Upon hearing this, I knew there was hope. Mu Yanxue knew that Shen Ran wasn't good at martial arts, so she was probably going to give him special training and focus on his literary skills.
I glanced at Shen Ran. His brows furrowed slightly, his fingers tightened, and his expression grew increasingly serious.
.
Main text [14] Mei Qinxue (5)
The hall was silent. I saw Mu Yanxue's eyes sparkle and her smile bloom. She seemed to be looking at everyone, yet it was as if there was no one in her eyes. "I, Mu Yanxue, have a mask in my hand. Everyone here, if anyone is willing to wear this mask for the rest of their life, I will marry him. I hereby swear that I will never regret it in this lifetime."
Her voice was soft, yet resolute, reminiscent of the vows made by newlyweds on their wedding night before their parents.
Everyone was stunned.
Shen Ran sat quietly at the table. He withdrew his gaze from Mu Yanxue and reached for the teacup, but his fingertips trembled slightly, and he withdrew his hand before even touching the cup.
He didn't speak, letting the people around him whisper. He just sat there, his handsome profile revealing no emotion whatsoever.
His eyelids were slightly drooping, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together; he seemed to be deep in thought, as if pondering something.
One of the men said, "Master Mu, what is the meaning of your actions? If you are sincere in seeking a marriage alliance, why are you making things difficult for us like this? You're treating us like monkeys. What are your intentions, Master Mu?!"
Mu Yanxue calmly replied, "Only the person wearing this mask can be my husband."
The scene began to descend into chaos. Some people stood up and left in a huff; others, unaware of the situation, engaged in lively discussions about the reasons behind it all; and of course, some remained calm and observed the situation, sitting quietly, drinking tea and watching the drama unfold.
I am that person who drinks tea and watches the play.
Shen Ran and Mu Yanxue once roamed the martial arts world together, experiencing joy and sorrow. He was willing to lose all his martial arts skills to save her. He quietly watched her from behind for four years as she stood atop a snow-covered mountain peak.
I think, Shen Ran, who is willing to risk his life, would not care about a face.
Shen Ran remained seated, his long blue robe slightly wrinkled.
He seemed to be waiting for something.
For a very, very long time.
A voice rang out from the hall, "I am willing to wear this mask for Master Mu." It was a resounding statement, yet it struck a chord deep within people's hearts.
The one speaking was Mian Sha, not Shen Ran.
Mu Yanxue's gaze swept over everyone in the hall, finally settling on Mian Sha. With a smile on her lips, she said softly, "Alright, let's get married today."
Her gaze did not fall on Shen Ran, not even lingering on him for a moment.
Mu Yanxue walked into the hall with the Crimson Snow Sword in her hand and handed it to Mian Sha, saying, "From now on, the Crimson Snow Sword is yours."
She brushed past Shen Ran, her skirt brushing against the hem of his robe, and a strand of hair fell from Shen Ran's temple, rubbing against the scar on his fair face.
I thought that at such a crucial moment, any man would step forward, dressed in a long, elegant robe, tall and graceful, with a smile on his face, take her hand, and say affectionately, "As for appearances, as long as you like them, that's all that matters."
Then grow old together with the beauty, and perhaps one day, the beauty will gently stroke his eyebrows and peel off his mask, saying to him, "Actually, as long as it's you, that's enough."
However, Shen Ran did not step forward. I couldn't discern his expression, but at the moment Mu Yanxue handed the sword to Mian Sha, I suddenly felt lonely: From this moment on, was Shen Ran just a passerby in her four years of missing Lin Yi, someone she would forget as soon as she turned away?
I asked my master, "Master, what kind of person was Lin Yi? Even his death was so unforgettable."
The master's eyes were calm as he pondered, "I've heard that Young Master Lin is extremely fast and can kill with a single move. He is Master Mu's senior brother and a famous swordsman."
I sighed, "No wonder, she's so beautiful, has such high martial arts skills, and is so devoted. How can anyone not be moved to tears?"
The master pursed his lips and remained silent.
The way Master pursed his lips reminded me of An Chen. I wonder if I'm like Shen Ran, singing the ancient Jiangnan tune of "Years and Months," while An Chen, with his radiant smile, was just a passerby to him. He only said one sentence to me, "Xiao Xiang, come here," and then he never came back.
Mu Yanxue raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Everyone, today is the wedding day of Yanxue and Mian Sha. Those present are friends of my Muxue Manor in the martial arts world. I hope you will do me the honor of staying and having a drink at the wedding."
Mian Sha seemed not to have reacted yet, standing there staring blankly at Mu Yanxue.
Her eyes held a hint of joy as she gazed gently at Mian Sha, yet she seemed lost in thought.
As Mu Yanxue turned to leave, I suddenly realized that she had always been looking at Lin Yi, and from beginning to end, there was only one person in her eyes.
Lou Xiyue closed her folding fan, tapped the table, and called out to me, "Xiao Xiang."
I looked at Shen Ran. His back was stiff, and he was still sitting at the table. His fingertips were rubbing the edge of the teacup. He squeezed his knuckles, and the porcelain cup suddenly shattered in his palm. Blood stained the broken edge red along his palm.
Turning my gaze back, I said to Lou Xiyue, "Young Master Shen probably doesn't love you very deeply yet. Not as much as Mian Sha, not as much as Mian Sha."
Lou Xiyue remained noncommittal. "What do you mean?"
I sighed, “Watching his beloved marry an ugly man, Shen Ran remained unmoved. It’s just a face, what harm is there in wearing it? I often hear of many emperors in ancient times who gave up their kingdoms for beautiful women. Compared to the vast empire, a face is truly just a feather.”
Lou Xiyue raised an eyebrow. "Often? Which emperors would choose beauty over their kingdom?"
I thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything. "I can't remember very clearly, but King Zhou of Shang counts as one."
I waved my hand to indicate that we shouldn't dwell on these unimportant topics. "In short, I think if Shen Ran really loved her, he should have stood up for her just now. That would be what it means to be responsible. Even Mian Sha was willing to sacrifice himself for her, so why couldn't he do the same? I'm so disappointed in him."
Lou Xiyue said, "How do you know he doesn't love her?"
I took a piece of pastry, took a bite, and said, "You've waited four years, and you're already so close. Why are you in such a hurry now? Since he's your junior sister's brother, go and persuade him to turn back from his wrong path. Master Mu hasn't married yet, so hurry up and snatch her back. Otherwise, he'll definitely regret it for the rest of his life."
Lou Xiyue looked at me, and after a moment he said, "Don't change the subject."
I paused, looking at him blankly.
Lou Xiyue said, "You lost. After you go down the mountain, I'll help you set up a fortune-telling stall in Yangzhou."