Chapter 26: Aphrodisiac Fruit Part 3

The only notable point was that the bride was a mortal, elevated to Demigod status through a Contract. This news made countless others burn with envy for this mortal.

Yet, Jiang Wan’s love was for this mortal alone.

Unaware of the outside chatter, Shen Sheng sat with Sang Xuan by the stream, listening to her recount the events of Jiang Wan’s life.

The South River was powerful, a protector of its region. After the previous Clan Leader fell, the mantle passed to the profoundly powerful Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan had always been alone. People only knew her power was immense, but no one knew her past.

A woman who appeared out of nowhere, cutting through obstacles to become Clan Leader, had since devoted all her heart to Prajna City and the South River.

Shen Sheng felt lost. So Jiang Wan had always been alone.

Yet, from the very first meeting, Jiang Wan had recognized her. That meant Jiang Wan had seen her before.

Sang Xuan suddenly asked Shen Sheng, “Are you willing to stay here, to be with her for a lifetime?”

“A lifetime…” Shen Sheng murmured the words. Was there a lifetime to be had?

No. If the mission failed, the South River would still cease to exist. She would have failed Anu.

Sang Xuan said, “For a god, with feelings come a long life, and that life becomes a form of torment.”

“How could you have such thoughts?” Shen Sheng was puzzled. How could young Sang Xuan utter such sorrowful words?

“I didn’t come up with it. The Clan Leader did. She once had someone she loved. They Formed a Contract, but then the person disappeared. She could only wait. Then, you appeared. Tell me, why did you leave in the first place?” Sang Xuan asked.

Shen Sheng: “…” How should I know?

Shen Sheng remained silent, a new suspicion slowly growing in her heart, but she dared not dwell on it.

The two watched the fish swimming happily in the stream. Sang Xuan’s face showed pure joy. Shen Sheng’s face was expressionless. She knew her mission was destined to fail.

She knew the ending. And Jiang Wan knew it even better.

But Jiang Wan hadn’t chosen to evade. She had chosen to accept her fate.

Shen Sheng scrambled to her feet, her face pale, and ran towards the main hall without a care for anything else.

All along the way, the maidservants’ gazes upon her had changed. She would be Prajna City’s second mistress.

Shen Sheng ran into the main hall. Only Jiang Wan was there.

Shen Sheng approached step by step, staring at the pure, noble woman. “Jiang Wan, have you met me before?”

“No, how could I have met you?” Jiang Wan denied it.

Shen Sheng’s heart churned with turmoil. She didn’t believe Jiang Wan’s words at all. “You can lie, but the Lovesickness Gu cannot.”

Before a Lovesickness Gu, there must have been a passionate, earth-shattering love.

That was why Jiang Wan could say: for a god, a long life with feelings is a torment.

She took a deep breath and looked into Jiang Wan’s eyes. Instinctively, she said, “You have met me.”

Jiang Wan pressed her lips into a smile, a trace of melancholy in her brow. She sighed softly. “What do you want to say?”

“Change,” Shen Sheng gritted her teeth.

“Why change? If the change succeeds, many people, many events… perhaps they would no longer exist.” Jiang Wan smiled gently, uttering a cruel truth. “Everyone has their own fate. Let it be as it should. Those who try to change it are all madmen.”

Shen Sheng understood a little more now. But Jiang Wan was too calm. For a moment, Shen Sheng felt she was the one who was overly agitated.

The person involved wasn’t even anxious. What was she so anxious about?

Jiang Wan beckoned her over. “Young General, if you could go back to your childhood, what would you most want to do?”

“Stop the devastating battle at Juzhou City,” Shen Sheng said.

“Your father and brother were generals, heroes revered by all. From the moment they began practicing martial arts, they knew their ultimate fate. For a general, dying in battle is an honor. If you returned to the past to warn them of the danger, would they abandon their subordinates and the people, just for their own survival?”

Shen Sheng was dejected. “But we could change it.”

Jiang Wan smiled without speaking. She lifted a hand and pinched Shen Sheng’s cheek. “We can marry and receive the blessings of the South River. Like them, dying on the battlefield is a form of happiness. To have loved passionately is enough.”

“You would sacrifice your life… for love?” Shen Sheng couldn’t comprehend the kind of love Jiang Wan spoke of.

A moth-to-the-flame love—it was too heavy.

Jiang Wan shook her head. “Not sacrificing life, but respecting the rules of this world. If everyone altered destiny at will, the world would fall into chaos. Everyone has their own fate. We respect these laws.”

For some reason, Shen Sheng felt a crushing sense of powerlessness, like knowing the candy is poisoned but having no choice but to eat it.

She wanted to retort. But Jiang Wan walked before her, devoutly cupped her face, and silenced her with a kiss.

When their lips met, her heart raced wildly in that instant.

Shen Sheng frowned, the sensation on her lips making her feel lightheaded. She wanted to push away, to argue, but in the end, she sank endlessly into it.

When they parted, Jiang Wan looked at her with a hint of amusement. “You are too stubborn. Do you know how many Immortals and Demons come to the South River seeking healing every year? But it’s not because they come that we always agree. Some are simply fated not to live. We don’t waste our efforts. It’s not about refusing to save someone, but about respecting the natural order. If we lend a hand, we disrupt someone’s destiny.”

“Shen Sheng, we are like those who come seeking healing. And this time, I am still refusing.”

Shen Sheng held her hand, silent for a long moment.

“We’re getting married tomorrow. We should be happy first,” Jiang Wan spoke up, breaking the deadlock.

Shen Sheng nodded. She understood now how Buyan and Buyu came to be.

Perhaps Buyan and Buyu were indeed the children belonging to her and Anu.

The next day, the wedding took place. The customs of the South River differed from the mortal world. The ceremony was at noon; they simply had to arrive at the South River.

Getting married right before the South River, the South River Water served as the Nuptial Wine of the mortal world. The only difference was that a few drops of the brides’ blood were added to the two bowls of wedding wine.

Bu Jiuyue squeezed through the crowd, but her Spiritual Power was too low to get closer. Immortals from all over who had come to offer their congratulations were assigned observation spots. Little Demons like her could only push and shove.

Pushing and jostling, she even lost a shoe. Bending down to pick it up, the person behind her practically stepped right over her.

Bu Jiuyue: “…” Shouldn’t have lowered my head.

With great difficulty, she squeezed to a spot near the front, only to find the ceremony was already complete.

All that squeezing for nothing. Watching for nothing.

The Little Demon sighed to herself, looking up at the two figures standing together in the void. They were a perfect match.

“This Clan Leader’s wife is said to be a mortal, an ordinary mortal. Rising to heaven in a single bound… such incredible luck.”

“You don’t understand the customs here on the South River. Two women in love can unite, Immortal and mortal. Plant the Lovesickness Gu, and they can never betray each other for eternity.”

“That’s too harsh. What does the Clan Leader Jiang see in this mortal anyway?”

“Love is blind. The Clan Leader likes her.”

“I heard this mortal was a general in the human world. Very capable.”

“Capable or not, what use is that before Immortals? Still, her luck is truly amazing.”

The Little Demon listened to the chatter around her, looking up at Clan Leader Jiang with envy. She wanted that kind of luck too.

A single step to heaven! Longevity for ten thousand years, without the bitter toil of cultivation.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds returned to Prajna City. The gods who stayed behind to enjoy the banquet were treated to some wine.

The Little Demon squeezed into the banquet and sat with other Demonic creatures. Soon after, the newlyweds returned, hand in hand, appearing amidst the crowd.

Clan Leader Jiang Wan was already a figure of purity and beauty, noble and stunning. Before the assembly of gods, she outshone them all.

Nearby, a few Demons murmured about Jiang Wan’s beauty.

Jiang Wan’s beauty was intertwined with her nobility.

Bu Jiuyue picked up a cup and sipped. It was sweet, mixed with the South River Water, purifying the heart and nourishing the spirit.

Jiang Wan and Shen Sheng sat at the hosts’ table. Shen Sheng toyed with the white jade wine cup and secretly took a sip. She exclaimed in surprise, “It’s sweet!”

There wasn’t even a hint of alcohol.

“Deep at the river bottom, there is a Spirit Spring Water. It’s sweet and clear. Drinking it is very good for the body. If it weren’t for the wedding, would they even get to taste it?” Jiang Wan raised her cup and took a sip. She warned Shen Sheng, “Don’t drink too much. It promotes serenity and curbs desire if you drink too much.”

Shen Sheng: “…”

So many strange and novel things here.

First an aphrodisiac fruit, and now spring water that kills desire.

Getting married today, drinking too much of this desire-killing water would be disastrous.

Shen Sheng stopped after one cup. Jiang Wan did the same.

The Little Demons, however, drank copious amounts of the wine, all looking righteous and full of energy as they happily left.

After three rounds of wine, the two quietly slipped away. Entertaining the other Immortals was left to Fu Kong and the others.

Both still in their Wedding Dresses, they stood before the mirror at the city gate. Shen Sheng studied the reflection in the mirror. Jiang Wan pulled her away. “Nothing more to see. We’ve looked countless times already.”

“Anu, before I came here, was I already in the mirror?” Shen Sheng asked.

“Correct. Once a Contract is Formed, it shows. Nothing strange about it,” Jiang Wan performed a spell, and the two flew directly to the palace.

Their speed was incredible.

Arriving under the tree, Jiang Wan picked another fruit and gave it to Shen Sheng.