· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

The morning rays shined through the dark walls of 'Demon-Slaughtering' Cave as the sunlights loomed over a buddle under the blanket on the straw-matted bed.

Wei WuHui's face scrunched up upon having the warmth and brightness of the sunlight on her face as her eyes slowly blinks opened.

The maiden sat up sleepily, her blanket barely covering her naked body as she yawned, stretching her arms.

"Well I'm sure you two have a great night together."

"EEP!" Wei WuHui let out a loud yelp as she immediately grabbed her blanket to covered her full body, turning to the entrance of the cave, where she saw a smug-looking Wen Qing. "Wen Qing, can you not do that? I almost have a heart attack."

Wen Qing huffed as she walked in further, carrying in her arms a new pair of clothes. "It's already noon, don't tell me your A-Huan tires you too much last night."

Wei WuHui's face burned up. "You!" She exclaimed out of embarrassment as Wei WuHui snatched the new robes from a giggling Wen Qing as she began putting it on.

"Where is Lan Huan anyway?" Wei WuHui asked.

"He's with Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. They will need to leave soon." Wen Qing replied.

Wei WuHui paused for a moment, her eyes staring into space as she realised the reality. 'That's right. I am deemed as a evil demonic cultivator meanwhile Lan Huan...he is the righteous ZeWu-Jun, one of the three jades of Gusu, sworn brother of ChiFeng-Zun's and LianFang-Jun's. In the end, we can't be seen together' Then, she felt a streak of liquid dripping down from one of her eyes, leaving a wet streak on her cheek. 'It's for the better'

———

"Make sure you use up those resources, Mèimei. Or else I will bring another one to add more to the piles." Wei WuXian teased playfully as he, Lan WangJi and Lan XiChen walked along the dirt path that lead to the exit of the protective barrier that the maiden had put up.

Wei WuHui sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, I know Gēge," then she remembered something as she turned to the Lan brothers. "The next time you come, I'll make sure to treat you two to a good meal. I promised I'd treat you this time, but you still ended up paying for the food." As she stated that, her hand was grasped which halted her walking while her brother and Lan WangJi kept going.

"...A-Yang. Are you certain that you have everything under control?" Lan XiChen asked.

The maiden didn't respond. Then, she chuckled as she looked back to her beloved with a reassuring smile. "Of course. Hasn't Wen Ning regained his consciousness already? There has never been a fierce corpse like him." Wei WuHui explained.

"What about the Stygian Tiger Amulet?" Lan XiChen added.

"The Burial Mound is covered with restriction seals. Only my blood could destroy them," Wei WuHui continued. "And among the cultivators from all sects, how many would be able to injure me?"

"Wow! You're amazing!"

"Do more! Do more!"

"A-Yuan, Xiao-Yang. Be careful."

With furrowed brows, Lan XiChen then turned to the commotion and saw Wen Ning holding up a long log of wood with one hand as sitting on top of the log were Wen Yuan and Xue Yang. Meanwhile, Wen Qing is standing, looking at them with a gentle smile.

"A-Yang, do you plan on living here for the rest of your life?" The young Sect Leader asked solemnly.

"If not me, then who can look after them? Besides, what else can I do?" Wei WuHui sighed as she looked down. "Give up demonic cultivation, and them as well? I can't do that. I believe that if each of you three were in my place, you wouldn't do it either."

"I, too, wanted to walk on the righteous path, a path that allows me to protect those I care about without resorting to demonic ways or the Stygian Tiger Amulet. But now, I no longer can." The maiden continued.

'A-Yang...' Lan XiChen's eyes glistened as he stared at the back of the maiden's. His hands clenched tightly, due to the frustration that he is feeling at the moment. For the first time in his life, he felt lost in the choices that had laid out before him. On one hand, he could stay here with his beloved, leaving behind everything. But then on the other hand, he knows that Wei WuHui would never allow him to do that and if he does, he would be putting so much responsibilities onto his family.

"Anyway, I'll let my heart tell me right from wrong and others give praise or blame, for I care not about gains and losses. I know what I'm doing and what I need to do," Wei WuHui proclaimed as she gave a closed-eye smile to the man. "I am confident that I can kept them under control."

"A-Yang," Lan XiChen stared at the maiden with admiration before smiling as he nodded, accepting to believe in his beloved's words. "Golden Carp Tower is holding a grand wedding next month."

Wei WuHui gasped happily. "My Shij-I mean, Jiang Gu-Niang and Jin ZiXuan?"

Lan XiChen nodded but then, he grinned playfully.  "Also, there had been two courtships that sparked up recently. One which is between our brothers."

"Eh? They've finally confessed?" Wei WuHui blinked in astonishment before she spun around to look toward her twin and Lan WangJi, who were waiting up ahead as she cupped her mouth. "YOU IDIOT OF A GEGE, WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME?! BUT CONGRATULATIONS!" She shouted toward them before bursting out laughter when she saw her brother immediately covering his face out of embarrassment while Lan WangJi's face and ears turned instant red.

This caused Wei WuHui and Lan XiChen to laugh at their brothers' reactions.

"Oh! What is the second courtship? Between who?" Wei WuHui then inquired curiously.

"This one was a surprise to all of us, really. It is between Jiang-Zongzhu and Nie Gu-Niang." Lan XiChen replied.

"Huh?! No way! A-Qiao and Jiang Che-I mean WanYin?!" Wei WuHui spluttered out, looking at him with bewilderment but then she looked down with conflicted emotions. 'But...that means...Dajie's feelings'

"It was more of an arranged marriage between the two, the decisions were made by Dage and the Jiang Sect's elders." Lan XiChen added.

"Ah, politics. Right..." Wei WuHui sighed before smiling as she saluted to Lan XiChen. "Thank you for telling me, Lan Huan."

Lan XiChen smiled back, returning the salute before moving forward to wrapped his arms around the maiden's waist as he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Be safe, A-Yang. Please." He said against her skin as Wei WuHui was caught off guard by the straight-forward act of affection but then regained herself as she embraced him, burying her face in his robes and breathing in his calming scent of gentians and sandalwoods. "I will try."

And with that, the pair stayed in that position for a few more moment before pulling away as with a heavy heart, Lan XiChen gave one more look to his beloved before walking past her as he went to join Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.

'Goodbye...my heart'

———

"You know that you can leave, right? You don't have to stay here with us." Wen Qing spoke as she walked up to Wei WuHui, who was still staring after Lan XiChen, her brother and Lan WangJi. Her back turned to her.

"And as I've told you many times before, I won't do that. Not when I have people that I cared about." Wei WuHui stated sternly as she looked back with a smile. "We're family now and I won't ever leave you."

Wen Qing stared at the maiden with perplexed expression on her face for a moment before she huffed lightly, smiling. "Fine, do as you like."

———

Not shockingly, in less than three days, almost all of the cultivators had learned the terrifying piece of news; Wei WuHui, the one who defected from the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and made her home in Yiling, had successfully created the most highest level of fierce corpse as of yet. A fierce corpse that is incomparably fast, strong, fearless and vicious. And on top of that, its consciousness was brought back, able to win in every night-hunt.

While most of the cultivation world grew in more fear and disbelief over the maiden's sudden accomplishment. Wei WuHui thought otherwise.

The maiden saw the newly conscious Wen Ning as an excellent helper in terms of transporting the goods up the mountain as in the past, she could only be able to carry one chest at a time, but with Wen Ning, he could drag up an entire cart of chests all on his own, plus the extra weight of Xue Yang who would sat on top of the cart, swinging his legs in boredom.

Wei WuHui recalled a couple of moments when her accomplishments were well-known to the outside world. Specifically, the creation of her 'so-called' admirers who wished to be the Matriarch's disicples. This caused the once deserted mountain to become crowded because of them.

Of course, the fierce corpses that Wei WuHui had set up, never would harm them on their own. At most, they'd sent the person flying and roaring their throats out. In the end, no one got hurt, and so more and more people just kept gathering at the Burial Mound, hoping to catch sight of the infamous Yiling Matriarch.

One of the most unfortunate moments with her fans was when Wei WuHui actually saw a long banner that boldly said: ALL HAIL THE SUPREME LADY OF EVIL MATRIARCH OF YILING

Wei WuHui physically had to spit out a mouthful of fruit wine, which was brewed up by Uncle Four, from her mouth. Meanwhile, Xue Yang, that little grelim, was laughing his lungs out.

She knew she couldn't take it anymore.

Wei WuHui went down the mountain, accepted with pleasure all of the offerings with which they 'honoured her most wise sage', whatever that means, and began using another mountain path from now on.

———

"Oh thank god that little brat chose to stay back. That grelim has been following me everywhere, pestering me to teach him demonic cultivation." Wei WuHui sighed in exasperation, rubbing her temple as she and Wen Ning wandered around the Town of Yiling.

Wen Ning stiffly smiled. "Perhaps it is because he admired you, Wei Gu-Niang. Xiao-Yang is still young."

"But to think he would go for demonic cultivation...actually, on another hand, I do see him doing that." Wei WuHui groaned.

Suddenly, a flash of purple appeared in the alley before her as Wei WuHui's gaze immediately froze.

She then followed without hesitation.

Wei WuHui and Wen Ning arrived at a small abandoned yard, they went in but as soon as they did, the doors of the yard slam closed.

"Get out." A cold familiar voice proclaimed.

Jiang Cheng was standing behind the pair, being the one who closed the door as he directed those words at Wen Ning.

"Don't be rude." Wei WuHui did not pause to defend her trusted companion as she gave a disapproving glare to Jiang Cheng. She then turned to Wen Ning and gave him a reassuring nod.

Seeing how Jiang Sect Leader was there, Wen Ning followed Wei WuHui's wordless command, lowering his gaze as he soundlessly slipped out of the yard.

Then, Wei WuHui saw that it wasn't just Jiang Cheng in the yard but also her brother, who waved at her with a big grin, and a familiar maiden that wore a black cloak and a bamboo hat. Wei WuHui gasped softly. "Shijie?"

Hearing her voice, the maiden took off her hat and her cloak, to reveal the vibrant scarlet of the wedding robes.

Jiang YanLi wore the most refined-looking robes on her body with a light blush on her cheeks, adding some colour to her face.

"Shijie...you're..." Wei WuHui couldn't even finish her sentence as she stared admirably at the other maiden.

Jiang YanLi giggled as she gave a grateful twirl, showcasing her bright robes. "A-Hui, I'll...be married soon. I came for you to see my wedding robes."

Wei WuHui can't help but felt her eyes tearing up at the sight of her former martial sister in her beauty.

"Yes I know! I've heard." Wei WuHui exclaimed, reaching to grasp Jiang YanLi's hands excitedly.

"Who did you hear it from?" Jiang Cheng asked, raising a brow.

"That's none of your business." Wei WuHui retorted.

Jiang YanLi smiled softly. "However, I'm the only one here. You won't be able to see the groom."

Wei WuHui smiled back, shaking her head as she looked at the other maiden in reassurance. "Don't worry, Shijie. I don't mind not seeing the groom," but then she walked around Jiang YanLi a couple of times, gushing over her. "You looks so beautiful!"

"See, Shijie? Jiang Cheng and I told you so. It really does look good." Wei WuXian added as the latter nodded in agreement.

"It doesn't count if you three say so. I can't take it seriously." Jiang YanLi replied.

Jiang Cheng then sighed. "You don't believe me and Wei WuXian, now you don't believe her. Is it that you'll only believe it when a certain somebody says so?"

Jiang YanLi's face immediately went red as it reached all the way to her earlobes. Not even her blush could hide it. "A-Hui, do you remember our promise?" She quickly tried to changed the topic.

"Promise?" Wei WuHui blinked owlishly as she then looked back her memories.

———

"A-Hui, let's make a promise together." A young Jiang YanLi asked as she and her younger martial sister, Wei WuHui, sat around a table as they relaxed in each other's presences.

"Hm? What is it?" Wei WuHui asked curiously.

"If one of us are with a child...let's give each other's child, their courtesy name." Jiang YanLi explained as she looked toward a surprised Wei WuHui.

"Really? You would give me that honour?" Wei WuHui stammered as she felt overjoy and nervous.

Jiang YanLi nodded immediately. "Yes! You're my precious Shimei and I want you to be there for my child as I will do the same for your's." She declared firmly.

Wei WuHui sniffled before nodding. "Alright. I like that promise."

———

"Oh! I remembered!" Wei WuHui gasped. "Wait...you're pregnant?!"

Jiang YanLi giggled, nodding as she looked down at her stomach, rubbing it softly.

"Jiang Cheng and I already came up with the birth name so now it's up to you, Mèimei!" Wei WuXian exclaimed.

"A courtesy name..." Wei WuHui hummed thoughtfully. "The next generation of the Lanling Jin Sect is named Ru...how about Jin RuLan?"

Jiang YanLi's eyes immediately brightened as she gushed. "That's perfect!"

"Uh how about no? It sounds like the Lan is from the Gusu Lan Sect. Why should a descendant of the Lanling Jin Sect and the Yunmeng Jiang Sect be like someone of the Gusu Lan Sect?" Jiang Cheng retorted.

Wei WuHui frowned in annoyance. "And what is wrong with name Lan? The character will be for 'orchid', not blue. Besides, I am the one that is making the courtesy name."

"Alright, alright. You two stop bickering and let's eat. I brought soups for all of us." Jiang YanLi, being the mediator between the siblings, immediately calmed the atmosphere as she went inside the house to take out a large jar.

A moment later, she then came out and gave each sibling a bowl. Then, holding a spare one, she then opened the door to turned to Wen Ning. "I'm sorry. There are only small bowls left. You can have this." She offered kindly.

"Ah! There's some for me?" Wen Ning stammered timidly.

"Why does he get one?" Jiang Cheng frowned, not looking pleased.

Wei WuXian nudged him. "Hey, come on. Be nice, would ya?"

"Thank you, Jiang Gu-Niang. Thank you." Wen Ning bowed his head in gratitude as his hands cupped the small bowl of soup gently. However, because he does not possess the urge to eat anymore so all he could do is stand there awkwardly with the bowl in his hands.

Noticing his awkwardness, Jiang YanLi went ahead to start a conversation between him.

Meanwhile, the Wei twins and Jiang Cheng stood in the yard.

The latter then raised his bowl. "To the Yiling Matriarch."

Wei WuHui immediately coughed as she glared at Jiang Cheng. "Shut up!"

"Don't tease Mèimei. I've seen how those people are and they are...something." Wei WuXian