My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 375 - 275 The Couple Spends Mid-Autumn Festival
Chapter 375: Chapter 275: The Couple Spends Mid-Autumn Festival Together
Chapter 375: Chapter 275: The Couple Spends Mid-Autumn Festival Together
The courtyard trees were bare of leaves, and lotuses blossomed near the water’s edge.
The autumn wind was biting, bringing a hint of coolness to Yujing City.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when the nobility decorated their pavilions and the common folk vied for spots in restaurants to admire the moon. The inner city residents heard distant sounds of music, ethereal as if coming from beyond the clouds, while children played all night long. The night markets were bustling until dawn.
From the Emperor and the Royal Family down to the poorest commoner, everyone celebrated the festival in their own way. The lively scenes were mesmerizing.
The dark riverways were brightly lit by lanterns from various households, forming a glowing stream of light that accompanied the people’s revelry till dawn.
The lanterns from each household floated on the water, making the river seem like the Milky Way in the sky.
The stars were scattered across the Mid-Autumn night sky, brightening the night and lightening people’s hearts.
Decorative lanterns adorned the night market, where countless delicacies and fascinating trinkets especially captured the hearts of children.
The most interesting part was the dance troupes and street performers, which elevated the atmosphere of the night market even further.
Under the bright moonlight, people dressed splendidly, gathered in small groups, whether strolling through the streets, boating on the rivers, or climbing towers to admire the moonlight, chatting and laughing joyfully.
At the end of the night market street, a young couple was walking toward us. The man wore a white robe and had a handsome face with bright, unforgettable eyes.
The woman was dressed in a light blue gown, her bright eyes and delicate features enchanting, and every smile seemed as if it leaped from a painting. She also held a rabbit-shaped lantern in her hand.
This couple was none other than An Jing and Zhao Qingmei.
An Jing, looking at the surrounding scene, couldn’t help but say, “My dear, it has been a long time since we last went out together like this.”
“Mmm.”
Zhao Qingmei gazed at the lanterns in front, a faint smile curving her lips.
Dongluo Pass, far beyond the frontier, was lively during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it naturally couldn’t compare to the bustling beauty of Yujing City.
The human world, full of life, indeed soothes the heart.
In such a bustling environment, the couple’s hearts calmed down.
Just then, an old grandpa carrying a grass target hurried over, his warm smile offering, “Sir, would you like some candied hawthorns? Ten copper coins a stick, free if they’re not sweet.”
An Jing glanced at the old man’s grass target and said, “Then give me a stick that’s not sweet.”
The old man’s smile gradually stiffened: “….”
Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing and said, “Don’t listen to his nonsense, just get me a stick.”
Saying this, she took out ten copper coins from her purse and handed them to the old man.
“Alright!”
The old man gladly took the copper coins and kept praising, “This young lady is so beautiful, I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you in my life, sure you haven’t fallen from heaven?”
Zhao Qingmei couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle, “You’re quite the joker, old man.”
An Jing rolled his eyes and remarked, “Cliché, I said that many years ago already.”
The old grandpa ignored An Jing, continuing to lavish compliments on Zhao Qingmei, calling her a fairy and a Bodhisattva. Usually aloof and cold, Zhao Qingmei was so pleased that she ended up buying the whole grass target.
In the end, Zhao Qingmei handed the grass target and the lantern to An Jing, tasting the candied hawthorns and saying with a smile, “Husband, I’ll leave these to you then.”
“This old fellow sure got it easy.”
An Jing could only watch as the old man walked away freely, resigning himself to carry the grass target.
Suddenly, he felt that the old man’s departing figure seemed familiar, so familiar that it felt as if he had seen him somewhere before.
An Jing murmured to himself, “That can’t be right, with my memory, I definitely can’t be mistaken. If I’ve seen him somewhere, then I’ve definitely seen him.”
Zhao Qingmei walked ahead, looked back at the mumbling An Jing, and said, “Hurry up.”
An Jing hurriedly followed, “Right away, my lady!”
Zhao Qingmei gently licked the sugar coating on the hawthorn stick and whispered, “Wang Yue has disappeared, along with his daughter and granddaughter.”
Upon hearing this, An Jing’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, “It seems that Wang Yangsheng and Wang Yue are deeply connected. He was able to resurrect from the stone, clearly because Wang Yue used some secret technique.”
Back at the bottom of Chenxin Lake in the Blue River Sect, An Jing had seen Wang Yangsheng in the stone. Wang Yue was also very peculiar, and having been busy with many other things since then, he had not investigated further.
Perhaps if he had investigated it earlier, Wang Yangsheng might not have been resurrected.
But Wang Yue was indeed very reserved and low-key. Since he took control of the Blue River Sect, which was once one of the Great Yan’s seven major sects, it began to seclude itself. The disciples of the Blue River Sect also vanished from Jianghu and seldom interacted with other sects.
Originally, An Jing thought that Wang Yue was merely protecting the Blue River Sect, given his strength at the time was hardly enough to contend with other sects. But now, it seemed that all this was part of a bigger plan, a larger game he was playing.
Zhao Qingmei said, “Wang Yangsheng will come back.”
“Definitely,” An Jing nodded. “But with Xi Hafu stationed at Dragon Spring Temple, if Wang Yangsheng really goes there, that’s not something I need to worry about.”
Zhao Qingmei slowly said, “They all want the Earth Vein Spirit from the Dragon Locking Well,”
Nowadays, many masters are trying various ways to break the seal on the Dragon Locking Well, to dissolve the heavenly restraints and restore the natural spiritual energy, thus quickly enhancing their Cultivation. Among them, those in the Grandmaster Realm especially covet the Earth Vein Spirit.
The Earth Vein Spirit was the only way for Grandmasters to break through their shackles, but now the Spirit had been tainted by evil spirits, suffering torment. How would they obtain the Earth Vein Spirit then?
Suddenly, An Jing seemed to think of something, “Do you think it’s because the Earth Vein Spirit is tainted by the evil spirits that there’s now a slim chance?”
There were two methods to break through the Grandmaster level, one being to eradicate the Earth Vein Spirit, and the other being to merge the Earth Vein Spirit into oneself. However, the Earth Vein Spirit was ethereal, seemingly unaffected even by True Qi.
And if one were to merge the Earth Vein Spirit into oneself, it equated to suicide. Previously it seemed almost impossible, but now that the Earth Vein Spirit was tainted by evil spirits, might it change the Earth Vein Spirit’s inclination?
“It’s possible,”
Zhao Qingmei’s eyes also flashed with a speck of light, “After Qian Qiu inflicted heavy damage on Zhao Zhiwu without being killed, he made no further moves. He’s obviously waiting for something—most likely waiting for the Earth Vein Spirit to be completely saturated with the evil spirits.”
An Jing said gravely, “Once the Earth Vein Spirit is completely saturated with the evil spirits, the energy it will release upon breaking free will be that of the evil spirits.”
The two exchanged glances, a trace of realization flashing in their eyes.
In every word and action, they seemed to have unveiled a massive secret.
These Grandmasters were indeed waiting; waiting for the Earth Vein Spirit to be overwhelmed by this pressure, and then, to acquire the Earth Vein Spirit to impact the Grandmaster level.
As it was with Xi Hafu and Qian Qiu, perhaps Wang Yangsheng sealed himself for this very reason.
Throughout the ages, many masters had been unable to sever the Earth Vein Spirit. Their only thought was to force the Earth Vein Spirit to voluntarily merge into themselves.
It seems that eventually, one person will ascend beyond the Grandmaster level.
But what exactly will happen when the Earth Vein Spirit, tainted by evil spirits, merges into one’s flesh?
Is this a good or bad thing for the world?
“Forget it, there’s no need to think about it for now.”
Zhao Qingmei gently took An Jing’s hand and said, “What worries me the most now is Zongzheng Huachun.”
Previously, An Jing had planned a decisive battle at the Houjin royal court with Zongzheng Huachun to settle past grievances between the Demon Sect, Houjin, and Great Yan. However, the sudden death of the Great Yan Emperor Zhao Zhiwu had completely disrupted An Jing’s plans.
Zongzheng Huachun is a Five Qi Grandmaster at his peak, who had also fortuitously merged a strand of the Earth Vein Spirit’s consciousness into himself. If there was anyone among the world’s Five Qi Grandmasters closest to becoming a Grandmaster, it would undoubtedly be Zongzheng Huachun.
“This time I exchanged several moves with Wang Yangsheng, which led me to understand the strength of a Grandmaster,”
An Jing said solemnly, “Wang Yangsheng had exhibited most of his power, barely withholding a few tricks. The Grandmasters are indeed very powerful.”
In this exchange between An Jing and Wang Yangsheng, it seemed he was not at a disadvantage, but neither did he hold any advantage.
To say that he could defeat a desperate Grandmaster would be an exaggeration, after all, a life-and-death duel and a friendly match are entirely different.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
The mental state in a duel between masters is very important.
Especially the duel between An Jing and Zongzheng Huachun, which involved both of their lives, as well as the Demon Sect, Houjin, Great Yan, and the future of the entire north.
If Zongzheng Huachun were defeated, Houjin’s collapse would come overnight. If An Jing lost, the world would remain in chaos. Additionally, Houjin might catch its breath and even launch a powerful counterattack against Great Yan. At that time, with enemies on both sides, the grand situation of the world might truly turn out as some had previously anticipated.
In such a mental state, who could exert greater power?
In a duel between masters, life and death hang by a thread.
“My husband, you don’t need to worry too much,”
Zhao Qingmei didn’t want to put too much pressure on An Jing and said, “From what we can see so far, Zongzheng Huachun’s chances of breaking through to the Grandmaster level are not great.”
“Let’s hope so,”
An Jing smiled softly and said, “By the way, what did the Emperor of Yong’an tell you last time?”
Zhao Xuening had found an excuse to keep Zhao Qingmei behind, and that night Zhao Qingmei returned very late, surely they must have spoken about something privately.
Zhao Qingmei seemed to recall something, snorted lightly, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten this matter, the Emperor of Yong’an…”
The words “Yong’an” held a particularly intriguing meaning, especially for Zhao Qingmei.
“My lady, you are too sensitive,”
An Jing chuckled dryly, pointing at the distant moon, “Look, what a big moon.”
The streets were bustling, vibrant, with the moon hanging in the sky like a large plate.
“Yes, the moon is indeed big,”
Zhao Qingmei gently placed her hand on An Jing’s arm and then twisted forcefully, smiling playfully, “Don’t you agree?”
An Jing broke into a cold sweat, “My lady, are you also using True Qi?”
Zhao Qingmei had not held back in the slightest, even employing True Qi, completely disregarding martial ethics.
“Look! They’re setting off fireworks!”
“Such beautiful fireworks!”
…
Just then, dazzling fireworks burst across the pitch-black sky.
An Jing and Zhao Qingmei also looked up.
The night sky above was lit with fireworks blossoming fervently, creating stunning moments of ephemeral beauty against the dark horizon, striving through a lifetime solely for this moment’s brilliance. But fireworks cool quickly, and the glory of the morning is fleeting…
Zhao Qingmei couldn’t help but murmur softly, “How beautiful.”
An Jing turned his head involuntarily, finding her exquisitely picturesque face much more appealing than the fireworks, her bright eyes reflecting the sky filled with sparkles, his pupils mirroring the glittering hues.
Zhao Qingmei unconsciously tightened her grip on An Jing’s hand, “Let’s go, let’s go back.”
An Jing smiled and hefted the straw target, saying, “Let’s go, time to eat mooncakes, I can hardly wait.”
Zhao Qingmei sneered, “Can’t wait to eat the mooncakes she sent you?
In the Mid-autumn season, the previous day the Great Yan Emperor had specially sent over a box of mooncakes she made herself.
That really was bringing up a sore subject!
An Jing cursed inwardly and forced a laugh, “Of course not, we don’t have to eat them…”
Zhao Qingmei spoke indifferently, “Let’s eat, why not? I’ve never tried mooncakes made by the Human Emperor herself.”
An Jing only felt a tingling on his scalp, and his steps slowed dramatically, “Wife, how about we don’t eat the mooncakes and cook up some dishes and have a little drink instead?”
This mooncake must not be eaten.
“Having a little drink sounds rather nice.”
Zhao Qingmei spoke wistfully, “If one day you no longer love me, I will make you a dish to accompany your drinks.”
An Jing asked, “What kind of dish to accompany drinks?”
“You actually ask what kind of dish?”
Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing raising an eyebrow, questioning, “Why wouldn’t you love me?”
Upon hearing this, An Jing’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly explained, “Wife, let me explain, I will always love you, so I have never even thought about not loving you; that scenario is completely irrelevant, so I naturally skipped past that statement.”
Zhao Qingmei gave An Jing a cold glance, “You’re a better sophist than anyone in this world.”
Holding Zhao Qingmei’s hand, An Jing declared earnestly, “Not at all, I am not making excuses. What I say is sincere. Do you want to hear my heartbeat?”
No matter when, a woman wants to hear from a man that he still loves her, even though she knows very well that he does, and even though she knows these are just some dispensable sweet nothings.
Zhao Qingmei haughtily said, “No need, I’ll just barely trust you for today.”
An Jing breathed a sigh of relief and then asked curiously, “Wife, why would you make a dish for me, and what would it be?”
Zhao Qingmei smiled and said, “Chicken stewed with mushrooms.”
An Jing asked, puzzled, “Chicken stewed with mushrooms?”
What’s special about this dish?
It didn’t sound special at first, could it perhaps be another nourishing dish?
Zhao Qingmei looked tenderness into An Jing’s eyes and said, “Use wild mushrooms and your chicken.”
“….”
……
The city was adorned with lights, transforming Yujing City into a land resembling heaven itself.
The lanterns of the common folk were like the numerous stars in the vast night sky.
The affluent hung lanterns that could be several meters high, intricate and beautiful, while the Imperial Palace had the most exquisite and impressive lanterns of all.
With Mid-autumn being the grandest festival, a bustling Mid-autumn festival was held in the Imperial City every year.
The Mid-autumn lantern appreciation feast in the palace was therefore extraordinarily spirited and lively.
During this time, all the civil and military officials would go out of their way to curry favor with the Human Emperor, with scholars composing poems and martial generals performing sword dances for entertainment, the palace was indeed bustling and loud.
At this moment, sitting at the center, Zhao Xuening raised her head to gaze at the moon and the brilliant fireworks.
Zhao Xuening inquired, “Wang Yue, the moon tonight is really round; were the Mid-autumn Festivals in the past also like this?”
The eunuch Bai Mei bowed and said, “Every year it’s this round.”
It was a mundane and uninteresting question, but Bai Mei answered it very carefully and seriously.
The ancient moon is no longer seen by today’s people, the current moon once shined on the ancient ones.
People from the past and the people from the future, though they live in different times under different heavens, they all once basked under the same moon, grew upon the same land.
Zhao Xuening said softly, “I hope next year’s moon will still be the same.”
Bai Mei said slowly, “It definitely will be.”
“I’m somewhat tired.”
Zhao Xuening glanced at the fireworks above her head and slowly stood up to walk toward the sleeping chambers.
She was now the Human Emperor of Great Yan, with countless citizens depending on her, she was Great Yan’s sky and at the same time, its pillar.
She had no one to rely on, so she relied on herself.
The long night was ending, and a new day was in sight.
Zhao Xuening’s pace was neither hurried nor slow, but full of composure.
The civil and military officials present all hurriedly knelt on the ground, sending off the Human Emperor as she departed.
The white-browed eunuch looked at her retreating figure, feeling an overwhelming sense of familiarity—not with the figure itself, but with the silent solitude it conveyed.
In his view, a truly powerful master, a truly powerful emperor, was not about how strong their power was, but whether they could truly endure loneliness.
…….
Time flew by rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
After the ascension of the Yong’an Human Emperor, the Great Yan Dynasty entered a brief period of peace, but soon the massive army of Zhao Country continued to move northward, and both armies confronted each other at Lengping White Bone Mountain.
This White Bone Mountain was the burial ground of hundreds of thousands of Zhou Dynasty’s military souls. It was here that An Jing had obtained the Imperial Jade Seal. With the entry of hundreds of thousands of military souls into Fengdu, this place had finally returned to normal.
The vast army of Zhao Country had tried to persuade Ping Ding to surrender during the political turmoil in the Great Yan Dynasty, but he had stalled them. Later, due to the internal turmoil in Zhao Country and the setback faced by Houjin, Zhao Country did not want to engage in a life-or-death struggle with Yan Country that might benefit others, so they never launched their full strength.
Now with the new emperor’s accession in the Great Yan Dynasty and the situation becoming increasingly stable, Houjin had turned into a cowering turtle, let alone moving southward. They could only defend their Royal Court. The Southern Barbarians were also like grass on the fence, swaying with the wind, and without displaying a certain formidable strength, the Southern Barbarians might even turn their guns against Zhao Country.
Therefore, for the sake of the overall situation, Zhao Country started a fierce attack on Yan Country, for which the State Preceptor Xiao Qianqiu had also returned to Nanhua Mountain to confront the chieftain of the Southern Barbarians.
The chief of the Southern Barbarians, having learned that Xiao Qianqiu had been defeated by the Ghost Swordsman of Yujing City, was now deeply wary and dared not make any rash moves.
He was very clear about Xiao Qianqiu’s strength. If the two were to face off, he was absolutely no match for Xiao Qianqiu. But Xiao Qianqiu had been defeated by the Ghost Swordsman, which showed the gap between them.
As the saying goes, a dying camel is bigger than a horse, and the current Great Yan was certainly not a dying camel.
To observe the changes and watch the world’s situation was the way for the Southern Barbarians to survive.
The upcoming battle that would change the global situation was undoubtedly the great battle between Zongzheng Huachun and the Ghost Swordsman, with everyone anticipating this battle.
This seemed to be a duel between the two, but behind them were Houjin, Great Yan, and even the Demon Sect. The outcome could affect the global situation, involving not only Houjin and Great Yan but also the Southern Barbarians.
Moreover, the duel between the two might involve the Land Immortals who had not appeared in the world for a long time, so the chieftain of the Southern Barbarians was very concerned about this battle.
Not just the chief of the Southern Barbarians, but people all over the world were watching, waiting for a battle that concerned the whole world.
As time passed, this great battle was drawing ever closer.
On the first day of September, the sky was clear, and the streets and courtyards were filled with falling leaves. The persimmon trees were hung with bright red lanterns.
At that moment, Ank Jing was meditating in a secret chamber, seeking to break through to the Seventh Realm. He had just advanced his cultivation to Five Qi and the next realm was the Grandmaster Realm, a significantly difficult breakthrough. If he wanted to make a sudden, significant advancement in strength, there were only two ways: one was to reach the Seventh Realm of the Sword Dao, and the other was to reach the unity of heaven and man.
Compared to the latter, An Jing felt that his understanding of the Sword Dao was more inclined toward the Seventh Realm.
Lou Xiangzhen had once told him that the grander the Sword Dao, the more difficult it was to break through the current shackles.
The vastness of the Immortal Sword was even greater than that of the Holy Dao Sword, making it even harder to reach the Seventh Realm.
At this moment, Zhao Qingmei’s voice came from outside the chamber.
“Husband, Elder Nan might not make it much longer. I need to return to You Mountain.”
An Jing stood up upon hearing this and saw Zhao Qingmei standing anxiously at the door.
Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and said, “Elder Nan has transferred all his cultivation to me; furthermore, the massive consumption of essence, coupled with continuous battles with Xiao Qianqiu and the top Grandmasters from Xi Hafu, has brought him close to his end. Unfortunately, his life will not last much longer.”
An Jing was silent for a moment before responding, “Then you should go back and see him first.”
Last time, he had realized that Nangong Weiping was indeed nearing her end. Only the blood of the Ji Chu could let her cling to life a bit longer by extending her lifespan, but the Ji Chu resided in the Cloud Tower, a stronghold of Xiao Qianqiu.
Even if An Jing and Zhao Qingmei forcibly entered the Cloud Tower, they might not match Xiao Qianqiu.
This Grandmaster had slain numerous other Grandmasters and was among the strongest of all time; if not for his current ailment, he might have already attacked Yujing City.
Zhao Qingmei said, “Yes, and after handling that matter, remember to come back early too.”
“Okay,” An Jing replied earnestly, nodding. “I’ll return as soon as possible.”
Zhao Qingmei pursed her lips and added, “Remember to be careful. I’ve arranged for Third Master to assist you in the Capital.”
An Jing smiled lightly, “Don’t worry.”
After chatting for a few more moments, Zhao Qingmei packed up briefly and then left directly.
Not long after Zhao Qingmei had left, Li Fuzhou also hurried over, “Son-in-law, the Buddhist Fa Wu has arrived.”
An Jing laughed upon hearing this, “Oh? Is he back again? Is he looking for Han Wenxin?”
Ever since Fa Wu had learned of Han Wenxin’s desire to leave the Buddhist sect and join the Demon Sect, he had been frequenting the Demon Sect’s stronghold to find Han Wenxin. However, Han Wenxin may have been too engrossed in the brothel boats and was seldom seen. Moreover, his determination to join the Demon Sect was so firm that no matter what Fa Wu said, there was no use in trying to persuade him to return to Buddhism.
Li Fuzhou said slowly, “Not this time; he mentioned that Xi Hafu wants to meet you.”
……
