“What else can this little golden snake turn into besides a bow and a net?”
Cen Ying was fascinated by Bai Yuheng’s little golden snake. Bai Yuheng turned her wrist, and a gentle little golden snake quietly poked its head out from her sleeve.
“It can transform into any weapon,” Bai Yuheng said proudly of her spirit beast. “It can change according to your combat stance and situation. If it’s close combat, it becomes a melee weapon. If it’s ranged combat, it transforms accordingly.”
“Wow! That’s amazing!” Cen Ying’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “My father has a spirit beast too, but his is a scorpion — it’s so fierce! It attacks me every time I touch it!”
“Can I touch it?”
“Of course.” Bai Yuheng brought the little golden snake closer to her.
“It’s so beautiful!” Cen Ying cupped it in her hands, full of envy. “When will I be able to manifest my own spirit beast?”
Bai Yuheng smiled kindly. “Hmm… you’ll have to break through your current level first.”
“Ugh… that’s going to take forever!” Cen Ying sighed regretfully. As she stroked the snake, a mischievous thought popped into her head. She winked playfully at Bai Yuheng.
“…” Bai Yuheng received her signal, smiled helplessly, and nodded. Cen Ying then snuck off with the little snake and quietly opened Cui Mingcan’s door.
Moments later, a loud scream echoed throughout the entire He residence.
“Cen Ying! I’m going to kill you!”
Cen Ying ran out, clutching the little golden snake, laughing and yelling for help. “Yuer, save me! Cui Mingcan is rebelling!”
Cui Mingcan came out disheveled, holding a large chopping knife — the same one his master, the sect leader, had let him choose during weapon selection. But right now, it looked like a kitchen knife.
“Cen Xiaoying, you’re dead today!” he shouted angrily, waving the knife.
Cen Ying poked her head out from behind Bai Yuheng, stuck out her tongue, and taunted him. “Bleh!”
“You coward! Scared of such a cute little snake!”
“Hmph! Try waking up to a snake face staring at you with its tongue flicking out and grinning! Let’s see if you don’t die of fright!”
Bai Yuheng: “…”
The two of them bickered and chased each other around her. Bai Yuheng sighed and rubbed her temples, then flicked her fingers — a golden rope appeared and tied up Cui Mingcan.
“Good job, Bai Yuheng, you traitor!” Cui Mingcan shouted in outrage.
“Who’s a traitor?” Cen Ying smirked triumphantly at him — until she, too, was suddenly bound.
“Yuer, you—!?”
“Hahaha! Serves you right!”
“Enough, you two. We’re still in the He residence, not in the Tianyan Sect. Mind your image.”
Both of them turned away and huffed coldly in unison. “Hmph!”
“…” Bai Yuheng had no choice but to untie them.
Just then, the same maid from yesterday came to invite them.
“Immortals, the wedding banquet is about to begin. The master requests your presence.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Cui Mingcan grumbled his way back into the room to get dressed properly.
When all four of them were ready, they went to the main hall together.
Firecrackers exploded thunderously. Children cheered and ran about excitedly, shouting, “The groom’s coming! The groom’s coming!”
The wedding was grand and festive. It was said that Master He had spent a hundred thousand taels to prepare a ten-mile-long bridal procession for his only daughter.
“They say he not only refused to make Scholar Tang a live-in son-in-law but even handed over the entire family business to his daughter and son-in-law to manage!”
“Who knows what kind of luck that Tang scholar had? He went from a poor, penniless man to the richest in Furong Town — and got a beautiful wife to boot!”
“Heh, you’re just jealous! Maybe if you passed the scholar’s exam too, you’d catch the master’s favor!”
“No way! I’ve seen that Tang scholar — he’s not only handsome but also gentle and well-mannered! You? Even if you became a top scholar, I doubt it would help!”
“Hahahahaha!”
As Bai Yuheng and her companions walked through the crowd, they overheard all sorts of gossip, much of it tinged with jealousy. The maid leading them didn’t react, keeping her composure. Cen Ying whispered that the He family really did have strict discipline.
When they reached the front hall, Master He was busy greeting guests. Bai Yuheng stopped the maid from calling him over. “We’ll just observe from here — no need to disturb him.”
“Yes, immortal,” the maid replied respectfully.
After a short while, the auspicious hour arrived. The groom, dressed in bright red wedding robes, was glowing with joy, bowing and greeting every guest offering congratulations.
Cen Ying, fascinated by mortal wedding customs, tugged Bai Yuheng’s sleeve and watched from start to finish.
“It’s so lively today! You can even hear the cheering outside the mansion.”
Master He was generous — he handed out red packets and candies to everyone outside and arranged a three-day feast at every tavern in town. Anyone could stop by for a cup of wedding wine.
Bai Yuheng nodded in agreement.
Following the guests, they completed the wedding procession. The same maid soon returned and asked, “Immortals, would you please help open the way for my young lady?”
She explained what “opening the way” meant — walking ahead of the bridal procession to scatter lucky petals or confetti, usually done by an elder or someone close to the bride.
Originally, it was meant for Gu Feng, but given his current condition, Master He didn’t want to embarrass the family, so he asked them instead.
“I’ll do it!” Cui Mingcan volunteered enthusiastically.
Cen Ying didn’t bother competing with him.
“I just learned a new spell — this is the perfect chance to use it! Let me open the way for your young lady!”
The maid thanked him gratefully. “Thank you, immortal! I’ll inform the master right away!”
Soon after, Cui Mingcan was taken to prepare.
Meanwhile, the groom had already fetched the bride. Firecrackers roared again, and drums and gongs thundered.
Bai Yuheng and the others stood among the onlookers, watching Cui Mingcan scatter colorful petals.
“Is this guy reliable?” Cen Ying muttered, still doubtful after last night’s array mishap.
“If he messes up, we’ll help him,” Bai Yuheng replied. “We can’t let him embarrass our Tianyan Sect.”
Cen Ying nodded, hoping Cui Mingcan wouldn’t cause trouble again.
Fortunately, he managed fine — no mishaps this time.
The route circled the main city once. Firecrackers and drums sounded all the way.
Suddenly, Bai Yuheng grabbed Cen Ying’s hand, frowning as she scanned the surroundings. “There’s demonic energy.”
Cen Ying sniffed the air. Along with the gunpowder scent, there was a sweet floral fragrance. “It’s Chuntao and her group!”
“Up ahead is Cat Alley,” Li Tiankuo said, gripping his sword defensively.
No sooner had he spoken than a graceful figure appeared — dressed in pink, holding something in her hands, walking straight toward the bridal procession without stepping aside.
The drums and gongs paused briefly, then resumed noisily.
“What’s going on? Isn’t someone clearing the way?”
“Who dares offend Master He on his daughter’s wedding day?”
“Who is that woman blocking the path?”
“Could it be a lover’s debt Tang scholar hasn’t repaid?”
The onlookers murmured and craned their necks curiously.
Then, flower petals began to rain down from the sky.
“Eh? It’s raining petals!”
Children cheered, jumping to catch them.
“Who’s ahead? Don’t you know the He family is holding a wedding today?” a wedding matron shouted at the woman blocking the way.
Peony smiled charmingly. “Precisely because you’re holding a wedding, I’ve come to ask for something.”
“If you want a lucky token, step aside first! Don’t delay the auspicious time!”
“But what I want isn’t a lucky token…” Peony sighed lightly, her smile radiant.
“What does the lady want?” Tang Peiqian asked.
She had been waiting for that question.
Peony slowly lifted her hand and pointed toward the groom on horseback.
“I want you.”
The crowd erupted instantly.
“She’s insane!”
“Did Tang scholar really have a romantic affair?”
“No way! He’s so decent and upright — he doesn’t look like the type to fool around!”
“Pah! All men are the same!” a woman spat.
“Come on, Tofu Lady, don’t assume everyone’s like your husband — using your child’s medicine money to visit brothels and dying in a woman’s arms!” another man mocked, full of malice.
Several men around him burst into laughter.
The Tofu Lady glared fiercely. “Hu Si! Don’t think I don’t know your dirty secrets! Does your wife know about the mistress you keep in Wutong Alley?”
Hu Si’s face stiffened.
Someone else sneered, “You’ve got a fierce wife, and you still dare keep a mistress? Aren’t you afraid she’ll skin you alive?”
“And you, Zhao Liu — you gambled away your father’s funeral savings. Want me to tell your mother?”
Zhao Liu glared murderously at her.
The men who had mocked her earlier all fell silent, afraid she’d air their dirty laundry too. They cursed her under their breath and backed away.
The Tofu Lady felt no satisfaction from winning. Her empty eyes stared at Peony standing in the road.
Peony said softly, “As long as your groom marries my good sister instead, I’ll let you pass.”
“Crazy woman!”
“Where did this lunatic come from?”
Everyone shouted that she was mad.
“What’s wrong? You refuse? Then I’ll just stand here forever.” Peony stroked the peachwood box in her hands, clearly ready to wait as long as it took.
Tang Peiqian frowned. He didn’t remember this woman. “Who are you? I don’t know you. Why must you ruin my wedding?”
“Does the gentleman truly not remember me?” Peony stood in the road, smiling beautifully.
The petals fell thicker now. Within moments, her face suddenly changed.
“Ah! A ghost!”
Panic erupted. The onlookers screamed and scattered, abandoning whatever they were holding. The once-crowded street became empty, leaving only the dowry chests and a few trembling people.
Tang Peiqian gasped. “Miss Fang!?”
“Oh? So Tang gongzi does remember her?” Peony’s face changed back, smiling mockingly.
“Wasn’t Miss Fang already—”
“She’s right here,” Peony said gently, stroking the wooden box.
Tang Peiqian dismounted and stepped forward, bowing. “May I ask why the lady has come?”
“I already said — I want you to marry her.”
“…” Tang Peiqian replied calmly, “Forgive me. I had no other relation with Miss Fang, and I already have a wife. I cannot obey.”
He bowed again.
He Huilan emerged from the bridal sedan, lifting her veil. “Miss Peony.”
Tang Peiqian held her hand and bowed to Peony from afar. “Tang and wife Huilan pay respects to Miss Fang.”
Peony laughed mockingly.
“What a loving, enviable couple.”
Her gaze swept over Bai Yuheng and the others, all on guard, and she laughed loudly. “No need to be nervous. I only wanted an answer. Now that I’ve asked, you can continue.”
“Stop!”
The sound of galloping hooves approached.
Master He and Gu Feng led a group of armed servants toward her.
“Peony! I treated you well — why are you ruining my son’s wedding!?”
Peony glanced at Gu Feng, who wore a mask, and curved her lips into a smile.
“Master He, you wrong me. I didn’t come to ruin anything. I only came for one person…”
“Who do you want?”
Her eyes locked on Gu Feng — her meaning was clear.
A chill ran down Gu Feng’s spine. His pupils contracted as the softly falling petals suddenly sharpened into blades, shooting straight toward him.
“!!!”
“I want his life!”
A thick vine tore through the air, striking straight for Gu Feng’s heart.
He stood frozen, unable to move, staring helplessly as it pierced toward him.
“!!!”