LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 1:
Chapter 1: The Wedding
Bai Ying looked at herself in the mirror. Her thin figure was hidden beneath the wide ceremonial red dress. Her pale face was dusted with pearl powder made from mermaids, giving her skin a faint luminous glow. She bit into a crimson rouge paper and pressed her lips together firmly. Under the warm light of the wedding candles, her lips glistened with a seductive sheen.
“Lu Ling, do I look good like this?” Bai Ying asked uncertainly.
Lu Ling pinned the final phoenix hairpin into Bai Ying’s hair and forced a smile. “Of course. Bai… Fairy Bai looks beautiful like this.”
“As long as I look good.” Bai Ying let out a breath of relief. “Then I won’t embarrass Xiao Yu.”
Hearing this, a trace of sorrow flashed through Lu Ling’s eyes. She wanted to say something but swallowed her words in the end.
“Fairy Bai, the time is almost here,” Lu Ling said, closing her eyes briefly. Realizing she could stall no longer, she added, “Shall I help you put on the red veil?”
Bai Ying’s cheeks flushed instantly. She nodded, letting Lu Ling—the artifact spirit she personally forged—place the blood-red bridal veil over her head.
Today was her and Xiao Yu’s dual cultivation ceremony, and Lu Ling was the spirit residing in the magical weapon she had created.
That treasure had been forged after she singlehandedly defeated a Nightblade Panther on Tianfeng Mountain, excavated the crystal stone, and spent eighty-one days refining it. She suffered grave injuries in the process and nearly lost her life.
Though it was extremely dangerous, Bai Ying believed that only the best was worthy of him…
On the day the treasure was completed, she invited Xiao Yu to meet her on Mount Junyu, where she gathered her courage and offered him the treasure as a token, asking him to marry her.
Under the boundless moonlight, in that moment, only the wind moved between them.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but just as Bai Ying was about to leave in heartbreak, Xiao Yu reached out and accepted the treasure she offered.
“I agree. Let’s hold the dual cultivation ceremony on the ninth day of the ninth month. But, since you’ve given me your treasure, let me take care of the arrangements. Is that alright, Ying’er?”
“Alright.”
Bai Ying gave her promise.
She had been an orphan in a war-torn land until she was taken into the sect by Master Qin Hua and became the fifth disciple of Qingzhu Peak at Radiant Sun Sect.
She specialized in artifact crafting. Usually, when her senior brothers went on expeditions or participated in sect competitions, she handled everything behind the scenes. To Bai Ying, her master and fellow disciples were her only family. She thought her life would continue peacefully like that.
Until one day, her master brought back a new junior sister, Ruan Xinyou.
Bai Ying knew the girl had a tragic past, so she helped her with food, clothing, and everything else.
But slowly, things began to change.
At some point, she began getting scolded by her senior brothers. They accused her of stealing from their junior sister. No matter how much she explained that those items were gifts from Xinyou, they wouldn’t believe her.
When she asked Xinyou to explain, the girl only shed tears in silence.
When Xinyou’s hairpin broke, they said Bai Ying had done it on purpose.
When Xinyou was injured during training, they accused Bai Ying of sabotaging her.
They called her narrow-minded and jealous. They told her to stay away from their little junior sister.
Eventually, even they began to drift away from her.
Suddenly, she became completely alone.
It was then that Xiao Yu appeared by her side.
He accompanied her on treasure hunts, helped her seek rare spiritual flames, and watched sunsets with her atop Mount Junyu. One day, he said he liked her…
Bai Ying didn’t have much experience with love, but she wanted to return this rare affection with all her heart.
Led by Lu Ling, Bai Ying slowly walked forward.
The noisy chatter of the guests gradually fell silent. The entire hall became eerily quiet, and tension gripped Bai Ying’s heart.
Why was it so silent? Where was the ceremony host?
Then, a sharp, mocking voice pierced the silence.
“Lu Ling, did your master go mad? What kind of nonsense is she pulling now?”
It was her eldest senior brother, Su Yu. Just a few days ago, he had punished her. The memory of the whip lashing across her arm, digging into her bones, still lingered.
The mere sound of his voice made Bai Ying tremble. She instinctively tightened her grip on Lu Ling’s arm.
But then, Lu Ling slowly withdrew her hand. Her voice trembled with guilt as she said, “She’s not my master… My true master is Lord Yu Jue—Immortal Xiao.”
Bai Ying froze.
Then came more voices, questioning and condemning her.
“Is that a wedding dress? Whose birthday feast is she crashing like this?”
“So bizarre. Just trying to grab attention!”
Bai Ying’s heart thudded with unease.
She abruptly lifted her bridal veil.
The hall was crowded, bustling with people. Not far away, she saw Xiao Yu.
“Xiao Yu…” Bai Ying tried to ask what was going on, but her voice came out hoarse with tension. Still, Xiao Yu walked toward her and extended his right hand. Bai Ying felt slightly relieved.
She reached out, like grasping a piece of driftwood in turbulent water, trying to hold onto him.
But just as Xiao Yu was about to touch her hand, he veered away.
He brushed past her and took the hand of Ruan Xinyou, who had stepped forward from the crowd, smiling sweetly.
“Junior Sister Ruan, happy birthday. Do you like the party I arranged for you?” Bai Ying heard Xiao Yu say.
Something inside her snapped.
She stood frozen, stunned.
Her mind went blank with a buzzing noise.
She turned her head in disbelief.
For a moment, she couldn’t even grasp what had happened.
How could her dao partner be holding Ruan Xinyou’s hand? Didn’t he hate her just as much as she did?
Why had her dual cultivation ceremony turned into a birthday celebration?
A terrible premonition gnawed at her heart, filling her with indescribable fear.
She tried to grab Xiao Yu’s arm and demand an explanation.
But the moment her fingers touched his forearm, Xiao Yu harshly flung her away.
“Bai Ying, today is Xinyou’s big day. You’re wearing this—trying to outshine your junior sister?”
Xiao Yu stared at Bai Ying with unfamiliarity and disgust. “Is that… a wedding dress?”
His words stirred a storm of whispers. Everyone’s eyes fell on Bai Ying.
Her sixth senior brother, Qin Zijin, even charged out of the crowd, yelling, “Bai Ying, are you trying to cause trouble again? Let me tell you, today is Junior Sister’s birthday, and Senior Brother Xiao arranged it especially for her. Why the hell are you wearing a wedding dress? Have you lost your mind?!”
Bai Ying stood there, frozen like a statue.
Amid the sneers, Lu Ling let out a soft groan, then clenched her teeth and shouted to Xiao Yu, “Master, yesterday Fairy Bai ordered me to put this pill in your wine when you weren’t looking. But I didn’t dare! I would never betray you!”
As she spoke, Lu Ling pulled a pill from her sleeve and held it up for everyone to see.
Bai Ying slowly turned her head, staring at Lu Ling in disbelief.
A wave of coldness surged from the depths of her heart.