Earlier, Lu Chang He came out of a blacksmith's shop, spinning the small dagger in his hand.
As he walked down the street, he froze as he caught a glimpse of the most impossible act he had ever seen. His eyes widened in disbelief, seeing how a white veiled woman drew out three Power Cores from three people at the same time, yet no Soul Thread was bound to them.
To take someone's Core, one required a Soul Thread to bind oneself with the person. Both sides would have a chance to take each other's Power Cores, but only one could survive.
If one wanted to live, he had to fight for it, taking the attacker's Core first. At the end, the stronger one naturally claimed it, gaining strength, leaving the other person dead. Thus, it could only be done with one person at a time.
She turned to him, the wind slightly opened her veil, showing her face with eyes full of angst.
Lu Chang He felt a sudden shift in his stomach, seeing that the person in front of him was the same woman from that day.
She started running up the road, yet he remained frozen in his step, trying to make sense of the impossible.
*********************
"Lu Chang He?" Bai Yuan asked excitedly, giving a slight head bow.
Bai Ling closed her veil, then turned.
Lu Chang He's gaze lingered on her veil for a heartbeat too long.
"Oh, this is my younger sister, Bai Ling." Bai Yuan introduced her.
He slightly bowed his head to greet. She did the same, holding her trembling hands tightly.
"What brings you here?" Bai Yuan asked.
"I heard demons are running rampant here, so I came." Lu Chang He replied.
"Right, yesterday they even…"
"Don't say it!" Bai Ling begged.
"… ruined my sister's wedding."
"Your sister was getting married?" Lu Chang He asked, glancing over to Bai Ling.
Bai Yuan smiled, "… ye… "
"My younger sister", Bai Ling interrupted him.
"Oh", Lu Chang He smirked.
Bai Yuan looked at his sister, confused, but he just let a chuckle slip and agreed. "Right, our younger sister."
"I was asking because…" He paused. "I remember saving a bride yesterday."
"Oh", Bai Yuan said, glancing over to Bai Ling.
Bai Ling's nerves had already reached their limit. Continuing meant she wouldn't have been far from fainting.
"What a coincidence", Bai Yuan said.
"Right", Lu Chang He agreed, with a tint of sarcasm in his tone. "If you're not busy, do you mind taking me to her? I would like to see if she's really okay."
"Of cou…"
"No need!" Bai Ling said. "She's fine. She's getting married tomorrow."
Lu Chang He smiled. "Since you said she's fine, then there's no need to worry."
"Since you're here, we should hang out." Bai Yuan said.
"I won't be here for long." He replied.
"You're leaving already?"
"Right." Lu Chang He said. "How about we meet tomorrow? I can join the celebration, since your sister is getting married."
Bai Ling almost her lost balance, but Bai Yuan caught her. The air under the veil was getting tight, leaving no space for oxygen to enter.
"What's wrong?" Bai Yuan asked.
"I don't feel well, can we go?"
"Okay", he agreed and gave a head bow to Lu Chang He. "I'll take my leave first."
They turned.
"Wait", Lu Chang He said.
At this point, Bai Ling could even feel her organs shaking inside her.
"I'll see you tomorrow", he said.
"See you tomorrow", Bai Yuan replied, and they walked away.
Lu Chang He's expression hardened as he watched them walk up the road, a feeling of uncertainty creeping over his mind.
Bai Ling went straight to bed when she got home, lying on her stomach. Since her wedding day, her body had been filled with adrenaline, exhausting her so much.
Soon after, her two sisters knocked on the door. With great strength, she was able to pull her body up and open the door.
They looked at her as if seeing a ghost.
"What happened to you?" Bai Ru Yi asked. The second youngest, a natural beauty no one could compare to. She was also born from to concubine.
"What's that?" The youngest followed. Bai Xin, the only legitimate daughter of the family, who naturally acted superior. She and Bai Yuan shared a mother.
"What's wrong?" Bai Ling asked.
"What happened to your face?" Bai Ru Yi pointed with her finger.
Bai Ling quickly made her way to the mirror, leaning in as she held the tears back, peeling the flaking skin from her face.
"You're always making trouble these days! What's wrong with you?" Bai Xin yelled as they entered.
"It's fine, we'll help you fix it." Bai Ru Yi comforted her. She had always been the gentle one, taking care of everyone around her, but her mother prohibited her from mingling with them, as a measure to avoid future disputes.
"If you don't want to get married, just say so! Why go through all this trouble? Bai Xin continued. "You're already being favoured by marrying into a noble family, but still so ungrateful! I just wish father had waited for me to grow up."
"You just turned sixteen." Bai Ru Yi said.
"Still! I'm still the legitimate daughter. Who else can I marry of noble status?"
Bai Ru Yi and Bai Ling looked at each other, hiding the smirks on their faces.
**********************
Bai Ling sat in front of the mirror, once again wearing her red wedding attire.
"The auspicious time had come, my lady", the servant said, standing behind her.
"What if he really comes? What will I do if he recognised me yesterday?"
"My lady", the servant hurried her on.
She threw the red veil over her head and stood up.
The carriage waited outside, and she got in. Her face was so itchy from all the skin that came off, and she couldn't even scratch it or she'd ruin her makeup. She just waved it with her hand to let the cold ease it a little.
They weren't even that far when the wheels creaked under the carriage, as it passed over a stone, making Bai Ling almost fall forward.
At least she was able to grip the seat quickly and avoid a great disaster. Imagine falling out of a carriage in wedding clothes.
Bai Ling giggled at her own thoughts and just shook her head.
But overcoming the bumpy ride wasn't just her luck because it opened the curtain, and her hand lifted her veil, exposing her face to Lu Chang He, who patiently waited outside for his luck.
With a swift sprint, the curtain fluttered open, and he was inside the carriage.
Bending forward as he lifted Bai Ling's veil.