"Isn't this... a bit too fast?"
Qin Zi's face flushed red as he spoke, though his words didn't match his true feelings.
He added quickly, "I mean, I don't have a problem with it, but I'm just worried she might not want to."
Qin Chuan turned to Shui Qingrou, his tone gentle. "Qingrou, are you willing to marry Qin Zi?"
"I... I..."
Shui Qingrou blushed deeply, lowering her head shyly and murmured, "Well, this is something my brother should decide."
Both Qin Chuan and Qin Zi turned to look at Shui Qinghan.
Shui Qinghan avoided their gazes, coughing awkwardly as he said, "Ahem, I think... they're still young, so maybe..."
Buzz!
The next moment, he felt a sharp, piercing gaze stabbing into him. His face stiffened as he cautiously glanced at his sister from the corner of his eye.
To his shock, his usually gentle sister was glaring at him with a fierce, tiger-like expression. Her eyes seemed to say, "Brother, if you ruin my wedding, I'll make you drink poison!"
His heart skipped a beat. Clearing his throat, he quickly changed his stance, "Since they're young, it's best not to delay the marriage any further. It's better to get it done quickly!"
"Hmm, then it's settled."
Qin Chuan smiled, saying, "Since that's the case, let's have the ceremony today. After the wedding, they can head to the bridal chamber as soon as possible."
"So soon?"
The others weren't foolish, and by this point, they understood that things weren't as simple as they had initially thought.
They realized it was likely to deal with the current crisis, and perhaps even worse, that things had already reached a point where nothing could be reversed. Qin Chuan wanted Shui Qingrou to pass without regret...
Quickly, Qin Chuan led everyone out of the ice cave and back to their secluded residence.
"First, bow to heaven and earth. Second, bow to the parents. Lastly, bow to each other as husband and wife and enter the bridal chamber!"
With Qin Chuan and Shui Qinghan as witnesses, Qin Zi and Shui Qingrou hastily completed their wedding ceremony.
And afterward, they hastily consummated the marriage.
That night, the heavens rumbled, and waves crashed.
The spring tides swelled to meet the bright moon over the ocean, and the tides rose together with the moon!
Paths twisted and turned through the mountains, flowers blurred as they leaned on the rocks and faded away.
The roars of bears and the howls of dragons echoed through the cliffs, shaking the deep forests and terrifying the mountain peaks!
The clouds thickened, pregnant with rain, and the waters below rippled with mist. Lightning flashed, and the earth shook, as the cave's stone doors opened with a thunderous sound!
The vast blue sky stretched out endlessly, illuminated by the sun and moon above the golden and silver terraces!
Tigers drummed their zithers, and phoenixes circled back in their carriages, immortals gathering like a dense forest...
In short, it was an intense night.
Afterward...
"Senior Brother, I... I'm a bit tired..."
Shui Qingrou's face showed signs of exhaustion as she slowly closed her eyes.
In the next instant, however, her eyes snapped open again, a sharp light flashing from within.
"I'm finally free! You can't suppress me!"
She spoke coldly.
But the next moment, the memories of the previous night rushed into her mind.
"This..."
Her face turned deathly pale, and she looked down, realizing she was fully dressed, though the bed was in complete disarray.
"You... What did you do to me?!"
She glared at Qin Zi with fury, her eyes red, as though she wanted to tear him apart.
"Why are you back again?"
Qin Zi's expression changed slightly before he coldly replied, "What could I have done to you? Do you really think I'm interested in you? What I did with my wife in our marriage bed is none of your business."
"W-What we did..."
The woman's body trembled as though struck by a fatal blow, and she clutched her chest, screaming, "You shameless man!!!"
"This is my wife! Whatever happens between us is mutual. Who are you to judge? Now, get out of her body!" Qin Zi commanded sternly.
"I'll kill you!!!"
The woman could no longer hold back, spreading her arms wide like a vengeful ghost and lunging at Qin Zi.
"Freeze!"
Qin Zi calmly pulled out a talisman his father had given him and slapped it onto the crazed woman.
"Hurry up and get out of my wife's body, or else I'll just continue doing what a husband should do. I wasn't quite done last night."
Qin Zi threatened her.
The woman said nothing.
"Hmm? Silent, are you?"
Qin Zi raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you're not going to listen. Don't blame me for what comes next."
With that, he began to recite:
"My soul shudders, my spirit stirs, I wake in terror with long sighs! I recall my dreams of smoke and mist, and all pleasures of the world pass like water from the east..."
The woman's mind was wide awake, but her body remained frozen, unable to move or speak. She could only watch helplessly as Qin Zi continued his "recital."
After a long while, Qin Zi finally stopped.
"Hmm? She can't speak?"
He belatedly realized something was off, feeling a bit guilty but maintaining a calm expression, as though nothing had happened.
He calmly dressed himself, then helped the woman into her clothes, restoring his image as a gentleman.
Rip!
He tore the talisman off her, saying, "I know you won't feel at peace until you experience things for yourself. So now, are you ready to leave?"
"I'll kill you!!!"
Her eyes were bloodshot, completely losing her mind as she lunged at him like a madwoman.
Boom!
A terrifying aura surged through the room, instantly pinning her in place, making her unable to move.
Qin Chuan walked in calmly, his expression indifferent as he said, "Leave this body, and I will let you go. Otherwise, you'll stay trapped forever."
The woman's face showed signs of struggle.
After a long while, she seemed to make a decision, gritting her teeth. "You really mean it? You'll let me go?"
"Of course,"
Qin Chuan replied, "My word holds weight in this era. Even my enemies do not doubt it."
He spoke with confidence, as though he was truly someone whose reputation for keeping promises was widely known.
The woman stared at Qin Chuan, trying to find any sign of deceit.
But Qin Chuan's face was as solid as a steel wall, completely impenetrable.
Finally, she believed him!
"Fine! I'll let this go for now, but this isn't over!"
The woman snarled, and Shui Qingrou's body glowed with golden light as a phantom-like spirit separated from her.
Swoosh!
She transformed into a beam of light, darting off into the distance.
"Gotcha!!"
In the next moment, Qin Zi leaped into the air, brandishing a net-like artifact, swinging it down over the golden light. Miraculously, he captured her in one swift move.
"You liar! I must've been blind to trust you! I actually thought you were someone who kept their word!"
The woman's spirit thrashed about in the net, furious.
"Heh, Dad, didn't I do a great job?"
Qin Zi grinned, clearly looking for praise.
The net he used was something he had picked up in the ancient city at dusk, rumored to be a tool used by ancient experts to catch divine fish.
At first, he thought it was a useless trinket, but now it had proven its worth beyond his expectations.
However, he didn't receive the praise he was expecting.
"Let her go."
Qin Chuan looked at his son, his voice calm.
"Huh? Just let her go?"
Qin Zi was confused. Based on his father's usual style, letting her go didn't seem like him.
Wasn't it standard practice to eliminate all threats?
"If we promised to let her go, we must follow through."
Qin Chuan said firmly. "Do you think your father is a man who goes back on his word?"
Qin Zi's face froze, and he lowered his head in shame, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Father. I was wrong."
"Remember this: A man of integrity stands tall between heaven and earth. He must keep his word to remain honorable, without guilt or regret."
Qin Chuan advised sincerely.
"I understand, Father!"
Qin Zi nodded earnestly.
Then, taking a deep breath, he opened the net and said, "My father said we'd let you go, so we'll let you go this time. But next time, you won't be so lucky."
"Next time, you'll meet your end!"
The woman's spirit spat coldly. She glanced at Qin Chuan, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you!"
With that, she flew away.
In her eyes, even enemies could earn respect—if they were people of honor.
And to her, Qin Chuan was such a man.
Little did she know, Qin Chuan had let her go because he wanted her to regain her strength and return to kill Qin Zi.
A loving father always looks out for his son.
Honor? That was just an illusion!