Chapter 121: The Grand Wedding at Yuqing

I gripped the Canghai Bow tightly in my hands, silently reciting the words of the Wuxiang God: "Form is born from the heart; without a heart, there is no form."

"Mother..." Little Xiaobai approached me quietly.

"Why are you awake, little one? Go back to sleep, be a good child," I coaxed.

"Why is Mother not sleeping? And why are you holding this bow?" Little Xiaobai asked.

I smiled. "Mother likes this bow."

Little Xiaobai stared blankly at the Canghai Bow, standing there all alone, looking like a pitiful little thing.

"Mother loves you, little one." I quickly pulled him into my arms. Little Xiaobai took the bow, examined it carefully, and said, "I like this bow too!"

"You have a good eye, little one. This is the Canghai Bow, a divine artifact of chaos."

"I want to learn archery from you!" Little Xiaobai’s spirits lifted as he held the bow.

"Very well," I replied.

"I want to use this bow. I want to be just like Father God."

"All right. When you are old enough to handle the bow, you shall learn. When you grow up, Mother will give this bow to you. You will use it to protect those you hold dear, will you not?" This was the beautiful dream I painted for him.

"Yes! Mother... I want to go to Second Uncle's wedding tomorrow, too."

"Be good! Tomorrow, Father and I will use the most powerful barriers to protect Flower Island. You stay there with Auntie Shanhe. There will be too many people and too much chaos at the wedding; Mother won't be able to look after you."

"Mother will be sad at the wedding. I want to stay with you," he insisted.

I froze. Nothing could deceive his clear, bright heart. I smiled, "Mother won't be sad... and Mother doesn't need company. When you grow up, never be like the villains of the Netherworld. Never harm the innocent. Act according to your heart, honor your Father Chunfeng, respect your Second Uncle, and when you are grown, cherish your wife and children. Never be a hypocrite; be a true god who stands tall between heaven and earth. Do you understand?"

"I understand! And I will always honor you, Mother!"

On the Sea-Watching Stone, I held the sleeping child, my tears flowing inward. "Little one... if Mother does not do this, how many more innocent children in this world will suffer... Do not blame Mother for being heartless..."

As the sun rose, the faint sound of fairy bells drifted through the air—the sound of the Longevity Bell on the Qilin beast, clearer and more resonant than any celestial music. Drums rolled, and ethereal melodies approached from afar. Behind the honor guard, my eleventh senior brother, Ding Mao, rode a red-maned Wangtian Hou, followed by two golden-maned Tianlu beasts, and then four Hanhai Qilins pulling a golden carriage inlaid with red clouds and jade tassels. Behind them followed the six great lords of the Yuqing Realm, each on their mount, and hundreds of disciples in a vast, majestic procession.

Lu Xue, dressed in her festive bridal attire, arrived at the carriage on a nine-colored fairy deer from Flower Island, escorted by Chunfeng and me. My eleventh senior brother greeted her, and I helped her onto the carriage. Chunfeng and I mounted the golden-maned Tianlu beasts, flanking the carriage as we moved through the white, misty clouds. Fairies of the Nine Heavens scattered flowers... This magnificent, radiant path was far more beautiful and vast than the dark road of the "Seventh Princess's" political marriage! No matter how much injustice or sorrow Lu Xue had endured, she was finally happy.

Outside the gates of the Yuqing Realm in Kunlun Void, I saw that red figure from afar. His sleeves fluttered in the wind, exactly like the white figure on the bridge of the Netherworld palace—identical...

I dismounted and helped Lu Xue down. He approached, brushing past me to reach his bride. I held a red silk ribbon embroidered with flowers, handing one end to her and the other to him. The smile I had seen in my dreams so many times was directed at her; the hands I had held in my dreams were now holding hers... He led her away. I stared blankly at their retreating figures.

"Little Crow, let's go," Chunfeng whispered. I hurried to catch up with him into the grand hall.

The hall was filled with guests and gods. The Heavenly Emperor, Tiande, the Great God Kaiyuan, the Wuxiang God, the Puhua God, the lords of the thirty-second heaven, the lords of the Nine Provinces, the Four Seas, the Five Hills, and the Eight Marshes... It was even more bustling than the Peach Banquet. Princess Changyang did not come, sending only an envoy; she did not wish to see this. Jiang Ye, busy pacifying prisoners of war, sent Elder Hai Lang.

The Great God Kaiyuan recited the depth of their past affection, their current fulfillment, and their future happiness... Lu Xue was moved to tears, but he remained cold, casting a chill over the entire ceremony. After Kaiyuan came the Wuxiang God, speaking in profound, cryptic riddles... Then the Heavenly Emperor presided over the wedding, delivering a pompous speech... I waited quietly for these tedious rites to conclude, intending to strike when everyone was distracted by the toasts.

"Today is a joyous day for me. A double blessing has arrived, and I have a happy announcement to make and a ceremony to perform," he declared loudly.

Everyone was surprised, wondering what other business there could be beyond the wedding.

"Senior Uncle, a double blessing... Is Master having a child?" my eleventh senior brother asked Chunfeng.

"Who knows! They are stuck together all day. Having eight or ten is only a matter of time!" Chunfeng fanned himself vigorously.

"Today, I shall take a new disciple! The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Palace, Tiande! From this day forth, he is my twenty-third disciple. After my wedding, I will retire to the Heavenly Realm, and Tiande shall serve as the Master of the Kunlun Yuqing Realm, holding the Jade Dragon Seal and commanding the armies! Tiande, step forward and receive the seal!" he said, word by word.

"Ah!" the crowd gasped. This was something no one had expected.

"Tiande, come forward and pay your respects," he commanded.

"Yes," Tiande stepped out.

"Master, please reconsider!" "Master, you cannot resign!" "Master, please put the Heavenly Realm first!" Despite the opposition from the Yuqing Realm, Tiande proceeded with the grand kowtow ceremony.

I was shocked, but not entirely surprised. On the night before the wedding, I had spent the night on the Sea-Watching Stone thinking of him... Recalling everything over the past two thousand five hundred years, every moment with him, I understood... He could not have treated Yu Fei that way; it was impossible! He had truly been bewitched! Indeed, observing Lu Xue closely, she was secretly forming hand seals; his divine body was being controlled! Lu Xue and Tiande had colluded! He had not expelled me; he was still my Master! It was Lu Xue and Tiande behind all this!

"Master, please grant the seal!" Tiande knelt on one knee, hands raised.

I summoned the Canghai Bow, reversing my rebirth divine power into a force of lethal fire, condensing it into an arrow. "Biyou!" I called out to her in my heart. The bow unleashed its power, and the arrow shot toward Crown Prince Tiande like a lightning bolt!

With a thunderous crash, Master actually used his Longyuan flying sword to deflect my arrow!

I erupted with a flame of crimson fire and struck at Lu Xue, who was controlling him! Master waved his sleeve, using a technique to dissolve my flames and save her. I seized the chance to fire another arrow at Tiande, but Master anticipated my intent. He used the Longyuan sword to form a shield before Tiande, blocking my shot, and then, forming a seal, he pressed the Jade Dragon Seal onto Tiande’s forehead, pulling him behind his back for protection!

I had failed to kill Tiande... in an instant, I had failed... The gods in the hall were stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Yunxiao! Have you lost your mind?" Chunfeng roared at him.

Suddenly, a flash of gold. "Chunfeng, look out!" Before I could finish, Chunfeng was bound by the God-Binding Lock. He had not expected Master to ambush him. Lu Xue had struck at him first!

"Yunxiao! Let him go..." He cast a sleep spell on Chunfeng and pushed him toward my fifteenth senior brother. "Gui Bin, watch over him!"

"Yunxiao! Why are you protecting that beast?" The Holy Mother of Danxia attacked Master.

I rushed to stop her, but Master waved his sleeve, knocking her aside.

The Canghai Bow trembled; Biyou was anxious for her master to emerge. I steadied my hand, sealed the bow, and put it away. The situation had escalated into a coup; I no longer feared the Heavenly Palace's judgment. Now, Master stood in my way. I feared he was so controlled he wouldn't recognize his own kin. If he treated the Canghai Bow like he treated the Qiantian Ring, Biyou would be destroyed.

I raised the Dayin Flying Immortal Order, and the orders across the realms began to respond. "The True God of Dayin did not die in battle! I am here! The divine body of the Great God Yunxiao is being controlled by the Scarlet Flame Demon Star! All who hear my command, retreat and protect yourselves!"

Half the gods retreated.

"Master!" My senior brothers, hearing he was controlled, rushed forward.

"Stand back!" His shout was chilling. They dared not advance further and slowly retreated.

"The Scarlet Flame Demon Star is煉化 (refining/consuming) the heavens and earth. The Demon Star and the Greedy Wolf Star have conspired to control the Chongming Star! Lu Xue and Tiande intend to seize military power and destroy the Heavenly Realm!" I shouted to the gods.

"Do not listen to this woman's nonsense! She just attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince! She uses the name of the Dayin True God to bewitch the gods! She is the Scarlet Flame Demon Star!" Tiande countered.

"Yunxiao! Kill her!" Lu Xue commanded.

Master waved his hand to cast a barrier, separating the crowd and surrounding me with Tiande and Lu Xue.

I gritted my teeth, channeling my magic to instantly transform the mysterious crystal bracelet on Lu Xue's wrist into a sharp blade. I slashed it across her skin and veins, cutting right down to the fairy bone! Blood sprayed, and Lu Xue’s hand was ruined. "Ah!" she shrieked, clutching her wrist.

Master hurried to treat her with his magic.

I summoned the crystal sword, unleashing the "Ten Thousand Blade" flying sword technique against Tiande. Master used the Longyuan sword to block for him. This was a sword technique I had created myself; it would not be easy for Master to break, let alone with a one-armed Lu Xue!

I stared at Lu Xue, condensing all my crimson fire in my palms... I walked toward her, thinking, "Master! Fei is sorry, but if I do not kill Lu Xue, you will remain under her control and continue to protect Tiande! If it hurts you, I will pay with my life once it is done!"

"Ah! Hanqing! The she-devil is coming! Save me!" Lu Xue was nearly hysterical with fear.

"Look at her crimson flame power! She is the Scarlet Flame Demon Star, the devil who would melt the heavens! Chongming Star, destroy her quickly!" the Puhua God shouted.

I lunged at Lu Xue, but suddenly, my body went limp. I collapsed to the ground, and the crystal sword, mid-clash with the Longyuan sword, fell to the floor with a clang.

I looked at Master. The Dragon Seal on my body had taken effect! Disciples of the Yuqing Realm were forbidden from running amok in the Kunlun Void. If one committed the ultimate betrayal of defying their master, the master could use the dragon aura of the Kunlun Void to seal the Dragon Seal, rendering the bearer completely powerless!

"The True God of Dayin!" many gods cried out, trying to break the barrier.

Lu Xue, seeing me collapsed, was overjoyed. Clutching her wrist, she screamed, "Hanqing! Kill this she-devil quickly!"

The Heavenly Emperor, guarded by his soldiers, shouted sternly, "Fellow immortals, do not act rashly! This woman is the Scarlet Flame Demon Star using the name of the Dayin True God to bewitch you! The Heavenly Palace has already investigated this! Do not be deceived! I ask the Great God Yunxiao to slay the Demon Star and rid the Heavenly Realm of this plague!"

Hearing this, Master held the Longyuan sword and walked toward me... his gaze so resolute...

I looked at him, erupting in a blaze of crimson fire to burn away the Kunlun Dragon Seal, and stood up. I could not bear to melt this seal—it was something he had bestowed upon me himself, connected to my heart and soul—but now that he was controlled, I had no choice! Today, I had to kill Tiande and Lu Xue, or the Heavenly Realm would be lost!

"Yunxiao! Listen to me! She is the Scarlet Flame Demon Star! Slay her!" the Wuxiang God commanded.

I raised my hand to summon the crystal sword, but suddenly, I felt a tightening in my heart. A massive restrictive force surged across my body; my face went numb, my mouth could not open, and I was frozen solid! I tried to struggle, but my inner power was gone! The face the Wuxiang God had given me... there was something wrong with it!

"Hanqing, kill this bitch!" Lu Xue roared.

"How should I kill her?" Master asked.

"Use the crystal sword! Cut her wrists too! Ruin her hands! Let her bleed dry! Avenge Xue'er!" Lu Xue pointed at the crystal sword on the ground with her bandaged hand.

"Very well!"

Master walked up to me, and I stared into his eyes... Was he completely controlled, with not a single memory of Yu Fei left?

His gaze never left me, those eyes...

My heart trembled! Ming Zhong! Those were clearly the eyes of Ming Zhong... exactly the same! Yet, the depth of affection in them... was like the Master from that dream-like night...

Why was I still unable to distinguish? Why did I feel like I was being caught by Ming Zhong at the precipice of death again, losing my composure? Why did the person about to strike feel just like him? I was in turmoil... I was lost... I wanted to cast a spell to seal the crystal sword, but both my divine power and my heart were restrained by the fake face given to me by Wuxiang.

He put away the Longyuan sword and lifted my hand. I shivered; his hand was so cold... The crystal sword flew into his grasp. He stared into my eyes and laid the blade across my wrist... My tears welled up. "Master... I am Fei... I am not Bai Fei... I am not Chunfeng's wife... I am Fei!"

The crystal sword began to cut down...