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

"My little darling? What brings you here?"

As soon as Lu Chen said this, the forty-nine disciples behind him all shrank by half a head.

They all lowered their heads, wishing they could bury their faces in their chests.

Su Qingluan stopped in her tracks.

She glanced at Lu Chen, her gaze sweeping over the group of Taoist priests in black suits and white shirts.

"The Punishment Hall has really made something of itself, dressed like an insurance salesman while guarding the house."

Lu Chen blushed.

The one-armed man awkwardly rubbed the corner of his clothes.

If it were anyone else, he would have slapped them already, but this woman was someone he couldn't afford to mess with.

"Mr. Chen has given the order..."

Lu Chen managed to utter a sentence.

Upon hearing the name "Mr. Chen," the light in Su Qingluan's eyes dimmed for a moment.

She didn't look at Lu Chen again, walked past him, and headed straight for the villa gate.

Chen Xiaoyu and Lin Keke huddled in the corner of the entryway.

Looking at Su Qingluan in her red dress, he didn't dare to breathe.

"Follow me to the second floor."

Shen Nianqing changed into slippers.

Su Qingluan followed.

Second-floor guest room, push open the door.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows, European-style bed, pure white carpet.

Shen Nianqing walked to the wardrobe and opened the door.

Take out an unopened set of white silk pajamas and place it at the foot of the bed.

"I haven't worn this before, I'm going to take a shower to refresh myself."

Shen Nianqing turned around and pointed in the direction of the bathroom.

Su Qingluan looked at the white pajamas, then glanced at Shen Nianqing.

Without saying a word, he raised his hand and loosened the sash of his Taoist robe.

Shen Nianqing left and closed the door behind her.

The sound of water could be heard in the guest room.

Half an hour later.

balcony.

The night breeze was cool, and the moonlight cast a silvery halo on the floor.

Su Qingluan stood by the railing.

The dark red Taoist robe was replaced with a white silk nightgown.

Her long, black hair was not tied up, but casually draped over her shoulders.

Without her imposing attire, she now appeared slender and fair-skinned.

When I look up at the moon, I feel an indescribable sense of fragility.

She was no longer the ruthless killer who could suppress all the celebrities in the audience with a single song; instead, she resembled a lost daughter from a wealthy family in the Jiangnan water towns.

Footsteps sounded.

Shen Nianqing walked over carrying a wooden tray.

On the tray were two bottles of decanted red wine and three crystal goblets.

Chen Xiaoyu followed behind Shen Nianqing, peeking around cautiously, walking very slowly, ready to run away at any moment.

Su Qingluan turned around.

"sit."

Shen Nianqing placed the tray on the rattan round table.

Pull out a chair.

Su Qingluan walked over and sat down.

She felt a little uncomfortable in such defenseless clothing and tugged at the collar slightly.

Shen Nianqing picked up the wine bottle and poured three glasses.

The dark red wine swayed in the moonlight.

One cup was offered to Su Qingluan, and the other to Chen Xiaoyu.

Chen Xiaoyu swallowed and reached out to catch the bottom of the cup.

"Want a drink?"

Shen Nianqing raised her glass.

Su Qingluan picked up the cup, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Her bold movements were completely at odds with her delicate white dress.

"What do you want to ask?"

Su Qingluan spoke, her voice cold and clear.

Shen Nianqing refilled her glass.

"I want to know about your past."

Shen Nianqing held the wine glass, her fingers gently stroking the rim.

"I want to know how he was doing before he met me."

Chen Xiaoyu nodded vigorously from the side.

He nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice.

She also wanted to know what this brother, who was rarely seen all year round, was doing outside.

Su Qingluan looked at Chen Xiaoyu.

Her eyes darted around, revealing a sly glint like that of a little fox.

She knew that the Chen family thought Chen Shidu was an ordinary person who did odd jobs everywhere.

She also knew that Chen Shidu had never mentioned Taiqing Palace and the Celestial Master to his family.

This is very interesting.

Su Qingluan picked up the second glass of wine and took a sip.

"He is suffering greatly."

Su Qingluan uttered three words.

Chen Xiaoyu straightened her back instantly.

He came to our area when he was sixteen.

Su Qingluan changed "go up the mountain" to "go in there".

"No education, no background. He's quiet, always has a stern face, a typical taciturn guy."

Shen Nianqing listened quietly, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"But he works like his life depends on it."

Su Qingluan looked at the wine glass.

"If the boss tells him to go east, he'll never go west. He takes on all the dirty and tiring jobs that others find unpleasant. He'll take any job he can get in order to earn more commission."

She recalled the extremely dangerous missions of suppressing evil spirits in the back mountains of Taiqing Palace.

Chen Shidu broke through to the next realm at the age of fifteen, and with only a sword, he swept through half of the Yin Sha Caves in the Northwest.

"Once, I went on a business trip to the Northwest."

Su Qingluan continued weaving without blushing or skipping a beat.

"At minus thirty degrees Celsius, with heavy snow blocking the mountain passes, he lay in the snow for three days and three nights to complete his mission. When he returned, the backs of his hands were covered in frostbite, with cracks so deep that you could see the bone."

Clang!

Chen Xiaoyu's cup clattered on the table.

A few drops of red wine spilled.

"My brother..."

Chen Xiaoyu's eyes instantly reddened.

She recalled the crisscrossing old scars on Chen Shidu's hands every time she returned home for the Chinese New Year.

He always said it was an accidental scratch while doing farm work.

"He didn't complain of pain or fatigue."

Su Qingluan continued, her tone calm.

"After I got my salary, I sent it all home, and I just wore those camouflage uniforms myself."

Chen Xiaoyu sniffed and reached out to wipe the corner of her eye.

Shen Nianqing did not speak.

She looked at Su Qingluan, raised her wine glass, and offered a toast.

He's doing well now.

Shen Nianqing said.

Su Qingluan did not pick up the cup.

She stared at the red string on Shen Nianqing's left wrist.

"Do you know how many layers that is?"

Su Qingluan suddenly changed the subject.

Shen Nianqing looked down at the red rope.

Su Qingluan gave a cold laugh.

He reached out and poured himself a third glass of wine.

"You thought it was just an ordinary rope."

Su Qingluan tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"That's something he risked half his life for. Every time that thing lights up when you're in danger, a bit of his hard work is wasted."

Chen Xiaoyu was stunned.

What effort did you put in?

What's going to light up?

Shen Nianqing's brows furrowed slightly.

She recalled the terrifying and eerie attack two days ago, and how the red rope had protected her.

"I lost to you today not because the lousy piece you played was so good."

Su Qingluan flicked her wrist, and the wine glass spun around between her fingers.

He leaned forward, looking at Shen Nianqing.

"It's because I saw him entrust you with his most precious possession, something that can not only protect your life, but also means that he has entrusted his life to you."

Su Qingluan leaned back in her chair and exhaled a long breath of alcohol.

"I'm reasonable."

Her voice lowered.

"Since he has made his choice, I concede."

The balcony became quiet.

All that remained was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Chen Xiaoyu wiped away her tears, looked at Su Qingluan, and then at her sister-in-law.

She suddenly realized that the woman in the white pajamas wasn't so scary anymore.

Shen Nianqing picked up her wine glass.

"This toast is to you. Thank you for being there for him before you met me."

Su Qingluan did not refuse and clinked her cups together.

The crisp sound of glass colliding echoed through the night.

After several rounds of drinks...

The three bottles of red wine were emptied.

Two rosy blushes appeared on Su Qingluan's fair cheeks.

She actually has a very high alcohol tolerance, but tonight she didn't use her inner energy to expel the alcohol, letting the intoxication rise up.

She put down her wine glass and stood up.

The night breeze lifted the hem of her white skirt.

Looking down at Shen Nianqing, a hint of seriousness appeared in his eyes.

"Shen Nianqing".

"Don't think you can rest easy just because you beat me."

Shen Nianqing raised her head.

Su Qingluan placed her hands on the rattan table and brought her face close.

"I study music theory and believe in following the natural order. I've come to terms with it, and that's all."

She held up one finger and pointed to the night sky in the distance.

"But I'm not your biggest problem."

Chen Xiaoyu felt a chill run down her spine.

Su Qingluan grinned, revealing a chilling smile.

"There's one more person."

"She cultivates the path of slaughter; she's a complete madwoman. Compared to her, I'm practically a kind and gentle person."

Su Qingluan straightened up and crossed her arms over her chest.

"If she knew that Chen Shidu not only gave you the Dharma lamp, but also tied your life-bound red string to your wrist..."

P.S.: She'll say goodnight to everyone and wish you sweet dreams. Oh, and don't forget to send a small gift!