“But…” Meng Ruji looked at Miaomiao with an almost pleading tone, “In these desolate mountains and wilderness, we don’t have the conditions for a wedding ceremony with flowers and moonlight…”

Miaomiao smiled very sweetly and took out the small money pouch from her embrace. This was what Meng Ruji had just helped her snatch back from the bandits.

At this moment, looking at this bag of money, Meng Ruji felt joyful for the first time in a while.

Miaomiao held out the money pouch, offering it to Meng Ruji: “Sister Ruji, consider this my wedding gift money for you both.”

As she said this, Miaomiao’s hand began flickering in and out of visibility again, as if in the next instant, she would be carried away by the night wind.

“I know you’re capable and know magic. Can you fulfill my wish?”

Meng Ruji’s heart immediately softened, half helpless and half tender: “Then so be it.”

But unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, a cold voice came from the side: “Did I agree to this?”

Meng Ruji looked incredulously toward the source of the voice—that man.

Mu Sui had a cold, numb expression, completely unmoved.

Meng Ruji turned to look at the somewhat disappointed Miaomiao, then smiled, taking the money pouch from Miaomiao’s hands while comforting her: “I’ll accept the gift money. This ceremony will happen—don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Miaomiao’s hope was rekindled, and she nodded vigorously.

Meng Ruji turned around, her face also growing cold as she walked up to Mu Sui: “Get up. Let’s talk.”

Mu Sui didn’t dawdle either. He stood up, brushed off his clothes, and followed Meng Ruji to the other side of the forest.

Seeing the campfire’s light grow more distant, Meng Ruji stopped, crossed her arms, and looked at Mu Sui with irritation:

“Can’t you let me have peace of mind for even one day? Weren’t you just saying ‘until death do us part’? Since you won’t agree to divorce anyway, is it so difficult to perform a ceremony with me under flowers and moonlight?”

Mu Sui also crossed his arms, distant and cold, speaking bluntly: “It’s unnecessary. You and I came together for profit. Marriage is just acting out a fake play. She’s a dying person—what meaning is there in watching a fake performance?”

“The meaning to her isn’t for you and me to judge.” Meng Ruji held the money pouch, staring directly at Mu Sui. “The money is with me. If you agree, we’ll perform this play well. If you don’t agree, I’ll use magic to tie you up and force you through this performance.”

As her words fell, the forest fell into brief silence.

Meng Ruji held up three fingers: “I’ll count to three. If you don’t agree, I’ll tie you up.”

“One.” She lowered one finger.

Mu Sui’s lips turned downward.

“Two.” The second finger went down.

When the third finger moved, Mu Sui spoke: “Bowing in ceremony won’t work.”

“Why?”

Mu Sui looked elsewhere, saying coldly, “No one is worthy of receiving my bow. I also have no elders.”

“Then flowers and moonlight should be fine?”

Mu Sui didn’t object.

Seeing this, Meng Ruji pressed her advantage: “Bowing to heaven and earth should be acceptable.” Meng Ruji lowered her hands. “Are heaven and earth also unworthy of your bow?”

Mu Sui didn’t respond but maintained his stubborn attitude. Meng Ruji had to retreat a step: “Fine, no bowing. Flowers and moonlight, just for show, bowing toward the distance—that should work!”

The matter was thus settled.

Without delay, it would happen tonight.

Miaomiao said there was no need to calculate auspicious days or wait for auspicious times. When two people were together, that was the best time. She had the regret of missing out, so she wanted to place all beautiful things in the present moment.

Meng Ruji used the silver money Miaomiao gave her to set up a formation in the forest.

When the formation activated, light revolved, transforming the moon of the Land of No Return into a mortal realm moon, changing their clothes into wedding garments of the mortal world.

Ye Chuan grilled a pile of mountain yams and fish as the wedding banquet dishes.

Tuzi ran around picking many flowers.

Miaomiao sat in the center position, a gentle smile constantly on her lips. She watched them with curved eyes, as if seeing through years and separation, truly seeing the past.

Meng Ruji used the flowers Tuzi picked to weave two fresh flower bracelets. She wore one on her right hand and handed the other to Mu Sui.

“Wear it on your left hand.”

Mu Sui took the flower bracelet, looking at Meng Ruji: “Do mortal weddings also give these?”

“Hengxu Mountain weddings give these.” Meng Ruji said, “When juniors marry, I weave a flower wreath for them. When I marry myself, naturally, I should have one too.”

Mu Sui was startled, examining the flower wreath.

It was woven very well, and the small wildflowers on it were blooming perfectly.

He hadn’t gotten the grass cape or worn a flower crown, but he had a small flower bracelet that no one else had…

Seeing him hold it for a long time without putting it on his wrist, Meng Ruji found him slow and snatched the bracelet back, grabbing Mu Sui’s left hand and putting it on him without explanation.

A branch in the woven bracelet stuck out and caught on Mu Sui’s finger. Meng Ruji called out “Wait” and moved closer to him, reweaving the protruding branch back into the pattern.

She didn’t know that the moment she leaned closer, Mu Sui held his breath slightly.

The headdress created by magic wasn’t real, and the golden phoenix bead curtain swayed on her head. The illusory light and shadow passed through his nose and eyelids, casting brilliance into his eyes.

Meng Ruji, bent over weaving the flower bracelet at his wrist, seemed to flash with light at that moment, causing Mu Sui a moment of distraction. As if… their fake play was about to become real.

“Done.” Meng Ruji stepped back, and the bewildering illusory light and shadow dispersed simultaneously.

Mu Sui thought he would breathe a sigh of relief, but in the next instant, he discovered his hand had already grabbed Meng Ruji’s hand.

Their body temperatures instantly merged, leaving both somewhat dazed.

Meng Ruji looked at Mu Sui in surprise, and Mu Sui returned the same astonished expression.

Then Meng Ruji immediately understood: “Couldn’t hold back again, right?” She turned passive into active, grasping Mu Sui’s hand and squeezing it. “I understand. This is good for today—it makes the act more real.”

Their hands with flower bracelets clasped together, Meng Ruji’s fingers threading through Mu Sui’s one by one, interlocking with his. When they held hands, the petals on their wrists brushed against each other, making a sound only they could hear.

“It’s just… husband, on this day of ceremony completion, I gave you Hengxu Mountain’s flower bracelet. In reciprocity, what can you give me?”

Mu Sui’s gaze moved from their clasped hands to Meng Ruji’s face.

Seeing her smile hid some calculation, Mu Sui saw through it but didn’t expose it. Before she could speak, he pulled a piece of broken silver from the money pouch at her waist.

“I give you the blooming of Zhuliu City’s Marriage Tree.” After Mu Sui spoke, the broken silver in his palm activated a formation, and a luminous tree appeared beside them.

The trunk and leaves were all outlined by magical light, with abundant flowers blooming on the tree, overwhelming in their profusion. When the wind passed and flowers fell, it was like goose feather snow, rustling down.

Burying both of them within.

Meng Ruji looked up at the Marriage Tree, stunned by this abundance of flowers surpassing snow.

“Wow…” From the other side, Miaomiao softly exclaimed in wonder.

“This is Zhuliu City’s Marriage Tree! Miss Miaomiao!” Tuzi excitedly returned to sit beside Miaomiao. “The City Lord conjured it with magic—it fulfills your wish!”

Miaomiao gazed admiringly at the luminous Marriage Tree, then at the two people beneath it, her eyes seeming to ripple with light.

“I’ve never seen the Marriage Tree bloom,” Miaomiao said softly, “but I’ve seen the way Young Master Mu looks at Miss Meng.”

“Ah?” Hearing this, Tuzi finally looked carefully at how Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji.

Under the tree, abundant flowers fell like snow. Meng Ruji extended one hand to catch the magical flower petals, which passed through her palm one by one, yet she watched with great fascination.

And Mu Sui…

Also watched with great fascination.

Not at the petals, but at the person before him.

“Hmm…” Tuzi pursed her lips, making a meaningful hum.

Miaomiao looked at the two with nostalgia: “So I had already seen scenery more beautiful than the Marriage Tree blooming.” Miaomiao murmured, “In Brother Changyun’s eyes…”

Miaomiao closed her eyes, as if seeing that person from years past again.

Tuzi pursed her lips, wanting to speak but hesitating, unwilling to interrupt Miaomiao’s reminiscence. She looked around and finally settled her gaze on Ye Chuan, then moved beside him and asked: “Do you… feel like they’re getting married?”

Ye Chuan looked at Tuzi strangely: “They are getting married.”

Tuzi: “I mean… they seem like they’re getting married.”

“Aren’t they getting married?”

No point in talking.

Tuzi chose to stay silent and sat back beside Miaomiao.

Over there, under flowers and moonlight, Meng Ruji emerged from the shock of the Marriage Tree’s beautiful scenery, glanced at Mu Sui, and smiled: “Husband is quite good at setting scenes.”

Meeting Meng Ruji’s gaze, Mu Sui seemed scalded and wordlessly turned his eyes away.

It wasn’t until Meng Ruji pulled Mu Sui forward a step that he followed along.

Stepping on the grass, as the formation’s light revolved, real and illusory flowers bloomed on the ground. With the Marriage Tree beside them, the moonlight seemed to illuminate thousands of miles of the Land of No Return.

“They…” Miaomiao opened her eyes, her voice already very hoarse, but she still smiled, the light from the formation brightening her pupils, “They look so happy.”

“Yes…” Tuzi’s tone was somewhat different, “They look… very happy…” Then she pursed her lips with a complex expression.

The words behind them didn’t reach Meng Ruji and Mu Sui’s ears.

Meng Ruji was seriously studying: “For bowing, should you learn Hengxu Mountain’s etiquette or should I learn Zhuliu City’s customs?”

Meeting Meng Ruji’s gaze, Mu Sui seemed scalded. He turned his head, and before he could answer, Meng Ruji moved closer to him: “Or, where were you from in the mortal realm before? What etiquette did you use? Teach me?”

These words seemed to awaken Mu Sui, and the emotion in his eyes immediately faded.

“Madam.” Mu Sui addressed her thus, but his voice grew much colder, “It’s just acting. You’re being too serious about it.”

Seeing him like this, Meng Ruji wasn’t angry but stared at his eyes, studying them: “Mortal affairs are so hard to mention? Husband, you’re being too distant.”

“Cough…” A light cough came from behind—Miaomiao’s voice. Meng Ruji turned to look and saw that Miaomiao’s cheeks were beginning to flicker in and out of visibility.

Meng Ruji’s heart sank. Holding Mu Sui’s hand, she tugged him: “Then let’s follow Hengxu Mountain’s customs. Place that hand on your chest.”

As Meng Ruji spoke, she raised her other hand, placed it on her chest, lightly tapped three times, then bowed forward slightly. As if truly making a devout bow to heaven and earth.

Mu Sui didn’t delay and imitated her actions, bowing to the space ahead.

“The ceremony is complete, husband.”

Meng Ruji straightened up, smiling at Mu Sui.

Mu Sui remained expressionless. From the corner of his eye, he also glanced at Miaomiao, whose body was slowly becoming fainter. This time, what he saw wasn’t Miaomiao flickering in and out of visibility—her body was beginning to turn into specks of dust from her feet upward, floating toward the sky like flying ash.

Ye Chuan and Tuzi, sitting beside her, also saw this.

They didn’t move, just quietly watched Miaomiao depart.

Miaomiao still had a smile on her lips. She waved at Meng Ruji: “Thank you.”

Meng Ruji’s grip on Mu Sui’s hand tightened slightly. She looked back at Miaomiao, also smiling and waving her other hand: “Mission accomplished.”

“Whoosh”—a great wind rose, disturbing the flying flowers, carrying the light specks that Miaomiao had become, intertwining with the petals like the upward-flowing waters of Nai River, toward the night sky.

“Spending the final time watching such things has no meaning.”

“Qianshan Jun, you say mayflies exist between heaven and earth, born at dawn and dead at dusk. For what do they live, and for what do they die?”

Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji and saw her gazing upward, watching the flowers and soul dust fly farther and farther away.

“Born because of birth, dead because of death.” Mu Sui said indifferently, “Life and death are a natural order, all things change and replace each other—there is no ‘why’ to begin with.”

Getting this answer, Meng Ruji was somewhat surprised. She looked back at Mu Sui, then nodded:

“You’re right, too. However… I feel that life and death should seek a ‘why.’ Perhaps for this flower’s blooming, that rabbit’s cuteness…”

Meng Ruji pointed at the flower in her hand and the rabbit under the tree over there, then looked at the tree beside them and the distant night sky.

“Born for gentle wind through treetops, for encounters among mountains and rivers, for ineffable stirrings.”

“As for why one dies…” Meng Ruji thought, “dying for a confidant, dying for beauty, for faith and nobility, for everything worthwhile. Where Miaomiao spent her final time, whatever that was, held meaning for her. You can’t define it, and neither can I.”

Wind passed, and all the illusory scenes maintained by the silver money’s magic completely dispersed. The magical Marriage Tree turned into points of light, passing by both of them like fireflies.

As the light flowed, Meng Ruji smiled and asked Mu Sui: “Born because of birth, dead because of death—Qianshan Jun is so detached and rational, but I wonder, have you ever found people or things you’d be willing to die for?”

Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji in silence for a long time, until all the “flowing fireflies” beside them had disappeared: “Has Mountain Lord Meng found such?”

“Of course.” Meng Ruji walked around, picking up the silver coins scattered around from the formation, answering as if casually, “Living this long, who hasn’t done a few desperate things? Qianshan Jun surely has some, right?”

Hearing this, Mu Sui said nothing, turned to find the piece of broken silver that had created the Marriage Tree illusion, then returned it to Meng Ruji’s hands.