The courtyard of the Azure Cloud Sect was quiet that morning, except for the soft sweep of leaves falling from the gingko trees. Wei Shen stood at the edge of the main training grounds, watching his reflection ripple in the pond.
His robes were still dusty from sparring, but his thoughts were elsewhere. In his hands, he held a small red envelope—folded thick, stamped with golden ink. The characters spelled out what he already knew: "By Heaven's Mandate, Wei Shen will marry Yu Lian."
He smiled quietly to himself.
It was a strange thing, this peace. Wei Shen had grown up fighting. His father died young in a border war, his mother vanished when demons attacked their village. He was raised by the sect, trained in blade and body from the age of ten. Love was never part of the plan.
But Yu Lian changed that.
She was the Sect Master's daughter, quiet and fierce, known more for her formation skills than her beauty. But to Wei Shen, she was everything the world had denied him—gentle, honest, and endlessly strong.
The engagement was sudden, but welcomed. It was said even the elders had smiled when the union was announced. The sect had suffered too much loss in recent years. A wedding felt like hope.
"Still here, Shen?" a voice called out.
Wei turned. It was Meng Qi, his closest brother-in-arms, wearing the same silver inner robes they'd been given after their last successful expedition. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"
Wei Shen shook his head, slipping the invitation into his sleeve. "Just... thinking."
Meng Qi grinned. "Good. She'll make you regret it if you're late to your own wedding."
They both laughed. There was no reason not to. The sun was bright, the pond was calm, and the sect was quiet. Wei Shen had everything he needed.
He just didn't know it would all be taken within a single night.