Chapter 30: The Temple Fair’s Fateful Encounter

Watching Lin Hong and his group slink away from the Xiao family estate, Lan Wu Xi surmised that the day’s events would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on them.

He believed Lin Hong was currently mulling over his words. Though a clever man, Lin Hong was also a beast of immense ambition, its fangs yet to be bared. Today, Lan Wu Xi intended to personally ignite that ambition within him.

“To think he was Lin Hong. It’s fortunate I didn’t act too ruthlessly earlier. This is quite an unexpected boon.”

Of course, Lan Wu Xi would never collaborate indiscriminately; Lin Hong’s future achievements were destined to be terrifying.

According to the system’s records, for reasons unknown, Lin Hong would eventually ascend to the position of Lin family head. Through brutal and bloody means, he would eliminate all dissidents, slaughtering every cultivator with Lin family blood within a few short days. Using the Lin family as a stepping stone, he would rise to become a notorious and formidable tyrant.

By his calculations, Lin Hong was still more than three years away from becoming the family head. This unexpected encounter was quite a surprise, and he wondered if such a dramatic meeting was a blessing or a curse.

“Today… thank you so much…”

Xiao Xue, having approached at some point, bit her lower lip, a hint of reluctance in her expression. Her eyes held a complex emotion Lan Wu Xi couldn’t decipher.

“Hm? It’s nothing, really. Xiao Xue, junior sister, don’t speak like that. It’s only natural for an elder brother to do these things for his junior sister.”

Initially, Lan Wu Xi was momentarily stunned by Xiao Xue’s gesture and hesitated. When he noticed her tone had softened for some reason, he realized his efforts were paying off. He grinned, somewhat carried away by his success, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’ll consider that matter of yours… regardless of your intentions… in any case…”

By the end, Xiao Xue seemed to realize she had spoken too much. She simply turned away, saying no more.

“Oh my, what will become of you, my shy little girl?”

Xiao Mother suddenly darted out between Lan Wu Xi and Xiao Xue like a rabbit. She gripped Xiao Xue’s shoulders and whispered something close to her daughter’s slightly flushed ear.

Meanwhile, Xiao Father warmly grasped a bewildered Lan Wu Xi’s hand, showing none of the formality usually observed between elders and juniors. He was as affectionate as if they were already family.

“My dear son-in-law~, don’t be upset. My daughter has been quiet and reserved since childhood and has never had many friends. I often worry about her marriage prospects.”

‘Wait! What do her marriage prospects have to do with me? And did Uncle just call me ‘son-in-law’? No! This definitely isn’t a hallucination this time.’

Lan Wu Xi realized things were taking a strange turn. Being unexpectedly branded as their son-in-law was not a good development. If that girl, Lin Yufei, found out, it would lead to a mountain of misunderstandings.

The rumors would snowball, becoming undeniable truth. The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.

“No, no, Uncle, you might be misunderstanding something. My relationship with Junior Sister isn’t…”

“Ah, young man, we understand. Though you are senior and junior disciples, you are not from the same sect, and my wife and I don’t place too much importance on these worldly rules. As long as you truly love Xue’er, my wife and I will be content.”

With that, Xiao Father solemnly patted Lan Wu Xi’s shoulder, sighed softly, and spoke with a hint of gravity, exactly like a father-in-law entrusting his daughter to another man.

“This…”

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Lan Wu Xi’s forehead. This misunderstanding seemed to have spiraled out of control. What was he to do? In this situation, it would be impossible to explain away in a short time.

“Mom! I told you, we don’t have that kind of relationship!”

Xiao Xue hurriedly interjected, waving her hands frantically to emphasize her point. Her small face was flushed, like a half-ripe apple—youthful yet subtly alluring.

Xiao Xue’s younger sister, Shuang’er, oblivious to the situation, clapped her hands and laughed joyfully at the scene before her. A happy smile bloomed on her innocent face, and her gleeful, skipping demeanor seemed to add another layer of happiness to the surroundings.

“Haha, good, good! I have a brother-in-law! I have a brother-in-law!”

“Shuang’er, don’t talk nonsense! Or big sister will spank your bottom!”

Xiao Xue, flustered and annoyed, chided her sister, yet her hand gently stroked her sister’s head with doting affection. In her eyes, her family was her entire treasure. In that moment, she wished time could freeze.

Lan Wu Xi smiled, gazing at the harmonious scene before him, and couldn’t help but smile knowingly, feeling fortunate about the decision he had made.

Afterward, Lan Wu Xi bid farewell to Xiao Xue and her family. Since Xiao Xue had agreed to consider his proposal, his objective had been achieved. He didn’t want to pressure her further.

Having successfully completed the first step, the rest was merely a matter of time.

Lan Wu Xi was exceedingly excited after resolving the matter. The burden on his back felt lighter for the first time, and the brief, refreshing sense of ease it brought was exceptionally precious to him.

How long had it been since he felt this way? He couldn’t even remember himself.

‘Singing in broad daylight, one must drink freely; with youth as companion, it’s good to return home.’

Lan Wu Xi finally understood Du Fu’s sentiments from that era. He had put in countless efforts to escape his villainous fate, only to meet with constant setbacks and repeated failures. Just when he was about to give up, the female lead offered him a glimmer of hope.

Now, things finally seemed to be turning around, and no wonder Lan Wu Xi was so overjoyed.

“Girlie~”

“Idiot!”

With the Core Disciple Selection still several weeks away and the matter with the female lead having finally progressed, he felt free from worries.

*Cough, cough.* Of course, some might ask: wouldn’t Lan Wu Xi need to cultivate and prepare for the upcoming selection?

You’ve forgotten Lan Wu Xi’s unique status.

Even if he indulged in leisurely pursuits every day, his strength would still automatically increase. Thus, Lan Wu Xi had practically given up on cultivation. Besides, it had been a long time since he last saw Lin Yufei.

Since their last incident, he hadn’t had a proper conversation with the girl or gone out with her. Now that he had the time, he certainly wouldn’t let such a perfect opportunity slip away.

Lin Yufei had also heard about Lan Wu Xi’s situation, but after Lan Wu Xi properly explained his parents’ current circumstances, she sighed in relief. Lin Yufei held deep affection for Lan Father and Lan Mother, as she had received considerable help from the Lan family.

In the past, due to her family’s debts, Lin Yufei was almost forcibly abducted by an overbearing local tyrant to become a child bride for his son. Fortunately, Lan Father and Lan Mother helped them repay their debts; otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.

Afterward, citing gratitude as her reason, Lin Yufei often came to the Lan residence to help with chores like tending the courtyard, saying she wanted to repay their kindness. It was through these interactions that Lan Wu Xi fell in love with the warm-hearted and kind girl.

As time went on, the Lan family quickly grew fond of the young girl, even treating her like their own adopted daughter.

“I can’t believe the Lin family was so outrageous! They even tried to abduct me to be his concubine back then… If not for Young Master Yun, I might have already…”

“Indeed, I’ve long disapproved of the Lin family’s actions. Now, they dared to harm my family. I will make them pay the price they deserve.”

Lan Wu Xi’s clenched fists clearly conveyed his resolve. Lin Yufei, placing her fair, slender hand gently on his fist, spoke softly to soothe him.

“Idiot~, I know you’re worried about Auntie and Uncle, and am I not equally worried? But with our current strength, contending with the Lin family still requires careful planning.”

She was right. No matter how much the Lin family had declined, a dying camel was still bigger than a horse. They were, after all, one of the three great families. To contend with them alone was clearly not a wise move, and Lan Wu Xi knew this all too well.

“Forget it, girlie. Let’s not dwell on these unhappy things. Didn’t you say there’s a temple fair here today? Come on! Let’s go have some fun.”

Naturally taking Lin Yufei’s soft, delicate hand, Lan Wu Xi made his way with her to the temple fair being held nearby.

The sky had gradually darkened, and street stalls began to hang bright lanterns. Every vendor was all smiles, and the crowds also began to thicken. One could even see many graceful maidens, arm-in-arm with their beloveds, standing on small bridges, admiring the lanterns and the moon.

“Wow~, this mask is so beautiful!”

Lin Yufei stopped before a stall, exclaiming in astonishment at the peculiar and exotic masks displayed.

There were many types of masks, from ox-headed demons to various spirits; everything imaginable was available. One had to admire the vendor’s meticulous efforts.

What had truly captivated Lin Yufei’s attention was a half-mask. Its golden patterns were intricate and complex, yet possessed a distinct beauty. A feather from an unknown demonic beast adorned it, adding a touch of mystery.

“Miss, why don’t you buy one? It’s not expensive, only 20 gold coins.”

The vendor was an elderly woman. Despite her unsteady gait, she still ventured out to set up her stall, which in some ways suggested a dereliction of duty on her children’s part.

Seeing that Lin Yufei couldn’t put the mask down, she knew she had found an easy mark and intended to take the opportunity to fleece them thoroughly. This was a common trait among merchants, and this old woman was certainly no exception.

“20 gold coins? That’s so expensive…”

20 gold coins were considered the highest currency unit apart from spirit stones. Mortals primarily used gold coins for transactions, and 20 gold coins would ordinarily be a considerable fortune.

Ordinarily, 20 gold coins could buy dozens of such masks, yet this purchase clearly showed the immense impact of the temple fair on prices.

“I reckon this vendor most likely sees us as easy marks,” Lan Wu Xi said, shaking his head from the side. “This mask is probably worth 2 gold coins at most, yet they’re selling it for 20. Do they really think gullible fools are everywhere?”

It wasn’t that he was being a spoilsport; it was just that the price was truly exorbitant. He was already running low on funds and absolutely couldn’t exhaust his current supply before the next month’s spirit stones arrived!

“Young lady, today is a temple fair that only happens once a year! And just look at this mask, how beautiful it is! The patterns on it were meticulously carved by a master, stroke by stroke, symbolizing the bliss and perfection of love.”

The old woman pointed to the mask in Lin Yufei’s hand. As she spoke, Lin Yufei’s cheeks flushed a faint pink, making her look incredibly charming and adorable.

“Moreover, this mask holds a little-known legend! It is said that if a woman wearing this mask is confessed to by a man also wearing this mask on our Reed Moon Bridge, the two will never be separated for their entire lives!”

“I’ll buy this mask!”

Lan Wu Xi suddenly declared, pulling 20 clinking gold coins from his ring and placing them in front of the stall.