From Now On, Xiao Lang Is a Stranger

On the third day of the twelfth lunar month, the almanac declared it auspicious for weddings and house moves.

South City was brimming with festive cheer today. At dawn, cranes danced in the sky, magpies circled the city, and fireworks burst nonstop, forming the character for double happiness above South City.

Today, the dean of South City Intermediate Academy's son was getting married. As the dean of South City's only intermediate academy, he naturally spared no expense for his only son's wedding. The city's most prominent figures came pouring in. The bride, however, was no daughter of a powerful household; the only people who came for her were a few old classmates.

The Spring-Autumn King trailed Lin Huang at an unhurried pace, taking a seat in an inconspicuous spot. He whispered, "What do you think? I'll get a few people over here first. That way, if we have to snatch the bride later, we'll have some backup."

"Shut up. Be quiet." Lin Huang spoke calmly, his expression somewhat distant.

Bright red candles, festive music, a hall filled with honored guests, and joy come knocking at the door. Once, it seemed, he too had imagined this day.

Too bad. Once today was over, Xiao Lang would be a stranger on the road.

"Is that Lin Huang?"

"He came too?"

"I heard he got caught up in an otherworldly heretical cult a while back and became a wanted criminal. How does he dare show his face? Is he in the clear now?"

"Who cares? Heh. Lin Huang and Chen Ruo. Maybe there'll be a good show today."

Their supposedly secret whispers all reached Lin Huang's ears. He looked up at several old classmates. As he listened to them, his expression grew increasingly indifferent, and a faint aura of detachment flickered around him.

Wu Cheng had actually noticed Lin Huang's arrival long ago. As the groom—and one of Lin Huang's former classmates—he knew all about Lin Huang and Chen Ruo's past romance. Chen Ruo had told him she'd run into Lin Huang yesterday and invited him, but Wu Cheng hadn't expected Lin Huang to actually come.

After a moment's hesitation, Wu Cheng still walked over and whispered in Lin Huang's ear, "Today is my wedding day. Don't cause trouble."

"The City Guardian and the others will be here soon, along with a few of my teachers from Yueshan Academy. They're all powerful figures at Marquis Rank. Don't bring this on yourself."

With that, Wu Cheng smiled, patted Lin Huang on the shoulder, then walked past him with his head held high. He went to the entrance to join his parents in welcoming the arriving guests.

They'd assumed Wu Cheng had come over to put Lin Huang in his place. Seeing him leave with nothing more than that, the old classmates watching from nearby couldn't help feeling disappointed. They hesitated for a while, but no one came over to greet Lin Huang.

"Your social skills are truly awful," the Spring-Autumn King muttered. "How bad do they have to be for not one of your classmates to come over and say hello?"

"Swallows and sparrows cannot understand the aspirations of a swan. It's only natural," Lin Huang replied.

Lin Huang's resolve had never wavered. He had only ever wanted to become a god, and his classmates had never been able to understand him. They thought he was crazy, an idiot, a moron, a fool who didn't know his limits. But he, in turn, had always thought them mediocre and beneath notice.

"They laugh at me for being mad; I laugh at them for failing to see through the world."

Lin Huang murmured the words, then suddenly broke into a smile. "When I think I almost became just like them—mediocre, burying my dreams—I'm glad I came to this wedding. I really am. The Mortal World is full of vulgar people. There's truly nothing worth longing for."

"Hey."

The wedding was about to begin when someone finally came over to greet Lin Huang. He was a little plump, with a round face and large ears. Lin Huang studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I remember you, Chen Xiang."

Chen Xiang paused, then gave an awkward laugh. "Heh. Good, good. You remember me. You hardly ever came to class reunions over the years. I didn't expect you'd show up today."

"Chen Ruo and Wu Cheng... Sigh. The two of them really are a good match. Look at it this way: Wu Cheng's father is the dean of our academy, and Wu Cheng works at the City Guardian Office now. He's doing a lot better than the rest of us. Chen Ruo's found herself a good home, too. She might even become the City Guardian's wife someday."

"Maybe we'll need to ask them for a favor one day. Look, the City Guardian is here, too. And those people over there are all teachers from Yueshan Academy, powerful figures at Marquis Rank."

Chen Xiang rattled on at length. Seeing Lin Huang remain so calm and composed, he grew a little irritated, and his tone turned blunt. "You and Chen Ruo broke up years ago. Today's supposed to be a happy occasion. If she sees you and remembers the past, don't you think that might be a little awkward?"

"It's enough that you showed up. There's no need to stay. Seeing Chen Ruo marry someone else must be hard on you."

"Take my advice and leave early, before it hurts to watch. We can have a drink together tonight. I'll drink you under the table."

"You fat bastard, are you done yet?" The Spring-Autumn King caught on: Chen Xiang was trying to drive Lin Huang away.

"Go sit somewhere cooler. And try not to stew in your own grease."

Chen Xiang scowled and shot the Spring-Autumn King a sidelong glare. "Hey, I've got a short fuse. Lin Huang, is this your friend? If not, just watch me beat him to a pulp today."

"The wedding's starting. Be quiet." Lin Huang spoke slowly. The Spring-Autumn King immediately shut his mouth, lowering his head meekly. Chen Xiang wanted to put on a show of authority, but when he saw Lin Huang's expressionless face, his heart clenched, and he didn't dare say another word.

"Time, second by second by second, counting down. The past, scene by scene by scene, suddenly frozen. You hold his arm, she holds yours, and you walk toward me. The people at the table surge to their feet, forcing you and me apart..."

The lyrics flashed through the Spring-Autumn King's mind. He looked at Lin Huang with sudden worry, wondering if Lin Huang had come here planning to bathe the wedding in blood.

The thought made the Spring-Autumn King tense up. When he saw the groom, Wu Cheng, escorting Chen Ruo over to toast their table, he could almost see the scene of blood flowing like a river.

"Honestly, I have one person to thank for Chen Ruo and me getting together. Without his letting us go, there would be no 'Ruo Ruo and me' today. He's here at the wedding, too, and I'm very happy."

The bride and groom were already the center of attention. Wu Cheng deliberately raised his voice, and everyone immediately turned to look.

Those who knew what was going on let out quiet exclamations, eagerly awaiting the show.

"Lin Huang, thank you. If you hadn't let her go, I wouldn't have realized that Ruo Ruo is the best woman in the world. Thank you."

Wu Cheng wrapped an arm firmly around Chen Ruo and spoke to Lin Huang.

Chen Ruo stared at Wu Cheng in surprise, then looked at Lin Huang. After a long hesitation, she could only stay silent.

Lin Huang stood up and looked at Chen Ruo. "Have you ever regretted it?"

Wu Cheng's expression darkened at once. He was about to say something, but Chen Ruo raised a hand to stop him.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Ruo met Lin Huang's eyes. "You said it yourself: once you choose your road, you have to walk it, even on your knees. I really did love you once, but it's over. I thought I'd regret it, too, but I don't. We were too different. Wu Cheng is the one who suits me best. I love him very much, so I have no regrets."

Chen Ruo began slowly, but her voice gradually steadied and grew firm. Wu Cheng's face cleared, and he shot Lin Huang a smug look.

"Sure enough, if you don't court death, you don't die. Now he's going to go on a killing spree and make the river run red," the Spring-Autumn King muttered, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"No regrets? That's good. Truly good." Lin Huang's voice turned ethereal. Anyone who noticed his eyes would have seen his pupils turn completely silver-white, devoid of the slightest ripple of emotion.

Everyone had assumed Lin Huang would lose his temper and make a scene. Instead, after saying those few words, he seemed to fall into a stupor.

Chen Ruo looked as if she wanted to say something. She wondered if her words had been too cruel, but Wu Cheng led her away to another table.

"Once you enter the marquis's gates, they're deep as the sea; from then on, Xiao Lang is just a stranger on the road. Sigh, brother, accept my condolences." Chen Xiang patted Lin Huang and sighed.