After Marrying the 'Long Aotian' in Drag to Counter Bad Luck - Chapter 2

It was only after transmigrating that Rong Nianfeng learned the original host’s parents had encountered danger and perished in a secret realm when he and Rong Nianxue were just two years old. Since then, the two twins had depended on each other to survive. It was only natural that he felt a twinge of compassion and wanted to change her tragic ending. Furthermore, Rong Nianxue and Qi Yan, the favored genius of the Elixir Refinement Sect, had been childhood sweethearts who were even discussing marriage.

However, because Qi Yan had lost his life in the Nine Serenities Secret Realm, Rong Nianxue’s personality had changed drastically, and she spent her days washed in tears. The Xuantian Sword Sect took advantage of the situation to propose marriage to the Shuiyun Sect, which led to the arrangement of a ghost marriage to ward off bad luck.

The terrible author of the web novel had only written a few brief sentences about it. If it had not been for Rong Nianfeng’s excellent memory, Qi Yan would have lost his life long ago.

As for how he managed to stop Qi Yan from entering the Nine Serenities Secret Realm, Rong Nianfeng shook his head, quickly banishing that unbearable memory from his mind.

In short, Qi Yan did not go to the Nine Serenities Secret Realm and survived. Consequently, his marriage contract with Rong Nianxue naturally remained valid. That was exactly why Rong Nianfeng found it strange. How could the Xuantian Sword Sect not know about this?

Ma Laoqi frowned. “I do not know what the Xuantian Sword Sect is planning. After all, Nianxue and Qi Yan have not officially become Dao companions yet. If the Main Hall actually accepts the betrothal gifts, I am afraid they will have no choice but to break the marriage contract with the Elixir Refinement Sect.”

Rong Nianfeng fell silent. Ma Laoqi was right. Although the Elixir Refinement Sect was a mid-tier sect, it ultimately could not compare to a top-tier powerhouse like the Xuantian Sword Sect.

Moreover, if the Shuiyun Sect could secure a marriage alliance with Ye Xingchen, the premier disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect, it meant their sect would finally be qualified to enter secret realms in the future. Not to mention the endless stream of heavenly materials and earthly treasures they would receive, other sects would also have to think twice before trying to bully them.

The Main Hall was not too far from the back mountain, and it did not take long for Ma Laoqi to arrive while carrying him. Before they even touched the ground, Ma Laoqi dropped Rong Nianfeng with a loud thud, throwing him straight down from a height of over ten meters.

The pain caused his face to scrunch into a ball. Just as he was about to stand up and start cursing, Ma Laoqi spoke first. “Let us see how your body-tempering cultivation has been progressing lately.”

Hearing this, Rong Nianfeng could only frantically wave his sword behind Ma Laoqi’s back. The moment Ma Laoqi turned around, Rong Nianfeng immediately put on a guilty, beaming smile. “My training is going exceptionally well.”

Walking further inside brought them to the Main Hall of the Shuiyun Sect. The atmosphere inside the room was tense and unpredictable, and not a single person spoke. When the various sect elders saw the two of them enter, they exchanged glances. After a long silence, a white-haired old man sitting in the leading seat coughed twice. “Nianfeng, how has your cultivation been going recently?”

Rong Nianfeng was almost scared out of his wits. The reason was simple: this white-haired old man was the Sect Master of the Shuiyun Sect. He usually kept a stern, rigid face, looking as if everyone owed him hundreds of thousands of spirit stones. Seeing him smile so amiably today made Rong Nianfeng wonder if the old man had been possessed by a malevolent spirit.

Besides, wasn’t the betrothal gift meant for Rong Nianxue? The way these elders were staring at him with such eager, flattering smiles could easily cause a misunderstanding.

It was not as if they were proposing to him!

However, he only dared to complain in his head. Stepping forward properly, he lowered his head and bowed in greeting. “Greetings, Sect Master. My recent cultivation has been passable.”

“That is good.” The Sect Master nodded, his eyes narrowing into slits. “If you lack anything, feel free to tell your martial uncles.”

Rong Nianfeng nodded in agreement, but suspicion arose in his heart.

Something was wrong.

He took a seat beside Ma Laoqi and quietly scanned the Main Hall. Aside from the elders of each peak, one person was missing, and that person was Rong Nianxue.

Sure enough, before he could voice his doubts, the Sect Master spoke first. “Nianfeng, counting this year, you and Nianxue have been with the sect for eighteen years. Back then, your parents lost their lives in the secret realm, and the Shuiyun Sect did everything within its power to be kind, refusing to abandon you young children. In the blink of an eye, you have both grown so big. It truly fills one with emotion.”

Since Rong Nianfeng did not know what kind of scheme they were cooking up, his intuition told him it was not anything good. He could only give a vague response to play along. They did not dwell on the emotional act for long before the topic was abruptly steered toward business. It was obvious they were impatient.

“As for that Ye Xingchen from the Xuantian Sword Sect, it was rumored early on that he possesses extraordinary natural talent. He was found to have dual spiritual roots at the age of ten, achieved Qi Refinement at thirteen, and had already reached the Great Circle of the Foundation Establishment stage by sixteen. For someone of that age, merely reaching Foundation Establishment is remarkable. If it were not for a sudden illness that left him bedridden for nearly two years, his cultivation would have likely broken through to the Golden Core stage by now.”

“Your disciple is incompetent!” Rong Nianfeng interrupted in a loud, entirely unperceptive voice.

The Sect Master choked, the words catching in his throat. He waved his hand dismissively and said cryptically, “I do not mean to blame you. In the end, it is because our sect lacks capability. Nianxue has a marriage contract with the Elixir Refinement Sect, and the resources of the entire sect were only enough to help her alone break through to Foundation Establishment. We had no choice but to wrong you and the others.”

In truth, back then, Rong Nianxue had quietly asked him if he wanted to cultivate. But if she did not have some cultivation to protect herself, she could easily be bullied by others in the future, whether she married the story’s Dragon Aotian male lead or strayed from the plot to join the Elixir Refinement Sect. Therefore, Rong Nianfeng had gritted his teeth and declined. Thinking of this, he followed the Sect Master’s logic and asked, “So, do you want my sister to accept the Xuantian Sword Sect’s marriage proposal now?”

Hearing this, the people in the hall exchanged glances, reined in their thoughts, and forced a smile. “We have already accepted it.”

Rong Nianfeng asked, “You accepted it?”

“Nianfeng, if our sect can form a marriage alliance with the Xuantian Sword Sect, your First Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, and your Junior Sister will all be able to enter secret realms to seek opportunities in the future. They even promised to grant us a spiritual meridian. With a spiritual meridian, cultivation will yield twice the results with half the effort. Even the betrothal gifts amount to a full eighty carriages!” At some point, the Sect Master had moved to his side, patting his shoulder as he spoke earnestly.

“That many?!” he instinctively blurted out.

As expected of a Dragon Aotian’s sect, their generosity was staggering. But this would be the only time. The Xuantian Sword Sect was simply at its wit’s end, after all, a favored child of heaven only appeared once a century. Aside from Ye Xingchen, only Fu Xingzhi, the Blood Son of the Blood Sect, and Ji Yang of the Blazing Fire Sect could match that title.

The Xuantian Sword Sect originally thought that marrying Rong Nianxue to Ye Xingchen would ward off his strange illness, but they never expected it to be entirely useless. Furthermore, not long after, a person of exceptional talent suddenly burst onto the scene during the new disciple recruitment. With the South Continent Sect Tournament looming ahead, Ye Xingchen was gradually forgotten by the Xuantian Sword Sect. It got to the point where even ordinary low-level disciples could mock him to his face.

He thought to himself that the situation was pitiful, but he knew it was merely a plot device to allow the protagonist to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. When he returned, he would wear a mask, looking remarkably handsome and elegant, acting like a refined gentleman while playing the pig to eat the tiger.

“What did my sister say?” With a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, Rong Nianfeng frowned and asked.

No one responded for a long while. Just as he was about to look up, he heard the Sect Master say with a tearless sob, “She fled the marriage.”

“She would not want to marry…” Before the sentence could fully leave his mouth, Rong Nianfeng almost stumbled in shock. “She fled the marriage?!”

No wonder these elders, who already had thinning hair, looked even balder now, and the Sect Master’s hair had turned mostly white.

“We can understand why Nianxue is unwilling to marry. But the problem is, the ones who came to deliver the betrothal gifts are from the Xuantian Sword Sect. If we truly refuse them, as a downstream sect, anyone can imagine how difficult our lives will be in the future.”

Ma Laoqi knitted his brows, his eyes flashing sharply. “If it really does not work out, let us just fight our way over there.”

His aggressive words did not sound like a joke. The Sect Master quickly advised, “Elder Ma, do not be in such a hurry. If you shout about fighting and killing all day long, what will the other sects think of us?” He paused for effect, gently unfurling the folding fan in his hand, and said with an air of profound mystery, “There is still a way to turn this around.”

“What turnaround? Since Nianxue has eloped with Qi Yan, even if we want to find her, we might not be able to. The wedding date is drawing near, and the betrothal gifts have already been delivered. What else can we do?”

“Although Nianxue is not here, doesn’t she have a twin brother?”

The moment those words were spoken, within a fraction of a second, Rong Nianfeng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Several pairs of eyes stared at him, sizing him up like a piece of pork on a butcher’s block.

The First Elder asked, “Won’t it be a bit too obvious?”

The Second Elder replied, “I feel the same way. He lacks the necessary parts, while the extra parts are…” As he spoke, he glanced toward Rong Nianfeng’s crotch.

Terrified, Rong Nianfeng hastily used his hands to cover himself.

The Third Elder added, “If you look closely, it is not entirely impossible. With a bit of illusion transformation, as long as he does not flaunt himself in front of powerful masters, they will not recognize him.”

The First Elder nodded in deep agreement and gave the Sect Master a thumbs-up. “Sect Master, when you said today that you had a plan, I thought you were joking. I never expected it to be such a brilliant method.”

Rong Nianfeng finally lost his patience, the veins on his forehead bulging. “Are none of you going to ask if I agree to this?!”

Finally, the few people in the Main Hall fell silent. The Sect Master asked, “Do you agree?”

Before he could answer, the First Elder patted Ma Laoqi’s shoulder and said, “Brother Ma, this is wonderful! The Xuantian Sword Sect sent over two excellent swords. One for you, and one for me.”

“No!” Seeing that these people completely disregarded his life and death, Rong Nianfeng wailed loudly, “I do not agree!”

The Main Hall fell quiet once more.

Ma Laoqi scratched his head. “I think this matter is a bit underhanded.”

Tears instantly streamed down Rong Nianfeng’s face. He reached out with his hands to grab Ma Laoqi’s sleeve, crying pitifully, “Waaah, Elder Laoqi, I knew you were still good to me.”

“However, this method is not completely out of the question.” Ma Laoqi heartlessly pried away the person clinging to him. “It can save the sect from annihilation, secure us a good sword, and most importantly, get rid of this troublesome brat.”

Having suffered a brutal betrayal, Rong Nianfeng looked as fragile as a delicate white flower. “You all are far too cruel.”

Ma Laoqi kicked him and said, “Stop playing pitiful.”

Rong Nianfeng had no choice but to stand up and brush the dust off his clothes. “Since it involves transformation, why don’t we go all the way? Whichever of you wants to go can just transform into my sister’s appearance. Why do you have to pick me?”

The First Elder spoke with a hint of regret in his tone. “Do you think I do not want to go? If it were not for the fact that the Xuantian Sword Sect strictly demanded a cultivator who turned eighteen on the exact hour of the Ghost Festival, I would have gone myself long ago. As it stands, you and Nianxue were born at the exact same hour, and your facial features are virtually identical. Why don’t you just marry in Nianxue’s place?”

Rong Nianfeng stared at the white-haired First Elder, suddenly struck speechless. After a long pause, he said dryly, “You are so perverted, First Elder.”

The expressions on the faces of the others in the hall became incredibly bizarre as well. The First Elder could not maintain his composure and blurted out, “That is the Xuantian Sword Sect we are talking about! The spiritual energy there is incredibly pure. If I could cultivate there for a period of time, I might be able to break through to the Golden Core stage and live a bit longer.”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator could live for two hundred years, but if one could break through to the Golden Core stage, that lifespan increased to five hundred years. Nascent Soul cultivators could retain their youthful appearance and live up to a thousand years before passing away. It was indeed an enticing condition.

Unfortunately, Rong Nianfeng was not interested. He refused to be like a brainless goose, foolishly running to the side of a Dragon Aotian protagonist without even knowing how he might die. It was better to stay in the Shuiyun Sect. Although his cultivation was lacking, his body-tempering seemed quite decent. If he trained himself to withstand a beating, he could survive much longer.

He refused expressionlessly. “I am half a head taller than my sister. Are you blind? I won’t marry. If someone has to marry, you do it.”

The Second Elder gritted his teeth and said resolutely, “Aren’t you just after the sect’s heavenly materials and earthly treasures? If you marry, we will give them all to you.”

Rong Nianfeng’s heart fluttered slightly. “Does that include that fine piece of jade of yours?”

The Second Elder fell into a rare silence. The First Elder beside him pulled him over to whisper, “Oh, just give it to him first. Have you forgotten how many treasures are in the Xuantian Sword Sect’s betrothal gifts?”

After a bit of persuasion, the Second Elder reluctantly parted with his treasure. Trembling, he drew a piece of Xuanying Jade from his robes. “Fine, it is yours.”

To everyone’s surprise, Rong Nianfeng opened his hands and said, “I do not want it.”

Instantly, a chaotic argument erupted within the Main Hall.

Ma Laoqi said, “Look at his expression, he is clearly tempted. He is just holding out for a bit more.”

The First Elder asked, “Could it be that he wants spirit stones?”

The Second Elder added, “No, it does not look like it. I feel like he might want the Sect Master’s sword.”

The Third Elder remained the most calm and composed. He coughed twice, slowly raised his hand, and said, “Alright, I know what he wants.”

Rong Nianfeng raised an eyebrow. “A true man can be killed but not humiliated. No matter what you say today, it is impossible for me to agree.”

The Third Elder continued, “I have heard that Ye Xingchen is afflicted with an illness, his body is frail, and he is impotent. It is impossible for him to discover that you are a man. Furthermore, once you go there, you can cultivate inside their immortal sect!”

Ma Laoqi, the First Elder, and the others fell silent. They thought he was about to say something extraordinary.

The Second Elder asked, “How could he possibly agree to that?”

As soon as those words fell, an eager voice echoed in everyone’s ears. “I do! I will marry, I will marry, I will marry!”

He looked ready to burst into a song about his desperate desire to wed.

The youth’s eyes were as bright as radiant stars, and his harmless smile almost blinded the people in the room.

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