Volume 3, Chapter 434

A maidservant stepped forward.

The wooden box in her hands was lined with red silk, upon which rested a gleaming golden phoenix hairpin.

Chi Muxue picked up the phoenix hairpin, holding it in both hands, and slowly walked over to stand before Chi Xiyan.

“Xiyan, this hairpin, I prepared it specially for you.”

The girl, dressed in her ceremonial cape, looked as radiant as a peach blossom.

“Originally, I had two prepared. I wanted you to help me put on the other one.”

“But now, there’s a better choice.”

The girl smiled brightly.

“Xiyan, can I ask you now, to put on that other hairpin for me instead.”

“The one you made with your own hands.”

Chi Xiyan froze on the spot, staring blankly at the girl before her.

A moment later, she raised her hand.

The flower hairpin appeared in her palm.

The Xiyan flower, a flower that shared the same sound as her name.

She lowered her head and saw the deep crimson robe she wore.

She raised her head again, and the girl before her was reaching out her hand toward her.

In the girl’s other hand, she still held the phoenix hairpin.

“Xiyan, is that alright?”

“…” Chi Xiyan felt her breath growing ragged.

Inside her chest, it felt as though a flame were rising.

Should she put it on her?

In the middle of this strange ceremony.

Should she put it on her?

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Inside this bizarre illusion.

“…” Chi Xiyan’s brow furrowed.

Was this place, truly an illusion?

“What’s wrong? Xiyan.” The girl’s sweet voice reached her ears. “Don’t you want to put this hairpin on for me?”

Shouts rose up from the crowd around them.

“Put it on her!”

“Put it on her!”

“Put it on her!”

The noisy clamor filled her ears, and Chi Xiyan felt her mind buzzing.

Her heartbeat pounded, blood surging up into her head.

Thud thud. Thud thud.

The maddening sound wouldn’t stop.

Chi Xiyan raised her hand, the hairpin still clutched tightly in her palm.

This hairpin represented the deepest, most hidden feeling in her heart.

The girl before her was the living embodiment of her own desire.

Chi Xiyan drew several heavy breaths.

But the tightness pressing on her chest hadn’t eased at all.

That was right. Everything unfolding before her now was the very reason she had stayed here all along.

The Illusory Heart Formation questioned one’s true heart. If she lacked even the courage to face her own desires directly, how could she ever hope to break through it.

Chi Xiyan had never once thought of herself as someone who lacked courage.

She wasn’t a timid person. If she had truly been timid, she never would have made it this far.

But right now, she could clearly feel her own cowardice.

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A person who has nothing is never afraid of losing it.

But once someone has had something, it becomes very hard to bear losing it.

And this was precisely the reason Chi Xiyan found herself hesitating now.

“Sister?” The girl in the crimson robe tilted her head slightly. “Is it really that hard to put a hairpin in my hair for me?”

“No.” Chi Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly.

The flame in her heart roared.

She raised her head, resolve settling in her heart.

“Little Xue’er, let me put the hairpin on for you.”

All that remained now was to pin the hairpin in place and complete the sisters’ mutual bow, and the ceremony would be finished.

At this moment, Chi Xiyan understood with perfect clarity that this hairpin ceremony had long since stopped being a hairpin ceremony to her.

And this hairpin was no ordinary hairpin either.

Having gotten her answer, Chi Muxue’s smile grew even brighter.

She stepped forward, gently sliding the hairpin she held into Chi Xiyan’s hair, adjusting its position before stepping back half a pace.

She leaned forward slightly, tilting the bun of her hair toward Chi Xiyan.

Seeing this, Chi Xiyan no longer hesitated.

She stepped forward, crossing this final step, and with it, crossing the line she had held onto inside her heart for so long.

The end of the hairpin lined up against Chi Muxue’s hair.

“Wait!”

A loud shout suddenly rang out from beyond the hall, instantly drawing every eye in the room and cutting off the motion in Chi Xiyan’s hand.

Chi Xiyan and Chi Muxue both turned to look toward the courtyard outside.

A young man in white, wearing a moonlit white sword robe, stepped forward as if riding on the wind.

He was tall and slender, with a handsome, refined face.

As he landed in the courtyard, a smile touched his lips. “It seems this Song has arrived at just the right moment.”

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“Who dares!” a clan elder stepped forward to demand. “Why have you interrupted our Chi family young lady’s hairpin ceremony?”

Chi Xiyan got a clear look at the young man in white, and her pupils suddenly narrowed.

How could it be him? Why would he be here?

The young man in white smiled and clasped his fists toward the crowd in salute.

“This one is Song Shixuan, here on behalf of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

“I spoke out of urgency just now and interrupted the proceedings. My apologies for the offense, I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Song has come here today because I wish to present a special gift for Miss Chi Muxue’s hairpin ceremony.”

With that, Song Shixuan produced an exquisite wooden box.

He opened the box in full view of everyone present.

At once, a sharp, imposing sword qi surged up into the sky.

The crowd looked on in astonishment.

Inside was a sword shaped hairpin, one carved from jade.

The moment Chi Xiyan saw that hairpin, an uneasy feeling surged wildly within her.

“As you can all see, this hairpin was bestowed by this Song’s master, Sword Venerable Qingzhi.”

“By my master’s decree, this Song will place this sword hairpin into Miss Chi Muxue’s hair.”

“From this day forward, Miss Chi Muxue will be the future mistress of my Nanhe Song clan.”

The moment these words left his mouth, the entire hall erupted into an uproar.

“That hairpin was truly bestowed personally by Sword Venerable Qingzhi?!”

“Is Sword Venerable Qingzhi personally arranging a match for her own disciple?”

“The Chi family has just secured ties with both the Lingxiao Sword Sect and the Nanhe Song clan. They’re bound for great fortune from here on out!”

“ Tch! The Chi family really is lucky! Why doesn’t our family ever get luck like that?!”

All manner of murmurs rose from the crowd.

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The noise made Chi Xiyan’s head throb.

Song Shixuan’s words from moments ago still echoed in Chi Xiyan’s mind.

Sword Venerable Qingzhi, the revered elder of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, wanted Chi Muxue to marry Song Shixuan?!

On what grounds?!

“I do not agree to this!”

Chi Xiyan’s furious shout instantly drowned out every murmur in the hall.

Every gaze in the room turned toward her.

Song Shixuan looked at Chi Xiyan and sneered. “Who are you, to dare obstruct Sword Venerable Qingzhi’s decree?”

“Do your words speak for Chi Muxue?”

Chi Xiyan drew a deep breath.

“Chi Muxue, she is my–”

Chi Muxue stepped forward, grabbing Chi Xiyan’s hand and stepping in front of her.

Chi Xiyan looked at the girl. The girl turned her head back, giving her a reassuring glance.

“Young Master Song, my sister and I share the same sentiment.”

“Has Sword Venerable Qingzhi, in arranging this match between the Song and Chi families, ever asked for the Chi family’s consent?”

“Or asked for mine?”

Facing Chi Muxue’s counter, Song Shixuan’s face still carried a faint, composed smile.

“Miss Chi Muxue, it seems you haven’t quite grasped the situation.”

“My master has never needed anyone’s consent to do as she pleases.”

“That you privately taught the Lingxiao Sword Sect’s secret sword techniques to an outsider, and my master chose not to hold you accountable for it, that alone was already an act of great generosity.”

“And now, after all that, you still wish to defy the order of a revered elder?”

“Or do you believe you actually have the power to stand against a revered elder?”