My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

But outside the window, except for the deep night and the whimpering sea of trees, there was nothing, even the moonlight was stingy, hiding behind the clouds, unwilling to give her a shred of clarity.

"Tonight you let him go, but what about tomorrow?"

Yin Weiyin’s voice lingered like a haunting spirit.

Tomorrow... what will tomorrow be like? Can she really act like nothing happened, talking and laughing with him, as if tonight never occurred? Watch him paired with Qin Qingluo, see him give all his gentleness and attention to another woman, a woman as strong as herself?

The thought of that image made her heart feel like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, sharp sorrow rushing to her nose.

Only at this moment did Heroine Min remember that she was no longer the Young Hero in the Capital City,

The Young Hero wanders afar, but the female knight always has her concerns.

Having mingled in the Jianghu, seen much strife and petty squabbles, even though her original intention remains, her nostalgia for the past grows ever deeper, no longer like when she first left the Capital City, like a mayfly between heaven and earth, unanchored, able to go anywhere.

It’s not that she doesn’t care; precisely because she cares too much, she’s more afraid of losing.

Afraid that if she fights, even the affection she has now will be depleted, afraid that if she doesn’t yield, he’ll be put in a difficult position, it will make her seem... like a jealous woman.

Thinking of this, Min Ning herself felt ridiculous.

But Yin Weiyin was right; when did she become so hesitant and timid? Min Ning always acted according to her heart, embracing pleasure and revenge. Why, especially with this matter of love, should she so wrong herself?

"Bearing humiliation for a heavy burden..."

These four words hit her face like a whip, burning painfully.

Indeed, why? Why should she, who knew Chen Yi first, have to yield again and again? Why on the wedding night, should she be the one guarding an empty room, leaving in sorrow? Just because she’s heroic?

To hell with being sensible! To hell with heroism!

A long-lost bravery and fiery spirit, belonging to the Young Hero, mixed with the grievances and unwillingness suppressed for so long, suddenly surged from her heart.

Why should she concede to Qin Qingluo? Why should she let him think that she, Min Ning, is the one who can be easily abandoned or pacified?

Is her affection for him truly shallower than Qin Qingluo’s? Those battles fought side by side, those heartfelt confessions atop the towers of the Capital City, those mutual understandings and concerns only they shared... do they all have to give way just because of a marriage contract?

Now that Qin Qingluo and Chen Yi have fame and substance, then should she retreat even from this last step?

No.

She suddenly turned, her back to the window, her chest heaving, the candlelight illuminating the flames burning in her eyes, a determination almost akin to risking everything in desperation.

Yin Weiyin may have ulterior motives, but her words may not be entirely unreasonable.

Some things, if you don’t fight for them, will really be lost.

She looked at that pair of burning red candles, at the pair of wedding cups on the table yet to be used, an absurd and daring thought grew wildly in her heart like weeds.

Why... shouldn’t she fight?

Footsteps approached, breaking her thoughts.

It was Chen Yi and Qin Qingluo returning.

Min Ning’s heart suddenly raced, almost about to jump out of her chest; she instinctively wanted to hide, to conceal, her body moving quicker than her thoughts, slipping behind the giant screen.

In the darkness, she could clearly hear her drum-like heartbeats, feel the slight dizziness brought by the rushing blood.

She listened to Chen Yi entering, heard Qin Qingluo coldly asking for wine, listened to them about to complete that unfinished ceremony...

At that moment when Chen Yi handed out the wine cup, all hesitation, struggle, and fear were completely suppressed by a powerful mix of unwillingness and bravery.

She took a deep breath, stepped out from behind the screen.

Facing their shock and astonishment, even Qin Qingluo’s undisguised icy anger, she straightened her spine, like an unsheathed sharp sword, piercing, firm, even with a hint of provocation.

"I’ve changed my mind." She heard her own voice, the underlying quiver barely suppressed but clear enough, "On second thought, I can’t just... make it easy for you."

The candlelight flickered, highlighting her resolute features.

"This wedding wine," her gaze swept over the livid Qin Qingluo, finally landing on the complex expression of Chen Yi, speaking each word firmly, "I don’t know if I should give it up."

.........

In the heavy shadows cast by the lamps, under the warm glowing halo, emotions gradually eased, only then did Chen Yi regain a semblance of wedding joy.

Returning to the bridal room, Chen Yi took a deep breath.

He thought Min Ning had already left.

With Min Ning’s personality, once those words were spoken, she would decisively leave the Prince Mansion, as if she had never been there. She was always like that, even if mentioned later, it would be with laughter and chatter, as if completely unburdened.

Chen Yi’s heart paused; he too wished her to stay, but she couldn’t be kept, he could never keep Min Ning.

The more he tried to keep her, the more she wanted to leave.

Slowly pushing the door open, in the brightly lit bridal room, the red candles continued to burn fiercely, casting a warm glow over the festive arrangements. The pair of exquisite wedding cups still held firmly in Chen Yi’s hands, the alcohol slightly rippling, reflecting the flickering candlelight.

Qin Qingluo moved to the table, paused slightly, did not turn her head, only extended her articulate hand, her tone unreadable: "Wine."

Chen Yi stepped forward, just about to hand over one cup, completing the long-interrupted ceremony.

Just then, from behind the screen depicting a picture of a hundred birds, came a very slight sound of clothes rustling.

Both of them paused.

That ominous feeling in Chen Yi’s heart suddenly magnified.

The next moment, a fiery red figure slowly stepped out from the edge of the screen.

Min Ning’s face showed no expression, her bright phoenix eyes arresting, first lingering on the hand Chen Yi held with the wedding wine, then turning to Qin Qingluo who hesitated slightly.

She stood there, unyielding and unwavering.

"...Min Ning?" Chen Yi almost thought he was seeing things, his voice carrying incredulous surprise.

Hadn’t she already left? Why was she still in this bridal room?

Qin Qingluo’s eyes showed surprise, followed by the sharp snake-like gaze of the Princess sweeping over Chen Yi.

Min Ning should have left, presumably she should have gone.

Her departure meant giving Chen Yi to Min Ning, equally, if Chen Yi came to her, it meant Min Ning gave him to her, Qin Qingluo believed, this was their mutual understanding,

If she hadn’t left, then why did Chen Yi come looking for her?

Could it be he was still living in some dream?

Qin Qingluo slowly withdrew her hand suspended in mid-air, placing it behind her, slowly turning.

Her lofty figure cast a huge shadow under the candlelight, almost enveloping Chen Yi entirely. Those snake-like eyes, a storm instantly swirling within, darker than the night outside, hidden among tightly pressed lips was her offended fury.

"Heroine Min," she spoke, her voice cold as the depth of winter chill, "Returning and concealing yourself behind the screen of this marital room, what is your intention?"

The words were directed at Min Ning, yet her snake-like eyes swept toward Chen Yi.

The air inside seemed suddenly evacuated, heavy to the point of suffocation.

The crackling sound of burning red candles felt particularly piercing at this moment.

Min Ning’s gaze passed over Qin Qingluo’s face filled with implied anger, finally securing on Chen Yi’s face, her lips barely pulling into a semblance of a smile.

"I’ve changed my mind." Her voice was low, "On second thought, I can’t just... make it easy for you."

She stepped forward, the candlelight dancing across her spirited features.

"This wedding wine," she looked at Chen Yi, then glanced at the livid Qin Qingluo, spoke each word decisively, "I don’t know if I should give it up."

Her words settled, with silence flooding the room.

Only their breathing intersected with the air filled with suffocating joy and invisible smoke.

That pair of wedding wine, yet untouched in Chen Yi’s hand, suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, a drop of cold sweat slowly dripping down his forehead.

Both women were demanding an explanation from him.