I accidentally Married the Leader of the Noble Path

The large group left jubilantly, leaving He Shijian and his family utterly ignored.

Without an invitation, it was naturally impossible for them to tag along.

He Shijian, once a prominent figure in NiuJiao Village, had always been a regular guest at any celebration. Attending was his choice, but not being invited was a clear slight, and he could only accept it.

The village chief had obviously chosen to embarrass him. With a grim expression, He Shijian, accompanied by his bully of a son, trudged home in defeat.

From their house, not far from the village chief’s, the noisy sounds of celebration and cheers reached their ears.

He Family Hall

He Shijian sat gloomily in a grand armchair, his expression darkening with every passing second.

“Father, if this continues, we’ll lose all standing in NiuJiao Village! That damned Qin Nan and his wife are just too arrogant. The humiliation we suffered in front of everyone, the slaps in broad daylight—we’ve lost all face!”

Lying on a bench nursing his injuries, He Qing’s face was twisted with hatred as he cursed.

“Humph!” He Shijian slammed the armrest. Thinking about the recent public disgrace, his rage burned anew.

Compared to the lively sounds from the village chief’s home, the He household was cold and desolate, with only father and son present.

Even He Shijian’s wife had avoided them, unwilling to be caught in the storm of their bad moods.

“This is all your fault, you useless fool—good for nothing except causing trouble!” He Shijian bellowed.

“Father, how is this my fault? I was only following your orders!” He Qing retorted, his tone aggrieved.

“Then why didn’t you succeed?” He Shijian glared.

Though He Qing strutted like a rooster before the villagers, he became as meek as a kitten before his father.

He Qing’s repeated provocations against Qin Nan were not purely his own doing. While he enjoyed bullying others, the real reason lay with He Shijian’s instructions.

Ever since Qin Nan gained recognition as a skilled healer, He Shijian, the village’s former medical authority, had seen his income and influence wane. Naturally, he could not tolerate the presence of a competitor.

His solution was simple: send He Qing to create trouble for Qin Nan.

However, Qin Nan, young as he was, proved to be a tough nut to crack. Instead of being bested, he turned the tables, leaving the father-and-son duo humiliated.

Despite their defeat, the hatred in their eyes made it clear they would not let this matter rest.

“Let me see your leg, although Qin Nan treated it, that brat might have used some underhanded trick. If so, you’ll end up crippled for life.”

“No need. Qin Nan might be infuriating, but his medical skills and ethics are sound. I doubt there’s anything wrong with the treatment. If I let you mess with it, I might actually end up crippled.”

He Qing’s blunt words made He Shijian bristle with anger.

“You insolent whelp!” He Shijian roared.

Though he was He Qing’s father, his son clearly doubted his medical expertise.

The skepticism wasn’t baseless. He Qing had witnessed, more than once, his father’s failures—cases where improper treatment caused more harm than good.

Villagers might have been ignorant enough to believe He Shijian’s excuses, but He Qing wasn’t naive. There was no way he’d let his father tinker with his leg.

…

Meanwhile, Qin Nan and Shangguan Rouyue had left the village chief’s home and were on their way back.

The banquet had been lively, and Qin Nan had drunk his fill, thanks largely to the village chief’s enthusiastic toasts and the villagers’ encouragement.

Shangguan Rouyue, with her aloof demeanor, had escaped most of the attention. Qin Nan, however, became the main target of their cheer, enduring round after round of drinks.

Fortunately, his cultivation-enhanced physique allowed him to hold his liquor. Were he an ordinary person, he would have collapsed long ago.

At the banquet, he had played coy, feigning inability to drink anymore, which only spurred the village chief to challenge him further.

The village chief, known for his impressive alcohol tolerance, believed he could outlast the younger Qin Nan.

But when the chief finally realized he had met his match, it was too late. Drunk beyond repair, he passed out and remained unconscious.

With the chief incapacitated, the celebration wound down, and everyone went their separate ways.

Qin Nan and Shangguan Rouyue walked home together, the former stumbling slightly as the effects of the alcohol lingered.

“Did you have to drink so much, hubby?” Shangguan Rouyue asked.

“It was a rare occasion, and wasn’t it essentially our wedding feast?” Qin Nan grinned.

“Yeah.” Shangguan Rouyue smiled softly.

Though indifferent to formalities, she couldn’t deny the joy of being recognized and celebrated by the villagers.

Qin Nan’s steps wavered; without Shangguan Rouyue’s steady support, he might have fallen.

Taking full advantage of the situation, he leaned closer into her embrace, causing Shangguan Rouyue to blush.

“Not outside, hubby. It’s improper if others see,” she said shyly.

“What’s improper about a husband and wife being close?” Qin Nan teased.

Blushing even more, Shangguan Rouyue averted her gaze, unable to counter his boldness.

“If being seen is the issue, then we just need to go somewhere no one can see us, right?” Qin Nan added mischievously.

Shangguan Rouyue shot him a glance, her cheeks flushed.

“This is still not okay, hubby, you’re too bad,” Shangguan Rouyue said with a pout.

“Dear, what are you thinking about? I didn’t say anything strange, I just want my wifey to hold me and fly up into the sky, to a place where no one can see us, to enjoy the scenery that we usually can’t, and have some time alone together,” Qin Nan said.

“Cheeky,” Shangguan Rouyue retorted.

As if in retaliation, Shangguan Rouyue suddenly tightened her embrace around Qin Nan, and in an instant, they shot upwards at a terrifying speed. The air around them whistled, tearing through the atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, the two had ascended above the ethereal clouds.

Above them stretched an endless blue sky, and below, the white snow lay vast, stretching out to the distant horizon where the earth seemed to meet the sky.

The breathtaking scene left one feeling exhilarated, and yet it was hard to put the majestic beauty of the clouds into words.

This view, probably few would ever see in their lifetime. And for those who did, it would likely be so high that they’d be terrified.

But Qin Nan wasn’t like the others. He felt no fear, instead gazing at the awe-inspiring landscape with a carefree smile, his eyes wide in appreciation of the celestial beauty around him.