Chapter 149: Jiang Ye Returns to Jin Chen Peak!

"Jin Hai's wedding?!"

Jiang Ye blinked slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Has time really passed so quickly?

"How long was I in seclusion?"

Jiang Ye asked softly, his voice tinged with daze.

Lu Ming chuckled in reply: "Elder Jiang, you've been in seclusion for nearly a month—your cultivation must have advanced significantly."

His small eyes brimmed with admiration; a month of seclusion was rare for an ordinary martial artist, let alone for someone of Elder Jiang's age—true perseverance.

He sighed inwardly: if only he had such dedication to martial cultivation, he might have already broken through to Hua Jing.

"A month..."

Jiang Ye nodded slowly, lost in thought.

He knew this seclusion had lasted longer than usual, but he hadn't expected it to be a full month.

Indeed, time loses meaning in the mountains—when immersed in cultivation, one hardly notices its passage.

Jiang Ye took the wedding invitation casually, glancing down at it.

The gold-embossed characters danced boldly across the paper, radiating arrogance and dominance—just like Jin Hai himself.

Each stroke carried sharpness, as if one could see through the paper to that charcoal-black man, utterly disdainful of all.

He said nothing at first, merely turning the invitation slowly in his hand, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes: "I didn't expect to emerge from seclusion and stumble upon such a grand event."

Lu Ming grinned, his face alight with gossiping excitement:

"Exactly! Jin Hai's wedding isn't ordinary—it's one of the rare major events in the sect in recent years."

"Not only will elders from all peaks attend, but the Sect Master himself is said to be coming."

"The scale is enormous—Jin Chen Peak is decked in lanterns and red banners; they say they'll set up over a hundred banquet tables."

"I'm so envious of Zhang Zhang Shixiong Jin Hai."

"Getting married is one thing, but after the wedding night, his body will be purified and his strength enhanced..."

As he spoke, Lu Ming's face was filled with envy.

"The Sect Master will attend?"

Jiang Ye's eyes darkened slightly; the image of that unfathomable old man flashed through his mind.

With him present, this wedding is no mere celebration—it's a grand ceremony watched by the entire sect.

Delay invites change.

It seems he must act soon.

Lu Ming stood beside him, watching Jiang Ye's calm expression, secretly admiring him.

Elder Jiang is truly Elder Jiang—even hearing such news, not a single eyebrow twitches.

Jin Chen Peak.

The entire mountain now radiated festivity.

Lanterns and red silk fluttered along the mountain path.

Especially within the True Disciple quarters, everything was draped in brilliant red.

Red double happiness characters covered every door and window; a brand-new red carpet stretched from the courtyard gate all the way to the main hall, soft beneath the feet like walking on clouds.

Crowds surged continuously.

Most were from the Jin family of Fucheng, dressed in fine attire, faces beaming, chatting in small groups.

Many from other Fucheng families had also come early to offer congratulations, bearing lavish gifts and smiling faces, hoping to gain even a moment of recognition from Jin Hai, the True Disciple.

Today, Jin Hai had unusually skipped cultivation.

He chatted with guests in the reception hall, seated beside his parents and various Jin clan elders, cups clinking, laughter ringing.

Inside the bridal chamber, red double happiness characters covered every surface; candlelight flickered, bathing the room in crimson.

Xu Xu Qinghuan stood beside the bed, trying on her bridal attire in preparation for tomorrow's wedding.

She wore a phoenix crown and embroidered red robe, her red veil set aside; her striking face was painted with meticulous makeup—bright eyes, white teeth, lips like blood, breathtakingly beautiful.

She idly chatted with a woman whose skin was dark, body stout, and features vaguely resembling Jin Hai's.

The woman was Jin Yu, Jin Hai's own younger sister.

She wore a bright red dress, adorned with golden jewelry; every step made her flesh tremble, yet her voice was startlingly loud.

"Sister-in-law, you're so lucky marrying into our Jin family!"

Jin Yu chattered incessantly to Xu Xu Qinghuan, spittle flying:

"But our Jin family is one of Fucheng's four great clans, and my brother is the strongest True Disciple of Tianqing Sect—you must follow our rules!"

"Our Jin family has countless rules: you must greet elders every morning, prepare proper gifts for festivals, never bring shame to the Jin name when outside..."

Xu Xu Qinghuan gave a perfunctory reply, her eyes filled with contempt; inwardly she cursed: "What an ugly thing—chattering like this, so annoying!"

She was straightforward, never overthinking.

For women like Liu Liu Yiyi—cold, elegant, pure as a snow lotus—she felt unhidden envy.

For Jin Yu, this grotesque, stout, ugly creature, she felt instinctive revulsion.

Jin Yu sensed none of Xu Xu Qinghuan's indifference, continuing to ramble about Jin family rules.

She spoke with flying spittle, determined to drill these rules into her future sister-in-law.

Her shrill, piercing voice echoed through the room like a noisy duck.

Though Xu Xu Qinghuan occasionally murmured polite replies, her mind had already drifted far away.

Her gaze fell on the courtyard outside the window, adorned with red silk—but her eyes held no bridal joy, only a deep, unfathomable complexity.

"That old bastard... hasn't he even come out of seclusion yet..."

An image of that aged figure flashed uncontrollably through her mind; her eyes grew heavier with tension, anxiety, and a hidden trace of anticipation.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her robe, creasing the bright red wedding dress.

Earlier, she'd heard the legendary tales of Elder Jiang of Tianyangfeng.

He'd slain Zhang Kui of Houtu Peak—this had calmed her nerves somewhat.

That old bastard hadn't lied—he truly possessed such power.

She'd then tried to secretly gather more information.

But all she heard was that the old bastard remained in seclusion...

Jin Yu still chattered beside her, but Xu Xu Qinghuan heard not a word.

Her heartbeat quickened, drumming against her chest.

Thinking of tomorrow's wedding...

Her palms grew damp with sweat.

"If all else fails, I'll go to Tianyangfeng myself tonight."

A decisive glint flashed in Xu Xu Qinghuan's seductive eyes.

She drew a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, suppressing the emotion threatening to overflow.

She turned to the incessant Jin Yu and forced a false smile, her voice soft as if dripping with honey:

"Good sister, I'm a bit tired—I'd like to rest. Tomorrow I must rise early for my hair and makeup; I can't afford to be sluggish."

Jin Yu paused, a look of reluctant dissatisfaction crossing her dark face.

She hadn't finished her lecture—she'd only covered half the Jin family rules, and she was just getting warmed up.

But remembering tomorrow's wedding and Jin Hai's temper, she dared not linger; she rose with visible reluctance, still muttering:

"Fine! Sister-in-law, rest then—I'll come back later."

"We'll be family from now on."

"We'll have plenty of time to get along."

As she spoke, she shuffled toward the door, her stout body barely squeezing through the frame.

Thud.

Hearing the door shut,

Xu Xu Qinghuan immediately frowned, lifting her pale hand to wave in front of her nose, muttering in disgust: "Stinks."

The cloying perfume on Jin Yu mixed with some indescribable body odor made her feel like vomiting.

She rose and walked to the window, cracking it open slightly to let in a cool breeze, dispelling the foul scent.

In that moment, she suddenly felt—even if she still retained her Yin essence—she didn't want to marry Jin Hai.

She'd thought she could endure all this for the sake of becoming superior to others, but now she realized she couldn't bear even a moment of it.

Rather than marry Jin Hai, she'd truly rather...

After a long while, she sat listlessly on the bed, her mind filled with the image of that old bastard.

"Damn old bastard..."

A complex, wounded expression crossed Xu Xu Qinghuan's lovely face; her red lips pouted slightly, her seductive eyes glistening with a thin sheen of tears.

She whispered softly, her voice thick with reproach and sorrow: "He doesn't care about me at all..."

She muttered, clenching her delicate fist, ready to smash it into the embroidered pillow beside her—as if the pillow were that old bastard, and only a furious pounding could ease her rage.

The next instant.

Her gaze froze.

A familiar figure stood silently beside her bed, having appeared without warning.

"You... when did you get here..."

Xu Xu Qinghuan nearly cried out in surprise, but she reacted quickly enough to clamp a hand over her mouth, swallowing the scream before it could escape.

Her heart pounded violently, as if about to burst from her chest; her lovely face flushed with a mix of grievance and delight, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

Jiang Ye scanned Xu Xu Qinghuan—her phoenix crown, her crimson bridal robe—his eyes flickering with a hidden, burning heat.

The brilliant red bridal gown made her skin appear even paler; the tassels of her crown swayed gently, catching the light against her alluring face, breathtakingly beautiful.

A faint curve curled at his lips, his voice low and hoarse:

"My temper right now is extremely hot!"

He spoke the truth: since cultivating the Five Elements true qi, his internal qi had become self-sustaining.

Especially the dominant Great Sun Heavenly Flame true qi, which had grown significantly stronger.

It was impossible for his temper not to be hot.

"Ah..."

Hearing this, Xu Xu Qinghuan's slender frame trembled sharply; her pale face flushed crimson, the heat spreading from her cheeks to her ears.

Her eyes shimmered with delighted anticipation, yet she feigned reluctance, pouting her red lips and letting out a stifled, breathy sigh:

"Hmph, what do you think I am..."

Though she spoke those words, her delicate fingers moved with startling honesty toward the buttons, trembling slightly.

Jiang Ye smiled faintly: "Don't change it. I want this outfit."