C6 I Don't Want to Marry.

In just two days, a house emitting the fragrance of wood had already been built in the small courtyard at the top of the mountain. However, the house was still empty. Dao Ba and Ren Jian were working hard to make furniture in the yard, and they were working together very well. They wanted to give their disciples a perfect home.

On the stone road at the foot of the mountain, Mengjie was holding Feng Lian as she walked towards the small courtyard. Their footsteps were very rhythmic as they stepped on the stone floor. Sometimes, they took a big step, and sometimes, they only took a few steps on a particular stone slab. They likewise had to circle the dense stone pillars for many years.

Ren Jian unconsciously raised his head and looked down the mountain. He said, "My disciple is not bad. After going out for less than half a month, his cultivation has greatly improved."

Dao Ba raised his head and looked at the two, walking hand in hand. He smiled proudly and said, "Despite being seriously injured, he still doesn't forget to cultivate. It seems that they still remember my teachings."

"Dog Ba, just look. Don't be so wretched. I taught them the movement technique." Ren Jian pointed at the movements and the positions that were not good. Dao Ba was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood.

"Pah! If I hadn't discerned the enigma of the stone slabs and pillars, why would I even be involved with you?"

"You're utterly shameless. It was Qiu Shaan who unraveled the mystery of this village, not you. What claim do you have on any of this?"

"Can't you see what's at stake?" Dao Ba yelled, looking at his companion. Since they were in this together, the concept of 'face' seemed meaningless now.

"Enough with the nonsense. Once we leave this accursed Unfamiliar Village, will our cultivation levels be restored? I feel like everything above the Grace Level has been completely drained. It doesn't even feel like a seal; it feels like it's gone."

Dao Ba's worry echoed the silent fears of everyone in the group. If their cultivation didn't recover, setting foot back on the Divine Martial Continent would be a death sentence.

Back then, they had done a lot of shady business outside. Otherwise, they would not have been forced to the Unfamiliar Village, a deserted place.

If they went out with their current cultivation, they would encounter those enemies from back then. Killing them would be as easy as killing an ant.

They, who had once dominated the continent, were now suppressed to the Grace Level by the strange place of the Unfamiliar Village. This level was not comparable to a true cultivator. How could they survive in the outside world that was filled with enemies?

Unless they chose a life of seclusion, disengaging from the world of mortals, the cultivation path was irreversible. It resembled life itself: one might pause or look back, but there was no turning back.

"Overthinking and hesitating only rob you of life's joys," Ren Jian said, his tone deliberately heavy. "Be like the blade we wield: decisive, unhesitating, lethal. Haven't you always preached this to the young disciples? Why can't you apply it to yourself?"

"Fine, you win this round. Whatever realm of cultivation he's in, I'll defeat him," Dao Ba conceded. Realizing overthinking was futile, he anchored his resolve.

"It's rare for you to take the initiative to admit defeat... Eh," Ren Jian raised an eyebrow as Feng Lian, and Mengjie entered the courtyard and retreated to their respective homes, ignoring their esteemed masters. " Quite bold of those two to snub us," he said, brimming with indignation.

Inside the west room of the courtyard, Feng Lian found no sign of his mother. Instead, he discovered a red wedding gown—sliced in half—laid in a basket. For the first time, the weight of the situation settled on him.

He envisioned how radiant Mengjie would look in that gown. His understanding of marriage was naive; he believed it meant eternal love, an unbreakable bond.

The thought that Meng Ying might someday take Mengjie away had often haunted him. It seemed irrational, yet he couldn't dismiss it. Now that they were to wed, that fear was laid to rest.

When he was three years old, Meng Ying went out to find medicinal ingredients for him to refine. When he came back, there was a fair baby girl in his arms. Meng Ying gave her the name Mengjie. At that time, Feng Lian looked at Meng Ying's loving eyes when he looked at the baby girl, and he felt a little sour in his heart.

Everyone who came newly to the Unfamiliar Village, always suffered from a serious illness, including himself. If it wasn't for Meng Ying and his mother's careful care when he was young, he would have long turned into dust. However, Mengjie did not fall ill when she came to the Unfamiliar Village. Instead, she automatically absorbed the Spiritual Qi to heal the scars on her body.

Later on, the baby girl slowly grew up and became a dazzling flower in the dark night. In Qiu Shaan's words, those who could appear in the Unfamiliar Village and not die were all people blessed by the heavens. After saying that, he didn't forget to stroke his sparse beard proudly.

Feng Lian took out two healing Medicine Pills and placed them in his mouth. He walked out of the house and fantasized about the blissful life of having children with Mengjie.

Feng Lian could be said to be the only one who had the qualifications to eat the Medicine Pills as snacks.

The moment Mengjie entered the house, she saw Meng Ying and Wu Yun sitting there. It was obvious that they were waiting for her to come back.

"Child, sit down." The half-blind man pointed at the chair in front of him and asked, "Have you heard about the marriage?"

Mengjie blushed and nodded slightly.

"In a month's time, your mother, Wu Yun, a few of your teachers, and I will leave Unfamiliar Village for a while. You'll stay here with Feng Lian," Meng Ying began, gently stroking Mengjie's hair. "Though Feng Lian seems lively, his illness hasn't been fully treated. Can you take good care of him while we're gone?"

Mengjie nodded her head hard.

"Listen, my child," he continued, "Whatever the future holds, love Feng Lian deeply. Avoid petty squabbles. Despite his cheerful demeanor, he's more vulnerable than he lets on."

Mengjie pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Brother is insecure. Why don't I feel it? I feel that he is very confident. Every time he trains in the forest, he is very confident. This time, he bravely killed that Black Horn Earth Dragon alone."

Meng Ying nodded and said, "You did very well. Remember, no matter what happens, don't argue. You have to give him a chance to show his strength. This is a form of humility and also a form of understanding."

Mengjie nodded and asked, "Dad, is it impossible to cure Brother's illness?"

"Nonsense," Meng Ying snapped in a hushed tone. "Nothing is incurable. There's always a way. That's precisely why I'm leaving with Mother Wu Yun and your teachers—to find the cure he needs. Remember, hopelessness is unacceptable. You must never lose faith in Feng Lian."

"Dad, can you tell me about your past?"

"Now's not the time for that. When you're older and strong enough to shoulder such truths, I'll tell you," Meng Ying said.

"Dad, what exactly are you planning? How long will you be gone?" Mengjie broke the long silence.

"I told you, we'll be back as soon as we can. You'll be the lady of this house; it's your responsibility now," Meng Ying replied, his voice tinged with a tenderness he reserved only for Mengjie—even if it made him feel guilty to utter such an uncertain promise.

Wu Yun gently squeezed Mengjie's hand, her own voice heavy with remorse. "Child, take good care of yourself. If you're unhappy, go seek the joy and love you deserve. Always protect that fragile heart of yours."

Mengjie nodded slowly, then lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet those of Meng Ying and Wu Yun. "Can't we all go together?"

"You can go, but Feng Lian can't. His body can't adapt to the outside world. So you have to stay and take care of him. Are you willing to watch Feng Lian stay here alone?"

Mengjie didn't look weak, but she was like Feng Lian. She would never change her mind quickly. She only needed a good lie to give her the responsibility to stay.

"I am only twelve years old. I don't want to get married so early. Can you slow down a little? Wait until I hold my wedding ceremony." Mengjie looked at Wu Yun and then looked at Meng Ying. She mustered up her courage.

Mengjie only knew the general idea of marriage. It was to share happiness and sorrows with the man she loved, to give birth to children, and to spend the rest of her life with him.

However, she always felt that it was too far away. It was so far away that she couldn't touch or imagine it.

It wasn't that she didn't like Feng Lian. Feng Lian had already merged into her life. She never thought of rejecting him. Her thoughts were the same as Feng Lian's. Even if there were no marriage, she would accompany him through his life.

She had always been an intelligent and quick-witted girl. She had already guessed the result of the conversation just now. Once she and Feng Lian got married, she would lose all her relatives. If she didn't get married, would she be able to stay with her relatives?

"It's not a marriage; it's a betrothal. After a few years, when you two are grown up, you will get married. Daddy and Mother Wu Yun want to see you two get married. That's why we decided to do it ahead of time."

"Then why don't we get married after Daddy finds the herbs?" Mengjie only wanted to stay with her father and mother.

"It's settled then. From tomorrow onwards, the two of you don't need to leave the village anymore. A few masters will be training you. We don't know how long we will be gone. In the future, we will have to depend on you two."

Hearing Meng Ying's firm tone, Mengjie didn't say anything else. She nodded quietly and got up to leave the house.

Although Mengjie was young, she had her dreams.

Her dream was to be with her family. In the first half of her life, her parents and teachers cared for them. In the future, she and Feng Lian would take care of them in return and let them enjoy their lives.

Her dream came from being with her family. If her family was gone, would she be able to continue in her dream?

She was determined to be a kind and compassionate person. If her family was in trouble, would she be able to remain calm?

From her childhood, Meng Ying had told her about her family background. She was not sad. Instead, she felt that she was extremely lucky to have met her family. Therefore, she cherished and loved every family member.

Although young, she had developed her worldview and values under the guidance of the experts who had once been famous worldwide.

In her world, she rarely judged things as right and wrong. She never did something to gain psychological comfort, nor did she need to do anything to gain the recognition of everyone. She did not regret any of her actions. She did whatever she wanted.

This "heart" was a "good heart" that everyone approved of!

However, she was afraid that the short separation from her father would become a never-ending one. She was worried that she would not be able to take care of Feng Lian by herself. Ultimately, she would have to face the cold, rain, and snow of this world alone.

During these years, her family had encountered all kinds of situations. Every time, she and Feng Lian would be on tenterhooks. However, it was never like this time. Although the dark clouds were already pressing down and the storm was about to arrive, everyone was still discussing the marriage happily.

This kind of contrast felt extremely dangerous to Mengjie. This danger was similar to when she and Feng Lian climbed the mountainside while training. When the giant boulder at the top of the mountain rolled down, an endless abyss was below. How should she choose?

Sometimes, making the wrong choice could easily crush a person's will and dreams.

Mengjie wanted to go to Feng Lian, but she felt shy and embarrassed.

Furthermore, she knew that Feng Lian must be perplexed now, so why should she add to his troubles? From Meng Ying, she learned the most important thing to do was to try her best to make everyone safe and sound. She could bear the pain, worry, and troubles by herself.

Suddenly, she felt a little lost and did not know where to go. She could only hide in her own little house and wildly concoct medicine. This was the best way for her to adjust her emotions.

Although she didn't know how to mend her broken heart, she knew how to use her smile to cover her tears.

"An outsider has invaded!"

Wu Yun and Meng Ying were still talking in the house when they suddenly felt the fluctuation of the surrounding space. They both stood up at the same time and rushed to the door of the courtyard.