Xie Lingbi had never expected that Huang Rang’s marriage prospects would generate so many twists and turns.

He was extremely displeased in his heart, yet had no better solution.

Previously, when he had arranged a marriage for Huang Rang, it had already alarmed the He, Zhang, and Wu families, so naturally he could no longer do anything further to Huang Rang.

The rumors circulating in the marketplace grew even worse. Some said that Xie Hongchen was secretly obstructing things, fundamentally refusing to allow Huang Rang to marry. Others said that Di Yiqiu was being unreasonably difficult, deliberately sabotaging the arrangements.

For a time, the entire immortal sect focused its attention on this matter.

On this day, Huang Rang came to the postal station at the outer gates—Qu Manying had sent her a letter.

Huang Rang casually tore it open. In the letter, Qu Manying once again mentioned to her that she hoped she would come to Ruyi Sword Sect for exchange studies. Of course, Huang Rang had no intention of accepting her kind offer.

—She and Xie Lingbi’s grievances must have a resolution. The closer she got to Ruyi Sword Sect, the more disadvantageous it would be for them.

She turned to leave when suddenly a disciple behind her said, “Senior Sister Huang, there’s another item here for you.”

“What?” Huang Rang stepped forward and indeed saw a large “human”-shaped package.

But this time, everyone’s expressions weren’t as strange as when they first saw such a thing.

The disciple unwrapped the package, and sure enough, inside was another puppet.

This puppet was as large as a grown man, with a precious sword embedded in its groove. By the looks of it, it was another combat puppet.

The other disciples were used to this sight by now and helped Huang Rang move it to Qilu Terrace.

During this time, a disciple remarked, “Senior Sister Huang, this puppet is much lighter than the last one. It seems the Si Tianjian’s craftsmanship has improved again.”

“Is that so?” Huang Rang’s answer was absent-minded.

She was still thinking about that person. Last time she saw him, he looked haggard and even vomited blood. She really didn’t know how he was doing now. So upon seeing this puppet, she truly couldn’t feel happy.

Once the puppet was moved onto Qilu Terrace, the other disciples all departed one after another.

Huang Rang came before the puppet and saw it was no different from the previous Class C combat puppet. She gently stroked it—its surface was still hardwood and iron stone, its features flat, looking dull and lifeless.

Huang Rang sighed and found the key. Just as she was about to insert it into its ear hole, suddenly, the puppet softly called out, “Ah Rang.”

This voice was too familiar. Huang Rang was so startled she stepped back. And at this moment, the puppet raised both hands and removed its own head. Inside, Di Yiqiu’s face appeared!!

It took Huang Rang a long time to react—he had stuffed himself inside the puppet and smuggled himself into Yuhu Xuanzong!

“You…” Huang Rang slowly approached, both angry and amused.

The shameless Jianzheng struggled several times before finally saying, “Come here, help me remove this layer of wax gel from my head.”

“What is this?” Huang Rang removed a layer of transparent wax seal from his head and asked.

Di Yiqiu said, “It’s used to isolate life force. Yuhu Xuanzong’s mountain-protecting formation is extremely tight—living things cannot be mixed in. I experimented for a long time before finally finding this kind of wax. After sealing the entire body, the life force is isolated, and it can be treated as a dead object by the formation.”

“…” Huang Rang was speechless. “You… why go to such lengths?”

Her tone carried a sigh. After Jianzheng removed that layer of wax gel, he could breathe smoothly again. Hearing this, he smiled and said, “To see Ah Rang once, any hardship or danger is worth it.”

Huang Rang originally didn’t want to acknowledge him, but subconsciously stepped forward and reached out to touch his face. “When I saw you earlier, you were ill. Have you recovered somewhat?”

Her words were still concerned. Jianzheng used the puppet’s clumsy hand to press against the back of her hand. He didn’t answer this question, but only said, “Marry me.”

These three words came out scorching hot. Huang Rang immediately withdrew her hand.

Di Yiqiu looked at her quietly and said again, “Marry me.” As he spoke, he used the puppet’s shell with clumsy movements to kneel before Huang Rang, saying, “Marry me.”

On the quiet Qilu Terrace, only these three words seemed to remain.

Huang Rang gazed at him. He casually picked a flower from the farmland and handed it to Huang Rang with both hands. “Marry me.”

In this moment, there were no gold, silver, or jewels, no forty million spirit stones.

Only Di Yiqiu himself appeared before her, clean and simple.

As if possessed, Huang Rang accepted the flower—ah, even the flower was one she had planted herself.

Before she could speak, Di Yiqiu, wearing the puppet shell, clumsily embraced her.

“You agreed,” he said, then as if afraid she would change her mind, he acted shamelessly. “You accepted my flower.”

The heavy puppet shell was hard and cold, but the person inside was burning hot.

Huang Rang gently stroked his face, then pressed her own face against it.

Di Yiqiu only felt his lips warm up. The remaining shameless words all caught in his throat.

Huang Rang’s lips were moist and full, extremely elastic. Di Yiqiu knelt on the ground, lower than her, so she braced her hands against the puppet shell and bent down. Her long hair like silk cascaded down, half-blocking the light from above.

Di Yiqiu caught a whiff of floral fragrance but couldn’t distinguish what flower it was.

After a long while, he suddenly realized—Huang Rang had kissed him.

This kiss was long and tender. Qilu Terrace seemed to lose all sound. Before Jianzheng’s eyes was emptiness, leaving only a whiteness like a snowy field. His breath stopped abruptly, his mind went blank, and his ears buzzed.

Air couldn’t enter his lungs. He was like someone drowning, the world losing all sensation.

After the kiss, Huang Rang’s face was also flushed crimson, her neck dyed with rosy clouds.

She suddenly turned her back, and behind her, Di Yiqiu, through the puppet’s shell, slowly embraced her waist.

The puppet’s arms were square and rigid, while her slender waist was soft, barely enough to encircle with one hand.

Huang Rang gently stroked the hands clasped tightly before her. Those hands were also made of iron and wood, without the slightest vitality.

“Di Yiqiu,” she suddenly said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Di Yiqiu pressed his face against her back and said, “I won’t listen to those three words.” After speaking, he repeated, “Marry me.”

Huang Rang finally said, “There won’t be any marriage. It’s not worth it.”

However, Di Yiqiu only stubbornly said, “Marry me.”

He seemed to have become a puppet that could only endlessly repeat these three words.

“Alright.” Huang Rang heard her own voice in the dew-laden, fragrant air, softly carrying a trace of warmth.

Behind her, having received the answer he wanted, Jianzheng released the hands embracing Huang Rang’s waist and began forcefully prying at the sword groove on his body. Huang Rang heard a series of creaking and groaning sounds behind her and couldn’t help but turn around.

Di Yiqiu, stuck inside this puppet, was really inconvenient.

He pried at that sword groove for a long time but just couldn’t open it.

Huang Rang suppressed her laughter and suddenly pushed him to the ground.

Sure enough, like all puppets, once he fell to the ground, it was very difficult to get up.

He struggled on the ground for a long time before finally saying, “Help me up.”

Huang Rang laughed lightly and stepped forward to support his arm. Fortunately, in this dream she cultivated the martial path, and her strength had increased considerably. With her support, Di Yiqiu finally managed to stand up.

“Open the sword groove,” he pointed to his side.

Huang Rang then helped him pry open the sword groove and took out the precious sword inside, saying, “Is this… the puppet’s new weapon?”

She knew about puppet weapons—the Si Tianjian had used this to extract plenty of money. Just last time, Yuhu Xuanzong had ordered nine weapons for that puppet alone.

Di Yiqiu said, “This sword is a gift for you.”

“Wh-what?” Huang Rang was stunned.

Di Yiqiu said calmly, “Last time I promised to forge a sword for you, and I’ve always kept this matter in mind. After much difficulty, I finally completed it and brought it to you.”

Huang Rang searched hard in her memory and finally remembered—it was during the year she participated in the rookie disciple trials, in the small grove outside Kanyue City. At that time, she had told Di Yiqiu that she wanted to defeat Xie Lingbi.

And Di Yiqiu had casually said—she needed a good sword.

That memory, pickled in time, was no longer vivid.

Yet for those words, Di Yiqiu had searched and searched, worked tirelessly for a hundred years.

Huang Rang gripped the sword hilt, wanting to draw the precious sword.

But Di Yiqiu said, “Don’t!”

Huang Rang looked at him. He said, “Xie Lingbi has considerable attainment in the way of the sword. Xie Hongchen is even the number one sword immortal of all time in the immortal sects. If this sword is unsheathed, those two are quite close to this place and will definitely sense it.”

He said earnestly, “You should catch Xie Lingbi off guard. So when you want to defeat him, draw the sword then.”

Huang Rang wanted to make a joke to ease the emotions piling up in her heart. She said, “Who knows if you’re not just deceiving me.”

Though she said this, her nose felt somewhat blocked. So within the words, there seemed to be a trace of moisture.

Having said this, she quietly waited for Di Yiqiu to gently comfort her.

Before her, Di Yiqiu, wearing the clumsy puppet shell, frowned. Then he began seriously analyzing, saying, “I wouldn’t. I’ve studied Xie Lingbi’s sword. Although he uses heart sword, his cultivation actually cannot compare with Xie Hongchen. The intent of heart sword lies in…”

He earnestly and seriously explained sword dao and sword intent to Huang Rang for an entire hour.

Then he used another half hour to explain the forging materials used for this sword.

Subsequently, he used a quarter hour to analyze the reasons why this sword could counter heart sword.

Huang Rang narrowed her eyes. After listening for an entire afternoon, she finally believed—Di Yiqiu truly, genuinely believed she could understand.

So after Autumn Master had methodically and thoroughly proven the possibility of this sword countering heart sword, Huang Rang suddenly asked, “Di Yiqiu, have you ever considered that when I said those words, I was actually acting coquettish toward you?”

“Hm?” Jianzheng’s face first showed a question mark, then transformed into “!”

Huang Rang’s fingers were slender as spring onions. Her red lips parted slightly, touching her fingertips. After a long while, she said, “If I were you, I would immediately remove this puppet armor, then hold the coquettish woman in my arms, sweet-talking and swearing oaths to heaven. Then kissing and touching… rather than spending an entire afternoon explaining and analyzing that damned heart sword, sword dao, and sword intent to prove your words are true.”

Jianzheng quickly went to pry at the puppet armor’s fasteners. However, being inside the armor, he naturally wasn’t flexible enough. After prying for a long time, he finally said, “Come help me!”

However, would this wicked Huang Rang help?

She covered her lips and laughed, watching him fumble about. After a good while, she picked up the wax headpiece and came before Di Yiqiu.

“…You go back and prepare for our marriage.” She leaned close to his ear, her voice low and soft, like a feather lightly brushing his earlobe. Then she fastened the wax headpiece for him.

When the puppet’s helmet and face guard were fastened again, before Jianzheng’s eyes was only the weak light penetrating through the translucent wax seal.

He neither spoke nor moved. Huang Rang spread her arms and, through the thick puppet armor, gave him an embrace.

For some reason, her heart suddenly felt reluctant.

“Di Yiqiu, you know, your name has a strange magic to it. Just saying it like this is also very sweet.” She said softly by his ear.

Through the thick armor, she couldn’t see Di Yiqiu’s expression clearly. Jianzheng gave no other indication afterward. He only said, “I will propose marriage as soon as possible.”

In his words, there was somewhat the meaning of dry mouth and parched tongue.

Huang Rang said nothing more. She found several disciples to return this “puppet” to Si Tianjian.

The disciples naturally wouldn’t ask questions and helped her carry this puppet all the way to the postal station at the outer gates.

Huang Rang turned back and saw the sword Di Yiqiu had given her.

It was a heavy sword, but the scabbard was carved golden flowers with intricate patterns. The sword hilt’s guard was like intertwining branches, with red gems embedded on it, appearing quite ostentatious.

Honestly speaking, this sword didn’t look very formidable.

Instead, it looked like something young ladies used for decoration—beautiful indeed, but without any intimidating power.

Huang Rang didn’t know if this sword was truly as Di Yiqiu said, capable of countering Xie Lingbi’s heart sword.

Although Di Yiqiu had explained to her for an entire afternoon, she… hadn’t understood.

—Huang Rang dared swear that normal people couldn’t understand this stuff either.

Huang Rang strapped the sword on her back and descended Qilu Terrace. Just as she entered Diancui Peak, she encountered someone.

—Xie Hongchen.

Xie Hongchen generally stayed in Yeyun Hall, rarely walking about the sect.

Seeing him, the disciples couldn’t help but retreat to the roadside and bow to him. Huang Rang also retreated to the roadside. Among a group of disciples, she followed everyone saying, “Master.”

Xie Hongchen passed by her side, his footsteps gradually slowing, but ultimately not stopping.

“Mm.” He responded lightly. Under the covert attention of countless disciples, he couldn’t even look at her an extra glance.

After he walked far away, Huang Rang went straight back to her residence.

She played with the sword Di Yiqiu had given her again and suddenly discovered that toward that person, she no longer had any attachment.

Like a rain that falls when it says it will fall, and stops when it says it will stop. Until finally, even the dampness on the road gradually disperses.

At the outer gates, after leaving Diancui Peak, Xie Hongchen actually had nowhere to go.

Huang Rang hadn’t come to Yeyun Hall for many days now, and he had no reason whatsoever to seek her out. He had stayed in the hall for many days and finally still wanted to know what she was doing. He left Diancui Peak and, as wished, saw Huang Rang.

But so what?

He couldn’t approach her.

So he simply sought out Xie Yuanshu and drank wine all night.

Xie Yuanshu was originally a dissolute person, so at the drinking table he couldn’t help but tell many bawdy jokes. From beginning to end, Xie Hongchen remained very quiet, neither scolding nor responding.

Early the next morning, Jianzheng once again came to Yuhu Xuanzong with great fanfare to propose marriage to Huang Rang.

Xie Hongchen hadn’t returned, so Xie Lingbi had to personally come out to deal with this.

He didn’t even bother inviting Di Yiqiu into Luofu Hall. He came directly to the mountain gate at the outer gates and perfunctorily said, “We are grateful for Jianzheng’s regard. But Ah Rang is Hongchen’s personal disciple and is accustomed to immortal sect life. I’m afraid the mortal world of the court is complicated and numerous, and she won’t be able to adapt. So, Jianzheng, please return.”

His words had just fallen when suddenly a clear, pleasant voice said, “Ancestor, this disciple is moved by Jianzheng’s deep feelings. I am willing to wash my hands and make soup, to marry him as his wife.”

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Huang Rang in a pale golden dress and skirt, slowly approaching.

Today she wasn’t wearing practice clothes. Her dress was embroidered with flowers, her temples adorned with pearl hairpins, her moth-like eyebrows lightly swept, her makeup exquisite.

The disciples immediately caused an uproar, and Xie Lingbi’s expression became even uglier. He turned to look directly at Huang Rang. This gaze clearly already carried威胁. He asked, “What did you say?”

Normally, his accumulated authority was already quite heavy. If it were an ordinary disciple, they would have long since not dared to make a sound.

But Huang Rang smiled and looked directly at him, saying, “In reply to Grand Master, this disciple just said she is willing to marry Jianzheng as his wife.”

Her enunciation was clear, her manner composed.

The gloom in Xie Lingbi’s eyes grew heavier. After a long while, he laughed coldly and said, “Huang Rang, when you first entered our sect and became our sect master’s disciple, you learned our sect’s immortal methods. Now you actually want to marry into the court?”

In recent years, Si Tianjian had risen rapidly, and among the common people, many compared it with Yuhu Xuanzong.

The two powers competed openly and covertly. No matter what, Xie Lingbi absolutely refused to send such assistance to Si Tianjian.

However, Huang Rang had naturally calculated this.

Just as she was about to answer, outside the mountain gate, someone said, “Ancestor Lingbi, Ah Rang has studied under your tutelage for many years. Indeed, she has troubled the immortal sect and also troubled Sect Master Xie.”

Xie Lingbi looked up and saw He Xijin, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou arriving together. The one who had just spoken was Zhang Shujiu.

“Even you three have come. Today truly everyone has arrived.” Xie Lingbi laughed coldly.

He Xijin said, “Ah-Ah-Ah Rang…”

Zhang Shujiu quickly said, “Ah Rang calls Madam He aunt. Speaking of it, she’s also of our younger generation. When she’s getting engaged, how could we not come to offer congratulations?”

Of course, the reason these three arrived so uniformly was because when Huang Rang sent off Jianzheng’s puppet, she had sent a letter to He Xijin.

She also knew Xie Lingbi wouldn’t agree to this marriage, but if He Xijin came forward as an elder, that would be different.

Sure enough, seeing He, Zhang, and Wu had come, Xie Lingbi already knew in his heart that this matter would be difficult to reverse.

He looked at Huang Rang again. This glance already carried killing intent.

—This woman had been unpleasant from the very first time he saw her. As it turned out now, she truly was a disaster.

But things had come to this point—whether he acknowledged it or not, he had to acknowledge it. Better to be magnanimous about it.

So although Xie Lingbi still didn’t have a pleasant expression, he asked, “Si Tianjian wants to seek marriage with our sect master’s personal disciple, but I wonder how sincere you are?”

He Xijin and the others all looked toward Di Yiqiu. If Xie Lingbi demanded an exorbitant price, there would be no solution.

Unexpectedly, Jianzheng respectfully said, “Miss Ah Rang is naturally a priceless treasure. I have no fixed idea in my heart either. I ask the Ancestor to indicate what would be appropriate.”

Xie Lingbi laughed coldly and said, “My Yuhu Xuanzong is an orthodox immortal sect, naturally not a greedy lot. But if Jianzheng wants to take our sect master’s beloved disciple, it naturally shouldn’t be too casual. Last time, the Super Class A puppet Jianzheng sent was praised by all the sect’s disciples. Now, please send four more. This marriage, this old man will publicly approve right here.”

He spoke lightly, but four Super Class A puppets—calling this demanding an exorbitant price would be too modest.

This sudden price increase was simply outrageous.

But regarding betrothal gifts, outsiders really couldn’t interfere well. He, Zhang, and Wu could only look toward Di Yiqiu.

Di Yiqiu’s eyes showed contemplation, and for a moment he didn’t respond either.

Four Super Class A combat puppets—even he couldn’t produce them on the spot.

Xie Lingbi laughed coldly. “If Jianzheng finds this difficult, then let this matter be abandoned here and now. There’s still time.”

The surroundings fell into silence. Everyone looked fixedly at Di Yiqiu, waiting for this Jianzheng’s response.

This was making things impossible. Even if Di Yiqiu agreed, Shi Wenyu would absolutely never agree. Four Super Class A combat puppets—what an enormous expenditure was this? How could the court possibly agree to let Jianzheng use them to marry a woman?

Huang Rang sighed in her heart. This was also within expectations. Xie Lingbi, this scoundrel, was originally difficult to deal with.

She was about to speak, advising Di Yiqiu to abandon this. However, Di Yiqiu suddenly said, “Alright.”

The surroundings were silent, then exploded.

—Four Super Class A puppets as betrothal gifts, was this truly possible?

Di Yiqiu looked toward Huang Rang and suddenly smiled, saying, “It’s no matter. To me, Miss Ah Rang is inherently a priceless treasure.”

But… where will you gather this sum of money?

Huang Rang wanted to ask him but ultimately didn’t speak.

At this time, a person entered from the outer gates, passing through the mountain gate and standing among the crowd.

He wore snow-white robes, a jade crown binding his hair, not a speck of dust on him. Because he was too eye-catching, Huang Rang saw him at a glance—Xie Hongchen.

“Master!” Huang Rang walked several steps to stand before Xie Hongchen. Her knees bent and she knelt in the dust. “Master.”

Her tears fell like pearls. Both hands grasped Xie Hongchen’s robe corner, saying, “This disciple has been moved by Jianzheng’s deep feelings and wishes to marry him as his wife. I only beg Master to take pity and not make things difficult for him. Master…”

Xie Hongchen had drunk all night, but strong liquor entering his throat only made him more clear-headed.

So much so that at this moment, when Huang Rang grasped his robe corner, bitterly pleading for another man, he could still feel heartache. Those words were like knives, each one cutting his heart. He lowered his head and saw the beautiful woman’s eyes brimming with tears, pearls swaying, jade pendants falling.

“Do you truly… love him?” he asked softly.

Huang Rang drew a deep breath and said, “In reply to Master, this disciple’s heart delights in him. I hope to marry him as his wife, to be of one heart until our hair turns white.”

Then… what do our hundred years count as? Xie Hongchen wanted to ask this. But he couldn’t ask it. Even at this point, he still hadn’t forgotten his identity.

The number one sword immortal, Yuhu Xuanzong’s sect master.

Neither of these was Xie Hongchen.

He reached out his hand, wanting to touch Huang Rang’s hair. Huang Rang’s hair was very thick, each strand silky smooth.

But now, even this gesture was probably an extravagant hope.

“Alright.” He said softly. “As your master… I consent.”

Just four short words, each piercing his heart.

He raised his head and looked toward Di Yiqiu in the distance.

The two men’s eyes met. The alcohol smell on Xie Hongchen’s body had dissipated, but the intoxication in his heart rose up.

A hundred years of time like a dream—he seemed to have nothing left.

He said softly, “I consent. No need for any betrothal gifts. If you want to marry him, then go with him.”

As the words fell, Huang Rang heard a soft sound, then felt a slight coolness on the back of her hand. Her gaze turned and she saw a teardrop.

She slowly raised her head, meeting Xie Hongchen’s gaze directly.

In his perpetually cold eyes, time shattered.

Hongchen, I finally obtained this one tear.

Huang Rang used her fingertip to absorb that dewdrop-like tear. In a trance, she saw again that year at Qilu Terrace, the young girl pressed close to that jade-like person, murmuring, “Look how twisted my foot is, yet you don’t have a single word of comfort. Hongchen, you really don’t know how to feel distress at all… or is it… you just don’t feel distressed for me?”

Past events shattered inch by inch, burning into smoke. After a long while, Huang Rang bowed deeply. “This disciple thanks Master for his blessing.”

Hongchen, inside the dream and outside the dream, I should wake up. A hundred years of marriage fate, severed today. I no longer hate, no longer resent, no longer feel aggrieved.

And also… no longer love.

May from now on in Xiancha Town, you and I never meet again.