How did you manage to win over their master

"Sect Master, please wait!"

A clear, melodious voice rang out from afar.

Gu Chengde turned slightly, a contemplative expression on his face. "Pavilion Master Mu?"

The heavily injured Third Elder and Fifth Elder also turned to look, their gazes icy.

Mu Qingyi approached, holding a violet wooden box containing a row of blue crystalline beads.

"Elder Gu, these are the Nine Star Pearls—a treasure of the Azure Luan Pavilion. I offer them to the Heavenly Profound Sect as an apology. Today's incident was my fault."

Mu Qingyi raised her hands, presenting the box.

"Nine Star Pearls?!"

The elders exchanged glances—this was no small offering.

These were the Azure Luan Pavilion's most prized treasures. No one expected Mu Qingyi to use them as compensation.

An Yi, standing nearby, glanced at the so-called Nine Star Pearls and raised an eyebrow.

This thing is valuable?

They're everywhere in the Ancient Continent.

The Third Elder finally tore his gaze away from the pearls and snorted, "The gift is decent, but our Heavenly Profound Sect—"

Ahem!

Gu Chengde coughed loudly, cutting off the Third Elder and shooting him a sharp glare.

She won the bride fair and square!

And now, offering a priceless treasure as an apology? She was giving them a way out.

They couldn’t win in a fight anyway. If they didn’t take this chance to save face, the Heavenly Profound Sect’s reputation would truly be ruined.

"In that case, I’ll shamelessly accept this gift."

Gu Chengde took the Nine Star Pearls, then turned to An Yi, grabbing his son Gu Changfeng by the shoulder with a hearty laugh.

"Young man, you and my son are around the same age—what a coincidence! How about he acknowledges you as his elder brother from today onward?"

Gu Changfeng was dumbfounded. What?!

Call him ‘big bro’?!

I’m twenty-five! Does this guy even look twenty?!

An Yi was equally stunned. What’s this fat uncle scheming?

What use do I have for this pretty boy?!

Ding!

Will you recruit [Flowing Cloud Sword] Gu Changfeng?

Fine, for the system’s sake, I’ll take him.

Clicking "Confirm" on the system panel, An Yi forced a smile. "That sounds perfect. I was just thinking the same."

Gu Changfeng: ...What the hell is going on?!

This guy barged into Miss Yiyi’s chambers, saw her bathing, and even beat me up!

Gu Chengde’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Having his son acknowledge An Yi as an elder brother served multiple purposes.

First, it was a gesture of reconciliation.

This young man was terrifyingly strong—no ordinary talent. Better to make him an ally than an enemy.

Moreover, Gu Chengde had a gut feeling that befriending him would be an incredibly profitable move.

If only I had a daughter…

Then he wouldn’t have to force his idiot son into this arrangement.

Second, this helped salvage the Heavenly Profound Sect’s dignity.

Who could tell whether this was about taking a subordinate or forming a sworn brotherhood?

With the conflict resolved, the whole "bride-stealing" incident wouldn’t seem so awkward anymore.

Finally, if Gu Changfeng called An Yi "big bro," what would An Yi call him?

If outsiders misunderstood… even better.

Ning Er, watching the Heavenly Profound Sect depart in harmony, was utterly baffled.

What happened? Why aren’t they fighting anymore?!

Staring at An Yi and Mu Qingyi, Ning Er wrestled with indecision.

Should I try to snatch her or not?

...Forget it. I’m going home. First, I’ll settle the score with those three old bastards!

"Yi-ge! Yi-ge! You can’t go through with this wedding!"

Finally, Wei Xiang caught up, panting heavily.

His stamina was shot after last night’s… activities.

Wei Xiang gasped, "Yi-ge, the bride in the carriage—she’s—"

Then, his voice died in his throat like a strangled duck.

Standing there, hand in hand with An Yi, was a breathtaking woman in phoenix coronet and red bridal robes.

Pavilion Master Mu?!

How did he end up with her master?!

Wei Xiang’s brain short-circuited.

After piecing things together, he looked at An Yi with awe.

He snatched the wrong bride… and it still worked?!

Holy shit, this guy’s a legend!

An Yi smiled at him—a smile laced with warning.

The murderous aura made Wei Xiang break out in cold sweat.

Mu Qingyi asked curiously, "Who is this?"

"Just a dead man walking. Pay him no mind."

An Yi casually drew his combat dagger.

He remembered very clearly—this bastard was the one who told him about Shen Muxuan’s wedding!

This idiot started it all!

Wei Xiang panicked. "Yi-ge, spare me!"

"You’re not getting away!"

"I swear, it wasn’t my fault! I didn’t know either!"

"Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?!"

"I just found out! Yi-ge, please, no—!"

Mu Qingyi watched, puzzled, as An Yi proceeded to beat Wei Xiang senseless.

---

The wilderness stretched endlessly, cool breezes rustling through the grass.

An Yi and Mu Qingyi walked side by side, fingers intertwined.

Glancing at the ethereal beauty beside him, An Yi sighed inwardly.

Well, a mistake’s a mistake. Not like I’m losing out—free immortal wife.

"How did you end up in the Immortal Sect?" Mu Qingyi asked softly.

"Felt like it," An Yi replied vaguely.

Can’t exactly say I stormed in because Shen Muxuan didn’t return, heard about a wedding, and rescued the wrong person.

That’d be suicide.

Mu Qingyi gazed at him tenderly, cheeks faintly pink.

"Then… when did you start… liking me?"

Crap. No clue.

Thinking fast, An Yi adopted a suave, mysterious smile.

"Love knows no beginning, yet runs deep."

Mu Qingyi froze, turning the words over in her mind. Her eyes shimmered.

An Yi exhaled quietly.

Honestly, he still wasn’t used to this.

This was the woman who’d once threatened to pummel him to death—and Shen Muxuan’s master, no less.

The thought stirred something in him—ahem—guilt.

But as he took in Mu Qingyi’s flawless profile and curvaceous figure, he recalled that night when he’d groped the wrong person.

Her body’s unreal.

Now that she was his… did that mean he could freely—

"An Yi?"

Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Hm? What’s up?"

"Are we really walking back? The Azure Luan Pavilion is far from here."

An Yi scanned the area, spotting a bald patch in the grass. He smirked.

"Watch this."

A whistle. No response.

An Yi pulled out a throwing dart.

Instantly, the half-bald head lifted. The creature stood and trotted over obediently.

It was the horned horse An Yi had trampled into a "balding" state.

"What a clever beast!" Mu Qingyi marveled.

An Yi mounted it with a grin. "Hop on. This thing can cover a thousand miles a day—we’ll be back by nightfall."

"Bullshit!"

The horned horse glared indignantly. Just kill me now!

Mu Qingyi climbed up, wrapping her arms around An Yi’s waist and resting her head against his back.

Then, An Yi felt something incredibly soft press against him.

Worth it.

His resentment toward Wei Xiang—now limping back to the Heavenly Profound Sect bruised and battered—faded slightly.

The horned horse galloped across the wilderness.

Sunset. Evening breeze.

An endless sea of grass, beneath a vast, open sky.

"What exactly happened to Shen Muxuan?" An Yi felt the breeze brush against his face and asked again.

Mu Qingyi hesitated, lowering her voice as she replied, "She... well, you’ll find out once we return to the sect."