Chapter 59: Mingtang and Qinghe (Part 2)

The night was dark and windy. The system said, “Woo, can we not wander out at night… This Zhao residence is too creepy.”
“Shut up.” Xu Qianyu glanced around, her voice trembling a bit. “You’re scared but can still hide in my body; where am I supposed to hide? I haven’t screamed yet, and you’re already making a fuss.”
As she spoke, she felt a chill at her neck, as if someone were breathing down her back.

Xu Qianyu’s eyes widened. She turned around and, with a twist of her hand, grabbed a pale maid as thin as a hemp stick by the neck. With her eyes closed, the maid stabbed at her with a dagger, and Xu Qianyu also dealt with a demon disguised in human skin.
Dark clouds obscured the moon. In the hazy smoke, the white lanterns under the eaves swayed faintly. Xu Qianyu was afraid of ghosts; even if she could accumulate points, she didn’t want to be here alone, exterminating demons in the dead of night.
“I need to find Zhao Qinghe before the wedding and see what’s going on.”
That day at the Water Moon Flower Realm, she clearly saw Zhao Qinghe eloping with four white-clothed cultivators, flying away on a golden dragon.

Who was marrying into the Guo family tomorrow? Could it be that Zhao Qinghe was captured again? Or was the sister at home preparing for the wedding not the real Zhao Qinghe at all?
The Zhao family layout was a corridor-style courtyard, encircling a rockery and a pond. As sisters, Zhao Qinghe did not live next door to her, and she had no idea where she was now.
Xu Qianyu looked down and happened to see a tuft of grass in the cracks of the courtyard tiles, beneath which was a bulge that moved quickly, darting past her feet. Xu Qianyu stepped down with her embroidered shoe, blocking its path, and yanked the grass, pulling out whatever was beneath it.
That turnip-like thing was as ugly as a brown old tree root, yet it struggled in her hand like a living creature, pleading, “Spare me, spare me.”

This thing was called a “Earth Ghost,” a plant spirit that had gained intelligence after hundreds of years. The Shui family used to have some, but they had all been driven away by her antics.
Xu Qianyu held the grass blade and asked, “Where does Zhao Qinghe live?”
The Earth Ghost painfully replied, “To the northwest, just don’t go to the south.”
“Why? What’s in the south?”
“There are vicious dogs, vicious dogs, it’s scary.”

Xu Qianyu smiled with interest, “Is the sparse grass on your head because the vicious dogs bit it off?” Without waiting for a response, she urged, “Where exactly does she live? Be specific, or I’ll pull out the rest of your grass.”
The Earth Ghost struggled even harder: “Let me go; I’ll lead the way!”
…
Meanwhile, Shen Suwei had entered the flower realm, his face covered and hands tightly bound behind his back, surrounded by a silent darkness. Suddenly, he heard two knocks, as if someone outside was tapping on the wall. After a while, there were two more knocks, closer now, hitting the wooden window frame, the echo becoming clearer.

Listening closely, he realized he was likely on the second floor of a loft, with a bed against the window. This female body was tied to the bed, with her back against the window. If he directly broke the ropes, it would make too much noise. He closed his eyes and explored, a wisp of sword qi flickering, accurately severing the window lattice, the wooden pieces falling, and cutting the rope knots. As the ropes loosened, he slowly began to free himself.

“Bang, bang!” The person outside continued knocking persistently, now nearer and nearer. Halfway through unbinding himself, Shen Suwei couldn’t help but knock back on the window, “Bang, bang.”
On the other side, there was silence, then a rustle as the window was suddenly pushed open a crack, and a voice softly called, “Sister.”
“Sister.”
“Sister.”
No knocking; now they were calling for her soul.
Shen Suwei finally managed to free himself and knelt on the bed, suddenly pushing the window wide open. A girl in a red dress was peering in, exclaiming in delight, “Sister!”
Shen Suwei looked up, “…”
Since he was in “observational mode,” he knew her identity as a disciple; the girl before him had bright eyes, and atop her head were three golden characters: “Xu Qianyu.”
“What do you want?” He quietly asked, returning his gaze.
Xu Qianyu looked at the Zhao Qinghe in front of her, her face as still as water, with a tear mole shimmering under the frosty moonlight, giving her face a cool and stunning air. She was indeed the eloping girl she had seen that day.
“Sister, are you okay?”
Zhao Qinghe replied with a soft “Mm.”
Xu Qianyu looked at her strangely for a moment, then asked, “Sister, did you come willingly?”
Shen Suwei was unaware of how Xu Qianyu had so keenly sensed something was wrong; being tied up like this definitely had nothing to do with willingness.
But if she said she wasn’t willing, would Xu Qianyu come in directly to rescue her? Given her character, she would likely take such righteous action. This would only add to her troubles.
In his moment of hesitation, Xu Qianyu suddenly exclaimed, and with a thud, she disappeared from the window.
Shen Suwei hurriedly looked down.

This was the second floor of the loft; she must have climbed up on a few ceramic jars and lost her footing, falling down.
The sound was quite loud in the still night, quickly disturbing others nearby.
A servant hurriedly pushed open the door and saw the girl, who had originally been tied to the bed, had freed herself and was kneeling on the bed, looking out the half-open window. The night wind blew her hair, making it flutter.
He had a fierce look, and just as he stepped into the room, Shen Suwei didn’t even glance at him. He picked up the half-drop of dew that was about to fall from the window frame and thrust it back.
A drop of water, carrying sword qi and cold wind, condensed into a sharp ice needle in midair, piercing through his shoulder and pinning the servant to the wall.
The servant’s eyes widened; before he could feel pain, his body rapidly froze from the wound, turning him into a dumbfounded ice sculpture in an instant.
Below the window, there was no longer any trace of her. Shen Suwei, worried about Xu Qianyu, silently leaped out the window a moment later.
Xu Qianyu had indeed lost her footing and fallen into some clutter, landing in disarray. However, after dusting herself off, she didn’t climb back up but instead limped back.
The system said, “Why aren’t you going to save your sister?”
Xu Qianyu yawned and replied, “It’s fine now; I can go back to sleep. I’m so tired.”
“It’s fine? Why?”
Why? Zhao Mingtang even tore up a painting of her with her sister, showing that the sisters hadn’t been on good terms for a long time. Given Zhao Mingtang’s character, she would definitely not want to interact much with her sister. Yet just now, she called her sister so affectionately, while Zhao Qinghe didn’t seem to respond at all.
Moreover, when she asked Zhao Qinghe if she was “willing,” it was in reference to Zhao Qinghe’s words on the day she eloped. If she really had been captured midway through her elopement, there should have been surprise, sorrow, and other emotions in her eyes. But that “Zhao Qinghe” appeared overly calm and hesitated for a moment; something was indeed amiss.
Xu Qianyu said: “The real Zhao Qinghe did elope that day; she isn’t in the realm now, so someone else can use her identity. The one I just saw was likely one of my fellow disciples, who is also doing tasks in the flower realm, but I don’t know who exactly.”

Anyway, disciples cannot recognize each other, and probing into who it was wouldn’t be useful. Since she was a cultivator, she should have the ability to protect herself, so there was no need to interfere with each other’s efforts. As long as it wasn’t the real Zhao Qinghe being forced into marriage, it would be fine.
Xu Qianyu saw a pile of boxes belonging to Zhao Qinghe stacked in the corridor. Noticing that no one was around, she walked over to open one and see how the dowries in this enchanting world differed from those of Nanling.
“What are you doing?” Just as she opened one box, a cold voice came from behind her, startling her.
Xu Qianyu turned to see Zhao Qinghe standing behind her, wearing only a thin nightgown. The wind stirred it, and it was not only chilly but also… quite sheer.
“Sister, why are you out here?” Xu Qianyu averted her gaze. “Is it not okay for me to see your dowry?”
“No, it’s not.” Shen Suwei guessed that she wanted to find the Soul Lock in the boxes, but unfortunately, there was none among them. The Zhao family was strange, and rummaging through boxes at night could easily reveal her identity. Since she had followed them here, he thought it better to watch her return instead. “Mingtang, it’s late; it’s not appropriate.”
“Zhao Qinghe, you’re not married yet; tonight’s things aren’t considered your dowry yet. They belong to the Zhao family, and there’s a share for our second miss. If I want to see it, I will.” Xu Qianyu was quite displeased. Did she somehow hinder this senior sister from completing her task? Always meddling, and now she was following her too.

She ignored Zhao Qinghe and continued looking. Inside the box were some gold and silver, but buried among them was half of a sword sheath.
Weapons among the dowries?
She pulled out the sword. As she drew it, Shen Suwei also took notice of the sword. The sheath looked like rusty iron and was not eye-catching, but the sword itself was beautifully shaped—thin and narrow, resembling a sharp willow leaf, capable of killing in an instant without a sound.
It had neither gold nor gems adorning it, yet it felt heavy in her hand, indicating that the weight was in the blade itself. Xu Qianyu couldn’t help but pull out half of the sword, and at once, a cold light flashed, blindingly bright like silver water rushing towards her. Just as she held it half out, Shen Suwei suddenly grasped her hand to stop her from drawing it fully.

The sword was too sharp; drawing it would produce a sound that could be heard.
Xu Qianyu realized this and put the sword back in the box, stealing another lingering glance. This sword from the Zhao family was truly remarkable; although it was an ordinary sword, it was sharper than many immortal swords she had seen in Penglai. If her senior brother saw it, he would definitely like it. Too bad it wasn’t hers.
At that moment, Xu Qianyu caught a glimpse of a white shadow flitting past the corridor. She hurriedly looked at Zhao Qinghe, who seemed to have noticed it as well but did not react. She only lowered her eyes and said, “If you keep this up, you’ll bring trouble to me.”
Xu Qianyu quickly closed the box and pulled Zhao Qinghe to a hidden spot. Realizing that Zhao Qinghe was being watched and her situation was far worse than her own, she felt a surge of guilt. But she was also puzzled: if she hadn’t come out, wouldn’t nothing have happened?
Hadn’t it been said that disciples shouldn’t group together? Why did this senior sister have to bind herself to her? Wouldn’t it be better for them to each act independently without interfering with one another?
Then it occurred to her: could it be that the senior sister had specifically come to talk to her to ask for help?

Although cultivators had their magical artifacts, they were still relatively weak on their own, and a female cultivator with low cultivation would naturally suffer among a crowd of mortals. While disciples couldn’t reveal their identities, they could still recognize each other. Helping each other wouldn’t be a problem.
She began to tidy Zhao Qinghe’s hair at her temples and suddenly leaned in to whisper, “Sister, can you handle the wedding on your own?”
She was asking if the senior sister needed her help.
But in the night breeze, Zhao Qinghe looked frail and delicate, her long lashes casting a shadow over her eyes. She showed no reaction to Xu Qianyu’s keen observation and even seemed a bit resistant, gently pushing Xu Qianyu away as she said, “I’m fine. You should go back; I’m leaving.”
Xu Qianyu felt thwarted and quite angry. She firmly grasped Zhao Qinghe’s shoulder, threw off her cloak, and turned to leave.

Shen Suwei glanced down at her attire and instinctively pulled her collar together. Xu Qianyu’s body temperature was high, and the cloak she had removed was slightly warm. Shen Suwei didn’t wear it; he simply held it in his hand, and with a movement, he vanished.
The white shadow that had flitted past the corridor was a servant on guard. Seeing the two talking, he mistook them for the eldest and second young ladies and rushed to report. The news quickly reached the two-story pavilion, where the servant responsible for watching Zhao Qinghe entered and was met with a surprising sight:

The window was wide open, silver moonlight flooding in. On the bed lay the thinly clad girl with her back to him, silently tying herself up. Her body was astonishingly supple, her hands bending backward at incredible angles, and in an instant she twisted the ropes back into their original state, like a ghostly figure beneath the moonlight, exuding an eerie aura.
Before he could run away, a powerful force suddenly yanked him forward, pulling him to the foot of the bed.
Shen Suwei turned her back to him and said coolly, “Help me tie a knot in the back.”
The servant trembled, tying the knot while answering her questions. “You had an appointment to dine with Young Master Guo, but halfway through, you drugged him and ran off. The people at the manor chased after you, and those four white-clad individuals tossed you off the flying dragon. After that, you fell silent, neither eating nor drinking. The master and mistress feared you might escape from the marriage, so they resorted to this strategy and ordered us to keep watch.”

Shen Suwei seemed to understand. Not speaking, not eating or drinking—that probably meant she had been replaced by a puppet. The puppet technique was a secret of the Tianshan Immortal Sect. The real Zhao Qinghe didn’t want to marry Young Master Guo and had been rescued by someone from Tianshan. She had been replaced by a puppet.
However, her parents, upon seeing their daughter return in a daze like a puppet, didn’t seek a doctor; instead, they tied her up, showing no compassion or kindness.
“Are you… a cultivator?” the servant stammered.
Before he could finish the word “cultivator,” he was thrust against the wall by sword qi, instantly turning into an ice sculpture.

When dawn broke and the ice melted away, they would be free to walk again, and the memories of that night would be erased. They wouldn’t remember that Zhao Qinghe had been replaced.

*

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, cannon fire erupted, and the entire Zhao Mansion was filled with a festive atmosphere. The gates of the Zhao Mansion were wide open, and a red carpet led to a meticulously planted flowering tree in the courtyard, with guests coming and going, exchanging greetings and congratulations in a steady stream.
It was a sunny day, and sunlight streamed into the front hall like scattered gold, making the newly clad Zhao Fukun and Mrs. Zhao shine. Mrs. Zhao beamed with joy, welcoming neighbors and townsfolk into the front hall one by one.
The guests included not only wealthy merchants from within the flower realm but also the village head and various notables. After a while, everyone began to look toward the entrance, gasping in awe.
A young girl with a white veil stepped over the threshold. She had a graceful figure, a fragrant breeze wafting from her clothes, and in her jade-like hand, she held an empty bamboo basket. Flanking her were two clever little attendants—one boy scattering flower petals and one girl holding a lotus flower—like a celestial goddess descending to the mortal realm, each step blossoming with lotuses. As they entered, they attracted everyone’s attention.

“Hey, look, the Holy Maiden has also been invited.”
This Holy Maiden is renowned for her miraculous medical skills in the clinic, and she has some knowledge of esoteric arts, being able to exorcise spirits and capture monsters effortlessly. She is a revered divine doctor, much beloved by the people.
The young girl in white has a pair of eyes that smile gently, as if she hasn’t heard the gossip swirling around her, standing amidst the crowd.
After a while, the groom, Guo Yi, arrived, his face filled with joy as he cupped his hands in greeting to the Zhao couple. When he saw the Holy Maiden, his eyes widened, staring for a moment before reluctantly pulling his gaze away. Then he glanced greedily towards the inner room.
Mrs. Zhao seemed to sense his intentions and called out, “Quickly help the bride out.”
Guo Yi immediately smiled with delight and urged the servants, “Move faster and bring in the betrothal gifts.”

Before long, several boxes were piled up in the front hall.
“So many betrothal gifts… Guo Yi really is wealthy.” The onlookers began to chatter and praise.
Amid the noise, Mrs. Zhao surveyed the crowd, and her smile faded slightly: “Where is Mingtang?”
Zhao Fukun whispered to her, “I thought about it last night. Mingtang is prone to causing trouble; it’s safer if she doesn’t show up.”
Mrs. Zhao had nodded at first, but suddenly her eyes widened in shock.
The unexpected appearance of Zhao Mingtang—Xu Qianyu—had arrived. She was dressed in a fiery red gown, holding a whip, with a pair of eyes looking dull and a sullen expression, clearly holding in her anger. Mrs. Zhao quickly put on a smile and waved, “Mingtang, come here to your mother.”
Zhao Mingtang appeared gloomy and irritable, notorious for her bad reputation. Arriving late and not willing to hand over the whip to Mrs. Zhao attracted murmurs from those around.
Xu Qianyu was very displeased.

To heed Mrs. Zhao’s advice, she had specially instructed the system to wake her early today but didn’t know why she was feeling drowsy. If it weren’t for Keyun desperately calling her, she might have slept through the wedding.
After waking up, she found half a stick of incense planted in her window. Now, seeing the subtle glances exchanged between the Zhao couple, she realized this was the doing of her unscrupulous parents.
Why?
She was a foundation-building body unaffected by such things, only feeling a bit tired and irritable. If it were really Zhao Mingtang, she could sleep for a day and a night, which would surely harm her body. They said they were inviting the second daughter but secretly drugged her in the middle of the night; the eldest daughter was forced into marriage as well. She wanted to see what kind of strange happenings were involved in such an important wedding.

Xu Qianyu listened to Mrs. Zhao’s endless whispers and glanced around, spotting today’s bride, Zhao Qinghe, standing quietly and sorrowfully nearby under her veil. Then she looked at the groom, Guo Yi, who stood on the red carpet, adorned with a big red flower, the same young master who had been drugged that day.
He indeed looked handsome, but at this moment, the intense gaze he directed at the bride was filled with impatience despite the crowd, making his face seem a bit distorted and lewd.
Moreover, she noticed something.
Upon entering the front hall, she immediately saw the lotus mark prompt. It indicated that the soul-binding lock she needed to find in the main quest was nearby.
Xu Qianyu looked at the unfamiliar faces of the guests, unsure who it could be.
Guo Yi rubbed his hands together and said, “It’s getting late; um, please let the bride come with me to the bridal car.”
The surrounding guests echoed in agreement, and the lady hurriedly smiled, “Come on, let’s welcome the bride.”
“Don’t rush to leave,” a delicate voice suddenly chimed, freezing the air.
A petite figure in crimson stepped forward, blocking the bride’s path. Turning to the crowd, she held a whip in her hand, her presence clearly unfriendly.
The crowd murmured, mostly criticizing the second daughter for wearing red and being too flashy at someone else’s wedding. Mrs. Zhao quickly smiled, “Mingtang, come here; don’t block the way.”
“This little friend, are you unhappy?” Among the guests, only the Holy Maiden spoke out, her voice crisp and echoing as if it carried its own reverberation. “On such a joyous day, why not help others to happiness?”
At once, discontent erupted among the crowd.

“Exactly, exactly.”
“Still so big and not understanding the occasion.”
“What do you want to do?”
The system suddenly said, “I sense that power; she is Lu You!”
“…” Xu Qianyu looked up, glaring at the Holy Maiden, “I refuse to help you achieve happiness. What will you do about it?”