Mistress of the Underworld and Her Little Celestial Wife (GL) - Chapter 1

Starting off as a widow, huh?

The vast Kunlun Mountains finally bid farewell to their nine-month-long harsh winter as spring breezes brought rain, reviving all living things.

The belated spring scenery was delicate and vibrant, and recently, a major event occurred in the small town at the foot of Wuyun Mountain.

It wasn’t some horrifying tragedy but rather a joyous occasion or so it seemed.

“Though calling it joyous might not be quite right.”

The elderly women and aunties, basking idly in the sun at their doorsteps, gathered to gossip while pointing toward the distant Wuyun Mountain. “This happy event is also a funeral. You’ve all heard of the eldest daughter of the Wuyun Sect, Si Lingqing, right? Word has it she passed away recently.”

“Who hasn’t heard of such big news? That sect leader’s daughter has been sickly since childhood. She wasn’t even twenty this year, was she? I heard she was only nineteen.”

“Gone so young, how could her family not be heartbroken? What a shame, especially for that predestined marriage.”

“Exactly. The Wuyun Sect leader wanted to hold a wedding to ward off misfortune for his daughter, but just as everything was prepared, she passed away.”

Someone nearby chimed in, “Just the other day, Wuyun Sect disciples came to my shop to buy wedding candies, saying they were going all out for the ceremony.”

“What a pity…”

“Hey, isn’t that the Wuyun Sect’s wedding procession coming from the other side?”

As they chatted, the gossiping crowd turned their heads to watch the bridal procession making its way into town.

Mu Yin, seated inside the swaying bridal sedan, was on the verge of throwing up from all the jostling!

She had been perfectly content at home, eating fried chicken and binge-watching dramas, just pulling an all-nighter, that’s all. How did she end up in this bizarre place the moment she woke up?

And inside a bridal sedan, no less.

Mu Yin felt a dull ache in her head. When she touched it, her fingers came away stained with bl00d, and the wooden railings of the sedan were also smeared with traces of red. Slowly piecing together her thoughts, she gradually grasped her current predicament.

This bride, who shared her name, was the daughter of the sect leader of a minor faction called the Nine Stars Sect. She had just turned eighteen.

The Nine Stars Sect was a small, obscure group with barely twenty or thirty members, including the leader’s family. Apart from their signature Nine Stars Sword Technique, they had nothing noteworthy to their name.

Her father treated the sect as his personal fiefdom, taking three wives and siring multiple children.

Mu Yin was the least favored among them.

Then, out of nowhere, the Nine Stars Sect hit the jackpot!

The only daughter of the Wuyun Sect’s leader, the foremost sect in the land had been frail and sickly since birth. Hoping to secure a fortunate marriage for her, the Wuyun Sect leader sent out invitations far and wide, seeking a suitable bride. And Mu Yin happened to fit all the criteria perfectly.

Her father was overjoyed, accepting ten thousand taels of gold on the spot before shoving her into the bridal sedan.

This Mu Yin, realizing there was no escape, wept bitterly as she boarded the sedan. The more she thought about it, the more despairing she became.

Not only was the idea of two women marrying unheard of, but Si Lingqing’s poor health meant she’d likely be widowed for life.

But then came even worse news.

Midway through the procession, word spread that Si Lingqing had already passed away.

Now, with the bridal sedan en route and the dowry already accepted, there was no backing out of the marriage. She was doomed to remain with the Wuyun Sect forever.

The eighteen-year-old girl cried the entire journey before making a drastic decision, she would dash her brains out against the sedan!

Now, as Mu Yin touched the bl00d on her forehead, she couldn’t help but feel utterly speechless.

The young girl had found her escape, but what about her?

Starting off as a widow right from the beginning???

Mu Yin took out a red handkerchief, wiped the bloodstain on her forehead, and covered it with the phoenix crown, now it was barely noticeable.

She had a resilient mindset, unlike the young girl’s unyielding character. Instead, she even lifted the bridal sedan’s curtain to peek outside.

That one glance was enough, the streets and alleys were packed with people, crowding around the sedan, craning their necks to get a look.

The small town was quaint yet refined, devoid of the rugged style typical of deep mountain regions. Instead, with its clear river, it resembled the picturesque water towns of Jiangnan.

The weather was still chilly, and an early spring breeze blew, making Mu Yin sneeze loudly!

“Achoo!”

The matchmaker walking ahead of the sedan heard the noise and turned around repeatedly. Seeing Mu Yin lifting the curtain, she hurriedly muttered ‘oh dear’ under her breath, rushed over to lower it, and said to Mu Yin inside, “Miss Mu, you mustn’t lift the curtain before reaching the destination, it’s inauspicious.”

Mu Yin blinked. This was her first time riding in a bridal sedan, how was she supposed to know what was auspicious or not?

Besides, hadn’t the inauspicious event already happened?

Hearing no response from inside, the matchmaker continued, “Miss Mu, we’re about to arrive at the Wuyun Sect. Are you prepared?”

Mu Yin asked curiously, “Prepared for what?”

“Did you forget everything I taught you before we set off?” The matchmaker sighed helplessly and said, “The marriage customs of immortal sects are different from ordinary families. And given your special circumstances, there won’t be anyone to perform the wedding ceremony with you.”

Mu Yin: “…”

She suddenly understood why her namesake original owner had chosen death. Even as a modern person, she found it hard to accept the news of Si Lingqing’s death on the way here, let alone an ancient person.

The matchmaker went on and on about various things to keep in mind, and Mu Yin noted them all.

She remembered that she had arrived in a world from a book, one with immortals, demons, spirits, and ghosts. Across the Nine Provinces, there were ordinary people and cultivators alike. The Wuyun Sect and the Jiuxing Sect were among the cultivation sects.

The only difference was that the Wuyun Sect was the leader among sects, while the Jiuxing Sect wasn’t even worth a fraction of their influence.

The Wuyun Sect was vast and powerful, situated alone in the Kunlun Mountains.

They had an inexhaustible supply of rare treasures, and even the human emperor would visit periodically, seeking the secret to immortality.

In short, the Wuyun Sect was both wealthy and influential. The betrothal gifts they sent to the Jiuxing Sect stretched for miles. Not to mention, Si Lingqing was the sect leader’s only daughter. By marrying into the sect, Mu Yin would not only become a widow on the spot but also gain access to endless wealth and immortal treasures.

Most importantly, wasn’t it a joyous occasion to have one’s wife die right after entering the household?

The more Mu Yin thought about it, the more satisfied she felt. In her modern life, she had been nothing but a slacker. Since she was going to slack off anyway, why not do it here?

After all, she was a young woman with all the fine qualities of the modern era!

Bravery, If all else fails, just die.

Optimism, So what? We’re all going to die anyway.

Socializing, How about you all just pretend I’m dead?

Honesty, Believe it or not, go die if you don’t.

Composure, Wouldn’t dying solve everything?

Communication, What else can we do? Maybe just die.

Fairness, Let’s all die together.

Thinking about it this way, Mu Yin felt that life was still pretty wonderful.

The joyous celebration of the Wuyun Sect was abruptly interrupted midway, yet the bride had already arrived at the gates. After some deliberation, the sect leader and his wife decided the wedding should proceed as planned.

Mu Yin was escorted down the crimson carpet, bowed to heaven and earth, then to her parents, before being led to the bridal chamber.

The servants moved in hushed silence, their voices barely above a whisper as they guided Mu Yin to the chamber door.

With a creaking sound, the vermilion doors swung open.

Mu Yin, her eyes downcast and expression blank, stepped inside. Her personal maid, Hong Zhuang, supported her and whispered, “Young Mistress, we’ve arrived at the bridal chamber.”

Hearing this, Mu Yin glanced around.

The sudden turn of events had left the room still adorned in festive red, yet it stood empty save for her.

Accepting this reality, Mu Yin found the solitude rather peaceful. She turned to Hong Zhuang and said, “There’s nothing more to do here. You may leave.”

Under normal circumstances, this would have been the moment for newlyweds to enjoy their first night together.

Hong Zhuang cast a sympathetic look at the young mistress, who had become a widow the moment she entered the household, then bowed and withdrew.

Once alone, Mu Yin finally relaxed.

According to Hong Zhuang, the sect leader and his wife were not the type to make things difficult. From now until morning, the entire chamber would belong to Mu Yin alone.

Overjoyed, she reveled in having her own space at last!

With a light heart, she sat before the dressing table and began removing the elaborate hair ornaments. The golden phoenix crown, weighing nearly ten pounds, was finally lifted off. As she gazed at the glittering jewels adorning it, her eyes widened in amazement.

This was real gold and precious gems!

How much could they fetch if sold?

Midnight.

The Wuyun Sect members were still busy, rushing to replace the red decorations with white cloth. After Mu Yin entered her chamber, everyone had gone to assist, leaving the bride unattended.

But Mu Yin didn’t mind the neglect, she was perfectly content, now curled up under the blankets, fast asleep.

Yet, just past midnight, she was roused by the sound of distant drumming and gong strikes, growing louder until it seemed to echo right outside her courtyard. The noise was so disruptive she couldn’t fall back asleep.

“Who’s making such a racket at this hour?”

Frowning, Mu Yin sat up in bed. The rhythmic “Boom! Clang! Boom! Clang!” pounded in her ears, making her head throb.

Who in the world was causing such a commotion in the courtyard at this time?

Unable to bear it any longer, she grabbed her red wedding robe and marched toward the door, puzzled.

Shouldn’t Hong Zhuang have stationed someone outside? How could this deafening clamor go unchecked?

The closer she got to the door, the stranger it felt until she spotted a slender silhouette cast against it.

Who was there?

Before she could speak, a gust of wind flung the door open with a creak, chilling the night air and tousling the strands of hair at her temples.

Standing before her was a woman dressed identically to herself, a crimson wedding gown, a golden phoenix crown atop her head.

The woman held a red fan, half-covering her face, revealing only a pair of striking eyes.

In a slow, deliberate voice, she asked, “Are you, my new bride?”