After descending the mountain, my aloof fiancée became completely devoted to me.

The bamboo curtain swayed gently, and a light breeze swept through the green bamboo in the courtyard, carrying the cool, refreshing air of the mountains.

Zhu Xiaohan walked out slowly, her plain white gauze dress trailing on the ground, her black hair flowing like a waterfall. Her cool and aloof features had lost the sharpness of her men's attire that day, and had gained a touch of gentle femininity.

Lin Ping's tense body suddenly trembled, and the surprise in his eyes was almost undisguised.

He stared intently at the stunningly beautiful face before him, and images of Blackrock Valley flashed through his mind.

That day, Blackrock Valley was the center of attention. The Mountain King reigned supreme, his aura overwhelming, and no one dared to challenge him. Everyone believed that he was destined to lose, being a newcomer. The only one who bet on his victory was a young man in sportswear and a baseball cap. He staked everything he had, convinced that he could turn the tide.

At that time, he had already seen through the other person's slender bones and soft skin, and knew that she was a woman disguised as a man. However, he never investigated her identity. He never expected that this person was actually the closed-door disciple of Master Lingyun, and also the fiancée to whom his master had arranged a marriage!

"Is it you?"

Lin Ping parted his thin lips slightly, his voice low and incredulous.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaohan's cool eyes instantly flushed with a light blush, her previously composed and calm aura vanished, revealing a shy and bashful girlish demeanor. She lowered her head slightly, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, and smiled faintly, her eyebrows curving. Her stunning beauty, enhanced by the ethereal atmosphere of the mountains, was breathtaking, a hundred times more captivating than when she was dressed as a man.

"It's me, Lin Ping."

She looked up at Lin Ping again, her gaze intense and undisguised, and said frankly and earnestly, "The person who bet on you to defeat the Mountain King in Black Rock Valley has always been me."

"I knew your identity a long time ago, and I was also aware of this marriage arranged by our sect. At first, I thought it was just an absurd arranged marriage by the older generation, and I had already made up my mind to refuse it as soon as I left the mountain and never obey any constraints."

She paused, a genuine admiration flashing in Zhu Xiaohan's eyes, her tone soft yet firm: "But the way you remained hidden and suppressed the Mountain King against all odds during the battle of Black Rock Valley completely moved me. I willingly accept this marriage, I only want to be by your side."

The Immortal Master Lingyun stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the courtyard with an undeniable air of authority: "Since you two are mutually in love, there's no need to wait any longer! Today is an auspicious day; you two shall immediately hold your wedding ceremony and, tonight, enter the bridal chamber to settle this long-standing karmic entanglement!"

The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room froze.

Liu Lian immediately stamped her foot in anxiety, her face flushed red. She took half a step forward, staring intently at Zhu Xiaohan, then hurriedly grabbed Lin Ping's sleeve, her eyes reddening: "No! Not today! Brother Lin Ping can't get married now!"

She was stubborn and possessive, yet she was also afraid of the cultivation levels of the others, so she could only clutch the hem of her clothes tightly, feeling wronged and unwilling.

Chi Yao stood at the end, her expression growing increasingly solemn. She quietly circulated her inner energy, remaining constantly vigilant, fearing that the situation would completely spiral out of control.

Lin Ping frowned deeply, his heart filled with difficulty.

Master Lingyun is a top martial artist in the martial arts world. He is of extraordinary seniority and his cultivation is unfathomable. He is highly respected in the entire martial arts world, with disciples all over the world and a terrifying network of connections and influence.

The other party is a close friend and elder of his master. Today, he sincerely bestows a marriage upon him and even gives him a thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum to save his loved ones. For both reason and sentiment, he absolutely cannot contradict him to his face.

But when Lin Ping glanced at Shen Aoxue beside him, whose face was pale and whose eyes were lowered in silence, his heart clenched instantly.

He immediately looked up at Immortal Master Lingyun and said in a deep voice, "Immortal Master, this matter is too hasty. May I...?"

"There's no need to refuse." Master Lingyun raised her hand to interrupt him, her eyes carrying a hint of powerful pressure. "The marriage is arranged, in accordance with the laws of nature and the law. Getting married today is the best outcome."

Lin Ping suppressed the complicated thoughts in his mind, looked at Master Lingyun and cupped his hands: "This junior has a few words that I would like to say to Aoxue alone. I will be back in a moment."

Master Lingyun glanced at Shen Aoxue, whose expression was dejected, and nodded slightly: "I'll give you half an incense stick's time."

Lin Ping immediately turned around and led Shen Aoxue to a secluded bamboo grove in the courtyard.

There was no one around, a gentle breeze rustled, and the atmosphere was so quiet it was almost suffocating.

Shen Aoxue kept her head down, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and the soreness and grievance in her eyes were almost overflowing, but she bit her lower lip tightly, without crying or making a fuss, and forcibly suppressed all her sadness.

"Aoxue." Lin Ping's voice was extremely gentle, filled with deep remorse.

Shen Aoxue slowly raised her head, her clear eyes gazing at Lin Ping. Though tears welled in her eyes, her expression remained gentle. She gently shook her head, her voice soft yet restrained: "I'm fine."

She took a deep breath, shedding all girlish coquettishness and possessiveness, and looked earnestly at Lin Ping: "I've known for a long time that you are a towering martial arts master, burdened by the ties of the past, with a boundless future ahead. Someone like you can't possibly have only me by your side."

"I don't ask to possess you exclusively, nor do I ask for a unique title. As long as you are willing to let me stay by your side in the future, I will be content."

Each word was spoken softly, yet each word pierced the heart.

Lin Ping's heart suddenly warmed, overwhelmed with a surge of emotion. He reached out and gently pulled the frail woman into his arms, his palm stroking her back, and whispered solemnly, "In this life, I will never let you down. No matter who is by my side, you will always be the person I cherish most."

Shen Aoxue leaned against his warm embrace, her nose tingling, all her grievances vanished, leaving only a sense of peace, and she nodded gently.

Just then, a loud, arrogant sound of something breaking through the air suddenly came from outside the courtyard!

Three sharp black figures came stepping on the bamboo, their toes touching the green bamboo branches, causing bamboo leaves to fly everywhere, and a chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire courtyard!

The black-clad man at the head of the group had a sinister face, possessed powerful internal energy, and was surrounded by a dense, blood-red aura, clearly indicating that he was a top-tier martial arts master.

"Master Lingyun, what a grand gesture! To arrange a marriage without permission and shelter criminals of the martial world—do you truly believe that no one in my Blood Shadow Pavilion dares to interfere?"

The man surveyed the courtyard from his elevated position, his gaze finally settling on Lin Ping. He sneered repeatedly, "Lin Ping! You wiped out my sect's elite assassins, slaughtered many of my Blood Shadow Pavilion's experts, and seized my sect's resources. Today, I am here on the orders of the Pavilion Master to take your dog's life!"

"And while we're at it, we'll tear down your dilapidated bamboo hut and raze this entire Lingyun Mountain to the ground!"

Liu Lian instantly tensed, standing in front of Lin Ping and glaring angrily: "Who do you think you are! Daring to cause trouble!"

Chi Yao also instantly gathered her strength, her inner energy surging, ready to strike at any moment.

Master Lingyun's eyes turned cold, and his spiritual energy suddenly burst forth, just as he was about to make a move to suppress it.

A calm and cold voice suddenly rang out, steadily suppressing the clamor in the room.

"You mere lackey of the Blood Shadow Pavilion, how dare you bark at me?"

Lin Ping slowly released Shen Aoxue from his embrace, and stepped out with a graceful and upright posture, seemingly casual, yet exuding an aura of dominance over the world.

His face remained calm and composed, displaying the nonchalant air of someone pretending to be weak while actually being strong, but deep in his eyes, a chilling glint was already piercing.

The fleeting aura that flashed through the mountains earlier was indeed Blood Shadow Pavilion's backup plan! These bastards actually dared to chase us directly to Immortal Master Lingyun's territory to provoke us!

The man in black sneered, his face full of disdain: "What? You want to fight? I know you have some skill, but I am the leader of the Blood Shadow Pavilion, a half-step Grandmaster! You've just gone through a series of battles, your inner strength must be mostly depleted. Today I'll show you what true difference in strength really means!"

Before he finished speaking, the man in black unleashed a torrent of bloody palm strikes, his violent, crimson internal energy surging forth and hurtling straight at Lin Ping's face. His moves were ruthless and cunning, each strike potentially fatal!

The two Blood Shadow Pavilion experts who were watching attacked simultaneously, flanking Lin Ping from both sides and blocking all his escape routes with a fierce and ruthless offensive!

Shen Aoxue's heart tightened slightly, and Zhu Xiaohan also instantly suppressed her shyness, her gaze becoming serious as she stared intently at the battle.

Just as the crimson palm wind was about to reach him, Lin Ping remained motionless, a faint, indifferent smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"A half-step Grandmaster? In my eyes, he's utterly vulnerable."

He casually raised his hand and struck out with a palm. There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling and magnificent energy. It was plain and simple, yet it contained a terrifying power that could crush everything!

boom!

A deep, muffled bang rang out!

The raging crimson internal energy was instantly and completely crushed, vanishing without a trace like ice and snow meeting a raging fire!

The black-clad man's pupils constricted, his face filled with horror. Before he could react, an irresistible force slammed into his chest!

Click!

A sharp, piercing sound of bones cracking rang out!

The man was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the bluestone ground. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, all the meridians in his body were broken, and his half-step Grandmaster cultivation was instantly crippled!

The remaining two Blood Shadow Pavilion experts abruptly stopped their attacks, their faces filled with terror, their bodies stiffening on the spot, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Just one palm strike!

Their leader, a half-step grandmaster who dominated the region, was easily crushed and crippled!