Outsiders had never heard of Qi Xuan’er, and their impression of Du Zhi was merely a vague memory from the Great Cultivation Assembly. However, the news of their marriage spread far and wide, primarily because three young cultivators who had consecutively reached the Nascent Soul stage—Nie Shiyun, Zhai Bairong, and Qi Miaohan—were all attending the wedding. This forced everyone to take notice.
It was said that Du Zhi was not only accomplished in artifact forging but also possessed exceptional cultivation talent. Qi Xuan’er was slightly less gifted, but with a senior brother like Nie Shiyun backing her and a sister like Qi Miaohan, everyone felt she was incredibly fortunate.
Many people scrambled to obtain an invitation, claiming they wanted to offer blessings and support, though any keen observer could see they were simply trying to curry favor with the young Nascent Soul cultivators.
After his successful proposal, Du Zhi had been walking on air, grinning foolishly all day. He simply followed the instructions of his master, Nie Mingde, and the sect elders to arrange various affairs, leaving external matters to Qi Xuan’er and his senior brother, Nie Xing’an.
Qi Xuan’er, however, was sensible and level-headed. She wasn't blinded by the polite flatteries of outsiders. While she allowed the wedding to be lively, she insisted on inviting only close friends, family, and sect disciples, wishing to keep the celebration relatively low-key.
The invitations she sent to Zhai Bairong and Qi Miaohan were addressed simply as "Senior Brother’s Dao Companion" and "Sister," showing no intention of exploiting connections with major sects. Many disciples from those large sects thought her foolish upon hearing this, but those with a bit of experience knew she was the truly clever one.
The remaining trivial matters that were inconvenient for the bride to handle personally were left to Nie Xing’an. Both the bride and groom felt somewhat guilty for troubling him with their private affairs, but Nie Xing’an had practically watched Du Zhi and Qi Xuan’er meet, get to know each other, and now become Dao companions. He was more than happy to help; there was no way he would find it a bother.
By the time Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong arrived at Yunqing Pavilion, most of the preparations were nearly complete. There weren't many female disciples in Yunqing Pavilion, and they were all quite familiar with one another. They had made a pact that if any of them were to marry, the others would help prepare the wedding clothes. Qi Xuan’er’s bridal gown had been arranged by several of her fellow female disciples. When the two returned to the sect, they happened to see several girls excitedly carrying bright red garments, surrounding a bashful Qi Xuan’er as they headed for a fitting.
"Ah, Senior Brother is back! And Senior Zhai," Qi Xuan’er greeted them properly as soon as she saw them.
"Thank you for the invitation. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance," Zhai Bairong said with a gentle smile.
Qi Xuan’er waved her hands hurriedly. "Not at all, not at all."
Nie Shiyun interrupted their polite exchange. "We won't disturb you then. Where is my father?"
"I just saw Master going to find Xuan Yang; he’s not far from here."
The giggling young girls became somewhat nervous upon seeing the two great seniors. The men told them not to worry about etiquette and to carry on with their business.
Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong passed by the forging area and reached the residence of the Elder surnamed Sun, who was teaching Meiqiu swordsmanship. Seeing Nie Shiyun, the elder immediately put on a long face. "Nephew, that little junior brother of yours, Xuan Yang, has skipped class again! I’ve searched everywhere and can't find a trace of him. Your father has already gone to look for him on my behalf."
Nie Shiyun thought to himself that he had just told Zhai Bairong on the way here that Meiqiu’s swordsmanship was improving; he really shouldn't have praised him.
"I’ve troubled you, Elder. I’ll go look for him as well. If I find him, I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind for you."
"Much obliged..." Elder Sun thanked him helplessly. Though his own swordsmanship was average in the grand scheme of the cultivation world, it was among the best in Yunqing Pavilion, more than enough to teach a young child. But this child was incredibly mischievous and favored by Nie Li. Elder Sun wanted to be strict but didn't dare be too harsh, and instead, Xuan Yang often took advantage of him.
Nie Shiyun hadn't walked far from Elder Sun’s residence when he ran into Nie Li, who was searching everywhere. Nie Li quickly called Nie Shiyun over to help. Meiqiu was small and could fly; sometimes he would hide in a corner of a room to nap, and other times he would fly off to the nearby mountain forests to play. Searching for him always required a lot of effort from the entire sect.
Nie Li had never felt so relieved to see his son, looking at him as if he were a savior. He urged Nie Shiyun to use the sensory connection of their contract to bring Xuan Yang back immediately.
Nie Shiyun happened to want to teach Meiqiu a lesson anyway, so he agreed and set off. Zhai Bairong did not go with him; instead, he stayed behind to greet Nie Li, thanking him in person once more for the thousand-year-old ancient wood and presenting him with some medicinal pills he had refined recently as a gesture of filial respect.
"How long can you stay this time?"
"After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I have much more freedom. It just so happens that Master Qu is overwhelmed with some matters, so I might be able to stay for a few years this time," Zhai Bairong replied politely. Nie Li understood boundaries well; he didn't press for details about Yingyue Sect just because Zhai Bairong called him "Father." He simply nodded with satisfaction, muttering that "staying longer is good."
Using the contract’s resonance, Nie Shiyun quickly found Meiqiu. He hadn't actually gone far; he was napping right on the green brick roof of the forging room. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't go there, which was why the two elders had overlooked him.
"Still sleeping?" When Nie Shiyun picked Meiqiu up, the latter wasn't fully awake yet, yawning with hazy eyes.
If one were to ask where the warmest outdoor spot in Yunqing Pavilion was during winter, it would be the roof of the public forging room. Many disciples gathered inside to practice and receive instruction, and the heat within was comparable to a sauna, heating the roof tiles until they were toasty.
"Eh? You and Zhai Bairong are back?" Meiqiu finally snapped awake once he saw who it was.
"I catch you skipping class the moment I return. It seems you’re a repeat offender." Nie Shiyun tucked him under his arm and floated down lightly from the roof.
Meiqiu struggled to no avail, howling, "Not that often! Just once or tw—two, three, four times!"
The disciples passing by in the sect were already well-acquainted with this cute little junior brother, Xuan Yang. Seeing him being hauled back to Elder Sun by Nie Shiyun while stubbornly arguing, they couldn't help but snicker behind their backs. Meiqiu felt mocked, and his limbs flailed even harder.
By the time they had crossed half of the main mountain, Meiqiu had lost all face. He stopped struggling and resigned himself to being dropped back into Elder Sun’s courtyard.
Seeing Meiqiu pitifully arguing that he was just sleepy, Nie Shiyun hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was inhumane to deprive a bird with hibernating instincts of sleep during winter. But then he heard Nie Li mention that lessons usually ended in the afternoon, and at night, Meiqiu still had the energy to grab a Gomoku board or other tabletop games to find his senior brothers and sisters. No one could refuse him, and every few days, he would pester them into playing all night long.
Hearing this, the little bit of pity Nie Shiyun had left vanished completely. He prepared himself to come out and catch Meiqiu for class every few days.
After having a cup of tea at Nie Li’s place, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong took their leave and returned to the back mountain cave dwelling. Nie Li cleared his throat, reminding Nie Shiyun to come out when he had time to guide the juniors in artifact forging. However, he had firmly decided that unless there was an emergency, he would never go looking for them at his son’s cave dwelling again; the embarrassment from last time was something he needed to keep in mind for a hundred years.
"This cave dwelling hasn't changed a bit." Zhai Bairong looked around, feeling as if nothing was different from when he had left.
Nie Shiyun smiled. Indeed, after Zhai Bairong had returned to his sect, Nie Shiyun had gone into seclusion himself. After emerging, he had gone straight to Yingyue Sect to find him. The cave dwelling hadn't seen any life at all.
"After I came back, I sent Meiqiu to my father’s care. Since you weren't by my side, this cave dwelling was just an empty house," Nie Shiyun said as he sat down. "By the way, when I brought Meiqiu over earlier, I saw you and my father chatting quite well. What were you talking about?"
Zhai Bairong’s posture stiffened slightly. He cleared his throat as if to hide his embarrassment. "Nothing much, just talking about your junior sister’s wedding."
Nie Shiyun didn't believe him. "And? He shouldn't be the type to discuss a girl’s wedding with you so enthusiastically."
Zhai Bairong glanced at him and continued helplessly, "And... about us."
Nie Shiyun was stunned, taking a long moment to realize that "about us" also referred to marriage.
"Everyone knows that becoming Dao companions in the cultivation world doesn't necessarily require a ceremony; it’s entirely up to the individuals. Your father didn't particularly mind, but since it happened to coincide with your junior sister’s wedding, he asked me in passing." Zhai Bairong turned his head.
"And what did you say?" Nie Shiyun asked curiously.
Zhai Bairong pursed his lips and said after a pause, "At least for now, it’s not the right time..."
Nie Shiyun grinned and leaned in. "So that means you *do* want to have one?"
"The big picture is more important. Our relationship is as clear as it can be to both of us; a wedding is just a formality," Zhai Bairong looked at Nie Shiyun and couldn't help but explain. "Yunqing Pavilion has only recently returned to the public eye, and many people are watching. Although I am unwilling, in the eyes of outsiders, I represent Yingyue Sect. If we were to hold a grand ceremony, it would be no different from announcing that Yingyue Sect and Yunqing Pavilion are officially aligned. That wouldn't be good for you..."
Seeing him so worried—both about the potential disadvantage to Yunqing Pavilion and about Nie Shiyun misunderstanding his lack of interest in a wedding—Nie Shiyun patted his hand. "Don't worry, I understand. What did my father say?"
Thinking of Nie Li’s attitude, Zhai Bairong also showed a smile. "He naturally understands the reasoning as well. But I think he felt that, ultimately, it’s because your Yunqing Pavilion has concerns that the wedding isn't being mentioned, and he was afraid I would feel slighted."
"Yes, that sounds like something Father would think." Nie Shiyun nodded. Nie Li was indeed the type of person who always considered others, especially someone cherished by his doted-upon son.
Seeing Zhai Bairong merely smile, Nie Shiyun hugged him from the side. "In the future, when there are no more concerns, we’ll just hold a makeup ceremony."
Zhai Bairong thought the matter was settled, but he hadn't expected Nie Shiyun to say that. He was about to reflexively say "there's no need to fixate on formalities," but then he imagined the scene and thought it actually sounded quite nice, so he nodded.
The two rested in the back mountain cave dwelling for a few days. This time, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong did not stay behind closed doors; they occasionally went to the front mountain to help with the preparations. In truth, they simply wanted to help the two juniors, but Nie Shiyun insisted on teasingly calling it "gaining experience in advance," leaving Zhai Bairong unable to scold him or deny it.
Whenever Du Zhi saw Nie Shiyun, he could only grin foolishly. He mysteriously pulled Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong aside to show them the hair crown he had personally crafted for Qi Xuan’er.
"Please, give me some guidance," Du Zhi said nervously.
Zhai Bairong didn't understand artifact forging, but even he could tell this was a rare defensive treasure that also served as an ornamental, colorful crown.
Nie Shiyun examined it over and over, clicking his tongue in wonder. "Forged from Earth Spirit Profound Stone... it’s perfect for Junior Sister Qi Xuan’er. This item can even absorb heavenly lightning to a certain extent. You actually started preparing this for her so early?"
"It’s better to be prepared. I asked Master and the elders, and they all think she’s not far from the Golden Core stage! She’s just missing that final push," Du Zhi scratched his messy hair, which had become unkempt from working day and night recently. "I just couldn't make up my mind. This Earth Spirit Profound Stone is very rare, but its appearance is plain. I was worried it might look too ordinary as a wedding gift..."
Nie Shiyun shook his head. "You’re letting your concern cloud your judgment. Logically, you should know her better than I do. She was never one for flashiness. If she received something glittering and translucent, she might actually put it away on a high shelf after the wedding."
Du Zhi had thought so too, but hearing it from Nie Shiyun, a senior he had always trusted, a heavy stone finally lifted from his heart.
"Getting married soon—are you nervous?" Nie Shiyun teased.
Du Zhi nodded vigorously. "Nervous! I’m scared to death! I’m so afraid that during the wedding in a few days, if I’m not careful, I’ll forget everything I’m supposed to say..."
Seeing his honest attitude, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong looked at each other and smiled, finding it hard to continue teasing such a sincere man.
After chatting with them for a while, Du Zhi’s nervousness eased considerably. He hurried off to carve the final Five Elements Array onto the crown, bidding the two a temporary farewell. Before leaving, he specifically thanked Nie Shiyun.
"If I hadn't met Senior Nie and been invited to Yunqing Pavilion, I wouldn't have met Xuan’er, nor would I have known so many fellow disciples who don't look down on my half-demon status. I don't even know how to thank you, how to repay you." Du Zhi’s eyes were bright and incredibly sincere.
Nie Shiyun opened his mouth to say "it wasn't my doing," but on second thought, this matter really might be inextricably linked to him. If he hadn't prevented Duan Mingyu and Du Zhi from meeting back then, would Du Zhi have fallen in love with Duan Mingyu like in the original story, and be wandering the world with Rong Lü and Duan Mingyu right now?
Once things have changed, no one can say for sure what the other possibility would have been. Nie Shiyun swallowed his original words and said seriously, "If you really want to repay me, then promise me you’ll treat Xuan’er well and continue to get along with everyone in Yunqing Pavilion in the future."
Du Zhi’s eyes crinkled into slits as he smiled, and he nodded forcefully. "I would do that even without Senior saying so!"
As the wedding date drew closer, the sect was finally festooned with lanterns and streamers, decorated with many red silks and lanterns.
Just when Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong thought Qi Miaohan might not make it, and Qi Xuan’er was agonizing over whether to postpone for two days, Qi Miaohan, who had recently advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, finally arrived late.
"Sister, you’re finally here!" Qi Xuan’er was overjoyed. Beside her, Nie Shiyun and the others also breathed a sigh of relief. The date had been set; although not many people were attending, changing it at the last minute would have been very troublesome.
After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, her physical body had been further tempered by heavenly lightning. Qi Miaohan’s beauty had become even more striking, and her demeanor exuded a sense of vibrant vitality and confidence.
"Ha... I ran into a blizzard on the way. This lady was so frustrated by that snail-paced immortal ship that I almost jumped off and flew here myself!" As soon as Qi Miaohan spoke, the profound and mysterious aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator instantly vanished into thin air.
"First, congratulations on reaching the Nascent Soul stage," Nie Shiyun said.
"Easy to say," Qi Miaohan waved her hand dismissively, then looked at Du Zhi, her eyes widening in a glare. "You brat, you say you’re getting married and that’s it?"
Qi Xuan’er didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she pulled on Qi Miaohan’s arm. "Sister, the wedding is already set. Don't be like this."
"It’s you who doesn't understand. I went and asked—isn't he from the wolf tribe? According to the rules of the wolf tribe, a male must defeat the wolf girl’s brother or father before he can propose! He’s skipped the steps; he’s getting off too easy!"
"Eh, is that how it is?" Qi Xuan’er hadn't heard of this rule. Looking at Qi Miaohan’s expression, she said helplessly, "But even if that’s the case, we aren't from the wolf tribe. Besides, we don't have an older brother, and our parents are gone..."
Qi Miaohan slapped her chest. "I’m your sister; what’s the difference between me and a brother? Come, let’s exchange a few moves."
Du Zhi’s face immediately fell. He was still a Golden Core cultivator, while Qi Miaohan had just reached the Nascent Soul stage. How could he possibly win?
But since his fiancée’s sister had spoken, Du Zhi didn't dare disobey.
Nie Shiyun gave him a look, signaling that he shouldn't worry about winning or losing. Qi Miaohan was just feeling unwilling to let her sister marry so suddenly; no matter the result, the wedding would still happen.
Zhai Bairong nodded in comfort. "I have top-quality medicinal pills here. If your face gets injured, there’s no need to worry."
Nie Shiyun added, "We’re all in the same sect; I won't even charge you."
Du Zhi was not comforted at all as he was frantically led away by Qi Miaohan. Qi Xuan’er couldn't rest easy about either side, muttering "I really don't need all that" as she chased after them.
From a distance, Qi Miaohan suddenly remembered something and turned back to shout at Zhai Bairong, "I still remember our agreement from years ago to have a spar without holding back! Once I’m done with this brat, it’ll be your turn. Don't you dare run!"
With that, the three of them vanished.
Zhai Bairong shook his head with a smile. Only Qi Miaohan would speak to him like that. It was quite wonderful to know such a person, and for that, he had Nie Shiyun to thank.
After hearing Zhai Bairong say this, Nie Shiyun said helplessly, "Are you sure you’re not being sarcastic?"
"How could I be? I’m serious." Zhai Bairong looked toward the direction where the others had run off, then turned to Nie Shiyun. "Have you noticed? You’ve gathered a group of friends and family around you who all have different personalities, but all of them treat you with sincerity."
"That’s true. My luck really is quite good." Mentioning these people, Nie Shiyun couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
"You..." Zhai Bairong said helplessly.
One or two might be a coincidence, but for everyone gathered around Nie Shiyun to be like this was certainly not just luck. Including himself, they were all drawn to some quality within Nie Shiyun, unable to pull themselves away.
Nie Shiyun always told Zhai Bairong that he had to thank the plot and opportunities he knew in advance for being able to get to where he was today. Perhaps that wasn't a lie, but Zhai Bairong believed it was far more than just that.
"What is it?" Nie Shiyun asked.
Zhai Bairong looked at him, smiled, and shook his head, not continuing further.
***
Three days later.
Yunqing Pavilion hadn't had a joyous occasion where the entire sect participated like this in a hundred years. Even though Qi Xuan’er hadn't invited many outsiders, the sect disciples alone made the scene extremely lively.
Although Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong were also young, their cultivation levels and status were established. They knew that if they joined in the rowdy celebrations, the juniors would surely be too nervous to speak, so the two of them were happy to sit aside and enjoy some wine.
The sect elders sat to one side, chatting and laughing with each other. Qi Xuan’er and Du Zhi were both juniors they liked very much; who wouldn't be happy at such a grand occasion?
Some things weren't said in front of the young lady, but some elders gathered together to discuss how Qi Xuan’er’s bone age was young and her cultivation was still at the Foundation Establishment stage. Getting married early now might actually be a good thing; after all, the chances of conceiving once one reached the Golden Core stage were very small, but it was still possible at Foundation Establishment or below. Qi Xuan’er usually took extra care of Xuan Yang, so she likely liked children. If the two could have a descendant one day and raise them in Yunqing Pavilion from a young age, it would truly be a beautiful story.
Nie Shiyun sat nearby, openly eavesdropping on the gossip, thinking to himself that if it really happened, his junior sister and Du Zhi would likely be very happy.
Meiqiu’s hands were greasy as he sat beside Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, boldly gnawing on a chicken leg.
Nie Shiyun whispered in Meiqiu’s ear, "You’re eating too messily."
Meiqiu curled his lip, making a comment that contradicted his innocent appearance. "It’s fine. I look adorable like this. Humans will forgive me when they see me."
Nie Shiyun was speechless. However, he caught sight of several young female disciples in the distance looking at Meiqiu’s rounded face as his cheeks puffed out while eating, whispering things like "Little Junior Brother Xuan Yang looks so cute when he eats."
"He grows slowly; we can teach him gradually later," Zhai Bairong said softly, smoothing things over.
Nie Shiyun had deep doubts about whether Meiqiu’s nature could ever be changed, but since he was indeed quite cute in his child form and Zhai Bairong had said so, Nie Shiyun stopped forcing him to change right now.
"They’re coming, they’re coming!"
"Wow, what a beautiful wedding dress!"
The disciples in the hall suddenly became boisterous. Nie Shiyun looked into the distance; it was Du Zhi, who had finally overcome Qi Miaohan’s "difficulties" at Qi Xuan’er’s residence to "fetch the bride." He was now supporting Qi Xuan’er, whose head was covered by a red veil.
Du Zhi looked truly beyond happy, grinning ear to ear. He kept turning his head to look at Qi Xuan’er, even though he couldn't see anything through the veil. After a few steps, he nearly tripped over himself. Seeing him so nervous, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter, and even Qi Miaohan, who was intentionally keeping a stern face, couldn't stop her lips from twitching, unable to fix her expression for a long time.
The wedding scene was noisy and not at all solemn, but joy was written on everyone’s face. Nie Shiyun smiled, grabbed the hand of Zhai Bairong sitting beside him, placed it on his own lap, and turned his head to plant a light kiss on Zhai Bairong’s cheek.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze was focused on the couple getting married. No one noticed Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong’s intimacy.
"What’s this all of a sudden..."
Zhai Bairong looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he breathed a small sigh of relief. Meeting Zhai Bairong’s questioning gaze, Nie Shiyun simply tightened his grip on his hand and looked at him with a smile.
Zhai Bairong didn't know what he had suddenly thought of, but he didn't ask further. He simply squeezed back firmly, their fingers interlacing.
Before finding the immortal artifact, there might have been a trace of uncertainty, but the current Nie Shiyun was very clear: until he found a way for Zhai Bairong to go to the Upper Realm with him, he would never touch that immortal artifact.
The story of the original novel might have been severed. Those former "characters" were now living, breathing people—some close to him, some strangers.
His own story still had a very, very long way to go before reaching its end. But when that time came, whether it was guarding a corner of the world to live in peace or taking a risk to go on an adventure, it would be a brand-new story belonging only to him, Nie Shiyun.
"I’ve always wanted to tell you... that meeting you back then, and it being *you* that I met... is truly wonderful."
Nie Shiyun was stunned. Hearing Zhai Bairong suddenly say something so seemingly random, he smiled after a long pause. "Isn't it?"
He felt exactly the same way.
He was blessed by three lifetimes of luck to have found a partner in this strange world with whom he could spend the long, passing millennia.
***
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 125 | A Joyous Union | Novela.app | Novela.app
