Chapter 264: First Snow, Open the Door, It

“Lin Ge?!”

Hearing the voice outside, Jiang Chuxue, whose face had been cold and stern, froze slightly.

Why would Zheng Lin come here now...

Tomorrow was their wedding day.

Logically, he should be at the Zheng family mansion, finalizing preparations.

Though puzzled, she still reached out and opened the courtyard gate.

Outside stood a young man in expensive, ornate robes, tall and upright—undoubtedly “Zheng Lin.”

“Lin Ge, why are you here now...”

Jiang Chuxue asked, puzzled.

At the same time, she caught a faint trace of medicinal fragrance on him—barely perceptible, lost in the night breeze.

“I missed you.”

“Zheng Lin” smiled faintly, stepping slowly into the courtyard and closing the gate behind him; the bolt clicked shut with a dull thud.

This man was, of course, Jiang Ye in disguise.

Seeing she had not noticed his deception, a subtle mocking glint flashed in his eyes.

He had specifically gone down the mountain to buy this expensive set of robes for today’s plan.

Upon hearing the three words “I missed you,” a faint smile curved across Jiang Chuxue’s naturally stern face.

She had always been proud of her allure.

Even the Zheng family’s prodigy, who had seen countless women, had come specially to see her on the eve of their wedding.

She relished this vanity.

After entering, Jiang Ye used his keen senses to scan the courtyard, confirming no other presence. His previously restrained smile now turned bold.

He had already surveyed the surroundings.

Jiang Chuxue’s true-disciple courtyard was spacious and secluded, separated from the nearest inner-disciple quarters by half a mountain peak; as long as he didn’t make too much noise, no one would notice.

His gaze, unhidden, settled on Jiang Chuxue, studying her closely.

Jiang Chuxue had just finished her wedding makeup and still wore the crimson bridal gown.

The phoenix crown and embroidered cloak shimmered with golden thread depicting a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix; her chest rose high, her waist sharply narrow, her rounded, firm hips still outlined seductively beneath the layered skirts.

Her usually stern and sharp face, softened by the bridal attire, now blended fierceness with beauty, adding an indescribable allure.

Jiang Ye nodded slightly.

This was his second time admiring a woman in bridal robes.

The first time had been Xu Qinghuan.

That girl’s talent lay in her innate seductiveness; in crimson bridal robes, she was soul-stealing.

Jiang Chuxue’s aura was entirely different—fierce, sharp, intimidating.

Even with breathtaking beauty, she carried intense aggression; few dared approach her.

Yet precisely this aura of “keep away,” when dressed in crimson bridal robes, made her fierceness not softened but elevated into noble inviolability—and intensified the desire to crush that nobility beneath one’s heel.

Her pride was itself the finest prey.

Seeing “Zheng Lin” stare at her with burning eyes—more direct than ever before—Jiang Chuxue tilted her chin slightly and smiled faintly:

“Lin Ge, you’ll have me tomorrow. Just endure one more night.”

“Let me brew you some tea...”

As she turned away—

Next instant—

“Did I tell you to leave?!”

With a low, cold laugh, Jiang Chuxue suddenly felt searing pain at her scalp.

She turned in disbelief—“Zheng Lin” had grabbed her hair.

His five fingers clamped down mercilessly on her roots, forcing her entire head back with brutal force.

This sudden act left her utterly stunned.

Since being taken from that remote mountain village by Zheng Feng’s father, she had never suffered such humiliation.

Having your hair pulled by someone?

Such a crude act, reserved for village women—could it really happen to Jiang Chuxue?

She was an upper sect true-disciple, possessor of the Golden Spirit Body, tomorrow’s Zheng family young mistress, destined to climb to the summit!

And though Zheng Lin was domineering, he had always treated her with courtesy—never once had he spoken harshly in all these years.

Much less strike her like this.

How dare he?

How dare he!

Before rage could fully rise in Jiang Chuxue’s eyes—

Jiang Ye yanked her back with a casual motion, like pulling reins on horseback, effortlessly dragging her toward him.

The force threatened to tear her entire scalp loose; pain blinded her, nearly causing her to faint.

A mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, powerless against this brute strength, could not muster a single ounce of resistance.

Jiang Ye simply reached out and pressed down—this true-disciple of the upper sect knelt helplessly before him.

Jiang Chuxue tilted her head back, her sharp, exquisite face twisted by pain; disbelief and fury finally surfaced in her eyes.

She instinctively tried to summon her piercing Golden Qi.

But to her horror, her blood burned as if ignited, Qi chaotic and surging wildly through her meridians, unable to coalesce.

Then, a wave of intense dizziness crashed into her mind; her sharp eyes involuntarily glazed over with confusion.

Everything before her seemed veiled by thin gauze—she could no longer distinguish dream from reality.

“Am I dreaming...”

A thought flashed through Jiang Chuxue’s foggy mind.

Yes.

She must be dreaming.

How could Zheng Lin come to Ling She Peak at this hour?

How could he dare treat her so brutally?

Only in dreams could things be so irrational.

Jiang Ye looked down at Jiang Chuxue’s flushed face, her eyes growing hazy, and narrowed his own.

The substance he’d taken from Yin Qingqing was truly effective.

A true-disciple of the upper sect, tomorrow’s Zheng family young mistress, now knelt half-bowed at his feet.

Like a panther with claws and fangs removed, her eyes—still unfocused—stared at him instinctively, yet could no longer muster even anger.

Jiang Ye reached out, lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze: “No need to wait until tomorrow—tonight you’ll...”

Jiang Chuxue’s hazy eyes met his cold, mocking gaze—and a strange chill surged through her.

Even in a dream, she would not allow such humiliation.

Everything about her must be under her own control.

Even in a dream!

“You bastard—”

Her mouth opened wide, her throat ready to unleash a sharp, icy rebuke.

Next instant—

“Mmm... mmm...”

The rebuke was cut off.

She could not speak.

The phoenix crown tilted sideways; golden tassels and loose black hair spilled across the ground.

Her sharp, beautiful eyes widened sharply; two glistening tears escaped uncontrollably, tracing slow paths down her flushed, stern face, staining the crimson bridal gown with two dark, spreading marks.