the joint questioning of the sect leaders, Bitao still felt very strange about him.
Zhan Kui was still a little impatient: "I know! Tianhua is dead, and there's only a bunch of worthless trash left in Wenxin Pavilion. Who am I supposed to provoke? Guanghan has also run away... How about I go back to the Supreme Sword Sect with you? How about I join the Supreme Sword Sect?"
She actually wanted to tease Binglun before he regained his memory. Binglun was actually quite good-looking, but she didn't dare tell Bitao.
Bitao: "..." Just by looking at her lewd face, I knew she was up to no good.
Bitao refused, and even forbade Zhankui from running around. She then leaned close to her and whispered some tasks to her.
Bitao said, "I will marry Mingguang in about one or two months. We will definitely hold a banquet at Wenxin Pavilion when we get married. You can come then."
"Are you really going to marry Mingguang?"
Bitao was worried about Zhan Kui, and Zhan Kui was worried about Bitao. He lowered his voice and whispered furtively in Bitao's ear, "You've made a fool of Mingguang like this now. What if he chops you up when he regains his memory?"
Bitao smiled and said, "He can't bear to part with it."
Bitao retorted to Zhan Kui's arrogant words: "I've always told you that he loves me to death, why don't you believe me?"
Zhan Kui: "...Let's go, let's go back."
She didn't believe a word of it. When Bitao first told her this, she was still in prison for following Mingguang. She wasn't even close to being Mingguang's celestial being at the time.
Who knew... times have changed, and now Mingguang is truly in love with Bitao to the point of "dying or dying"?
Zhan Kui watched as Bi Tao ran towards Wei Danxin, who then used her sleeve to wipe non-existent sweat from her face. The sweetness between the two was palpable even from such a distance.
Wei Danxin even held Bitao by the waist and carried her onto the horse. Standing beside the horse, she straightened the hem of her skirt, as if she were taking care of some fragile porcelain doll.
Zhan Kui shook his head, hoping that Ming Guang wouldn't fight Bi Tao to the death after regaining his memory.
Bitao and the others returned quickly. Although they had only been away from the sect for a little over ten days, they were all eager to go home.
As August arrives, the sun grows increasingly scorching.
Fortunately, although they could not fly on swords, they could use their spiritual energy to cool down.
They returned to the Supreme Sword Sect in two and a half days.
After entering the Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Array, the group of fellow disciples said a perfunctory goodbye and scattered along the Rainbow Bridge, as if chased by dogs, each rushing towards their own courtyard.
Bitao also returned to Tianshui Courtyard first, and had a good dinner with Buer Daoren. The mother and daughter even drank some wine.
"Mommy, you smell so good."
Bitao pressed herself against Le Junya's side, her nose close to her body.
When Bitao first met Le Junya, she found her to be incredibly fragrant, but now the scent seemed somewhat familiar.
She murmured, "Why does it smell so... somewhat like..."
Bitao rested her hand on the side of her head, pinching and rubbing her temples. After a moment of contemplation, she said in a panic, "It smells like incense to attract souls!"
The Taoist looked at her, his eyes deep for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, extended his slender fingertip, and touched the tip of Bitao's nose.
"Dogs have a pretty good nose?"
“It is indeed Soul-Guiding Incense,” said Le Junya. “Soul-Guiding Incense is available in all sects of the cultivation world. It can not only connect people’s dreams and has the effect of calming the soul and warding off evil spirits, but also allow people to relive the past in their dreams.”
"I wanted to dream tonight, so I lit one."
"Dreaming? What kind of dream?" Bitao pressed.
Le Junya smiled faintly and remained silent, a ripple of nostalgia in her eyes, as she poured herself another glass of wine.
"Mother, do you want to dream about my father?" Bitao asked with a smile.
"Cough...cough cough..." Yue Junya choked on her drink upon hearing this, wasting the perfectly good wine.
She wiped her mouth and scolded playfully, "You silly child!"
Le Junya has no unforgettable old friends.
As for her daughter's father... he was a human prime minister she met more than ten years ago when she was traveling among humans to exorcise evil spirits.
At that time, he was assisting the young emperor while searching for cultivators to drive away the evil spirits that were ravaging the capital, stabilizing the court, and saving the dynasty from collapse. He was truly a remarkable figure among men.
However, their relationship was just a fleeting affair, and Le Junya was unaware that she was pregnant. After giving birth to Le Qingyao, she had no intention of saying anything to that man or asking him for anything.
Mortals and cultivators are two paths that are difficult to cross.
She chose to have the child because she was capable of taking good care of her child.
I happened to pass through his earthly realm a few years ago and wanted to see how he was doing, only to find that he had died more than ten years ago.
He saved the country and the world, but died as revenge from the family of the evil spirit he had hired to kill. It can only be said that cause and effect are cyclical, and that it was all a matter of time and fate.
Le Junya has almost forgotten what he looks like now.
What she longed to dream of was the carefree days when she and her fellow disciples were full of youthful vigor, riding horses and wielding swords.
Le Junya drank the Heavenly Grade Flowing Elixir Wine and soon became "drunk" and lay down on the long couch. She did not use her spiritual energy, but simply enjoyed the slightly tipsy feeling.
Bitao drank the strongest liquor in the mortal world; drinking it felt like having her throat cut by a long knife.
She felt extremely satisfied, but still felt that something was missing.
It just burned in my throat, and after it went down into my stomach, I lost all my strength.
It's not as good as the immortal spirit of Mingguang, which burns all five internal organs when you eat it, that's really exciting.
Drinking cup after cup of peach blossom wine, yet never getting drunk.
She finally managed to coax Le Junya to sleep before getting up, pushing open the door, picking up the food box she had prepared, and going to find Wei Danxin.
Before Bitao even reached the entrance of Wei Danxin's Yanlan Garden, she saw a tall figure lingering at the entrance of the Yanlan Garden.
The robe, adorned with golden runes depicting the golden crow, was made by Bitao. From a distance, Bitao recognized Wei Danxin based on his superior physique and the robe she had personally designed.
The moonlight fell silently from the sky, and Wei Danxin stood there like a golden crow quietly waiting for its master to return.
Bitao's heart swelled with joy in an instant. She picked up the food box and ran quickly toward that place. Her steps were so cheerful that the hairpin on her head fell off.
The night wind swirls, outlining her graceful figure, her clothes fluttering, her hair styled in a cloud-like updo.
She rushed up to Wei Danxin and asked him, "Senior brother, why are you standing here so late!"
Wei Danxin took two steps forward and reached out to tidy her hair, which had been ruffled by the night wind.
Her golden eyes were filled with gentle tenderness, and her voice was clear and melodious, like the wind, soft and lingering: "I've been waiting for you."
His voice trailed off with a slight upward inflection, like a fishhook tossed high into the air and then falling into the water with a tinkling sound, instantly captivating Bitao.
"ah……"
The smell of alcohol from the drink rose to her face, and she looked coquettish. "But I didn't say I was coming."
“I knew you would come.” Wei Danxin took the food box and led Bitao by the hand toward the Yanlan Courtyard.
"What if I don't come?" Bitao asked him, tilting her head.
Wei Danxin smiled but didn't say anything; he knew his junior sister would definitely come tonight.
Without any basis or agreement, Wei Danxin simply knew.
He had been waiting at the door for a long time. When he saw her figure appear and run towards him, all the anxiety and anticipation that had arisen during the wait turned into honey and poured over him.
In the blink of an eye, he was completely submerged, willingly drowning and suffocating within it.
The two walked hand in hand into the courtyard. Suddenly, Bitao stopped and pointed to a stone screen, saying, "Senior brother, do you remember? Two months ago, I wanted to enter your Yanlan Courtyard, but I was blocked by the restriction there."
"My senior brother refused to open the barrier for me no matter what. His eyes and heart were full of resistance and vigilance, and he regarded me as a tiger or wolf."
Wei Danxin recalled what had happened in the courtyard before, and her face showed embarrassment.
He hugged Bitao from behind, covered her mouth with his hand to stop her from speaking, and the two of them entered the room in this position, one in front and one behind, one restraining the other.
The food box was placed at the doorway as soon as the door closed.
Wei Danxin leaned against the door, not turning Bitao around, but instead, while still hugging her from behind, she stretched out a finger, hooked it inside Bitao's ear, and brushed the long hair that had fallen down the back of Bitao's neck to her side.
He lowered his head and kissed Bitao's nape, cheek, and even the top of her head tenderly.
“You’ve been drinking, you’re so hot…” Wei Danxin’s breathing was steady, her tone sweet.
Holding Bitao in his arms, he whispered in her ear, "I can smell the aroma of Tianpin Liudan Wine."
Two months ago, Wei Danxin committed a "wicked act" because of half a cup of Tianpin Liudan wine. After waking up, she was heartbroken and nearly died from a sudden stroke.
I once secretly vowed in my heart never to touch alcohol again in this lifetime.
Now, as he held Bitao in his arms, he smelled the aroma of Liudan wine on her body, but he found the scent, warmed by Bitao's body heat, to be dazzling and mesmerizing.
"My mother drank a little..." When Le Junya burst out laughing at Bitao, some of the drink splashed onto Bitao.
Bitao had already washed up briefly before coming over, removing most of the alcohol smell, but the Tianpin Liudan wine stains on her clothes were not easy to remove.
Bitao turned to look at Wei Danxin, still worried that he might have some lingering resentment about that incident.
When he turned around, he only met Wei Danxin's eyes, which shone with golden light and seemed capable of melting everything in the world.
She threw herself into Wei Dan's arms, clutching his collar with both hands, and said coquettishly, "Senior brother... kiss me!"
Wei Danxin readily agreed and lowered her head. On the way back, the two of them took every opportunity to be alone and intimate, spending about an hour together before going to bed each night before reluctantly parting.
If it weren't for the large number of fellow cultivators on the road, Bitao would have already been eating and sleeping with Wei Danxin.
They were already very familiar with each other's lips and tongues, and their kiss was not intense but tender, making them both feel completely intoxicated.
Wei Danxin no longer had to choke Bitao's neck every time she kissed her; now, she gently cupped Bitao's cheeks with each kiss.
This made her appear very focused and also alleviated the soreness that Bitao had been experiencing from constantly tilting her head back.
The only downside is that when the kissing gets a little too intense, like right now—Bitao gets pinched into a chicken beak shape.
"Brother Si...don't push me away, will you?"
Wei Danxin stared at Bitao, his grip never loosening. His eyes were still brimming with desire, and his chest heaved rapidly with each breath.
But after staring at each other for a moment, they both burst out laughing.
They laughed uncontrollably, for no apparent reason, and soon hugged each other, doubled over with laughter.
They stumbled and fell to the table, but still stuck together, piled on a stool.
Bitao straddled Wei Danxin's long, strong legs, nestled in his arms like a hen that had just laid an egg and wanted the whole world to know, clucking incessantly.
Although Wei Danxin didn't make any strange noises while laughing, she held Bitao and kept smiling.
He was born with arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, long and narrow eyes, and beautiful but thin lips. When he wasn't smiling, he looked exceptionally stern and solemn.
But who would have thought that such a person with deep features, a jade-like face and a pure heart, would have golden eyes that sparkle when he smiles, with his eyebrows curving and the small red mole on his chin trembling as he tries to control himself by pursing his lips? He is simply the cutest person in the world!
Looking at the bright light, Bitao couldn't resist her lustful desires, and fueled by the alcohol, she lost her senses for a moment.
He was still smiling when he grasped Mingguang's hand, but his expression quickly froze.
Blinded by lust, Bitao deliberately ignored his emotional changes, clenched her fist tightly, and thought of giving him a good jolt.
As a result, Wei Danxin's amorous expression vanished instantly. He grabbed Bitao's wrist and pulled her away, stood up solemnly, put Bitao down, turned his back to her, and rested his hands on the edge of the table, refusing to look at her.
The slight intoxication from the alcohol on Bitao vanished instantly, leaving her feeling utterly dejected.
I'm getting impatient.
Afraid that the "Golden Crow" would be scared away, Bitao immediately hugged Wei Danxin from behind, rubbing her face against his back to coax him: "Senior brother, don't be angry... I just... like you so much that I can't help myself!"
What utterly disgusting remarks! Even Bitao herself would blush upon hearing them!
At least Wei Danxin didn't push Bitao away again.
He leaned slightly forward, his hands on the table, his eyes closed, and asked in a strange tone, "Did you come to see me just for this?"
"Are you in such a hurry..."
Bitao pulled his arm, making him turn around, and pointed his sword at the sky, saying, "Senior brother, I'm not in a hurry, not in a hurry! Really!"
"I came to find you, oh right, I came to find you to have dinner together!"
Bitao released Wei Danxin and quickly ran to the door to pick up the food box.
With a thud, Wei Danxin placed the object on the table. She didn't seem angry at all and had already sat down next to the table.
Bitao opened the lid of the food box... and then the smile on her face began to falter.
Wei Danxin also stared blankly at the contents of the food box.
There was no food in the food box, only two things.
One was a huge jar filled with a blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment, and the other... was a vow stone.
The vow stone is used during marriage to signify that the lovers have pledged their lives to each other and made a solemn vow.
As for the large jar filled with ointment, neither of them was injured, so its purpose is self-evident.
Bitao remembered that she had gone out with the prepared food, but then realized that she had been drinking too much and went back to wash up.
Did someone switch her food box halfway through?
There wasn't even a single permanent servant in Tianshui Courtyard, except for Yue Junya.
Bitao was both amused and exasperated. Her mother truly understood her impatience and was probably trying to fan the flames.
Bitao stood beside the table, thinking about how to come up with a reasonable excuse for the current situation.
But when he finally saw that Wei Danxin showed no sign of getting angry, he simply gave up and slammed the lid of the food box back on.
He said to Wei Danxin, "Senior brother, can you just pretend you didn't see it?"
Wei Danxin stared intently at Bitao for a moment with her golden eyes, and then the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve slightly.
Seeing his reaction, Bitao burst out laughing.
The two of them, one standing and one sitting, laughed for a moment, then Wei Danxin reached out and reopened the food box.
Her fingertips brushed over the ridiculously large jar of cosmetics, and she quickly glanced at Bitao, her ears turning red.
Then he picked up the Oath Stone.
He gripped the oath stone, composed himself, and rose to his feet.
For a moment, Bitao thought Wei Danxin was going to throw the Oath Stone out the door and smash it.
But after Wei Danxin got up, she took her hand and led her to the door, where they stepped out.
Standing in the Yanlan Courtyard, he lifted all the restrictions within the courtyard.
Standing beneath the star-studded sky tonight, he turned to face Bitao, raised the vow stone before her, and solemnly said, "Respect, caution, and righteousness are essential before intimacy; these are the fundamental principles of propriety, and they are the means by which the distinction between men and women is established, and the bond between husband and wife is formed..."②
Bitao was initially startled and flustered by his reaction, and she was unable to react for a short time after hearing his words.
After realizing what had happened, he stared in astonishment, his heart pounding with elation.
These are... wedding vows!
It means that couples should enter into marriage with a cautious and solemn attitude, as this is the foundation of human relations and the righteousness of heaven and earth.
Mingguang is... he's willing to fool around with her and secretly vow to become husband and wife with her under the witness of the Oath Stone and the Heavenly Dao before the official wedding!
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