Chapter One: The Blind Lady
Northern Frontier, Snow Moon Empire, Yuanzhou City.
A clamor of drums and gongs echoed through every street and alley.
Crowds lined the roads on both sides, watching as the bright red bridal palanquin swayed boastfully past, their voices rising in lively discussion.
“Both of the Xiao sisters are getting married today—such a grand scene is a once-in-a-century spectacle!”
“The ceremony may be splendid, but it's a pity about the elder sister, Xiao Ruoxin. She was once the pride of the city, yet now she’s being wed to that useless wretch of the Mu family. Tsk, tsk…”
“It’s odd, isn’t it? The younger sister, Xiao Yutong—how did she get so lucky? She’s blind, yet she’s marrying a disciple of the Sword Sect…”
In sharp contrast to the bustling streets, a quiet courtyard stood apart. Within, a young man straightened his bridegroom’s robe and stood solemnly before two memorial tablets, holding three long sticks of incense.
“Father, Mother.”
“Today is the day I take a wife. You always wished for me to bring Ruoxin into our home, and at last, your hopes are fulfilled.”
“The hour has come—I must go now to greet my bride. I pray your spirits in heaven will watch over Ruoxin, that she may find success and peace in the Sword Sect.”
He bowed three times to the tablets, then placed the incense in the burner.
Turning, he strode out to welcome his bride.
He was the Mu family’s young master, and on his wedding day, the household naturally brimmed with celebration.
Yet with both Xiao sisters marrying tonight, neither of Ruoxin’s parents had come; he could not even offer them a cup of wine.
Mu Feng felt a pang of resignation.
He understood well—Xiao family cared little for this match.
Even so, Mu Feng followed every custom, bowing three times and nine times again, and welcomed his bride through the door.
Taking Xiao Ruoxin’s hand, Mu Feng—his breath tinged with wine—could not help but smile, entirely oblivious to the fact that his bride’s hand was icy cold.
“Ruoxin, why are you so quiet tonight?”
“You’re usually never at a loss for words.”
Perhaps it was the drink, or simply joy overflowing, but Mu Feng paid no mind, and gently lifted the bridal veil.
As the deep red veil fell away, Mu Feng stood frozen, his pupils trembling in disbelief.
On this wedding night, with candles aglow—this woman before him was not his bride!
Xiao Yutong sat on the bed, her expression uneasy, her form shivering. Her eyes were blank and pale, and sensing the storm of fury rolling off Mu Feng, she dared not speak for a long time.
Xiao Yutong—half-sister to Xiao Ruoxin.
And blind.
“Where is your sister?” Mu Feng’s voice was icy and dark, yet Xiao Yutong only hung her head in silence.
“Answer me! Where is she?”
His fists clenched, his tone low and ragged, his eyes bloodshot.
“She… today she was to marry the Sword Sect disciple, so I was sent in her place…”
Xiao Yutong’s voice was a whisper, barely audible by the end, terrified before Mu Feng’s wrath.
“Xiao Ruoxin!”
Without another word, Mu Feng seized the sword from the table and rushed out the door, hell-bent on demanding justice.
“Mu Feng, don’t—!”
Hearing the rush of wind outside, Xiao Yutong staggered up to follow, only to fall heavily to the ground…
The streets, just moments before vibrant and noisy, fell silent at the sudden appearance of a lone figure.
A man and his sword, each heavy step echoing like a march of the dead—his face ashen, his eyes blood-red.
“Isn’t that the good-for-nothing young master of the Mu family? On his wedding night, and he’s not in the bridal chamber—what’s he doing here?”
“Judging by his appearance, you’d think he was some vagrant, not a groom.”
“Could it be… the Xiao family’s eldest daughter got disgusted and kicked him out of bed? Hahaha!”
Mockery and disdain swirled around his ears, but Mu Feng paid them no heed, moving steadily toward the Xiao residence.
“Xiao Ruoxin—show yourself!”
His furious roar shattered the music and merriment of the Xiao household.
Xiao Ruoxin?
At the sound of her name, the crowd looked at each other in confusion.
Wasn’t it the younger sister, Xiao Yutong, who was getting married today?
But in the next moment, all eyes widened in shock.
Two figures approached—a man and a woman, both exuding nobility.
The man’s features were sharp as a blade, his very presence radiating sword energy, like a treasured blade piercing the sky, awe-inspiring and unapproachable.
And nestling beside him was none other than the Xiao family’s eldest daughter, Xiao Ruoxin.
“Well done, Xiao Ruoxin.”
Upon seeing her, Mu Feng’s grip tightened on his sword hilt, his jaw clenched in a snarl.
“And who do we have here? The Mu family’s young master, isn’t it your wedding night? What brings you here?”
The feigned confusion in her voice only fueled Mu Feng’s fury, and those around exchanged uncertain glances.
“What brings me? If you didn’t wish to marry into the Mu family, you could have said so. Why send your sister in your place?”
“Such a despicable act—what of my family’s honor? What of your sister’s innocence?”
His words cut sharp, shocking the crowd.
To swap the bride and deceive the groom—this was to grind the Mu family’s face into the dirt!
Yet, Xiao Ruoxin only smiled the broader at Mu Feng’s rage.
“Laughable. Truly laughable.”
“You’re still addressed as young master, yet you think you’re still the prodigy of Yuanzhou City?”
“A year ago, I no longer cared for you. Today, I am wed to Senior Brother Jiang. You and I are from different worlds now.”
A year ago!
That was when Mu Feng’s family was ambushed—his parents slaughtered, his own spiritual veins destroyed, forever stripped of the ability to cultivate.
Perhaps, even then, Xiao Ruoxin’s heart had turned away.
“If you didn’t want to marry me, you could have simply said so. Why go to such lengths?”
Face twisted with anger, Mu Feng met only scorn from Ruoxin.
“Why? There’s nothing more to it. It was merely to fulfill the marriage pact. Besides, my blind sister is perfectly suited to a cripple like you.”
“After all, the Xiao family doesn’t keep the useless.”
“Now, you may return to your wedding chamber.”
To push even her own sister forward so coldly—such a ruthless heart, such venomous means!
The onlookers seethed inwardly—no mother tiger would eat her cubs, yet here a sister had betrayed her own kin with such filth. Yet their discontent remained silent, for Xiao Ruoxin now belonged to the Sword Sect.
The Sword Sect—an existence above the very empire itself!
Let alone Jiang Wuying, a Sword Sect disciple—even a mere servant from the sect was beyond their reach.
Only Mu Feng’s eyes held no fear.
“Return? Today, I will demand justice for the Mu family and for Yutong!”
With a roar, Mu Feng swung his sword at Xiao Ruoxin.
What if he was a cripple?
It was only one ruined life—what was there to fear?
Even if it cost him his life tonight, he would see Xiao Ruoxin taste blood!
His sword fell—just as it was about to strike her brow—
A sudden force burst forth, sending Mu Feng staggering back.
His right arm was soon soaked in blood, the sword knocked from his grasp, lost who knew where.
“A broken sword, a cripple—how dare you act so insolent before me, Jiang Wuying.”
“If the Mu family lacks proper discipline, I’ll teach you on their behalf!”
As he spoke, countless white streams of light coiled around Jiang Wuying, whose posture was poised and aura overwhelming.
Mu Feng saw at once—Jiang Wuying had reached the Xuanhuang Realm!
The four realms of martial cultivation: Gathering Qi, Entering Spirit, Xuanhuang, Heaven and Earth.
So young, yet already in the Xuanhuang Realm—this Sword Sect disciple was truly worthy of his reputation!
In an instant, fierce spiritual power surged toward Mu Feng, its force enough to shake the soul.
“No—!”
A figure groped through the night, stumbling toward Mu Feng.
Her face was smudged with dust, her hairpin askew, her body bruised from falls—yet she pushed through the crowd, hands outstretched, finally finding Mu Feng’s form.
She shielded him with her own body.
“What are you doing here? Get back inside!”
Mu Feng frowned, gritting his teeth against the pain, wanting to send Xiao Yutong away.
There was fighting here—if she were hurt, what then?
But Xiao Yutong, her face streaked with dust, only smiled faintly, and wrapped her arms tightly around Mu Feng.
“I am your wife now. You are my husband.”
“Today, whatever happens, I ought to stand by your side.”
“If we cannot live together, then let us die together.”
If we cannot live together, then let us die together.
At those words, Mu Feng was momentarily stunned, lips pressed tight, words dying in his throat.
Jiang Wuying’s eyes flickered with a strange emotion—perhaps jealousy, perhaps rage.
In that moment, murderous intent welled up, his chilling words echoing all around.
“What a touching scene.”
“If your love is so deep, why not become a pair of doomed lovers in the underworld?”
With a flick of his finger, a sharp sword aura shot straight for Mu Feng’s heart.
He meant to pierce them both through!
Xiao Ruoxin, the elder sister, looked on without the slightest concern.
“Move aside!”
Suddenly, Mu Feng pushed Xiao Yutong away, determined to bear the brunt himself.
Boom—
A fierce punch shot from afar, shattering the sword aura.
“Xiao family—who gave you the nerve to lay a hand on a son of the Mu family!”