The wedding was livestreamed by the sister, revealing his identity as a Taoist priest.

"Elder Qingxu."

"Yes...yes."

"The Ziyang Grand Ritual, to be held in the spring?"

Qingxu's lips trembled twice, and he couldn't come up with another word.

Su Qingluan tilted her head, her tone suddenly becoming extremely gentle.

"Shall I think of another reason for you?"

Qingxu's knees felt a little weak.

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and decided to take the plunge.

I'm going all out.

"Miss Su, let me be frank with you."

Qingxu clasped his hands together and bent down.

"The Celestial Master is indeed getting married, and this zither... is the fourth betrothal gift."

That's all I have to say.

Qingxu closed his eyes, waiting to be kicked out.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

No piano was thrown at us.

There was no palm wind.

There wasn't even a sound of cursing.

Qingxu cautiously opened one eye.

Su Qingluan stood there, head down, looking at her fingers.

Those hands were excessively white, with a slight red tinge at the fingertips.

Then she laughed.

It wasn't the same cold laugh as before.

It's a very complex laugh.

There was bitterness, relief, and something she couldn't quite explain herself.

"marriage."

She read the two words aloud.

"Chen Shidu is getting married."

Qingxu nodded, not daring to utter a sound.

Su Qingluan raised her head.

"A girl from the Shen family?"

Qingxu nodded again.

Su Qingluan turned around and walked to the window.

With my back to him, I gazed at the bamboo forest outside the window.

The white mist drifted slowly through the bamboo forest, just like the past ten years, moving at a frustratingly slow pace.

"The Celestial Master's Wedding"

She spoke, her voice so flat it betrayed no emotion.

"The Three Realms bear witness, the sun and moon are the witness."

Qingxu was taken aback.

These are the original words of the Celestial Master's grand vow.

How did she know?

"Although I am in seclusion, Tianyin Pavilion is still connected to the internet."

Su Qingluan didn't turn her head, as if she could see through his doubts.

Qingxu: "..."

Damn WiFi.

"Since it's the Heavenly Master's wedding..."

Su Qingluan turned around and her gaze fell on Qingxu's face.

"Tianyin Pavilion and Zhengyi Sect have been on friendly terms for a century. We cannot be impolite on such an important occasion."

Qingxu's heart skipped a beat.

wrong.

That's the wrong direction.

"I'll give you this zither."

Su Qingluan walked to the stone platform and placed her palm on the surface of the Nine Heavens Phoenix Melody Qin.

Qingxu breathed a sigh of relief.

Just give it to me!

Just give it to me!

He quickly took two steps forward.

"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Su. I will now..."

"but."

Qingxu's feet were fixed in mid-air.

Su Qingluan looked at him, and the corners of her lips slowly curved up.

"I will personally deliver this zither."

Qingxu's eyes widened.

"Wh...what?"

"The fourth betrothal gift."

Su Qingluan's fingers glided across the strings, producing a clear, melodious hum.

"I, Su Qingluan, will personally deliver this to the Shen family on behalf of the Tianyin Pavilion."

Qingxu's blood pressure spiked to its limit instantly.

"No...no!"

"Why not?"

Su Qingluan looked at him, her voice turning cold.

"The daughter of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion Master is an old friend of the Zhengyi Sect. How is it against custom for her to personally deliver the betrothal gifts?"

Qingxu opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.

Yes, what's wrong with the rules?

In terms of status, she is the direct descendant of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion!

In terms of seniority, she and the Celestial Master are fellow disciples!

In terms of relationship, Tianyin Pavilion and Zhengyi Sect have been on good terms for generations!

Her sending betrothal gifts was perfectly legitimate.

But the problem is...

Isn't this a perfectly legitimate issue?

This betrothal gift, which she sent, is destined for another woman!

The man she desperately wanted to marry ten years ago is now marrying another woman, and she personally delivered the token of their love to him.

This is not a betrothal gift!

This is suicide!

No, it's sending Qingxu to his death!

"Miss Su, please calm down."

The sweat on Qingxu's forehead had already dripped onto the ground.

"You...you can keep thinking about it, there's no need for you to come all this way in person..."

"Elder Qingxu."

Su Qingluan's voice suddenly turned cold.

"Is it because I'm not good enough? Or do you think I'm unworthy to present this betrothal gift?"

Qingxu froze.

I can't respond to that.

To say that she is not worthy of him is an insult to the daughter of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion Master.

If she's deemed worthy, then she'll go.

What will happen if I go?

What will happen when Su Qingluan meets Shen Nianqing?

Qingxu dared not even think about it.

His mouth was full of bitterness, and after stammering for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out only four words.

"...I will go back and report."

Su Qingluan did not stop him.

As she watched him flee in disarray, the smile on her lips tightened little by little.

In the end, only a pair of eyes, as cold as a deep pool, remained, reflecting the churning white mist outside the window.

"Shen Nianqing".

She whispered the name.

"I want to see what kind of people he's chosen."

Taiqing Palace, side hall.

The sun was shining brightly, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

The eleven elders, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, sat around sipping tea.

The head monk of the Golden Register Temple held his cup and leisurely blew away the foam on the tea.

"Do you all think Junior Brother Qingxu has arrived at Tianyin Pavilion yet?"

Elder Wu Lei sneered.

"We've arrived. I bet they're being chased and beaten by that girl."

Elder Danfang shook his head with schadenfreude.

"Sigh, I wonder how many ribs he'll break. When he gets back, let's chip in and buy him some good medicine."

The group burst into laughter.

Master Xuanmo sat at the head of the table, stroking his beard, and chuckled twice.

Although it was he who pushed Qingxu out, in retrospect, it was indeed a bit unethical.

"If you ask me, that old rascal Qingxu is quick-witted; he might actually be able to win that girl over..."

"Report!"

A sharp shout rang out from outside the hall.

Everyone turned their heads.

A disciple stumbled and crawled into the side hall, his face pale and his breathing disordered, as if he had flown hundreds of miles on a sword in one breath.

"Wha...what's wrong?"

The head monk of the Golden Register Temple put down his teacup.

"Elder Qingxu is back!"

The group exchanged glances.

"So fast?"

Three seconds later.

Qingxu rushed in from the entrance of the hall.

His Taoist robe was askew, his hair was disheveled, and he was covered in sweat, looking as if he had been pulled out of the water.

He braced his hands on the door frame, his chest heaving violently, his lips trembling several times before he managed to squeeze out a single sentence.

"You guys...stop laughing."

The head monk of the Golden Register stood up.

"Junior brother, what happened? Did you not get the zither? Did you get beaten up?"

"I wasn't hit!"

Qingxu pushed him away.

"A thousand times worse than being beaten!"

He looked around, his voice hoarse.

"Su Qingluan! She's coming in person to deliver the betrothal gifts!"

The side hall fell silent.

It was so quiet you could hear the tea cooling down.

Master Xuanmo paused, his hand holding the teacup still.

The head monk of the Golden Register opened his mouth and forgot to close it.

Elder Wu Lei didn't even notice when the whisk in his hand fell to the ground.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

"It's over."

Elder Danfang was the first to react, his voice shrill and cracking.

"Is she going to the Shen family?"

"right!"

"Personally deliver the zither to Shen Nianqing?"

"right!"

The entire side hall erupted in chaos.

"Isn't this going to result in someone dying?!"

"Kings must never meet! Heavens!"

"Hurry! Go and inform the Celestial Master!"

Master Xuanmo suddenly stood up, not even caring that the teacup had overturned.

The twelve white-haired Taoist priests, at this moment, all lost their air of superiority and looked like a group of old cats whose tails had been stepped on.

Qingxu leaned against the door frame, panting heavily.

"She said...she'll arrive within three days."

The side hall fell silent once more.

Master Xuanmo closed his eyes, his voice strained.

"quick."

"Go and invite the Heavenly Master!"

P.S.: Oh no, this is a complete mess...