Chapter 236: Returning Together (Part VI)
Xiao Ji couldn’t quite articulate what he was feeling in that moment. Amidst the calm acceptance of ‘taking things as they come’, there was a mixed trace of indescribable bizarre unease.
Where there is a romantic affinity, there can be either a benevolent bond or a sinful tie.
He believed in letting nature take its course, but that didn’t mean he was submissive to every circumstance.
Given the current scenario, the entity he was bound to was definitively not from the immortal sects. However, whether they belonged to the ranks of demons, devils, ghosts, or monsters was yet to be determined.
Within the span of a burning incense stick, Xiao Ji carefully weighed the possibility of personally severing this romantic tie. Yet, after a moment’s hesitation, he decided it was best to observe and act accordingly.
At worst, he could simply choose to end his own life.
With this thought settling in, Xiao Ji turned his gaze back to the mirror, stretching his lips to mirror the identical, stiff smile of the dead maidservant.
The little maid tilted her head, inspecting Xiao Ji’s face in the bronze mirror. She then stepped forward, draped the red bridal veil over his head, and respectfully escorted him out the door.
With his head covered by the veil, Xiao Ji couldn’t see the path ahead. His vision was limited to his own feet and the embroidered shoes of the maidservant leading the way.
After walking for a while, the maidservant stopped and stepped aside, allowing Xiao Ji to see the bottom edge of a bridal sedan chair.
He ignored the pale, withered hand the maidservant extended to him, lifted the heavy red curtain himself, and stepped into the sedan without hesitation.
The sounds of gongs and drums instantly flared up around him once more.
The bridal sedan rocked and swayed, heading toward an unknown destination.
Xiao Ji lifted his veil, intending to peek outside the curtain to assess the situation, but was met with pitch-black darkness. He couldn’t even see his own fingers stretched out in front of him.
Uncertain variables in an uncertain environment caused even Xiao Ji’s vigilance and caution to skyrocket.
Just as he readied himself to strike and escape at the slightest sign of danger, the sedan finally came to a halt.
The blindingly dark fog outside dissipated, and the red glow of candlelight filtered through the bottom of his veil.
Someone lifted the curtain, and a slender, elegant hand with distinct, beautiful knuckles reached out to him.
On its ring finger rested a silver-white band.
Xiao Ji didn’t move; he simply waited quietly.
They had said they were fetching a ‘new bride’, but the one wearing the bridal gown was him.
And now, looking at the hand offered to him, it undeniably belonged to a man.
Xiao Ji rubbed his fingertips together, attempting to gauge the person’s strength by sensing their aura.
But he felt absolutely nothing.
Not only could he not sense the circulation of spiritual energy within the person’s body, but he couldn’t even hear the sound of their breathing.
The hand hovered patiently before him. He only needed to touch it to sense further.
Xiao Ji pondered for a moment, then placed his own hand into the offered palm.
Unfortunately, this time, he still felt nothing. He couldn’t even detect the beating of the other person’s heart.
Just as Xiao Ji prepared to retract his hand, the owner of the palm gently grasped his fingertips and slid an identical silver band onto Xiao Ji’s ring finger.
When the ring first slipped on, it was loose. But it quickly trembled and shrank, adhering seamlessly to the skin of Xiao Ji’s finger.
It was a magical artifact.
Though he didn’t know its purpose or tier, Xiao Ji could sense that neither the ring nor the person standing before him harbored any malice.
The hand guided Xiao Ji out of the sedan, leading him on a path to an unknown location.
There was no bowing to heaven and earth, no bowing to the parents.
Once they stopped, the person simply handed Xiao Ji a cup of nuptial wine.
He didn’t urge Xiao Ji to drink, merely waiting in silence.
Xiao Ji had been impervious to all poisons since childhood. After a brief hesitation, he raised the cup.
The wine flowed smoothly down his throat—crisp, with a lingering spicy kick. It contained neither poison nor gu-bugs; it was simply a cup of exquisite, aged wine.
Xiao Ji hadn’t yet decided what he should do next or what he ought to say to this person.
But fortunately, he didn’t have to face that dilemma. The scene before him instantly dissolved into an expanse of nothingness.
When Xiao Ji opened his eyes again, he found himself surrounded by a circle of Xiao family disciples, all staring intently at him.
Seeing Xiao Ji open his eyes, Xiao Ran hurriedly asked:
“Senior Brother Wuyan, how did it go?”
Xiao Ji felt a bit disoriented. He lowered his gaze to his left hand, and just as expected, a silver band now rested perfectly on his ring finger.
Without drawing attention, Xiao Ji subtly twisted the ring, attempting to pull it off.
But the ring stubbornly refused, remaining firmly lodged in the crevice of his finger, immovable.
Yinnian’s gaze had been fixed on Xiao Ji the entire time. Though Xiao Ji hadn’t spoken a word, Yinnian stood up, casually brushing the dust and grass from his clothes:
“The illusion is broken.”
With that, he was the first to push open the door and step out of the room.
Xiao Ji also rose and walked out the door.
The sun was setting behind the western mountains, and Fu’an Village was dead silent.
Zhong Yinnian, who had exited just a step ahead of Xiao Ji, was already nowhere to be seen.
On the journey back, the other Xiao family members hurried on ahead, leaving Xiao Ji to travel alone.
He still didn’t use a sword, nor did he shrink the ground; he chose to walk back on foot.
He had some things he needed to think through. Even though he lacked any clues and was completely bewildered, he still wanted some quiet time to himself.
By the time he arrived at Qingyang Town, the sky was completely dark.
As Xiao Ji passed an inn, he hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
He ordered a serving of plain porridge and some simple side dishes, sitting alone in a small corner, eating while zoning out.
His thoughts drifted endlessly, boundless and untethered.
Just as his attention was drawn back to the ring on his finger, someone suddenly sat down right in front of him. The person unsealed a jug of wine, poured it into a bowl, slid a fresh jug over to Xiao Ji, and asked:
“Buddhist Son brother, why aren’t you traveling with your fellow disciples?”
Xiao Ji pulled his thoughts back and raised his eyes to look at the person across from him. “It’s you.”
Yinnian let out an exaggerated “Yo.” “It’s been an entire hour. I didn’t expect you to still remember me. I am truly honored.”
Xiao Ji was never good at interacting with others. When he didn’t know how to respond, he simply remained silent.
He never asked for others’ thoughts or opinions on whatever weighed on his mind.
Firstly, it was unnecessary. Secondly, it was useless.
Talking too much was just a waste of breath.
But this Zhong Yinnian clearly possessed some real capability.
Since they had run into each other, Xiao Ji didn’t care if it was a coincidence. He extended his hand, displaying it to Zhong Yinnian, and asked:
“Do you see this?”
Zhong Yinnian nodded. “Your fingers are long and very beautiful. Do you want me to read your palm?”
As he spoke, he reached out, preparing to grasp Xiao Ji’s wrist.
Xiao Ji instantly pulled his hand back, then thrust it in front of Zhong Yinnian again:
“I’m talking about this.”
“The ring?” Zhong Yinnian asked.
Xiao Ji gave a brief “Mn.”
Zhong Yinnian stared at the ring for a moment and clicked his tongue.
Xiao Ji frowned. “Can you discern its origin or purpose?”
Taking advantage of the moment, Zhong Yinnian grasped Xiao Ji’s fingertips, pulling the hand right up to his face. As he inspected the ring, he continued to make clicking sounds, while his other hand brazenly stroked the back of Xiao Ji’s hand.
Just as Xiao Ji prepared to rip his hand back again, Zhong Yinnian gripped it tightly, rolling his eyes at him:
“What are you rushing for? Let me look closer.”
With that, he continued to pinch Xiao Ji’s hand, staring intently at the ring.
Xiao Ji couldn’t shake the feeling that something was incredibly off. But Zhong Yinnian’s expression was dead serious, as if he truly couldn’t figure out the anomaly, so Xiao Ji could only let it be.
It was a long while before Zhong Yinnian finally held Xiao Ji’s hand and declared:
“This is incredible. This is terrible!”
Translator’s Note:
- Hejin Wine / Nuptial Wine (合卺酒): A traditional Chinese wedding custom where the bride and groom drink wine from two cups tied together by a red string, symbolizing the union of the couple and the sharing of their lives.
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