My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Truly rare.

Could it be that even I, Min Yuechi, feel melancholic about the changing seasons?

She took a deep breath, suppressing the chaos in her heart, and turned to leave this place filled with discord.

This place is unsuitable for a prolonged stay, since he’s already gone to find Qin Qingluo, her presence in this bridal chamber would only add to the awkwardness.

However, just as she turned and raised her eyes, her body suddenly froze.

At the doorway, unbeknownst to her, stood a silent figure in white.

The heroine intended to leave swiftly, like lightning, only to turn and face the Goddess.

Yin Weiyin leaned against the door frame, her sleeves hanging down, exuding an elegant demeanor, as if merely passing by.

She did not look at Min Ning, instead slightly tilted her head, observing the festive decorations in the room, her gaze paused momentarily on the burning red candles, with a fleeting smile gracing her lips.

"He left quite swiftly," Yin Weiyin spoke softly, her voice sounding like jade stones clashing, cold with a hint of barely noticeable mockery, "Leaving Heroines Min alone to face these dragon and phoenix candles, it’s quite... bereft of cheer."

Min Ning’s gaze hardened, but she maintained her usual demeanor and replied, "No need for the worries of Immortal Lady Yin, it was actually me who sent him away."

This Princess Jing certainly heals quickly, and yet she turns back to provoke.

"Is that so?" Yin Weiyin then slowly shifted her gaze towards her, in her eyes, as radiant as autumn water, light flowed, "What a sense of righteousness, considering the big picture. But I wonder, behind this self-sacrifice by Heroine Min, is her heart truly as calm as it seems on the surface?"

She stepped gracefully into the room, her clothes fluttering, untouched by the smell of smoke, contrasting sharply with the intense festive red around her.

"I heard long ago in the Capital City, about Min Ning of the Jinyi Guard, whose nature blazes like fire, quick to repay kindness and exact revenge, intolerant of grievances." Yin Weiyin stood a few steps away from Min Ning, her gaze sweeping over Min Ning’s brows and eyes as if tangible, "Yet when it comes to matters of the heart, has it become such... endurance of disgrace and burden? Willingly yielding the bridal chamber night to someone else?"

Her words were soft, yet each one was like a needle, precisely piercing the strand of unwillingness Min Ning most dreaded within her heart.

Min Ning’s hand inside her sleeve quietly clenched, yet her face remained unperturbed: "My matters with him require no explanation to outsiders, tonight is their wedding night, what talk of ’yielding’ is there?"

"Wedding night." Yin Weiyin chuckled softly, her laughter carrying an ethereal quality, "If you’ll speak of precedence, it seems I was the one who first bowed to him, if we speak of sentiments, Heroine Min knew him when he was unknown, accompanying him through perilous paths, this bond runs deeper than mine with him, how could it easily be compared by others?"

Min Ning’s heroic brows furrowed tightly, not that she didn’t understand the intent behind Yin Weiyin’s words; perhaps there’s something amiss within, but hearing them still disturbed the heroine’s mind.

With a pause in her words, Yin Weiyin’s gaze turned even deeper,

"Min Ning, are you truly willing? Willing always to be considerate, always to yield? Tonight, you let him go, but what of tomorrow? Whenever Qin Qingluo is involved, will you continually retreat multiple paces? And speak not of this Nanjiang Royal Mansion, even should you return to the Capital City, will there still exist a place for you? Or is it... that you actually fear, fear that without forceful retention, without contention, one day, in his heart, you’ll completely lose importance?"

Yin Weiyin’s words were not loud but they flowed over each other like waves, continually challenging Min Ning’s heart defenses.

She deliberately ignored the profound bond and mutual understanding between Chen Yi and Min Ning, focusing only on the hidden risks and unrest.

Min Ning’s breathing imperceptibly quickened for a moment.

Yin Weiyin’s words accurately struck the chord deep within her, she could sacrifice for him, she could yield for him, yet that does not mean she harbors no resentment in her heart.

Seeing the ripple flash in her eyes, Yin Weiyin knew the moment had arrived,

"Oh, since Heroine Min is so righteous, I won’t stay long."

She said no more, leaving only a meaningful look, turning to walk away.

"Stop."

A cold voice came from behind.

Yin Weiyin’s steps paused, her lips curving lightly into a cunning smile where Min Ning could not see.

Min Ning stared at her snow-white back, speaking slowly, "Yin Weiyin, what is your true intention?"

Yin Weiyin did not turn back, only angled half her face, moonlight streaming through the window lattice, casting a clear glow on her perfect profile, increasingly ethereal.

"Me?"

Her voice was gentle, carrying a barely discernible sigh,

"I just cannot bear to see someone whose heart is clearly unwilling, yet pretends to be generous. After all... you helped me once,

And the path, how it should be walked, naturally lies under Heroine Min’s feet."

With that, she stayed no more, the white figure flickered, disappearing into the shadow of the doorway, as though she’d never appeared.

Once again, only Min Ning remained in the bridal chamber, along with those red candles, still burning and crackling.

Yet, the air seemed to retain the words just spoken by Yin Weiyin, like invisible threads, intertwining in her heart and pinning her steps that had resolved to leave.

She gazed at the empty door, then turned back to the dense night outside the window, her expression uncertain.

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

Chen Yi followed Yin Weiyin’s direction, swiftly passing through corridors to reach the place overlooking the sea of trees.

The night wind here seemed particularly brisk, blowing the lanterns beneath the eaves, casting chaotic shadows on the ground.

Yet, the corridor was empty.

Only the sound of wind brushing past, the tree sea lamenting.

Chen Yi’s brows furrowed. He distinctly perceived Qin Qingluo’s presence lingering here, though faint, nonetheless present.

How has he reached here yet seen no trace of her?

"Qin Qingluo?" He called out softly, only to be answered by the increasingly lonely wind.

An inexplicable anxiety, like minute vines, began creeping onto his heart.

Of course, he wasn’t worried about Qin Qingluo facing danger, he worried about something else... that she deliberately avoided him? Was her heart disheartened by his previous hesitance? Or... was his Great Yin predictably restless, secretly stirring trouble, saying things that should not have been said?

His mind agitated, considering this, Chen Yi’s brows furrowed tighter.

Just as he was about to turn back to confront Yin Weiyin,

A tall, dark shadow suddenly attacked from the depths of the rockery’s shadows beside him.

Chen Yi reacted quickly, instinctively gathering strength to strike, but upon seeing her, he paused abruptly.

The next moment, he felt his chin being suddenly and forcefully grasped by a slightly cool hand, the force so strong that he had to slightly tilt his head up.

She was towering above him, her hand grasping Chen Yi’s chin, as she leaned down for a kiss.

This was not a gentle kiss.

Carrying a hint of the cool night breeze and her unique scent mixed with alcohol, her lips pressed down heavily on his.

With a punishing force, and a devouring urge akin to venting, her breath dominated his mouth, stirring everything without allowing any retreat.

Who knows how long before they parted.

The wedding wine in Chen Yi’s hand trembled, spilling half of the liquid.

Moonlight broke free from the last shred of clouds at that moment, casting clear brilliance to illuminate the visitor’s face.

It was Qin Qingluo.

She was still in that complex and splendid python robe wedding attire, her tall figure casting heavy shadows under the moonlight, enveloping Chen Yi completely. Her deep snake eyes were tightly locked onto him, emotions swirling within like a restless sea.

At the end of the corridor, the glow of lanterns swayed in the wind, elongating the closely intertwined shadows of both, blurring the boundaries as they cast on the cold ground.

"The song of jade trees fades, the prince’s reign ends, soldiers guard empty towers at Jingyang.

The lofty tombs of officials are near and far, millet grows high and low at six dynastic palaces.

Stone swallows sweep the clouds, rain clears when sunny; river pigs blow waves, wind returns at night..."

She looked down on him, slowly reciting, then chuckled and asked:

"I never thought, you’d be able to recite poetry, do you like this poem?"

"...Naturally."

Chen Yi answered almost reflexively, as his awareness returned, eyes narrowing slightly before continuing:

"...Heroism departs, luxury ends, only the green mountains resemble Luo below."