Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Keeping His Word

You Yan escorted Bai Meng Jin back with her head full of questions.

Once they’d exchanged names properly, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Miss Bai, why did Elder Yi Ming say your situation is special? And that you can treat the Young Sect Master’s Severed Meridians? Are you a healer cultivator?”

Bai Meng Jin didn’t hide it. “I have a Jade-Tempered Body. And I gained a Devil Heart by accident. Senior Hu said my condition is suited to dual cultivation with Young Sect Master Ling.”

You Yan stopped short for half a step, then exhaled. “So that’s it.”

No wonder the Young Sect Master wanted to drag her back. No wonder the Cinnabar Cloud Palace elders bristled. No wonder everything was a mess.

You Yan’s lips twitched. Young men were all awkward in their own way. The more important they were, the more dramatic they became about it.

When they returned to the reception hall, most people had dispersed. Only a few remained near Ling Bu Fei.

Lin Bai Yu approached You Yan quietly. “Senior Sister, Martial Uncle Yang returned to the sect. You’ll handle things here for now.”

You Yan nodded, a little regretful flickering through her. If Martial Uncle Yang learned the truth behind the proposal… he might get even angrier.

“Young Sect Master,” You Yan reported, “Miss Bai is here.”

She rubbed her forehead. “I went to propose, but the two elders from the Cinnabar Cloud Palace misunderstood. They said it’s one thing if we snatch someone, but it’s too much to treat them like fools. They’ll report it to their Sect Master and remember this debt.”

Ling Bu Fei said, “Oh,” and looked entirely unbothered. The one who would get a headache over sect politics was his uncle. Ling Bu Fei only cared about getting what he wanted.

He turned to Bai Meng Jin. “I keep my word. Come back to the Limitless Sect with me, and we’ll get engaged.”

Bai Meng Jin didn’t answer immediately. “I have two older siblings. We were supposed to go to the Cinnabar Cloud Palace together. What about them?”

Ling Bu Fei glanced at You Yan.

You Yan smiled, quick and practical. “That’s easy. If they’re willing to come to the Limitless Sect, they can come along.”

With that settled, the remaining cultivators scattered—some to the streets, some to pack, some to handle the fallout.

“Sister!”

Bai Meng Lian and Bai Meng Xing had been crouching by the stairs, waiting like anxious birds. When Bai Meng Jin appeared, they rushed forward.

“Elder Sister,” Bai Meng Jin said, relief warming her voice. “Brother.”

Bai Meng Lian’s smile lasted only a heartbeat before worry took over. “Just now we saw the two elders come out. We wanted to ask how you were, but Elder Qiu Zhen looked awful and still said ‘congratulations’ to us… what happened?”

Bai Meng Jin glanced around. “Not here. Let’s go back first.”

In their room, Bai Meng Jin told them what had happened in the valley and what had been decided afterward.

Bai Meng Xing’s eyes went bright. “So you’re going to be the Limitless Sect’s Young Sect Master’s wife? Hahaha, that’s incredible!”

He slapped his own knee. “Does that mean we’ll ascend right along with you—ow!”

Bai Meng Lian smacked the back of his head. “Stop talking nonsense!”

He rubbed his scalp, grinning anyway. “I meant the idea, Elder Sister!”

Bai Meng Jin couldn’t decide whether to laugh or sigh.

Bai Meng Lian turned serious, ignoring Bai Meng Xing completely. “Sister. I know you have your own mind, but have you thought this through?”

Her voice lowered. “Going to the Limitless Sect might mean more resources, but it also means more danger. Young Sect Master Ling has Severed Meridians and sits in that position. There will be power struggles. I’m afraid you’ll get dragged into them.”

“If we want to cultivate steadily,” she said, “a simpler environment would be better.”

Warmth spread through Bai Meng Jin’s chest. No matter what happened, her elder sister’s concern was always sincere.

“Elder Sister,” Bai Meng Jin said softly, “there are things I can’t explain clearly right now. But in short, this constitution of mine will bring trouble wherever I go.”

She held Bai Meng Lian’s gaze. “I already spoke with Young Sect Master Ling. I’ll help him treat his Severed Meridians, and he’ll help me solve my troubles. It’s a fair trade.”

She paused, then added, “As for you two… you can still go to the Cinnabar Cloud Palace if you want. We can each develop on our own, and if anything happens later, we’ll have someone to turn to.”

“Or,” she said, “you can come with me to the Limitless Sect, and we support each other.”

Bai Meng Xing scratched his head hard, looking like he wanted to shout his answer, but he didn’t dare interrupt.

Bai Meng Lian fell silent, wrestling with everything she’d imagined for herself since childhood.

Her goal had always been the Cinnabar Cloud Palace.

But the Bai Family only had the three of them left now.

Finally, she lifted her chin. “All right. We’ll go to the Limitless Sect with you.”

Her voice steadied. “No matter what happens, we stay together. At least we’ll have each other.”

Bai Meng Jin smiled, something in her chest loosening.

In this life, whether she could change her fate or not, at least she wouldn’t face it alone.

*

Because Young Sect Master Ling’s entourage was a mess of obligations and baggage, You Yan decided they would depart the next morning. That left the evening free.

The Star-Plucking Tower reopened.

If anything, the crowds grew larger. People loved a spectacle, and a Divine Transformation Stage battle left traces everyone wanted to see. Better still if they could catch a glimpse of the people involved.

Ji Xing Ge, the last to hear the news, stood stunned for so long she almost convinced herself she’d misheard.

“What?” she blurted. “That’s impossible!”

Valley Master Ji rushed over after receiving the message and tried to calm his daughter down. “If the marriage doesn’t happen, then it doesn’t happen. Men only care about looks. Even if you married in, he’d take concubines later, and that would be even more infuriating.”

He patted her shoulder. “How about I pick a few talented young men for you? If you can’t become the Sect Master’s Madam, becoming the next Valley Master is just as good.”

Ji Xing Ge glared. “Dad, what do you mean? He cares about looks—so you’re saying I’m not pretty?”

Valley Master Ji coughed. “Pretty, pretty. My daughter is of course pretty. He just doesn’t know how to appreciate it…”

Ji Xing Ge’s anger only sharpened. She shoved her chair back and stood. “No. I’m getting an answer.”

It was infuriating. He’d rejected her with righteous words, and then in a single day he’d run off with another woman. So all those words had been a lie.

She asked around and finally found them in the spirit beast yard, feeding the Kaiming Beast.

Ling Bu Fei was rubbing one of the beast’s tiger heads when he looked up and saw Ji Xing Ge stomping toward him, hands on her hips like she was ready to start a war.

“What?” he asked, utterly calm.

Ji Xing Ge’s eyes flashed. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t sell yourself? It’s only been a day, and you already swallowed your own words?”

Ling Bu Fei patted the Kaiming Beast’s head to soothe it, then pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands with irritating leisure.

“Miss Ji,” he said, “what are you talking about? It’s exactly because words must count that I had to accept this marriage.”

Ji Xing Ge blinked, thrown off. “What?”

Ling Bu Fei lifted his brows. “Think back to what I said the night before last.”

Ji Xing Ge’s face tightened as memory hit.

“What kind of chaste little wife are you? Someone touches you once and you act like you’ll die.”

“That’s right. Only my wife can touch me. All those wild bees and butterflies can forget it.”

Ling Bu Fei spread his hands, looking almost helpless. “See? Someone already touched me. The only way to keep my word is to make her my wife.”

Ji Xing Ge stared at him, speechless.

Then she turned and stomped off, so furious the air seemed to crack behind her.