Chapter 482: Thousand-Year Marriage Contract

Ning Changjiu put on a simple white tunic, stepped out of the house, and stood beneath the heavy eaves.

Tree shade already covered the courtyard, shimmering with bright light.

He turned back, then suddenly realized with a start that this was Bukeguan, and this very room was where he had lived in his past life.

Retracing his steps through the courtyard and around the corridor, he leaned against the railing and looked out. Structures like Lüling Pavilion and Lotus Pavilion were submerged in a sea of green. The wind blew gently, neither hurried nor slow. Looking straight ahead, the wheat fields were still there, but most of Bukeguan’s mud houses had collapsed.

Ning Changjiu cast his gaze further into the distance.

The sea of clouds was gone, replaced by an endless expanse of flat land.

He paused, then suddenly realized that Bukeguan had now descended to the human realm.

Ning Changjiu stood within the temple for a while, taking out his marriage contract and examining it again, fearing that he had returned to sixteen and everything he had experienced earlier was merely a dream. He unfolded the contract, and only after confirming the elegant script of "Ye Changong" did he finally relax and smile.

The sky was azure, white clouds drifted like wisps, and everything seemed distant and unreal.

Ning Changjiu intended to go to the Dao Hall to find his Master, but as he passed Lüling Pavilion, he heard voices conversing inside.

Peeking through a crack in the window, Ning Changjiu saw his eldest senior sister and Lu Jiajia talking. He listened for a while and learned that his eldest senior sister wished to entrust Lüling Pavilion to Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia was speaking with her senior sister when her heart stirred slightly, and she suddenly turned around.

Ning Changjiu stood at the window, smiling and waving at her.

She whispered something to her senior sister, then quickly ran out, opened her arms, and embraced him.

Lu Jiajia was visibly much thinner, yet her slender figure beneath the snow-white sword robes still held an indescribable softness. Strands of her hair brushed against Ning Changjiu’s cheek, tickling lightly, a gentle itch like the unique sensation of spring. Ning Changjiu wrapped one arm around her back and the other around her waist. He leaned close to her earlobe and gently blew; her earlobe turned a tender red, and she hummed a few times, but did not let go.

Then, he heard a soft sobbing sound.

Ning Changjiu said with gentle affection, "My dear Master, you've waited so long... What's wrong, Master? Don't cry..."

Lu Jiajia clenched her fists and punched him hard on the back, saying in a tone that was hard to distinguish as resentment or endearment, "Wicked disciple!"

Ning Changjiu smiled, and tears also fell from his eyes.

Lu Jiajia felt the dampness on his shoulder. She gently released him, wiped his cheek, and softly asked, "Why are you crying?"

Ning Changjiu smiled, "The sunlight is too dazzling."

As he spoke, he looked into her eyes.

The two embraced once more.

Inside, the eldest senior sister, holding her whisk, watched them silently, a faint smile gracing her graceful face.

Ning Changjiu reached out a hand and quietly closed the window.

Click.

The eldest senior sister's face instantly turned cold.

She humphed coldly, flicked her whisk, and resumed her meditation.

Ning Changjiu held Lu Jiajia's hand, and they walked through a field of swaying young flowers. Beside the ancient houses, clusters of corydalis bloomed. The occasional large trees had lived for an unknown number of years, yet they continued to grow lush and green, as if they would never age. Their leaves rustled together, and sunlight streamed through the gaps created by their movement.

They sat down by a tree and gently chatted about recent events.

"A month... I slept for so long," Ning Changjiu murmured, tapping his head.

"Yes, Xueci and the others and I came to see you every day. Xiao Li even insisted on cooking for you at first, but you were asleep and couldn't eat. The food left by your bed looked like offerings for the deceased, so we had to order her to remove them. She was sad for quite a while," Lu Jiajia said, hugging her knees with one hand and wiping her eyes with the other. As she recounted recent amusing incidents, her autumn-water eyes narrowed into crescents like the moon.

Ning Changjiu conjured Xiao Li's image in his mind and couldn't help but laugh. He asked, "By the way, where is Xueci?"

Lu Jiajia thought for a moment and said, "Sister Xueci is probably fishing right now..."

"Fishing?" Ning Changjiu was slightly surprised. "I asked about Xueci, not Baizang."

Lu Jiajia sighed with a smile, saying, "She's catching and releasing fish to accumulate good karma for you. Oh, you know, she learned this whole routine from you."

"No wonder I slept for a month before waking..." Ning Changjiu muttered.

"What did you say?" Lu Jiajia didn't hear clearly.

Fearing she would tell on him, Ning Changjiu solemnly said, "I said the Divine Official's merits are immeasurable."

Lu Jiajia's lips curled into a faint smile, and she said, "Let's go find her. When she sees you're awake, she'll definitely pretend to be aloof, saying something like, 'Why did you suddenly appear and interrupt my fishing?'"

Ning Changjiu didn't believe her. "Jiajia, don't guess wildly."

"Don't interrupt my fishing."

Siming glanced at Ning Changjiu and said indifferently.

Siming sat on the dark edge where flowers bloomed, holding an elegant parasol of white gauze that fluttered gently. She wore a snow-white embroidered dress, without makeup, yet her lips were red and her brows dark. She held a jade-carved fishing rod, her slender figure dazzling like a night flower.

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia smiled triumphantly.

Then, by the clear river, came the plop of water and a woman's faint exclamations and groans.

"Hey... why did you push me into the water... in broad daylight, this is Bukeguan!"

"Hmmph... what are you doing... Lu Jiajia! Control your disciple!"

"Hmph... don't..."

Siming's voice mingled with the sound of the stream, its inherent coolness carrying a charming allure, like spring flowers reflected in water.

Lu Jiajia picked up the fallen light-flower white parasol and watched them chase each other away.

Eventually, Siming was caught. The goddess, soaked to the bone, was pinned against a stone by the riverbank. Fearing further embarrassment, she temporarily conceded.

"Alright, alright, Xue'er... I was wrong..."

Siming said very reluctantly.

Ning Changjiu looked at her seemingly melting icy eyes and asked, "Xue'er, what were you doing by the riverside?"

Siming's red lips curved slightly, and she smiled alluringly, "I was thinking of my husband."

Ning Changjiu looked at her mischievous smile and said helplessly, "Xue'er, you're so naughty, how can I trust you?"

Siming's smile receded slightly, and she spoke very softly, with a faint hint of melancholy, "Ah, I've been thinking of you for eight years..."

Such words, spoken by the once cold and aloof goddess, made Ning Changjiu's heart tremble slightly.

But clearly, after a long separation, he wasn't going to let Siming off easily at this first meeting.

"Did you catch any fish today?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"It's been a month. The fish here have been caught and released, released and caught, they've become smart," Siming said quite resentfully.

"As expected of our Bukeguan," Ning Changjiu exclaimed.

"You're still laughing at me? Don't believe me? Go try it yourself?" Siming said gloomily.

"Of course I can catch fish, if you don't believe me..."

As Ning Changjiu spoke, he extended a finger and gently brought it close to Siming's soft red lips.

"Bite the hook," he said.

Siming looked at the boy's bony finger, momentarily stunned, then turned her head to glance at Lu Jiajia, who was watching with amusement under the light-flower parasol. She softly pleaded, "Jiajia is still watching."

Ning Changjiu repeated, "Yes, Jiajia is still watching."

Their words held different meanings: the former implying shyness, the latter, a blatant threat.

Siming's icy eyes narrowed slightly as she glared at Ning Changjiu. After a moment of standoff, Siming pursed her lips and softened. She lifted her hair, leaned forward slightly, and bit Ning Changjiu's finger. Her soft lips closed, and her fragrant tongue swept over his fingertip with a hint of awkwardness.

Siming could no longer maintain the air of a high and mighty goddess. Her cheeks flushed, and the frost in her eyes melted away completely, replaced by a hazy, dreamy mist.

Beside them, Lu Jiajia also turned her head, biting her lip, lost in thought.

Ning Changjiu gently pulled his finger out, then wrapped his arms around the woman before him, his hand sinking into her hair. Siming giggled softly, leaning her body against his, her hands slowly settling on his back.

A gentle breeze enveloped them, and the scent lingering on their noses was indistinguishable whether it was the fragrance of flowers or the woman's own scent.

"From now on... we'll never be separated again," he said.

"Mmm."

Siming closed her eyes. After an embrace, she released him, rose slightly on her tiptoes, and kissed him, oblivious to anyone else.

Flower petals swayed on slender stems by her delicate, snow-white feet.

"By the way, Xiang'er, Xiaoling, Xiao Li... where are they?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"If you want to know Zhao Xiang'er's whereabouts, just say so; no need to pretend to ask about everyone," Siming said sarcastically.

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then simply followed her lead. "Then... where did Xiang'er go?"

"As expected... Hmph! You just finished speaking words of love to me, and now you're asking about your little lover's whereabouts? Ning Changjiu, you're heartless and faithless!" Siming crossed her arms, her eyes under her dark brows hardening with coldness once more.

Lu Jiajia whispered softly, "Compared to Xiang'er, it seems Sister Xueci is the real little lover."

"You..." Siming grew more exasperated, demanding, "Jiajia, whose side are you on?"

"I..."

"Don't bully Jiajia."

Ning Changjiu was very protective of his junior master.

"You two are ganging up on me like this?" Siming felt her standing was being challenged.

"Doesn't Sister Xueci enjoy being bullied anyway?" Lu Jiajia faintly smiled.

Siming glowered at her, as if making a threat, while Lu Jiajia held Ning Changjiu's arm, looking utterly secure.

"Enough..." Siming said coldly, "Zhao Xiang'er has been with Suzaku lately, discussing something."

"Suzaku?" Ning Changjiu was slightly startled. "She hasn't left yet?"

Siming nodded. "Suzaku holds the authority over the Three Thousand Worlds; she can leave anytime, thus, she isn't as desperate to leave."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Is Xiang'er doing alright?"

Siming replied, "You don't need to worry about that killer girl. She carries that white cat around all day, and together their combat power is unparalleled in the world. Even I have to give them a wide berth."

Ning Changjiu whispered, "Only a wide berth?"

"Ning! Chang! Jiu!" Siming's silver hair fluttered, and her red lips grew even more vivid.

Ning Changjiu sighed and quickly comforted the flustered white tiger.

Lu Jiajia watched from the side, her gaze as gentle as water.

Ning Xiaoling and Shao Xiaoli heard the commotion and arrived together. They wore white and red dresses, pretty and adorable, yet beneath their charming exteriors lay terrifying identities like the Goddess of Luo River and the King of the Underworld.

"Master..."

The moment Shao Xiaoli saw him, eight years of time flowed through her heart, turning into a bitter soreness in her nose.

She rushed forward, embracing Ning Changjiu first.

Ning Xiaoling stood frozen in place, realizing she had reacted too slowly, and felt at a loss for what to do.

Lu Jiajia walked to Xiaoling's side and gently took her hand. "Xiaoling, you're here."

"Of course Xiaoling is here! I'm Master's little money bag!" Ning Xiaoling said, walking with her Master (Lu Jiajia) towards her senior brother.

"Little money bag..." Shao Xiaoli, teary-eyed, asked, "Then what am I?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Li is... hmm... Xiao Li is made of water!"

Shao Xiaoli waved her fists, hitting his chest.

Ning Xiaoling shouted, "Don't bully Senior Brother!" and joined in.

In the joyful atmosphere, Ye Changong stood at the highest point of the Dao Hall, looking on serenely from afar. Though her surroundings were empty, she gave the impression of standing beneath trees with falling cherry blossoms.

Ning Changjiu, sensing something intuitively, looked up towards the Dao Hall.

He saw nothing, but the marriage contract against his chest grew hot.

Only then did he suddenly remember that he was supposed to go find his Master...

Ye Changong was like the moon; beautiful in a pure, otherworldly way. Yet, people walking in its clear light seldom looked up to truly behold that flawless, icy orb.

"Hmm?"

Lu Jiajia noticed his distraction and immediately understood the reason. She said, "Master has been waiting for you. Don't hesitate, go."

Ning Changjiu looked at them and saw that they were also looking at him.

Siming's lips curved in a slight, teasing arc, and she said in a slightly sickly voice, "Don't pretend to be a gentleman. Everyone already knew about your past as husband and wife. Betraying your master and subverting the master-disciple relationship are skills you've long mastered, aren't they? Everyone's used to it. Now that Master is taking the initiative, who are you trying to be reserved for, Young Master Ning?"

Ning Changjiu listened to Siming's arrogant words, wanting to reprimand her, but then he saw Ning Xiaoling also looking up, blinking her clear, sparkling eyes, and saying, "Yes, Senior Brother, hurry and go."

Ning Changjiu naturally had no temper at all towards his adorable junior sister.

He looked at everyone and said, "You all... have no other suggestions?"

"Suggestions?" Shao Xiaoli was very excited and handed him an ancestral box. "Of course I have suggestions! In her past life, Master forced Xiao Li and you to separate, so you must remember to give Master a good spanking to avenge Xiao Li!"

"Uh... Xiao Li, you misunderstood. I meant..." Ning Changjiu felt awkward.

"I also have a suggestion. You can tie Master's long hair into two pigtails, and then..." Ning Xiaoling's ears turned red, and she was unwilling to continue.

"Xiaoling, even you..." Ning Changjiu was shocked.

"These are Lingluo fruits," Lu Jiajia said, opening her hand and placing several fresh, plump fruits into Ning Changjiu's palm.

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia's graceful, beautiful face, hesitating whether to accept them.

Siming vanished for a moment, then quickly returned with a proportionally sized wooden cross. "Take this too."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Ning Changjiu felt dizzy and annoyed. "Who is trying to betray the master and destroy the lineage now? Do you really want to see Master bullied?"

"Yes!"

All four women said in unison.

With no great enemy to contend with, peace reigned in the human realm, and their hearts relaxed significantly. This gave rise to many wild and varied ideas, such as bullying their powerful and beautiful moon palace immortal, wanting to see if the detached immortal, like Chang'e, would fall into the mortal world. This unconsciously became a highly anticipated consensus among them.

In their hearts, their Master was always one of their own; though it might seem strange, there was never any ill feeling.

Everyone looked at Ning Changjiu with expectant eyes. Those unaware of the situation might have thought he was again entrusted with the vital task of saving humanity.

Ning Changjiu hesitated, then audaciously stored these "gifts" in his void space. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he went to the innermost Dao Hall with a heavy heart.

Western Kingdom.

Zhao Xiang'er, holding the white cat, looked at the noble and refined woman in a red dress, her eyes downcast, remaining silent.

In recent days, they had battled nineteen times, all resulting in Zhao Xiang'er's victory. However, Suzaku, with the Three Thousand Worlds as her reliance, meant that Zhao Xiang'er, though victorious, couldn't truly defeat her.

"Don't you pursue freedom? Is this your 'freedom'?" Zhao Xiang'er asked coldly.

Suzaku smiled elegantly. "That's what I've been thinking about recently... If I leave now, flying to the Primordial Void, will what I gain be the 'great freedom' I desire?"

Zhao Xiang'er thought for a moment, then said, "You at least have the freedom to choose."

Suzaku continued, "I have the freedom to choose, but is my choice truly freely decided? Or have all our choices already been divinely predetermined in the unseen? Our seeming freedom is merely a predetermined outcome."

Zhao Xiang'er said faintly, "When I was still in the imperial city of Zhao, thanks to you, I did feel that way."

Suzaku smiled, "A mother's arrangements for her daughter are naturally comprehensive."

"You're asking for death." Zhao Xiang'er raised her hand, and phoenix fire transformed into a sword, shrieking as it shot forth.

Suzaku avoided the sharp edge of the phoenix fire, gently brushed away the flames from her sleeve, and gracefully walked back, saying, "Xiang'er, have you really not thought about these things?"

Zhao Xiang'er shook her head. "I'm not as bored as you."

The white cat in her arms let out a "meow" in agreement.

Suzaku showed an expression of profound loneliness, as if her thoughts were too complex for others to grasp.

She looked at the sky. "We are all birds yearning for freedom; we should distinguish ourselves from caged birds."

Zhao Xiang'er retorted, "Why do you consider heaven and earth a cage?"

"If heaven and earth aren't a cage, what else could they be?" Suzaku retorted.

"They can be our home," Zhao Xiang'er said. "Living in a home, even with doors and windows locked, one doesn't feel imprisoned, because one can leave anytime. Now that the Dark Lord is dead and the Evil Poem has vanished, the human realm is our home."

Suzaku listened to her words, and a hint of bewilderment flickered in her eyes. She immediately shook her head. "This is just an excuse for complacent peace. We... must always go see what lies further beyond."

Zhao Xiang'er asked, "Is this your free will?"

Suzaku remained silent for a long time. "Perhaps it's my stubborn conviction."

Zhao Xiang'er gently stroked the cat's white fur, looking up. "Have you finally decided to leave?"

Suzaku said faintly, "Whether I go or stay is up to me."

Zhao Xiang'er was a bit too disinclined to bother with her anymore.

It was impossible for them to determine a winner between them.

Zhao Xiang'er said somewhat begrudgingly, "Emperor Yuan and the Mother Star were closely linked, so he wasn't easily killed and was given a peaceful end. And you successfully gained authority over the Three Thousand Worlds, free to go or stay as you please. You traitors get such good outcomes; I'm... displeased."

Suzaku smiled faintly, "If daughter is displeased, does she want a hug from mother?"

Zhao Xiang'er ignored her.

Although Suzaku hadn't truly committed any heinous acts, yet to them, she was ultimately a betrayer who had nearly caused an irreparable catastrophe. If possible, Zhao Xiang'er naturally wouldn't let her off easily.

The distance between them grew.

Suzaku glanced at the sky.

In the past, someone had asked the question, "What do the Three Thousand Worlds resemble?"

Suzaku already had an answer in her heart: stairs.

In her eyes, the Three Thousand Worlds were stairs.

In her original plan, after her appearance, she would hand over the Western Kingdom to Zhao Xiang'er, allowing her to maintain the balance of the Divine Kingdom. Then, she herself would ascend step by step through the continuous Three Thousand Worlds, accelerating through each world. Finally, she would shed her flesh and soul, becoming a complete spiritual entity, rushing into the Great Void at the speed of light to become a new level of existence.

But the emotions unique to intelligent life held her back.

She had not left yet.

Because she knew that once she left, her path forward would be endless... light itself cannot stop.

What would the process of traversing the cosmos become then?

She could not interfere; she could only watch the stars streak past her eyes, pressing ever forward, forward, until the end of the universe. What difference was there between this and being confined deep beneath the ocean?

Suzaku was indecisive.

Finally, she came up behind Zhao Xiang'er.

"Why are you following me?" Zhao Xiang'er was growing impatient.

The white cat in her arms also hissed and bared its teeth at Suzaku.

Suzaku smiled faintly. "I still have an unfulfilled desire."

"What?"

"Of course, to see that Immortal Chang'e married," Suzaku smiled.

Outside Bukeguan's Dao Hall.

Ning Changjiu, holding the marriage contract, walked through the familiar courtyard with large trees, past the lotus pond, and arrived outside the Dao Hall.

The Dao Hall door was closed.

Ning Changjiu gently knocked but received no reply.

He recalled the outcome of trying everyone's names on the marriage contract in his eight-year dream, felt a lingering apprehension, and secretly chided himself for not learning his lesson.

He stood silently for a long time.

The sky gradually darkened.

He looked up and suddenly noticed that where the moon used to be, a much smaller, yet suitably bright star had appeared.

Ning Changjiu frowned slightly, feeling it looked familiar.

"That's the fire essence of Zhulong."

Ye Changong's clear and cool immortal voice drifted down.

When Ning Changjiu turned, the temple door had already opened. Ye Changong, of unparalleled beauty, stood at the entrance in a moon-white gauze dress, a snow lotus crown adorned her hair, and she held a whisk as white as snow.

"Zhulong's fire essence has always been guarded by the Thunder Prison. After this great war, the Moon Prison collapsed, and Thunder Prison, inheriting Zhulong's will, crippled his thousand years of cultivation, suspending the fire essence to perpetually illuminate the human realm."

Ye Changong explained softly.

Ning Changjiu looked at Ye Changong's ethereal and transcendent face and asked, "Will we never see the moon again?"

Ye Changong said, "One day, when the lights of the human world shine brilliantly throughout the night, people will no longer need the moon. Rather than remaining pointlessly for thousands of years, it is better to depart sooner."

Ning Changjiu gently shook his head. "Master is the moon of all ages; how can the lamps of the human world compare to the serene purity of the heavens?"

Ye Changong neither affirmed nor denied.

She gently turned, her gauze dress flowing.

"Why have you come today?" Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying an invisible authority.

"Disciple has come to propose," Ning Changjiu said, handing over the marriage contract.

"You truly are audacious," Ye Changong said, taking the marriage contract.

"In the past, disciple was too timid, too hesitant, and needlessly missed eight years of time, delaying until today," Ning Changjiu said. "The sun illuminated the Moon Prison for countless years; now that the Moon Prison is gone, how lonely Master must be walking alone in the human realm. I... wish to be Master's only light."

Ye Changong lowered her graceful head, silent and cold.

Ning Changjiu looked at her, gently stepped forward, tentatively opened his arms, and slowly embraced the exquisitely beautiful maiden, his arm wrapped around her slender waist.

During this process, Ye Changong did not struggle.

This was the first time Ning Changjiu truly embraced her in thousands of years.

Their bodies slowly came together, an indescribably wonderful sensation: cool as jade yet delicate and boneless. He felt as if he held not a real being, but a gentle beam of moonlight.

Ye Changong neither agreed nor refused. She stood with serene composure, her eyelashes trembled faintly, and she softly said, "Keep your hands... in check."