I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 140

Xiao Ya's Grand Wedding

"Senior Sister!"

Before Xu Shulou and her companion could exchange any thoughts about their peculiar journey, a man's voice rang out outside the house.

Xu Shulou recognized it as Jiang Yan's voice and stepped forward to push open the door. "Fifth Junior Brother, you're back?" freёnovelkiss-com

"Yes, just returned," he handed her a letter. "The wedding invitation from Lingxiao Sect's Xiao Ya happened to arrive at Bright Moon Peak, so I brought it over for you."

"Xiao Ya? A wedding invitation?" Bai Roushuang grabbed Jiang Yan's collar. "Who is she marrying? Lu Beichen?"

"..." Jiang Yan was startled by her reaction. "It's her third senior brother, Xiao Ruzhuo. Why would Fellow Daoist Xiao marry Senior Brother Lu?"

Bai Roushuang awkwardly released his collar and smoothed his robes. "Never mind, I was just... asking casually."

Jiang Yan looked at her with concern. "Junior Sister, are you... still hung up on Senior Brother Lu?"

"Hung up?" Bai Roushuang had been thoroughly unsettled by what she'd witnessed in the other world. Only now did she remember that particular history. "Oh, right. No, not at all."

"..." Jiang Yan glanced at Xu Shulou, silently questioning her junior sister's mental state.

"She's not insane," Xu Shulou defended Bai Roushuang. "I have something to attend to outside. If I haven't returned by the wedding day, the two of you can go together in my place and deliver a generous gift on my behalf."

"Senior Sister, what are you going to do?"

"Kill someone. Maybe wipe out a sect." Xu Shulou's tone was as casual as if she were mentioning a trip to buy roast chicken and wine.

"Wait, wait—" Jiang Yan hurriedly stopped her. "Wipe out which sect?"

"Do you remember the Soul-Summoning Banner?"

Both nodded. Who could easily forget such a sinister artifact? Bai Roushuang, especially, had accompanied Xu Shulou to capture the culprit back then. They recalled how the woman who crafted the banner had claimed to be acting under orders from a sect, but after she took her own life in the Punishment Hall and the banner was destroyed, Dustless Island lost the trail and couldn’t pursue the matter further. Later, Xu Shulou had suspected Wei Xuandao, but there was no concrete evidence linking him to it.

"Senior Sister, did you find a lead?"

"Yes. During this trip, Junior Sister and I... got separated. While searching for her, I stumbled upon some clues that need verifying." Xu Shulou explained that in the other world, the Soul-Summoning Banner hadn’t been destroyed. While jumping through different timelines to find Bai Roushuang, she had caught traces of its presence.

Understanding the gravity of the matter, both nodded. "Senior Sister, be careful."

"Of course." Xu Shulou turned and left without hesitation. Neither pressed her for details about the lead—given her explosive reputation, the cultivation world would soon be buzzing with news anyway.

Jiang Yan shifted his attention back to Bai Roushuang. "Junior Sister, I haven’t been paying much attention to you lately. Do you want to talk about Senior Brother Lu?"

"Huh?"

"Senior Brother Lu... well, you’ve heard about his romantic entanglements. Since you’ve already parted ways, there’s no need to dwell on the past," Jiang Yan said tactfully. "If you’d like, I can introduce you to someone better."

Bai Roushuang stared blankly, torn between laughter and exasperation. After repeatedly assuring him she held no lingering feelings for Lu Beichen, she finally ushered him out of the room.

Jiang Yan paused at the door. "Are you sure you don’t want to hear more? I know someone with the looks of Pan An and the charm of Song Yu—even more handsome than your Senior Brother Lu."

Bai Roushuang hesitated shamelessly. Her initial attraction to Lu Beichen hadn’t been entirely unrelated to his face. Clearing her throat, she leaned against the doorframe. "If he’s as handsome as Song Yu... go on."

Jiang Yan grinned. "Well, he does have a peculiar hobby—likes to enter paintings in the Taixu Realm to experience being struck by lightning."

"...On second thought, I think I’ll focus on cultivation for now."

"..."

After Jiang Yan left, Bai Roushuang sat alone on the threshold, smiling foolishly. Xiao Ya was marrying Xiao Ruzhuo—how wonderful. The tragedies of the other world wouldn’t happen here.

———

Half ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‍a month later, on the day of Xiao Ya’s wedding, Xu Shulou was still nowhere to be found. Bai Roushuang and Jiang Yan prepared a congratulatory gift on her behalf and set off for Lingxiao Sect.

As the imperial princess of Xiao Kingdom, Xiao Ya’s wedding was nothing short of magnificent.

Lingxiao Sect, having benefited greatly from the royal family’s patronage over the years, spared no effort in organizing the event. At the foot of the mountain, the usually solemn gates were adorned with clusters of hydrangeas, their delicate pink and red hues weaving a tapestry of earthly beauty.

The entire mountain was bathed in radiant splendor, as if wrapped in clouds and mist.

As soon as the two entered, they noticed numerous gazes flickering toward them—some even peering behind them, as if expecting someone else to follow.

Jiang Yan remained unperturbed. "Probably Senior Sister’s doing."

Bai Roushuang could only pat her long-suffering fifth senior brother’s shoulder in sympathy.

Sure enough, a fellow cultivator familiar with Jiang Yan soon approached, whispering conspiratorially, "Your senior sister didn’t come?"

"No," Jiang Yan replied. "What has she done this time?"

"You haven’t heard?" The man sighed. "Vast Sky Fortress is gone."

"..."

Vast Sky Fortress was a renowned sect in the cultivation world, famed for its mechanical artifacts and treasures. Though not as influential as Lingxiao Sect, it was still a formidable force. How could it just... vanish?

Jiang Yan and Bai Roushuang exchanged glances. Had the man said "Vast Sky Fortress was attacked" or "faced a great enemy," they could have understood. But "gone"?

Bai Roushuang ventured cautiously, "My senior sister did it?"

The man nodded grimly. "Who else? She burned down centuries of their legacy in a single blaze!"

"So... what did Vast Sky Fortress do wrong?"

"..." The man’s lips twitched. Here was someone whose first assumption was that the victims must have deserved it—Dustless Island’s favoritism was truly something else.

Before he could answer, Bai Roushuang and Jiang Yan realized simultaneously: "The Soul-Summoning Banner!"

If Xu Shulou hadn’t been certain of their involvement, she wouldn’t have been so ruthless.

———

To everyone’s surprise, Xu Shulou arrived just before the banquet began.

For the occasion, she had changed into a bright, cheerful outfit—a pale yellow dress with flowing sleeves, a gossamer shawl draped over her shoulders, and jade hairpins nestled in her locks. With a relaxed smile, she looked like a carefree maiden returning from a flower-viewing excursion, bearing no resemblance to the terrifying figure from the rumors.

She quietly took her seat beside her junior siblings, though her attempt at low-profile failed—nearly every gaze in the hall lingered on her.

Glancing around, she murmured, "Why is Lu Beichen staring at me so resentfully?"

"Senior Sister," Jiang Yan leaned in, "you might not have heard yet—Lu Beichen and Vast Sky Fortress’s Shen Wanci are discussing marriage."

"I really don't know about that," Xu Shulou rubbed her chin. The name had vaguely appeared in her dreams, but its presence was so faint she could hardly recall it. "I’ll go talk to him."

Xu Shulou stepped forward, grabbed Lu Beichen by the collar, and hauled him up. "Senior Brother Lu, I have something to say to you."

Lu Beichen instinctively struggled, while the onlookers cast sympathetic glances his way, as if wondering how he’d managed to provoke this notorious troublemaker.

The two made their way to a secluded pavilion. After confirming no one was around, Xu Shulou spoke. "Miss Shen is still alive, detained in Dustless Island’s disciplinary hall. If it’s later confirmed she had no involvement in this matter, she’ll naturally be released."

"..."

"I just wonder, without the backing of Skyreach Fortress, whether you’ll still proceed with the marriage arrangement."

Lu Beichen’s face darkened with anger. "What kind of person do you take me for?"

"No hidden meaning," Xu Shulou shook her head. "Back when you wanted to break off our engagement to marry my junior sister, I already knew you didn’t care about such things."

Lu Beichen hadn’t expected her to say anything remotely kind and was momentarily stunned.

"Except, just because you didn’t care then doesn’t mean you still don’t care now."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Xu Shulou sighed. "What did Wei Xuandao say to you before he died?"

"..." Lu Beichen pressed his lips together, refusing to speak.

"About the truth behind your parents’ ascension and what they did in their lifetime—I don’t know the full details. Much of it is guesswork," Xu Shulou said bluntly. "But I know they made mistakes."

"What do you want?" Lu Beichen eyed her warily. "To spread this and ruin my reputation?"

"There’s no proof," Xu Shulou shook her head. "I just mean to say, whatever kind of people your parents were doesn’t dictate who you are."

Lu Beichen was so accustomed to Xu Shulou’s sharp tongue that hearing such gentle words left him momentarily speechless. The hostility in his demeanor faded.

"Senior Brother Lu, you’re the head disciple of Lingxiao Sect, with a bright future ahead. Don’t stray down the wrong path for meaningless reasons."

Lu Beichen’s expression twisted in pain. "Are my parents a 'meaningless reason'?"

"Don’t give me that tragic tone," Xu Shulou retorted. "Who doesn’t have their share of suffering? Who hasn’t felt like losing control? But your parents brought it upon themselves. No one harmed them—they died under heavenly retribution. You can’t take your anger out on the innocent. I won’t hold you to my standards, but at the very least, don’t lower yourself to the level of a dishonorable scoundrel."

"..."

"I’m not implying you’re using Miss Shen Wanci. I know your parents’ fate has pushed you to cross lines, to claw your way up by any means," Xu Shulou advised. "But some things you can only think about—not act on. Once you do, there’s no turning back."

Lu Beichen gritted his teeth. "If you’re so sure I’ll do something, why not just kill me?"

"That’s the thing—I’m not sure," Xu Shulou met his gaze. "And neither are you."

"..." Lu Beichen slumped onto the stone bench. "You… you actually believe in me?"

Before the vulnerability could fully settle on his face, she answered flatly, "No. I’ll be watching you."

"..." Lu Beichen’s emotions whiplashed, and he nearly cursed aloud.

After Xu Shulou’s mix of praise and criticism, Lu Beichen returned to the wedding banquet in a daze. He felt he ought to be furious, but after finally voicing his long-buried secrets, he realized he felt… lighter.

He wasn’t at peace—peace wasn’t so easily won. But with Xu Shulou watching, cutting off his path to darkness, his heart was a tumult of emotions.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed the ceremony begin. To the strains of elegant music, Xiao Ya and Xiao Ruzhuo walked hand in hand down a red carpet strewn with flowers, bathed in congratulations. Their radiant smiles seemed to glow—as they should, when stepping into love with the one they cherished.

His gaze drifted to Bai Roushuang. He’d nearly forgotten there was a time he, too, had felt that way—ignoring what the other could offer, caring only for the heart’s desire...

Then he saw Xu Shulou beside Bai Roushuang and recalled her earlier words: Who doesn’t have their share of suffering? Who hasn’t felt like losing control? Was she speaking of herself?

Had things been different, as the princess of the Xu clan, she too should have had a grand wedding like this.

Did she hate it?

He studied Xu Shulou, but her expression held only pure joy.

After a long silence, Lu Beichen forced a smile.

At a wedding banquet, one ought to smile.

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