6

On the morning of the third day after Mo Fan's death, an extraordinary person arrived at Sky Burial Mountain. This time, the bell did not ring. Instead, Chen Shen was drawn outside by the commotion. Pushing open his door, he saw Ma Ruhai fawning over another man.

The newcomer was a handsome young man dressed in fine silk, exuding a noble aura, like a dragon emerging from the abyss. His presence was overwhelming. Even among the inner sect disciples, Chen Shen had never seen someone with such a demeanor. There was only one possibility—this man was above the inner sect, perhaps a true disciple.

In his arms, the young man cradled a woman wearing a phoenix crown. She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a celestial fairy descended to the mortal world. However, she had no vitality—she was already dead. Chen Shen silently sighed. This was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

As they passed by his small house, Ma Ruhai noticed him and shot him a fierce glare, as if warning him not to overstep. Chen Shen ignored the warning and stepped forward solemnly, bowing. "I greet you, senior brother."

Ye Shuangman, the young man, gave no response. He seemed lost in his own world, walking straight toward the depths of Sky Burial Mountain. As a corpse collector, Chen Shen naturally followed, and Ma Ruhai, eager to curry favor, trailed along.

They walked for two hours, passing the burial sites of inner sect disciples and arriving at a secluded area where even fewer graves were found. At this point, Chen Shen was certain—this man was indeed a true disciple.

"Senior brother, let me dig the grave for you!" Ma Ruhai stepped forward eagerly. However, this time, Ye Shuangman lightly shook his head. Instead, he retrieved a crystal coffin from his storage ring and carefully placed the woman inside.

Chen Shen and Ma Ruhai watched from the side. Ye Shuangman did not use any magical techniques to dig the grave, opting instead to do it manually. This was the first time Chen Shen had witnessed such a scene. He sighed inwardly. "I don't know where love begins, but when it does, it runs deep."

"A scholar is still a scholar. He can actually say something poetic for once," Ma Ruhai muttered, glancing at Chen Shen. Whether it was a compliment or sarcasm was unclear.

In an effort to please Ye Shuangman, Ma Ruhai eagerly joined the digging. Though reluctant, Chen Shen ultimately helped as well. This time, Ye Shuangman did not refuse.

Time passed, and by dusk, they had finally dug a deep grave. Ye Shuangman stroked the coffin lid before placing it in the pit. He let out a long sigh as he began covering it with earth.

Unlike before, Ye Shuangman did not use his hands to fill the grave, much to Chen Shen's relief. But as he shoveled the first bit of soil, he paused, gazing at the coffin. Seeing this, Chen Shen couldn't help but think, The cultivators of this world truly have their own way of doing things.

The burial continued, and Ye Shuangman filled the grave alone, taking several hours. Chen Shen only scooped a handful of dirt and dropped it in as a formality. By the time the burial was complete, the stars had filled the sky.

After erecting the tombstone, Ye Shuangman leaned against it, running his fingers over the inscription he had personally carved, tracing the letters again and again. Finally, he turned his head and spoke his first words since arriving at Sky Burial Mountain. "Do you have any wine?"

Chen Shen thought to himself, Do you have a story? But he did not dare voice it.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ma Ruhai hurriedly replied, having already prepared in advance. He quickly produced several jars of fine wine.

Ye Shuangman sat before the grave, took a long sip from a jar, and a faint flush appeared on his pale face. "My name is Ye Shuangman, a true disciple of Cangwu Immortal Sect. Most people call me the Young Sect Master."

"The Young Sect Master!" Ma Ruhai was ecstatic and immediately bowed deeply.

Ye Shuangman waved a hand dismissively and continued, "I have never done anything wrong in my life, nor have I ever used my status to suppress anyone. However, when I was seventeen, I fell in love with a girl."

"Sect Master, Senior Brother Ma, I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first," Chen Shen interrupted before the story could continue.

Ye Shuangman did not try to stop him, and Ma Ruhai was delighted to have the Young Sect Master's attention to himself. After Chen Shen left, Ye Shuangman took another deep sip of wine and said, "Drink with me."

"It would be my honor!" Ma Ruhai responded eagerly, feeling that fate had smiled upon him today. To be drinking with the Young Sect Master—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Hmph, those arrogant inner sect disciples from Zhen Daofeng. Just wait. I, Ma Ruhai, will settle accounts with you soon!

Meanwhile, Ye Shuangman seemed lost in his drunken haze, his eyes distant. He began his tale.

"That year, I visited Yunhai Sect with my father and met her. She danced like a butterfly among flowers, her long hair flowing, her cheeks flushed. When my father arranged our marriage, I ordered my servants to plant a vast sea of flowers before my house, even larger than the one she had danced in."

"Due to propriety and status, I could not see her often. Instead, I frequently visited her brother. They shared similar features, both extraordinarily attractive. Her brother once told me she loved reading mortal books. I said that was fine, but he looked troubled. I didn't understand why. I only knew that I liked girls who read, girls who danced in flowers, girls I could not see."

"As time passed, our wedding day arrived. I watched as my dowry left my house, and days later, I saw hers arrive. I meticulously arranged our home, worried she might not like it. I traveled to the mortal world to buy famous and valuable paintings, adorning our room with them."

"My father scolded me, saying I lacked taste. That I had bought mere mortal artifacts that would decay. But how could I have known? I was the Young Sect Master. I had countless responsibilities, and I did not read. How could I understand such things? Yet, I was talented. I would one day inherit my father's position, protect her, provide her a peaceful life. She would read while I practiced my swordsmanship. She would dance among the flowers, and I would wield my blade."

"As I went to greet my bride, we encountered minor troubles on the road. I worried her family might make things difficult, but they did not. Instead, they were anxious, eager to send her off."

"She was dressed in a phoenix crown, hidden beneath a red veil. My father-in-law led her out of Yunhai Sect. She seemed absent, motionless. Was she as nervous as I was? I had prepared all the sweet words that girls love to hear, ready to tell her that night."

"I sat on horseback, back straight, wondering if she would lift the carriage curtain to glance at me. My heart pounded. We took a detour before reaching my father's flying boat. It was said that she had requested it. A wedding should be grand, after all, seen by as many as possible. But we did not parade through a city or village—we rode through a barren wilderness, past an old grave."

"I found it ominous and ordered our escort to hurry. Then, somehow, everything fell apart."

"I do not know how she ended up at that grave. There was her blood on the tombstone. I rushed to hold her, ignoring all propriety."

"Her face was covered in blood. Her wedding dress, too, was drenched in red. A red so vivid it was as if she had become part of eternity, as if she would never fade."

"I had not yet welcomed her home. I had not yet asked her—did she like the flowers? The calligraphy and paintings? Did she like me? She never knew me. Her love was given to another, and so was her final breath."

The next morning, Chen Shen found Ma Ruhai's body not far from where Ye Shuangman had buried his bride.