Chapter 100: Jealousy

If I could reach such a level of speed, precision, and decisiveness, I could strike down the evil spirit with a single whip before it even had time to react.

Over the past ten days of practice, my whip technique had improved considerably. During the tedious moments of training, I would visit Granny Wan’s house to see Bai Xiaoli. Yet, for some unknown reason, her door had remained closed these past few days. Whenever I knocked, Granny Wan would simply say they were occupied and it wasn’t convenient for me to come in. Reluctantly, I had to give up.

Before long, the day of the great wedding finally arrived. It was only on the eve of the ceremony that Pilin learned I was about to marry Bai Xiaoli. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, this innocent girl looked displeased upon hearing the news.

I didn’t understand the intricate feelings of girls. No matter how I tried to comfort her, Pilin’s eyes remained red-rimmed. I told her that even if Bai Xiaoli and I got married, I would never neglect her. The young girl then lifted her head, staring at me with a vacant look, and said, “Brother Xizi, actually, the day we left the village when the Yellow Deity possessed me, my consciousness was clear. Do you understand what I mean?”

That day, Pilin was possessed by the Yellow Deity as we left the village, and was about to wed me in a ceremony. I had stopped it then.

Listening to Pilin’s words, I looked at this middle school girl with a hint of puzzlement. The emotions on her youthful face were far beyond what one would expect at her age.

Suddenly, I understood what this girl, just awakening to her feelings, meant. At that moment, she had wanted to take advantage of being possessed by the Yellow Spirit to turn the act of pretend marriage into something real. I dismissed it as childish confusion and gently patted Pilin’s head. Smiling, I said, “Silly girl, you might be confusing familial love with romantic love. In truth, both love and family affection are equally precious, but love can be fragile and break at any time. Family bonds, however, are always steadfast. Do you understand what I mean?”

Pilin paused, staring blankly at me. Then she said she needed to return to her room to think it over. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her.

Just as Pilin retreated, Granny Wan and Bai Xiaoli entered through the front gate.

Granny Wan carried two objects wrapped in red cloth and walked straight up to me. “Disciple,” she said, “tomorrow is your wedding day. I’m not well-regarded in the feng shui circles, so I won’t add to your troubles. I have a gift for you—take this.”

I took the parcels from Granny Wan’s hands. They felt slightly heavy and carried a faint scent of wood. I didn’t rush to unwrap them but said, “Granny Wan, both Bai Xiaoli and I are your disciples. How can you not attend our wedding?” Then I looked over at Bai Xiaoli, who seemed to have known about this beforehand, showing little surprise on her face.

“I’m but a medium for the departed, not suited for any grand occasions. If you truly regard me as your master, then why not hold the ceremony here, ahead of time?” Granny Wan said, raising her eyes to look at me intently.

A wedding ahead of schedule?

I glanced at Bai Xiaoli. Supporting Granny Wan, she smiled and said, “Yang Xi, Granny already told me about this. I agree. If you don’t mind, we can proceed with the ceremony now and consider tomorrow as simply the formal celebration.”

Since Bai Xiaoli consented, I had no objections either. I turned to look toward Pilin’s room. She already harbored some resentment toward Bai Xiaoli and me, and I worried that holding the ceremony here might stir up painful feelings in this immature girl.

“Is there someone inside?” Bai Xiaoli followed my gaze toward the room.

“Brother Xizi, I’ve figured it out…” At that moment, Pilin stepped out with a smile. When she saw Bai Xiaoli and Granny Wan, she hesitated briefly, then fixed her gaze on Bai Xiaoli. Her expression grew serious. With her hands clasped behind her back and her steps measured, she walked right up to Bai Xiaoli.

This was not going to end well.

Seeing Pilin and Bai Xiaoli lock eyes, a cold warning shot rang inside me.