Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Nine: I Haven’t Retired, It’s Just That Sang Zhe Doesn’t Want Me
The next day.
Sang Zhe finally set off with Gu Yingmian.
Although Chun Lan and Qiu Ju were reluctant, Sang Zhe really didn’t want to be driven to madness by the pair of sisters anymore.
On the way down the mountain, Gu Yingmian suddenly spoke up:
“By the way.”
“There’s one more gift I was supposed to give you as a dowry.”
Dowry?
What’s with thinking about dowries when we haven’t even gotten married?
I haven’t even prepared my bride price yet!
While Sang Zhe was puzzled, Gu Yingmian gently waved her hand, and petals began to swirl around before converging in his hands.
Eventually, to his astonishment, they slowly formed into the shape of the Dream Jun Sword.
“This…?” Sang Zhe stared blankly at Gu Yingmian.
“Didn’t you like it a lot?”
Gu Yingmian smiled softly: “I like it too. So of course, a sword I love should be given to someone I care about.”
Sang Zhe held the Dream Jun Sword in silence for a long time and nervously looked up to say, “But isn’t the Dream Jun Sword a treasured immortal sword passed down from your sect?”
“No matter what, I’m not a disciple of Sword Flower Palace. Isn’t it inappropriate to give it to an outsider like me?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Yingmian slowly shook her head.
“Do you know what our sect’s greatest wish has been for generations?”
“It’s not for the Dream Jun Sword to be kept on a shelf forever by Sword Flower Palace.”
“But for it to one day shed its earthly metal shell and become a true immortal weapon.”
She fondly caressed the Dream Jun Sword, her fingertips gently tracing its blade:
“I can feel that the Dream Jun Sword is very close to that threshold.”
“But I also know that years of nurturing have reached their limit. No matter how much more I nurture it, it won’t advance further.”
“…But you are different.”
Gu Yingmian winked at Sang Zhe: “You know how to make it advance further, right?”
Sang Zhe fell into silence.
“Your swordsmanship is the most stunning I’ve ever seen. I believe the Dream Jun Sword will have a better chance of reaching that step in your hands.”
“So, you have to take good care of it for me.” She playfully winked.
Sang Zhe took the Dream Jun Sword and suddenly felt its weight.
The entire legacy and hope of Sword Flower Palace seemed to inexplicably rest in his hands.
And oddly enough, it was still at the command of his beloved wife.
“…Got it.”
Sang Zhe gently tucked away the Dream Jun Sword, turning to see Gu Yingmian smiling as she linked arms with him.
“I believe in you,” she said.
Thank you for your belief.
But I don’t believe in myself.
I believe in Nian Nian.
“Nian Nian, what do you say?”
In his ear, a familiar system voice rang out:
[Main Quest: Collect Dizang Immortal Iron, Quest Completed.]
[Rewards have been distributed.]
Sang Zhe didn’t even have time to care about what the reward was.
After all, he had just received 50,000 points that he couldn’t possibly spend all.
Right now, all he was thinking about was one thing.
How he could bring Gu Yingmian back home and still successfully escape alive.
——
——
After several days of travel.
When Sang Zhe once again stood at the foot of the Demon Cult Mountain, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.
This business trip had exhausted him to the point of life-threatening fatigue.
Fortunately, he ultimately accomplished his mission.
Standing again at his familiar front door, Sang Zhe felt both nostalgic and nervous.
Although Gu Yingmian’s expression beneath her veil was calm, the way she tightly gripped Sang Zhe’s hand showed just how nervous she was at that moment.
After taking a deep breath, Sang Zhe knocked on the door:
“Little Ying, I’m home!”
Almost instantly.
Sang Zhe heard a commotion from inside, and the next moment, the door swung open, and a figure rushed into his arms.
“Husband, you finally came back…”
Feeling the soft warmth and the slightly trembling shoulders of Zhang Xiaoying in his embrace, Sang Zhe felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness and gently patted her back to comfort her.
“Good wife. I missed you.”
Zhang Xiaoying buried her head deeper into Sang Zhe’s chest.
After a long moment, when she slowly raised her head, ready to share her heartfelt thoughts with Sang Zhe.
Suddenly, her gaze caught sight of Gu Yingmian standing behind Sang Zhe, looking a bit awkward.
Zhang Xiaoying’s eyes suddenly sharpened, becoming alert like a cat on edge.
“Uh, about that…”
Sang Zhe noticed her expression instantly became flustered and hurriedly introduced, “Let me introduce her, this is the famed master of Sword Flower Palace, Gu Yingmian…”
He was already prepared for this.
After all, each time he brought someone home, Little Ying always had a line or two to needle him with.
But this time, Zhang Xiaoying simply stared at Gu Yingmian for a long time. Even when Gu Yingmian looked nervous and unsure, she finally averted her gaze, her voice light:
“…What a beautiful elder sister.”
Sang Zhe was taken aback.
Gu Yingmian also shyly lowered her head:
“Little Ying, I’ve heard a lot about you from Sang Zhe.”
Seeing Gu Yingmian getting a bit flustered, Zhang Xiaoying quickly added, “Why are we making elder sister stand outside?”
“Husband is being rude.”
Zhang Xiaoying shot a light reproachful glance at Sang Zhe, then gently took Gu Yingmian’s hand, leading her inside.
Sang Zhe was left utterly confused.
It seemed like Little Ying’s attitude was surprisingly good this time.
The two women entered the living room first, while Sang Zhe slowly followed behind.
As they passed through the garden, suddenly a pair of hands covered his eyes:
“Hmph! The flirt is back, and sure enough, he brought back another beautiful lady. Aren’t you scared of making Little Ying jealous?”
“…Stop it.”
Sang Zhe casually pushed Si Jingzhu off his back, then looked around: “Where’s everyone else?”
“Didn’t you hear? The sect leader has been missing for a few days.”
Si Jingzhu clung to his back, continuing to speak softly, “There’s a ton of annoying issues with the elevation of the Holy Land right now, plus without a top-tier fighter watching over us, there are always fools trying to test us.”
“Aunt Yu has been sent to oversee things. Senior Sister Yan and Senior Sister Shi have also gone to the Heavenly Punishment Department to maintain order.”
“I can only say that the Demon Cult is still quite a distance from being a true Holy Land and can’t suppress all these surrounding factions yet.”
Looks like everyone’s pretty busy. Sang Zhe sighed.
“It’s fine, I’m back, and things will be resolved.”
“You?” Si Jingzhu suddenly covered her mouth with a snicker, an amused expression on her face.
“Hey, hey, you don’t actually think you’re some kind of demon lord, do you? Hehe, tricking us is one thing, but don’t trick yourself!”
“Did someone really go out for a bit and forget they’re just a little foundation-building nobody? I say, you should stay hidden at home and watch the ladies handle stabilizing our Demon Cult!”
“I never said I was going to take action.” Sang Zhe said to himself, “I just brought back a big-shot Sword Immortal.”
“Even if she doesn’t show her face, just revealing a bit of her skills will solve things easily.”
Si Jingzhu’s smile gradually froze.
Replaced by shock and horror.
“B…Big Shot?!”
She stammered, “What…what did you bring home?!”
“The master of Sword Flower Palace, Gu Yingmian,”
Sang Zhe blinked, “You saw her during the Demon Cult ascension ceremony. The one radiating high status, riding in a carriage while petals and sword attendants followed her.”
“No kidding! I totally know who she is!”
“I mean…” Si Jingzhu’s face turned red, and she struggled to extricate a sentence: “That’s a legit big-shot Sword Immortal!”
“The master of a Holy Land! A peak-level cultivator!”
“You brought her home just like that?!”
“What else?” Sang Zhe shrugged innocently.
Si Jingzhu looked at Sang Zhe with a peculiar gaze, then after a moment said very seriously:
“Sometimes I wonder what kind of martial arts you’re really practicing.”
“Isn’t it the legendary enchanting technique, able to gather yin and bolster yang, mesmerizing hearts? The kind that makes women go wild with just a smile, and once in bed, they’re forever bound to you?”
“Do you think I’m some kind of charm demon?!”
Sang Zhe gave her a hard knock on the head, making Si Jingzhu wince and cover her forehead, her eyes glistening as she pouted.
“Though the situation is a bit complex… this time was purely unplanned.”
“Ugh, never mind explaining anything to you.” Sang Zhe waved his hand weakly, “You keep playing; I’m going to check what’s happening inside.”
As Sang Zhe walked into the house, Si Jingzhu’s expression immediately sank.
“Big big big-shot!”
She crouched down, biting her nails anxiously and looking as if she might cry.
“First, Aunt Yu with her seventh-stage Crossing Tribulation, and now a big-shot!”
“What do I do now?!”
“Little Ying has already achieved her goals. Am I the weakest in this house now?”
“At this rate, when will it be my turn?!”
Biting her nails, she thought about it, feeling aggrieved and anxious.
“No! Si Jingzhu.”
“If I keep sitting here and doing nothing, I really will be cleared out!”
“I haven’t retired, it’s just that Sang Zhe temporarily doesn’t want me.”
“As long as I can think of a way…” Her eyes shimmered with various eccentric emotions.
——
——
Once inside, the atmosphere was much more harmonious than Sang Zhe had imagined.
Zhang Xiaoying wasn’t particularly aggressive, nor was she acting like how she did with Meng Qiyan, subtly competing.
On the contrary, she was seriously chatting with Gu Yingmian, introducing her to the household situation, and talking comfortably.
Sang Zhe even caught snippets of words like “equal wife” and “three books and six rites” that he didn’t quite understand.
It seemed the two were intentionally avoiding him, not wanting him to listen.
After circling the room, Sang Zhe could only pass a dull message to Si Jingzhu before preparing to go check the situation at the Demon Cult company.
Previously, he had only heard Tang Yubing roughly mention Hua Jianglian’s disappearance.
But now that he was back, Hua Jianglian was still completely missing.
This disappearance seemed a bit excessive.
Just as he was about to call Tang Yubing, he noticed she had sent him a message.
“Sang Zhe, I heard you’re back?”
“Come to my office quickly. I have something to tell you.”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
