Chapter 238: Wedding Dress Provokes Snow

Ning Xiaoling struggled to her feet from the ground.

The surrounding snow remained, biting cold. She coughed a few times, moved her body, and found that the bone-deep injuries had indeed recovered. She couldn't help but recall the previous pain, her arms trembling.

"Sir..." Ning Xiaoling clutched her chest, coughing a few times as she looked in the direction where her benefactor had vanished.

Mr. Shuoling, who had seemed somewhat dazed, snapped back to attention upon hearing Ning Xiaoling's call.

"Who... who was that person earlier?" Ning Xiaoling thought of her black-robed, silver-haired benefactor, and her wonderful words that were like celestial music. The way she came and went, like white clouds, made it all feel a little unreal.

Hmm... that figure was also enviable to all women...

It was a pity she had been too gravely injured earlier to properly express her thanks.

She wondered if she would ever meet her benefactor again.

"That, of course, was an enemy of the Guling Sect," Mr. Shuoling slowly got to his feet. "Once I return, I will report this matter to my superiors. She won't escape. Even if she flees far to Nanzhou, we will surely pursue and kill her!"

Ning Xiaoling was startled, asking in confusion, "Sir... what are you talking about?"

Mr. Shuoling was equally puzzled: "That person named Xueyan."

Ning Xiaoling said, "I was asking about my benefactor."

"Benefactor?" Mr. Shuoling held his head, having a vague impression but unable to recall specific details.

Ning Xiaoling saw his expression and realized that her benefactor must be a mysterious, powerful individual who didn't wish to reveal her identity. She immediately covered her mouth, casually made up a few perfunctory excuses, and then followed Mr. Shuoling back to the sect.

"By the way, do you still want to send your letter?" Mr. Shuoling asked.

Ning Xiaoling gently shook her head. Sending a message from here to Zhao Kingdom would take at least two months... it would certainly be too late. "No need..." Ning Xiaoling silently prayed for Sister Xiang'er.

***

In the distance, a woman with a red and white fox mask, black robes, and silver hair cast her gaze towards the spot, gazing for a while from afar. Occasional flashes of lightning clearly outlined her soft, undulating figure.

"There wouldn't be such a coincidence in the world, would there?" the woman murmured softly. "I must be overthinking it."

With that, she turned and left.

She wasn't interested in the girl named Xueyan.

But the white cat that had been with her earlier...

Someone unfamiliar with the inside story might only think it was a powerful demonic beast, but she was different. Having served as a divine official for many years, she could keenly perceive that faint trace of divinity.

That divinity...

Her eyes suddenly narrowed, and the surging waves in her mind transformed into real spiritual energy, making her robes wildly flap and dance.

If she hadn't misperceived, that divinity belonged to an ancient god who had once been imprisoned.

She had now recovered her cultivation to the Fifth Dao, and anyone capable of rescuing someone from her grasp would certainly not have a low cultivation.

And who released that ancient god? The answer was terrifying, but it was the only possibility: Baizang.

Then, she understood something even more terrifying.

For an existence like Baizang to eliminate certain people, like the empress of the Lei Kingdom earlier, would be no different from crushing an ant. But why go to such great lengths to release a sealed ancient god and have this Xueyan girl come with it?

This white cat was definitely not a projection, nor even a divine emissary from a divine kingdom.

The only explanation for Baizang doing this was to easily distance herself from the matter.

Only another Lord of a Divine Kingdom could cause a Lord of a Divine Kingdom such trouble and effort...

She clearly knew that the rule prohibiting infighting among kingdom lords was written into the Heavenly Laws jointly drafted by the twelve kingdoms back then.

In other words, Baizang's opponent was another kingdom lord, so even she couldn't intervene personally!

"Sparrow... Vermilion Bird God?" The woman's heart was filled with even greater shock.

There was a gap of seven or eight years between the Baizang Year and the Vermilion Bird Year. What kind of conflict could these two women have?

"This world is getting stranger and stranger..." The woman's icy eyes faintly shimmered. "Nanzhou... is it related to you?"

She stood for a moment, then, after some hesitation, gently turned and said indifferently, "Never mind, it's better if they're dead."

***

Ning Changjiu stood by the window, looking at the myriad light rays streaming in from outside, his expression growing calmer.

Zhao Xiang'er rose from his shadow, gently raising a hand to shield her eyes from the light.

The morning light made her fair wrist appear as white as snow.

"Today, I'll be utterly disgraced because of you," Zhao Xiang'er said with a faint smile.

Ning Changjiu turned back in confusion: "Why?"

Zhao Xiang'er said, "Earlier, at the foot of the mountain, I folded a letter and told my maid to announce my wedding to the world today. Last night, I still had a chance to change my mind, but now I don't."

Ning Changjiu asked with a laugh, "What's shameful about that?"

Zhao Xiang'er walked to the wardrobe, sifting through the neatly stacked dresses, and mumbled, "It's just very shameful..."

Ning Changjiu turned back around.

The light fell upon the girl's white undergarment, making it almost transparent, her flawless, jade-like body glowing with a warm hue.

She picked out dresses and tried them on.

"Which one looks better?" Zhao Xiang'er turned around.

The quality and craftsmanship of all the dresses were top-notch. Their colors were vibrant but not vulgar, and the embroidery was exquisite, like leaves in a lake breeze, each embracing a different kind of beauty.

Zhao Xiang'er's slender figure swayed in the light.

Ning Changjiu watched her go in and out behind the screen, trying on one dress or skirt after another, looking somewhat anxious.

"Xiang'er certainly has a grand household," Ning Changjiu praised.

Zhao Xiang'er asked, "So, which one looks better? Have you chosen yet?"

Ning Changjiu pondered, "Clothes add splendor to a person, and a person adds luster to clothes..."

"Less nonsense!" Zhao Xiang'er interrupted sternly. "Choose one!"

Ning Changjiu hesitated for a long time among the dazzling, equally beautiful clothes, then said, "Actually, none of them are as beautiful as that wedding dress from Yunshang City."

"Wedding dress..." Zhao Xiang'er recalled her mother's brilliant silhouette and fell into a slight trance.

"Hmm... that one, then," Zhao Xiang'er said. "I hope no one else bought it."

Ning Changjiu said, "That Fire Phoenix wedding dress is a match made in heaven for Xiang'er; of course, it's waiting for you."

Zhao Xiang'er slightly furrowed her brow: "How can that wedding dress have a Fire Phoenix on it? It's clearly a Vermilion Bird. You don't even know this; I'm afraid you can't even tell the difference between a duck and a goose."

Ning Changjiu was equally confused: "That fire sparrow clearly has nine tail feathers; what else could it be but a phoenix?"

Zhao Xiang'er stared into his eyes, the smile on her face gradually fading. Her voice turned slightly cold: "You... saw a Fire Phoenix?"

"It's not the Year of the Vermilion Bird now, so even if my mother were a divine official of the Vermilion Bird Divine Kingdom, or even the Vermilion Bird God herself... after the Divine Kingdom closed, she couldn't see what I'm experiencing now," Zhao Xiang'er slowly began. "So how exactly is she controlling my destiny?"

***

Dressed in dashing male attire, they walked along a road lined with withered willows and children with bobbed hair. The autumn breeze ruffled the surface of Qifeng Lake.

Ning Changjiu said, "I've also thought about this. We were once great thieves, then great heroes. If we continue like this, what else will we encounter?"

Zhao Xiang'er nodded gently: "Hundred-faced Ghost said he was waiting for me to kill him. But what if I hadn't gone?"

Ning Changjiu paused slightly, then voiced his thoughts: "If you hadn't gone, perhaps Hundred-faced Ghost would forever remain Hundred-faced Ghost."

"What if I did go?"

"Then, the moment he died, he became Master Guangci."

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the fallen leaves on the ground, her thoughts drifting far away.

She thought for a while and said, "So, if I hadn't gone, he might never have considered himself Master Guangci. On that grim night, what emerged was a ghost; Hundred-faced Ghost was a ghost, and Guangci was also a ghost... so he could be anyone, or perhaps he didn't even know who he truly was..."

Zhao Xiang'er couldn't articulate it clearly. But she felt as if she were looking at a leaf through sunlight, vaguely seeing its intricate, intertwining veins, but the tree was too tall for her to truly touch it.

Ning Changjiu looked at the vast, misty lake surface and said, "Perhaps that's precisely it. Who he is doesn't depend on him, but on you... Just like the treasure in Guangpo Temple earlier, if you hadn't gone, perhaps that statue would have remained just an ordinary treasure. You are like a stamp; wherever you go, you leave a mark, and those marks, seemingly, all reveal destiny."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "But I cannot erase my own ink."

Ning Changjiu said, "Yes, the entire Zhao Kingdom is like a tree she planted, with a main trunk reaching the clouds and countless intricate branches. You are a skylark perched on that tree. Every leaf you see seems so similar, and so you begin to doubt the reality of this world. But there's no way around it; this is the only tree, and you can only perch upon it. What's more... a skylark will return to the clouds sooner or later."

Listening to his words, Zhao Xiang'er recalled the map of the Zhao Kingdom and burst into laughter: "Yes, what a magnificent, flourishing tree."

Those leaves each served their purpose, quietly staying there, waiting to tell her that this was a cage she couldn't escape, and everything had already been branded with the mark of fate.

***

Ning Changjiu said, "We agreed not to think about these things anymore."

"Mm."

"The little skylark not only needs to return to the clouds but also should visit Yunshang City."

Yunshang City was a tapestry of flowers.

Because Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er were both dressed in male attire, they looked like a pair of handsome brothers, which occasionally drew curious glances from those around them due to their affectionate gestures.

"Brother Ning, you've been in Zhao Kingdom for quite some time now, do you have any thoughts?" Zhao Xiang'er asked casually, having bought a folding fan with an inscription.

Ning Changjiu bowed and smiled, "I've had too little time with Brother Zhao. This recent distant journey has been most gratifying."

Zhao Xiang'er asked, "Is that all?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I also regret that Brother Zhao is born so handsome but not a daughter; otherwise, I would surely dare to propose marriage."

Zhao Xiang'er was somewhat annoyed. Since their encounter in the imperial city, he had never said anything pleasant.

In that shop in Yunshang City, they once again saw the great red wedding dress, hailed as the shop's most prized treasure.

"What a beautiful Vermilion Bird," Zhao Xiang'er genuinely praised, looking at the image of the sparrow burning like heavenly fire on the wedding dress.

Ning Changjiu, meanwhile, looked at the seven-colored phoenix embroidered on the large red fabric and said, "Even in the same world, what we see of the same thing might be different."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "That's how things are in the world. Ordinary people and cultivators, cultivators and immortals, immortals and ancient gods... they all see completely different worlds."

Cultivators can perceive and control spiritual energy, immortals can touch the ethereal Dao, and in the eyes of ancient gods, the world's structure is a stack and turbulence of countless elements.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Then, after you put on this dress, will you look the same in my eyes as you do in your own?"

Zhao Xiang'er said mockingly, "In your eyes, isn't it all the same no matter what I wear?"

Ning Changjiu was speechless.

***

After buying the wedding dress, Zhao Xiang'er looked at it repeatedly, always feeling it wasn't as beautiful as it was before she bought it.

Ning Changjiu comforted her, "You think it's not beautiful simply because you haven't worn it yet."

Zhao Xiang'er said unhappily, "Is that how you deceive Lu Jiajia?"

Ning Changjiu glanced east and said, "Bai City seems not far from here."

Zhao Xiang'er raised an eyebrow slightly.

Ning Changjiu said calmly, "I want to go see her."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "You want to die."

The two set off on the road to Bai City.

Zhao Xiang'er said coldly, "Taking me to see your lover before the wedding banquet? If you weren't so handsome, I would have thrown you out long ago."

Ning Changjiu said, "My fault."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "I thought all you men believed in having multiple wives and concubines."

Ning Changjiu said, "That's certainly not right, but a person lives only once. Since you're unwilling to let go, why insist on making a choice?"

"Twisted logic." Zhao Xiang'er didn't know how to refute him. She thought for a while, then said faintly, "Of course, if after leaving the abyss, you only see her and not me, or only see me and not her, I... would be very disappointed."

Ning Changjiu laughed, "I never thought Xiang'er would be so gentle."

"No, our time together is only for a day or two now. She can accompany you for much longer later, so..." Zhao Xiang'er's face turned cold again, saying, "Even so, when we meet later, don't expect me to be nice to her."

***

Bai City loomed into view.

The "Jin" flag still fluttered on the city walls.

That day, with fireworks in the imperial city as a signal, they had intended to change the flags, but they were stopped by a white-clad female sword immortal. She told them to wait. The soldiers, initially terrified, found that there was indeed no further reaction from the imperial city.

Zhao Kingdom remained prosperous and peaceful.

Today, the Empress finally arrived in this city.

"How will you find her?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

Although Bai City was small, it had thousands of households. How difficult would it be to find one person?

Ning Changjiu said, "I have my ways."

As he spoke, his Inner Palace opened, and from between his golden-haloed brows, a Golden Crow flew out and landed on his fingertip.

"It can find Jiajia," Ning Changjiu said.

"Why?" Zhao Xiang'er couldn't understand.

Ning Changjiu thought to himself that it hadn't been easy for him to forge Jiajia's sword body for so long, and a subtle connection had formed between the Golden Crow and her sword body. Of course, he wouldn't tell Zhao Xiang'er about this.

They followed the Golden Crow, eventually arriving at a teahouse.

Lu Jiajia, dressed in male attire, sat by the window of the teahouse, smiling as she watched them.

She was alone at the table.

Earlier, someone had seen how handsome this young master was and wanted to share the table, but she had simply said she was expecting guests. For this, she had specifically ordered two extra cups of tea.

By now, the storyteller was halfway through his tale, and the tea was getting cold. Her long-awaited guests had finally arrived.

As soon as they came in, the storyteller's words became a little hesitant.

The young master by the window was already incomparably handsome, but now the two who arrived were also equally refined and handsome, with extraordinary temperaments. The elegance described in books could be no more than this, could it? How had these three come to possess it all?

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er naturally sat down on either side of Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia gave Ning Changjiu a look, ignored him, and turned her gaze to Zhao Xiang'er.

Zhao Xiang'er watched her with a cold face.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

Zhao Xiang'er was the first to lower her gaze.

She reached out a finger to lightly touch the ceramic cup, testing the temperature of the tea, then elegantly picked up the teapot and said in a very soft voice, "Young master, the tea is cold. I'll get you a fresh cup."

As she spoke, the girl took a porcelain cup, poured half a cup of fresh tea, held the body of the cup with one hand and gently supported the bottom with the other, placing it in front of Lu Jiajia.

A smile appeared between Lu Jiajia's cool brows, as if much of her anger had dissipated. She smiled faintly, "This young gentleman is truly considerate."

Zhao Xiang'er's serene brows looked very docile. She said, "It's been a long time since we last met; I've missed you a bit, big brother."

Lu Jiajia said, "You didn't think to come visit all this time?"

"I'll drink a penalty cup," Zhao Xiang'er picked up the cold tea beside her and drank it down with great gusto.

After drinking, the girl dabbed her moist lips and asked, "Have you been waiting for us all this time?"

Lu Jiajia didn't answer. She seemingly casually unfolded the folding fan she held in her palm. On its snow-white surface were clearly the four characters "Waiting by the Tree for a Rabbit."

"What a coincidence," Zhao Xiang'er said, unfazed. With a flick of her thumb, her own folding fan unfurled with a rustle, clearly displaying the four characters "Marking the Boat to Find the Sword."

Lu Jiajia and Zhao Xiang'er exchanged smiles, appearing very close.

Ning Changjiu, meanwhile, was left ignored. He listened to the storyteller narrating the deeds of the Black Sparrow couple, took a sip of tea, and only felt that the tea was exceptionally cold today.

***

Lu Jiajia and Zhao Xiang'er, meanwhile, conversed "amiably."

"This storyteller's tale of the heroic couple truly captivates the heart. I wonder what kind of people the Black Sparrow couple truly are. If one could meet them by chance, it would surely be a fortune for three lifetimes," Lu Jiajia said.

Zhao Xiang'er said, "Probably just some attention-seekers. It's fine to listen to their stories, but meeting them always disappoints."

Lu Jiajia said, "Young Master Zhao speaks wisely."

"You flatter me, older brother," Zhao Xiang'er said.

Ning Changjiu rubbed his ears, sighing.

Finally, the story upstairs in the teahouse ended.

After drinking together for a short while, the three descended the stairs together.

"So you finally remembered to come find me? I thought you were so happy you'd forgotten to return home," Lu Jiajia finally looked at Ning Changjiu.

Before Ning Changjiu could speak, Zhao Xiang'er interrupted, looking at Lu Jiajia's chest and laughing, "Sister, even I am drawn to such a deeply hidden 'realm of tenderness.'"

As Zhao Xiang'er spoke, she let out a small "ouch," having lost her grip on the package containing the wedding dress, which fell to the ground.

The girl slowly bent down to pick it up, waiting for Lu Jiajia to ask what was inside the package.

Lu Jiajia, however, pretended not to see it and merely smiled, "Sister Xiang'er has grown so graceful and slender; I almost didn't recognize you."

Zhao Xiang'er picked up the package and tossed it to Ning Changjiu. She then said, "Since Sister and I are so deeply compatible, why don't we just get married?"

Ning Changjiu couldn't take it anymore. He changed the subject, interrupting, "There's a small pavilion ahead; let's go sit there first."

"No," Zhao Xiang'er and Lu Jiajia said in unison.

Lu Jiajia said, "This late autumn scenery is indescribably desolate; what's there to see?"

Zhao Xiang'er sighed, "Indeed... but I wonder if we'll still have the chance to admire flowers with Sister Lu next spring."

Lu Jiajia tapped her folding fan and said, "No matter. If we're close, we'll sit knee-to-knee and admire flowers together. If we're far apart, we'll look up and admire the moon together."

Zhao Xiang'er also tapped her fan and said, "Sister's thoughts are truly gentle and refined. May I ask if you are betrothed?"

"Enough," Ning Changjiu snatched their fans, lightly tapped the heads of the two beauties, and said, "Our reunion today is rare. Let's put aside any grudges for now and discuss them another day."

Lu Jiajia was clearly not pleased with this peacemaker. She said coolly, "Master is truly magnificent, with a woman on each arm."

After saying it, she lightly covered her mouth, realizing her slip.

Zhao Xiang'er's delicate brows slightly raised: "Master?"

Lu Jiajia and Ning Changjiu exchanged glances.

Zhao Xiang'er laughed angrily, "Oh, so you two play these games behind my back? Tsk tsk, calling master and disciple? I never thought Sister Lu had such a peculiar habit? Why don't you call me 'Older Sister' from now on?"

Lu Jiajia's aura instantly deflated. She subconsciously reached up to touch her burning earlobes, slightly abashed, not daring to look at Zhao Xiang'er, and only pretended to be calm, "There's a peach grove ahead; shall we go for a stroll?"

Ning Changjiu looked at the bare trees opposite the pavilion and asked curiously, "How do you know that's a peach grove?"

"Less nonsense!" Lu Jiajia snapped crossly.

***

The three walked leisurely through the grove, chatting softly.

There were many stone tablets in the grove.

"Actually, I have no objections," Zhao Xiang'er suddenly said.

"Neither do I," Lu Jiajia said.

"Sister, please come to the wedding banquet today too," Zhao Xiang'er said.

Lu Jiajia smiled and asked, "Why would I come? To get married with you two?"

Zhao Xiang'er thought hard for a moment, then said with slight embarrassment, "Hmm... Sister, you could hide in our bridal chamber."

Ning Changjiu laughed angrily, "What kind of talk is that?"

Zhao Xiang'er said faintly, "I can see the word 'eager' practically written on your face."

They continued walking and chatting, occasionally bickering.

The peach grove was nearing its end.

Ning Changjiu suddenly stopped, taking their hands.

Lu Jiajia and Zhao Xiang'er exchanged glances. They bit their lips, shyly averted their gaze, and tried to pull their hands free, but couldn't.

Ning Changjiu led them back into the peach grove and said, "Since we're all dressed in male attire today, why don't we become sworn brothers in this peach grove?"

"What kind of talk is that?" Zhao Xiang'er immediately objected.

To become sworn siblings with her fiancé and her rival in love?

Lu Jiajia, however, agreed: "I think it's a good idea."

With two agreeing and one objecting, Zhao Xiang'er was forced to kneel with them on the ground, recite the vows, and bow respectfully to the peach grove.

***

Lu Jiajia accompanied them to the Imperial City.

In stark contrast to the National Sacrifice a few days prior, the Imperial City was now decorated with lanterns and streamers, brimming with a festive and prosperous atmosphere.

The Empress's wedding had originally been dismissed as mere rumor, but unexpectedly, the Empress, who had long avoided court, personally issued a decree today.

The entire nation was in shock.

Subsequently, the Imperial Palace bustled with urgent preparations.

In the blink of an eye, it seemed as though a night of maple leaf snow had fallen, turning the entire city red.

The three returned to the Imperial City.

The following night, they stayed in Zhao Xiang'er's private chambers, doing nothing but idly tapping chess pieces as lamplight flickered, completely oblivious to the passage of time.

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er were, after all, a legitimate couple. In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum for several days, but with their departure imminent, she didn't want to dwell on it too much. Besides, she did have quite a good impression of Lu Jiajia.

They spent the entire night in laughter and conversation.

***

The next day, the entire Zhao Kingdom celebrated.

Even with her high cultivation, Zhao Xiang'er was still just a young girl under twenty. She felt both anticipation and apprehension about her wedding banquet. When the female official showed her the entire wedding ceremony procedure, her brows were almost permanently furrowed.

Having her marriage talks become known to the whole world was already embarrassing enough, but she was also expected to go through such a long procedure in front of all the officials. Even if a red veil could hide her blushing face, she absolutely could not accept the shame in her heart.

So, with a flourish of her red brush, as bold as when approving memorials, she left only the beginning and end of the entire wedding ceremony, completely deleting trivial rules like jumping over fire pits.

"Is Sister Xiang'er feeling shy?" Lu Jiajia asked with a smile, holding the wedding banquet list.

Zhao Xiang'er replied without changing her expression, "We have less than twelve hours left... Our time together is already short, why waste it on formalities?"

Hearing this, Ning Changjiu chuckled softly.

He looked at the sky outside, and for some reason, he felt the same oppressive sensation as when the old fox had arrived years ago.

Lu Jiajia noticed his expression and asked, "Hmm? Not happy on your wedding day?"

Ning Changjiu smiled and shook his head, "Of course not. Meeting you two is the fortune of my three lifetimes."

Ning Changjiu stood up and extended his hand to Zhao Xiang'er.

Zhao Xiang'er hesitated for a moment, then somewhat primly extended her hand and placed it in his.

Lu Jiajia watched from the side, her expression somewhat wistful, yet without jealousy or annoyance.

Today, the wedding would proceed as scheduled.

At the same time, in Nanzhou, Xueyan split the air, and a fierce blizzard was about to arrive.