Bride and Groom

His voice was sharp and full of killing intent, chilling both her and her Senior Brother to the bone. Her hands trembled, her eyes desperately gazing at the man who seemed so familiar yet was now a stranger.
Wan Ru could not accept this. She wanted to ask him so many things. She ran closer to him and asked, "What is the meaning of this, Bai Xiao?"

Bai Xiao looked at her ruthlessly. "Isn't it already quite clear?"

Wan Ru was on the verge of tears, crying out in despair, "Was it all a lie?"

"Yes."

"You never had any feelings for me?"

"Yes."

"Hatred, love, or dislike, none at all?"

"I have no feelings for you whatsoever. Nor for anyone else. Do not expect any pity from me."

She collapsed to her knees, shaking her head, then slowly looked at the man she had loved so dearly, uttering such words. Hatred surged within her, and she intended to rush forward and attack him, but her Senior Brother grabbed her hand and pulled her back, saying, "Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing?"

Without letting her Senior Brother continue, Bai Xiao swung his sword into the air. A stream of profound energy shot towards her.

Her Senior Brother quickly pressed her head down and ducked, allowing both of them to narrowly escape death.
Wan Ru clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. Her eyes now held a mix of emotions, she knew not if it was love or hatred.

Disregarding her Senior Brother's words, she charged forward, bare-handed and without a trace of fear. At this moment, her heart must have been in immense pain. How could one not feel pain when betrayed by the person they loved?

But her Senior Brother only allowed her to run a few steps before hoisting her onto his shoulder and running away. One could say her Senior Brother was cruel, or perhaps he understood her, allowing her one last clear look at him in her maddened state.

She struggled, pounding her Senior Brother's back with her hands, saying, "Senior Brother, let me go! I'll fight him to the death!"

Her Senior Brother continued to run headlong, showing no signs of stopping. Hao Qian said, "I know you are heartbroken. I know you are someone who values emotions deeply and finds this hard to accept. But I beg you, just this once, face the problem directly."

She fell silent, no longer stubbornly struggling. Slowly, she raised both hands to her mouth and shouted loudly, "Bastard!"

Bai Xiao, far away, heard every word Wan Ru spoke, only chuckling coldly. He pointed in her direction and declared loudly, "Kill her!"

She widened her eyes, trying to see the figure that was growing further and further away from her. Now, everything was obscured by an army of soldiers that had appeared from nowhere. Hao Qian turned his head, saw them, and said to Wan Ru, "I will let you down now so you can go find Father and leave this place. I will stay here to hold them back."

Without giving Wan Ru a choice, her Senior Brother immediately let her down. Wan Ru, obeying her Senior Brother's command, ran off to find Father.

On the way, she met Father's close maidservant, who then led her away.

She was still lost in thought when her Senior Brother flicked her head. "Hey, where's your mind wandering? We've reached our stop. Are you getting off or not?"

She pouted childishly and said, "I know."

After stopping to eat and drink, they continued their journey by carriage. The long journey made her a bit tired, and she slumped onto her Senior Brother's shoulder and fell asleep.

While sleeping, the carriage hit a large rock in the road, causing it to jolt, and she immediately woke up. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, saying to her Senior Brother, "Senior Brother, are we there yet?"

Her Senior Brother looked out the window and said, "Almost there. We still need to climb a mountain to reach it."

"That sounds like it will take a long time."

Night fell, and flickering shadows swayed in the wind.

She and her Senior Brother were struggling to climb the steep mountain slope. Behind them were a few maidservants carrying luggage. Her Senior Brother led the way. Seeing that no one was climbing higher, he turned back to see everyone struggling to ascend.

He stopped and said, "Keep going. There's a cave nearby. Everyone, please bear with it a little longer."

Indeed, after walking a bit further, there was a large cave. Everyone went inside the cave to rest.

She eagerly led the way, running past her Senior Brother. The cave was quite large. Holding a torch, she took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Ah ah ah ah..."

Immediately after, a flock of bats flew out in droves. Panicked, she squatted down and covered her head with both hands. She felt someone's hands covering her.

This person was tall and wore white robes. She mistakenly thought it was her Senior Brother shielding her, and carelessly looked up, giggling, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

An exquisitely beautiful appearance, a free and unrestrained demeanor, completely obscured her view. Wan Ru was surprised and cautiously stepped back.

Her Senior Brother now rushed over and said, "Senior Disciple Brother, why are you here?"

That esteemed brother stood up and said, "I came to pick up Junior Brother."

After she realized that person was an acquaintance of her Senior Brother, she no longer felt wary. She walked over, cupped her hands, and bowed her head, saying, "Thank you, Esteemed Brother, for your help."

That esteemed brother turned to her and smiled gently, saying, "It was nothing."

Hao Qian stood between the two and said, "Allow me, Hao Qian, to introduce you."

Hao Qian extended his hand towards her and said, "This is Liao Wan Ru, Junior Sister of this Junior Disciple."

That esteemed brother cupped his hands behind his back, tilted his head, and said, "So this is the Junior Sister Junior Disciple often mentions? Indeed, just as Junior Disciple said, very mischievous."

Her face flushed red. Perhaps at that moment, her loud shout that scared the bats away had all been caught in this Senior Disciple Brother's eyes.

"And this is Rui Lun Peng, the Head Disciple of the sect."

Lun Peng cupped his middle and index fingers and bowed his head to her.

"That is the greeting ritual in our sect. You should start learning it."

Flustered, she did exactly the same to Lun Peng.

The next morning, Lun Peng led the way, guiding everyone. Along the way, Hao Qian flicked Wan Ru's head and said, "So mischievous, you just had to bother those bats."

Upon arrival, she leaned her head against her Senior Brother and said, "Finally here, I'm so exhausted."

Her Senior Brother nudged her shoulder and said, "Maintain a dignified demeanor."

The maidservants carried the luggage inside, while she followed her Senior Brother to meet his Master to apprentice herself as a disciple.

Her Senior Brother led her to a nearby water pagoda, surrounded by stone pillars and lotus leaves. In the distance, she saw an old man with white beard and hair meditating on a large stone.

Hao Qian and Wan Ru had just arrived at the stone pillar when the old man opened his eyes. She was startled and stepped back. He chuckled and said, "So, a timid little girl."

Her Senior Brother bowed his head, and she imitated him, bowing in greeting. She felt that he truly possessed great power and thought to herself, "I want to be his disciple." She said, "I have long heard of your esteemed name; it is an honor to finally meet you today."

The old man chuckled and stroked his beard, saying, "Is that so? This must be Hao Qian's Junior Sister."

Hao Qian scratched his head awkwardly, then let out an "Ah" and said, "This is Liao Wan Ru, my Junior Sister."

Then her Senior Brother pointed and said, "This is Wang Yi Jia, my Master."

Without a word, she knelt down and lowered her head, saying, "Please accept me as your disciple."

Yi Jia laughed heartily and slapped the table, saying, "Good, good, very spirited. Truly possesses the aura of a princess. However, anyone who wishes to enter here must pass my trial."

She looked up and said, "Please state your conditions."

He gazed thoughtfully at the lotus pond and said, "Bring me ninety-nine lotus blossoms and place them here."

Her Senior Brother looked at his Master with suspicion. He continued, "Within fifteen minutes."

Hao Qian gaped in astonishment, then looked at her. Wan Ru showed not a trace of panic or surprise, merely stood up, bowed, and said, "Yes, I accept the trial."

Afterward, Yi Jia left. When Hao Qian saw his Master depart, he placed his hand on her shoulder, shaking her as he asked, "Hey, Junior Sister, are you sure you can do it?"

She was looking towards the lotus pond, then turned her head and smiled, saying, "It will definitely be done."