Chapter 3: Yu Yumeng

Before Yu Xiong could speak, Liu Furong had already ordered someone to bring a woman into the grand hall.

Soon, a graceful figure entered.

She was an eighteen-year-old girl in the prime of youth.

Although dressed simply, her exquisite and slender figure could not be concealed.

However, on both her cheeks were several dreadful scars, making her appearance terrifying.

Upon seeing her disfigured face, the crowd showed expressions of disgust.

Some even struggled to suppress the urge to vomit.

This girl was none other than the sect leader Yu Xiong’s adopted daughter.

Yu Yumeng!

After understanding the situation, a complex expression flickered across Yu Yumeng’s face.

Liu Furong said coldly, “Yu Yumeng, the Moonlight Sect has raised you for so many years. Now it is time for you to repay the sect. You will marry Qin Xingchen in place of the Holy Maiden. Do you have any objections?”

Yu Yumeng glanced at Liu Furong, then looked up at Yu Xiong seated above in the hall. “Foster father, if you want Yumeng to marry, then Yumeng will marry…”

She had been adopted by Yu Xiong and wished to repay his kindness. If Yu Xiong wanted her to marry, she would comply.

But after looking at Qin Xingchen, she hesitated and added, “However… Yumeng is ugly and knows she is unworthy of Xingchen, so…”

“I am willing to marry Sister Yumeng!”

Before Yu Yumeng could finish, Qin Xingchen interrupted.

No one expected Qin Xingchen to agree to marry the disfigured Yu Yumeng!

Even Yu Yumeng was stunned.

Qin Xingchen paid no heed to the crowd’s gazes.

A year ago, after his dantian was shattered in a surprise attack, he had been mocked as a cripple.

He numbed himself with drinking for a long time, sinking into despair.

Later, Yu Yumeng stayed by his side, taking care of him and encouraging him, rekindling his hope for life.

Compared to the arrogant and self-important Yu Shanshan, Yu Yumeng, kind-hearted and refined, had won his heart.

No matter how ugly Yu Yumeng appeared, as long as he wished, that ugliness was only temporary!

Yu Xiong looked at Qin Xingchen and asked, “Xingchen, are you really willing to marry Yumeng?”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Qin Xingchen stepped forward before Yu Yumeng and sincerely said, “Sister Yumeng, will you marry me?”

Yu Yumeng trembled slightly, her heart racing.

Qin Xingchen’s sudden proposal threw her into confusion.

But thinking of her disfigured face, she felt insecure. “Can I… really?”

“Of course.”

Qin Xingchen smiled gently.

At that moment, Yu Shanshan crossed her arms and sneered arrogantly, “Hmph, a cripple wants to marry an ugly freak — you two really are a perfect match!”

Qin Xingchen retorted, “Is that so? I’d rather marry an ugly freak than marry you. In my heart, you’re not even as good as an ugly freak! Besides, Sister Yumeng is not ugly; you are!”

“Qin Xingchen, what did you say!” Yu Shanshan flushed with anger and shame.

Qin Xingchen ignored her and turned back to Yu Xiong. “Sect Leader, I have decided to marry Sister Yumeng. Please grant your blessing.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiong realized Qin Xingchen was serious.

After a moment of thought, he nodded. “Very well, Xingchen. Since you are sincere, I shall not oppose it. The wedding will be held in one month.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader!”

Qin Xingchen cupped his fist in gratitude, then took Yu Yumeng’s hand and left the hall.

But watching them leave, Yu Shanshan, who should have been happy, felt increasingly upset recalling Qin Xingchen’s words.

He’d rather marry an ugly freak than her.

Could it be that she was really inferior even to an ugly freak?

...

After leaving the council hall and walking along a small path, Yu Yumeng finally withdrew her hand from Qin Xingchen’s grasp.

Lowering her head slightly, she said, “Xingchen, I know you were joking about marrying me just now, so…”

“I’m serious,” Qin Xingchen said.

Yu Yumeng was startled. “But... why do you want to marry me? Is it because you pity me for being ugly?”

Qin Xingchen shook his head slightly. “Sister Yumeng, when I became a cripple a year ago after my dantian was shattered, it was your comfort, care, and encouragement that rekindled my hope to live on. You are the kindest girl I’ve ever known. In my heart, ten Yu Shanshans can’t compare to you! So I want to tell you seriously: I want to marry you, not out of pity, but because... I truly like you!”

Those six heartfelt words gently plucked at Yu Yumeng’s heartstrings, instantly flushing her cheeks as she felt overwhelmed and shy.

“But…”

“Sister Yumeng, I really want to marry you!”

“But I’m too ugly. I’m not worthy of you…”

“The scars on your face—I know how to make them disappear!”

“Really?” Yu Yumeng looked at Qin Xingchen with joyful surprise.

“Of course.”

Qin Xingchen nodded slightly. “How about this? Let’s make a bet. If I can’t heal your face within a month, you don’t have to marry me. But if I do, you have to marry me—no backing out!”

“I…”

“Alright, it’s settled happily then!”

Saying so, Qin Xingchen took Yu Yumeng’s hand and continued walking forward.

Soon, they arrived before a towering mountain peak.

This was Qin Xingchen’s residence.

The mountain was called Cloud Hidden Peak, one of the five great peaks of the Moonlight Sect.

Only core elders or higher could live on these five peaks.

Qin Xingchen lived here because his foster father, Qin En, was one of the five core elders of the sect.

Cloud Hidden Peak symbolized Qin En’s exalted status within the sect.

As Qin En’s adopted son, Qin Xingchen naturally lived here as well.

Yu Yumeng had often visited here while caring for Qin Xingchen, so she followed him naturally through the mountain gate.

Qin Xingchen smiled and said, “Sister Yumeng, now that you’re my fiancée, we’ll live together from now on.”

“I…”

“You don’t want to live with me?”

“N-no, it’s just… do we have to share the same room?”

Qin Xingchen answered seriously, “Yes, although Cloud Hidden Peak has two rooms, one belongs to my foster father, which we can’t enter casually. The other is mine. Since you’re my fiancée, we naturally live in the same room.”

“Ah?” Yu Yumeng’s face flushed deeply.

So embarrassing!

Seeing her blush, Qin Xingchen chuckled softly. “I’m teasing you. There are two big beds in the room. Don’t worry, before we become a real married couple, I won’t lay a finger on you.”

Yu Yumeng remained blushing, unsure how to respond.

Qin Xingchen’s intention in having her live with him was to show that he did not despise her but truly wanted to be with her.

Suddenly, a rough voice rang outside Cloud Hidden Peak.

“Qin Xingchen, get out here!”

Qin Xingchen and Yu Yumeng’s expressions changed immediately. They stepped outside and saw six inner disciples of the Moonlight Sect standing by the gate.

The leader was a one-eyed man.

Qin Xingchen knew him as Ma Jie, one of Luoshan’s top ten strongest underlings, a tenth-level Body Refining cultivator—the strongest among the six.

“Got business?” Qin Xingchen asked.

Ma Jie demanded, “Qin Xingchen, someone saw you with Zhang Kui and Li Yi going to Wind Whisper Valley. Why did only you come back? Where are Zhang Kui and Li Yi?”

Qin Xingchen said, “How would I know? After we left the sect, we disagreed and went separate ways. I went to Wind Whisper Valley; where they went, I don’t know.”

Killing fellow disciples was a capital crime; he could never tell the truth.

“Nonsense!” Ma Jie snapped. “I think you’re lying! Zhang Kui and Li Yi are my sworn brothers. I advise you to tell the truth, or even if you’re crippled today, I’ll pry your mouth open until you confess!”

Qin Xingchen sneered disdainfully, “If you can do that, go ahead and try!”

Ma Jie snorted coldly. “A worthless cripple dares to talk big? Who gave you the guts? You’re looking for death!”

“Stop!”

Just as Ma Jie was about to attack, Yu Yumeng stepped forward, blocking him and scolding, “Ma Jie, this is the sect. Are you going to fight here?”

Smack!

Ma Jie slapped Yu Yumeng to the ground, furious. “Stinking bitch, ugly freak, you dare boss me around? Don’t think I won’t touch you just because your foster father is the sect leader. Hmph, your status in the sect is no different from a servant’s. Even if I cripple you, the sect will at most lightly punish me. What are you? Let me reshape that ugly face of yours!”

With that, he raised his right foot to stomp on Yu Yumeng’s face.

At that moment, Qin Xingchen suddenly appeared before Ma Jie and kicked him fiercely, sending him flying.