“Old Man White Peak of the Western Shu Snow Mountains!” Murong Qiufeng blurted out. Could this be none other than the legendary figure himself? Both his peerless steed, Snowfall, and his senior brother’s horse, Wuhen, were bred by Old Man White Peak.
“Ha ha, so it’s you, little one! My Xiaoqi is doing splendidly,” the White Peak Elder beamed, gazing at Murong Qiufeng nestled in Shangguan Ye’s arms. From the moment he first laid eyes on the boy atop the snowy peaks, the Elder had taken a deep liking to him.
He’d even considered taking the child to keep Xiao Ye company, but then thought better of it—knowing Xiao Ye’s temperament, it would only bring trouble to the poor kid. So he let it go. Little did he know that fate, indeed, is an unpredictable thing.
But then again, wasn’t there another white-clad youth by her side back then? And though he might be a bit slow to notice things, he could still see that boy harbored special feelings for this little one. So how did he end up as Young Master Ye’s companion now?
Murong Qiufeng’s surprise gave way to realization. He’d heard Shangguan Ye mention that Elder Bai Feng was his master’s younger brother. So… he glanced at the Snow Demon Venerable, then back at Elder Bai Feng, feeling a bit unsettled. “Hmm, good. Very good.” Xiaoqi was his horse.
The Snow Demon Venerable raised an eyebrow, casting a disdainful glance at Shangguan Ye, whose face betrayed a hint of displeasure. Seeing Murong Qiufeng’s dazed expression, she felt a flicker of affection in her heart, yet she couldn’t bring herself to lose face. As his master, she knew better than anyone how stubborn and difficult this disciple could be. After teaching him for over a decade, she had never seen him smile genuinely. Yet since he brought this little one today, a natural smile kept appearing on his face. She truly felt like her precious disciple was being snatched away.
That was when she knew—this precious disciple was truly smitten, utterly captivated. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent urgent dispatches urging them to come across a thousand miles.
The moment she received the letter, she rushed over. Partly, she genuinely wanted to celebrate her beloved disciple’s wedding. She and Bai Feng had only one son in their lifetime, who died young. They never had another child. In their twilight years, they had pestered and persuaded Shangguan Ye, a prodigious martial arts talent, to become their disciple. They cherished him beyond measure. Though the young man was arrogant and disrespectful to elders, his expression perpetually as cold as snow on a mountain peak, the old couple truly doted on him to the extreme.
Truth be told, nine out of ten times Shangguan Ye escaped death on the battlefield thanks to these two elders. They showered him with everything good, so though Shangguan Ye never said it aloud, he truly regarded them as his own family. That’s why he sent an urgent summons across a thousand miles to bring them here—to help him and Murong Qiufeng hold another wedding ceremony, one reserved only for their own kin.
“Hey, kid, how did you manage to wrap this stubborn little guy around your finger? That boy was as tough as nails, impossible to crack. I used to think he’d probably end up alone for life, never imagined you’d be the one to tame him,”
Murong Qiufeng finally came to his senses. Glancing at the elders, he suddenly felt the nervousness of meeting the parents. His body stiffened, his expression awkward, his cheeks flushing slightly. His clear eyes darted uncertainly toward Shangguan Ye, unsure how to respond.
Shangguan Ye, sensing his unease, gently squeezed his hand with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. They’re actually quite easygoing. I invited them here specifically to officiate our wedding.”
Murong Qiufeng’s tension instantly dissolved at Shangguan Ye’s words. His body froze, then he whirled around to stare at him, eyes wide. “Officiate our wedding? Wha—what wedding?” Realizing what Shangguan Ye meant, his face flushed crimson, his voice dwindling to a whisper by the end.
Shangguan Ye watched him with amusement, pinching his chin teasingly. “What wedding? Look—this is our bridal chamber.”
Only then did Murong Qiufeng notice he was lying on a bed. The entire room was bathed in fiery red—red silk draped everywhere, walls adorned with “Double Happiness” characters, and red candles flickering in the corner. It resembled the bridal chamber he’d once occupied when substituting for his sister at the royal palace, only this one was even more lavishly decorated. His thoughts had been entirely consumed by the elders, causing him to overlook it.
Realizing he’d been conversing with the elders while lying in bed, he hurriedly tried to get up.
“Hey, hey, it’s cold out. Stay snuggled up. We two old folks just popped in out of curiosity. It’s getting late, so we won’t disturb your conversation. But don’t overdo it—get some rest early. Don’t blame us if you look haggard tomorrow,” the Snow Demon Sage hurriedly interjected as he saw him pulling back the covers to get up.
Shangguan Ye pressed down on his hand. Elder Bai Feng smiled warmly, saying, “Rest well. We’ll chat tomorrow,” before pulling the Snow Demon Sage away.
Murong Qiufeng was still somewhat out of it, still held in Shangguan Ye’s arms. His eyes darted around the room. The space felt strangely peaceful, and an inexplicable sensation welled up inside his. He turned to look at Shangguan Ye. “Is there something else you need to tell me?” His tone was unmistakably accusatory. With his master present, it seemed Shangguan Ye had planned this all along. Moreover, this room didn’t resemble any chamber in the royal palace or the prime minister’s residence.
Shangguan Ye lowered his head, kissed his forehead, and smiled. “This Maple Leaf Manor. It will be our new home from now on—just ours. I had people prepare it long ago. The layout and furnishings are all arranged according to your preferences. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow. Since Master and Senior Master only arrived today, the wedding will be held tomorrow evening.
But don’t worry—I haven’t invited any outsiders to this ceremony. After all, it’s our lifelong commitment, not theirs. Only those closest to us need be present.”
Murong Qiufeng froze, staring intently at Shangguan Ye. As Shangguan Ye lowered his head to kiss him, Murong Qiufeng suddenly raised a hand to cover his lips. “Didn’t we already have a wedding?” he asked, his expression slightly awkward, yet his eyes still held a faint glimmer of anticipation and joy.
Though they were open-minded, the path for two men to love and spend their lives together was inherently difficult. Even if they could ignore others, the gaze and gossip of people inevitably carried some weight—especially for someone of Shangguan Ye’s status and standing. Thus, he had never considered letting more people know, let alone going public, much less marrying legitimately.
It must be said, Shangguan Ye’s approach brought him a considerable surprise.
Shangguan Ye took his hand, kissed the palm, and smiled tenderly. “That time doesn’t count. Why? Didn’t you like it?”
Murong Qiufeng flushed, turning his head away. His reply came out stammering, tinged with awkwardness. “No… but at this time…”
Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow, grinning as he pulled back the warm blanket and slipped inside. He wrapped his arms around Murong Qiufeng’s waist.
The rush of cold air and the sudden touch of a slightly chilled hand against his waist sent a shiver down Murong Qiufeng’s spine. He instinctively flinched, then tensed, fearing Shangguan Ye might do something. After all, two elders were present—both supreme masters. If they overheard anything, it would be most unwise.
But Shangguan Ye merely held him as they lay down, positioning him to rest sideways against his chest. He murmured, “It’s precisely because of these extraordinary times that we must proceed sooner. Delaying further would mean who knows when it would happen. I’m waiting for our wedding night…” His lips then gently pressed against his.
