Double Joy at the Door?

Skywind Martial City, the Shen Family's inner residence.

Bright red silk draped every corridor. Servants hurried back and forth, smiles plastered across their faces.

It was a joyous occasion.

The Shen Family's eldest daughter, Shen Zhiqiu, was about to be married.

In the bridal chamber, several older women gathered around Shen Zhiqiu, holding up a wedding gown embroidered with golden phoenixes and sizing it against her.

"Zhiqiu, little sister, you're truly blessed."

A gaudily dressed woman gushed, "The Ning Family is one of the great lineages in Skywind Martial City. Young Master Ning Yuanzhi may be a collateral branch, but his father controls several ore veins. That's a lucrative post if ever there was one. Once you marry into the family, you'll enjoy endless wealth and glory. We'll get to bask in it, too."

"Exactly. I heard the Ning Family's betrothal gifts this time include so much spiritual ore and spirit medicine that no one could count it all. The Shen Family hasn't had in-laws this generous in years. Zhiqiu, you'll have to come visit us often from now on. Don't forget your poor relatives."

A plump woman beside her spoke enviously.

Shen Zhiqiu sat before the bronze mirror, letting them fuss over her.

She forced out a smile more painful than tears. Her voice was dry. "I'm grateful for your kindness, elder sisters. I'll remember what you've said."

Ning Yuanzhi's bloated face rose in her mind, along with all the sordid rumors about him. In the past, she would have wrinkled her nose in disgust just hearing his name. Now, that man was to become her husband.

That was fate.

Ever since her elder brother, Shen Yutang, had died, she was no longer a daughter to be cherished in her father's eyes. She had become a tool to trade for the family's interests.

Su Jin had been standing quietly off to one side.

She looked at the greed and envy on the women's faces, then at Shen Zhiqiu, sitting like a puppet, and felt wretched.

Once, she and Zhiqiu had often dreamed about what kind of peerless hero their future cultivation partners would be. They had talked about the academy's geniuses and those spirited young men, brimming with confidence.

But reality had shattered every fantasy.

Su Jin stepped forward and took Shen Zhiqiu's cold hand. She lowered her head and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Zhiqiu, are you really sure? Once you take this step, there'll be no turning back."

Shen Zhiqiu's body trembled slightly.

She raised her head and looked at Su Jin behind her in the bronze mirror. Her eyes reddened at once, but she quickly forced back the tears.

"What difference does it make whether I'm sure or not?" Shen Zhiqiu gave a bitter laugh and stared blankly ahead. "It's Father's decision, and the Shen Family's decision. My brother is dead, and the Shen Family needs the Ning Family's protection. If I don't marry, the family's business will suffer. I'm a daughter of the Shen Family. I've enjoyed fine clothes and rich food for more than ten years. Now it's time for me to repay that debt."

Su Jin fell silent.

She had no answer.

In this world, where strength ruled, the weak had no right to choose. Even the eldest daughter of a family was merely a pawn in the contest between the strong.

Perhaps it was all Qin Jue's fault!

Everyone in the Shen Family hated that man to the bone. Shen Yutang had died at Silver Moon Bay. Though there was no direct evidence, everyone was certain Qin Jue had done it.

And what about her?

She was Shen Zhiqiu's closest friend, and Shen Yutang had been like an elder brother to her, too. Of course she stood with the Shen Family.

At the thought of Qin Jue, Su Jin's mind grew troubled.

People climbed toward higher ground, while water flowed downhill. Qin Jue had offended both the Ning Family and the Shen Family. In Skywind Martial City, he could barely take a step without running into trouble. He was doomed.

Since she had chosen a brighter future and sided with the majority, she shouldn't waver now.

"Su Jin, Su Jin, what are you thinking?"

She spoke to herself inwardly, her gaze turning cold. "He chose to cut off his own path and drive himself into a corner. No one else is to blame."

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

"Bang!"

The door was shoved open, and a black-clad close guard rushed in, panting.

The women inside were startled and cried out, their faces showing irritation.

"What are you doing? Have you no manners? Can't you see we're helping the eldest young lady try on her wedding gown?" The plump woman frowned and scolded him.

The black-clad guard ignored her. His face shone with excitement and urgency as he stared straight at Shen Zhiqiu.

"Eldest young lady! I have urgent news! It's of the utmost importance. I must report it to the family head at once!"

Shen Zhiqiu frowned, sensing that something was wrong. The man was her father's close guard, always calm and steady. Nothing short of a grave emergency could have made him this flustered.

"What's the rush?" Shen Zhiqiu asked.

The black-clad guard glanced around and lowered his voice, a chill in his tone. "It's... about Qin Jue! There's been movement on that front!"

At those two words, the numbness in Shen Zhiqiu's eyes vanished.

"Go and fetch Father!" she ordered sharply.

A short while later, Shen Wan strode into the inner residence.

He wore a dark purple robe, and his expression was so gloomy it was almost frightening. The grief of losing his son and the pressure on his family had aged the once-spirited middle-aged man considerably.

"What's going on?" Shen Wan asked as he entered, fixing his gaze on the black-clad guard.

The guard dropped to one knee and cupped his fists. "Family head, good news! Qin Jue has finally left the city! Someone saw him leave through the south gate at dawn today, riding a Black Scale Horse. Judging by his direction, he was headed toward Black Wind Marsh!"

"He's left the city?"

Shen Wan's gloomy face suddenly twisted with delight. His grin was so warped that he looked especially vicious.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Shen Wan said it three times, then slapped his thigh. "I've had people watching that little beast for over two months, and today he finally came out! Black Wind Marsh... It's deserted, crawling with Fierce Beasts, and countless martial artists die there every year. If he meets with an accident there, no one will ever find out what happened."

He turned to the guard and ordered, "Go to the Ning Family's estate at once and find Young Master Ning Wuque's men. Tell them Qin Jue has left the city! Have them send experts, too. This time, our two families will join forces and lay a net over the outskirts of Black Wind Marsh. We'll ambush him on the only road he can take back to the city!"

"Yes." The guard accepted the order, turned, and raced away.

Silence fell over the room.

Shen Zhiqiu sat before the dressing table, gripping the hem of her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white. The numbness in her eyes was gone, replaced by bone-deep hatred.

"Brother... did you hear that?"

Shen Zhiqiu murmured as tears slid down her cheeks. "The murderer who killed you is finally going to get what he deserves. Father will catch him and make him wish he were dead. You can rest in peace now."

Su Jin stood nearby, listening to the father and daughter speak with such murderous intent, and felt a chill run through her.

Qin Jue... had left the city?

A place like Black Wind Marsh was perilous beyond measure. Now the Shen and Ning Families were joining forces to intercept him. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he'd probably never escape.

A nameless panic surged inside Su Jin.

She instinctively wanted to say something, but the words reached her lips and she swallowed them back down.

What could she say? Tell him to be careful? Or go warn him?

Su Jin shook her head, snuffing out the absurd thought.

He chose this path himself. It has nothing to do with me.

If he refused to keep his head down and insisted on showing off his sharp edge, he had to be ready for it to be broken.

There were no miracles in this world.

Shen Wan seemed to notice the look on Su Jin's face. He turned and gave her a long, searching look.

"Niece Su Jin."

Shen Wan's voice was low and hoarse, with a probing edge. "This operation against Qin Jue is of great importance. You're Zhiqiu's closest friend, and we watched you grow up. You understand what's at stake, don't you?"

Su Jin's heart tightened.

She immediately lowered her head and replied respectfully, "Don't worry, Uncle Shen. Su Jin understands."

"Good. You're a sensible girl."

Shen Wan nodded in satisfaction, a cold smile playing across his face. "Just wait. Before long, that little beast's head will be placed before Yutang's memorial tablet. Then we'll truly have double joy at the door!"