As he spoke, Mo Ran took out a thin bracelet. The bracelet shone brightly, strung together with mother of pearl from the east sea and xihe crystals from Zhurong Mountain. It was clearly of great value.

     “Your previous letter requested for the carp crystal, but unfortunately I already used it to forge a sword for my little cousin. I didn’t have any other wedding gifts prepared, so I bought this water-fire bracelet, which should be suitable for you.”

     “This… this is too precious. I’m afraid Qiutong can’t possibly accept it…”

     “How can you decline a wedding gift?” Mo Ran chuckled, “Besides, the water-fire bracelet can also suppress fire-type spiritual power, but is only suitable for women to wear. In the future, if you stay by Nangong-gongzi’s side while wearing it, it can help calm his spiritual flow somewhat. It’s a practical item.”

     Song Qiutong looked over at Nangong Si, and only after she got a nod of approval did she then accept the bracelet with both hands. She bowed respectfully, then said gently, “Thank you, Mo-zongshi.”

     The four drank their tea, then sat there chatting for a while.

     Chu Wanning was worried about Nangong Si’s wedding, so he asked him to be more mindful over the next few days to ensure all the details of the wedding ceremony were taken care of, and that no mishaps would happen at the last minute.

     Nangong Si finished his tea in a couple of gulps and started to idly toss his empty cup in the air. He laughed, “Don’t worry, zongshi, I go over every night to check up on things. I’m not the same kid I was before anymore, I know what to pay attention to. Yesterday, I discovered that Qiutong’s wedding dress was missing a pearl, so I immediately went and had it fixed.” As he spoke of the wedding ceremony, some surprising shyness colored his usually unruly expression. He glanced at Song Qiutong and smiled, “When the time comes, Qiutong will look beautiful.”

     As these words fell onto the ears of Song Qiutong’s former husband, said husband only absentmindedly poured himself another cup of tea. Of course he knew Song Qiutong was an ethereal beauty, that she possessed unparalleled grace, but so what?

     That year, at the Heaven Worship Ceremony upon Dawning Peak, Taxian-Jun had married the first empress of the cultivation world. However, although the red phoenix candles had burned brightly through the entire night of the grand wedding, he never stayed in the bridal chamber.

     That night, he’d had too much to drink; the room had been thick with the haze of burning red candles, and when the veil fell, he lifted the bride’s blushing face and stared at it for a while.

     Before experiencing major rituals in life, it was often easy for people to marvel at the passing of time and feel the vicissitudes of life—not even Taxian-jun was an exception. He suddenly felt that it was so surreal. His gaze seemed to pierce right through the enchanting beauty in front of him and instead fell back to the dreadful blizzard from many years ago.

     Back then, he’d been wearing worn, thin clothes that barely protected him from the cold wind. He’d been starving and thirsty, on the brink of death, when he won a stranger’s pity and licked the rice soup the person had brought him from their hand…

     Then, his mind wandered to the time when he’d been full of trepidation upon his first arrival at Sisheng Peak… the time when he’d stood on his tiptoes to pick haitang blossoms under the moonlight… the time when he’d knelt before Chu Wanning to receive lashings of the willow vine…

     He could never have imagined that he would one day trample over all immortals and become the emperor of the mortal realm.

     “Husband, what’s on your mind?” Her red lips parted delicately, her gaze fixed on him, and even the breath she exhaled was sweet and extravagant, just like his mighty status of today.

     He seemed to have gotten everything—a beautiful woman, status, power…

     What was there to be dissatisfied with?

     He couldn’t think of anything dissatisfying, yet he’d felt incredibly hollow. It was as if he was standing at the peak of a steep mountain, surrounded only by a blur of bowing heads. As he crossed through these flattering and fawning faces, they’d sing his praises, compliment him, kneel to receive him, curry his favor—one after another, every single one was exactly the same.

     He suddenly heard someone calling him charmingly, her voice soft and delicate like the petals of a peony, “Husband… Husband…”

     He felt disgusted, repulsed. He wanted to escape from the tidal wave of admirers, but the sweet voice wrapped around him like syrup, trapping him.

     He abruptly shoved Song Qiutong away. Unable to bear the force, the charming bride fell on the scarlet red dragon-phoenix bed of the bridal chamber, the gold and silver adornments on her head trembling with her fall, and her dangling accessories rustling.

     Amidst the illusion of resplendence, Mo Ran felt like everything was too distorted, too surreal, that the golden shimmering light was like a ghost fire and those vibrantly red candles were like tears of blood.

     He felt so disgusted… but he didn’t know who he was disgusted with; Song Qiutong, or himself, who had become like this?

     He forced the door open and rushed out.

     In his previous life, few had known that on Taxian-Jun’s grand wedding night, the empress had been left neglected while Mo Ran, dressed in lavish red and gold, had pushed open the door to the Red Lotus Pavilion. He walked in, and soon after, the candlelights in the pavilion were extinguished. Song Qiutong’s new husband had stayed there for the entire night.

     It wasn’t until dusk the next day, when Xue Meng charged up Sisheng Peak to cause trouble, that Mo Ran finally lazily opened the door, tidied his disheveled robes and crown, and walked to the main hall with a face full of gratification.

     However, outsiders were completely ignorant of what had happened at the Red Lotus Pavilion that night.

     —

     After bidding farewell to Nangong Si and Song Qiutong, Chu Wanning and Mo Ran returned together to the courtyard where they were staying.

     Chu Wanning suddenly asked casually, “When Nangong Si was calling Song Qiutong beautiful earlier, what were you doing spacing out and staring at her?”

     “I was imagining what she’d look like in her wedding dress,” Mo Ran replied.

      Chu Wanning suddenly felt a rush of jealousy. He flicked his sleeve, expression frigid, “Don’t think about indecent things. She is someone else’s fiancée, what is there for you to think about?”

     Mo Ran laughed, “Who said I was thinking about her? I was just imagining what she’d look like in a wedding dress. It wouldn’t be anything extraordinary; her looks wouldn’t even be half as good as Shizun’s.”

     “.......”

     He was originally full of anger and wanted to vent, but unexpectedly, he was caught off guard by the little wolfhound licking his palm.

     Chu Wanning paled and flushed in turn, unable to come up with a response for the longest time. After a long time, he waved his sleeve and said, “The ghost mistress’ illusion was an absurd incident. From now on, don’t mention it again.”

     Mo Ran sighed inwardly, I didn’t want to mention it, you asked me. And I didn’t want to lie to you, so I complimented your good looks, but you still scolded me.

     But even when you scold me, it feels incredibly sweet. When I think about how I lost you, I feel like being scolded by you for the rest of my life would only feel like being soaked in a jar of sugar.

     Chu Wanning…

     What should I do? I can’t help but yearn for you.

     —

     The days passed by rapidly, and soon, there was only one more day before Nangong Si’s grand wedding.

     Rufeng Sect was already full of guests from all over the world. Whether they were sect leaders and young masters of a major sect, rogue cultivators of the Jianghu, or wealthy merchants, everyone who hadn’t already come arrived in front of the main city on this day, creating a scene of encapsulating splendor.

     Luxurious horse carriages weaved through the streets as an endless stream of splendidly dressed men and women arrived. The silk and pearls adorning their bodies were like a reflection of the milky way upon the streets of Rufeng Sect, like stars streaming across the sky.

     Xue Meng was dragged by his father the entire way to greet female cultivators around his age.

     “Long time no see, Wang-xianjun, what a pleasure. Aiya, isn’t this Xiao-Mantuo? Look how you’ve grown, so beautiful and intelligent. Come, Xue Meng, come say hi to your Uncle Wang.”

     Xue Meng shuffled over unwillingly, “Hi, Wang-dabo.”

     Xue Zhengyong slapped him on the back of the head and said through a smile with gritted teeth, “It’s Wang-bobo, not Wang-dabo.”

     Uncle Wang laughed, “Hahaha, it’s all the same, all the same. The darling of the heavens really is so handsome, he looks like you, Lao-Xue, you’re so lucky.”

     After a while, Xue Meng was pushed to go for a stroll with “Xiao-Mantuo.” She was sixteen this year, a sweet age, but she appeared somewhat cold. After walking side by side with Xue Meng for a while, Xiao-Mantou said, “Xue-gongzi must know why our parents pushed us to come out together.”

     “Mm.”

     “Let me make this clear. Taking a walk is fine, but I’m really not into Xue-gongzi’s type, so you can forget about anything else happening.”

     “Mm… huh???”

     Shocked, Xue Meng stopped abruptly. With a stormy face, he waited for Xiao-Mantuo to continue.

     That little wildflower raised her chin, and quite haughtily and demonstratively stared at Xue Meng with narrowed eyes, her voice cool, “My heart is taken, so even if you fancy me…”

     “Are you crazy?!” Xue Meng lost it, “Me?” He pointed at himself, horrifically stunned, “Fancy you???”

     “Why else would you drag me to this small, remote path then? Don’t tell me you’re not guilty.”

     It's your brain that has holes!

     Xue Meng’s temper flared instantly, his eyes just about shooting flames in his rage. He repeated, “I like you? I like you???”

     “Why are you saying you like me so many times, you lecher!” Xiao-Mantuo had an unyielding character; she stomped her foot, looked up, and slapped Xue Meng’s face soundly.

     Xue Meng was already dizzy with anger, but now, receiving a slap from a lovely little hand for no reason, he was about to spit blood. If it hadn’t been for Madam Wang teaching him to be courteous to women, he probably would’ve already thrown Xiao-Mantuo down to the ground and beaten her to a pulp.

     Just then, a man with light eyes and a high nose came from the distance. The moment Xiao-Mantou saw him, she froze, then in an instant, her eyes filled with tears. She ran straight towards him and called out with a coquettish voice, “Mei-gongzi!”

     The one who’d come was indeed Mei Hanxue. He clearly hadn’t expected to meet anyone else on such an isolated path, so he was obviously stunned for a moment. However, the moment he saw Xiao-Mantou running towards him, he raised his hand and a barrier with the power of thunder and lightning dropped between them.

     Caught off guard, the girl crashed right into the barrier that was coursing with lightning power and fell to the ground, crying in alarm.

     It seemed that Mei Hanxue had no intention of helping her to her feet. He only looked down at her before saying with a frown, “Miss, you’ve got the wrong person.”

     “What do you mean? How could it be wrong… That year, you gave me a golden perfume pouch, you said I was unforgettable from the first glance, and that you would come ask for my hand in marriage when I turned eighteen. Have… have you forgotten?”

     Mei Hanxue: “......”

     “Mei-gongzi…”

     “You’ve really got the wrong person.” Mei Hanxue didn’t explain any further. He only shook his head and walked past the tearful girl, leaving her with only those words.

Xue Meng watched this scene, feeling both infuriated and mollified.

     He was infuriated because Mei Hanxue, this flirtatious player, was truly heartless, pretending to be strangers once his pants were back on; so fickle and aloof, no wonder he only dared walk on small remote paths in such circumstances.

     He was mollified because he’d never thought that the one Xiao-Mantuo loved would actually be Mei Hanxue. Mei Hanxue was just like his name, unfaithful and cold. His attitude before and after hooking up with a woman were completely different, like two completely different faces. Xiao-Mantuo must have been cursed for eight lifetimes for having fallen in love with him.

     Mei Hanxue walked towards him and narrowed his light colored, glass-like eyes, casting him a sidelong glance.

     Xue Meng thought to himself, What are you looking at? How dare you look at me like that?! Your playboy name is infamous, but my mighty name once shook the world, I won’t lose in dominance.

     And so, he proudly looked up, swept a look at Mei Hanxue from the corners of his eyes, ready to give a rather disdainful scoff when the two crossed paths.

     “Why is your face swollen?”

     Unexpectedly, Mei Hanxue walked halfway and stopped, pausing in his steps to stand in front of him, a stone’s throw away. He looked at him indifferently from a distance.

     “It’s a fairly unique kind of swelling too.”

     Xue Meng wasn’t able to stop himself in time, and still ended up letting out a proud, “Hmph.”

     Mei Hanxue: “...”

     Xue Meng: “...”

     Xue Meng’s face reddened rapidly, and he jerked his head away with a fierce, murderous look on his face, “Why do you care?! I accidentally fell!”

     “Then please watch your step in the future,” Mei Hanxue said calmly. “It’s not easy to fall like this.”

     With that, he left, leaving Xue Meng standing there stunned for a moment before he stomped his feet in rage, “Mei Hanxue! You good-for-nothing dog! Just… just you wait! We're not finished!!!”

     Feeling awfully aggrieved, Xue Meng ran out of the garden with red eyes, and in his haste, crashed into someone’s chest without warning.

     Xue Meng was furious, and yelled, “Who the hell?! Do you not know how to walk?!”

     He looked up only to see a tall and elegant man dressed in green, his robes embroidered with golden threads in a pollia pattern, and a green jade crown of Guyue’ye fastened on his head. His long, soft lashes lowered before he looked up, revealing a gaze like the haze of Jiangnan’s misty rain and a truly bewitching face.

     The man pushed Xue Meng aside and straightened his robes. He seemed to be in a bad mood. As his slender fingers smoothed out the wrinkles on his front, Xue Meng noticed a silver ring on his finger, marked with the pattern of a Xuanwu’s shell. He froze abruptly, stunned. “Jiang Xi?!”

     Guyue’ye’s Sect Leader, the richest man in the world, Jiang Xi!

     This man was about the same age as Xue Zhengyong, but his cultivation method was different, so his appearance had stopped aging in his twenties, and he was very handsome. He was extremely wealthy and extremely elegant, truly blessed, a clear favorite of the heavens.

     During the Spiritual Mountain Competition, Jiang Xi had been the only one of the ten great sect leaders who’d been absent. Back then, Xue Meng had wondered what this absent guy looked like. Now that he’d seen the man for himself, he was thoroughly shaken by his luxury and poise, and he stared, transfixed.

     Jiang Xi however, was gloomy and irritated, “Is the name of a sect leader one that can be called by the likes of you? How laughable.”

     When Xue Meng heard this, he felt even more humiliated than when he’d spoken to Mei Hanxue earlier, and he was instantly outraged, “What? So you’re old now and no one is allowed to say your name? I have to tag a ‘Sect Leader-xianjun’ in there too, do I? Not even Nangong Liu puts on this many airs!”

     “How unruly.” Jiang Xi said coldly. “Whose disciple are you?”

     “Why should I answer your question? Who do you think you are? Those monkeys at Guyue’ye all heed your call, and I have to respect that too? Well, I won’t tell you! I think you’re nothing but a—”

     “Meng-er!”

      The sudden gentle voice immediately shut Xue Meng up. His eyes immediately moved past Jiang Xi and looked behind him.

     Madam Wang had come without their notice, and she’d probably heard Xue Meng’s offensive words just now, so her face appeared pale and somewhat anxious. She quickly stopped him, “Meng-er, stop now. Come over here, back to mother’s side.”

     Xue Meng glared fiercely at Jiang Xi again, then shook his hands out and walked to Madam Wang. He respectfully bowed his head and said, “Mother.”

     Jiang Xi stood in place for a while, then slowly turned around as well. He narrowed his eyes, which were so obviously born beautiful, but shone with an unmistakable malicious light.

     He looked at the mother-child pair, standing by the white walls and black tiled roofs from the distance, and said coldly through clenched teeth, “Oh, this must be the darling of the heavens, Xue Zhengyong’s good son, Xue Meng.”

     Madam Wang: “......”

     Jiang Xi’s eyelashes trembled briefly, then he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was already filled with ridicule, “As expected of Xue Zhengyong’s son, what an excellent upbringing.”

     “How dare you insult my father!”

     “Meng-er!” Madam Wang immediately grabbed him and pulled him behind her. Then, with a pale face, she bowed respectfully towards Jiang Xi, “My son Xue Meng is used to being spoiled. Please don’t take offense, Sect Leader Jiang.”

     “Oho, Sect Leader Jiang…” Jiang Xi was like a venomous viper, slowly devouring those three words on his lush lips before swallowing them down slowly, “It’s fine. At least half the blood in him Shijie’s, so in terms of seniority, I could recognize him as my god-nephew…”

     “Who wants to be your god-nephew?! Why don’t you take a look at your ugly face first? Get lost!”

     “Meng-er…”

     Jiang Xi smiled coldly. His gaze rested on Xue Meng briefly before languidly moving to Madam Wang, who dropped her gaze immediately.

     Madam Wang lowered her eyes and said, “Please don’t joke around anymore, Sect Leader. I am no longer a disciple of Guyue’ye, so how could I possibly discuss seniority with you?”

     “...Fine.” Jiang Xi nodded and replied coldly, “Good. Excellent. Today, I had the chance to meet an old friend and her son, and it's truly opened my eyes. Who knows how people are nurtured in a filthy place like Sisheng Peak, for a perfectly fine white magnolia to be covered in mud and dirt."

     “Jiang Xi! Fucking say that again! I’LL RIP YOU APART!”

     When Xue Meng heard the man insult his mother right in front of him, blood instantly rushed to his head. He was ready to charge the man without a care for anything else—not even Madam Wang could hold him back.

     But just as the situation was getting out of control, a loud boom suddenly rang through the sky. A resplendent firework exploded with a boom, bells and gongs rumbling. Then, Rufeng Sect’s Master of Ceremonies used a sound amplification spell to simultaneously spread the news across all seventy two cities in an instant.

     “The welcoming banquet will take place at Shile Hall. We respectfully invite all distinguished guests to attend—”

     Jiang Xi glanced at Xue Meng coldly, then turned around, flicked his sleeve and left.