Snow fell outside the window, dusting the lattice panes. Yu Zhiling leaned against the windowsill, scooping up handfuls of snow and shaping them into little balls, thoroughly engrossed in her playful task.
Beside her, the young man sat upright on a cushion, his spine straight as he dipped his brush into ink, each stroke deliberate and precise. His calligraphy was bold yet refined, radiating quiet strength.
Yu Zhiling turned her head, placing the tiny snowman she had crafted before Mo Zhu.
"Quick, praise me!"
Mo Zhu set down his brush, studying her creation with earnest attention before offering sincere admiration: "It’s lovely—lifelike, like a miniature version of you, Master."
Yu Zhiling pressed her ice-cold, reddened hands against his cheeks, grinning. "Warm them up for me."
Though she could easily have used spiritual energy to solve the problem, she preferred to fuss over Mo Zhu instead.
Patient as ever, Mo Zhu indulged her, enveloping her hands in his own. His warmth seeped into her skin, chasing away the chill.
Glancing at the stack of invitations on the table, Yu Zhiling brightened. "You’ve written so many already!"
Mo Zhu tilted his head, pressing a kiss to her wrist, his voice tender. "The thought of our union fills me with joy. I write whenever I have time."
By the customs of the Central Continent, wedding invitations were meant to be a joint effort, but Yu Zhiling disliked writing and had dumped the entire task onto Mo Zhu. To her surprise, he had already completed thousands in just seven days.
She peppered his lips with playful kisses, murmuring between pecks, "You’re such a good boy, my dear. Your master adores you."
Since recovering his memories, Mo Zhu understood the meaning behind her teasing words. He slid an arm around her waist, effortlessly lifting her onto his lap.
Eyes crinkling with amusement, he leaned in to return her kisses. Yu Zhiling giggled, dodging, and he chased her laughter until their mirth filled the room. Finally, he pinned her gently against the desk.
"Shall we go choose our wedding attire?" he asked.
Yu Zhiling scratched his chin. "Your martial siblings haven’t even settled on the banquet date yet. We still need someone to pick an auspicious day. Are you really in such a hurry?"
"Yes," Mo Zhu replied, utterly serious. "I want to see you in wedding robes. Don’t you want to see me in red?"
He knew exactly how to sway her. Yu Zhiling adored his face—she could never tire of it—and she often teased him for his habit of wearing solemn black, which made him look far too austere.
Seeing her waver, Mo Zhu pressed his advantage. "There’s a renowned tailor not far from here. Many wealthy couples from the Central Continent commission their wedding robes there. Shall we take a look?"
How could she refuse? "Alright," she agreed.
Mo Zhu smiled, adding, "I’ve also found us a house—a new one, spacious and grand. Would you like to see what else we might need?"
He was always so thoughtful, handling everything in advance.
Delighted, Yu Zhiling showered her disciple with kisses.
"I want a huge hot spring, a pavilion, and orange blossom trees in the courtyard. Oh, and have Third Martial Brother make us a swing! We’ll need a daybed and reclining chairs too."
She rambled on, listing one desire after another, while Mo Zhu listened attentively, committing each word to memory. Watching her animatedly envision their future home, he could almost see it himself—the life he had yearned for all these years.
"One last thing," Yu Zhiling said, grinning.
Mo Zhu’s voice softened. "What is it?"
"A painting," she whispered conspiratorially. "Our... wedding portrait?"
Mo Zhu chuckled, understanding the reference. Though he had rarely ventured out in that other world, he had made an effort to learn its ways, if only to keep track of her.
His smile turned sheepish. "But my painting skills are lacking."
Yu Zhiling feigned sternness. "Skill doesn’t matter. What’s important is the sentiment behind it!"
"Alright," he conceded, brushing a kiss against her lips. "I’ll paint it for you."
Their eyes met, each reflecting the other’s face.
Yu Zhiling’s grin widened as she traced his cheek. "In that other world... how did you spend your days?"
Mo Zhu’s voice was quiet. "I lived on a mountain, near the orphanage. I rarely went out, afraid the heavenly laws might notice me. Most days, I slept, waking only to hear reports about you—whether you had enough money, how your health was, how you were coping."
"Every month, when the funds were sent, I’d go see you. Just from a distance, watching you grow—from a swaddled infant to a graceful girl, then into an independent woman. That was enough."
Yu Zhiling frowned. "You never thought to approach me?"
Mo Zhu shook his head. "I didn’t dare. If the heavenly laws had discovered me, they might have traced the connection back to you."
He had scarcely left that small house, spending twenty-four years in near isolation.
His only monthly outing was to see her.
A pang of sorrow struck Yu Zhiling’s heart. She pinched his cheek. "Silly fool. Then why did you later pretend to be ‘A-Gui’ and reach out to me? Weren’t you afraid of exposing me?"
"By then, my fear of losing you outweighed my fear of the heavenly laws," Mo Zhu admitted, nuzzling her palm. "I thought money and good treatment would be enough, but I forgot how loneliness can drive a person to despair. The day you... considered ending your life, I was right below you."
A shudder ran through him at the memory. When Yu Zhiling had stepped back from the rooftop’s edge, his legs had given way, his heart pounding violently.
That very night, he had created a gaming account.
It was a reckless move, but fortune had favored him—his quiet existence had gone unnoticed by the heavenly laws.
Yu Zhiling wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his face repeatedly.
"From now on, I’ll always be with you."
Mo Zhu pressed his lips to her ear, murmuring, "And I’ll always be with you, Master."
The estate Mo Zhu had purchased was indeed grand.
Though he had handled all the arrangements, Yu Zhiling had never gone down the mountain to see it, insisting on preserving the surprise. She trusted him completely—all she had to do was voice her wishes, and her disciple would make them reality.
Their union ceremony was set for the eleventh day of the sixth month, an auspicious date chosen by Yan Shanqing.
In the months leading up to it, Mo Zhu spent half a month finishing the invitations, selecting their wedding attire with Yu Zhiling, and then devoting his days and nights to preparing their new home.
By the time Yu Zhiling finally saw it, the fifth month was nearly over.
Staring at the majestic, sprawling residence, she fell silent for a long moment before finally remarking,
"You’ve come a long way from your humble beginnings. Are you richer than your master now?"
Mo Zhu laughed, squeezing her hand as he pushed open the gates and led her inside.
"My money is all with Shizun, it's all yours. You're the wealthy one here."
Yu Zhiling laughed again: "Well, that's true."
The pavilion corridors, the lotus pond—he had planted many flowers and expanded numerous gazebos. Knowing Yu Zhiling loved stargazing at night, he even specially purchased a quiet, elevated estate where one could look up from the courtyard and see the glittering stars.
The bedchamber was spacious. When Yu Zhiling pushed open the door, the first thing she saw was an empty frame hanging on the wall.
"Why is there only a frame? Where's the painting?"
"The painting will be given to Shizun on our wedding night," Mo Zhu replied with a smile.
Yu Zhiling curled her lips. "Oh ho, keeping it a secret, are we?"
She brushed aside the beaded curtain separating the rooms and stepped into the inner chamber, where she froze at the sight of a bed so large it could rival three of the ones back at Tingchun Cliff. "Why did you make such an enormous bed?"
Mo Zhu wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear.
"For sleeping, of course."
Yu Zhiling’s mind immediately went elsewhere. "Y-you shameless—!"
Mo Zhu looked utterly serious. "It really is just for sleeping."
He released her and sat on the bed, pointing to the padded headboard. "Stuffed with silk cotton so Shizun won’t bump her head. It’ll be more comfortable for us to sleep. Third Martial Uncle helped pick the wood—sturdy and solid, so it won’t creak too loudly."
"It’s wide and spacious enough to roll around in. Later, when we—"
"Shut up!" Yu Zhiling lunged forward, clamping a hand over his mouth, her cheeks burning. "Don’t say things like that!"
Mo Zhu blinked innocently, amusement dancing in his eyes as he spoke against her palm. "What is Shizun imagining? That’s not what I meant."
His warm breath tickled her skin, damp and tingling, and even though they’d been intimate countless times, Yu Zhiling still felt a shiver run through her. She quickly pulled her hand away.
Mo Zhu hooked an arm around her waist and effortlessly pulled her into his lap.
Yu Zhiling pushed at him. "Mo Zhu!"
His gaze darkened as he grinned. "Let’s stay here tonight."
She wasn’t foolish—she knew exactly what he meant. "No!"
"Why not? I made the bed soft for you, and it’s more comfortable than the one at Tingchun Cliff. Everything’s ready—shouldn’t Shizun get used to it?"
"Ugh! Your head is full of nonsense!"
Mo Zhu nuzzled her ear, chuckling. "There are other surprises too. I’ll tell Shizun after we move in."
Yu Zhiling had no idea what he meant by "surprises."
That night, they didn’t stay at the new estate after all, returning instead to Tingchun Cliff.
But that night, the bed at Tingchun Cliff creaked endlessly, with Yu Zhiling whimpering, "My head—I bumped my head!"
Only when the young man wedged a pillow between her and the headboard did her complaints cease, leaving only other sounds in their wake.
June 11th arrived swiftly.
The wedding of Immortal Lord Zhuoyu of Yingshan Sect and the crown prince of the Tengshe royal clan of the demon realm was grand and solemn. Guests from the three sects and four great families of the Central Continent, renowned rogue cultivators, and even envoys from the demon realm attended.
Though Mo Zhu had chosen not to return to the demon realm, the former retainers of the Tengshe royal house still sent gifts.
Mo Zhu hadn’t slept all night, waiting until dawn to set out from the new estate to Yingshan Sect for the bridal procession.
When he reached the peak of Tingchun Cliff—a place so familiar it was etched into his bones—he found himself uncharacteristically nervous, his throat tight as he stared fixedly at the mountain path ahead. Only when someone approached did he snap out of it.
Yun Zhi, dressed not in his usual white but in pale blue, patted Mo Zhu’s shoulder. "Don’t be nervous. Today’s a joyous day."
"...Right."
In the distance, Mo Zhu spotted Wu Zhaoyan, impeccably dressed. Their eyes met, and Wu Zhaoyan gave him a slight nod, which Mo Zhu returned politely.
He didn’t know if Wu Zhaoyan had truly moved on, but he understood that by keeping his feelings unspoken—Yu Zhiling still unaware—Wu Zhaoyan had chosen not to interfere.
Wu Zhaoyan himself knew that friendship was the only path left for them.
As the auspicious hour arrived, the sound of ceremonial music swelled, and spirit beasts adorned in crimson appeared along the mountain path, their steps scattering illusory blossoms woven from spiritual energy.
The first person Mo Zhu saw was Jiang Kuangqiu, dressed formally. According to Central Continent tradition, elders led the procession. The only elder Yu Zhiling had left was her grandmother, the former head of the Jiang family.
The figures that followed weren’t Yu Zhiling but Yan Shanqing and the others.
Outwardly, Mo Zhu appeared calm, but his heart pounded violently, his mouth dry as he kept his eyes locked on the path—until a flash of red appeared.
He and Yu Zhiling were the only ones dressed in crimson today, and even among the crowd, he would have recognized her instantly.
A phoenix crown adorned her head, its beaded veil swaying with each step, obscuring her face. Her wedding robes, tailored from the finest silk blended with mermaid gauze, were embroidered with lifelike phoenixes that seemed ready to take flight.
As she moved, the mermaid gauze shimmered like a rainbow, her train stretching three feet behind her, rippling like radiant clouds and fluttering phoenix feathers.
Mo Zhu had seen the dress during the fitting, and even then, it had stunned him. But now, his heart raced like a lovesick fool’s, so entranced he barely noticed when she reached him.
Only when Yun Zhi coughed and whispered, "Mo Zhu, take her hand," did he snap back to reality.
He hastily extended his hand. "Shi—my wife."
With his keen Tengshe hearing, he caught her soft laugh even amid the noise.
The veil hid her face, but he knew she was smiling.
Yu Zhiling placed her red-dyed hand in his palm.
As they walked side by side, she whispered, "Do I look beautiful?"
Mo Zhu couldn’t suppress his grin.
"Beautiful."
So beautiful it felt like a dream. So beautiful he wanted to shut the doors and keep her all to himself.
He led her onto the wedding carriage, and as the curtains fell, the celebration truly began.
They returned to their new home, now adorned with red silks and auspicious charms. In the main hall, they bowed three times.
First to heaven and earth—a tribute to the Heavenward Lotus of Lingyou Path, which had granted them a second chance.
Second to Jiang Kuangqiu, Yan Shanqing, Ning Hengwu, Xiang Wuxue, and Mei Qiongge—the Jiang family being Yu Zhiling’s paternal lineage, while the others had raised her as their own, closer than blood.
Finally, to each other. Their foreheads touched with a soft chime of hair ornaments, and they laughed in unison.
Mo Zhu murmured, "I’ll take good care of you."
And he always had.
Yu Zhiling replied to him, "I will love you well too."
Their joy today was grand, and the banquet was lavishly spread, filling the entire open space before the estate gates. All the prominent figures of the Central Continent had gathered here.
Yu Zhiling, weighed down by her phoenix crown, didn’t last long before exhaustion overtook her. Naturally, Mo Zhu couldn’t bear to see her suffer and quickly asked Ning Hengwu and Mei Qiongge to escort her back.
Once she returned to the bedchamber, she collapsed onto the bed. Ning Hengwu closed the door behind them, while Mei Qiongge sat beside her, both staring at her intently.
Yu Zhiling: "?"
She casually lifted the beaded veil covering her face and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Ning Hengwu gave a light cough and handed her a porcelain vial. "Take this."
Yu Zhiling: "What is it?"
Ning Hengwu shot her a reproachful glance. "That boy is still young and doesn’t know restraint. Men of the demon race are different from those of the Central Continent—most rely on brute strength. This ointment will help you recover quickly. Last time, you..."
Yu Zhiling instantly understood her meaning.
Last month, she had lost a bet to Mo Zhu, and the two had shut themselves away for three days without sleep. When it was over, Mo Zhu had descended the mountain refreshed, continuing the construction of their new estate, while Yu Zhiling remained behind, groaning as she rubbed her sore waist—only to be caught in the act by Ning Hengwu, who had come to deliver medicinal tonics.
Yu Zhiling’s face burned crimson as she hastily accepted the vial. "I—I get it. Thank you, Second Sister."
Mei Qiongge then produced her own gift—a wooden box.
The moment Yu Zhiling peeked inside, she snapped it shut, her voice rising sharply, "Fourth Sister, I’m a proper lady!"
Mei Qiongge winced, covering her ears as she dodged away. Seeing Yu Zhiling’s blush spread down to her neck, she teased with a grin, "I had it custom-made. Newlyweds should indulge a little in the bedchamber."
Yu Zhiling flung it back at her. "No way!"
Mei Qiongge sighed in exaggerated disappointment. "Fine, have it your way."
After keeping Yu Zhiling company for a while, they estimated Mo Zhu would return soon and took their leave.
Once outside the courtyard gate, Ning Hengwu suddenly noticed Mei Qiongge’s empty hands.
"What happened to the gift?"
Mei Qiongge chuckled. "Right where it belongs."
