At that time, Shui Fang and Ying Lu were cultivating in the woods on some unknown mountain peak. Ying Lu picked up fallen leaves from the ground and began practicing flying swords.
He focused intently and sent a leaf flying, which pierced through layers of branches and leaves, embedding itself in a distant tree trunk. Shui Fang applauded.
"Good, good, good! Much better than before."
Ying Lu came back to his senses and smiled knowingly. He plucked a few more leaves and sent them towards Shui Fang. Shui Fang blocked them with his spear and chided him.
"This won't do. You should stick to stabbing trees."
"Trees don't fight back, but you do."
"Then I'll have to hit you too."
"Go ahead and hit me."
As they were playfully bickering, a thousand paper cranes suddenly fell from the sky, landing on an arm.
He looked down, slightly puzzled, and picked up the paper crane. A gentle breeze blew, and the paper crane slowly unfolded.
Shui Fang then saw the words written on it:
Shui Fang, Ying Lu, the situation in the world has changed. The era of the Four Cities is over.
As great men, we should know what to do and what not to do. I have decided to join Mu Ye and work with her for the well-being of the common people.
As my good friends, I hope you will join me.
Yue Jiu
After reading it, Shui Fang handed the letter to Ying Lu. Ying Lu read it carefully, feeling both excited and moved.
He asked Shui Fang, "Should we go and join Mu Ye too?"
Shui Fang sighed deeply, lamenting, "Alas! Brother Yue's intentions are good, but we had already agreed to live in seclusion in the mountains."
Ying Lu laughed and persuaded him.
"This isn't exactly seclusion. The common people of the world need us now. How can we stand idly by? Moreover, that person is Mu Ye."
Shui Fang nodded thoughtfully, and after a moment, he said,
"Alright, alright. Then we'll go and join Mu Ye."
"That's great! Let's go now." Ying Lu was so excited that he wished they could reach Nanhai City immediately.
Shui Fang sighed helplessly, "I think you're even happier than I am."
"It's a good thing to save the common people, so of course, I'm happy."
"What if it's cultivation of demonic arts?"
"Even cultivation of demonic arts is a good thing."
"Silly."
"Let's go, let's go." Ying Lu grabbed him and they sped towards Nanhai City like the wind.
At the same time, in Dongyue Town, Qu Tongzi finally gathered his courage and found Thirteen Niang, making a request.
"My lady, considering I helped the Myriad Demon King, may I make a request?"
Thirteen Niang was not surprised by his arrival and was rather pleased. "Please, sir, speak freely."
"I wish to take Hua Yue away from Dongyue Town."
Thirteen Niang laughed and nodded with satisfaction. She then summoned Hua Yue into the main hall and asked her directly.
"Hua Yue, are you willing to leave with sir?"
Hua Yue nodded shyly.
Thirteen Niang laughed again and then said, "I must discuss this with the Demon King. She will surely agree."
"Then I..."
Qu Tongzi stammered, as if he had something else to say.
Thirteen Niang waved her hand. "Sir, there's no need to rush. Hua Yue, please escort sir downstairs to rest. After the Demon King replies, I will inform you."
Qu Tongzi could only agree reluctantly.
After they left, Thirteen Niang immediately wrote a letter and handed it to someone, instructing him to ride quickly to Nanhai City to deliver it to the Demon King.
The messenger received the order and hurried out of the city towards Nanhai City.
In the main hall of the Nanhai Royal Palace, as usual, only Lin'er and I were present. Occasionally, a few elders would be there, but they often lamented the changing times.
Except for major affairs, all trivial matters were not interfered with.
Lin'er closed his eyes, concentrated, and calculated, "At this time, Xue Gucheng and the others should be returning."
I looked at the setting sun outside, feeling a little worried. I waited until after sunset before I saw someone running from outside the hall from a distance.
As soon as the person entered the hall, he presented a letter. "Demon King, this is a letter from Thirteen Niang for you."
I was a little confused. Had something happened in Nanhai City again?
"Present it."
"Yes."
He handed the letter to me. I took it and opened it, seeing the words written inside:
Demon King, I wish to betroth my subordinate Hua Yue to Qu Tongzi, but I dare not make a decision rashly and seek your opinion.
Yue Jiu
"This is a good thing! Elder, please take a look."
Lin'er immediately walked over, and I handed him the letter. After reading it, he couldn't help but nod.
"I'll write back to her now."
Saying that, I got up and went to a nearby desk, picking up a brush to write. Then I thought and asked Lin'er,
"What do you think we should send as a gift?"
Lin'er replied without hesitation, "Let's send the Twin Fish Jade Pendant. It symbolizes being together for a lifetime."
"Good, that's a good idea. But do we have such a thing in the palace?"
"Yes, we do."
As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and the guards outside the door hurried in, kneeling.
"Elder, what are your orders?"
Lin'er instructed,
"I remember there is a pair of Twin Fish Jade Pendants in the palace. Go find Liu Mei. She knows where they are kept. Bring them to the hall."
"Yes."
After the guards left, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, and then two white figures entered the hall. They were Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang.
"Mu Ye, Elder, we're back."
"Excellent, excellent."
Yan Wushuang eagerly handed me a personal letter from Zhong Dang. I read it and then passed it to Lin'er to read.
Yan Wushuang said, "Zhong Dang has agreed to help us. He said that in three days, under the guise of recruiting helpers, he will join forces with several wealthy merchants to send a large contingent into Dongyue Town."
"He's thought of everything. This time, we have to thank that Qu Tongzi."
"Indeed. Without his recommendation and encouragement, we would have had to put in more effort."
As we were talking, the guard returned with a tray, placing it before me. "Demon King, what you asked for has arrived."
I lifted the red cloth covering it and saw the vividly carved, lifelike Twin Fish Jade Pendant, one person and one fish, for a lifetime.
I nodded with satisfaction and called over the messenger who had been waiting. "Young man, come here."
"Yes."
I placed the Twin Fish Jade Pendant in an envelope and handed it to him. "Take this letter back. Thirteen Niang will understand when she reads it."
"Yes."
The messenger took the letter, tucked it into his chest, and hurried out of the city to return to Dongyue Town.
Xue Gucheng asked curiously, "Mu Ye, who is the Twin Fish Jade Pendant for?"
"Oh, Thirteen Niang wrote saying she wants to betroth her adopted sister to Qu Tongzi. This is a good thing. The Twin Fish Jade Pendant is a wedding gift for them."
"It's a pity this wedding isn't in Nanhai City. We haven't seen a wedding in a long time."
"We will meet again."
Seeing that the sky was getting dark, I said to them, "You've had a long journey. You must be tired. Go back and rest. We have other things to do tomorrow."
"Alright. You and the Elder should also get some rest."
"Okay."
After Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang left, I said to Lin'er, "You should go and rest too."
"Okay."
After everyone had left, I returned to my room with a sigh.
The next afternoon, the messenger finally arrived back in Dongyue Town. After dismounting, he hurried to deliver the letter to Thirteen Niang.
In the back hall of the Dongming Royal Palace, the messenger presented the letter to Thirteen Niang.
Thirteen Niang asked, "Does the Demon King have any other instructions?"
"No, she just said that you will understand after reading the letter."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble. You may go and rest."
"Yes."
After the messenger left, she opened the letter and read:
I have received your letter. I agree to the matter between Qu Tongzi and Hua Yue. This is a good thing.
Following the Elder's advice, I have specifically chosen the Twin Fish Jade Pendant as a wedding gift for Qu Tongzi and Hua Yue.
Demon King
She then took out the Twin Fish Jade Pendant from the envelope, feeling a surge of joy. She knew the Demon King would agree.
Afterward, she summoned Qu Tongzi and Hua Yue and asked Qu Tongzi in front of them, "Since you wish to take Hua Yue away, I will betroth her to you."
Qu Tongzi looked surprised, his face showing a hint of difficulty.
"What, you're unwilling?"
Qu Tongzi calmed his flustered expression and replied respectfully, "Marriage is a major event and cannot be decided casually. Even if I am willing, Hua Yue may not be."
Thirteen Niang turned to Hua Yue and asked, "Hua Yue, are you willing?"
Hua Yue shyly lowered her head, a smile on her face, and replied, "If sir does not mind, I am willing to marry him."
Qu Tongzi had intended to take Hua Yue away and let her make her own choices, but he had never thought of marrying her. Moreover, he was over a hundred years older than her, which made him feel embarrassed.
Thirteen Niang asked Qu Tongzi again, "Look, my Hua Yue has agreed. Now it's up to you to nod."
"I, I, alas!"
At this moment, Fei Xiong and Dao Lang suddenly burst in. Fei Xiong looked at the people in the room and asked, "What's going on?"
Thirteen Niang told them, "I wish to betroth Hua Yue to sir, but I don't know if sir is willing."
Fei Xiong laughed and leaned towards Qu Tongzi. "Brother, to be honest, I can see that you like Miss Hua Yue."
Upon hearing this, Qu Tongzi's face turned red and white, and he didn't know how to explain.
Dao Lang was even more direct and brutal. He grabbed Qu Tongzi and pulled him towards Hua Yue, making them stand together. Then he exclaimed,
"They are indeed a match made in heaven, a talented man and a beautiful woman!"
Qu Tongzi, however, hesitated. After thinking for a while, he finally spoke.
"I think this marriage is not appropriate."
Thirteen Niang, Dao Lang, Fei Xiong, and Hua Yue all widened their eyes in confusion, looking at him in silence.
He explained, "I am hundreds of years older than Hua Yue. I am considered her senior. How can a senior marry a junior? It's not proper, not proper at all."
Upon hearing this, they all burst into laughter. Fei Xiong said helplessly,
"Brother, don't say hundreds of years. Even tens of thousands of years old, what does it matter? If you truly love her, it's all the same."
Qu Tongzi still shook his head and refused.
Hua Yue sighed and removed the hairpin from her head, walking up to Qu Tongzi. She returned it to him.
"I know my humble origins and that I am not worthy of a talented scholar like you. So please take back this hairpin and end my longing."
Saying that, she forced the hairpin into Qu Tongzi's hand and ran out of the back hall without looking back.
Fei Xiong said helplessly,
"Look at you, what are you doing? You don't even want such a good girl. Alas!"
Thirteen Niang said unhurriedly, "Why don't you hurry and chase after her?"
Dao Lang also urged him, "If you're a man, go and make things clear to her."
Fei Xiong was also anxious.
"Hurry and chase her! You're killing me."
Saying that, he pushed Qu Tongzi out of the door to encourage him to chase Hua Yue.
He sighed helplessly, then quickened his pace and ran to chase Hua Yue. He chased Hua Yue all the way to the back garden before catching up to her.
"Hua Yue, wait. Listen to me."
Hua Yue said aggrievedly, "Since sir dislikes me so much, what else is there to say?"
"Alas, I really don't."
He grabbed Hua Yue's wrist and explained to her, "You are still so young. You will meet someone you like even more. But I can't do anything except play the zither."
Hua Yue asked him with tears in her eyes, "Then you don't like me at all?"
At this, his face suddenly turned red, and he stammered, "Li-like."
"If you like me, then you refuse to marry me?"
Qu Tongzi shook his head. "It's not that I refuse, it's just that no one has ever liked me before, and I don't know how to like others."
Hua Yue laughed and suddenly hugged him.
"I don't know either, but I'm willing to accompany you, to watch the sunrise and sunset with you, to do your laundry and cooking, and to play music and write poetry with you in the snow."
Qu Tongzi was gradually moved by her words and felt a sense of emotion, but he was still a little uneasy. He asked again, "Are you truly willing to stay with me for a lifetime without regret?"
"No regrets."
Hearing Hua Yue's firm resolve, he smiled slightly and sighed, embracing her.
"Since you have no regrets, I should also be honest with you. In fact, from the day I met you, I felt something different about you. Both your musical talent and your skills have amazed me.
But I have to tell you, I like you. I like the way you play the zither, I like the way you laugh heartily, and I like your understanding nature.
So, can you give me a chance to tell you those words myself?"
Hua Yue nodded shyly.
"Will you marry me?"
Hua Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly burst into laughter, then suddenly began to cry.
Qu Tongzi quickly comforted her. "What's wrong? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Hua Yue shook her head. "No, I'm just so happy."
"Hahaha, you scared me. So, are you willing?"
"I am willing."
"Good. Then you must accept this." Saying that, he took out the hairpin Hua Yue had returned to him and pinned it on her head.
Hua Yue smiled sweetly and happily. She said, "Then let's go tell Sister Thirteen quickly. She's waiting for us."
"Okay."
When the two of them, with beaming faces and joyful hearts, walked back into the back hall hand in hand, Sister Thirteen, Dao Lang, and Fei Xiong knew that they had made up their minds.
Qu Tongzi took the initiative to speak. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly earlier. After I spoke with Hua Yue, I finally understood my own feelings. I am willing to marry her."
Sister Thirteen nodded with satisfaction, and Dao Lang and Fei Xiong were also very pleased.
Thirteen Niang thought for a moment and said to them, "I think you two should get married tomorrow."
"So soon?" Fei Xiong was a little surprised.
Thirteen Niang explained,
"Qu Tongzi is going to take Hua Yue away. Since that's the case, it's better to have the wedding here before you leave."
"Oh, then I'll have to drink a few more cups!"
Dao Lang also offered his blessings. "Then I wish you both good health, peace, and happiness."
"Hua Yue, you should go and get ready too."
"Okay." Hua Yue ran out happily.
"Sir, you should also go back and rest. I'll send someone to help you tidy up later."
"Okay, but..." he suddenly remembered.
"But what?"
"I don't like grand occasions. It's fine if it's just us."
"Alright, we'll do as you wish."
"Thank you, my lady."
"Hahaha, just call me Thirteen Niang. It feels strange to hear you call me 'my lady'."
Qu Tongzi's face turned slightly red. "Then, like Hua Yue, I'll call you Sister Thirteen."
"That's fine too."
"Sister Thirteen, esteemed lords, I'll take my leave now."
"Go, go."
Watching Qu Tongzi leave, she smiled knowingly. She never thought that the child she watched grow up would one day be personally sent off by her to get married.