My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Chen Yi took a deep look at Min Ning’s back, hesitated no longer, turned around, and pushed the door open to leave.

The light sound of the door opening and closing was heard, and Min Ning’s shoulders trembled slightly at the window, almost imperceptibly.

She still didn’t turn around, just looked out at the endless night, moonless and starless, with only the sound of waves in the forest, gently closing her eyes, a sigh barely audible escaping her lips.

Is this person always so indecisive?

The same was true at the Sword Pool, and now it is the same.

Once a person desires too much, they become muddled, unable to cut off when they should.

The halo of the lantern under the porch shone through the papered window, casting flickering shadows on her profile.

The thin veil over the lantern’s warm light, destined to stay bright through the night, carried a soporific yellow hue; Chen Yi traversed the mottled shadows, now seeking traces of Qin Qingluo.

Min Ning’s last words weren’t heavy, they floated lightly but carried more weight than any harsh words.

He truly couldn’t stay there with peace of mind.

Chen Yi paused slightly, standing under the porch, the night wind brushing his face, bringing a touch of chill, which clarified his chaotic thoughts somewhat. He looked up, layer upon layer of pavilions, deep courtyards; Qin Qingluo... where could she be at this moment?

The wedding wine in his hand swirled, reflecting the moonlight filtering through the clouds.

Chen Yi turned the corner, the wind chime ahead suddenly moved, a figure in white swirled around, extending slender jade hands. Chen Yi’s gaze sharpened, instantly grabbing the wrist and pulling it unceremoniously.

"Yin Weiyin, what are you doing here?"

The female crown, who intended to appear floating like an immortal, stumbled, narrowly avoiding falling into Chen Yi’s arms. She quickly steadied herself, intending to calm her mind, but upon meeting his scrutinizing gaze, her instinctual nerves trembled.

Chen Yi stared at her intently.

All around he could not find Qin Qingluo, yet encountered Yin Weiyin.

The peculiarity among this...

"Yin Weiyin, what have you done again?"

"I... I just..." The female crown hesitated instinctively, and as Chen Yi’s eyes grew more suspicious, she quickly added, "I was helping you."

"Helping me?" Chen Yi questioned suspiciously, suddenly alert.

It wasn’t that he was overly suspicious, just that in dealing with his household in Great Yin, he had to be; past events still vivid in memory, who knew without caution, what mischief Great Yin might concoct.

Yin Weiyin seemed to sense something from his gaze, hastily explaining, "Husband, I just saw Qin Qingluo."

Chen Yi furrowed his brows, continuing to ask, "Where is she now?"

"Probably over... on that porch."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi peered into the distance, sensing Qin Qingluo’s presence, indeed there. He turned back, slightly releasing Yin Weiyin’s hand,

"Why did you meet her?"

Yin Weiyin gently rubbed her wrist, red from his grip. Hearing the question, an unavoidable hint of loss flickered—did he really trust her so little...

But a slight shift in thought explained why, at this moment, he trusted her so little. Knowing she aided him when he needed it most, only then would he feel remorse and guilt.

Yin Weiyin sorted her thoughts, slowly saying, "Just talked a bit, girl to girl. She came out herself, I found it odd, so I spoke with her for a while."

Her words could be called vague and ambiguous; Chen Yi’s suspicion grew further. If not forced by circumstances, he truly would have steeped this unclear woman in Chrysanthemum Tea to interrogate thoroughly.

Yin Weiyin noticed where his gaze swept, shivered immediately, and quickly said, "You, you... why not... trust me this time? I’m really helping you."

Afraid Chen Yi lacked patience, the female crown continued, "You, you just need to remember... when a hero departs, only the green mountains remain like the river Luo."

Seeing her expression unchanged, Chen Yi frowned, saying, "What’s the meaning of this poem, I don’t understand."

"You only need to remember this poem to win her heart." Yin Weiyin gently flicked her long sleeves, slowly saying, "The subtlety within, indescribably wondrous; not seeing the mountains’ true face, only because you’re inside them."

Perhaps it’s a quirk of Taoists, the female crown’s words were confusing as mist; only, given the wedding night, Chen Yi couldn’t pursue further with her, casting her a sharp glance.

He slowly dropped a line, "If something goes wrong, you’ll be held accountable."

With his current capabilities, even twisting something forcibly was no longer difficult, not impossible, just unwilling. Min Ning had long entrusted her heart to him, the two had an understanding from a few years ago in the Capital City, and Qin Qingluo had completely accepted him today during the wedding, establishing a small home together. Both women were so strong, yet both relationships were equally fragile.

Chen Yi couldn’t bear to destroy it, nor would he allow Yin Weiyin to disrupt it.

The female crown pursed her lips, not responding, only releasing a small breath after Chen Yi turned away.

In the past, indeed, there were times when she overstepped; looking back now, there were indeed occasions almost leading to grave mistakes. Even if unintentional, he wouldn’t let it go. As she recalled, every near-failure stemmed not from failing to capture his heart, but from her means lacking sophistication.

Slowly turning her head, her autumn-water eyes came to rest in the direction of the wedding chamber.

Since Chen Yi had come out, and Qin Qingluo was also outside, then within the wedding room, only Min Ning remained?

With that strange remark of his... what was it again...

Yin Weiyin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing on her lips,

It was time to put real skills on display.

............

Inside the bridal chamber, Min Ning stood quietly before the window.

Outside, the sound of waves in the sea of trees persisted, accentuating the emptiness within the room.

The red candles had burned halfway, wax tears piled up, much like the unspeakable heaviness in her heart at this moment.

She couldn’t say if she felt more relieved or more disappointed now, perhaps a mix of both; comforted that Chen Yi ultimately heeded her words, yet inevitably born of his departure, and the state of being alone in an empty room, giving rise to a slightly cryptic, feminine mood endemic to her.