Chapter 428: Wedding Dress

The Underworld Hall had no candlelight; it appeared blurry.

Ning Changjiu stood outside the hall's entrance, looking at the figure with their back to him. His initial slight tension dissipated.

Learning from his past mistake of mistaking Shao Xiaoli, Ning Changjiu quietly activated his Yin Eye, sketching the girl's snow-white figure in his sea of consciousness.

It was Ning Xiaoling.

It was the third watch of the night. Ning Xiaoling meticulously put on Lu Jiajia's clothes. She stood ramrod straight, holding a scale, seemingly preparing tomorrow's medicine for her Master. Ning Changjiu wondered if she had noticed his arrival.

A light spot appeared on the moon, thus marking the third watch more accurately. When he entered the hall, from the perspective of the world, the moon's light spot remained precisely where it was.

"Three qian of Angelica..."

Ning Xiaoling murmured softly, setting the scale down.

In the lingering echo of "Angelica," Ning Changjiu quietly entered the hall and walked towards the blurry, snow-white silhouette.

He saw a porcelain-white vase on the table, holding flowers of deep crimson with petals as delicate as needles. Ning Changjiu recognized the flowers.

He stood silently behind her, watching her busy figure, the thin string bow at the end of her long hair swaying in his vision.

Ning Changjiu couldn't help but recall the first time she woke up in the detached courtyard and secretly looked at him. Back then, lamplight separated them, and candles crackled on the candelabra.

"Brother, why are you just standing there?" Ning Xiaoling suddenly asked.

Ning Changjiu's expression subtly shifted. He knew his junior sister was urging him, so he moved closer and quietly made a final confirmation: "What does Junior Sister want me to do?"

"Calling for my senior brother," Ning Xiaoling said, "is, of course, to help me."

"How can I help?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Ning Xiaoling put down the delicate silver scale in her hand, opened a drawer, and took out a brand-new one.

She held the slender steelyard rod and handed it to Ning Changjiu, saying, "Of course, with this?"

"With this?" Ning Changjiu frowned, gazing at the precisely marked, straight scale body of suitable length. He then glanced at Ning Xiaoling's clear, sparkling eyes, not falling for his junior sister's trick, and immediately wisely helped her weigh the medicinal herbs.

"Where's the prescription?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Ning Xiaoling's delicate brows furrowed slightly, imperceptibly. She took out the prescription and handed it to Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu joined her, weighing the medicine according to the doses on the prescription.

"Why so many packets?" Ning Changjiu asked, looking at the neatly folded medicine packets.

"Because you're all leaving soon," Ning Xiaoling said earnestly. "Master will surely go with you. And when I'm not around, you clumsy ones will definitely mess up the medicine."

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Aren't *you* the clumsy one, Xiaoling? Back when you poured tea for Lu Jiajia, you spilled it, and Jiajia even guessed that I was the one who bandaged her."

As Ning Xiaoling weighed the medicine, her head tilted slightly, lost in thought: "But that was Xiaoling four years ago. Back then, I was a full two years younger than you, Senior Brother. Now, four years have passed, and I..."

"Of course, you're still two years younger," Ning Changjiu said, lightly tapping her head. "When Lu Yuanbai asked you who was prettier, Jiajia or Xiang'er, you said they were eight years apart and to compare again in eight years. Four years have passed, and Xiaoling's math skills are as excellent as ever."

"Still two years younger?" Ning Xiaoling blinked her sparkling eyes, a smile playing on her pale pink lips. When she smiled, her sharp canines showed, making her look like a little fox. "It's okay! As long as Xiaoling keeps growing up, I'll eventually catch up to Senior Brother in age, right?"

"How could you catch up?" Ning Changjiu thought Xiaoling was truly foolish.

"Just keep chasing, chase until I'm old, chase until I die, then I'll catch up, won't I? If I can't catch up, I'll keep chasing..." Ning Xiaoling said slowly. "Of course, Senior Brother is an immortal. I'm afraid Xiaoling really might never catch up to you in a lifetime."

Ning Changjiu looked into her eyes and listened to her words, a pang of sorrow rising in his heart. It was then that he realized *he* was the foolish one.

"Senior Brother will never abandon you," Ning Changjiu said seriously.

"Mm." Ning Xiaoling nodded obediently. "But... what if I can never leave the Underworld Kingdom again?"

"Then I'll come find you, just like this," Ning Changjiu said.

"But the Three Thousand Worlds are in the Western Kingdom," Ning Xiaoling whispered. "There's an entire Central Continent between us. If Senior Brother goes to the Western Kingdom, he probably won't think of coming back. I can't compete with Sister Xiang'er."

"Do you have no trust in your senior brother?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Ning Xiaoling shook her head resolutely. "None."

"Then what do you want to do, Xiaoling?" Ning Changjiu asked, helpless.

Ning Xiaoling's eyes flickered, and she smiled sweetly. "Or Senior Brother could become a live-in son-in-law in our Underworld Kingdom?"

"Huh? Live-in son-in-law?"

"Yes, and if you become a live-in son-in-law, you'd have to change your surname. From now on, Senior Brother can be named Ning."

"...Junior Sister certainly knows how to come up with ideas."

"Of course, I've arranged everything perfectly."

Ning Xiaoling lowered her head and smiled. She continued to prepare the medicine; the sleeves of her garment were a bit long for her and got in the way while she worked.

Ning Changjiu noticed, and gently rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists.

Ning Xiaoling felt touched, but then heard Ning Changjiu say, "You shouldn't wear ill-fitting clothes."

Ning Xiaoling bit her lip. "Silence! Say one more word, and I'll kick you out of the Ning family!"

Ning Changjiu laughed and pleaded, "Xiaoling is truly getting fiercer as she grows up."

"I've always been fierce!" Ning Xiaoling said faintly. "Senior Brother will see for himself in a bit."

Together, they finished packaging the medicine, making over sixty packets, enough for two months.

"By the way, where is Master?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"Master is sleeping inside," Ning Xiaoling said. "Even though the moon is out, Master still seems very tired."

As Ning Xiaoling said this, she countered, "Where did Jiajia and Sister Siming go?"

"Tomorrow, they will officially take charge of the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom," Ning Changjiu said. "I... told them to get a good night's rest."

Ning Xiaoling smiled slightly. "And then Senior Brother came to find me?"

"If you ask again," Ning Changjiu said helplessly, "I'll expel myself right now."

"Alright, alright, Xiaoling won't ask anymore." Ning Xiaoling's eyes were full of mirth.

After tidying up the medicine packets, the two went to the inner hall together and glanced at their Master from a distance.

Tonight, Jiu You was on watch.

Jiu You sat by the bed, watching Ye Changong, completely absorbed.

Ye Changong lay on her side on the bed, a snow-white blanket covering half of her youthful face. She held a pillow, her body appearing even more slender.

They quietly withdrew.

"Let's go out for a walk," Ning Xiaoling said.

Ning Changjiu nodded in agreement.

The two went into the Underworld Divine Kingdom.

The Underworld Divine Kingdom had regained much of its vitality. The white bones by the roadside were completely gone, covered by grayish-white grass, and many houses had been built, where the citizens of the Underworld Kingdom now resided.

They crossed over the hill and arrived at the sea of black flowers.

Ning Xiaoling lightly held up her slightly loose skirt. Beneath it, petals swayed in the faint light, like tides washing over her ankles.

"The Underworld Kingdom is very beautiful now, isn't it?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

"Indeed," Ning Changjiu said. "Xiaoling is truly an enlightened ruler."

"Are you being sarcastic again?"

"No, I mean it."

Ning Xiaoling and Ning Changjiu sat down amidst the sea of flowers.

"When you leave this time, Senior Brother, when will you come back?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

"I don't know either," Ning Changjiu sighed. "I dare not make any promises."

"Then..." Ning Xiaoling opened her mouth. "Just remember to come back, or I'll be sad."

"Mm, I'll definitely come back," Ning Changjiu nodded.

"Hey, look, is that cat up ahead... Di Ting?" Ning Xiaoling suddenly caught sight of a figure on the hillside.

Ning Changjiu looked over too. "It seems so..."

As they reached the hillside, Fish King was lazily sprawled on a cliffside rock, quietly enjoying the evening breeze.

"Why are you two here?"

Fish King opened one eye and looked at them.

"I, Senior Brother and I came out for a walk," Ning Xiaoling said, "to find inspiration for defeating the Dark Master."

Fish King looked at her clothes, finding them somewhat familiar. "Isn't this outfit..."

"Silence!" Ning Xiaoling interrupted. "This... this is a new outfit. I accidentally bought it a bit too big."

Fish King nodded, indicating that it truly believed her.

Ning Changjiu looked at it, smiling. "When you first entered the Zhao King's city, weren't you full of vigor? How come now, after meeting Bai Zang, you're so scared?"

"Among demonic beasts, there's a natural mutual restraint," Fish King said. "Mice fear cats, centipedes fear tigers, venomous snakes fear eagles... The tiger is our king, so a cat fearing a tiger is not shameful."

"That doesn't sound like you," Ning Changjiu said.

"Then what do you think sounds like me?" Fish King asked.

"My junior sister told me," Ning Changjiu said, "that when you were on Clothes Street, you lost all your demonic power, fought desperately to survive, and remained fierce until your eyes closed."

"Just an occasional burst of fierceness, everyone has it," Fish King sighed, opening its lifeless-fish-like eyes and looking at the ancient Underworld Kingdom. "Like the restraint between bloodlines, there's something else ingrained in the bones: old age and death..."

Ning Xiaoling's expression jolted, and she looked at it, a bad premonition rising in her heart.

"Are you... getting old?" Ning Changjiu asked belatedly.

"I'm already over 1,700 years old; no matter what race I'm among, I'm very old... I am very old," Fish King said, lying tiredly. "Of course, at this age, you immortal cultivators who live forever probably wouldn't notice."

But it was initially just an ordinary demon.

No matter how legendary its life was, it was still just an ordinary demon.

In recent years, it had often felt inexplicable weariness and fatigue. It didn't know how much longer its body could last.

Ning Xiaoling felt sad and quietly asked, "Di Ting, are you... leaving?"

"Not now, of course." Fish King yawned. "As long as I live well, another hundred years or so shouldn't be a problem."

Ning Xiaoling softly hummed, thinking of Yu Jin again. Yu Jin... probably still knew nothing, perhaps still searching daily for her lost sister and cat.

Fish King also recalled the past. "If we're just talking about death, I should have died many times already... The me that carried a fish bucket by the pond on that rainy night is dead. The me that roared from the city wall is also dead. I'm just living today with their fragmented will."

Ning Changjiu empathized deeply. "I have similar thoughts, but... what is the will that sustains you?"

Fish King thought for a moment. "Perhaps it's to break free from the cage. That was a promise I made to a fish back then."

"There are countless cages among all living beings," Ning Changjiu said.

"Just break the tangible ones," Fish King said.

Ning Changjiu looked up. "Then only the last two remain."

One is the Divine Kingdom, and the other is the Dark Master.

"Mm." Fish King looked into his eyes. "Unfortunately, my abilities are limited; I'm destined to die with regrets. But you are definitely different."

Ning Changjiu also looked into its eyes.

Fish King's fur was long and white, looking quite adorable, but its pupils could no longer hide a sense of ancientness. Yet, Ning Changjiu clearly saw that in those tired eyes, there was still an uncontainable light and an unextinguished fire. No one knew if they would fade in the coming centuries or burst forth again one day with a world-burning brilliance.

"Thank you for your blessing."

Ning Changjiu said sincerely.

Fish King leisurely rose and walked forward along the ridge. "I won't disturb you two anymore. Don't worry, this king is a good cat and will keep your secret."

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling exchanged a glance. After sharing a smile, they stood on the ridge, waving goodbye to Fish King.

They walked past the swaying black flower sea, heading deeper into the desolate mountains.

The desolate mountains were deathly silent, strewn with broken steles and overgrown with green grass and wildflowers. Further ahead was the Underworld Kingdom's lake, a black lake with no visible end, rumored to connect to the Sea of Reincarnation.

Ning Xiaoling stood before the lake, her arms spread wide, as if to embrace the entire vast expanse.

Ning Changjiu stood behind her, sensing the joy in the girl's heart.

At one moment, Ning Xiaoling suddenly dropped her arms and said in a cool voice, "Disciple, why did you bring your Master here?"

Wearing Lu Jiajia's clothes, Ning Xiaoling imitated her, turning her head for a glance. She was dignified and elegant, yet her subtle smile held the unique charm of a little fox.

"What do you think we're doing?" Ning Changjiu asked with a smile.

"Impudence!" Ning Xiaoling said with authority. "If you dare take another step forward, your Master will enforce the sect rules."

Ning Changjiu feigned fear. "What rules?"

"Of course, it's to take Senior Brother... No, to take you, you wicked disciple... Ah!"

Before she finished speaking, Ning Xiaoling let out a startled cry and fell onto the soft sand. The face she had thought of day and night was so close.

"Junior Sister, you stole Master's clothes and even impersonated her. This is an act of rebellion," Ning Changjiu said seriously. "Master isn't here tonight, so I should administer the punishment on her behalf."

"Oh..." Ning Xiaoling barely managed to support herself, saying, "You, you wicked disciple, how dare you... Hmph, Sister, Sister will definitely punish you severely."

The lake water lapped at the beach, its level fluctuating.

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling continued their playful entanglement on the beach, engaging in all sorts of nonsensical conversations.

Sometimes they were master and disciple, sometimes older sister and younger brother, sometimes older brother and younger sister...

At one moment, Ning Xiaoling's petite and enchanting body was lifted. Simultaneously, the lake water rose like a hand, sweeping away the clothes left on the sand. The snow-white garment drifted farther and farther across the lake's surface, like a piece of never-melting snow.

Ning Xiaoling once again recalled the first time she saw her senior brother and the rain in the imperial city.

The difference was, she was no longer the girl who hid under the eaves during a downpour, listening to the pattering rain with fear in her heart.

She seemed to have become the demon fox presiding over the imperial city, with the clouds drifting across the sky all being her unfurled fox tails.

Let the rain fall harder, harder still... piercing through the roof tiles, through the wooden boards, through the entire imperial city, thoroughly drenching the girl hiding from the rain under the eaves.

Harder still...

The girl seemed to be calling out from the storm clouds, the wind and rain obeying her will.

The Underworld Divine Kingdom also responded. The entire world transformed according to her will; the black flower sea swayed and sang in the gale, black flowing clouds in the sky convulsed in unison, taking on myriad strange shapes, and the black lake water sometimes surged and at other times became eerily still.

She was the monarch of the Underworld Kingdom; she was everything in the Underworld Kingdom.

Ning Changjiu also felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he were prying open the entire world!

The lake water surged, and the stamen-like red was instantly diluted and swept away.

The Underworld Kingdom gradually brightened with light.

When their will reached its peak, the clouds in the sky finally gathered into rain.

A torrential downpour poured down, as if to pierce through the entire world.

The black lake, following their will, returned the clothes.

The two lay on the sand, gazing at each other's faces, collecting their quiet joy.

"What heavy rain, Xiaoling is truly amazing," Ning Changjiu said, looking up at the continuously falling rain strands with emotion.

"Don't make fun of Xiaoling anymore..." Ning Xiaoling, draped in the clothes, curled up in his arms.

They were still speaking when the sky above them suddenly dimmed, and the falling rain strands disappeared.

"Did the rain stop?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

Ning Changjiu did not answer.

Ning Xiaoling peered out from her clothing. She saw a greenish-gray surface and countless slender bamboo-like segments.

"This is..."

Ning Xiaoling was stunned for a moment before she reacted.

An umbrella covered them.

"Jiajia... why are you here?" Ning Changjiu became sober.

Ning Xiaoling's mind went blank; she wished she could just faint.

Lu Jiajia held the umbrella, looking down calmly at the figures on the beach. She gazed at the white garment, frowning, and asked, "This outfit looks very familiar. Did Xiaoling buy it recently?"

Ning Xiaoling didn't know how to answer.

Ning Changjiu hesitated. "This is a wedding dress."

"Wedding dress..."

This double entendre made Lu Jiajia momentarily stunned. "Hmph, what a glib tongue!"

Ning Changjiu wanted to reply with the same idiom but thought better of it.

Lu Jiajia held the umbrella in one hand and clasped the other behind her back. "One of the rules of the Sword God Sect is that disciples are not allowed to be in romantic relationships. Have you forgotten?"

Ning Xiaoling suddenly realized. "Oh, so between master and disciple, it's allowed!"

"Xiaoling!" Lu Jiajia was slightly annoyed.

"Master," Ning Xiaoling said, aggrieved, "didn't we already agree in private... why are you still here..."

"Agreed in private?" Now it was Ning Changjiu's turn to be stunned.

Could such a thing even be arranged beforehand?

Lu Jiajia grew even angrier, stammering, "When, when did I agree to anything with you?"

"Anyway, Master made a promise first, so you can't punish Xiaoling," Ning Xiaoling said.

Lu Jiajia nodded. "I only said I wouldn't punish you for *that*, but Xiaoling dared to steal Master's clothes, which is theft..."

"Xiaoling was wrong, Xiaoling won't dare again," Ning Xiaoling immediately surrendered, burrowing into her senior brother's arms.

The downpour gradually subsided.

Light gradually appeared on the horizon.

Ye Changong rose, draped in her robe, and looked at the rain curtain falling in front of the hall.

After a long while, she finally saw three figures returning together.

"Disciples pay their respects to Master."

The three bowed courteously, and Ye Changong subtly returned the bow.

"Where have you been?" Ye Changong asked, a rare occurrence for her.

"Meditating on cultivation techniques."

"Looking at the lake."

"Bringing an umbrella."

The three spoke at the same time, with different answers.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, they secretly exchanged glances, glaring at each other.

Ye Changong didn't press the matter. She walked back into the hall and glanced at the calendar on the table.

Today was November 4th.

"How much longer until the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom is fully established?" Ye Changong asked.

"Five days," Ning Changjiu said.

"Then in five days, we will all depart for Guhuang," Ye Changong said.

"Guhuang?" Ning Changjiu asked, "Are you sure it's there?"

"Mm." Ye Changong offered no further explanation.

After the moon revealed itself somewhat, her abilities had also recovered significantly, allowing her to see more.

And since the moon had opened a gap, the Fifth Senior Brother clearly had an unstoppable momentum. Every other night, the moon would become a little brighter, and it probably wouldn't be long until the moon saw the light of day again.

Anomalies were gradually erased, and everything slowly converged back onto the right track.

Ning Changjiu had a premonition that Guhuang would be the final destination of this journey through the Central Continent.

In the following days, they seized almost every moment to cultivate. The territory of the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom expanded towards its invisible boundaries, and the crimson sun at its center cast its light to even more distant places.

Taking charge of the Divine Kingdom also proceeded smoothly.

The three characters "Snow Porcelain Hall" had been replaced. Siming entered, slowly establishing a connection with everything around her.

Lu Jiajia's newly constructed palace appeared much simpler and would have to wait for a more opportune time for renovations.

Although Lu Jiajia was displeased, her palace was closer to the main hall, and the title of Vice-Monarch of the Divine Kingdom sounded more powerful than a Divine Official, so she didn't dwell on it.

And so, they also entered secluded cultivation in the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom.

This seclusion was not long.

They were one day ahead of their five-day schedule.

The fourth night.

Ning Xiaoling, having finished brewing medicine for Ye Changong, came out and saw a myriad of golden light surging up along the mountain ridge ahead.

The sun seemed to be rising right before her eyes.

Ye Changong, having taken her medicine, slowly walked out and also looked towards the sun.

Their eyes were all bathed in golden light.

On the steps, Bai Zang, who had been idle for several days playing with Jiu You, also opened her eyes. She transformed into her maiden form, her long, molten-silver gown shimmering golden.

Perhaps... there truly was a chance?

Bai Zang thought this.

The moon, like a spot of light, cut into the mortal realm.

In the infinite ruins of Guhuang, a one-armed old man drifted like a zombie. His body was filled with black mist, as if harboring an entire dark cloud.

He maintained the gesture of holding a sword, but his hand had long been empty.

He drifted through the ruins of Guhuang, his consciousness unclear, seemingly searching for something, or perhaps waiting for something.

Suddenly, he looked towards the southeast.

He wondered if it was a trick of the light, but a beam of light had appeared there...

This was October 8th, half a month before the Sword Pavilion disciples were to emerge from the Seventy-Three Caves.