Poor Taoist Qiu Chuji

Chapter 372 The Jade Changes Hands
"Why is there so much Qi of Creation surging out lately?" Qiu Chuji, who was in seclusion, was slightly awakened from his profound insights.

He hasn't paid attention to Jia Baoyu for some time now.

After all, he had done all he could, and Jia Baoyu's choice was truly a bit shocking.

Qiu Chuji didn't want to see anything that would challenge his Dao heart, so he simply shut down his external perception.

At this moment, the surging Qi of creation within the space of the Heaven-Mending Stone is invisible to the naked eye, but in Qiu Chuji's perception, its density is enough to bring about a tremendous transformation to a world with a relatively low energy level.

Naturally, once Qiu Chuji fully digested and absorbed this vital energy of creation, it would bring great benefits to his foundation and cultivation.

This also means that the barrier that the Heaven-Mending Stone had placed on Qiu Chuji has become much weaker.

The Qi of the mortal world does indeed have a significant promoting effect on the refining of the Heaven-Mending Stone.

The reason for this is probably that the so-called "qi of the mortal world" is actually the fluctuation and overflow of human thoughts and intentions, while the "stone for mending the sky" is actually something that is close to the innate embryo of the human race.

The two are essentially compatible.

Now that he had awakened, Qiu Chuji continued to refine the Qi of Creation while also extending his senses. Then... Qiu Chuji saw that Jia Baoyu was already wearing a bright red wedding dress.

"She's getting married already?" Qiu Chuji had a strange feeling that he had been in seclusion for ten years.

But upon closer inspection of Jia Baoyu's current appearance, physique, and aura, he is actually only about fourteen years old, which is obviously not too long ago.

At this moment, Jia Baoyu's expression clearly still carried a hint of sorrow, with tears glistening in his eyes, a look that seemed both reproachful and resentful, making one's heart ache at the sight.

Qiu Chuji sighed and looked at Jia Baoyu, who had completely lost his manly spirit. Although Qiu Chuji did not think he was the one who caused the trouble, he was, after all, the one who pushed him to this point, and his feelings were quite complicated.

Unaware that Qiu Chuji was spying on him, Jia Baoyu reached out and touched the homemade rouge on the dressing table.

And in the bronze mirror, only half of the rouge was barely reflected, and the jade comb stopped abruptly in the black hair.

In the third hidden drawer of the sandalwood dressing case lay a plain silver hairpin, its tip crookedly carved with half a camellia. It was a token of love that the Fourth Prince had condescended to personally craft for 'her'.

But today, she is not marrying the fourth prince, but the second son of the Marquis of Sinan.

Si Nanbo, on the other hand, had already pledged allegiance to the Third Prince and was a staunch supporter of the Third Prince.

Putting down the rouge, Jia Baoyu gripped the edge of the bronze mirror with both hands, looking at the peerless face reflected in it, his chest filled with complex emotions.

The mother-of-pearl inlaid peony on the edge of the bronze mirror hurt Jia Baoyu's slender, fair fingers. She hid the hairpin close to her heart and put it into the inner pocket of her wedding dress. The twin lotus flowers embroidered with gold on the silk immediately bulged out with a sharp edge.

She had considered marrying a prince, and even aspiring to become the empress one day.

But she never imagined that she would be 'hastily' married to the second son of a mediocre count.

The wedding attendant's voice urged them on from under the eaves. The red silk tasseled sedan curtain was lifted and lowered by the wind, as if someone were lifting and lowering a veil.

Jia Baoyu suppressed his resentment and anger, which turned into a deep sorrow.

"Endless tears of longing fall like blood on red beans, spring willows and flowers bloom endlessly in the painted pavilion, I cannot sleep soundly after the wind and rain at dusk, I cannot forget the new sorrows and old sorrows." A chant as mournful as a cuckoo's cry of blood rang out, and suddenly the mirror was covered with a layer of water mist, and a few strands of broken hair were tangled between the comb teeth.

She hoped that someone would see this moment, record it, and then tell it to the person she loved.

A red candle on the dressing table flickered, casting a dim, glowing light on the dangling pearl earrings.

She reached out to wipe the mirror, and rouge mixed with water trickled down her fingertips, staining the brocade handkerchief with mandarin duck patterns, forming a broken begonia.

"If you want to leave, I can help you!" A figure in black suddenly appeared behind Jia Baoyu. The newcomer was dressed in a close-fitting black outfit without any extraneous decorations. He also wore a bamboo hat and a face mask, but Jia Baoyu still recognized the newcomer at a glance.

"Sister! This is the fate of us girls; we are nothing more than leaves blown by the wind, withering away at will!"

"Since I'm getting married, it doesn't matter who I marry," Jia Baoyu said calmly.

Clearly, the person who arrived was not the one she was expecting.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Lin Daiyu's mouth beneath her veil: "A young lady? You?"

Jia Baoyu straightened his back, revealing his bulging chest, making him appear more convincing than Lin Daiyu.

After glancing at Jia Baoyu's deliberate actions, Lin Daiyu felt that he was being childish.

What's the point of comparing them?

And she wasn't envious at all!
"Of course I'm a woman, I became one last month! And I've already... made a vow with him under the moonlight!"

"I haven't grown a beard, nor have I become a rough man, which means I've undergone a complete transformation." Jia Baoyu seemed somewhat proud when he said this, but this pride didn't last long.

Slightly outstanding beauty is a form of superiority.

But beauty that is too breathtaking can easily become a sin.

Neither the third prince nor the fourth prince could actually end up with Jia Baoyu.

This is related to her original gender, but not absolutely.

Even if she were a woman from the beginning, the emperor would never tolerate his son marrying such a stunning beauty.

These two were the most outstanding among the emperor's sons who had come of age.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the crown prince will be chosen from these two, and one of them will inherit the throne after the current emperor passes away.

However, it is not a good thing if any of the emperor's concubines are too outstanding in appearance.

There is a risk that it could bring chaos and ruin to the country.

So in the end, it was the Third Prince, who was not superior in any aspect on the surface, who won the 'victory'.

Although Si Nanbo's second son was indeed a cuckold, because of Si Nanbo's influence, as long as the third prince didn't lose his mind, there was absolutely no way he could actually bring Jia Baoyu back to the mansion. He could only keep him outside and sneak around.

Would the emperor even care about a sneaky plaything?

It doesn't matter whether it's a man or a woman.

"So, you still don't want to leave?" Lin Daiyu brought the topic back.

"Where to? Shall I wander the world with you?"

“You can balance two identities well, one as a sickly young lady from an official family, and the other as a free-spirited female knight-errant. But I can’t… I can’t leave my luxurious home, I can’t escape my gilded cage. I need someone to serve me when I eat, when I bathe, when I dress… But if I travel the world with you, none of that will happen. I can even imagine the scene of me covered in dust and dirt.” Jia Baoyu’s rejection was thorough, and for the first time, he revealed her extravagant and empty heart.

This must have been a shock; otherwise, he would never have exposed himself so completely. He still had to say some polite words to maintain his public image.

Of course, she no longer needed to play any role in front of Lin Daiyu.

Since he no longer desired anything from Lin Daiyu and had considerable trust in her, he spoke with exceptional frankness.

"In that case, I wish you peace and happiness from now on!" After listening to Jia Baoyu's self-narration, Lin Daiyu said no more and turned to leave.

She has become much more straightforward and decisive, no longer the indecisive person she used to be.

"Wait!" Jia Baoyu called out to Lin Daiyu.

"Will we...never meet again?" Jia Baoyu suddenly had this premonition. Lin Daiyu did not answer, but the answer seemed obvious.

Even when they cultivated the 'Flower Heart Sutra' together but made drastically different choices, their future paths were destined to diverge further and further.

Lin Daiyu diligently cultivated the mental techniques, losing their natural essence, but gaining the diligence within. Although she lost some of the mysterious transformations, she returned to her original state and obtained a very orthodox martial arts cultivation.

As Jia Baoyu followed his heart's desires, he naturally became perfectly in sync with the Flower Garden Mind Technique, gradually becoming exceptionally handsome. Although he had the ability to protect himself, he lacked any means of attack or strengthening his body. Even with his true energy flowing like a river, he was still trapped in a cage.

In fact, they all went astray.

When Qiu Chuji designed the "Flower-Based Mind Method" for Jia Baoyu, he actually combined the advantages of both methods.

If Jia Baoyu could control himself and wait until he had mastered his internal cultivation techniques before engaging in sexual relations with a woman, he could use the effects of the internal cultivation methods to transform his originally weak and empty heart into a truly outstanding person, both inside and out, and thus achieve great things.

"Then I'll give this to you, Lin Daiyu!" Jia Baoyu took out the Spirit Jade... also known as the Sky-Mending Stone, and tossed it to Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu took it and looked at Jia Baoyu in surprise.

Although Jia Baoyu used to smash his jade whenever he was unhappy, this was just a way of acting cute and getting attention, and it was no different in essence from children throwing tantrums on the ground.

However, having grown up with Jia Baoyu since childhood, she knew how much her childhood playmate, who had gone from being Brother Bao to Sister Bao, cared about this jade.

He carries it almost constantly, which is both the source of his confidence to throw tantrums and overturn tables at any time, and also the breakthrough point for him to start conversations with his other friends.

Now they're actually going to give her this lifeline?
"You're giving it to me?"

"You don't want it anymore?" Lin Daiyu asked.

"No, I don't want it!" Jia Baoyu said decisively.

Lin Daiyu wanted to say something more, but saw Jia Baoyu had already stood up and said, "Alright! I need to change my clothes! It's not convenient for you to stay here any longer."

Lin Daiyu had no choice but to take the jade pendant and float lightly out of Jia Baoyu's room.

As Lin Daiyu took the jade pendant, Qiu Chuji sensed that the mortal energy surging around Jia Baoyu could no longer reach the Stone of Mending the Sky.

It actually changed hands!
It was originally unlikely, but Lin Daiyu was indeed the only person besides Jia Baoyu who could bear the weight of the stone that mended the sky.

After all, both Shenying Attendant and Jiangzhu Fairy Herb had been with the Heaven-Mending Stone for many years, and their auras were already connected.

Even if someone else obtains the Heaven-Mending Stone, if their aura is not connected, they cannot be considered the master of this Spirit Jade.

Upon noticing Lin Daiyu tucking the Heaven-Mending Stone into her bosom, Qiu Chuji, inside the Heaven-Mending Stone's space, also felt a sense of 'being saved'.

Continuing to follow Jia Baoyu, although the increasing amount of worldly energy helped him refine the Heaven-Mending Stone, what he saw and heard was also quite challenging for his nerves.

Heaven have mercy, although he had some unconventional ideas in his subconscious when he designed the "Flower Heart Method", his actual intention was to awaken Jia Baoyu and make him carefully judge his actions.

I never imagined things would come to this.

Now, the amount of mortal energy needed to refine the Heaven-Mending Stone is not too much, and with Lin Daiyu's help, it can be replenished.

It's a good thing that I won't have to suffer 'torture' from Jia Baoyu anymore!
The sounds of makeup being put on outside came through again.

Further away, the sounds of gongs and drums filled the air, as if they were coming from another world.

After donning a red veil and summoning his maid, Jia Baoyu walked out of the room with her help.

Before boarding the sedan chair, Jia Baoyu glanced back at the two stone lions in front of the Jia family mansion through the red veil. His knuckles were white as he gripped the sedan chair curtain tightly. The pearl necklace under the gold-threaded wedding dress trembled slightly with his breath, each round pearl seemingly shimmering with water.

Those from the Jia family who were accompanying the bride, those who knew the inside story, all wore stiff, rigid, and hypocritical smiles.

Only Jia Lian was truly sincere.

Jia Baoyu has "married off," and he no longer needs to worry about anyone taking away his title.

Furthermore, with the Fourth Prince and the Third Prince acting as guarantors, the Jia family's debts were to be repaid in twelve installments over twelve years, significantly reducing their financial burden.

They have already temporarily escaped the danger zone.

The second son of the Earl's mansion stood at the door, reining in his horse, a red ribbon wrapped around its white mane.

There were few smiles on his face, and his eyelids, clouded by wine and women, were dark even with makeup.

The second son of the Sinanbo family was unaware of Jia Baoyu's true identity. Instead, he had heard of her reputation for beauty and knew that the third and fourth princes were going to get really angry over this beauty.

But such a beauty did not belong to him.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the third prince, the bride would not enter the Earl's mansion, but would be sent directly to a separate residence.

Then the groom could go home and never go to the other residence again, otherwise the third prince would become suspicious, and his father would be in a difficult position.

As someone who enjoys wealth and luxury by relying on his family's influence, this is the price he must pay.

The wedding procession passed through Ningrong Street, circling half of the capital. The ten-mile-long red bridal procession astonished the entire capital, making everyone marvel at the Jia family's wealth and their generosity in marrying off their daughter.

Sitting in the bridal sedan chair, Jia Baoyu inexplicably thought of Qin Keqing, who had just passed away not long ago.

I recalled that dream that seemed to be from a past life.

At that moment, she suddenly felt as if she were walking down the same path as Qin Keqing.

Moreover, the situation she faces is even more complex and dangerous.

Lifting the window on the side of the sedan chair, Jia Baoyu looked out, his gaze searching along the eaves.

But even after the bridal sedan chair entered the Earl's mansion, she still didn't see what she wanted to see.

Her marriage to the second son of the Marquis of Sinan was an imperial decree, which could not be changed... Some things in our imagination are destined to remain just that—imagination.

However, since her beloved didn't come to steal her away, she wasn't too disappointed.

This made her feel disappointed in herself for being "unworthy" and heartless.

Because she also knew that if the Fourth Prince really disregarded everything and came to forcibly take the bride, the best outcome would be that the two of them would be exiled to a remote fiefdom, where they would be trapped and die, never to return to the prosperity of the capital.

This is not what she wanted!
She was absolutely certain!
"I want to stay here and be the most glamorous woman!" In the bridal chamber, Jia Baoyu made up his mind.

Therefore, when the Third Prince entered the bridal chamber, Jia Baoyu did not resist at all, but instead obeyed without question.

On the other side, Lin Daiyu was packing her luggage, preparing to say goodbye to her maternal grandmother and return to Suzhou to visit her father.

Her father, Lin Ruhai, had written to her earlier, saying that he felt his health was failing and asked her to come back to see him one last time.

Although Lin Daiyu was extremely anxious, she did not lose her composure. A few days earlier, she had already entrusted some friends in the martial arts world to find famous doctors and to go to Suzhou to help her father maintain the situation.

Based on the information she had, her father's serious illness was probably not just a simple ailment.

(End of this chapter)