My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Chapter 1221: Chapter 662: Marriage (Double-Length)

Amidst the world, there was only the sound of the torrential rain, accompanied by the dull roaring of the Jiao Dragon’s corpse swept along in the muddy flood.

The crowd, frozen as if cast under a spell, stared dazedly at the fiery figure on the stone bridge railing.

Min Ning tossed her soaked bangs, water droplets scattering everywhere.

Her gaze was as fierce as a torch, filled with the thrill of heroism after settling scores. She thought she should be drinking while drenched in Jiao’s blood, but when she looked down, the wine flask was nowhere to be found.

It was probably lost during the fierce combat with the Jiao Dragon, and in such a carefree moment, it was impossible to jump back in to retrieve it. She laughed louder, amused by the thought.

The laughter echoed through the sky.

For a moment, the town was filled with nothing but her laughter.

Min Ning glanced over the ruins of the altar, the still-terrified crowd, and the despairing woman collapsed in the muddy water. When her gaze swept past Zhao Deshan and the Shenxiao Sect disciples, who were on guard yet seemed bewildered and helpless, her lips curled into an undisguised sneer.

"Hah, Daoists? You seem to have the posture, but too bad..." Her words hadn’t finished when her gaze suddenly sharpened, like an arrow, towards the corner of the stormy tea stall, at an inconspicuous table, and the person seated beside it.

At that moment, the wind and rain seemed to pause.

Chen Yi’s half-bowl of murky tea reflected the blood-red bridge and dazzling red shadow, wavering slightly.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing the curtain of rain, meeting the suddenly ablaze, fiery eyes on the bridge railing.

Their eyes met.

The wild smile on Min Ning’s face froze instantly. She inexplicably felt her laughter looked somewhat awkward, although Chen Yi wouldn’t find it ugly from such a distance.

Thus, her laughter gradually faded, her gaze a mix of surprise and astonishment. She never expected to encounter Chen Yi in this remote Southern Border town, just after slaying a Jiao Dragon.

But thinking back, their last meeting was also unexpected.

Amidst astonished gazes, Min Ning suddenly leaped down from a height, the mist slightly retreating. With a casual gesture, she saw Chen Yi clearly, along with... a somewhat glaring figure.

Sitting next to him was Yin Weiyin, wearing a simple Daoist robe, with an aura as cold as an immortal.

Raindrops continued to fall from Min Ning’s handsome jawline. Her chest rose and fell slightly, fingers gripping the red sword hilt at her waist, yet she approached with a smile.

Under the tea stall, Yin Weiyin felt a heaviness in her heart.

Meeting Min Ning again brought complexities; their relationship could never turn from foes to friends.

It was merely unexpected that this time, she had to pin her hopes on Min Ning.

Raindrops slid down Min Ning’s hair tips, but she was unconcerned. Even seeing someone she didn’t wish to, meeting someone she did was infinitely more pleasurable.

Zhao Deshan and others followed Min Ning’s gaze, stunned and curious, having thought the infamous, recently renowned Battalion Commander Chen just wanted to watch idly, letting hundreds or thousands of lives come and go. But evidently, plans were already in place.

The Jiao’s corpse continued to wash through the waters, back and forth, with blood staining both shores. Min Ning leapt down from the bridge at her most triumphant moment, walking towards the one she most wished to see.

Chen Yi gently set down the coarse earthen bowl, the base lightly striking the tabletop, producing an almost drowned out sound in the rain. He rose to ask the shopkeeper for wine.

The shopkeeper was scared stiff, so Chen Yi poured himself a full bowl, turned, and Min Ning had already reached the tea stall.

The red-clothed female knight accepted the wine, draining it while facing upwards. She stretched, showing off her lengthy figure, and suddenly said:

"Chen Yi, I’m close to reaching Third Rank."

Chen Yi halted, sweeping his gaze around before resting it on her vividly red sword sheath. Murderous intent radiated, and mere gaze alone brought a chilling feel.

The signs of a Spring and Autumn Sword Master were apparent.

............

Southern Border, Annan Royal Mansion.

The sun’s shadow slanted, drawing the Council Hall’s towering column shadows long.

Qin Qingluo sat in the head seat, her dark python robe accentuating an increasingly stern look.

The documents piled high on the desk were mostly processed. Her fingertip pointed at the last proposal regarding pension post-Dragon Tail City’s battle, her voice low.

"...Pension for deceased soldiers’ dependents to be doubled. The Household Administration Bureau must assign special personnel for supervision, with no deductions allowed. For the wounded, medical expenses will be taken from the Prince Mansion’s treasury, and the Construction Bureau will dispatch manpower to prioritize repairing damaged houses."

Several officials in the hall bowed in agreement, not daring to breathe loudly.

The Prince’s authority had grown heavier since the assassination attempt at the Ancestral Temple.

"As for the Northwest’s Jiao troubles, rumors must cease." The Prince drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "Spread word that... the Jiao threat is quelled, the culprit executed. The Southern Border shall know no disorder."

Everyone responded in unison, then filed out.

Once the last person left, only the echo remained in the hall.

Qin Qingluo’s tense shoulders momentarily relaxed, a hint of weariness from handling so much paperwork showed between her brows. She rubbed her temples and headed towards the inner courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard’s moon gate, a small figure darted towards her like a fledgling sparrow, chirping brightly, "Father!"

It was Qin Yue.

Qin Qingluo paused, softened by her daughter’s innocent smile. Awkwardly, she bent down, embracing the small body.

Qin Yue immediately stretched out her little arms, hugging her neck tightly, rubbing her small face against the crook of her neck, murmuring softly, "Hungry, hungry, hungry."

The dignified woman’s brow furrowed. The cheeky... little thing was growing bolder. Yet with Chen Yi’s face flashing by, she felt disinclined to scold, and walked stiffly towards the warm room, carrying her daughter.

She dismissed the maid attendants, settled on the window-side couch with Qin Yue in her arms. Qin Yue nestled close, her little head nudging, clearly aiming at the abundant spot.

A faint blush crossed Qin Qingluo’s face. After hesitating briefly, she unbuttoned her bodice.

Qin Yue immediately leaned in, suckling contentedly.

The room became quiet, with only the child’s light swallowing sounds.

At that moment, the door was gently pushed open.

Qin Qingluo’s body subconsciously tensed, but upon seeing it was Zhu E, she relaxed imperceptibly; yet, she did not loosen her hold on the child.

Zhu E moved with graceful steps, sat down by the bedside, her gaze sweeping over Qin Qingluo’s slightly tense actions and Qin Yue’s satisfied little face, her smile gentle, but her eyes hid an unnoticeable contemplation.

"You’ve worked hard, Prince." she said softly, naturally picking up a silk handkerchief to wipe away the nonexistent sweat from Qin Qingluo’s forehead.

Qin Qingluo nodded slightly, her gaze falling on her daughter, her voice low: "The matter of the Divine Sect Heretics has finally come to an end." She paused, seemingly bringing up unintentionally, "The report from the Opportunity Room just came in; over in Sichuan... Min Ning seems to have surfaced."

Zhu E’s wiping motion paused imperceptibly, then she kept smiling, but her voice lowered, carrying just the right amount of concern: "Miss Min? She... actually came near the Southern Border? Has sister brought her up?"

Qin Qingluo suddenly shivered all over, glaring at Zhu E, "Aunt Zhu, why do you tease me?"

Since giving birth to Qin Yue, Zhu E called her ’sister’, which made her get goosebumps, and Qin Qingluo disliked it both openly and secretly, yet Zhu E always evaded, asking directly for reasons,

she simply said it was "fun."

Whatever kind of plotting fun it was, Qin Qingluo frowned, thinking such fun would never be put to use.

"Prince," Zhu E changed the term, "you mentioned this Miss Min, her temper is fiery as the fire, yet toward Chen Yi..."

She hesitated, her eyes filled with worry, "Zhu E fears, she may not take into account the dignity of the Prince Mansion, if in a moment of impulse, she wants to snatch Chen Yi away from sister, it may not be impossible."

Qin Qingluo paused in her feeding, her heroic brows furrowed:

"Aunt Zhu, your intentions are good, but Min Ning, though her temper is fierce, is also forthright.

Back then in the Capital City, I had joyous conversations with her, regarded her as a confidant, and in mutual appreciation, she... should not commit such base acts."

Zhu E sighed softly, took a sip of tea: "Mutual appreciation... invested in the same man."

Qin Qingluo’s hands holding Qin Yue tightened abruptly, momentarily speechless from the blunt words, finally she said:

"Brothers are like limbs, women are like... no, anyway, given her chivalrous nature in Jianghu, giving up love isn’t impossible, moreover... she is after all a woman, likely not giving up love."

"Then does Prince mean, Prince herself is willing to humble herself?"

Qin Qingluo paused slightly, her cheeks warming, lips moved wanting to retort, yet felt Zhu E’s words were like a thorn, piercing into a corner she deliberately avoided.

Indeed, mutual appreciation, then what? She knows Min Ning’s feelings for Chen Yi better than anyone.

"... Then, in Aunt Zhu’s view, what should be done?" Qin Qingluo’s voice was somewhat dry, carrying an unnoticed hesitation.

Zhu E set down the teacup, moved closer, her voice gentle as the wind, yet with seductive power, "In Zhu E’s humblest opinion, instead of waiting for Miss Min to cause trouble, why not... sister take action first?"

Qin Qingluo looked at her perplexed.

"Give him a title." Zhu E met Qin Qingluo’s eyes, saying word by word, "In a grand ceremony, hold a wedding, ensure his rightful place in the Prince Mansion’s inner chambers.

To outsiders, he is the Princess, to the ancestors, he is sister’s rightful husband, the male master of the Prince Mansion, even with Miss Min’s fierce nature, can she really snatch away a married man? Once a title is given, hearts will naturally settle."

"A wedding..." Qin Qingluo murmured, as if a stone was cast into her heart, creating ripples.

A title... give Chen Yi a title?

The Sun in the marriage palace is forbidden, a marriage with form but no name...

She suddenly recalled this prophecy, like a slight sting.

"Hold a wedding..."

Qin Qingluo repeated those three words softly, her eyes flashing like a serpent’s, weighing the decision.

She remembered Chen Yi’s clumsy tenderness when holding Qin Yue, remembered his endeavors for her, remembered his profile in the study last night, focused on the texts... and also, that bit of indescribable feeling he stirred within her.

A title... seemingly indeed became an invisible wall between them.

"Hold a wedding..." Qin Qingluo repeated those three words softly, her snake-like eyes flashing, as if weighing the decision. She recalled Chen Yi’s clumsy tenderness when holding Qin Yue, his endeavors for her, his profile last night in the study, focused on the texts... and also, that bit of indescribable feeling he stirred within her. A title... seemingly indeed became an invisible wall between them.

After a moment of silence, she slowly nodded, her voice restored to its usual steadiness, although if listened closely, still carried a thread of tension,

"... Very well. This matter, let Aunt Zhu handle it."

She paused, fingers unconsciously tracing Qin Yue’s soft back, as if persuading herself, or declaring a fact, murmuring softly: "It’s me taking him in, and also... him marrying me."

The Qin Yue in her arms seemed to sense the mother’s mood shift, her sucking slowed down, raised her large wet eyes to look at Qin Qingluo, then at Zhu E, curiosity about the adult conversation evident on her little face.

Yet she could not quite understand.

She tried to digest the heard fragments.

Suddenly, Qin Qingluo thought of something, her body tensed slightly, subconsciously moved Qin Yue away from her chest.

Qin Yue, who had been drinking sweetly, puckered her little mouth, about to cry.

"Ooh..."

But Qin Yue suddenly stopped, her little head tilted, she seemed to suddenly understand something?

Mother said... that dad is a man? The one who holds her to fly high, gives her the ’scary’ sword to play with, clumsily wipes her tears... is a man?

In her little understanding, a thought like a spark lit up in her little head with a ’pop’,

True dad?

The milk tastes better?!

With this thought, Qin Yue instantly forgot the previous grievance, her big eyes widening round.

She even subconsciously licked her little lips.