Xie Hanzhu had been home for ten days and had already been on eighteen blind dates.
She met promising young men and stunning beauties, sometimes seeing up to three people in a single day. It was overwhelming, leaving her feeling spoiled for choice.
Even emperors don't get treated like this.
Knowing her daughter's preference for beautiful women, her mother made sure every candidate was of exceptional appearance, handpicked from the best of the best. Yet, despite this, Xie Hanzhu found fault with every one of them.
"This one's no good—too thin, not enough meat on her bones."
"This one's too slow, she's dull."
"This one's too fierce, her eyebrows are too close together."
No matter how hard she tried, none of them satisfied her.
After ten days of constant meetings, she was exhausted. Barely recognizing one face before another appeared, even Xie Hanzhu's patience was wearing thin. Frustrated, she flopped down onto a soft couch, refusing to meet anyone else.
She had always been the beloved jewel of the Xie family, indulged and pampered from a young age. Naturally, this made her a bit spoiled. When she refused to continue, the servants panicked, some rushing to pour her water, while others massaged her shoulders.
The steward, holding the invitation from the next suitor, didn't know what to do. He stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay, casting pleading glances toward Xie Hanzhu's mother, hoping she would intervene.
By this point, Xie Hanzhu's mother had realized what was happening. Her daughter's pickiness likely meant her heart was already set on someone else. And this person must be extraordinary: highly skilled, beautiful, with a perfect figure.
Most importantly, Xie Hanzhu liked them.
That's why, no matter how stunning or accomplished the candidates were, Xie Hanzhu still found them lacking.
Her mother dismissed the servants and steward, cutting straight to the point, "Hanzhu, be honest with me. Is there someone you already like? If there is, I'll cancel the rest of these meetings and stop wasting time."
Xie Hanzhu, fanning herself lazily, didn't hesitate before denying it. "No."
She had chased after that person for so long, but now she was tired and had given up. There was no point hanging onto a hopeless cause. It was better to find someone even more perfect to spite them.
Hmph.
In a matter of moments, Xie Hanzhu's imagination had already conjured up a scene where she returned to Qingxu with an exquisite beauty by her side, leaving Wen Miaomiao stunned and regretful.
She would laugh at her, draped in her beautiful companion's arms, declaring herself the winner, "See? This is what you missed out on!"
Wen Miaomiao would try to act indifferent, but secretly she'd cry tears of regret watching Xie Hanzhu walk away. Xie Hanzhu, magnanimous as ever, would pretend not to care, saying, "It's all in the past now."
Oh, just imagining it felt so satisfying!
To make that vision a reality, the first step was to find an extraordinary beauty. Xie Hanzhu perked up, sitting up with renewed energy as she said to her mother, "These one-on-one meetings are too slow. How about hosting a banquet and inviting them all at once?"
It was a brilliant idea. She wouldn't have to meet them one by one, and she could compare them all at once to pick out the most beautiful.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Seven days later, the Xie family hosted a grand banquet.
The Xie family was a prominent clan in Wancheng, with considerable influence. Word quickly spread that the youngest daughter of the Xie family, known for her beauty and talent, had returned home and was yet to be betrothed.
The message was clear, and all the noble families understood the implications of the banquet.
In the world of cultivators, just as in the mortal realm, status and lineage mattered. Normally, smaller families or less accomplished cultivators would never have the chance to approach someone like Xie Hanzhu, a young, accomplished woman from a prestigious family.
But with the Xie family extending an invitation, those barriers were no longer insurmountable.
Tailors were busy crafting new outfits, jewelry shops were swarmed with customers, and every prominent family's daughter was determined to outshine the competition at the Xie family banquet.
As evening fell, the banquet began. Lamps were lit at the entrance, where Xie Hanzhu's older brothers and the steward welcomed the guests.
It had been a long time since Wancheng had seen such a lively event, with guests arriving in a steady stream. The main hosts were swamped, while Xie Hanzhu herself lounged comfortably on a soft couch, completely at ease.
A maid entered, clearly flustered at the sight of Xie Hanzhu still in her everyday attire. "Miss! Why aren't you dressed up yet?"
Xie Hanzhu yawned lazily, turning her back to the maid. "It's not like I'm the one being chosen—they're the ones trying to impress me. Why bother dressing up?"
As the lamps outside illuminated the gathering, and with most of the guests already arrived, Xie Hanzhu reluctantly allowed the maids to help her into a red silk gown. Her striking appearance was only enhanced by the outfit, and she couldn't help but admire herself in the mirror.
She looked stunning. If Wen Miaomiao didn't appreciate her, then it was truly her loss.
Beautiful women filled the garden, corridors, and banquet hall. Some recited poetry, some played music, while others displayed their swordsmanship beneath the moonlight.
All of them shared a singular goal: to capture Xie Hanzhu's attention.
And, of course, she noticed. The beauty around her was like a garden in spring, full of vibrant and unique blooms, waiting for her to choose one.
But, unfortunately, she wasn't interested in any of them.
Xie Hanzhu hated anything that felt overly refined, as it reminded her of her childhood, struggling in the Xie family's academic halls, always finishing at the bottom of the class.
The woman performing swordplay did catch her eye for a few seconds, but then she quickly lost interest, turning to her maid and saying, "She's not very good."
She's nowhere near as good as I am.
After wandering around the garden a few more times, still without finding anyone who truly captivated her, Xie Hanzhu's mood soured.
None of these people were more beautiful than she was, let alone worthy of comparison to Wen Miaomiao.
It seemed she was destined to remain single forever.
Amidst the garden full of stunning guests, one figure stood out, though not for her beauty. She leaned quietly against the shadowed side of a moon gate, her head bowed, dressed in the plainest of white robes, with no makeup.
If not for the familiarity of the robe's design and color catching Xie Hanzhu's eye, she would never have noticed her.
But now that she had, there was no ignoring her.
Xie Hanzhu dismissed the maids and approached, arms crossed, a cold smirk playing on her lips. She stood before the woman and asked, "What are you doing here?"
The woman looked up, revealing a face more radiant than the moon itself. In her presence, the world seemed to dim, and all the other women faded into insignificance.
"It's the Xie family banquet, isn't it? Any unmarried woman of suitable age is welcome to attend. Why wouldn't I be here?"
She had a point. Xie Hanzhu couldn't argue with her logic. Wen Miaomiao was unmarried, of suitable age, and her beauty surpassed all others. If anyone deserved to be here, it was her.
Letting out a huff, Xie Hanzhu leaned against the courtyard wall, watching the other women from afar. Inside, a new sense of pride welled up.
Wen Miaomiao, look. Even without you, there are plenty of others here waiting to love me. Sure, maybe they're only after my wealth, my status, or my cultivation, but there's no denying it—if I wanted them to, they would love me.
You're not the only one with admirers who could form a line from Qingxu to Kunlun. My admirers could stretch from Wancheng to Yutian.
"So, what do you think of my family's banquet?" Xie Hanzhu asked, gazing at the distant lanterns, a sudden sense of triumph swelling within her.
"When I get married, it will be even grander than this. I'll make sure you're there to drink a toast."
She wanted Wen Miaomiao to witness her in all her bridal glory, adorned in a phoenix crown, celebrated by everyone.
Wen Miaomiao was silent for a moment before sighing. "Hanzhu, there's no need to try and upset me."
"Do you have the wrong idea?" Xie Hanzhu feigned surprise. "Who said I'm doing this to upset you? I truly want to get married. You can ask anyone in the Xie family. I've gone on eighteen dates in ten days!"
She was practically a legend among matchmakers!
Okay, maybe she did want to make Wen Miaomiao regret her choices, but that wasn't the same as trying to upset her.
And even if it were, she definitely wouldn't admit it!
"I've really moved on and decided to look ahead," Xie Hanzhu declared, standing up as if to leave. "I've always had plenty of options."
Hearing those words, Wen Miaomiao's heart clenched in pain.
In this lifetime, since joining Qingxu, Xie Hanzhu had always been by her side. They had grown up together on Yanmo Peak, training and cultivating side by side. Xie Hanzhu's straightforward, carefree personality had made her Wen Miaomiao's closest friend.
Then one day, Wen Miaomiao noticed something different in Xie Hanzhu's gaze—a hidden, burning intensity.
She had seen that kind of look before, many times.
If it had been her younger self, the naive teenage girl of her past life, she might have been moved by such sincere, passionate emotions. But the current Wen Miaomiao was no longer that simple, carefree girl. Her heart was burdened with countless responsibilities.
Cultivation, ascension, the demon clan, Fuguang.
The blood and tears of the human race, the past, and the future all weighed her down, forming chains that bound her, leaving no room for freedom.
So, she had to reject Xie Hanzhu.
At first, Wen Miaomiao felt guilty seeing the disappointment in Xie Hanzhu's eyes. But over time, that guilt faded, and she began to take Xie Hanzhu's devotion for granted.
She had grown so arrogant that she believed Xie Hanzhu would stay by her side forever.
But now, surrounded by the sounds of laughter and celebration, she realized that Xie Hanzhu could do just fine without her.
And with that realization, she no longer wanted to let her go.
In her past life, Wen Miaomiao had sacrificed everything for the human race, including her chance to ascend once more.
This time, she would be selfish, follow her heart, and stay by Xie Hanzhu's side.
The moon had risen high into the sky, stars scattered across the heavens, promising a beautiful day tomorrow.
Wen Miaomiao gently tugged at Xie Hanzhu's sleeve, preventing her from leaving. Though her heart pounded with nerves, she tried to maintain a calm facade. "What about us?"
For Wen Miaomiao to show up at her family's banquet in the middle of the night was already outrageous. Now, for her to say something so strange was even more confusing.
Without thinking, Xie Hanzhu replied, "I'll live happily ever after with my beautiful lover, as for what happens to you, that's not my concern."
She turned to leave, but Wen Miaomiao held tightly to her sleeve.
In a soft, trembling voice, Wen Miaomiao asked, "You said you have many choices, but… could you consider me one of them again?"
Xie Hanzhu stopped in her tracks, standing frozen in silence for what felt like an eternity before slowly pulling her sleeve free from Wen Miaomiao's grasp.
Then, without another word, she bolted.
What the heck? Wen Miaomiao just confessed to her! She had to be hallucinating!
No, Xie Hanzhu pinched herself hard, feeling the pain. This was real!
Oh no, Wen Miaomiao must have gone mad from cultivation! Her power was immense—if she lost control, no one could stop her! Xie Hanzhu had to find Su Luowei immediately.
But wait… Su Luowei and Meng Shuying were traveling in the mortal world right now. Where on earth could she find them?
Xie Hanzhu hesitated for a moment before quickly dismissing the thought, focusing instead on packing her belongings.
She didn't care anymore. She had to leave! If she stayed any longer, she'd definitely run into Wen Miaomiao again.
Early the next morning, Xie Hanzhu's mother burst into her room, accompanied by several maids, furious and ready to give her daughter a scolding.
Her daughter was not young anymore, and yet she still behaved so irresponsibly! If the maid hadn't reported it this morning, she would never have known that Xie Hanzhu had only made one brief appearance at the grand banquet held in her honor the night before!
However, when they opened the door, Xie Hanzhu was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a female cultivator, whom Xie Hanzhu's mother vaguely recognized, sat calmly at a desk, holding an unopened letter.
The letter was addressed to "Mother," written in Xie Hanzhu's own hand.
Xie Hanzhu's mother took the letter and read it quickly. The note explained that Xie Hanzhu had experienced a sudden breakthrough in her cultivation the previous night and had gone into seclusion to train. She urged her mother not to worry about her.
Folding the letter carefully, Xie Hanzhu's mother turned to the woman sitting at the desk, struggling to recall her name.
The woman smiled gently, introducing herself. "I'm Hanzhu's future partner, Wen Miaomiao."
[The End]