This time, Li Guanqi and the old man talked at great length, touching upon anything and everything under the sun.
In the end, the old man told Li Guanqi about the regional divisions of the Immortal Realm.
Li Guanqi frowned and murmured, "Ten Lands, Eight Desolations, and Nine Heavens? Why isn't it Eight Desolations, Nine Heavens, and Ten Lands?"
Su Xuan smiled upon hearing this. "Naturally, they are ordered according to their power and resources. The higher you go, the better the resources and immortal qi become. Still... once you ascend, you will come to understand all of this in time."
At that point, Su Xuan shared almost everything Li Guanqi needed to be mindful of in the Immortal Realm.
After a long silence, Su Xuan spoke again, admonishing him with care. "Even though your grandfather has constantly dropped hints urging you to act cautiously... once you go up, properly displaying your ruthlessness and thirst for slaughter isn't a bad thing. In the Immortal Realm, might makes right! Your forbearance will only make some people think you're an easy target. Besides, killing people in the Immortal Realm requires even less justification."
Li Guanqi smiled and nodded. With his temperament, even in the Immortal Realm, he was hardly one to pull in his neck like a turtle.
After that exchange, the two lapsed into silence, quietly drinking their wine.
After a long while, Su Xuan raised a hand and pinched his fingers in divination, chuckling softly. "Let us set the wedding day ten days from now. The timing, the location, and the people will all align—it is a fine, auspicious date. What do you think? As for the formal proposal, let's do it seven days from now. Over the next two days, I'll prepare a few things for you as well."
Li Guanqi was caught off guard, feeling slightly flustered. "Ten days from now? Isn't that too rushed?"
At the same time, a warm current flowed through his heart.
"Hahahaha, it isn't rushed at all. There is plenty of time! Tell me... where do you want to hold the ceremony?"
Li Guanqi accepted the old man's recommendation, figuring the date had been carefully divined by him. "At the Great Xia Sword Sect! But I want to go to the Shenbao Domain to propose and fetch my bride."
Su Xuan smiled and nodded. "Naturally. Tomorrow, I will construct a new teleportation corridor between the Shenbao Domain and the Great Xia Sword Sect. You may send word to your sect now. The day of your grand wedding will surely be a monumental event; accommodating guests from all corners and managing the teleportation corridors will require proper coordination."
Li Guanqi rubbed his nose. "Surely... there won't be that many people, will there?"
The old man tapped Li Guanqi on the head with his tobacco pipe, speaking in exasperation, "A guest is a guest. When people show up, could you really refuse them a seat? Besides, that girl Wanshu has followed you for all these years without even an official status. Having more people bear witness to your wedding is a good thing. It gives face to Aunt Li and Meng Jiangchu, does it not? Alright, that settles it! The proposal in seven days, and the grand wedding in ten!"
Li Guanqi grinned broadly and nodded with all his might.
Then he muttered softly, "Grandfather... what should I prepare?"
The little old man broke into hearty laughter. "You prepare for the wedding! Leave the rest of the busywork to Lu Kangnian and the others!"
* * *
Dazed and light-headed, Li Guanqi returned from the Seventh Domain to the Realm of Celestial Spirits.
Right now, his mind was an utter blur.
First was the revelation of his true origins, as well as the matters of the Immortal Realm.
Second was the sudden realization that he was about to get married so soon...
When he arrived before the doors of the White Jade Tower, his head still hadn't fully cleared.
Meng Wanshu was currently tending to her injuries inside the Nirvana Pagoda, and none of the others had awakened yet.
Li Guanqi stepped into the White Jade Tower and stood before the Nirvana Pagoda, nervously rubbing his hands together. His palms were damp with fine sweat. Pacing back and forth before the pagoda, his gaze constantly drifted up toward the second floor.
After a long while, Li Guanqi gritted his teeth, flashed into motion, and stepped onto the second floor of the Nirvana Pagoda.
At the edge of the Ice Realm, a woman in an azure dress sat cross-legged with her eyes closed in cultivation.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly; her cheeks were tinged with a healthy blush, her nose delicately upturned, her lips red, and her teeth like white pearls. Just a glimpse of her bright, captivating profile was enough to set Li Guanqi's heart fluttering.
Her aura was gentle yet aloof, breathtakingly beautiful.
Li Guanqi stood quietly to the side, gazing at her as the corners of his mouth unconsciously tilted up into a faint smile.
He sat down beside her, leaning against the stone wall, and brought out his flagon to take small sips.
Unbidden, memories of everything he and Meng Wanshu had gone through flashed through his mind.
From their childhood innocence all the way to their reunion at the execution grounds...
Back then, her words—*"I knew him before the rumors started"*—had touched him deeply. His cold, dead heart had felt as though it were enveloped by a warm current.
Back then, he had been powerless to defend himself; everyone believed he had murdered He Yuning. Ye Feng had wielded his sword to storm the execution grounds, and later on, he had received countless kindnesses from Meng Jiangchu. They had cared for him like family.
Meng Wanshu was even more like family to him...
They spent little time together in their everyday lives, yet he always felt he could never do without her. No matter what happened, Meng Wanshu always stood quietly by his side. Whenever he turned back, that woman's silhouette would be right there behind him.
Meng Wanshu's love was like gentle rain, falling silently, yet refreshing to the core.
His own love... was somewhat selfish, always making excuses about the bigger picture while neglecting her feelings.
Thinking of this, a twinge of guilt welled up in Li Guanqi's heart.
Especially after Meng Wanshu learned of the sword spirit's presence. She had felt jealous and had pushed herself to cultivate all the harder.
As for Meng Wanshu and the sword spirit...
He, too, felt somewhat conflicted.
Perhaps it hadn't been noticeable in the past, but as his cultivation realm advanced, he had begun to perceive many things. For instance... the thread of affection hidden within Red Lotus. For instance... the sword spirit growing a thread of affection once again.
Though she concealed it well, the present Li Guanqi could still sense it.
He could feel the affection the sword spirit harbored for him, yet he could only pretend to be oblivious. Human and spirit were never meant to be. Thus, the sword spirit kept her feelings buried deep.
Ever since her thread of affection regenerated, she had poured all her thoughts into elevating Li Guanqi's strength. From then on, barring special circumstances, the sword spirit rarely spoke on her own initiative.
In truth, Li Guanqi understood it all.
He harbored a thought in his heart as well: if the methods of the Immortal Realm offered a way for the sword spirit to forge a physical body and become human, he would be content merely wielding Red Lotus as an ordinary blade. Letting the sword spirit become a living person would also be a blessing.
Yet... he could never let Meng Wanshu down.
Just then, Meng Wanshu's eyelashes quivered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. A ray of chilling light shot from her pupils!
Her realm in the mid Tribulation Transcendence Realm had steadily settled.
The young woman turned to look at Li Guanqi behind her and smiled. "Done talking with Grandfather Su? Why didn't you wake me when you came in?"
Li Guanqi chuckled softly. "You looked too beautiful. I wanted to gaze at you a while longer, so I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
Hearing Li Guanqi's sweet words, Meng Wanshu's fair cheeks flushed crimson. She cast a shy glance at him and lowered her voice. "When did you become so glib and smooth-tongued?"
A playful urge seized Li Guanqi, and he said, "I don't know about glib, but my tongue is quite smooth... Want to try it and see?"
Meng Wanshu looked at him in flustered bewilderment. As though she barely recognized Li Guanqi, she scrambled to her feet and took a step back.
"Ah! You, you... You're... so greasy right now!"
Li Guanqi froze, then offered a wry shake of his head. "It seems that line really isn't for me. Alright, now that your injuries are no longer an issue, will you come on a trip with me?"
"Where to?" she asked in confusion.
Li Guanqi gave a mysterious smile.
"Home. To see Aunt Li."
Chapter 1500