Chapter 424: Matchmaking

Shaohua Mountain.

Qin Sang arrived at the mountain gate on his cloud, noticing that the main gate array was partially open and several teams of Shaohua Mountain disciples were patrolling nearby. Shaohua Mountain was the most prominent and closest major sect in the Little Cold Domain to the Vast Cloud Lake. In the event of trouble, Shaohua Mountain would inevitably bear the brunt, so they had to be vigilant. It was said that many major markets along the edge of the Vast Cloud Lake, such as the Moon-Asking Market, had already closed. The few that remained open were heavily guarded, with all entrants and exits carefully vetted. The critical nature of the situation was evident.

"Please enter, Martial Uncle Qin!"

Qin Sang presented his waist token. After verifying his identity, the patrolling disciples bowed respectfully and allowed him to enter the mountain. Before entering, Qin Sang flew higher for a panoramic view. The Vast Cloud Lake stretched endlessly, shimmering beautifully. It appeared calm, but undercurrents surged beneath, capable of instantly transforming into a bloody battlefield that would engulf countless cultivators.

Parting the clouds and mist, Qin Sang flew into the sect, landing on Daomen Peak, where he met Zhuang Yan.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhuang, on your marriage! My blessings are late, and I hope you'll forgive me!" Qin Sang chuckled as he cupped his hands to Zhuang Yan.

After many years, Zhuang Yan's cultivation had progressed to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. For his age, his cultivation speed was rather slow. If Zhuang Yan couldn't quickly break through the late-stage bottleneck, by the time he reached the False Core stage, he would have little lifespan remaining, leaving him very little time to prepare for Core Formation. This meant Zhuang Yan's hope of forming a Core in this life was slim.

Now, Martial Uncle Wen had returned to his hometown to live out his golden years, and Zhuang Yan had taken his place, presiding over Daomen Peak. Ten years prior, Zhuang Yan had become a Dao companion with a Senior Sister from Shaohua Mountain named Xiao Qiuyue. Upon hearing the news, Qin Sang, unable to return to the sect, sent a pair of spirit swords as a congratulatory gift, without attending the wedding ceremony in person.

Zhuang Yan pulled Qin Sang to sit down, sighing, "Junior Brother Qin, it's been decades since we last met, and as soon as you return, you mock your Senior Brother with your words! Be careful, or I'll kick you out!"

Seeing Zhuang Yan's demeanor, Qin Sang sat opposite him and asked in surprise, "What are you talking about, Senior Brother Zhuang? I'm sincerely offering my blessings; how does that become mockery in your mouth? Where is Senior Sister Xiao? I haven't met her yet. I wonder if she likes the pair of 'Fated Union' swords?"

"The spirit swords you sent are of such good quality; she must like them." Zhuang Yan sighed softly, "Unfortunately, the two of us don't deserve the words 'fated union'; we feel ashamed to accept them."

Seeing that Zhuang Yan's expression wasn't feigned, Qin Sang dropped his smile and asked seriously, "I heard Senior Sister Xiao is a golden flower of the sect, a prominent figure. What else could Senior Brother Zhuang be dissatisfied with?"

"Have you ever lived among mortals, Junior Brother?" Zhuang Yan looked dejected. "When mortal men and women marry, they undergo an activity called 'matchmaking.' With parental command and matchmaker's words, two strangers are forced together. How much genuine affection can there be between them? It's just a matter of getting by."

Qin Sang thought to himself, 'Senior Brother, do you know that in some places, countless people yearn for parental command and matchmaker's words, yet cannot attain them? He's too young to realize the advantages of such arrangements.'

"Did Martial Uncle Wen force you to agree?" Zhuang Yan hummed a mosquito-like "Mmm," then added, "Not really..."

Qin Sang chuckled. He knew immediately that something was amiss. Forming a Dao companion pair in the cultivation world differed from mortal marriages; there was no pressure from secular customs, and the purpose wasn't procreation. If Zhuang Yan hadn't agreed, Martial Uncle Wen couldn't have forced him.

"Senior Brother, you're a hundred years old; surely you understand matters between men and women? Are you still hoping for true love to fall upon you? Have you forgotten what Martial Uncle Mawu said when he sought a dual cultivation partner and advised me? Could it be that your destiny lies within this mountain, and you can't see through it or understand it?"

"Even without true affection, it can't... it can't..." Zhuang Yan scratched the back of his head, stammering, unable to articulate himself. Finally, he glanced left and right, leaned closer to Qin Sang, and whispered cautiously with a resentful tone, "Junior Brother, do you know that her purpose in becoming my Dao companion is because my physique is best suited for her to cultivate the 'Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture'?"

Qin Sang had long heard of the 'Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture.' This cultivation method was one of Shaohua Mountain's best dual cultivation techniques. Unlike the 'True Scripture of the Profound Female Jade Cauldron,' this was an orthodox Xuanmen method where both male and female cultivators jointly cultivated the Yin-Yang Dao, causing no harm to either party. It was said that the technique had specific physique requirements for practitioners, but once successfully cultivated through Yin-Yang dual cultivation, it offered considerable benefits. Senior Sister Qingting and Senior Brother Jiang also practiced the 'Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture.' Qin Sang wasn't surprised by what Zhuang Yan said.

He countered Zhuang Yan, "Senior Brother Zhuang, wasn't your agreement to dual cultivation for the same purpose?"

"Yes! That's right!" Zhuang Yan didn't deny it. "But Junior Brother Qin, what you don't know is that to achieve the best effects when cultivating the 'Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture,' both parties' cultivation levels need to be roughly similar. If one of us breaks through to the late Foundation Establishment stage earlier, the other can still benefit from the cultivation technique's enhancement. However, for the one who breaks through, this technique becomes less useful unless the other person also breaks through the bottleneck. A while ago, she and I had a deep conversation. She said that if I could break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage before her, she would automatically withdraw and find someone else, absolutely not holding me back. And if she broke through first, she hoped I could also... This... what kind of arrangement is this?!"

Qin Sang watched Zhuang Yan, who sat with his hands clutching his head, his voice heavy, and gently shook his head. Deep down, he agreed with Senior Sister Xiao's words, but seeing Zhuang Yan's state, some things were better left unsaid.

"As time goes on, feelings deepen. Senior Brother Zhuang, have you fallen in love with Senior Sister Xiao?" Qin Sang's words were startling.

Zhuang Yan froze completely.

Qin Sang understood. He said softly, "Senior Brother Zhuang, we cultivators seek immortality and the Dao. Isn't it all about living as we please? Why not ask yourself, Senior Brother Zhuang, what you truly desire? If it's longevity, then you must make choices; why be distressed? If it's Senior Sister Xiao... surely you wouldn't be afraid to even speak a word?"

Just then, a transmission talisman suddenly flew into the hall. Zhuang Yan took the transmission talisman, looked up at the time, and stood up in a flurry. "It's time for cultivation again. Junior Brother Qin, you've just returned to the sect; you must have many things to attend to. I'll invite you for drinks tomorrow."

"Go ahead, Senior Brother Zhuang." Qin Sang saw Zhuang Yan off.

Unexpectedly, Zhuang Yan, after flying a short distance on his escape light, hastily returned. He tossed Qin Sang a token. "Junior Brother Qin, the caves outside aren't safe, and you don't have a place to stay in the sect. I don't need this cave dwelling for now; you can use it."

Qin Sang caught the token, watched Zhuang Yan's escape light vanish into the depths of the mountain, and lowered his head, lost in thought. After a long moment, he gave a wry smile, summoned his Nethercloud, and flew towards the Sect Master Peak.