Chapter 88
Xiao Xiao, her heart heavy, took Si Ling’s hand, her voice sincere. “Don’t worry, Madam. As long as I’m here, I won’t let him repeat your mistakes…”
Si Ling nodded, her hair now completely white. She couldn’t stay in the mortal realm much longer.
She had found true love, but their time together had been cut short, their paths diverging in life and death.
And blinded by hatred, she had failed her son.
This mortal journey, besides leaving her with white hair and a heart filled with regrets, had given her nothing but pain.
She wouldn’t look back. She only hoped her son would have a better fate, that he and that kind girl with the warm smile could carve out a happiness that defied even destiny…
After bidding farewell to Si Ling, Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie decided to leave Qilao Mountain.
Besides the fake Prince Changshan, another powerful figure had emerged from the shadows. Someone who could guide souls into the underworld… they were no ordinary being.
Who was this Ye Yi, this fiancé of Princess Yongning, who possessed such power? Or was he merely a pawn, manipulated by someone else?
They descended from Qilao Mountain, heading towards Luoyi City.
Xiao Xiao recalled receiving Princess Yongning’s plea for help, her intention to return to the city.
But their entrapment in the underworld had delayed them. Who knew what had transpired in their absence?
As fate would have it, upon entering the city, they heard rumors of Prince Changshan’s wedding being moved forward, taking place that very night.
Weddings among wealthy families were usually held during the day, a grand spectacle with a procession stretching for miles.
But Prince Changshan had chosen to hold his daughter’s wedding at night. He had even contacted the authorities, clearing the streets, forbidding citizens from venturing out after dark, and opening the city gates at night to allow the wedding procession to leave.
Night weddings, although customary in some regions, weren’t common in Luoyi City.
Especially among the Xia imperial family. But Prince Changshan had insisted, claiming Princess Yongning, with her eccentric personality, disliked daytime crowds and prying eyes. She preferred the quiet anonymity of night.
Ever since the Four Great Sects’ attack on Prince Can’s mansion, resulting in his “death,” Luoyi City had been under curfew. Combined with the authorities’ efforts to clear the streets, the city was deserted by the second watch.
As the drums sounded, the mansion gates opened, revealing a procession of red wedding carriages, stretching down the empty street. The carriages, usually a vibrant red, appeared almost blood-colored under the pale moonlight and flickering lanterns, a chilling sight.
The four members of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, concealed by invisibility talismans, observed from a distance.
The groom’s horse, adorned with red silk, walked at a leisurely pace – but its back was empty, only a ceremonial groom’s hat resting on the saddle.
Xiao Xiao was surprised. The Ye family, although holding the title of marquis, was far below the Xia imperial family in status.
Their previous transgression, using stones to impersonate silver in the betrothal gifts, had already been disrespectful. How dare they insult a princess further by sending a hat instead of the groom himself?
And the procession was eerily silent. There was no music, no celebratory chants from the bridal attendants.
The attendants, dressed in red, walked with their heads bowed, their faces hidden in the shadows, their silence adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
This wedding procession, supposed to be a joyous occasion, felt cold and ominous, devoid of life, a ghostly spectacle under the dark night sky.
The matchmaker, her face painted a bright red, called out every few steps, her voice shrill and piercing, echoing through the night. “Marry the soul! Marry the soul!”
Yu Ling’er, her fur standing on end, whispered, “This is creepy! Why is this wedding procession so eerie?”
Tang Youshu, however, recognized the ritual. “This… this isn’t a wedding. It’s a soul-marrying ceremony!”
Soul marrying was an ancient, forbidden technique.
It involved finding a living person whose birth date matched that of a deceased individual, allowing for a soul exchange. The living soul would be sent to the underworld, while the deceased soul would take over the living body – a process known as “seizing the shell.”
But this technique was rarely used. Finding a perfect match was difficult, and the retrieved soul was often incomplete.
In many cases, the revived individual would be left mentally impaired.
So, even though it offered a chance to bring someone back from the dead, who would want a loved one to return as a mindless shell?
That was why this technique had fallen out of practice.
Tang Youshu recognized the talismans adorning the red carriages – talismans used by Wan Lianshi of the Demonic Ghost Sect.
Those carriages, despite their vibrant red color, were actually soul-summoning banners, disguised as wedding carriages.
And the matchmaker’s chant… she was calling for souls!
This moving procession was a formation, gathering yin energy, with the bridal carriage as its focal point. After traveling a certain distance, it would open a passage to the underworld.
It was currently the three-day period after the red moon, when the River of Forgetfulness receded, as Grandmother Wei had mentioned. Any souls lingering in the underworld could be retrieved through this ritual.
Of course, such a ceremony had to be conducted at night. It indiscriminately gathered souls. If the streets were crowded, many innocent souls would be drawn into the carriage.
Even the four members of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, concealed by their invisibility talismans, felt a strange heaviness, a pull towards the carriage, as they followed.
Wei Jie, less affected than the others, stopped them. “We can’t get any closer,” he said, his voice low. “Look at those pallbearers. They’re already soulless, mere puppets…”
Xiao Xiao looked closely and realized they were walking on their toes, their heels not touching the ground, their movements jerky and unnatural. Each of them had a puppet talisman attached to their back, allowing them to be controlled even after their souls had been extracted.
Stray cats and dogs that wandered too close to the procession collapsed, their bodies stiffening, their souls absorbed by the formation.
Xiao Xiao frowned. Who was the sacrificial bride in that carriage? Could it be Princess Yongning?
They wanted to investigate, but they couldn’t get close to the carriage. But then Xiao Xiao had an idea.
She took out the paper figure Princess Yongning had used to contact her. She inscribed a Heavenly Eye Talisman and a Communication Talisman on it, then chanted a spell. The figure, caught in a gust of wind, floated towards the bridal carriage, then, guided by another gust, slipped inside.
The procession had left the city, entering the wilderness.
Xiao Xiao, her vision linked to the paper figure through the Heavenly Eye Talisman, saw everything clearly.
The bride wasn’t wearing a veil. Her hair was loose, her face pale, her red wedding dress the only indication of the occasion.
Xiao Xiao immediately recognized her – Princess Yongning.
But the usually lively and spirited princess was now lifeless, her eyes vacant.
The paper figure hopped onto her shoulder, then her arm, quickly discovering five silver needles, strategically placed on her neck and behind her ears, sealing her senses.
Removing the needles would be tricky.
But Xiao Xiao was no longer a novice. Since the five phoenixes had entered her body, her control over talismans had improved drastically.
Techniques from Tang Youshu’s manual, once beyond her grasp, now seemed intuitive.
She focused, her hands moving, as if manipulating puppet strings.
The paper figure inside the carriage wrapped itself around a needle, then, with a burst of energy, pulled it out.
It repeated the process, swiftly removing all five needles.
The moment the last needle was removed, Princess Yongning gasped, her senses returning.
But before she could speak, the paper figure slapped itself over her mouth, silencing her.
She recognized the figure. She nodded, indicating she wouldn’t speak, and the figure released her, whispering in her ear, relaying Xiao Xiao’s instructions.
Although she didn’t remember how she ended up in the carriage, she clearly recalled the fake Prince Changshan and those Demonic Ghost Sect disciples subduing her with needles.
She trusted the sincere Sect Master Cui of the Joy Sect more than that imposter.
She immediately followed the paper figure’s instructions.
Xiao Xiao had told her to remove the talismans from the carriage, both inside and out, to disrupt the formation’s focal point.
Otherwise, once it absorbed enough yin energy, it would open a passage to the underworld.
Princess Yongning quickly tore off the talismans lining the interior of the carriage, tossing them out the window.
Then she leaned out, reaching for the talismans on the exterior.
But the one controlling the formation sensed her actions. The pallbearers, as if on cue, lowered the carriage and lunged at her.
Princess Yongning, terrified, dropped the talismans and retreated into the carriage. “What do I do?” she asked the paper figure.
But the figure, even more cowardly, had burrowed into her hair, seeking refuge.
The puppet-like figures ripped open the carriage curtains, their blackened fingers reaching for her. Suddenly, a figure leaped onto the roof, his sword flashing, sending the attackers flying.
With the talismans removed, the soul-sucking aura dissipated, allowing Wei Jie to intervene.
The Heaven-Punishing Sword, a bane to demons and evil spirits, sent the puppet-like figures scattering.
But his actions strained his weakened energy reserves. He clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.
Princess Yongning, scrambling out of the carriage, looked up and saw Wei Jie, his sword gleaming under the moonlight. She froze, mesmerized.
She had never seen him before. He was breathtaking.
Xiao Xiao rushed over, pulling her away from the carriage. Princess Yongning, snapping out of her trance, sighed in relief. “Sect Master Cui, you’re here!”
The thunder in the sky, disrupted by the broken formation, ceased. The wind died down.
The pallbearers and attendants, regaining consciousness, looked around, confused, wondering how they had ended up in the wilderness.
Princess Yongning and the Lingshan Talisman Sect group were long gone.
The princess, who had never experienced hardship, was now facing a harsh reality.
After escaping, she was too exhausted to even recount her ordeal. All she could think about was food.
Comparing dates with Xiao Xiao, she realized she had been abducted and lost her memories shortly after sending the paper figure.
She hadn’t eaten anything for three days.
When they found lodging in a nearby village, the moment the courtyard gates opened, she spotted dried meat hanging from the eaves. As if possessed, she lunged for it, sinking her teeth into it, her hair wild and disheveled. The homeowner, terrified, stumbled back, convinced a flesh-eating demon had entered his home.
Tang Youshu quickly offered the homeowner silver to calm him down, then requested a quick meal.
The princess devoured two bowls of rice with scrambled eggs and spring onions, followed by stinky fish in chili oil, before finally regaining her composure.
But looking at the leftover fish, she remembered using stinky mandarin fish to test her father’s identity, and a wave of sadness washed over her. “My father… he’s been replaced. I don’t even know if he’s alive… Sect Master Cui, please, help me capture that imposter! Help me find my father!”
Xiao Xiao frowned. “I thought the fake prince wanted to get rid of you, marrying you off to that good-for-nothing. But using you as the focal point of that formation… that doesn’t make sense. What is he trying to achieve?”
“After realizing my father had been replaced, I started observing that imposter,” Princess Yongning said. “Before they knocked me unconscious, my fiancé, Ye Yi, visited the mansion. I was curious. I had never met him before. I thought perhaps I could talk to him, convince him to break off the engagement. I overheard their conversation in the study. The imposter was saying something about the red moon not appearing again, about this being their only chance. He mentioned a method of replacing someone, of finding a girl with a matching birth date. He wanted to use the receding River of Forgetfulness, the ten-year window, to bring someone back from the underworld.”
Xiao Xiao, her chopsticks frozen in midair, stared at her. “And then?”
Princess Yongning blinked, trying to remember. “Ye Yi didn’t say much. I tried to peek into the study, but before I could, I felt a prick on my neck, and then everything went black. The next thing I knew, I was in the bridal carriage.”
Xiao Xiao, disappointed, pondered her words.
It seemed Ye Yi was involved in the imposter’s plot. And they were trying to retrieve someone from the underworld.
Remembering Ye Yi’s claim of honoring his deceased wife with those flowers… was it true?
Knowing he was involved in something sinister… it was a shame. Such a refined gentleman, a flawless jade, tainted by darkness. Why, Ye Gongzi, why?
Wei Jie, who had been out earlier, returned and spoke. “I’ve contacted the Crown Prince’s spies. They’re investigating the fake Prince Changshan.” This involved a member of the Xia imperial family, a lineage protected by the heavens. Even if Wei Jie wanted to avenge his mother, he had to inform the Crown Prince about the imposter.
But Ye Yi’s true nature was a mystery. Wei Jie, although having never met him, was certain he was a formidable opponent.
And their cryptic words about the red moon not appearing again… what did it mean? But one thing was clear – they were desperate, willing to risk even an incomplete soul retrieval.
Thankfully, Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie had disrupted their ritual. But their plans foiled, what would they do next?
Princess Yongning, her stomach full, finally had the chance to observe Wei Jie. He had been absent during their encounter on Lingshan Mountain.
Looking at this handsome, otherworldly man, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of attraction.
But Yu Ling’er quickly doused her hopes. “He might be good-looking, but he’s got a terrible temper and a venomous tongue. Stay away from him.”
Princess Yongning, surprised by such a negative assessment, looked at Wei Jie, who was talking to Xiao Xiao, his voice gentle and soft. She couldn’t believe it.
Yu Ling’er, fond of the princess, had offered a sincere warning. But Wei Jie’s true nature… one had to experience it firsthand.
His kindness and understanding were reserved for Cui Xiao Xiao alone.
Princess Yongning, not a fool, quickly realized that Wei Jie’s affection for Cui Xiao Xiao went beyond a typical master-disciple relationship.
And his temper… Yu Ling’er was right. Even his own disciple, Tang Youshu, seemed to avoid him.
But his cold demeanor melted away whenever he looked at Xiao Xiao. He wiped her face with a damp cloth as if she were a precious child.
Princess Yongning suddenly understood why Cui Xiao Xiao wanted to establish the Joy Sect! With such a handsome and powerful disciple, it would be a waste not to… cultivate with him.
Unfortunately, as a princess, she was bound by decorum. She couldn’t experience such freedom. If she were the Sect Master of the Joy Sect, she wouldn’t limit herself to just Wei Jie, no matter how handsome he was. She would gather a harem of beauties, embracing all worldly pleasures.
Anything was better than being forced to marry that good-for-nothing.
Yu Ling’er, however, said, “Your fiancé might be cunning, but he’s truly stunning. I’m worried that if you see him again, you’ll be captivated by his beauty, tricked into marrying him, and end up with your soul replaced.”
Princess Yongning shuddered, remembering her humiliation. That imposter, pretending to be her father, had used her as a sacrificial offering!
She was desperate to capture him, to find out what had happened to her real father.
But Wei Jie advised patience, suggesting they wait for the Crown Prince’s findings.
After the Four Great Sects’ disastrous attack on Prince Can’s mansion, they had become targets of the imperial court. Terrified, their disciples had abandoned them, their power and influence waning.
And now, this enigmatic Ye Yi had emerged. They had to be cautious, avoid falling into another trap.
Moreover, Princess Yongning’s birth date was unique, a crucial element in their ritual. The three-day window after the red moon was almost over.
If Ye Yi truly wanted to retrieve someone from the underworld, he needed her. He was likely more anxious than they were.
So, it was best to wait and see what he would do next.
Wei Jie couldn’t exert himself too much. He had used his energy to rescue the princess, fearing the carriage might be booby-trapped, refusing to let Xiao Xiao get close.
He seemed fine during their meal, but as he wiped Xiao Xiao’s face afterwards, he clutched his chest, his blood deficiency acting up, and collapsed against her.
Xiao Xiao helped him into their room, settling him on the bed.
But as she supported him, he pulled her down with him.
She blushed, remembering their encounter in the valley.
This man… no matter his age, when he was in a playful mood, he was like a clingy child…
She clutched her robes protectively. “These walls are thin. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Tang Youshu!”
Wei Jie blinked innocently, then reached into her sleeve and pulled out the ancient text she had brought from the Wei residence.
“I just thought it would be nice to read together,” he said, his voice soft. “Tell me, what are you planning to do that’s so loud it would disturb Tang Youshu?”
That rascal! Always teasing her, then playing innocent!
He watched her, her cheeks puffing out in anger, her expression adorable. He couldn’t resist pulling her close and kissing her.
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