Chapter 36: Liking to Act

Heaven and Earth of This Side, no matter how you looked at it, from any angle, was exactly the same outline as Weijin Mountain.

The only difference was that the once vast lava pool had been filled with deep, dark water, transformed into a cool and tranquil place.

Was this the secret realm of Weijin Mountain that had lost its divine fire, or a fantasy created by Fu Xu’s magic? Gu Ze couldn’t figure it out.

He felt a scorching sensation pulsing on the back of his hand. Looking closely, he saw a small, flame-shaped, purplish-red mark left there.

This was the mark left on Gu Ze after Fu Xu divided his divine fire into three parts.

As the flame danced, the spiritual energy within Gu Ze rapidly evaporated, all of it becoming nourishment for the fire.

Within seconds, he was no different from an ordinary person, unable to summon even a trace of spiritual energy. The only difference was that his body remained stronger than a mortal’s.

This was even more restrictive than the cultivation suppression in Weijin Mountain.

He walked forward a few steps along the lakeshore. All around, a white mist gradually filled the air, making the path ahead impossible to see.

Gu Ze was unsure whether this white mist was poisonous; even if it was miasma, he couldn’t resist it in his current state.

Suddenly, a light sound of footsteps came from the side.

Gu Ze was unable to channel spiritual energy, and had even lost his sharp sense for the surroundings. He could only look vigilantly toward the direction of the footsteps.

Then, he saw a fair, delicate foot step out of the mist, landing on the soft, gray sand.

It was Lian Yue—Gu Ze instantly recognized her by her foot.

Her toes were exquisitely carved, like petals of fine jade tinged with a faint rouge, plump and translucent.

As they pressed into the fine sand, they left ink-like marks. Although Gu Ze wasn’t especially interested in feet, he’d seen Lian Yue’s before, and the memory stuck.

Just as he sighed in relief, Gu Ze noticed Lian Yue’s attire and was taken aback.

A brilliant red wedding dress, a Phoenix Coronet atop her head. She resembled a delicate red rose, pitiful and beautiful, awaiting the right lover to sweep her away.

“Husband~” That affectionate call sent a shiver right to his bones.

Lian Yue threw Gu Ze a coquettish glance, her lips curving like a crescent moon, full of playful warmth.

With that single phrase, Gu Ze was left completely at a loss.

Was this… was this really Lian Yue?

Staring into those innocently blue eyes, Gu Ze was full of doubt.

“Husband, what are you doing wandering here? Did you forget today is the day of our wedding ceremony… Eh? Why are you pinching my face?” she asked, her voice deliberately soft and full of emotion, but her mood was instantly disrupted.

Gu Ze quickly darted in front of her and started tugging at Lian Yue’s cheeks with both hands.

She was real, no doubt about that—but what did her words mean?

Wedding? What wedding? Had Lian Yue inhaled some spirit-affecting poison?

Gu Ze was on edge, but Lian Yue just smiled brightly.

Before he could sort out his thoughts, Gu Ze noticed his own sleeve had turned red.

Looking down, he was now dressed in a red robe, with a black silk sash around his waist—a festive sight.

Somehow, faceless guests had gathered all around.

Gu Ze looked up and saw that he and Lian Yue had appeared in a prearranged Hall of Ceremony.

Yet everything around them was crude and rough. The guests were mere silhouettes with no facial features, and the furniture was copy-pasted, each piece identical.

Even the scenery outside the window was just a pasted image, perfectly still.

Lian Yue gently brushed off his hands and turned around. The Red Veil dropped over her head.

A voice, purposely raised in pitch, rang out from behind: “One Bow to Heaven and Earth—”

“?”

Gu Ze couldn’t help but find it all a bit funny.

It was as if they were actors on a stage, only he and Lian Yue playing the roles.

Lian Yue tugged on Gu Ze’s sleeve and winked at him, as if asking for something.

Gu Ze recalled the conversation he’d overheard between Lian Yue and Fu Xu before coming here.

Fu Xu wanted to see another play.

So, this rough set and Lian Yue’s strange attire were all part of that play.

Having him and Lian Yue get married—wasn’t that a bit too sudden?

But if Gu Ze didn’t move, everything around him would freeze. Even the crowd stood motionless.

Left with no choice, he let Lian Yue guide him, acting out the wedding procedures like a puppet.

“Next, the groom should greet the guests…” Gu Ze glanced behind him, about to leave.

Lian Yue suddenly frowned and nudged him with her elbow.

“What are you saying? We should enter the bridal chamber now.”

“Was this your goal from the start?” Gu Ze took two steps back, eyes wary.

But with the Red Veil covering Lian Yue’s face, he couldn’t read her expression.

“Husband, don’t waste time.” She even started pushing Gu Ze forward from behind.

“W-wait a minute, even if it’s just a play, do we really have to act out a bed scene?” Gu Ze broke into a cold sweat.

“Turning fake into real—why not!” Lian Yue declared, not taking no for an answer.

Half-pushed, half-dragged by Lian Yue, he entered a finely decorated little room.

This set was clearly much more elaborate, clearly designed with Lian Yue’s care.

Lian Yue sat on the bed, lifted her leg, and tapped Gu Ze’s calf.

“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you supposed to lift the Red Veil and kiss me recklessly?”

“……” Just who was the proactive one here?

Gu Ze poured himself a cup of water and sat at the table to rest.

After waiting a while, Lian Yue grew impatient. She flung the Red Veil aside and pouted: “I actually thought pretending to get married would be fun, but Gu Ze-didi, why aren’t you playing along?”

“I’ve never been married, but… this set is too shoddy, there’s no excitement at all.” Gu Ze sighed softly.

Lian Yue smiled brightly, took quick, tiny steps over, gave Gu Ze’s thigh a gentle push, then sat sideways on his pressed-together knees.

She wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself close to his chest, her gaze watery and alluring.

“The bride is so beautiful, and you’re still not satisfied? Or… does Gu Ze-didi think one bride isn’t enough?”

She traced circles on Gu Ze’s chest with her finger.

Speaking of which, there were three people in this place, and with Lian Yue forcibly holding him here, Gu Ze hadn’t even had time to look for Li Xunmiao.

Speak of the devil.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, along with a desperate cry for help, mixed with the clang of weapons.

“Help! There are bandits!”

Lian Yue was just building up the mood, getting ready for another taste of that bone-tingling kiss with Gu Ze.

But the sudden interruption ruined the tempo, and she pouted, clearly displeased.

Bang! The door was kicked open and Li Xunmiao strode in, draped in a Beastskin Cloak, white-clad, with the Zangtian Sword slung over her shoulder and a stalk of straw in her mouth.

Clearly, she was the “Bandit” who had just burst in.

Gu Ze broke into a cold sweat as he looked up and down at Li Xunmiao, the stalk of straw between her lips.

Her face, though cold and striking, was still youthful—far from bandit-like, if anything, she looked adorable.

“Well now, pretty boy, you’re not bad-looking. Come home and be my husband!” Li Xunmiao shoved Lian Yue off of Gu Ze, then lifted Gu Ze’s chin and, deliberately lowering her voice, flashed a smirk.

Lian Yue perked up, tumbling to the floor with her hair a mess, a jade hairpin slipping from her head.

“Don’t take my husband away!”

“What, you have an objection? I’ll have your husband warm my bed every night—what will you do?” Li Xunmiao sneered, looking down her nose at Lian Yue.

At this point, Gu Ze really couldn’t hold it in anymore and quietly took out the Dragon-Binding Cord.

Before Li Xunmiao could react, both her wrists were bound and pulled tight behind her back.

“Eh?”

Gu Ze yanked the cord, pressing Li Xunmiao’s upper body over his knees. He pulled off her cloak and tossed it aside, leaving her white-robed hips sticking high in the air.

Lian Yue realized what Gu Ze was about to do and quickly covered her eyes, though she peeked through the wide gap between her fingers.

Pa!

Gu Ze put his full strength into it and landed a solid smack on Li Xunmiao’s backside.

After all, Li Xunmiao practiced Qi Tempering of the Dragon daily with her Jade Dragon Pendant—such playful punishment wouldn’t hurt her at all.

Li Xunmiao pouted, only kicking her legs a little in protest, not begging for mercy, letting Gu Ze do as he wished.

“Getting cheeky, huh? You want me to warm your bed?”

Pa!

Another firm slap, making Lian Yue clutch her stomach and roll on the floor, laughing.

Li Xunmiao’s pitiful expression was a rare treat.

“Don’t hit me! Little ones, quick, grab this pretty boy!” she cried, struggling and calling toward the door.

She was still hoping those fake guests—without even faces—would help, but they simply dissolved as they got near, unable to touch any of the three.

Li Xunmiao immediately deflated, sniffling: “Didn’t we agree not to bully Xunmiao with the Dragon-Binding Cord? Senior Brother, you’re breaking your promise…”

Gu Ze paused with his hand raised, no longer punishing her, and took the bindings off.

Li Xunmiao rubbed her backside and stood obediently before Gu Ze, no trace left of her bandit act.

“So, what exactly are you two up to?” Gu Ze asked, a bit speechless, propping his head on one hand as he glanced at the two girls.

Lian Yue sprang up, stuck out her tongue at Gu Ze, clearly enjoying herself.

Li Xunmiao explained slowly, “This place seems to have a maze array that can realize whatever you wish, creating any scene.”

“I saw she wanted to marry Senior Brother, so I thought I’d come snatch the groom.”

Gu Ze tilted his head, thoughts spinning, but no matter how he flailed about, the scenery didn’t change.

So, Li Xunmiao and Lian Yue could alter the scene at will, but he couldn’t?

He clearly saw the flame mark on the backs of both girls’ hands—they, too, had lost all their cultivation and were now no different from mortals.

Damn you, Fu Xu! Still playing favorites.

He sighed, glancing at Lian Yue. “So, you want to marry me?”

“Hah? No way, I just want the bridal chamber with you.” Lian Yue quickly waved her hands, correcting herself, “The wedding’s just for show, a prelude to the wedding night.”

Gu Ze raised an eyebrow and instantly threw the Dragon-Binding Cord, tying up Lian Yue and pulling her over.

Just as before, Gu Ze pressed her across his lap.

Lian Yue was unbothered: “I’m in the Golden Core realm, this trick doesn’t work on me.”

Gu Ze didn’t hit her, simply sat in his chair, silent and unmoving.

Ten seconds, twenty, a full minute passed before Lian Yue finally spoke.

“No, I can’t take it, let me down—I’m going to faint…” Lying across Gu Ze’s lap, she was already dizzy from his burning Yang energy.

“You wanted the bridal chamber, didn’t you? I haven’t even touched you and you can’t handle it?” Gu Ze teased.

Lian Yue wriggled slightly, her restless little feet waving in the air.

“Gu Ze-didi, I was wrong, please have mercy~” Her voice was honeyed to the core, even Li Xunmiao stared wide-eyed in shock.

What a little vixen! Even her voice was oozing fox charm—of all the people to seduce, she just had to pick Gu Shixiong.

Her eyes darkened as Li Xunmiao raised the Zangtian Sword, tracing it along Lian Yue’s neck.

Lian Yue felt the killing intent and looked up, shocked: “Li Xunmiao, didn’t we agree? No interfering with each other!”

“Hmph, still can’t stand you. Sooner or later, I’ll chop up you little fox spirit.” Li Xunmiao tossed her head, coldly.

“Oh? That’s not what you said before. It was Gu Ze-didi who came running to me first, even calling me ‘Fairy Sister’ to get close. Besides, you’re no better—when you and Gu Ze lived together in the cave, weren’t you dreaming of the bridal chamber every night?”

Lian Yue grinned, waiting for Li Xunmiao’s blushing face.

But Li Xunmiao tilted her head, innocence in her eyes: “What does ‘bridal chamber’ mean? I just felt really at peace and secure with Shixiong sleeping beside me.”

Lian Yue was momentarily stunned, eyes wide in disbelief.

Gu Ze cleared his throat and said blandly, “Xunmiao is only fourteen. Don’t lead her astray.”

A blush slowly crept over Lian Yue’s face, and she raised her hand to cover her cheeks.

Why on earth was she fighting with a fourteen-year-old girl over romance? So shameless.

She peeked at Li Xunmiao through her fingers. That pure gaze pierced right into Lian Yue’s heart, making her feel even more guilty.

Li Xunmiao was just like she once was. Before joining the Rouman Peak, Lian Yue, too, was pure.

After joining, exposed to everything, she inevitably learned about men and women, whether she wanted to or not.

Lian Yue couldn’t help but think: if she’d always stayed true to herself, if she could be as pure-minded as Li Xunmiao, maybe she wouldn’t be so preoccupied with matters between men and women, nor would her relationship with Gu Ze have become so ambiguous.

She sniffled quietly, suddenly feeling that these two, man and woman, were a perfect match, their ages just right.

The two of them were truly fated.

Lian Yue secretly resolved: she would only have a physical relationship with Gu Ze, and never give her heart.