The heavenly wind blew, bringing with it the fragrance of flower petals.
The music was melodious, bringing with it the joy of the wedding.
However, Xu Qing's heart was in turmoil. He moved forward with the group and retracted his gaze from the captain.
Ever since he came to the Weiyang Mountain Range, Xu Qing had verified some of the captain's abnormalities more than once.
Whether it was his deliberate words, his actions of giving the apple, or his subsequent observations, all of these made Xu Qing feel that something was wrong with the captain.
However, this was not right. It did not seem like the captain did it instinctively, but more like he deliberately revealed a flaw that only he could recognize.
"He's reminding me," Xu Qing muttered in his heart.
He could sense that the captain had no intention of harming him. He was very clear about this.
Even if he recalled the other party's actions along the way, this was still clear.
Especially since it was not the first time the two of them had done something big, so Xu Qing knew his Eldest Senior Brother's style.
"This kind of reminder doesn't seem like a cry for help. It's more like there are some things that are inconvenient to say directly, so he's using this method to let me pay attention."
Xu Qing was deep in thought. He thought of the bird just now and the reaction of the people around him after he caught the bird.
"That bird is a real life, and real life's actions are changeable. However, it still returned to its original trajectory. It felt like it was involuntarily arranged."
Xu Qing frowned and checked on Ding-123. He found that the god's finger was normal and was still sleeping. This meant that he did not feel anything wrong with the outside world.
"Also, the people around suddenly looked at me just now. It seemed like I made a move. It was very uncoordinated among them. Or … the person I'm disguised as shouldn't have made such a move?"
Xu Qing muttered. Everything after entering the Weiyang Mountain Range was extremely smooth. If he did not think about it, everything seemed normal.
"But this is normal, yet it's strange."
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and continued to move forward with the group. He was prepared to see what would happen at the wedding.
Time passed slowly. The wedding procession moved quickly in the sky. After two hours, they approached the Mystic Fate Sect. From afar, they could see the land decorated with lanterns.
The mountains were dyed beautifully by spells, and the trees were hung with red lanterns. There were even spells that rose into the sky to form balls of fireworks, which rumbled in all directions.
At the same time, most of the disciples from the various sects and clans in the Never-Ending Mountain Range had been invited. They had arrived early along with their seniors, and were now surrounding the Profound Fate Sect.
Men, women, old, and young, everyone had a smile on their faces. Hustle and bustle filled the air. Everything looked extraordinarily lively.
The sound of laughter and chatter continued, and a joyous atmosphere pervaded the air.
As the procession approached, the atmosphere was completely stirred up. Waves of blessings turned into sound waves that resounded through the clouds.
The Mystic Fate Sect in front of him was surrounded by mountains, which made it look especially colorful.
The mountain where the mountain gate was located emitted a rainbow-colored light. The main hall at the top of the mountain was set up as a wedding room. Countless red lanterns rose into the sky, and even the sky was illuminated by more sunlight at this moment.
The disciples of the Mystic Fate Sect were all in high spirits. They all went out to welcome them. A colorful silk cloth was spread from the top of the mountain to the bottom, covering every step.
The moment the sedan approached the Mystic Fate Sect, the sound of bells rang out from the Mystic Fate Sect. A solemn atmosphere covered the world at this moment, suppressing all sounds. Gazes from all directions gathered on the sedan that was getting closer and closer to the Mystic Fate Sect.
Up.
"Fairy Xiang Han, please come up the mountain."
As the chanting echoed, the captain in the sedan had a longing expression. Her cheeks were flushed as she got up and stepped onto the steps.
Her figure was graceful and charming as she walked forward step by step.
Most of the wedding procession behind her knelt down. Only the maids and guards beside You Jing followed behind the captain.
Xu Qing was also among them.
He looked at the captain's expression and swaying posture. He was amazed at her superb acting skills. If he hadn't seen the captain shaving her leg hair with his own eyes, he would have thought that the captain was really You Jing.
Just like this, as the bell continued to ring and the chanting continued to echo, the captain slowly walked to the top of the mountain.
Today was his big day. Everyone respected him. Wherever he went, the disciples of the Mystic Fate Sect would all kneel down to him.
Xu Qing looked at all of this. He didn't know why, but he also felt blessed in his heart.
When the bell rang 21 times, the captain's figure walked up the last step of the mountain. The moment he stood there, the captain's previous life walked out from the hall in the distance.
Today's previous incarnation was slightly different from what Xu Qing had seen back then. His clothes were bright red, and he looked much more cheerful. However, the stench on his body and the ugliness of his appearance were not much different from before.
Especially the black gas that came out of his breath. It was a shocking sight.
"This is a wedding between myself and my past."
Xu Qing felt a little regretful that Wu Jianwu didn't come. Otherwise, if he saw this scene with his own eyes, Wu Jianwu would definitely be in the mood to write poems.
At this moment, the chanting echoed throughout the world.
"We cultivators see the heavens as our vision, the earth as our witness, and the Dao as our reason. We bow as a couple!"
The captain shyly lowered her head and bowed to her husband.
The captain's husband also lowered his head. After bowing to each other across the world, this wedding between cultivators reached its peak. Countless cheers and shouts erupted.
In an instant, the sky was filled with auspicious lights. The sky was churning and the earth was trembling.
Then, the atmosphere became lively. Amidst the laughter and chatter, the captain was escorted to the bridal chamber. She would burn incense there and wait for her husband to arrive.
At this moment, the banquet began. In the square of the Mystic Fate Sect, all the important figures of the various sects were gathered. Only they were qualified to sit here.
As for the other disciples, they weren't looked down upon. An even bigger banquet was held outside the Mystic Fate Sect. All the spectators were taken care of, so the sound of cheers echoed in all directions.
As You Jing's guard, Xu Qing didn't have the right to eat. He was arranged to be with the Mystic Fate Sect's guards to maintain order.
Looking at the people in front of him drinking and laughing, Xu Qing walked among them. The image of the people around him looking at him with numb expressions after he caught the bird appeared in his mind.
Compared to this, a strange feeling rose up in Xu Qing's heart.
"Actually, there is another way to test out the strangeness of the Endless Mountain Range."
Xu Qing muttered to himself. He looked up at the captain's bridal chamber.
At this point in the plan, everything depended on the captain's performance.
Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at the people around him.
"If everyone is like that bird …" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and ordered the shadow to take control of a cultivator.
In an instant, Xu Qing's shadow silently spread across the ground. In an instant, it approached a Golden Core cultivator and overlapped with his shadow.
Soon, the possession was complete.
But that person was still drinking and chatting as usual. There was no change at all.
Xu Qing's eyes flashed. He could feel the intense emotional fluctuations coming from the shadow.
"Can't … interfere … force death … strange …"
Xu Qing was silent. He ordered the shadow to continue with the others. After several times, all of them were the same. Xu Qing understood.
But he still needed to verify it, so he ordered the shadow to forcibly take control. Soon, under the efforts of the shadow, a Foundation Establishment cultivator's body stiffened. His hand that was about to pick up a wine cup changed its trajectory and picked up a pair of chopsticks to pick up a dish.
The laughter and chatter all around suddenly stopped. Countless eyes looked at that person.
Xu Qing's pupils shrank and he immediately dispersed the force of control.
That cultivator didn't notice anything. He placed the dish he picked up back down and put down his chopsticks. He picked up the wine cup again and continued with what he was about to do.
After drinking, the people around him laughed and chatted again. Everything was normal.
Xu Qing closed his eyes.
He understood.
"Everyone's trajectories have been predetermined like that bird. They must proceed according to this arrangement. Even if something unexpected happens in the middle, it will automatically reverse itself and continue to be completed."
"And all the strangeness began when we entered the Endless Mountain Range …"
"The fate of all living things in this mountain range has been changed. They are woven according to the thoughts of a certain will."
"Just like a play."
"I am also part of this play."
"Before I knew it, my previous thoughts and actions were given a role, and I became a character in the play."
"Presumably, Wu Jianwu and Ning Yan are the same."
"That's why I feel so blurry and overlapped. Because of the existence inside of me, perhaps the finger of a God, or perhaps the Violet Moon, I'm affected and rejected. That's why I saw the bird stop moving. That's why I can still think about what's going on."
"Only the Captain …." Xu Qing looked up at the peak of the mountain.
"He should know all of this. He's taking the initiative to enter the play …."
Xu Qing understood. He lowered his head and waited silently.
Time passed. The banquet was nearing its end. The sky grew dark, and people began to leave. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream rang out from the bridal chamber on the mountain peak.
The scream echoed out in all directions, causing colors to flash in the sky and clouds to surge in all directions.
At the same time, Xu Qing once again felt dizzy. Everyone in the area looked up, their faces numb as they looked up at the mountain peak.
It was as if there was a plot that was different from what had happened in the book!
They weren't the only ones. All the living things in the Profound Fate Sect, from the birds in the sky to the flowers and plants, were motionless as they faced the main hall.
After the scream, footsteps could be heard coming from the main hall. The Captain, wearing a red robe, walked out step by step.
He was holding a person in his hand. It was the Captain's previous self.
Finally, he stood in front of the main hall and looked around.
He didn't care about the numb gazes of the people around him. His gaze fell on Xu Qing in the distance, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Little Junior Brother, do you understand?"
With that, he took out a peach with his other hand and took a bite.