"I...don't know," the child who brought the item stammered, shrinking back. "An older sister asked me to bring it to you, saying it just needs to be given to the newcomer." As she spoke, she simply pointed behind her.
"Sister?" The steward looked in the direction he was pointing, but could only catch a glimpse of the corner of her clothes at the edge of the corner, which vanished from his sight in an instant.
The steward rubbed his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and finally pointed to the side, saying, "Just put it here."
The child put the things down and ran away in a hurry.
The wedding that day seemed somewhat complicated. When Murong Shi, dressed in red, entered the hall, all eyes turned to her. She simply smiled faintly, a hint of weariness in her expression, yet her face radiated happiness. She looked at Yan Bei, only to find him staring blankly at her, standing there somewhat at a loss.
Murong Shi felt unsure whether to laugh or cry, so she ordered the ceremony to begin. At this moment, the side was piled high with gifts from the guests. Murong Shi glanced at them with a slight smile, initially just a fleeting glance, but then her gaze suddenly stopped. She abruptly turned around, took a few steps, and picked up an inconspicuous, narrow box.
The emcee was taken aback by her sudden action, and swallowed the words he was about to say. The surrounding guests were also wondering what had happened. Yan Bei frowned slightly and walked closer. When he saw the box, his expression changed.
Murong Shi exchanged a deep look with him, secretly calming herself before slowly opening the box. The translucent jade flute inside stung her eyes. Her voice suddenly turned serious as she asked, "Who sent this gift?" Her tone seemed calm, but a slight tremor could be detected beneath the surface.
"I don't know who it is. But I caught a glimpse of that person, and they should... not have gone far." The steward was muttering to himself when suddenly his vision blurred, and he saw Murong Shi and Yan Bei running out together.
The entire audience was astonished. They never expected that on their wedding day, such a newlywed couple would so brazenly abandon all the guests and run away on their own.
Just then, a small boat was moored at the dock on the riverbank. Two people slowly stepped aboard. The man handed a few copper coins to the boatman and said, "Boatman, please take us to the other side."
The boatman looked up and saw a distinguished man dressed in plain white. Although he looked slightly haggard, his appearance was still exceptionally handsome. He couldn't help but glance at the woman beside him. She had a faint smile on her lips, and while she wasn't particularly beautiful, she possessed a clear and unpretentious air, and there was a subtle air of being out of step with the world.
Thinking to himself that they were a perfect couple, he smiled and agreed. With a flick of the mast, the light boat gently veered away from the dock and headed towards the center of the river.
The two stood at the bow of the boat. The man gently smoothed the slightly ruffled hair of the woman in plain clothes, and asked, "So you have the heart to give away my jade flute too."
"Anyway, you won't need to keep him." The woman's voice was slightly hoarse, which was slightly out of place with her appearance, but her smile was full of gentleness. "Since that person let you go, your previous identity has nothing to do with you anymore."
"I never cared about that status." The man smiled upon hearing this, and with a subtle movement, he pulled her into his arms, a hint of warmth in his gaze. "I just never expected that the poison I took back then would become the catalyst for fighting poison with poison. Could it be that Heaven was testing my Su Su for her loneliness and suffering, and that's why I was allowed to stay?"
"You're so irresponsible." The woman finally couldn't help but glance at him, her eyebrows slightly lowered as she said, "Back then... that person once asked me if I hated him."
The man chuckled and said, "Really? And how did you answer?"
"If you die, I—I really can't forgive you. I..." Her words were cut short, and a blush crept onto the woman's face as her pupils widened slightly. After the man's kiss, he gently licked his lips, a hint of devilishness in his smile: "From now on, you're not allowed to mention other men in front of me again, or I'll get jealous."
The woman was embarrassed and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Just then, a few calls drifted from the shore. The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw two red figures waving to them from afar. Without realizing it, they also raised their hands and waved back.
"Yanbei, they...are not dead." Murong Shi's voice trembled slightly with joy. Yanbei's deep gaze fell on the two people on the small boat, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Yes."
A gentle breeze stirred their clothes, causing a flurry of red petals to flutter. Yan Bei gently embraced her.
Qingchen and Zhuangsu, from this day forward, are no more in this world. Perhaps they are just two wandering travelers, with no connection to the imperial court, the underworld, or the Yi Ye Alliance...
Drifting on the water, Zhuang Su gazed into the distance, finally letting out a silent sigh: "I just wanted to put their minds at ease, but I ended up disrupting their wedding..."
Qingchen seemed to have anticipated this outcome. With a smile, she pulled Zhuangsu closer, gently taking her hand in hers. A slight smile played on her lips as she whispered in her ear, "In life and in death, we made a vow. I will hold your hand and grow old with you..."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Su could vaguely sense the subtle rise and fall of his chest, each beat a reassuring, deep sound.
She nodded slowly.
A small boat on the shimmering water is just a fleeting scene amidst the shadows of the rivers and lakes. Yet, the water ripples in the wind, and behind it rises an endless range of mountains, like the deepest trace of ink in a landscape painting...
Like the final speck of dust, it has finally settled.
Millennia later.
Anyone who has read the history of the Chu Kingdom knows of the existence of the One Leaf Alliance.
Anyone who has ever traveled the martial arts world would not doubt the power of the One Leaf Alliance.
However, the "Sage's Scroll" in the "One Leaf Notes" that has been passed down within the One Leaf Alliance contains the following record:
"In the thirty-sixth year of the Chu dynasty, there was a woman named Su. She was gentle and quiet, with an ethereal beauty like that of a fairy maiden. She remained calm amidst the chaos of the world and eventually disappeared without a trace."
The monk, accepting one perspective and speaking one version of events, concludes the story here. He bows in thanks to the audience for their support and then exits the stage.
End of article