The Arch-Enemy Must Not Become a Wife

What should I do? What else can I do?

Just as Ming Yu made up her mind, planning to show herself and meet Chu Xuan for a moment, she saw Xiaoxue suddenly transform, turning into a charming little girl dressed in white.

Her hair was styled into two spiral buns, her round little face was tender and cute, with eyes wide open, full of innocence.

Xiaoxue raised her head, seriously looking into Chu Xuan’s eyes.

She didn’t say anything, but Chu Xuan felt a bit afraid to look her in the eyes and simply looked away.

Then Xiaoxue hugged him and whispered in his ear, "It will be okay, everything will be okay."

Chu Xuan’s eyes reddened for a moment, yet he still said nothing, simply holding the little girl and walking step by step down the mountain.

Qinger silently followed, until finally, he raised a sword glow, carrying the two of them, heading east.

...

Yes, Chu Xuan ultimately left Xiaoxue behind. It quickly returned to its original form, sometimes chatting with him.

Chu Xuan no longer mentioned the earlier matter, just reminded Qing’er: "Miss A Qing, don’t forget your persona, why did you hold my hand the whole time since we first met?"

Qinger pouted, somewhat puffed up, but still let go of his hand.

Then she looked surprised at the little snow mink in Chu Xuan’s arms, reached out and hugged it, "Ah, is this Brother Daoist’s demon pet? It’s so cute, makes you want to pinch it to death."

Xiaoxue shivered; over these days, its master had fed it with lots of information, especially about this woman’s personality, said to be extremely malicious.

"Sister Taisu really has good taste, she likes whatever I like..."

"Stop, stop, that’s too insincere, you shouldn’t do that." Chu Xuan shook his head, taking Xiaoxue back.

"And don’t scare it; I knew it back when I was still a mortal."

"During the days I climbed the mountain to cultivate, it kept me company, bringing me food when it found any, fearing I’d be bored, it tried ways to take me out for fun during my cultivation breaks."

Even Chu Xuan’s initial pure crush for his master was poured out to Xiaoxue.

But talking about it, he suddenly stopped, as memories floated up, bringing various déjà vu feelings.

Just like now, a vague impression arose in Chu Xuan’s mind: Wasn’t there someone like this before? Silently accompanying me through the hardest days...

-------------------

The Shangguan family, as a cultivation family inheriting the legacy of the Profound Celestial Sect, naturally, their secluded cultivation place is also within the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, named "Great Void Heavenly Realm."

The mountains in the Grotto Heaven are singularly shaped, covered in lush grass, secluded lakes, swiftly moving clouds, jade towers throughout, alchemy pavilions and scripture halls dotting the landscape, with phoenixes and cranes soaring, white deer roaming, displaying an air of celestial majesty.

Yet the most crucial, pivotal secret place of the family is not in this aura-filled earthly paradise, but deep underground, within an eerie grand hall woven together by earth veins, spirit veins, fire veins, and water veins.

Several elders of the Shangguan family were currently kneeling in trepidation below the hall, with the leading person reporting on the Gui Xu Grotto Heaven matter.

After speaking, a hoarse, peculiar voice echoed from the dense darkness above, "Has Chu Xuan been cleared of suspicion?"

The lead, white-haired elder respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, he has been cleared, otherwise we wouldn’t have agreed to that marriage."

As for the marriage not happening later, that has no relation to this matter.

"Foolish!"

As a chilling wind fiercely swept through, the several elders immediately prostrated, trembling in fear, knocking their heads repeatedly.

"Haitang, that little girl, loves that guy excessively, her evidence holds no credibility."

"I’m asking if you have thoroughly re-investigated?"

The elder turned pale, tremblingly said, "Haitang’s words are indeed not fully trustworthy, but back then Gu Jianjia went to test Chu Xuan with the painting you provided, and everything was normal."

Implying that there was no further investigation, relying on Gu Jianjia’s report.

A cold laugh came from above, "Gu Jianjia? I suspect she might have already figured something out."

"If she knew all the details of that year’s event, then right now the person she would hate most is me."

The elders trembled in greater fear upon hearing this, even if they thought it impossible, if the master said it, it must be true.

Even if he can’t easily leave this secret place, resembling being trapped here, spending year after year in a dark cell, yet he was once a formidable figure capable of shaking the world; this "Great Void Heavenly Realm" holds no secrets to him.

After a brief, suffocating, oppressive silence, the voice from above finally came again:

"Whether it’s Chu Xuan or other young talents, Gui Xu Grotto Heaven was once the place where the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable rose to power. As it opens again, he will certainly go!"

"I want you to bring enough people there, find him for me, and before he grows stronger, eliminate him completely."

"And most critically, bring back that item, this is even more important than killing him, understand?"

The mysterious voice bore strong resentment and hatred, but softened toward the end, as if whispering to a lover.

Several elders shivered at the sound, knocking their heads repeatedly in agreement.

This Patriarch is the actual power behind the Shangguan family; approximately forty years ago, under his command, the family was secretly investigating the suspected reincarnation of the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable in various cultivation worlds.

They still don’t understand how this master perceived the return of Celestial Evil to the world; he even pinpointed the exact day, as if there was some mysterious intuition.

In short, the reason the Shangguan family was forced to seclude, the reason this master ended up like this, and even the family’s longstanding "curse," were all bestowed by the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable!

The hatred for this fiend within the family is heartfelt, especially with the Patriarch personally ordering action; naturally, they would spare no effort.

After all, as mentioned by the master, if they obtain that item, all the family’s suffering and curse would end at that moment, he would be liberated, rebuild the Profound Celestial Sect, and lead the Shangguan family back to its peak!

Following the mysterious presence’s words, a rolled-up painting scroll and a pitch-black dagger appeared before them.

"Still using this painting to probe, the more I think about Chu Xuan, the more something feels off. The Celestial Evil of yore also had a lustful reputation, claiming deep emotion; there are too many overlaps between the two."

"So, after you arrive, prioritize investigating Chu Xuan. If it is indeed him..."

"This Heart-devouring God-seizing Dagger is a secret treasure I’ve refined for years, even a later-stage cultivator would assuredly die upon being struck."

"But it can only be used once, you must not act recklessly; use this painting as a medium to link with Celestial Evil’s true form, granting you a single sure-hit chance."

"The rest, I need not teach you, right?"

The elders nodded repeatedly.

"Also, call Shangguan Haitang back; absolutely do not let her go to that grotto heaven, lest she ruins my plans."

The white-haired elder hesitated, "Since the wedding, she hasn’t come back, citing seclusion in several letters..."

After all, Haitang is not only the jewel of the Shangguan family but also cherished by the Purple Heaven Jade Mansion. They cannot possibly forcibly take her, right?

Not to mention the damage such action would do to the family’s reputation, and even if they forcefully took her, the Purple Heaven cultivators might not be easily defeated.

The mysterious presence sneered, "Isn’t Gu Jianjia here? She will return."

The elders had a hesitant expression upon hearing this.

The voice in the darkness grew impatient, "Go arrange it immediately; after all, a phoenix chick like her appears how rarely in our family. I’m not crazy, won’t do anything to her."

The elders exhaled in relief, quickly taking their leave.