After the Death Ceremony, I was Entangled by My Two Wives - Chapter 10

This afternoon and evening, all we need to do is enjoy the festival…

“I haven’t considered that, nor do I plan to delve into it,” Zhao Qingxun said calmly, not missing the fleeting disappointment on Ying Buran’s face.

Ying Buran quickly composed herself, smiling. “There’s still plenty of time ahead. I won’t dwell on this moment. Love isn’t a necessity anyway.”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Qingxun nodded and changed the subject. “By the way, would you like to go to the festival?”

“The festival? Is that the kind of place where lots of people gather?” Ying Buran’s attention was immediately diverted, her eyes lighting up at the mention of something new.

She had heard of such places before, but the crowds had always intimidated her. She could only watch from afar, straining to hear the faint laughter that barely reached her ears.

Zhao Qingxun ruffled her hair, explaining, “It’s not a place, but a holiday—or rather, an event. People gather to celebrate something together.”

“I see!” Ying Buran exclaimed. “Can I go? It sounds like a joyful occasion. But what if something goes wrong because of me…?” She desperately wanted to go, but her past made her hesitant.

“Of course, as long as Master agrees, I’ll handle everything else,” Zhao Qingxun assured Ying Buran, looking directly at her. She added reassuringly, “Even if something goes wrong, it won’t be your fault. I’ve patrolled during several festivals, and not a single one has ended peacefully.”

“Does that mean I’m some kind of jinx?”

Ying Buran shook her head firmly. “Absolutely not. You’re not a jinx at all. You’re the one who protected them.”

“If I’m not, then neither are you. It’s just a coincidence that you were present at those incidents. Don’t overthink it, okay?” Zhao Qingxun cupped Ying Buran’s face, making her look into her eyes. “You’re a wonderful person.”

Ying Buran’s nose stung again. She knew Zhao Qingxun’s words weren’t entirely true; she had indeed summoned disasters on several occasions.

She’s comforting me, Ying Buran thought. She really is a wonderful person, radiating warmth that makes me want to draw closer.

After a moment, Ying Buran regained her composure, her heart now filled with anticipation for the festival. “Can I really go? Do I need to ask Master’s permission? If I can go, what should I bring?”

“I’ll speak to Master. You don’t need to bring anything—just follow me. The festival is in a week; I’ll let you know when it’s time. It’s getting late now. Let’s go back and rest.”

In the days that followed, neither of them mentioned the incident again, resuming their usual routine. Cheng Banxia watched anxiously, wanting to say something but daring not to.

Zhao Qingxun had specifically warned her to be careful what she said in front of Ying Buran.

Meanwhile, Ying Buran’s unspoken anxieties were temporarily overshadowed by her anticipation for the upcoming celebration. She spent each day counting down the hours until the grand event.

“Speaking of this celebration,” Ying Buran asked, leaning over the table to watch Zhao Qingxun pore over the Dao Script, feeling restless. “What’s it actually about?”

After weeks of intensive training, her physical stamina had improved significantly. She could now get out of bed without crippling pain every morning, and her cultivation had advanced slightly.

She could now rapidly coax a seed into blooming, earning Zhao Qingxun’s high praise. Cheng Banxia, however, seemed utterly terrified by Zhao Qingxun’s approval.

The flower itself was thriving. Ying Buran kept it by her bedside, taking it out for sunlight each day, watering it, and infusing it with spiritual energy—treating it as a form of cultivation practice.

Zhao Qingxun shifted her gaze from the Dao Script, pondered for a moment, and said, “It’s about the two founding ancestors who pioneered the path of cultivation for the Human Race. They led humanity out of the shadow of demonic beasts, enabling humans to cultivate and escape their fate of servitude. Every five years, their descendants hold a grand celebration to commemorate this historic day and honor these two ancestors.”

Ying Buran gasped in awe and pressed further, “What happened to them afterward? I read in books that when one’s cultivation reaches a certain level, they ascend to the legendary Immortal Realm.”

“They died,” Zhao Qingxun replied.

Ying Buran blinked, stunned. “Huh?”

“One ancestor suddenly succumbed to illness. After her death, the other ancestor fell to the Demonic Path and was jointly suppressed and executed by various sects. However, this part of history is almost completely forgotten. The official narrative claims they ascended together,” Zhao Qingxun explained.

She had stumbled upon this hidden truth in a forbidden text she had accidentally found. Shortly after, the book vanished.

Ying Buran let out a soft “Ah,” filled with regret and sympathy. “Is that really what happened? Why couldn’t they have a happy ending? They accomplished such a monumental feat—that must be the great merit the books talk about, right? Shouldn’t those with great merit deserve a good ending?”

Zhao Qingxun sighed softly. “Yes, why indeed? But that period of history is impossible to verify now; it’s been too long.”

Ying Buran said nothing more, continuing to lie on her stomach and watch Zhao Qingxun peruse the documents. As she watched, her eyes gradually closed, and she drifted into sleep.

In a hazy dream, she felt herself being lifted and gently placed on the bed. She seemed to have dreamed something, but upon waking, she couldn’t remember a thing.

Not a moment was wasted lamenting the forgotten dream. What awaited her next was her first-ever festival experience.

Before Zhao Qingxun could even call for her, Ying Buran had already woken up, washed, and dressed. When Zhao Qingxun knocked on the door, she was greeted by a radiant Ying Buran, full of energy.

Zhao Qingxun couldn’t help but smile wryly. She had called Ying Buran half an hour earlier than usual. “You didn’t need to wake up so early,” she said. “We have plenty of time.”

Ying Buran scratched her head sheepishly, grinning. “I was just too excited to sleep…”

Zhao Qingxun smiled helplessly and took her hand. “Since you’re already up, let’s take a stroll around the town and see if anything catches your eye.”

Ying Buran, led by Zhao Qingxun, arrived in town. She had initially worried someone might rush out and demand she leave, but nothing of the sort happened, even after they reached the first stall.

A gentle squeeze on her hand made Ying Buran turn to meet Zhao Qingxun’s warm, smiling gaze. Gradually, her anxiety melted away under that steady, reassuring look.

“See if there’s anything you want,” Zhao Qingxun said. She had deliberately exchanged a large sum of silver coins for this very day.

Ying Buran couldn’t help but glance at the children’s toys. She picked up a ceramic rattle ball and shook it gently.

Clink! There was a sound—a smaller ball seemed to be inside. How interesting.

Noticing her interest, Zhao Qingxun immediately bought the rattle ball. “Anything else you’d like?” she asked softly.

Ying Buran hadn’t expected Zhao Qingxun to act so quickly. She lowered her head slightly and nodded shyly.

Would people think it strange for someone her age to play with such a toy? But it really was fascinating.

Never mind. If it’s fun, it’s fun. As long as I can buy it, I can play with it.

Afterward, they visited a small stall selling accessories. Ying Buran’s sharp eyes spotted a Falling Star Flower hairpin and held it up against Zhao Qingxun’s temple.

Zhao Qingxun, dressed in a white celestial robe, looked both out of place and strangely fitting with the small blue flower tucked behind her ear.

It was as if… the hairpin had marked her as Ying Buran’s.

“Does it look good?” Zhao Qingxun asked with a smile, noticing Ying Buran’s dazed expression. The smile made her seem even more approachable.

Ying Buran snapped out of her reverie and nodded. “Yes, I think it suits you perfectly.”

Zhao Qingxun took out a silver coin and handed it to the stall owner. “We’ll take it. Thank you for helping me choose.”

“Shall we continue browsing? The celebration doesn’t start for a while yet.” Zhao Qingxun extended her hand to Ying Buran. The crowd was growing denser, and they risked getting separated if they weren’t careful.

Ying Buran nodded and took her hand without hesitation. “Let’s go.”

They strolled through the market for some time longer, but as the celebration drew near, the crowd swelled, making it difficult to move.

Seeing the growing congestion, Zhao Qingxun led Ying Buran to a teahouse. They chose a private room to rest and organize their purchases from the day.

Ying Buran gazed at the table laden with goods, feeling a bit embarrassed. She hadn’t realized she’d bought so much in the blink of an eye.

“Don’t worry about it,” Zhao Qingxun said, deftly unwrapping an oil-paper package and offering a sweet treat to Ying Buran. “These things didn’t cost much. I brought plenty of silver coins—this barely used a tenth of them.”

Ying Buran instinctively opened her mouth and took a bite. Sweet and delicious!

She looked at Zhao Qingxun, who opened another oil-paper package to reveal a variety of pastries.

When did she buy all this? Ying Buran wondered. I didn’t even notice!

With a wave of her hand, Zhao Qingxun stored everything away, leaving only the sweets and tea on the table. “Eat slowly,” she said. “We’re waiting for Cheng Banxia to arrive.”

Ying Buran stuffed another pastry into her mouth. Hearing this, she chewed diligently, like a little hamster, taking a while to swallow. “Senior Sister Cheng is coming too?”

“Mm-hmm. The celebration is quite large, so the Sect needs to send some personnel to oversee security,” Zhao Qingxun explained, opening another oil-paper package containing a new type of sweet.

They continued eating and drinking until Cheng Banxia finally arrived near dusk.

“Wow, this is quite a spread! So, what’s next?”

Cheng Banxia swiftly snatched the dessert Ying Buran offered, stuffing it into her mouth under Zhao Qingxun’s watchful gaze. Mumbling through a mouthful of pastry, she said, “Mmm, we should probably start with the demon lair. Isn’t that the most pressing matter?”

Zhao Qingxun’s lips twitched. She rubbed her temples and sighed. “Finish eating first. I have an hour of patrol duty. During that time, would you protect her?”

Cheng Banxia’s eyes lit up—this was a perfect opportunity. “Easy!” she declared, patting her chest. “I can patrol for you, Senior Sister!”

“Patrolling isn’t fighting, after all. My cultivation is more than enough. Calling Senior Sister here was just a precaution. Besides, I can stall for time until she arrives if anything happens.”

Seeing Zhao Qingxun about to object, Cheng Banxia pressed her advantage. “And Senior Sister, didn’t you bring Junior Sister out here to show her the world? It’s much more fitting for you to accompany her yourself.”

“Alright, it’s settled then! I’ll contact them. If anything comes up, use the Heavenly Spirit Mirror to reach me. Bye-bye~” Seeing that Zhao Qingxun didn’t object, Cheng Banxia left, surprisingly cheerful about doing work for once.

After Cheng Banxia left, Ying Buran looked at Zhao Qingxun apologetically.

Had she delayed Zhao Qingxun’s plans again?

Zhao Qingxun immediately sensed Ying Buran’s overthinking and explained, “Shift swaps are common among patrol disciples. There’s no need to feel guilty. The disciples can handle minor issues themselves, and for major ones, they’ll call for elder assistance. Elders are always assigned to accompany patrols during these celebrations.”

With that, Zhao Qingxun handed Ying Buran a mask, put one on herself, and smiled. “Let’s go. This afternoon and evening, we just need to enjoy the festivities. If you feel bad about troubling Cheng Banxia, we can cook her a meal later.”

“Should we leave now?” Ying Buran asked, examining the mask in her hand. She nodded, put it on, and moved closer to Zhao Qingxun, summoning the courage to take her hand. “Let’s go.”