Translator: She.Wee

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Chapter 100: The Grand Wedding

The location for Chi Muyao’s thirty-three palaces was ultimately chosen on a peak near the Executive Hall, with a style he personally designed, giving it a feeling of a Jiangnan small town.

This mountain has many rivers, so when constructing buildings, water factors must be considered, which had kept it unchosen and vacant.

After Chi Muyao selected this site, the buildings were constructed by the water. The exterior walls were made higher than usual, and the buildings had slightly larger openings to prevent water and moisture, with the courtyard allowing ventilation between the front and back.

The white horse-head walls matched with small green tiles, and combined with the stone carving and wood carving techniques of the immortal world craftsmen, made the houses exquisite. The windows and doors featured unique patterns of birds listening to flowers, making them the most elegant in the entire Qingze Sect.

Long corridors and pavilions were built in accordance with the flow of water in the courtyard, striving to preserve the scenery as much as possible.

The choice of this location was also because Chi Muyao had indeed taken over the Qingze Sect’s Executive Hall.

He requested from the Qingze Sect to recruit around five disciples to assist him in managing the Executive Hall. These disciples did not need to have exceptional fighting skills or talent; as long as they were smart enough, that was sufficient.

This also indirectly allowed less talented practitioners a chance to enter the Qingze Sect. By joining such a resource-rich sect, they would have endless future possibilities.

These individuals would later become Chi Muyao’s apprentices, learning formations from him and how to handle the affairs of the Executive Hall.

Thus, Chi Muyao’s days in the Qingze Sect became fulfilling.

He spent his mornings handling affairs in the Executive Hall and his afternoons checking on the construction of his residence.

Whenever he had free time, he would also teach his disciples.

His teaching method was quite different from other practitioners; he was always gentle and never scolded anyone.

Despite this, his disciples were diligent in their studies. Whenever Chi Muyao noticed they were not making progress, he would have heart-to-heart talks with them. After a while, Xi Huai would show up, glaring at them, which placed enormous psychological pressure on them.

Xi Huai occasionally wandered in front of the Executive Hall, gazing from a distance at the thirty-three palaces being built by Chi Muyao, his gaze deep and distant.

Chi Muyao stood beside him and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Did you choose that place because it has a lot of water? Aren’t you afraid I might set fire to the mountain?”

“Why would you burn a perfectly good mountain?!”

“You’ve chosen to live separately from me! How could you do this?”

“I’ll only be living there occasionally. In the future, the disciples of my thirty-three palaces will need a place to stay!”

Xi Huai was still unhappy, but he thought that as the palace master, he could not be without his own mountain, so he didn’t persist.

That day, Chi Muyao was dealing with affairs in the Executive Hall, frowning.

In front of him sat a palace master who had recently lost a lot of money gambling, causing some financial difficulties for the Qingze Sect.

This Heavenly Sovereign had a bad temper and cared about his face, unwilling to bow to juniors. In the end, he was beaten by Xi Lin before coming to the Executive Hall to see Chi Muyao.

This Heavenly Sovereign had lost one eye due to a scheme during a battle and suffered from old injuries that made his body uncomfortable. His lips were often stained. After Chi Muyao arrived, he treated him for a while, and his condition gradually improved.

As a result, this Heavenly Sovereign, who had a bad attitude towards everyone else in the sect, treated Chi Muyao with relatively good manners.

“Senior, take your disciples to the Misty Algae area. There are recently some spirit beasts there, all of Earth grade. The parts of their bodies can be sold for a good price. The danger lies in the swamps, where Heavenly grade spirit beasts occasionally appear, so you need to be cautious. If you capture enough spirit beasts, your debt will be offset. Is that alright?” Chi Muyao asked.

The senior adjusted his wrist and thought for a moment before asking, “How many do I need to catch?”

“Start with about a hundred. Don’t exhaust them to extinction. If there aren’t enough, when suitable spirit beasts appear in other regions, I will have you bring your disciples there. Is that acceptable?”

“Alright, I will go.”

“Good.”

After the senior left, Chi Muyao jotted down a few notes in his book. Before he could put down the brush, a pink figure appeared in the Executive Hall.

Due to Chi Muyao’s relationship, disciples from the Hehuan Sect coming to the Qingze Sect had become a common occurrence, and the sect members wouldn’t stop them.

Lou Qiongzhi came in, grabbed Chi Muyao’s sleeve, and dragged him outside, saying, “Junior Brother, you need to return to the sect quickly! The Master Ancestor and Guannan Tianzun have started fighting!”

Chi Muyao barely put down his brush and followed her out of the Executive Hall. Only when they were flying on their magic tools did he have a chance to ask, “What’s going on? Did Guannan Tianzun come to cause trouble?”

“This isn’t his first time. Last time he suddenly came to the Hehuan Sect, scaring all of us. He only asked the Master Ancestor where his spirit sword was. The Master Ancestor said it was behind the bed curtain, and then he left.”

“He couldn’t find it even though it was hanging on the wall?”

“Yes, Guannan Tianzun is a bit clueless in daily life. He doesn’t even think to lift the curtain to look.” Chi Muyao suddenly thought that Xi Huai was quite adorable. It was surprising how Guannan Tianzun could be so difficult to please, and it was commendable that Si Ruoyu had endured for so many years.

Lou Qiongzhi continued, “The second time he came, he brought a stack of documents and insisted that the Master Ancestor handle the affairs of the San Suo. He doesn’t know how to do it.”

Chi Muyao was astonished. “The Master Ancestor agreed?”

“No, the Master Ancestor asked Guannan Tianzun to send Yu Yanshu over. She would teach Yu Yanshu, but Guannan Tianzun refused, saying he feared Yu Yanshu would be shy if he came here. He insisted on staying in the sect for three more days before leaving.”

“Handled for a full three days? That many affairs?”

“No… The documents were taken away unchanged, and the Master Ancestor didn’t leave the house for half a month afterward.”

“…” Chi Muyao could roughly guess what Si Ruoyu had gone through during those three days. “What’s this time about?”

Lou Qiongzhi looked quite helpless. “Guannan Tianzun thinks the trip between the Hehuan Sect and here is too far, so he insists on building a pair of teleportation arrays between Nuan Yan Pavilion and the Hehuan Sect, so he can arrive immediately whenever he wants.”

“That’s too outrageous!”

“Yes! The Master Ancestor is furious and has started fighting with Guannan Tianzun.”

“Can the Master Ancestor really win?”

“Can’t win. Guannan Tianzun didn’t fight back. The Master Ancestor fought for half a day without injuring him and got very angry. We had no choice but to call for help.”

By the time Chi Muyao and Lou Qiongzhi arrived, Si Ruoyu had already stopped fighting, sitting on a nearby staircase to rest, looking at the scenery without glancing at Guannan Tianzun.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Guannan Tianzun, not in a hurry, reached out and played with a strand of Si Ruoyu’s hair, but was pulled back by her.

Chi Muyao approached and greeted them. Guannan Tianzun responded politely.

Chi Muyao noticed that the items for building the teleportation array had been destroyed by Si Ruoyu. He looked at Guannan Tianzun and said, “Senior, building a teleportation array between the Demon Sect and a righteous sect is an unprecedented matter and indeed carries security risks. Nuan Yan Pavilion has always been at odds with the Demon Sect. If the array is completed, the Hehuan Sect will quickly become a place of disputes, which concerns the safety of the Hehuan Sect disciples. It is understandable that the Master Ancestor does not agree.”

Guannan Tianzun replied calmly, “This teleportation array will be specially treated. It is a recognition-type array, which can only be activated by my spiritual energy and can only be used by me.”

Chi Muyao looked awkwardly at Si Ruoyu and persuaded Guannan Tianzun a few more times. Seeing that Guannan Tianzun was particularly persistent, he had to propose an alternative: “The area in front of the sect is also within the sect’s domain and cannot be used for this. There is a market not far from here, with a teleportation array station at the end of the market. You can set up the array there with some spirit stones as rent. We have already built one there, allowing disciples to go directly from the sect entrance to the market for convenience.”

“If you must build a private teleportation array, I’m afraid you can only build it there. You just need to pay a fee. From there to Hehuan Sect, it will only take half a quarter of an hour by flight.”

Guannan Tianzun was not familiar with matters of the demonic sects, so he was very pleased with Chi Muyao’s suggestion. He took out a few talismans from his storage artifact and handed them to him. “Hmm, thank you.”

These talismans were drawn by a Nascent Soul stage Tianzun. Since creating them consumes a lot of mental energy, only three could be drawn in a day. Each talisman could withstand the full force of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator’s attack, making them ideal for life-saving purposes. Normally, disciples would only be given such talismans when they went to train in dangerous formations, so Chi Muyao cherished them deeply after receiving them.

Guannan Tianzun seemed particularly happy, and the frown between his brows relaxed. He planned to head towards the market but after walking a distance, he came back and asked, “In which direction?”

“This way.” Chi Muyao pointed in the direction.

Si Ruoyu was furious and came over to pull on Chi Muyao’s ear. “Why did you tell him that?”

“Otherwise, there would still be a standoff, and doesn’t Guannan Tianzun come here all the time anyway? I think he likes you and is trying to win you back.”

“Is that how one wins someone back? Every move he makes drives me crazy!”

“Some people just have low emotional intelligence. Unlike you, who are so lovable, he doesn’t know how to win you back, so he can only use this clumsy method.”

Si Ruoyu finally let go of Chi Muyao and fell into deep thought.

She was a perceptive person and quickly caught on.

Previously, her thinking had been constrained. Disciples of the Hehuan Sect often used a method of brainwashing themselves, repeatedly telling themselves that the man was only after their body. This way, they wouldn’t feel guilty when using the man as a furnace.

Si Ruoyu hesitantly asked, “Are you saying that he comes to the Hehuan Sect every few days, not to deliberately anger or retaliate against me, but to win me back?”

“Exactly! It’s just that his methods aren’t very likable.”

“Is he crazy? He’s a Tianzun of the Nuan Yan Pavilion. If he knowingly stays with me, a member of the demonic sect, he’ll be kicked out of the Nuan Yan Pavilion! Besides, I’ve already ruined most of his illustrious reputation. If he continues to be with me, he’ll have no reputation left, and he might even be cursed for life.”

“Didn’t Xi Huai also choose to be with me? We get along just fine.”

“He’s different. He has much more to lose—ruined reputation and being forsaken by his kin and peers are just the beginning.”

“However, it seems that he’s chosen you. The only reason he’s still at the Nuan Yan Pavilion might be because he still has a group of disciples and other cultivators of the Three Dormitories to take care of. Once Yu Shixiong is fully trained, he might leave the Nuan Yan Pavilion entirely.”

Si Ruoyu was stunned by this speculation.

Disciples of the Hehuan Sect who remained unfeeling were free and unrestrained, indulging in the pleasures of life.

In their eyes, love was like a poisonous candy—sweet for only a moment, but the pain would seep into their bones and last forever.

Those without feelings were strong like the eastern wall, standing tall even as the rain and vines entwined.

Those who fell in love were like floating duckweed, swayed by the waves created by their beloved, drifting wherever the tide took them, rootless and alone.

Si Ruoyu had been unfeeling before. She didn’t even think Guannan Tianzun liked her very much; she believed he was just used to having her around and relied on her care, which was why he couldn’t leave her.

But if one day, this person was willing to give up all the glory he had accumulated over hundreds of years, and willingly fall into the mud to find her, would she fall for him?

She suddenly felt lost.

Chi Muyao didn’t try to persuade her. Matters like these required self-reflection, and the decision had to come from within.

Seeing that Si Ruoyu was hesitating and no longer angry, he left.

When Chi Muyao returned to Qingze Sect, he hadn’t even entered the Hall of Affairs when Xi Huai, who had just come out of the hall, lifted him onto his shoulder.

He felt the world spin for a moment, and by the time he came to his senses, he was already on Xi Huai’s back. He could only struggle and shout, “Xi Huai, put me down!”

“No!” Xi Huai hadn’t dual-cultivated with Chi Muyao for a few days, and he was feeling quite frustrated. Today, he came to the Hall of Affairs to ‘kidnap’ him.

Chi Muyao could only soften his tone and coax him, “Put me down, and I’ll go back with you, okay?”

Xi Huai didn’t agree, afraid that Chi Muyao, who was particularly good at avoiding dual-cultivation, would pull some trick. He carried him all the way back to his mountain.

As they approached the mountain, they could see QiuQiu playing with Colourless Yuni Deer in the distance. The little deer had become more lively recently due to its newfound freedom.

Chi Muyao didn’t have time to look at them closely before he was taken into the cave. Just as the door was about to close, a voice transmission talisman slipped in through the gap.

Xi Huai put Chi Muyao down, and he reached out to activate the talisman, hearing Yi Qianxi’s anxious voice, “Hu Hu Pig is having difficulty giving birth. It’s been two days, and she still hasn’t delivered. Hurry up and come over!”

After listening, he immediately went back to the cave to grab his things. He picked up his Yu Chong Sect’s Qiankun Bag and prepared to leave. “Xi Huai, the pig at Yu Chong Sect is having trouble giving birth. I have to go right away.”

Xi Huai looked at him in disbelief. “What use are you for a pig’s difficult labor?!”

“I can treat it! At the very least, I can ease its labor pains.”

“Your healing technique is so good. Does that mean you can also be in charge of childbirth for female cultivators in the future?”

“Sigh, to be honest, my healing technique is most effective with physical contact. It would indeed be inconvenient for me, as a man, to assist in childbirth.”

He actually seriously considered the matter!

Xi Huai blocked the door. “You’re not allowed to go! You haven’t spent time with me for so long.”

“But a pig only gives birth once every few years, and we have plenty of time for dual-cultivation! You need to be more understanding!”

After that, Chi Muyao spent several days at the Hall of Affairs of Qingze Sect, a few days at the Hall of Affairs of Hehuan Sect, and a few days helping at the Yu Chong Sect.

He, Chi Muyao, who had once held a grand ceremony to formalize their relationship, was now accustomed to the solitary life!

This was intolerable!

However, seeing how anxious Chi Muyao was, Xi Huai eventually softened and agreed. “I’ll go with you.”

“Alright.”

By the time Chi Muyao came out of the Yu Chong Sect, it was already midnight.

He lightly jumped up, his toes barely touching the lotus leaves, and finally landed on a small boat.

Inside the boat, Xi Huai lay lazily in the cabin. When he saw Chi Muyao board, he merely glanced at him before continuing to lie there in displeasure.

Chi Muyao knew that Xi Huai was upset, so he could only crawl over, sit on Xi Huai’s body, and lean down to say, “I’m back.”

“Oh…”

“Both mother and piglets are safe. She gave birth to nine piglets.”

“…” Xi Huai didn’t care at all about this.

“Sorry. I reminded the junior sister to be careful around the Azure Fox Ancestor, not to sleep together or anything. She didn’t understand and kept asking me about it for a long time. I couldn’t say much else, and it was a bit difficult.”

“…” Xi Huai didn’t care about this either.

Chi Muyao had no choice but to lean down and kiss Xi Huai lightly on the lips.

Xi Huai still ignored him.

He started kissing elsewhere, carefully and gently. “I’ve thought about it. Let’s do it…”

Xi Huai finally looked at him, but still didn’t move, with a look that said, “Beg me.”

Chi Muyao took the initiative to undo his robe, his movements slow and deliberate.

Behind him, the cool moonlight blended with his silhouette, making his figure merge with the moonlight, like a tempting shadow play in the night.

His slender body leaned slightly forward, gently kissing Xi Huai’s dragon horns.

Then, in a sudden moment of movement, the two of them switched positions. Xi Huai pinned Chi Muyao down, looking at him from above, unable to hold back any longer.

At midnight, the drizzle started unexpectedly.

On the quiet lake surface, blooming lotuses surrounded a seemingly old and worn small boat.

The boat floated silently on the lake, its body swaying rhythmically, causing ripples that spread out, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

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T/N: 

Me after reading “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly”: Damnnnnnn