She only turned around, somewhat caught off guard, to look at him when he got closer.
Shangguan Tou's face was almost completely hidden in the darkness.
"Zhi'er".
"What is it?" Xuezhi's voice trembled as she listened to her own heartbeat, and her hands seemed to grow even colder.
"I have something I'd like to tell you. Is this a convenient time to talk?"
"Um."
Then he led her to a pavilion in the corner of the temple.
Snow was falling outside, and the pavilion's roof, like a white umbrella, covered the small world below.
Xuezhi breathed on her palms, her voice still trembling slightly: "Speak."
Shangguan Tou immediately took off his cloak and gave it to her. She took a step back and said, "Thank you, but I'm wearing very thick clothes."
He ignored her and forcefully draped the cloak over her shoulders: "You haven't looked well lately, don't try to be brave."
"What exactly happened?"
Shangguan Tou paused for a moment, then slowly said:
"Feng Zi and I might get married."
"I know, there's no need to repeat myself." Xuezhi didn't care about the expression on her face. She only knew that she felt like she was being crushed by a heavy object, making it difficult to even think.
"However, I have a request, and I wonder if Zhi'er can grant it."
"Go ahead and tell me."
“I have a reason for saying I want to marry her, but I can’t say anything until I’m sure. It will take about five months once things are settled, and I will definitely come back to you then… Can you wait for me?”
In an instant, Xuezhi seemed to rise from the ashes, her eyes brightening considerably. She almost immediately threw herself into his arms, weeping and pleading as she explained about the child.
But then she remembered something more important.
"...After things are settled, if you marry Feng Zi, what do you plan to do with her?"
"I won't touch her."
"Will others believe it?"
Shangguan Tou paused, then remained silent.
“I don’t care what you do. But if you make Feng Zi’s life even worse—” Xue Zhi looked at him and said, word by word, “your number one enemy will be Chong Huo Palace.”
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"I will not do anything that would harm her."
"Since you rely on her to solve your problems, you probably can't avoid hurting her."
"I said I would marry you, so I won't leave any room for gossip."
"Young Master Shangguan is truly confident, insisting that I will always protect you."
"What do you mean?"
Xuezhi smiled faintly and said, "It doesn't mean anything."
"Is it because of Cai Cheng? He said a few sweet words to you, and you believed him?"
"So you've heard about it."
"Everyone here knows. But you should know that he has a family."
“If I wait for you for five months, you will also be a married man.”
"You know I'm serious."
“He was serious. He mentioned in the letter that as long as I nodded, he would immediately divorce his wife and wait for me.”
"You don't even like him, why hurt him?"
How do you know I don't like it?
"Stop messing around. Wasn't what happened in Fengcheng last time enough?"
"I don't care, so why do you care?"
Shangguan Tou stepped closer and whispered:
"Then... what should I do?"
"That's your business, I don't care. Aren't you getting married soon? So will I."
"She's sulking again."
"I wasn't being spiteful; I was serious."
"So Zhi'er wants to get married." Shangguan Tou smiled slightly and pinched her chin. "I will definitely keep my promise to you. If I don't, I'm a little dog."
"I don't have time to wait for you." Xuezhi turned her head away. "No matter who it is, I will get married soon, have children, and settle down."
"Really?" Shangguan Tou smiled maliciously. "Do you know how a child is born?"
"Know."
"Can I still marry someone else after this?"
Shangguan Tou originally thought Xuezhi would be stunned for a moment, then blush and scold him for being vulgar. However, Xuezhi simply said:
"OK."
The image of Xuezhi nestled in another man's arms involuntarily flashed through Shangguan Tou's mind. He said solemnly, "You can't say things like that in the future."
"That Cai Cheng is quite good, we can consider him."
The man's face in his mind automatically switched to Cai Cheng's face, and an unnamed anger surged in his mind. Shangguan Tou couldn't help but mock:
"Are they that desperate for men?"
Upon hearing this, Xuezhi became furious. She took a step forward, almost raising her hand to slap him.
But she held back.
"What, you're not going to fight back? Didn't you love hitting me the most?"
"I never lay a hand on disgusting people."
"That disgusting person will bully you." Shangguan Tou quickly lowered his head and kissed her.
With just a light touch, Xuezhi covered her mouth violently: "Get away!"
“I’m not leaving.” Shangguan grabbed her wrists with one hand, pretending to push her against the wall, and said with a wicked smile, “I’m going to take advantage of you.” With that, his other hand wandered through the thick fox fur coat and red clothes, and touched her breasts through the last layer of her inner garment.
Shangguan Tou had never acted so ungentlemanly.
If it were anyone else, a bloodbath might have already occurred. But he was the man she loved, and he was about to marry someone else. And at this time, she was pregnant with his child, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him.
The snow was falling heavily, and the pavilion was like a drop in the ocean, almost forgotten by the world.
Xuezhi had forgotten how she escaped. She only remembered that when Shangguan Tou saw her expression, he immediately apologized and kept coaxing her, but she ran very fast, afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would never be able to leave again.
After leaving, she was still wrapped in Shangguan Tou's cloak. Smelling his familiar scent, she finally understood why so many women, though seemingly indifferent, always reacted with a mixture of love and hate when he was mentioned. Clutching her stomach, she forced back the tears welling in her eyes and led the people of Chonghuo Palace away from Shaolin.
Then some things happened.
First, Xia Qingmei was quickly expelled from Lingjian Manor, and Liu Hua followed him, saying she would marry him soon. Many people said Liu Hua was a good woman, but unfortunately she chose the wrong man and deserved sympathy. However, at the same time, news of Shangguan Tou and Feng Zi's marriage did not spread. Instead, there were many rumors that Shangguan Tou had long since abandoned Xue Zhi and remained devoted to Liu Hua.
Secondly, Man Feiyue finally managed to bring Feng She back. Before leaving, Feng She repeatedly told Xue Zhi to take care of her health, assuring her that he would return soon to look after her.
Furthermore, Lin Xuanfeng personally visited Shangguan Tou at Moonrise Valley. It is said that the two talked late into the night, finally resolving their differences. Therefore, Spirit Sword Manor also became part of the martial arts gathering.
The "Lotus Wings" remained unaccounted for, while numerous unexpected complications arose. Finally, Fengcheng invited Lin Xuanfeng and Yuan Shuangshuang to Mount Hua to reiterate the heroes' plans. Lin Xuanfeng sent a letter to Xuezhi, asking her to attend as well.
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Xuezhi arrived at Mount Hua without knowing Lin Xuanfeng's purpose in sending her there. Lin Xuanfeng and Yuan Shuangshuang arrived rather late; only Fengcheng and Bai Manman were in the living room.
Xuezhi sat awkwardly for nearly half an hour under Bai Manman's provocative gaze, still unable to understand why Fengcheng liked and even feared Bai Manman so much, yet never made her his official wife. Could it be true, as the people of the martial arts world said, that Fengcheng, seemingly lustful, was actually deeply devoted, still longing for his deceased wife?
Half an hour later, the people from Lingjian Manor finally arrived.
Feng Zi followed behind Lin Xuanfeng and saw Xue Zhi as soon as she entered the room. She then nudged Lin Xuanfeng. Lin Xuanfeng said a few words to her, and she excitedly ran over and sat down next to Xue Zhi.
"Sister, did you come alone?" Feng Zi asked, then looked at Yan He and Yun Hui behind Xue Zhi. "Did you bring two people with you?"
"Yes, the others are waiting at the inn at the foot of the mountain."
Why not let them come up?
"Your dad only invited me; it wouldn't be good to bring too many people."
"What does it matter? Father brought a lot of people with him too."
"It's alright, I won't be staying long before I leave."
"Has Sister Zhu Sha arrived?"
“Zhu Sha had other things to take care of and didn’t come.”
"Where is Sister Haitang?"
No, not at all.
"What about Brother Liuli?"
“No.” Xuezhi thought for a moment and then said, “There was a transaction with Zitang Manor this month. Originally, Mu Yuan was supposed to handle it, but he is not familiar with the capital, so I asked him to go along as well.”
"The Great Protector went too."
Seeing Feng Zi's obvious disappointment yet feigned indifference, Xue Zhi suppressed a laugh and said, "They probably won't be gone for long... How about you don't go back with your father later, and come back to Chonghuo Palace with me for a while?"
Feng Zi smiled, pursing her lips: "We still need to ask Father."
Xuezhi originally intended to tease her, but suddenly remembered her marriage to Shangguan Tou and felt that her behavior was not honorable enough, so she stood aside with a sullen face, leaving Feng Zi completely confused.