Wedding Invitation

On August 20th, the seventh day after Duàn Yì had gone up the mountain, he had not only mastered the basic sword techniques with exceptional proficiency and solid foundations, but had also successfully turned the intangible into tangible, condensing his first strand of Internal Energy. His strength had greatly advanced.

However, although this True Qi was pure, it had more gentleness than drive. It could not be considered Ice True Qi at all.

That night, at the hour of the Pig, Duàn Yì followed the Ice True Qi cultivation method and successfully drew a strand of yin-cold energy from heaven and earth into his body, transforming the nature of his True Qi. Only then could it be considered Ice True Qi in the true sense.

In the future, Duàn Yì could continue using this method to absorb yin-cold energy and strengthen the power of his Ice True Qi. It was a slow, grinding task.

For the next three days, aside from breathing exercises, internal cultivation, sword practice, and training the Minor Capturing Hand, Duàn Yì wandered through the mountains each day, searching for suitable herbs and prey to add bricks and tiles to his internal cultivation.

His hunting naturally yielded results. This was a dense mountain forest where birds and beasts dwelled, and after cultivating True Qi, Duàn Yì's hands and feet had become nimble, his ears sharp and eyes keen. With a fine weapon in hand, hunting was not particularly difficult.

Still, although Duàn Yì had learned from Bái Xī Wén about the appearance and characteristics of certain medicinal herbs, he found nothing at all. He did not know whether the Golden Cauldron Sect had already dug them all up, which was quite regrettable.

That morning, just after Duàn Yì and Bái Xī Wén had finished eating, a clear, ringing voice came from beyond the great residence, echoing within and without.

"Disciple-nephew Zhào Yù requests an audience with Martial Uncle Bái."

Duàn Yì had never heard this name before and felt nothing in particular, but Bái Xī Wén seemed rather unhappy. He nodded at Duàn Yì, signaling for him to bring the visitor to the reception hall.

Ten Refinements Sword in hand, Duàn Yì walked lightly as he opened the vermilion gates of the residence. Before the manor stood a young man in his twenties, about the same age as Yuè Jiāo Nú.

His light-yellow outer robe made him look tall and well-proportioned. His long hair was gathered and secured atop his head in a standard Daoist topknot. He was exceedingly handsome as well, with long brows, thin lips, eyes like stars, and a bright, amiable air. He was truly an outstanding figure.

No wonder Brother Bái was so unwilling. He once said he hated anyone more handsome than himself. With such a suave and elegant man before him, wouldn't Brother Bái be reduced to ashes without even a scrap left?

Duàn Yì seemed to understand why Bái Xī Wén had become unhappy upon hearing Zhào Yù's name. So that was the root of it. He could not help looking Zhào Yù over once more.

At first sight of Duàn Yì, Zhào Yù was mildly startled as well. Though the youth's clothes were shabby, his features were refined, his bearing steady, and his eyes especially lively and bright. Could this be the youth rumored to have come up the mountain in search of relatives?

"Brother Bái is waiting inside. Come with me."

After saying this rather coolly, Duàn Yì led Zhào Yù toward the reception hall. The two did not exchange a word along the way.

One reason, naturally, was that Duàn Yì did not wish to have anything to do with people from the Golden Cauldron Sect, lest he gain the ability to avenge himself in the future only to find himself in some friends-turned-enemies farce.

He was also worried that someone might see through his origins and place him in danger.

The second reason was that although Zhào Yù seemed to possess outstanding character and a sunny temperament, as approachable as a big brother next door, Duàn Yì always felt he was somewhat false and affected. He instinctively resisted him, though he did not know whether it was merely an illusion.

Bái Xī Wén was seated upright in the chair of honor, savoring hot tea. Without even raising his head, he asked,

"What did Senior Brother Sect Master send you here for?"

Zhào Yù had long been prepared for Bái Xī Wén's attitude and did not find it embarrassing. He merely drew a large red wedding invitation from his robes, held it up in both hands, and bowed.

"September 8th will be the day of my master's wedding to Palace Master Yuè of the Moon Worship Palace. Master specially sent Zhào Yù to deliver this invitation to Martial Uncle. He hopes Martial Uncle will certainly attend."

Duàn Yì had originally been standing to one side like a wooden post. Upon hearing that Qū Dōng Liú and Yuè Bì Nǔ were about to marry, his heart gave a jolt and he could not help worrying.

He was not worried for himself, but for whether Yuè Jiāo Nú, upon learning this news, would disregard his former orders and come stir up trouble at the wedding feast. That would be dangerous.

At the same time, Duàn Yì was somewhat puzzled. Delivering a wedding invitation—Qū Dōng Liú and Bái Xī Wén's relationship seemed rather strange.

For ordinary people, an invitation from Qū Dōng Liú could be considered proof of goodwill and esteem, something worth celebrating.

Yet Qū Dōng Liú and Bái Xī Wén were fellow disciples, martial brothers whose relationship was equivalent to that of blood brothers. When one's own family sent a wedding invitation, was that not a sign of distance and discord?

"Oh? He is finally marrying Yuè Bì Nǔ. He is not going to send invitations everywhere and invite martial artists from Wei Prefecture and even all of Hebei Province, is he?

He ought to know just how disgraceful what he did was."

Bái Xī Wén set down his teacup and reached out with a grasp. The large red invitation in Zhào Yù's hands was drawn into Bái Xī Wén's grasp by an invisible force of qi as he spoke in an unfriendly tone.

"Cough, cough. Master has not invited outsiders to this wedding. Only the Golden Cauldron Sect and the Moon Worship Palace will participate. Martial Uncle need not worry."

Zhào Yù clearly knew what disgraceful matter Bái Xī Wén meant. His expression was slightly awkward, and his gaze drifted.

The dignified leader of a sect had abducted a female disciple from a sect famed for purity as flawless as jade and spotless as ice, then murdered his master and seized his position. It was neither pleasant to say nor pleasant to hear.

Even many people on the mountain were dissatisfied with it. Why would Bái Xī Wén be the only one?

"At least he knows the weight of things. Fine, I know about this. I will naturally attend when the time comes. You may leave."

Zhào Yù had just turned to depart when Bái Xī Wén called after him.

"Wait. My cousin has only recently come up the mountain and was rather strapped for money before this. Later, bring someone to make him a few presentable sets of clothes. On the day of the wedding feast, I will bring him with me."

Duàn Yì showed no reaction, while Zhào Yù seemed somewhat surprised. He looked at Duàn Yì once more, nodded, and departed.

For a time, only Bái Xī Wén and Duàn Yì remained in the hall. Neither spoke.

"Since you are Jiaonu's younger brother, you should know her background and origins, as well as why she was hunted down, shouldn't you?"

Bái Xī Wén pressed the wedding invitation onto the nearby table, rose, and walked before Duàn Yì as he questioned him. His expression was mild and calm, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.

Yet the more so it was, the more pressure it gave one.

"I have heard a little. I heard that it was a disturbance caused by Brother Bái's senior brother, Sect Master Qū, and that Palace Master Yuè of the Moon Worship Palace over love. Elder Sister Yuè did not tell me the details."

Duàn Yì did not know what Bái Xī Wén meant by asking him about this now. Was he testing him, or merely speaking from emotion?

No matter which it was, however, Duàn Yì could not reveal the slightest abnormality. Even if those two were his enemies in name, he could not.

"Whether you truly know only a little or not.

Let me ask you: if Jiaonu learns that my senior brother is marrying that bitch Yuè Bì Nǔ, will she come rushing here regardless of everything?"

Bái Xī Wén's originally dark complexion gradually became ruddy and gleamed faintly. Clearly, his inner qi was circulating and surging straight toward the crown of his head, making Duàn Yì's heart rise and fall like fifteen buckets at a well, seven going down and eight coming up.

Recalling every little moment he had spent with Yuè Jiāo Nú, Duàn Yì believed that, as Yán Susu's sole living blood relative, he held great weight in her heart. Since she had agreed to let him risk himself by coming to the Golden Cauldron Sect to learn martial arts, she would naturally not lightly disobey the instructions he had given her.

Gritting his teeth, he said,

"Setting aside whether Elder Sister Yuè even has a channel to learn of Sect Master Qū and Palace Master Yuè's marriage, I guarantee that even if she receives the news, she will absolutely not come to the mountain to cause trouble. Instead, she will remain hidden and concealed, waiting for the day we agreed to meet again."

His words were as decisive as nails driven into iron, spoken in one breath. They also calmed Bái Xī Wén's previously turbulent, worried heart.

"Good lad. I hope you are right. Otherwise, even I may not be able to protect her."

Bái Xī Wén had finally confirmed that Duàn Yì's identity was far from simple. He could not possibly be a youth who had merely met Yuè Jiāo Nú by chance.

What kind of person was Yuè Jiāo Nú?

She was not especially clever, yet she was foolishly loyal and terrifyingly stubborn.

Hatred had already taken root in her heart, carved into her bones and etched into her memory. It would not end until death. In particular, she was not good at enduring in silence. If someone like her could hold position after hearing that Qū Dōng Liú and Yuè Bì Nǔ were marrying, did that not reveal something unusual?

And Duàn Yì was a crucial part of that anomaly, though Bái Xī Wén could not yet see exactly how.

However, he did not intend to pursue the matter. After all, Yuè Jiāo Nú was truly important to him.

If he truly acted against Duàn Yì, he feared not only that he and Yuè Jiāo Nú would turn against each other as enemies, but also that he might never see her again for the rest of his life.