Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 112: She Probably Didn’t Have Much Time Left.

　　“Xian Wuming, do you have anything left to say for yourself?”

　　A sharp male voice rang out, loud enough for everyone to hear. Like a signal being fired, the cheerful mood of the banquet instantly turned tense.

　　He Ziqing and his group all stood up, facing off against Xian Wuming and the rest of the Qiansha Pavilion.

　　Jin Yanwan handed An Jiu over to Pei Ji and tossed out a quick, “Take care of her,” before drawing her sword with a sharp clang and turning to face Xian Wuming.

　　Everyone stepped forward, separating An Jiu and Pei Ji from the front lines.

　　The girl in her wedding dress slumped weakly in the arms of the white-robed man. She looked unwell, her eyes shut and her face pale. Not a word came from her lips.

　　No one could hear the cries echoing in her mind.

　　“Why is it only 95?! I’m doomed, seriously doomed! I’m gonna die at this rate!”

　　An Jiu was a mess inside.

　　She had thought that something this dramatic would definitely leave a deep impact on Pei Ji. With someone as emotionally deprived as him, facing such a powerful declaration of love, there was no way he’d resist it.

　　It was like the person you secretly loved for years suddenly turning around and saying, “Actually, I’ve loved you for a long time too.” Wouldn’t that be totally exhilarating?

　　Any normal person would be overjoyed and fall even deeper in love, right?

　　Her prediction wasn’t wrong exactly… but she’d still underestimated Pei Ji’s emotional defenses. His affection level did rise, just by 10 points though, still 5 short of completing her mission.

　　As far as she knew, Pei Ji had already gotten his hands on the Twin-soul Gu.

　　What would he do now? Would he still kill her?

　　With the final deadline gone, An Jiu felt like all hope had turned to ash. It was as if a blade hung before her, just waiting to fall.

　　It was the kind of choice that asked: your life, or your love?

　　If it were her, she’d pick survival in a heartbeat—even if that meant killing the person she loved.

　　After all, An Jiu didn’t believe that love could really make someone give up their life.

　　She figured that maybe such deep love existed in the world, but definitely not in someone like Pei Ji.

　　At that moment, she was already bracing herself to fail the mission.

　　“Everyone, please stay calm. This is all just a misunderstanding.”

　　Xian Wuming’s voice suddenly came from the front.

　　An Jiu had already resigned herself to whatever would come, but even with death so close, she still gathered her strength.

　　Until the very last moment, she didn’t want to give up hope.

　　She opened her eyes and looked toward the voice. But the moment she glanced at ‘Xian Wuming,’ her chin was gently tilted, turning her face away.

　　“Why are you looking at him?”

　　The white-robed young man held her close, his voice low as he asked. It wasn’t really a question, more like a gentle command.

　　He wore a warm smile, the corners of his long eyes curved downward, his gaze soft like rippling sunlight over a quiet lake at dusk.

　　An Jiu had never seen such a warm, genuine expression on Pei Ji’s face before.

　　He used to smile often, yes, but it never reached his eyes. Not like this. Now it felt like he was glowing from the inside out.

　　It really felt like standing in a spring breeze.

　　“You like me, don’t you? Then just look at me.”

　　He said it so gently, eyes locked on hers with quiet intensity.

　　An Jiu froze, staring into those deep, smiling black eyes, and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

　　What was happening? Why did he suddenly feel… even more unhinged?

　　While the two of them were locked in this moment, Xian Wuming’s voice continued from the front, calm and steady.

　　“I admit I was at fault to begin with, but before any of you act, take a good look at the situation. I don’t want to become your enemy, but I doubt you want to lose your lives here either. So how about we both take a step back? I’ll return An Jiu, and you all leave Qiansha Pavilion. We drop this matter for good. What do you say?”

　　The moment he said this, everyone turned to each other in shock.

　　None of them could believe what they just heard.

　　They all thought a big fight was coming next. No one expected it to be resolved this easily.

　　Jin Yanwan lowered her voice and said, “He has a point. If we fight him here, we’re not going to gain the upper hand. This is his territory. Since he’s willing to let An Jiu go, maybe we should just take the offer and leave it at that?”

　　But Ming Yi looked suspicious. “How do we know you’re not lying? You say we can go, but what if we enter the forest and you trap us again?”

　　Everyone had already experienced the power of Qiansha Pavilion’s formation. Naturally, they were all hesitant.

　　Xian Wuming was acting way too agreeable. For someone who was known as a notorious killer and the master of Qiansha Pavilion, getting offended like this and losing his bride right at the wedding—was he really just going to let that slide?

　　What they didn’t know was that ‘Xian Wuming’ himself was just as confused.

　　He was only a puppet. Everything he said was exactly what the real Pavilion Master instructed him to say. Even he thought it sounded ridiculous, so of course it was normal for them to doubt him.

　　Just as he was panicking inside, a faint voice whispered instructions in his ear. Forcing himself to keep going, ‘Xian Wuming’ said stiffly, “If I really meant harm, I could have killed you all back when you were trapped in the forest. I truly have no desire to be your enemy. I invited you here only to witness the wedding between An Jiu and me. But since she no longer wants that, I won’t force her. Letting go is for the best. There’s no need for suspicion. You’re free to leave. If I go back on my word, may the heavens strike me down.”

　　He was practically swearing an oath, and everyone exchanged glances, still unsure.

　　But it was true—if they could avoid conflict, that was definitely better. A fight could easily end in a lose-lose situation.

　　After a brief standoff, Lin Qingyan and the others reluctantly chose to believe him.

　　Just like he said, if he truly wanted to kill them, he could have done so back when they were stuck in the forest.

　　In the end, the only real mistake he made was trying to force An Jiu into marriage. That could be chalked up to a personal matter. Now that he seemed to have realized his mistake and was letting her go, there was no real need to keep pushing him.

　　Just as both sides were about to back down and let the matter go, Fei Chen suddenly stepped forward in his kasaya robes. His voice was cold.

　　“Since the matter with An Tanyue is resolved, this monk still has one more issue to settle with you.”

　　‘Xian Wuming’ instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

　　Why wasn’t this over yet? Just how much trouble had the Pavilion Master gotten himself into? He could barely keep the act going!

　　“Master, what is it?” he asked stiffly.

　　Fei Chen said, “Over a month ago, the Bodhi Seed, the sacred treasure of Wuyin Temple, was stolen. After investigating, I received information that pointed to Qiansha Pavilion. I’d like to know if that’s true.”

　　‘Xian Wuming’ paused for a moment before finally saying, “I must sincerely apologize. I failed to keep my subordinates in line, and one of them made a serious mistake. That Bodhi Seed was presented to me, but I’ll have it returned to your temple right away. I hope the master can be understanding.”

　　As soon as he finished speaking, he ordered someone to retrieve the Bodhi Seed. Then he added apologetically, “The Bodhi Seed is intact, though most of the internal energy within it has already been used up. As an apology, Qiansha Pavilion is willing to grant your temple one request, as compensation for our offense.”　　

　　There's a saying that goes: don't hit someone who smiles at you.

　　Xian Wuming’s attitude was completely unexpected. He didn’t try to deny anything or shift blame. He owned up to the mistake immediately, apologized, and even offered compensation. Everyone was left speechless.

　　If he had stayed stubborn, denied everything, or attacked without hesitation, they would’ve fought him without question. But the way he instantly backed down and admitted fault caught everyone off guard—no one even had the heart to stay mad.

　　Fei Chen wasn’t the aggressive type to begin with. Faced with that kind of response, what else could he say?

　　He simply replied, “As long as the Bodhi Seed is returned, that will be enough. There’s no need for compensation.”

　　As for Lin Qingyan and the others, once they checked with An Jiu and confirmed she didn’t want to pursue the matter and just wanted to leave, they didn’t press further either.

　　A confrontation that had all the signs of a full-blown battle somehow turned into a peaceful resolution, like clouds parting to reveal sunshine.

　　When the group finally left Qiansha Pavilion, they were even escorted out personally by Xian Wuming himself. His politeness was truly unheard of.

　　Once they stepped out of the forest, He Ziqing couldn’t help but mutter, “This Pavilion Master… is actually kind of warm?”

　　An Jiu happened to overhear those words, and she burst out laughing.

　　“He really is… kind of warm,” she echoed with a smile.

　　When she heard ‘Xian Wuming’ talking to everyone earlier, she almost broke character from holding back laughter. The others might not have realized, but how could she not know? That guy wasn’t the real Xian Wuming. The real one was standing right beside her the whole time.

　　The enemy was right inside their camp. A textbook case.

　　An Jiu was sure those words ‘Xian Wuming’ said were all instructed by Pei Ji. The way he rushed to clear everything up said it all—he just wanted to get her out of there as fast as possible.

　　It was like a couple finally getting together in modern times. The first thing they want is to find a quiet place to enjoy some alone time and share their feelings.

　　An Jiu understood that feeling, though her own mood was a bit heavy.

　　The road ahead was still full of uncertainty. Once it was just the two of them, if he really planned to use her as the cure, she’d be completely powerless to stop it.

　　Sure enough, as soon as they stepped out of the woods, the first thing Pei Ji did was politely say goodbye to everyone.

　　“I'll take Miss An back first,” Pei Ji said, folding his hands and bowing slightly to everyone. Even his usually pale face was tinged with a faint blush.

　　An Jiu stood quietly beside him. They weren’t doing anything overtly affectionate, but the sight of her red dress and his white robes fluttering side by side in the breeze created an air of subtle intimacy. It made everyone around them smile warmly.

　　After everything they’d been through, these two had finally made it through the storm together. Who wouldn’t feel happy seeing a couple like that end up together?

　　“We’re heading back to Zhùjiàn Villa too. Why don’t we all go together?” Lin Qingyan said, pulling He Ziqing along.

　　Now that the matter was resolved and everyone was safe and sound, it was time to head home.

　　“I’ll be going back to Jinshe Villa,” said Jin Yanwan. “An Jiu, if you ever have time, come visit me. And if anything happens, don’t hesitate to reach out. You’re my friend for life.”

　　Master Fei Chen clasped his hands together and said a gentle prayer, his expression kind and peaceful. “I should return to Wuyin Temple as well. All of you are welcome to come pray anytime. The temple forbids killing. If you ever find yourself in danger, you may come seek shelter there.”

　　Ming Yi, on the other hand, glanced at Pei Ji with a sour face. Fighting back his bitterness, he told An Jiu, “An Jiu, if this guy ever bullies you, just come to me. The royal residence doors will always be open for you!”

　　He hadn’t even finished speaking when he noticed Pei Ji looking straight at him, those pitch-black eyes staring quietly and sending a chill down his spine.

　　Before he could even react to it, Pei Ji turned back toward An Jiu, his voice soft but serious as he said, “I won’t bully you. I’ll treat you well.”

　　The tone was so solemn, it almost sounded like a vow.

　　And just like that, he didn’t spare Ming Yi another glance.

　　Ming Yi tried to hold it in but couldn’t stop himself from muttering under his breath, “What’s he being so smug about?”

　　Finally, Qing Que stepped forward and handed a wooden box to An Jiu.

　　“Minister An couldn’t come to see you in person. He asked me to deliver this. He said if you’ve found someone you truly care about, this is your dowry. From now on, there’s no need to return home.”

　　An Jiu was briefly stunned. She hadn’t expected this. She took the box, and the moment it landed in her hands, she felt its weight. When she opened it, the inside was filled with exquisite gold, silver, and jewels.

　　Sold for money, that chest alone could let someone live out the rest of their life in total comfort.

　　She asked, “What if I never meet a man worth marrying?”

　　Qing Que replied, “Then we’ll get you out of here, take you down south to a place where it’s spring all year round, and make sure you live a peaceful life.”

　　An Jiu was quiet for a moment, then smiled softly. “When you go back, thank my father for me. Just tell him I’m doing well.”

　　This ending wasn’t bad.

　　It was just a pity she probably didn’t have long to live.

　　An Jiu turned her head and looked at Pei Ji, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her the whole time. “Let’s go back to Medicine King Valley.”

　　Something in those words seemed to touch him. His dark eyes curved slightly, and his expression softened in an instant. “Alright. Let’s go home.”

　　Once they stepped out of the forest, they saw Ah Qi quietly waiting with a horse-drawn carriage.

　　There were still five of them on the journey back—An Jiu, Pei Ji, Ah Qi, He Ziqing, and Lin Qingyan. For a moment, it felt like spring had come again.

　　As the morning light rose and the evening glow fell, the five of them traveled onward, the carriage wheels clattering softly as they rolled into the distance.

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T/N: Lol, plot holes everywhere~ 🤣 Like hello? Fei Chen is supposed to have those all-seeing monk eyes, right? The kind that can see through your soul and last week’s mistakes. And you’re telling me he didn’t notice that ‘Xian Wuming’ was off? That he was stiffer than cold tofu? 💀

And those excuses? Don’t get me started! HAHA. “Let’s not fight, peace is good, I’ll give back the Bodhi Seed, also sorry about the bride kidnapping!” Like bruh… that’s your damage control? That’s your damage control?! 😂

Even Fei Chen, who almost died, was like: “Alright, no biggie. Just return the Bodhi Seed, and we're good.” WHAT?! Sir, blink twice if you’re under spiritual duress!

I know, I know… escaping the Qiansha Pavilion alive and unscathed is already miracle-tier. So maybe everyone was like “let’s grab this win and get out,” but still… that whole wrap-up was smoother than a baby’s butt. Too smooth. Suspiciously smooth. It left me feeling unsatisfied.

That being said, I do think it was intentional — to show how deeply someone (cough Pei Ji cough) is manipulating things behind the scenes. He really said “wrap it up, I got a wife to carry home.” 💅

 

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