Su Wan was left speechless by Xie Yanci’s remark.
It didn’t matter.
In a way, this was better.
At least Xie Yanci wouldn’t have to watch Luo Qingyuan and Ling Chen pretend to be husband and wife, sparing him the jealousy and heartache that would have come with it.
Even if…
He was already hurting now.
This fake wedding was nothing more than an act.
A temporary measure to lure out the evil spirit.
Without another word, Xie Yanci strode past her.
The hem of his black robe brushed lightly against her sleeve, carrying with it a faint, cool fragrance.
His footsteps never slowed.
He walked straight into the neighboring room, leaving behind only a cold, resolute figure.
No one noticed, however, that the moment he turned away, uncertainty flickered across his dark eyes.
There was even the faintest trace of cautious concern—
a feeling so subtle that even he himself failed to recognize it.
Watching his retreating back, Su Wan felt an inexplicable ache in her heart.
Forget it.
It was only a performance.
Their sole purpose was to draw out the evil lurking within Pear Blossom Village.
“Alright,” Luo Qingyuan said gently.
“It’s getting late.”
“Junior Sister Su, hurry and change into your wedding dress.”
“Senior Brother Ling and I will be watching over everything.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Without giving Su Wan another chance to object, Luo Qingyuan gently pushed her into the bridal chamber.
Seeing the room filled with brilliant red decorations, Luo Qingyuan’s eyes sparkled with quiet amusement and confidence.
She closed the door behind her, cutting off any possibility of retreat.
Outside, the sun gradually dipped below the horizon.
Twilight settled over Pear Blossom Village.
The soft beat of wedding drums echoed through the streets as festive cheer filled the air.
The ceremonial stage had already been completed.
Bright red candles burned steadily, bathing the courtyard in warm crimson light.
Everything looked joyous and peaceful.
No one would ever guess that deadly danger lurked beneath the celebration.
The auspicious hour had arrived.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
“Junior Sister,” Luo Qingyuan called from outside.
“It’s time.”
“The wedding ceremony is about to begin.”
Su Wan took a deep breath.
Pushing aside her thoughts, she opened the door and accepted Luo Qingyuan’s waiting hand.
The scarlet wedding gown swept across the ground behind her.
Wrapped in flowing red silk, her snow-white skin appeared even more radiant.
Her lively features seemed both delicate and breathtaking.
Her hairstyle remained the same as usual.
Only the velvet flowers decorating her hair had been replaced with brilliant red ones.
At that very moment…
The neighboring door opened as well.
Xie Yanci stepped out dressed in matching crimson wedding robes.
Accustomed to seeing him only in black, Su Wan was momentarily stunned.
The vivid red clothing softened much of his usual coldness.
The gloomy aura surrounding him faded, replaced by an elegance so striking it almost took one’s breath away.
Tall and straight as bamboo, his flawless features appeared even more handsome beneath the brilliant red fabric.
His dark eyes remained as deep and aloof as ever.
Although his expression stayed distant, the wedding robes added an unexpected brilliance to his appearance.
The handsome young man…
The beautiful young woman…
Standing side by side in matching crimson robes, they looked as though they had been made for one another.
Watching from nearby, Luo Qingyuan smiled with unmistakable satisfaction.
Hidden in the shadows, Ling Chen wore a similarly pleased expression.
Xie Yanci slowly lifted his eyes.
His gaze landed directly upon the young woman dressed in the same scarlet robes as himself.
His fingers unconsciously curled.
Startled by his own reaction, he quickly looked away and forced his expression back into its usual indifference.
Luo Qingyuan gently lowered the red bridal veil over Su Wan’s head.
The auspicious hour had arrived.
The wedding officiant raised his voice.
Drums sounded.
The red candles flickered warmly.
Their intertwined shadows stretched across the courtyard.
“First bow—to Heaven and Earth!”
Following the officiant’s instructions, Su Wan and Xie Yanci bowed together toward the heavens.
Hidden beneath her bridal veil, Su Wan shamelessly stole a glance at him while lowering her head.
Unexpectedly…
Xie Yanci was looking at her too.
Their eyes met.
A cool breeze drifted through the courtyard, carrying the fragrance of pear blossoms mixed with the scent of burning candles.
For a brief moment, Su Wan could no longer hear the drums or the bustling crowd.
All she heard…
Was the frantic pounding of her own heartbeat.
Xie Yanci froze.
Caught completely off guard by the unexpected eye contact, he hurriedly looked away.
The tips of his ears quietly turned red.
“Second bow—to the elders!”
The two turned and bowed respectfully toward the village chief seated at the place of honor.
“Husband and wife—bow to one another!”
Facing each other, they each held one end of the scarlet wedding sash.
They clasped their hands and bowed.
Su Wan unconsciously tightened her grip.
Meanwhile, the faint blush on Xie Yanci’s ears spread all the way down his neck.
“The ceremony is complete!”
The wedding rites concluded.
Yet…
The evil spirit never appeared.
Their performance had to continue.
“Escort the bride and groom to the bridal chamber!”
Still connected by the red sash, Xie Yanci and Su Wan walked together toward the wedding room.
Once inside, they closed the door behind them.
The flickering red candles cast their overlapping shadows against the wooden door.
Su Wan immediately lifted her own bridal veil.
She grabbed the wine jug from the table and poured herself a full cup.
After spending the entire day preparing for the ceremony, she was absolutely parched.
Draining the cup in one gulp, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Xie Yanci’s eyes drifted to the ceremonial wedding scale resting on the nearby table.
For a moment, he stood silently, lost in thought.
“We’ll just wait here.”
Su Wan finally broke the silence.
“…Mm.”
Xie Yanci sat down across from her.
Neither of them spoke.
The only sound in the room was the gentle crackling of the wedding candles.
Outside, the festive noise gradually faded.
Knowing the immortal cultivators intended to eliminate the evil spirit that night, the villagers had already returned home.
Only Luo Qingyuan and Ling Chen remained hidden outside, quietly standing watch.
Suddenly…
The expression in Su Wan’s eyes changed.
She rose from the bed and walked directly toward Xie Yanci.
He glanced up lazily.
“What are you doing now?”
Instead of answering…
Su Wan leaned forward and kissed him lightly between the brows.
Xie Yanci’s entire body stiffened.
His heart slammed violently against his chest.
Before he could react—
A second kiss landed on the bridge of his nose.
Then a third…
At the corner of his lips.
Only then did Xie Yanci finally snap out of his shock.
He immediately grabbed the hand resting on his shoulder and pulled her away as he stood up.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Su Wan didn’t answer.
Her eyes were unfocused and hazy.
Instead, she reached toward his waist, fumbling with his sash as she murmured dreamily,
“Husband…”
“It’s our wedding night…”
“We should go to bed…”
A dangerous look flashed across Xie Yanci’s eyes.
“You’re being controlled?”
“Do you even know who I am?”
“Yanci…”
she whispered softly.
“It’s time to rest…”
“We…”
Before Xie Yanci could do anything—
Su Wan suddenly collapsed unconscious.
Almost simultaneously, a wave of dizziness struck him.
His thoughts became muddled.
He immediately tried to stabilize himself with spiritual energy.
It was useless.
Moments later…
He, too, lost consciousness, collapsing beside Su Wan.
At some point…
Every sound outside vanished.
No insects.
No birds.
Only terrifying silence.
It was as though the two of them had been dragged into an entirely different world.
When Su Wan opened her eyes again, the red bridal chamber had disappeared.
In its place stood cold stone walls.
Nearby, Xie Yanci remained unconscious, bound tightly to a stone pillar by strands of black mist.
Looking down, Su Wan realized the same black energy had wrapped itself around her wrists and ankles.
She immediately tried to gather spiritual energy.
Nothing happened.
Not a single trace of spiritual power answered her call.
This is bad.
“Xie Yanci!”
She shouted anxiously.
“Wake up!”
“Xie Yanci!”
When shouting failed, she awkwardly shuffled closer despite being bound, then kicked him several times.
Only then did he slowly regain consciousness.
The blurry scene before him gradually came into focus.
Unlike Su Wan, whose spiritual energy had merely been sealed…
Xie Yanci felt something more.
Not only was his spiritual power completely suppressed—
His entire body had also gone limp, as though he’d been drugged with a powerful paralytic.
He couldn’t summon even the slightest strength.
In a weak voice, he muttered,
“I can’t move.”
“My spiritual energy won’t respond.”
Yet even as he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Su Wan.
Almost as though he were confirming something.
Su Wan completely failed to notice the complicated emotions hidden within his gaze.
Instead, she answered immediately,
“My spiritual energy is sealed too.”
“I wonder if Senior Sister Luo and Senior Brother Ling will realize something’s wrong and catch up in time.”
At that moment—
The stone wall beside them rumbled loudly.
With a heavy grinding sound, a hidden entrance slowly opened.
A woman dressed in flowing purple robes stepped inside.
A veiled hat concealed her face.
The moment she entered, a dense aura of resentment radiated from her body.
She looked at the pair and sighed theatrically.
“What a handsome groom…”
“And what a beautiful bride.”
“You truly make a perfect couple.”
“What a pity.”
“Tonight, you’ll become a pair of doomed lovers instead.”
The woman walked over to Xie Yanci.
Grabbing his chin, she forced him to raise his face.
A mocking smile curved beneath her veil.
“Such a handsome face.”
“I wonder…”
“Would your wife be willing to give up everything for you?”
As she spoke, a dagger suddenly appeared in her hand.
With a sickening thrust—
She drove it straight into Xie Yanci’s left shoulder.
Fresh blood splattered across Su Wan’s pale face.
Xie Yanci frowned sharply.
A muffled groan escaped his lips.
The woman turned to Su Wan and smiled.
“Little girl…”
“Would you trade your own life…”
“To save your husband’s?”
Su Wan’s thoughts raced wildly.
If…
If this woman really can kill Xie Yanci…
Then wouldn’t that mean no one would be left to kill Ling Chen later?
Wouldn’t the male and female leads survive… instead of meeting their tragic fate?