Chapter 1683: Getting Dressed Up

Chapter 1683: Dress Up

"What? Naihe Qiao Shen is getting married, and the groom is Yao Shun."

"Isn't it supposed to be Huanggu Mingjiang? How did it turn out to be Yao Shun? Who is that guy?"

In the early morning, before the street vendors even started their calls, discussions were already erupting everywhere, one after another, turning the streets of the ghost city into a bustling spectacle.

"No wonder, no wonder we haven't seen Ye Chen and Naihe Qiao Shen these past few days. Turns out his wife was swept away, and it's quite the fresh twist."

Now, gossip was spreading through every street and alley, from roadside stalls to taverns.

As Zhao Yun and Qin Mengyao walked along the street, they both shook their heads.

Clearly, Ye Chen wasn't the only one who received the invitation. A wedding ceremony had stirred up a huge commotion in the underworld.

The only strange part was this complete reversal from before, which caught everyone off guard.

Huanggu Mingjiang and Naihe Qiao Shen had long been recognized as a couple in the underworld, but out of nowhere, Yao Shun appeared.

What was ridiculous was that most people had no idea who Yao Shun was.

When Zhao Yun and Qin Mengyao returned to the small garden, they found nine figures there—the nine underworld generals under King Qin Guang.

They seemed to have heard about Yao Shun and Naihe Qiao Shen's wedding, and each one was scratching their heads in confusion.

Just a short while ago, they had teamed up to sneak a peek.

But in just a few days, the plot had taken such an unexpected turn. Naihe Qiao Shen was gone, and Ye Chen was neither human nor ghost.

"I've checked through all the records in the first hall, and there's no one named Yao Shun," Lei Mingjiang sighed. "He's too mysterious."

"Anyone who could make Naihe Qiao Shen give up on Ye Chen—well, even thinking with your backside, you know that so-called Yao Shun must have an incredibly impressive background."

"In my opinion, we should just give Ye Chen some of our first hall's special products. That would definitely work." Yin Mingjiang said this with a meaningful tone.

As soon as the words were out, Yin Mingjiang left, and the other eight underworld generals went with him, escorted out by Zhao Yun.

They had to be sent away; otherwise, with these nine's temperament, they might actually sneak back and feed Ye Chen some of the first hall's "special products."

Outside the garden, another person arrived, clad in armor, with an imposing presence, eyes like stars, and long hair like a waterfall—truly an outstanding figure.

This was Ming Jue, the disciple of Ming Di, who had just emerged from seclusion after gaining enlightenment.

He had originally planned to challenge Zhao Yun to a fight and take on Ye Chen as well, but instead, he heard about something even more interesting.

"The disciple of Ming Di should know who Yao Shun is." Zhao Yun poured a full cup of wine for Ming Jue.

"You're going to be disappointed. I've never heard of him." Ming Jue smiled and shook his head. As he spoke, he glanced sideways at the room.

Through the wall, he could see Ye Chen, covered with a blanket.

As Ming Di's disciple, he had inherited the emperor's true teachings and remained undefeated among the young talents of the underworld.

But since half a year ago, things seemed to have changed. Freaks had emerged, not just one, but two.

The Huanggu Shengti was unbeatable in the same realm, and the legends weren't false.

One person had defeated the nine hall underworld generals, something even he couldn't do.

Just from that, he had already lost to Ye Chen. And after that defeat, there was another—he lost to Zhao Yun.

Only then did he truly understand Ming Di's warnings from the past.

The underworld was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; there were always people beyond people and mountains beyond mountains. Being the emperor's disciple didn't mean you were invincible; you could still lose when it was your time.

Ming Jue thought about this and couldn't help but mock himself with a smile, then focused on drinking.

Losing once and then again, he was far from matching Ming Di in his youth.

It wasn't that he had shamed his master; it was just that this era was extraordinary, an age of rampant freaks where you had no choice but to accept it.

After finishing the jug of wine, he left. With Ye Chen in his current dazed state, he didn't even feel like moving, let alone fighting.

Zhao Yun was even less interested; fighting had to be done at the right time.

After Ming Jue left, Zhao Yun and Qin Mengyao sat on either side, hands propping up their chins, not knowing what to do.

And so, three days and two nights passed quietly, everything calm.

On the fourth day, there was finally movement from the room—Ye Chen had gotten up.

His hair was completely white, his face covered in stubble, his features haggard. His eyes, which should have been deep, were now dull and lifeless.

Zhao Yun walked in and, seeing Ye Chen up, smiled.

Ye Chen getting up meant he was facing reality. He had taken the first step past this cruel emotional trial.

The sorrow and pain would fade with time.

This was the Ye Chen he knew—the only person of his generation he truly respected, and he shouldn't stay so dejected.

Ye Chen gently picked up the invitation on the table. The two characters for Chu Ling on it were painfully piercing, making his heart ache.

He would go, and he definitely would. As Zhao Yun said, even if he couldn't let go, even if his heart hurt, he couldn't run from it.

At least, before returning to the heavens, he needed to resolve this karma. This ancient bond should end in a foreign land.

"Sis is in a good mood today, so I'll help you get all dressed up."

Qin Mengyao stepped forward, pressed Ye Chen into a seat, and with a wave of her hand, produced a wooden comb to tidy his messy white hair.

"The wedding of your former lover isn't something you can let people look down on."

"Looking all disheveled and downcast, people who know will think you're going to offer blessings, but those who don't might think you're going for sympathy."

"As a Shengti, you have your pride. If you're going, go with your head held high. Even if you're letting go, do it openly and honestly."

Qin Mengyao chattered as she combed, the girl having a good heart—except for her somewhat fierce personality, she was fine otherwise.

Ye Chen said nothing, quietly gazing at the bronze mirror in front of him.

How many years had it been since he last saw himself in a mirror?

First, Zhou Tian had erased his appearance, and then he lived as a dead person, not even reflected in mirrors.

Now that he could see himself, he realized how aged he had become.

Where did the best hundreds of years of my life go?

He asked himself in the mirror. From start to finish, it had been three hundred years, a full great cycle, all spent on the road.

The dust of time couldn't be wiped away. He had searched for one heroic soul after another, only to lose the person he loved most. He had truly failed.

"All done." Qin Mengyao put away the comb and clapped her hands.

She was quite satisfied with her work. No decorations, everything simple and ordinary—nothing embarrassing, nothing showy.

"Thank you." It was the first time Ye Chen had spoken in days, his voice hoarse and dry, even his smile forced.

"Don't think a simple 'thank you' can cover up what happened that night." Qin Mengyao pouted. "We'll settle that when you get back."

Ye Chen gave a slight smile, slowly turned, and left the small garden.

Zhao Yun and Qin Mengyao didn't follow, though they were curious to see this Yao Shun. But on second thought, they decided against it.

This was Ye Chen's emotional trial; he had to face it alone.

The streets of the ghost city were lively, filled with endless calls from vendors.

Ye Chen's appearance drew glances from everyone on the street. Seeing his full head of white hair, they all sighed involuntarily.

What a mess this was! Not long ago, he was strolling around with his wife, making all the single ghosts jealous beyond words.

In just a few days, his wife was gone, and he had become so worn down. This kind of drama hadn't been seen in eight hundred years.

"Do you think Ye Chen received the invitation for Naihe Qiao Shen and Yao Shun's wedding?" An old street vendor stroked his beard.

"That can't be, right? How could they be that cruel?" someone else said.

"Well, it's hard to say. Sending the invitation is just etiquette. Whether he goes or not is up to Ye Chen—it's his decision."

"That would be so frustrating, enough to make someone sick inside."

"If it were me, I'd have to go, and I'd bring the emperor along to snatch Naihe Qiao Shen back and wreck the whole place."

People on the street chatted one after another, whispering so as not to be too loud.

After all, who was Ye Chen? The powerful Shengti, a underworld general personally appointed by Yan Wang—his status was noble, his combat strength terrifying.

With his wife gone, he was probably full of rage. If anyone crossed him, the consequences would be dire. He was known for being ruthless.

Ye Chen passed through like the wind and ascended to the virtual sky, heading straight east.